21 On the Hill

  Franklin paces back and forth behind one of the shacks. He hadn't even been sure if his teacher was real or fake. 'Am I going insane?' Franklin wonders. He grips his fist in determination. 'I can't say a voice in my head told me to bring her, can I? What am I going to do?!' Franklin frets while rubbing his head in frustration. "Teacher, I don't know how to act around important people," he whispers to himself, deflated.

  Franklin's prayer for help goes unanswered, however, and his head droops. To his despair, his teacher doesn't respond at all. Why did he have such a lazy teacher, he laments. "Well, I've seen some guards address officials from the capital," Franklin says under his breath as he creates a plan.

  He pokes his head out to view the scene. He sees Laurel gritting her teeth in frustration as Mellisa rushes over to comfort her daughter. She lightly pets her daughter's head while talking with the fairy guest. Laurel suddenly looks over and sticks out her tongue. The two other women follow Laurel's tongue towards Franklin's hiding spot.

  'How does that girl always know where I am?' Franklin cries to himself. However, it is too late to hide now, so he awkwardly steps out. He stiffly imitates a soldier as he walks towards the three women. Franklin looks like a tin man hobbling over, causing the women to giggle.

  "What do you want, stupid Franklin?" Laurel asks as she looks away in disgust. Franklin grimaces. She is still mad at him. "I'm not here for you," he snidely replies.

  Then he looks at the beauty and bows stiffly. "I've been given ahem. The eh, privilege of inviting you up the hill." Mellisa looks at the boy in shock while Elanor eyes the boy.

  "Oh, such a gentleman," Elanor exclaims, clapping her hands in praise. "May I know which master is inviting this miss up the hill?" Franklin tries to avoid the peering eyes of the two older women.

  "Um, it's hard to say," Franklin replies while swallowing deeply. "I'm just the messenger. Eh, he said to send that lass up the hill." His eyes dart back and forth, not knowing how to explain.

  "What are you spouting? Stop causing trouble," Mellisa reprimands. Yet Elanor blocks the angry woman with her arm. She smiles and shakes her head at the woman.

  "I have my guess on who wishes to see me. I suppose I shouldn't keep them waiting, should I?" She laughs before leaping into the air. In one hop, she scales the large hill. Everyone in the village looks up at Elanor with wide eyes.

  Upon the hill, John can't stop laughing. If he were still a human, he'd be rolling on the ground. "That boy needs training in etiquette more than fighting," he jokes to Joe, who also snorts bemusedly.

  "Alright, she's coming. Now, look a bit serious, alright?" John says, waving his branches at the bull, "I'll be matchmaking you two so, be on your best behavior."

  Joe snorts and jumps. He is going to stamp this stupid plant into the dirt! "Calm down. I was only joking," John says, moving his branches to defend himself.

  The demonic bull snorts and lays down, eyeing the woman as she falls from the sky. 'She's gotten a bit stronger, but she still doesn't compare to me,' Joe observes smugly. The endless food has caused his strength to skyrocket, so his growth is far greater than this woman.

  For all of Eleanor's strength, she hasn't breached the upper six expertise yet, so she isn't quite capable enough to soar in the skies without external help. She does have strength far above this world, though. So a leap of hundreds of meters is easy for her. She lands neatly on the hill and curtesy to the bush and bull.

  "It's nice to meet you once again," Elanor says before looking around. "Sir, since you invited me here, wouldn't it be proper to make your presence known?" she asks with a frown creeping into her smile.

  "So impatient!" John harrumphs as his leaves shudder. "I was just trying to be kind, inviting you up here, you know?" Elanor eyes the plant in shock. Of all the things, she'd guessed a plant cultivator wasn't one of them. 'It doesn't seem strong enough or old enough to have sentience yet, though,' Elanor ponders.

  "Sir, I don't know why you possessed a plant. But I won't be scared by such nonsense," Elanor scoffs while shaking her head, annoyed at the petty trick. The beauty is nearly on the verge of releasing flames out of her nostrils from rage.

  John's branches sink while Joe snickers to the side. "Don't malign me unjustly. I've been a bush this whole life."

  "Fine, Mr. Bush. What do you want from this lady," Elanor harrumphs while folding her arms under her chest, causing her peaks to bounce. John laughs to himself. If he were still human, he would be putty in such a well-proportion woman's hands.

  "Since you've already promised to abandon your evil plot to steal the treasure here. I figured we should assist each other in the future," John explains as he shrugs with his branches.

  "OH, and how can a demonic beast and a bush help little old me?" she inquires, coquettishly slightly covering her mouth with a blush.

  "Hmph, no one here will fall for your acting. You've already made friends with that little ball of fluff down there. So there is no reason to put on airs," John lectures the fairy before him.

  Elanor frowns, glancing over at the bull only to see him rolling his eyes at the show. "Fine, I'm listening. But don't think I've forgotten the liberties you took with me last time. Stop acting mysterious," she responds.

  John snickers as he swings his branches at the ground. "I won't beat around the bush then." John pauses for the laughter but found himself disappointed. Joe, a demonic bull, doesn't understand the joke, and the woman looks like she was about to burst a blood vessel from anger.

  "Fine, it's clear that neither of you can understand my refined humor besides the fact that you can help your new friend by helping us. You will also gain such a great place to cultivate," John explains as de raises his branches, making himself look more dignified.

  Elanor plops down on her butt inelegantly. She Leans back, letting her chest rise towards the sun as she relaxes casually. "I have a place to cultivate that's better than here. Also, while I might want to help Laurel, I doubt that will have anything to do with what you want."

  "It doesn't matter what you say. When you became that girl's friend, your fate was sealed," the bush states as his leaves glow a bit. Elanor frowns, 'is this some trick.'

  John continues after seeing her questioning look, "There are no tricks. Even if I did nothing, we would have this conversation sooner or later. There is no reason for you to be so on guard." John Shakes his branch as if to shake his head in disappointment. "Look, you only see what's here now. Only weeds grow here now, but if you bring a few mystic herbs here and plant them, the atmosphere will soar!"

  Elanor yawns as the bush drones on, "You think a few mystic herbs will matter? Anyways anything I'd pull out would cause you more trouble than good."

  "Please, no one said you need to bring some expensive mystic herb. Even if they are sickly, as long as they are alive, it's good enough. Once they are planted, they will thrive without issue," John states straightforwardly. "As for the other thing, it's even easier than the previous request. Just teach Laurel how to cultivate."

  Elanor balks at the second request, "I'm too young to take a disciple. Leave that to those graying old men who have used up all their potential." She purses her lips as if she ate something sour.

  "I never said to make her a disciple. Just teach her a bit, and while you're at it, help that incompetent boy too," he cajoles while waving his branch towards the boy. "I can only do so much as a plant. Better for a human to give advice. Trust me, you'll be glad you did later."

  Elanor sighs, "I'll think about it. Don't get your hopes up."

  "Don't worry. If you are truly Laurel's friend, you'll teach her. She won't last much longer without training," John says mysteriously.

  Elanor jumps up and glares at the plant, "What does that mean?"

  "I've been observing these people for a while now. There isn't much I don't know," John explains, waving his limbs playfully. "She's such a lucky girl. Everyone will tell you that. It's no secret. Just keep an eye on her."

  Elanor frowns. Even though what this bush said seems simple at face value, he is definitely implying something. "Fine, I'll keep a lookout and figure it out myself." She then turned and began to float back to the village.

  "For the last thing. I'll just let nature take its course. So don't worry about it." John laughs as he waves goodbye with a branch. The last comment causes Joe to snort angrily and turn away from the annoying plant.