Iona took a long pause, gazing at the seed in Li's outstretched palm. For a second, he thought she was mesmerized by the beautiful sights embedded in every single one of its many crystalline facets, but her eyes had dimmed in their absorbed awe, her blazing red pupils now flickering like dim coals.

Instead, she looked pensive. Contemplative. Then, she put her hand over Li's, wrapping her palm over the seed as well. The shimmering light of the seed faded as their hands enclosed over it, leaving but a slight humming that echoed between their hands, as if the seed were a living, breathing creature.

"Thank you," said Iona with a smile. "There is so much that you give. So much in your heart that is generous and good. You give your time, your strength, and your commitment to those infinitely beneath you. You give that which is dearest to you. And you give it with no reservation, only wishing that what you give will nourish others and let them grow."

"A side effect of attuning myself with my divinity," said Li. "As you said, forest spirits and guardians are naturally beings that seek to nourish and grow. I can understand what you mean now, and it is through your help as a Root that I can sit here and appreciate it without being a slave to it."

Iona shook her head emphatically. "No, you are mistaken." She wrapped her fingers around Li's and raised their hands together. "I told you – I am linked with you. In the time that I have felt who you are, delving into the very essence and color of you soul, of one thing, I am made clear of.

You have always had a good heart. Do not mistake the mistake of believing that who you are now is a product of your nature. As a man, you held a good heart smothered over by the circumstances of the world around you. As a deity, you simply now have the freedom to show the true colors of your heart.

If there is one thing I request, it is that you do not let the world outside tarnish this heart of yours."

"You two very close," said Tia from atop a seat of leaves, her eyes wary. She rested her chin on her hands, her head leaned forward in close inspection to make sure to keep Li under close surveillance.

The revelation of the shiny Celestial-tier seed evidently was not enough to really get her attention, but this was an emergency worthy of her full concern. "But papa mine." She crossed her arms and looked to Li for approval. "Right, papa?"

"Of course," said Li with a smile. He made sure the seed was nestled snugly into Iona's palm, and then let go of her hand. She closed her hand around the seed and closed her eyes, the light from the item flowing through her body.

"Come, Tia," said Li. "You've been sitting alone for too long. Let's go home now. It will be a big day tomorrow."

"Adventure!" exclaimed Tia as she leaped almost ten meters from where she was to Li's shoulder, latching onto his back in her usual manner. 

"Yes, adventure," said Li. ���I suppose it is never too early to begin exploring the world. For you and for me. I have spent all my time in this world tending to the land around and near me. If any other soul had come here, I am sure they would have wreaked all sorts of havoc or made a massive name for themselves."

"We go together. We fight together," nodded Tia happily. Her eyes shone with anticipation of the future. "Boring days over now."

"Don't get too excited now," said Li. "Papa will be making sure you do not misbehave, too." He turned to Iona. "Take care, Iona, of yourself and those under you. Use the Justicars as you see fit. Commune with me if ever there arises a situation out of your control. And I know what kind of person I am – I will not lose sight of that."

"Of course," said Iona as she finished integrating the seed into her being. Her figure began to flicker, the outlines of her body becoming faint as she began to dematerialize. "I look forward to seeing the world you will shape."

At noon the next day, Li stood outside of the doors of the farmer's guild, ready to leave the city and head out on his first proper adventure. He had quite a sizable pack on his back filled mostly with supplies for Tia and Old Thane because he was largely self-sufficient.

The top of the pack reached higher than Li's head, and Tia sat on top of the pack with her legs crossed, eyes wide as she looked around, enjoying the wonderful new vantage point to look at the world through.

Old Thane stood next to Li with his arms crossed, the end of his lengthy beard tied into a single braid. He did not wear his usual farmer's clothing, completely changing his image by wearing basilisk scale pants and worg skin coat.

He did not wear a shirt under the coat, instead letting impressively muscled arms, chest, and neck show. He had a little bit of a gut, but one that made him look stronger, more dense and thicker like the kind one would see on a powerlifter.

This was his adventuring gear, and he had insisted on wearing it again for old time's sake. Li thought it looked just a little ridiculous, but that was just to him. Any other passerby would see the countless scars etched upon the old man's bare body and know that they spoke of a history of accomplished violence.

Li himself was just in his regular guild uniform, and he did not intend to wear anything else so that he could spread the image of the guild throughout all the people and lands he traveled through.

"Old man, don't you get cold wearing that?" asked Li.

"Lad, I hail from the north where the winds were merciless enough to freeze the eyes solid were they left unshielded," said Old Thane. He thumped his chest, and the impact was solid. "I've nothing to fear from the elements. It is the demons that are to fear me!"

Zagan stirred by the old man's side, probably taking some minor offense to the statement, but since he had to still pretend to be a dog, he did not say anything.

"Well, alright then." Li looked behind him where the beastwomen from the night before had gathered. "And you three seem to be travelling very light. I did not bring supplies for everyone, you know, though I suppose food and drink are of no consequence with me."

The blonde maned Feli and the powerfully built Lupi stood a little distance away from each other, still not too comfortable with each other on an instinctive level. They were dressed in plain working clothing from their times on the farms or forests, and they notably carried no supplies. The clothing, Li could understand because they did not really wear armor, relying on their natural abilities to weather blows.

For the Feli, it was her extreme agility and capability to forge blood pacts to heal their wounds or gain even more strength to avoid danger. For the Lupi, it was her natural tenacity. Her high strength levels that granted her incredibly high health on top of fur that blunted physical damage and a significant healing factor.

"We are used to travel. But not like humans. We carry little. When we need food, we hunt. Water, we find. Carrying is heavy. Heavy is slow," said the Feli, and the Lupi gruffly nodded in agreement.

"Understandable," said Li. He noted the Serpi dressed in the sand-colored robes of her people. She did have a bag slung across her shoulder, but it was to hold her sand tablets. "And the same can be said for you?"

"Mine kind may cool the blood within us, letting our hearts slow. Thus, food and water becometh of little issue," said the Serpi. "Though, should mine magic dwindle or falter, then movement shall become difficult and slow."

"You shouldn't need to expend magic to survive when I am around, so that is fine," said Li. "Though, I am a little curious as to why the harpies did not send a representative."

The Lupi snorted, the back of her throat loosing a little of a growl as well. "Winged ones are cowards. Take to the sky whenever danger near. Never fight."

"Putting her words in a more eloquent manner," said the Serpi. "The harpi are no warrior race, nor doth they congregate in communes like us. Solitary they are, and to travel and fight strikes against their nature."

"That too is understandable," said Li. He pointed to the two brothers appearing from around a street corner, heavy packs angling their posture down. "A lot more so than those two coming, though I suppose I was the one that granted them permission in the first place."