#debukefarmhold

She shifts, rolling her shoulders a bit. "I still sort of feel the...kind of like echoes of the growing. But maybe I'm just imagining it?"

"For us, imagining is learning" Clem says "So pay attention to what your imagination is saying"

"Well...it's like...nature wants to grow. It wants to push out of what it is into something more, bigger, stronger. Right?"

"That's a big yes... and it's not always a peaceful process. Some claim that you don't know war until you've seen the trees fight for sun... over decades, each skirmish... nots ure that's how I like to think of them, but there you have it"

"Well...they're warriors, just in a different way." Sylvi doesn't have any trouble with thinking of trees that way.

"mmm well, you're the one raised next to a forest, our woods are..well, more neighbors to the farm than a part of it. Your folk are more wood folk than we'll ever be" Clem admits "And that's good. Let's you find metahors that MEAN more to you. "

"Clem, what if you had changed me into...oh, a daisy seed. When the daisy was as full grown as it could get, if I stepped out of it then, would I still be little? Or would I be my full-grown self?"

"Want to find out?" Clem says

"Uhhhhh...are you pretty sure I'd be okay with the result?"

"Nope." A grin "That's why I went with tree. Because I didn't know and was only willing to experiment so far"

"Yeahhhh, okay. So, let's not daisy."

"Now, why don't we practice on other things"

"Sure!" Energized, refreshed, Sylvi's eager to get to the next lesson.

It takes a lot of time... but then Sylvi has a breakthrough... the experience of life... of growing not what is young, but what was damaged. As she mimes digging A seed.... a well of water springs forward. Healing water!

"Welcome to the next level" Clem says!

(Pause /End either)

Sylvi stares at the little spring of water. "Are...are you sure it will work? Somebody just has to drink it?"

Clem says "Oh I'm sure, but here.." She takes some nettles and rubs hem into her hand "Now, technically, spill no blood... this will tear a bit of flesh instead..." Gently...geez that doesn't look good.

Then she drinks and ..the scratches heal!

Sylvi gasps a little...she's had nettles, and they're no fun. But then they heal up, and she stares at the little spring again. "How long does it last? And...how many people can it help?"

"Depends on the power... like any cantrip. Take Gerd.. sometimes she can be there instantly, other times an hour."

"Okay...got it." A deep breath and a smile. "This'll be a big help. Thanks, Clem!" She gives her a hug.

A hug " You're welcome, but you did this. You busted your hump to get to this level. One day, you might just master it"

"I hope so. How long did it take you?"

"Oh you'vee gotten to this point faster than I got to it.. as for how long it took to reach mastery in an art...mmm" She ponders "I paused after I learned healther balm in primal then took another 2 years for Elderform I think"

"Right. Okay...well, this should help me survive those years," she quips. Then, "Hey...can this stuff be bottled? Will it work later?"

"Depends on how powerful the cantrip is...longest it will last is a week, but it can wink out in one minute"

"Okay, so it's a gamble either way. I bet I'll be able to figure it out better with practice, get a feel for how long." A grin. "Hey, thanks for helping me 'branch out' and stuff."

"Sure," She says not seeming to have gotten the joke as she is very serious faced, "Sometimes there are gains when you're willing to go out on a limb"

Okay..maybe she she got it

A little wince. "Okay, okay...I better leaf, now."

"Wood you kindly?" Straight faced

"No need to bark, I'm going!" She grabs her stuff with a grin and hurries out of there.

"I wonder if Vali'si nfluence is the root of you... oh darn it she's gone before I could think of that one." Clem mmphs "Too slow, Clem, too slow."

and indeed, Sylvi has escaped with the precious last word

A victorious giggle as Sylvi makes good her escape.