Li explained to Old Thane the bare bones version of what had went down. He told him how the thieves were affiliated with Black Vine, but he omitted that they were a secret den of vampires wanting to usurp the kingdom. He didn't tell him about the vast power he had used to subjugate the organization entirely. It felt pointless to burden him with more worries about things he would have never found out otherwise.

"And the thugs? They won't be coming back anymore. I've made sure they'll never even think about setting foot near here," said Li. He stood up and began cleaning the table up. He put the loaf back into its basket – it was still nearly whole, as Li only ate as a gesture of courtesy rather than need. He put the mugs and plates away into a washing bucket capped with a lid inscribed with a cleansing rune.

Old Thane tugged at his beard. "Gods, to think Black Vine would stoop to such lows. I'd heard the rumors, but never did they dare to loosen such brazen thuggery upon Aine. I would not have allowed it, nor would any of the adventurers thankful for her life-saving brews."

"Don't waste your breath on them," said Li. "They're done."

Old Thane nodded his head and crossed his arms. "Aye, that's good to hear that they won't be hounding us. Say, lad, how about we show them up even more? Your license is coming tomorrow, no? Once that is here, you should show Black Vine how a real herbalist does his job. Would make them right ashamed to even sell their cheap wares."

"Listen, do not speak more of Black Vine as if they are still some thorn at my side. There is no need to ever treat them as an equal. I will never have to compete with their lowly ilk for I have decreed that they will never rear their pathetic heads ever again." As Li spoke, his voice rumbled, and his expression darkened. The cottage trembled just a little, as if shuddering at the clump of eldritch power it housed.

"I have subjugated them entirely, making bloody examples of their brethren, instilling within them a fear that will never be forgotten, not even in centuries. Even now, they still weep tears of blood at the misery I have wrought upon them. Their leader I have taught well, for now he truly understands where he stands in this world: right under my heel. Though his dreams are lofty, I have etched unto his being that reality will always show him that he will always be beneath me."

Old Thane stared at Li open-mouthed for a few seconds before he nodded slowly. "Aye…I was merely suggesting things, lad. I understand, they are no longer a problem."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." said Li as he shook his head. He felt as if he was in a daze, lightheaded as if he had been pulled all of a sudden to the ground from a great altitude. When he looked at Old Thane, seeing both equal parts fear and concern etched into the old man's wrinkles, he sobered up completely from whatever leftover influences of his eldritch power there were.

"Perhaps it is best we get some sleep," said Old Thane as he reached out and gave Li a pat on the back.

Li opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but in the end, he just ended up nodding with a quiet "yeah."

---

The next day proceeded as usual. Li and Old Thane got up at dawn and weeded the fields and began pruning the herb and berry gardens. Old Thane was back at his chatty mood, this time regaling Li with the ups and downs of a tale revolving around masquerading as a pit fighter to bust a criminal overlord.

It was as if nothing had happened, and Li still smiled and laughed and threw out the occasional sarcastic but bantering barb at the old man, and yet today, it felt as if the exchanges were just that much hollower.

When Old Thane went back in the cottage right as first light broke and Charles and his building crew came by, Li stood at the main road, watching the building crew work on the stall and the extensions to the gardens. He decided to himself that he would lay off the eldritch spells. He would stick with regular Druidry if he could as it was jarring to find how quickly and significantly the eldritch powers impacted him.

'Is something troubling you, master?' communicated Zagan. He sat by Li, staring straight ahead as Remy and Rosa hugged him from each side.

Charles had brought his children to work today as they had insisted on wanting to see Zagan, probably to alleviate their grief over losing their own canine companion.

'It's been a little jarring, feeling the effects of using my higher-order spells. It almost feels like I'm a stranger in my own body,' said Li. He looked as the children tugged at Zagan's fur. The demon did not glance at them or pay attention to them at all, instead just sitting stiff and straight. "And you? How are you holding up under all this harassment?'

'Fine. The children respect my boundaries. They do not tell me to sit or roll over or perform any other inane trick, and so I tolerate their play.' Zagan closed his eyes. 'Master, it is truly a matter of perspective. Should you embrace your higher existence, then it will be that your humanity will become the foreign presence.'

Li nodded. 'Right, but I didn't expect things to move so quickly. I've anchored my humanity on Old Thane, right? Then he's the last person I should be feeling these changes around, and yet I still do.'

'A testament more to the strength of your humanity than its weakness. Family defined your humanity, and the old human symbolizes family – there could have been no better anchor. Understand, master, that when you channel the full might of your Elder being, you are calling upon forces so primordial and massive in scale that your humanity may as well be a grain of sand in a vast desert to them. That your anchor still works so well is an impressive feat.'

Li sighed. He accepted that he was going to lose his humanity, but he didn't want to cast if off before Old Thane passed. At the least, he wanted to give the old man a familiar, human compassion and respect to send him off when the time came. Were he to become whatever it was he was becoming, then the best he could do would be to fake such emotions, and he didn't want that.

The old man deserved better. Far better.

Zagan's ears perked up and he stood on his paws, gently shaking the children off. They, sensing that Zagan wanted space, shrunk back, watching the demon with quizzical eyes. He stared across the main road, towards an incoming figure.

'Master, shall I deal with that?'

Li cocked his head. He knew who was coming and had a good reason why, but still, it was a little odd. 'No, not at all. I guess I've been expecting her?'

The proctor from the herbalist's exam was running up the main road, her dirt brown robes trailing behind her and gathering up dust. She waved her arm in the air, her hand clutching at a tightly wound scroll. Probably Li's license, but why had she taken the trouble to hand deliver it? She could have just used the Roc delivery service. Crown employees could use it free of charge for official business, after all.

"Whew," she huffed when she arrived in front of Li. She brushed amber locks out of her eyes and took in several deep breaths until she regained her composure. She looked at Li with surprising energy in her face – a marked contrast compared to the day of the test when it seemed nothing would keep her from her sleep. But no amount of energy would ever wipe away the dark bags under her eyes, and even with her impressive sprinting display, she still looked as if at any moment, a strong breeze would be enough to knock her down.

"Under the light of Soleil, I hereby officially grant you…bah, to hells with formality."

Then, all of a sudden, she bowed so deeply that she almost bent at ninety degrees at her waist. Her arm extended forwards, holding the scroll out. "Here is your license, and I beg of you, now that I know for certain that you are one of the last great forest spirits, hear my request. I have nowhere to turn to - my woods and my guardian spirit have long been razed to the ground – so though I may be but a lowly treant, please find it within your heart to take me in as your apprentice and one of your roots."