Chapter 539: Quiet Remembrance
Tala and Rane sat with Master Grediv in one of the more cultivated parts of their sanctum. Though that was incredibly relative, as by being a crafted and grown expanded space, the entire thing was cultivated in practically every sense of the word.
Still, this portion looked cultivated, with low clover growing over much of the clear space to give a nice, springing surface to walk upon among the trees and flowering bushes.
Terry had flickered through the area before Master Grediv’s arrival to give both Tala and Rane anniversary trills, to offer seemingly instructive and chiding chirps—to which they listened with rapt attention—and to eat what had remained of the food that they’d set aside from their spread just for him… as well as the dishes made specifically for him.
He had then looked briefly down the path before flickering away, giving them their anniversary mostly to themselves.
This garden area was near the Path of Remembrance that Rane had worked to cultivate, a path that wandered by various statues of those they wished to remember. That area had several benches along the way, but was more closed off than most of the rest of the sanctum, keeping those outside from seeing in and giving a feeling of focus and quietude.
They, of course, were not meeting in that portion of the garden. Instead, as an accompaniment to the Path of Remembrance, Tala and Alat had arranged for a more curated portion to be worked into the area to one side of the Path. It was to be a place for being with others, and was to stand in complementary contrast to the solemnity of the Path.
So, in their newer garden, a late-afternoon tea had been laid out for the three Paragons. Most of the repast was set up on tables to the side, while they were at a smaller one, perfectly sized to allow for their tea and food to have ample room, while not separating the people overmuch.
So far, they had exchanged initial greetings, selected their individual teas, and gathered a selection of foods to eat in accompaniment.
Master Grediv’s first cup of tea was nearly half-way drunk when he broke the comfortable silence. “You two have quite thoroughly surpassed my expectations, and yet you still manage to bring more work with you than any other Mage I can remember.”