"Jane, pass the pancakes!" I exclaimed then shoved the remaining pancakes on my plate into my mouth.
"Chew your food!" Jane snapped but passed the plate of pancakes to me regardless. I happily stabbed several of them with my fork and pulled them onto my own plate then handed the pancakes back.
"Listen to the lass 'fore ya choke!" Grandpa Seamus said pointing his fork at me sternly.
"Yes Grandpa!" I replied with a salute then dug back into my food.
I was seated at the dining room table in Grandpa Seamus' apartment.
The table in question was one that Grandpa made himself from multiple trees. It was large enough to seat forty people, meaning it'll stretched from one end of his apartment to the other. Thankfully it was modular and could be broken down to fit any length needed.
I was seated at the head of the table with Grandpa Seamus seated directly opposite of me. Jane and Iris were seated next to me. The Kestral's, Gents, Alberto, Dean Baxter, and Damon were seated on the right side of the table. Astrid, Sin, Indy, Anders, Reagan, Madilyn, Haws, Kaguya, Kennedy and Baset were seated on the left side of the table.
Honestly I was surprised to see Dean Baxter and Baset when Grandpa opened the door but according to Jane they both have been regular figures at Sho'lajah Artifact Company events. Same thing for Kaguya and her son Kennedy, though Jade told me that was because Kaguya and Reagan had a thing going on but were refusing to call it a thing.
"Sooooo…" Baset said suddenly, drawing everyone's attention. Her eyes locked on me as she spoke. "…When are you planning to leave for Tolapo Village?"
"Pretty soon." Jane answered for me. Mostly because I had a mouth full of pancakes I was trying to chew enough to swallow.
"Within the next few days." I said after I gulped down my mouthful.
"I see…Have you thought about who you want to take with you?" Baset asked. I nodded and pointed to a platter of scrambled eggs in front Louie. Louie passed them down the table until they reached me and I could shovel onto my plate then passed them back.
"I have but mostly I've been focused on things here." I replied then narrowed my eyes at my teacher. "Why?"
"I would like to accompany you, if at all possible." Baset said. I arched a brow quizzically at Baset.
"Are you sure that would be allowed? You're the paragon of a country at war. Don't you have duties you have to deal with?" I asked. Baset sighed and nodded.
"While I do have duties to the country they can be superseded by the possibility of magical knowledge and understanding gained." Baset said then gracefully finished the food on her plate and eyed the bacon on a platter within arms reach. "A lot of knowledge can be gained by going to a legendary village."
"That is a valid workaround." Jane confirmed.
"Plus she already has ties to the village." Iris interjected.
"The more the merrier! Let the lass come!" Grandpa Seamus exclaimed with a hearty laugh.
"Well you have Grandpa's stamp of approval." I said then shoveled a spoonful of eggs into my mouth.
"Thank you, Elder MacClery." Baset said bowing her head to Grandpa Seamus. Grandpa waved her off and smiled.
"Ah! Don't worry 'bout it! Or bother with that elder shite, I'm only in me seventies. I'm barely middle aged by Sullivardic standards." Grandpa replied. Everyone arched a brow at that.
"Wait? So people live into their hundred and fifties at least in Sullivardic village?" Iris asked.
"Aye, some reach two hundred. I'm sure it's the same in Tolapo Village." Grandpa Seamus replied.
"By the gods!" Louie exclaimed. Grandpa Seamus seemed tickled by everyone's response and smirked.
"Me Gran was a hundred and eighty-nine when she passed." He added.
"Gods above! The life she must of lived, the knowledge…" Dean Baxter muttered softly. Grandpa Seamus nodded solemnly and scratched his chin.
"She died the same day Starlight was born…she knitted ta quilt he was brought home in." Grandpa Seamus said softly. I paused, my fork hovering centimeters from my mouth.
"She died the day I was born?" I asked. Grandpa nodded again and smiled softly.
"Don't be sad Starlight. She knew it was her time. She could feel it 'fore ya mother went into labor with ya. Being the former star farm crystal bearer 'fore ya." Grandpa said.
"WAIT WHAT?!" Dean Baxter and Baset exclaimed. Grandpa Seamus narrowed his brow then made his eyes widened in horror
"I feel like I shouldn't have said that…" He muttered.
"Wait are you saying that a Star farm crystal bearer can tell when another is going to be born?" Baset demanded. Seamus nodded reluctantly.
"There can be only one, when one reaches the end of their life another is chosen and born. Usually minutes after ta last dies." Grandpa Seamus explained then looked at me with a sad smile. "You were born four minutes after me Gran passed."
I looked down at my farm crystal, the faint rainbow glow was back and shining at its former intensity. I wondered what my Great-great-Grandmother's farm crystal looked like, how she was able to live in America for so long without anyone noticing. How she felt in those final moments know that I was being born.
"Your life has been surrounded by Star farm crystal bearers." Kaguya said. Grandpa smiled again.
"It's been a blessing." Grandpa replied and I could hear the genuine joy in his voice.
"Blessings aside with your own Grandmother being the last Star farm crystal bearer surely you know more about this plague that's appearing in the world lately." Baset said. Grandpa Seamus expression turned neutral as he looked at Baset.
"I do. I know it's triggered by a Star farm crystal bearer leaving their village and returning." Grandpa said. I frowned and pointed my fork at him.
"But I have only ever been to Tolapo Village and left. This upcoming trip would only be my return." I said.
"That's not technically true Chase." Astrid spoke up. "When we investigated those tunnels under Raziri's house we did end up outside the village barrier."
"Fuck…you're right." I muttered.
"Chase, while we're talking about this I want to let you know that I won't be coming with you to Tolapo Village." Iris announced. I frowned and looked at her.
"Why?" I asked, sounding more hurt than I meant to.
"Matters involving my sister. She went back to serve as Prince Leon's guardian but requires help with a matter…I can't say more." Iris explained.
"Do you need help?" I asked. She shook her head.
"No, but I would ask if I did." Iris replied.
"When do you need to leave?" Jane asked.
"Tomorrow. Transport has already been arranged by my father." Iris said. I nodded then patted Iris on the shoulder.
"Be safe Tri-clops. If something happens to you I'll burn down the country to find who's responsible." I said with a cheery tone that made everyone shiver.
"I don't know what's more terrifying, that cheery voice or the fact that I totally believe he would burn the country down if something happens to Iris?" Nate said to Jade.
"The terrifying part is that there is probably nobody that could stop him." Sin added.
"Yeah…" Everyone said in unison.
"HEY!" I griped earning a laugh from everyone.
"Well if Iris isn't going then I want to go!" Bo declared defiantly. I stared at him blankly then looked at his parents.
"I thought he was going. Did he get grounded again?" I asked. They both looked confused and shrugged.
"We assumed he was going too. It's not like we could stop him even if he was grounded." Jade said. Bo deflated, the defiant moment he was cultivating in his head ruined by our response.
"Really? I got worked up for nothing!" Bo groaned. Indy laughed and pointed at Bo.
"Idiot!" He chuckled. Bo flipped Indy off earning a slap to the back of his head from his mom and dad simultaneously.
"I'll be taking Grandpa Seamus, Jane, Baset, Bo, Astrid, and Alberto." I said. Astrid narrowed her eyes at me.
"Why do I have to go?!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Because I said so!" I replied.
"And I refuse to be the only one that has to suffer…I mean…babysit…I mean…" Jane started.
"Keep it up LPP." I warned with a sharp glare.
"I mean she has a point…being stuck with not only Chase but also his little clone and the blundering dolt would be torture." Iris said with a sagely voice.
"WHO'S HIS LITTLE CLONE?!" Bo barked.
"AND WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BLUNDERING DOLT?!" Alberto growled.
"The two idiots that instantly got triggered." Baset chimed in. Bo and Alberto both frowned at our teacher but said nothing else, making a case for taking back the idiot label.
"Master Kingston, may I ask a favor?" Kaguya suddenly spoke up.
"Yes but you can drop the Master Kingston stuff, Kaguya. You're working with Jade now and she trusts you so that's more than enough for me." I said.
"Oh…umm…thanks you Revolutionary Paragon…" Kaguya replied. I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose which made Kaguya flinch in response. "…I'm sorry! I didn't mean to anger you!"
"No! You didn't…I just…" I paused then groaned again. Reagan placed a hand on Kaguya's shoulder to calm her and smiled faintly.
"He means he just wants you to call him Chase or Boss. He hates that Revolutionary Paragon and Master Kingston stuff. He just tolerates it for business." Reagan explained. Kaguya nodded and looked relieved to hear that while Anders, Sin, Louie, and Nate all shot Reagan knowing looks.
"Well…Boss…If it is not too much trouble I would ask that you take my son with you to Tolapo Village." Kaguya asked. I arched a brow at that and looked at Kennedy, the boy's head dropped and he started fidgeting with his fork.
"You do know that when people travel with me they usually end up in dangerous situations, seeing things that normally warp their sense of normalcy, or gain a sense of cynicism that is grossly over exaggerated for the situation?" I asked.
"Louie and Nate have explained that to me but they also said that the one person they could entrust their sons to was you." Kaguya said. I turned to look at Louie and Nate and both fathers avoided looking at me, their faces growing red. "Plus…how many people get the chance to go to one of the legendary villages that most of the world think don't exist with the Star Farm crystal bearer?"
"Hmmmm…." I mused while glancing over at Jane for input. She pretended to not see me looking. A subtle way of telling me it was my decision. Taking the hint I fixed my gaze one Kennedy. "…well that depends on Ken-Ken here."
Kennedy looked like he'd just been told he was getting the death penalty with how big his eyes got. He looked to his left and then his right then pointed to himself.
"M-me?" He stammered. I nodded and then laced rested my elbows on the table while lacing my finger and flashing a devious grin.
"Yes Ken-Ken! Everyone that is going with me is I'm taking for a reason. My Grandpa Seamus is needs to meet my Grandma's sister. Jane is very gifted at spell casting. Bo and Alberto are my shaping disciples. Baset is a Paragon, and being forced to go would piss of Astrid which is fun for me…" I said. Astrid slammed her fist on the table and glared at me.
"Asshole!" She snapped. I snickered but kept my attention zeroed in on Kennedy.
"…but what do you bring? What do you offer that justifies the added danger of bringing you along?" I asked. Kennedy seemed shocked by this question as did most people at the table.
"CHASE!" Anders snapped.
"How can you ask a kid that!" Haws growled.
"Easily! Simple risk assessment." I said.
"I didn't think you understood the concept of risk given how idiotic your plans are." Damon said snidely. I flipped him off but still kept an eye on Kennedy.
"I'm really good at studying!" Kennedy suddenly exclaimed drawing everyone's attention. "I know a lot of legends about star farm crystal bearers and memorized all the teachings of my family's smithing techniques! I can remember everything I've ever read and I know the Mana-nana manipulation tattoo spell!"
The apartment went silent after hearing Kennedy's sale pitch. All eyes were darting between Kennedy and I. I channeled mana into my void pocket enchanted ring then reached inside the portal and rummage around until I found what I was looking for. I pulled out a small book then tossed it to Kennedy. He caught it and looked at the title.
"Rare reptilian genomes and advanced genetic anomaly theory…" Kennedy read aloud.
"I want you to skim through that real quick." I said. Baset shot me a quizzical look but stayed silent.
Kennedy opened the cover then rapidly thumbed through all the pages. His eyes darted back and forth so fast I thought they'd get stuck that way, when he reached the end of the book he closed it then placed it on the table.
"What now?" Kennedy asked.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait! There is no way he read that whole book that fast! It took like thirty seconds! Who can do that?!" Damon exclaimed. Bo and I both raised our hands. Damon frowned then shook his head.
"Well fuck me and my splicing then!"
"Hand the book to Damon there." I said. Kennedy did as he was told and passed the book down the table to Damon. "Damon pick a random page, and paragraph in the book. Kennedy you'll read it out loud."
"Okay…ummm….page one hundred and fifteen, paragraph five." Damon said after flipping for a moment.
"It should be noted the genes of the horned adder are a treasure trove of genes that could boost evos resistance to cytotoxic venom as well heat resistance. The problem with using said specimen as part of your base is the splicer graphing rejection that the same genes have been known to cause when used in conjunction with avian or mammal bases." Kennedy recited.
"Correct." Bo, Baset, and I all said in unison. Damon looked astounded.
"He got it right…but wait…how did you all know that?"
"I read it before." Bo and I said in unison.
"I wrote the book." Baset said.
"WAIT WHAT?!" Damon exclaimed.
"Yes, my name is on the cover." Baset said with a wave of her hand then set her eyes on me. "Though I am surprised that you actually can do the reading and homework."
"Hey! Class is on hold until this war is over, so chop-chop!" I said with a smirk. Baset rolled her eyes at that. "Looks like you pass Kennedy…if you can actually use mana channeling."
Kennedy raised a hand up and black flames erupted from his fingertips. My eyes widened as I saw the flames dance in the air.
"Channeling both a fire element and darkness element attributes at the same time! Fucking awesome!"