But it’s a start.
Seeds start small, too.
And then they grow.
I slip a tiny dragon scale inside its inner workings.
“Stabilize,” I pronounce in a low voice made rich and resonant with the power I channel.
The device flares bright gold, with veins of sparkling white mixed in.
Sage and dragon magic, working together. Not a sight I ever thought to see.
What else have I never imagined?
When the glow fades, I hand it back to Tasa. “Can you seal it so the dragon scale inside can’t be seen?”
“Hm? Oh yeah, sure. I can do that when I install it.”
She’s staring at me like she’s seeing me for the first time.
In a way she is; being sage is a part of me, and I imagine the glowing makes it visibly real in a way it previously wasn’t to her.
But I have never been a sage like this before.
And I find that it matters to me that this one person sees me as more than a divine vessel.
It’s greedy. I’ve already been chosen by a god.
But I want to be chosen by her.
“You can fix us,” Tasa whispers.
I shake my head sharply. “There’s nothing to fix. Nothing is broken.”
“Actually quite a lot is literally broken—”
“Tasa.”
“Yes, okay, this isn’t broken exactly, its magic just doesn’t work—”
I grip her shoulders. “You’re not broken. All of this is the pieces for a new beginning. I can merely strengthen what is already here.Youare the one who builds.”
She blinks.
And a smile spreads across her face, like dawn breaking across the sky.
“And now I won’t have to worry that the roof will fall down!” Tasa exclaims. “No no I get it, I still have to pay attention to physics, but—”
“You can build more houses,” I say intently. “You can buildwhatever you want. And each will be different, because you’ll always be working with different pieces, different needs—”
“And I won’t get bored,” Tasa whispers. “But—”
I place a finger on her lips. “No buts. This will work. For you, and for Crystal Hollow. My word as a sage.”
Tasa was right. I can start with something small that matters and build up.
Now I have to convince her that she already matters.
