Kendra looked at him with antic.i.p.ation.""Where?""He sighed, shook his head and then started at her mischievously. ""Don"t you feel anything here? Why do you think I would stay here for so long?""
""Here? Where?"" she turned around and looked around. Then she looked towards the wall with a confused expression.
"Yes, it"s in the well. Under the Mother Oyster. If you become strong enough to move her, you will find a lever. That lever will open secret opening up on the platform stairs and you will be able to get to the well."
"Who sealed the well? And why?" she asked in confusion.
"I sealed it as it had too much power. Even breathing the air from the well can fill your energy levels. But the problem is that the air filled with pure energy can be deadly for normal humans. Like deadly miasma. "
She furrowed her eyebrows. "So if we open it wouldn"t we put in danger all the people in this surroundings?" It"s really worrisome. What if they open the energy well and the power harm the people in this city. She is not willing.
" Don"t worry. The house is built this way after my urging. Even the well is closed because of the same factor. So when we get down the stairs towards the well we can quickly close it behind ourselves and no one will get harmed." he said with the confidence.
""Ohhh. Ok, I will try to get it out now. You two stay outside and don"t come in. I"ll be right back.""She went to the well, jumped inside and with the power surge she went down to the ground quite fast.
When she arrived at the place where Mother Oyster was she saw just the stone where she was anch.o.r.ed. She looked around the floor and on the corner of the stone where Mother Oyster was she saw something like rope or lever.
She first tried to move the oyster but it didn"t budge from a spot not even for millimeter than she got the idea. She pulled it up using her own inner power. She pulled and pulled.
Kendra had no idea how much time pa.s.sed as she concentrated on the wisps of energy in her own energy sea. She used every bit of energy to pull the oyster together with a lever, but it didn"t move not even for a bit. On end, she was so exhausted that she gave up. With the last bits of energy, she floated up and went out of the water.
Isaa and Fluffy waited for her anxiously. As she pulled herself up at the platform Isaa tried to help her. But how can a five-year-old have enough strength? She pulled at Kendra"s arms and successfully pulled her out.
Kendra was seriously surprised. It seems Isaa got lots of stronger since she started training her body and mind. ""Isaa is strong. Wow. I am glad to have such a strong little sister. When I am weak or sick you can protect me. Right?"" she started teasing Isaa.
Isaa"s stuck out her jaw and proudly said:"" Of course. I am now so strong. And I will become much stronger. When the brother is sleeping Isaa will watch out. Aha.!"" she held her fist tightly with a self-confident smile.
Kendra started laughing and slowly stood up. Step by step she went upstairs and entered the garden. It was clean and as she swept everything inside her s.p.a.ce she chooses to take one of the large pots of cooked food.
She was in the water for hours and when she pulled out the put with cooked food she expected it to be already cold. But she got surprised. It was still piping hot. That is strange, she taught. She took three portions of beef stew, with lots of vegetables. She took three buns for them then they ate it with relish.
""Even tho I can cook, but Niram cooking is out of another world. The tastes were amazing,"" said Kendra and the other two had to admit.
""Brother cooking is great but Niram...sorry brother but he cook"s really amazing and fast,"" said Isaa with a feeling of guilt. Even tho she loves Kendras cooking but this food...
Kendra shook her head and smiled."" I know my own abilities. I can give people ideas, but if they cook better, of course, it will taste better than my own food. Like with ice cream and Fintan. Why feeling bad. No need for it. If we leave here next year I will make Niram cook lots of food that I can store or freeze and we can eat it when we are hungry without cooking. Is it more comfortable that way? Why bothering cooking ourselves?""
Isaa and Fluffy looked at each other and came to a realization. Kendra is actually realistic and bit a lazy person. But in base she has right. If they can travel the world with bags filled with enough food and drinks, why bother to cook. Just enjoy traveling.
""Tomorrow will be one more busy day and then we can go and enjoy our time. And I need to become stronger if I want to move the lever. So let"s go and gather some energies in the barrel. It"s good enough until we don"t open the energy well. Byt the way, Fluffy, do you know the origin of the well?""
""When I grew my consciousness my elders told me that this well was actually a gift from the ancient that went to the highest possible power and became someone that went to another world. My elders said that sometimes beings become powerful enough to break through the thin line between this world and other worlds.""
""Other worlds?"" she already knew about the universe and many different laws trough school and the novels. So she already slight hint about it, but was still interested in what is more there.
""This world is where those with slight power and no power live. If they rise through high enough power they can enter the next world. If you enter the next world it doesn"t mean you can live forever. It means only that you just pa.s.sed. At that moment you are the lowest of low. It means as well that you need to work hard to become more powerful."" he said with sadness.
""Then what happened to you?"" Kendra was interested, but when she heard that he has to work hard again she lost interest.
""I was way too confident. If you plan to go to a higher level you need to go to the secret forest. There are about hundreds of different kind of trials inside. If you pa.s.s all of them you get permission to fight one of the higher beings. They will build some kind of judges and will put you under the final test. Unfortunately, I got too arrogant so they got offended and sent me someone who I definitely can"t handle. I lost, but luckily one of the elders preserved my soul and told me to wait for the right being to be born to help me. I taught for centuries that Mother Oyster was the one but on end it was you."" he gratefully looked at Kendra.
""But how long will you need to grow strong enough to go to the next level. Actually, do you plan to do so?""
""I can live for tens thousands of years more. I am in no hurry. For now, I will accompany the two of you. If you two one day choose to go to the next world I will join you. If you plan to stay here I will stay as well. It"s boring to be alone. My elders actually all went to the next world at that time. I am alone here anyway."" His body excluded sadness and loneliness. No wonder he likes being around them.
""Fine with us right Isaa?"" she looked at Isaa happy face. ""I don"t plan to become anyone strong. I just plan to become strong enough so I don"t get bothered with any strange and powerful peopel or creatures. I just want to live a happy life. Travel around, see new stuff and one day stay in one place get old and die a natural death. I really have no wish going to more worlds and live fighting.""
Isaa looked at her and a slight light pa.s.sed her eyes. Kendra saw it and smiled."" Isaa, you will one day probably surpa.s.s me. If you one day choose to go to the next world I will do my best to help you.""
""Brother, you know my story. When I was reborn I really had a wish to become stronger. I don"t want to be weak and bullied ever again. If it"s your choice to stay in this world and live peacefully I will stay here for a while till you didn"t find the right place. After that, I want to become stronger. I hope of course that you will change your mind one day and we can go together to other wolds. Think about it. You always wanted to travel. If you can see more than just this world, wouldn"t it be waste if you didn"t see that world as well?"" she tried to change her mind with simple and logical persuasion.
Kendra sighed.""Isaa, I understand your thoughts. Maybe, just maybe there is a slight chance I might want to another world. But in case you become stronger than me and want to go there before me, please go and become strong enough to protect me so I can travel that world in peace as well. Isn"t that a good reason for you to become stronger as well? And you Fluffy, you need to become stronger at the same time as Isaa, so you can go with her and be on her side. She should not go there alone. Understood?""
Isaa"s eyes shone.""Does that mean you will maybe change your mind and go there as well? It"s true if I become strong and pa.s.s the test and go to another world. I need to work hard so when you come there will be enough safety for you to travel that world as well. We both need to become strong, right Fluffy?"" she looked at Fluffy with s.h.i.+ny eyes and saw him being determined as well.
""Yes. We will do that. We will travel this world with you and when we become strong enough we will go to the secret forest and make the test and then go to another world. Ther we will become strong and tough and will wait for you. Definitely."" He jumped up and down in determination and excitement.
Kendra nodded her head. She didn"t plan to travel to the other world. But giving them push to become strong she won"t worry about their future in case something happens to her. She was slightly interested to see the other worlds as well, but it"s fine as well if she doesn"t.
She taught about the future school and teh secret forest. What if she leaves Isaa here and let her become strong as long she travels this world. She will be safe here. The Lord will adore her and Fluffy and will provide them with everything they need in building up their energies. Now there are books as well.
By teh way books. Where do tehy come from and what happened actually to that stuff there? She will go there and ask after she comes back from vacation. If she goes there now she might get involved again into some stupid stuff...sigh.
""Fluffy I got some books about this world. When we go to the half-island we will check it and will choose where we will travel and what destinations you could recommend,"" she said while thinking about teh sea and waves and the wind and no people...
""Actually, sorry Kendra. I have no memories of this world. I just remember some basic stuff that I was directly in contact or involved. When we read those books it will be as new for me, as much is it to you. I am interested as well."" His face showed curiosity.
""Fine, let"s learn more about this world later on. Let"s go to sleep and let get over the next day. As soon those peopel leave we will leave the city as well. We don"t need to wait for a day after that. We will just leave before the gates close. Is that fine with the two of you?"" she asked as she couldn"t wait to leave the city.
They looked at each other and happily nodded. ""Yes let"s go tomorrow night. We can sleep there then,"" said Isaa with a huge smile.
They went to the barrel and the jar that contained the energy-water and entered to gather and absorb it into their power sea. Isaa, as usual, finished first and went to sleep with Fluffy but Kendra stayed inside it the whole night and came out fully energized next morning.
As soon the gates were open the carriages with ordered products arrived at Kendra"s place and she sent them after that all to Fintan"s store and ice house to make contracts with him. She didn"t need anymore to go with them as Fintan was ready for it now. He knew she will send more people.
She gathered all the produce, she got, again into her s.p.a.ce and went into an ice cellar. She took a few blocks of ice into her s.p.a.ce as well as the ice cream. She looked at the house and taught about it. She took all the food and cloth she could find in the house. Then she took the two hammocks as well in the garden as she was worried that someone might take it. She knew that is not possible but the slight taught of that happening made her uncomfortable so she chooses it to take it.
She looked around and gathered enough water to water thoroughly the plants deep into the earth. She used dried gra.s.s and mulch to cover teh roots so that the moisture doesn"t escape till they don"t come back.
She looked around and finally was satisfied and left. It was not even the lunchtime when they pa.s.sed the city office. She saw officer Luar sitting inside and entered.
""h.e.l.lo,"" she greeted politely with a slight bow.""We will leave the city for a while. I will travel for a while and will come back after the first rain. Is it possible to check teh house from time to time? I know that the city is now safe, but just in case..."".
She blushed and apologized. Kendra knew how much work officer Luar had now but she was reluctant to come back and find out that someone came in and made a mess.
""No problem. There are now more often controls through streets per Lord"s order. As well as fatter penalties to be paid if someone makes trouble."" He knew her problem with cleanliness so he understood her uneasiness.
""Oh by the way. There is an empty store near Chial"s home. Is it for sale or for rent do you know?""
she remembered the empty store she saw near Chial"s home.
""Oh that. It"s empty already for years. The owner wants a huge amount of money and we couldn"t find anyone who wants it. Are you interested? The Lord told me to give you anything you need and he will take it off the amount he owes you.""
She liked stuff she didn"t have to pay herself so she accepted.""I will speak to Chial. Can we renovate it as well on Lord"s account? I want to open a store for the outer city and the villages there. The prices will be affordable for everyone. Of course, only the stuff that is cheap or from our own produce. I have no plan to become concurrent to the store from the inner city.""
He shook his head. ""You can never become their opponent. They have so many stores through the continents and in every city. Don"t worry about such a thing. It was about time someone makes a store for the outer city as well. We had none so we always waited for market day .""
""Don"t tell me that outer city, since the building the city, never had a store in the outer city?"" she was stunned at such thing.
""We had, but at that time the old Lord was weak and the store fell into teh hands of scrupulous people and they sold old or withered stuff to everyone as it was cheap. At first, everyone went there but soon people started getting sick and gave up on the store."" he shook his head when he taught about all the stuff he found that were spoiled.
It seems someone wanted just to earn money on poor people.""Don"t worry. I plan to sell produce off teh season, some dried goods, grains, and affordable wheat. I will give the job to Chial and Niram so tehy can have some earnings even out the season. I actually planned to pay them when there is nothing to do, but this way I can give them a percentage of the store and they can work hard for their own money. Isn"t it right?""
He knew that she just wanted to make sure they had regular income and felt emotional. Since he met this child so many good things happened to the city and all the people that ever met Kendra. Even he got a raise and a better house. The Lord was satisfied with his work and gave him the work of head offices in the city.
Whit that he got permission to buy the house he wanted and he got himself one of the houses tehy raided before that had a huge house, a garden and lots of flowers that his wife liked. Now he lives comfortably. He still has so much paperwork to do, but there are no big and scary things happening. Life started being calm and comfortable. Everyone in the city praised the young Lord and his swift and clean changes. From now on the things can progress only to better.
He looked at teh back of the child that moved towards the market place. She probably will go to Chial. He prepared all teh paperwork for the stores and signed it on her name. The city owns her at least this much. Usually, she always buys stuff, but it seems this little money-grubbing child likes the free stuff as well. He chuckled and sat in a leisurely manner on herse and slowly went to the Lord"s palace.
Kendra arrived shortly afterward at Chial"s home and explained Dawn everything about her idea. She let her tell Chial and Niram about it as they were already outside at her farmstead. She told her as well they should start gathering the fruits that were already ripe and making jams or drying them for winter. Now they are cheap so tehy can buy more and dry as many as tehy could. In winter time this stuff will become a good source of income. She as well told her she will send Fintan to talk to them about all the new stuff she wants to sell in their store.
Afterward, she went to Fintan and told him about her idea. She told him to buy off all the grains, vegetables, beans and fruits. His people can dry them and get a percentage of the price. She will sell it then at her store and he should just help out Niram and Chial in need of money. She left him the box with silver coins and after greeting teh old lady and Cian tehy left.
On the gates, she met Wollak and asked him to drive her to the islands and he accepted happily. He wanted just a few simple coins but she gave him two silver coins as the place was not that near. Actually, the half-island is even with a carriage a couple of hours away.
From far it seems close but actually, that place is far from the city. After he dropped them off he went back happily. He earned enough for today so he went happily back home. It was his last ride for today.
Kendra, Isaa and Fluffy finally were on the island. Kendra felt like all the weight she had so far fell of her weak back and with loud laughter, she jumped like a happy child around and run towards the island holding Isaa"s hand in one hand and in another hand holding tightly Fluffy.
Finally the sun, the moon, the stars, the wind, the ocean, and no disturbance .Ahhhh how enjoyable...