Chapter 33

Judging from his bright smile and his little toddler head bob, he seemed pretty happy with name. As he turned around I noticed what appeared to be little wings on his back keeping him aloft in the air parallel with my face. Soundlessly he urged me over to other plants that were coated in the green dust particles. I watched in fascination as throughout the night, Jade seemed to have aged. Not enough for someone who wasn't with him, but enough to realize that there seemed to be some sort of connection, but I just couldn't figure it out. Was he also cultivating with me as we moved from plant to plant?

Throughout the entire morning and afternoon, I focused only on the green dust particles; ignoring all the other colors. By the early evening, I realized that I could tell a lot more about the plant life around me than I could before. I could tell which needed water, more sunlight, or even those that were sick. Jade was my constant companion throughout the morning, telling me stories about all the plants and guiding me on helping the plants that were sick. I found an old tin and used it to water the dry plants. I made a mental note about those that needed more sunlight; it was impossible for me to move them to a sunny part of the garden with my size.

I could feel the sunlight moving down and my stomach began to growl; reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since early morning. I had been having so much fun with Jade, that I completely lost track of time. I was jut about to head back to clean up before dinner when I saw a negative space come towards me. I knew that it was Lady Emmi and so called out to her.

"Good...evening...Lady...Emmi" I said as clearly and evenly as I could. Talking with Jade all day had definitely helped me exercise my voice, but I realized that it was going to take awhile before it was back to normal. At least most of the raspiness was gone.

"Did you have a good day in the garden?" Lady Emmi asked me. I nodded enthusiastically.

"I...made...a...new...friend" I said with a smile.

"Huh?" Lady Emmi said with a questioning expression. "Did your friend go home already".

"No. He...is...right...here." I said, pointing to Jade floating next to my head.

"Ah, that's nice. Let's get you cleaned up and head in for evening meal" I followed Lady Emmi; trotting to keep up with her.

"Want...to...eat...with...us?" I asked Jade as he flew along beside me. He shook his head and then disappeared. I was disappointed, but felt that I would see him again the next day.

"Who are you talking to?" Lady Emmi asked, halting her steps.

"Jade." I said.

"Oh, does he or she want to eat with us?"

"No...he...disappeared".

I really wanted to explain more, but how was I going to tell her when I didn't know what he was or where he came from. I assumed she probably thought that I had an imaginary friend and, come to find out later, that was exactly the case.

Dinner was wonderful. The tastes were different from my last world, but they were also nothing like the bland mash and fruit I had suffered with eating for a year. I cleaned my plate clean and then Lady Emmi took me back outside for evening cultivation. Seeing that the purple and black dust particles seemed only available at night, I focused on both of them, ignoring for now, the other dust particles that I could consume during the daytime.

Slowly throughout the evening and into the beginning of the night, Lady Emmi and I sat in the grass and quietly cultivated side by side. I hadn't realized that while cultivating I had fallen asleep, until I felt gentle arms pick me up and carry me back to my bed.

When I awoke in the morning, I noticed that the room was quite a bit warmer than it had been when I first began sleeping here. I then noticed a small red toddler. He looked like a slightly older version of the red toddler that I saw during the ceremony, but his outfit looked the same.

"Hello" I greeted him.