Blessed Teachings - 2

"You are a… druid, yes?" I asked, whispering within her ear. For what reason did I do that, I didn't even know. It just felt rather appropriate.

However her response was different than I would have expected, rather than the languid response I thought she would give, she instead burst into a fit of tiny giggles.

Letting out another laugh before she stood up, gathering the plates and dishes, taking them to the kitchen. All before she turned and grabbed my hand, placing me next to her on the couch. 

"Of course, was it not obvious~?" 

Her voice contained more than just a hint of teasing. Enough that I turned my head and pouted to the other side of the room. Letting her laugh at my apparent ignorance.

"I just wanted to know…" I muttered. And within the second I felt a hand rubbing at my head. Petting it and pulling me next to her.

Only then did she answer truthfully.

She pulled a seed from somewhere within her pockets and with a clenching of her fist she grew it into a strange plant. All before it curled up, like some sort of cat, within her arms.

"Was there…?" She trailed off, leaving the question within the air.

I nodded.

"I wanted to know more about them… druids are quite private."

She smiled rubbing my hair.

"Of course, but what exactly did you want to know?"

"Ah… I know what the knights and mages do for towns but what do you do?"

She grabbed her own chin, letting her gaze wander to the ceiling. At that point I finally let go of my grip over my vision, letting it fade back to that natural void.

Watching her soul shiver in the wind, wavering over truth and lies.

"Druids huh…" She muttered, and with it her soul wavered once more before settling on truth.

"We are quite a secretive bunch, heh- even my own teacher only ever teaches a class of ten in a given year. But if I had to put it into specifics…"

She then went on a long rant. All while I nuzzled into her. Comforting myself with that warmth of hers.

Druids were - as she said - a secretive bunch, however because of her close connection with an elder she had greater insights into their duties.

Among which was one that I had never even thought of. Singular druids would, while roaming around towns for whatever supplies they needed, use the filth and waste within the sewers and treat it. 

It was quite a complicated process but there was a reason why many never bothered going within those sewers. Among the greatest of reasons was the toxic sludge and gaseous odors that seemed to kill with only a whiff.

It was the druid's job to use that as fertilizer for specialized species of moss, ones that ate it with great vigor. However it came with another risk, that being that the plant itself was not one that was what one would call docile.

It took the work of a druid in order to direct it to stay within the bounds of the sewer, and every now and then another would have to go down there and calm it down.

It meant that the sewers was an ever growing labyrinth of cannibalistic moss. And that was only one of a druid's necessary duties.

A gloryless one but nevertheless, it was essential.

What Lyra mostly did and what most druid's found themselves doing in the absence of clear work. They would heat out into the wild and with their tamed creatures would live and protect the wildlife.

However there was much more nuance in that, they would make controlled burns, making sure that the diversity of the forest or plains or wherever they settled was maintained. That the predators never ate too much.

And when travelers and caravans came they made sure that those within made it through with no trouble from both bandits and wandering monsters.

All for a piece of land, granted by the local governing body.

"All for that?" I asked, my head resting against the arm of the chair, gazing slightly at Lyra.

"Yes, for others it may be a small prize but for us druid's it is a lifetime goal. The joy of taking care of the wild… and the way that it cares for you too. It is a real dream, one that most aren't powerful enough to accomplish."

I nodded, my mouth opening softly in a yawn. Had it already grown this late?

My gaze transferred from the void of souls to that monotone gray. Feeling my stamina, drained as it was, drain further.

But it gave me a further view of the star and the moon. Watching the orb of light fade into the background and the other come into being.

I yawned once more and made my way into my room. Only absently saying 'good night' to Lyra, who had spent her afternoon teaching me on the finer points of a druid's life.

Yet a question still remained within my mind. Why was there not a sect of healers, surely there must be one.

But for all the information given and earned I found no mention of one. Like it had been struck from all records, throughout all of history.

Yet if that was true, then why was there such vast medical knowledge? Knowledge that seemed to shape one part of a druid's life.

Was there truly no medical faction, was it just the ramblings of a madman within my head, that told me that there must be one?

Truly?

I let the thought linger within my mind, my eyes closing and with it the sight that drained my stamina so. Letting my eyes rest and begin anew, a new day that would perhaps beckon new knowledge.

And maybe one day… maybe even in the morrow… maybe even then I would find an answer. Yes, an answer, one that may come within those perfect eyes… that perfect face.

Why she came to mind, that mysterious professor of mine, not even I knew. For I had already fallen asleep, letting the thought fade from my mind. Never caring to delve further into that line of thought.