"I swear. She is literally the next queen of the forest elves. How can Ipete with that? I was just a hunter from the farms!" Walker and Gil had gotten in to it on their futures. Gil had suddenlye to the realization that he had been getting very close to Alma. yet, the thought of their different statuses hit him all at once.


    "So is being a hero title holder worth nothing? You are also an arcane marksman. Not even an arcane archer, but a step above, an arcane marksman!" Walker tried to drive this point home. These were two things that spoke to Gil''s status already. "Not to mention how many different kingdoms recognize us by the pins and ques we wear. And the adventurer tier we have. Oh, and founding members of the Genesis alliance, city of Genesis, and for you, the archer academy."


    "I know all that. But I still can''t make sure it would work out. I have no idea what is normal for elves. But she did write me back every letter. She even sent me home with blue ivy seeds so that I could grow them too and add the poison to my arrows. I just don''t know. What if she can''t because of the whole future queen thing?" Walker had not expected that Gil was actually feeling this way. Out of all of them, Gil had held back and hidden this sort of thing.


    "When we are leaving to battle the kraken, I am sure that Alma wille. You will have an entire journey to figure it out. Just be honest with her and yourself." This was the best advice that Walker had to give, he didn''t want to be the reason things went poorly so he had to air on the side of caution.


    "I know she will go on the journey to help the merfolk. She wouldn''t allow everything to fall apart as soon as it started. The alliance needs to defeat that thing. That''s the problem. She could get hur-"


    "You will be there then. Just like brother will be there for Alice. You will be there and no one will get hurt." Onyx had made the interruption just in time to keep Gil from getting back in his head.


    "You know how she can control some nts as part of her skills right? Why don''t you ask Remey for some underwater nts that grow fast? Maybe they can be of use to Alma in defense?" Gil grey wide eyed and nearly jumped up to hug Walker. He thought this was the perfect idea for him to do. It would ensure that she was safer and perfectly express his feeling.


    "I''m going to find something. I know the master alchemists are in the alchemy guild right now. Remey would make fun of me anyways. Well, I would make fun of her too so that''s fair though." Gil lept up after cleaning his te of the rest of his eggs. "I will see youter. I will grab my arrows and find a decent nt." Walker could only sit with Onyx and watch as Gil left in a hurry.


    "So, Onyx, I saw you training with Remey and Alice. You have gotten really good at using light and dark spikes. I didn''t know you could use your own shadow as fuel for a dark spike. It''s a good idea." The change in topic was mostly to avoid awkwardness. But it was also so Walker and Onyx could bond a little since thest time they had spoken one on one was when Onyx had decided to make his species a recognized intelligent race.


    "It has been tough. I learned that shadows may all be connected in a way that I have yet to grasp. But just scratching the surface made me able to use them more efficiently. I started to wonder why my body could hide partially in the shadows and out. I feel that I am somewhat bnced because I can consume and control light elemental mana as well. It is peaceful ina way." This was true, the bnce between normally opposing elemental manas was peaceful and could birth new understanding.


    "Well, since I have the time I might as well meditate on that thought for a little while then sleep. I''m sure today will be busy and Midnight will have a lot of energy even though she''s tired." The feeling of grogginessing from Midnight was not something Walker could just turn off. He knew she was feeling this way and also extreme excitement. In no time he was certain that she would be returning to sleep herself. He also didn''t know if she would want to remain in dragonkin form for so long.


    "I will find a spot in the sun too." Onyx and Walker headed off together to find their ce to rest themselves. While they did this, Gil had already just about made it to the alchemy guild.


    As he opened the door he found crate upon crate stacked up and blocking the way to walk. "Just put the next ones wherever. I don''t have room anywhere else." The old master alchemist shouted from the back and Gil was d he could find him so fast. "I swear. Those elves brought enough herbs to fill the guild themselves. How will we bring anything else over? I sai- ah, Gil. I was just organizing some things." The was a tinge of red embarrassment after the old master alchemist had been caught mumbling to himself.


    "I can see you have your work cut out for you today. I hope you have a minute for me to bother you?"


    "Of course, you can bother us. We have time. These crates have some runes on them to protect the herbs." Trish walked from behind a stack of crates more curious than ever as to why Gil was looking for them.


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