Kisaik smiled at Horatio, who insisted that Kisaik bring the flower to Saoire instead, in not so many words but gesturing excitedly that he should follow him inside, after learning about the magic acorn.
The little mortalborn followed closely after Horatio, puffing out the chest of his cuirass, which was both shiny and possessing an enchanted illusion to make it look more… nature-like, with vines and wooden filigree. Finally, he was brought before Saoire herself, who Kisaik was pleased to see was in the middle of a garden, doing some gardening. It was strange, he thought that only Moseke cared about the earth when it came to Immortals. He knew he would become fast friends with Saoire, fast friends indeed.
Yet, even so, he felt simultaneously honored and at the same time a bit embarrassed as the Immortal went on to recite his many titles and surname. He felt ashamed making the Immortal dedicate so much time to correctly saying his name, which she did so better than even he could’ve done, and so gave her a bright smile.
”You can call me Chip! Or Kisaik if you like! That’s my proper Tunawa name.”
She mentioned something about a favor she wanted from him, and he was all too eager to take it on. A quest! From an Immortal! Will wonders ever cease in Faldrass? Kisaik was eager yet tempered it with his sense of decorum. When she took a seat by the bench, he skipped and hopped up toward the bench, taking a seat beside her.
”Happy Ashan’s Dawn, Lady Saoire!” Kisaik said, extending his arm to give her the apple blossom he’d grown from his own hair.
”I hope this Spring brings many blessings to you and your people.”
Then, she asked him to tell her about the acorn. Well, that was another matter, and one not altogether pleasant in the way It was won. Kisaik choked up to remember the incident.
”Well… Lady Saoire, it’s a long story, but I’m hoping you’ll indulge me the effort to tell it! Because it’s a story that deserves to live on, and be remembered.”
So saying, Kisaik invited with a gesture that Horatio should listen in too, as Kisaik was sure he’d be entertained by it.
”You see, it all began with a strange occurence, when I was living in Yaralon. I was sleeping, and all of a sudden, everything hurt… My head was pounding, and I tried to run away from the pain, but it put me to sleep finally. When I awoke, I found myself in a dark place with two others, Maxine and Thysbae. They told me it was Slag’s Deep. We each of us were given spiritual friends, although I don’t know which ones were belonging to the others, I had a spirit of nature…”
Here, Kisaik gave a heavy sigh,
”Suddenly, we heard an unearthly roar! A Sesserfiend had emerged from somewhere in the depths to chase us through a tunnel. With the Nature spirit’s aid, I told it to defend me and my friends. That was my worst folly, however… The Tree spirit died defending us against the Sesserfiend, but bought enough time for Thysbae to bring the tunnels down upon the creature.”
Kisaik wiped a sappy tear from his eye, remembering the feeling of being severed from the nature spirit.
”All seemed lost, the nature spirit’s death seemed to signal the death of an entire forest somewhere. But then, out of the darkness, a shiny acorn glowed in the rubble. I reached in there, and saw the Sesserfiend’s open eye, gleaming and watching me with rage. I nearly shook out of my bark I’ll tell you! But I reached in there, and grabbed the magic acorn from it’s terrible glare, and then… we were saved by a strange mage, known as Sephira, who could open portals. I hopped onto her shoulder, and she brought me and Thysbae into a strange waiting room.”
”And that’s the story of how I found the Magic Acorn. I later awoke from the strange vision and dream, but it must not have been a dream because I ended up with tangible things to show for it! And met one of my best friends in the entire world, Lady Vega!”
So having recited the story, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was out there now, and Saoire would be able to tell it to her people, so that it would last through innumerable retellings by her cadouri. Kisaik could only hope the story was worthy of repeating.
”Now! About that favor! I will of course do anything should the cause be righteous and worthy of goodness!”