Love Poison No Cure Needed

Reporting to Elders 2.26

Sorrel constantly checked back at Kayad as they rode over the Northbridge and into the BIRD. Sorrel was fairly certain that he had managed to detoxify enough of the Brimstone vine’s sap that Kayad should be functioning normally, but Sorrel was still concerned. He’d been surprised at Kayad’s remarkable physique in that it had a great resistance to poisons and toxins even Outer Realm ones which was remarkable.

Still, it was well known that Beastskin were susceptible to negative effects from Outer Realm plants more easily and Kayad just wanted to be sure that Kayad was alright. When they parked out the front of Saige Park Sorrel sighed in relief that Kayad had been very stable throughout the drive. 

As they started towards the entrance Sorrel relaxed. However, before they passed through the gate Kayad staggered. Sorrel turned and shifted into his side while sliding an arm around his waist to support him.

“I’m fine,” Kayad said as he straightened away so that Sorrel barely supported any of his weight.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, I haven’t heard of any other Beastskin being as resistant as you. I think even some Realmskin would have been done in by the amount that you drank.” Sorrel soothed as he maintained his position. 

Kayad just shook his head but didn’t move away as he draped his arm around Sorrel’s back. While Kayad hadn’t surrendered more weight, Sorrel was satisfied that in this position if Kayad staggered again Sorrel would be able to support him.

When the pair approached the base of Grandpa Oak the elder tree waved its small branches and reached out to pull them apart. Sorrel immediately grasped one of the branches and smiled before saying, “Grandpa Oak, this is Kayad can you check him for residue Brimstone vine sap poisoning, I think I removed it all, but he is still occasionally unsteady.”

The branches that had continued to wrap around Kayad and gradually obscure him from sight slowly loosened and dropped before the end of one larger branch leaned down and started to sweep from left to right and up and down directly in front of Kayad.

*there are a few trances that remain, but they will have no lasting effects. I believe you should still be in class so why are you here? * The aged voice resounded with the creaking of wood. 

“Well, I found some of Bri’s missing seeds. At least one has sprouted. You know, hence Kayad’s sap poisoning. Unfortunately, someone has been feeding the vine animal meat, and its own seeds while letting it grow wild.” Sorrel explained quickly about the fight and then winced slightly at the prolonged silence that followed.

*I see. I will have Nonna Yew begin brewing the Potion of Eternal Rest. We have enough of the ingredients at least. Still to have used so much of your mana. You must replenish before you leave. * one of the oak branches whipped around with a c***k before it reached off into the distance.

*Poke. Poke* Sorrel turned and shook his head at the birch branch tapping on his shoulder.

As he sighed in defeat Sorrel reached out to grasp the branch while he said, “Grandad Ash, the action doesn’t require you to say anything.”

*Stare. Stare* Sorrel rolled his eyes as Kayad walked over from where he had been leaning against one of the younger oak trees nearby.

“Seriously if you want to ask something just ask.” Sorrel was exasperated as he roughly shook the ash branch.

*Just wanted to remind you. No dating till your 17. Also, the person needs to be properly vetted by us. * The cheerful aged voice of Grandad Ash resounded as the branch extended to wave playfully in front of Sorrel’s nose.

Sorrel blinked rapidly before being immensely grateful that he was a normal warm blooded human cause he felt certain he’d have been blushing right then. Whose early dating clearly haven’t even been asked yet. Also, what vetting he was not going to accept that sort of archaic treatment in this day and age. 

“I’m not. I wouldn’t. I won’t. You’re not allowed to.” Sorrel stumbled over his response for a moment before he snarled at the end as he tightened his hold on the branch. When he felt the branch twinge in his hand Sorrel hurriedly released it.

“A certain amount of teasing is normal when your elders meet your friends. Don’t take it too hard.” Kayad offered from the side as he nodded at the branch. The branch in turn circled around him once and then waved ambivalently from side to side. Then the branch turned back to Sorrel before it made a nodding motion.

Sorrel widened his eyes and then glanced lightly at Kayad. Seeing him have no particular reaction Sorrel sighed in relief and searched for a distraction.

One arrived in the form of an oak branch bearing a large woven basket full of fruit. With an excessive enthusiasm Sorrel reached for the basket. After unhooking the basket from the branch Sorrel settled it on the ground and peered at the content.

“I recognise some of those shapes and colours but not in those combinations, and this one straight up doesn’t seem edible.” Kayad leaned over Sorrel’s back and looked at the hot pink banana shaped fruit as well as the pale blue apple before he at last pointed to an orange that was deep blue with red spots.

“Oh? Right, you know I basically didn’t eat the human realm fruits when I was growing. They are innately mild in mana concentration. It was better to eat a high sugar concentrate snack in that sense. So, when you first handed me a banana, I thought it was an unripe crescent fruit.” Sorrel chuckled as he spoke pointing to the hot pink curved fruit.

“the crescent fruit and the waning fruit,” Sorrel continued as he gestured to the blue coloured apple. “Are both Fey realm fruits. The high mana density led to a lot of plants developing a mana storage ability and so this fruit is the result.” Sorrel paused at the repeated nudges from the nearby branches and quickly ate three of the crescent fruit before he started to slowly eat a waning fruit.

Sorrel then resumed his explanation as he picked up the blue and red orange. “The water flame fruit is actually an angel realm fruit. While the realm is not rich in mana it tends to have waves and so the Ocean Blaze tree absorbs a large amount of mana in a wave and stores it in a fruit for use if it runs out. Though none of these should be eaten by Beastskin. I don’t think you’d handle the mana concentration; its density in the fruit far surpasses what is normally experienced in this realm.”

Kayad nodded in response and then sat quietly to the side as Sorrel continued to eat the fruit. When Kayad noticed one of Sorrel’s flowers reforming with his continued consumption he smiled slightly before leaning back as he closed his eyes.