A great success

Another two days had passed, and at last, all work on the glass house was completed. Ashan spent the entire day inside, carefully tending to the project he had worked so hard to bring to life. Elowyn, too, had begun spending her time there after the construction was finished. The two of them became the only ones allowed past the wall that surrounded the glass house. Whenever they emerged, they were covered in dirt, their clothes stained with soil and dust. Yet neither of them looked exhausted—instead, there was a strange energy in their eyes, as though they were working toward something that truly mattered.

This pattern continued for two more days, and it didn't go unnoticed.

Maria stood at a distance, staring at the walled-off structure with furrowed brows. Concern was evident in her eyes. Leone approached her and gently took her hand, squeezing it to bring her attention back to him.

"Maria, is something wrong? You look troubled," he said in a calm voice.

Maria let out a soft sigh. "Yes… I am worried. About our son and Elowyn. They've spent the last two days there, working tirelessly. And when they return, they're always covered in dirt from head to toe. It's clear Elowyn has been helping him a lot. I suspect they'll go again today."

Leone placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. They know how to take care of themselves. Have you noticed? Even though they return exhausted, their expressions are not ones of strain. They seem… fulfilled."

Maria nodded hesitantly. "I asked him if I could visit. But he told me not to come just yet, that it's a surprise."

Leone chuckled. "He told me the same thing. He even requested that I tell others not to disturb him. Whatever he's doing, it must be very important."

Maria looked at Leone.

"Dear, earlier you said that there is something that you have to say to me. What is it?"

"Ah..that. Do you remember that we have the first lord's party tomorrow?"

"Yes, is there any problem?"

Leone nodded.

"It got postponed."

Maria raised her eyebrows.

"Why is that?"

"A problem occurred in one of our imports so the first lord went to Acanthia to solve it. So until he comes the party won't start"

"That's unfortunate. So when will he come?"

"Don't know, maybe after three weeks or it can take more."

"Did you tell this to our son?"

"Not yet. I received the news early in the morning. Since he is busy I will tell him later"

Just then, Ashan approached them. "Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother," he greeted them warmly. Elowyn followed closely behind him and greeted them as well. She was dressed in practical clothing suitable for gardening, though she carried a coat in her hands to ward off the cold.

"Good morning," Leone responded. "It seems you two are headed to work again?"

"Yes, Father," Ashan replied. "But today, I need your help."

Leone raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you need?"

Ashan's expression grew serious. "I need the assistance of tree spirits. I'd like to speak with your spirits, Father. Can I call them now?"

Leone nodded, closing his eyes in concentration. After a moment, three black birds appeared from thin air, circling above him before landing on his shoulders. Their gleaming eyes turned toward Ashan, but before they could address him, their attention shifted to Elowyn.

"Leone," one of the birds spoke, its voice smooth yet sharp. "Who is that girl?"

"She stays with us," Leone answered carefully.

The birds took flight again, circling Elowyn with keen interest. She tensed, unsure of what they were about to do.

"Half human," one bird declared.

"Half animal," another one noted.

"The scent of a peacock," the last one said with certainty.

Then, all three spoke in unison: "She is a demi-human."

Leone stiffened in shock. "How did you know? I've never told you."

The three birds returned to his shoulders. "We can sense it. No matter what form they take, demi-humans always carry a distinct presence. But tell us—where did she come from? Though we recognize her as a peacock, we have never encountered one before."

Leone let out a breath. "I will explain everything in due time, but first, let's hear what my son has to say."

The birds turned back to Ashan. "Forgive us, young one. Our attention was diverted. We are listening now. Are you going to ask whether we have gathered tree spirits?"

"Yes," Ashan said. "It is time."

The birds cawed softly before speaking again. "Of course. Shall we summon them?"

"Yes, please."

The birds took to the air, their movements becoming a blur as they spun in a tight circle. A black, shimmering vortex formed around them, and suddenly, fifteen glowing green lights emerged. As the lights materialized into small humanoid figures, the tree spirits revealed themselves. Their tiny faces gleamed with curiosity, their bodies composed of various shades of green. The air filled with their playful, energetic presence as they flitted around the room.

"Enough of that," one of the black birds called out. "Come here."

The tree spirits immediately ceased their wandering and gathered before Ashan. The birds flew to his side.

"This is the one we spoke of. From now on, you will work with him."

As soon as the tree spirits took notice of Ashan, they surged toward him with excitement, perching on his shoulders, hands, and head.

"He is strong," one spirit murmured.

"Not only that, he smells good," another chimed.

"He is life itself," a third whispered in awe.

Ashan calmly smiled and looked at black birds. 

"Are there any special needs I should be aware of?"

"Only one," one of the birds answered. "They must feed on tree mana. As long as they receive an adequate supply, they will remain content."

Ashan turned to the spirits resting on him. "Will all of you help me?"

The spirits responded eagerly, "Yes, we will help you!"

Ashan nodded. "Thank you, then. Let's go."

He and Elowyn left the mansion and entered the glass house. The moment they stepped inside, Elowyn shivered, clutching her coat. The temperature had dropped significantly inside, and frost clung to the glass walls. Large, long boxes filled with soil stretched across the space, their surfaces lined with tiny emerging plants.

"It's freezing here! How is this possible? The environment inside is completely different from outside." spirits wondered.

Elowyn pulled on her warm coat. "Why aren't you wearing one? You'll get sick."

"I'll be fine," Ashan reassured her. "Just check on the plant buds."

Elowyn sighed and went to inspect them. Meanwhile, Ashan surveyed the room with satisfaction.

Everything is going according to plan. I used ice crystals to create a cost-effective air conditioning system, keeping the temperature ideal for Lunaris plants. Cold-absorbing stones regulate the sunlight by controlling the shutters. The biggest challenge is providing the right balance of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. If tree spirits can control them, this project will be a complete success.

He clapped his hands, calling the spirits. "Gather around. I have something to ask from you all."

The spirits hovered closer.

"I need you to regulate three types of air in this space." Ashan extended his hands, gathering the air elements with his wayo power. "Can you identify these?"

The spirits came closer and studied them before nodding. "Yes! Trees rely on these. We can control them."

Ashan withdrew his hands and smiled in satisfaction.

"Perfect. Just as I thought, you understand them well. That means you should be able to control them freely."

"Of course! We were born with the ability to manage them," another spirit chimed in. "Sometimes, trees and plants struggle to absorb enough due to competition in the environment. That's when we step in to help regulate the balance."

Ashan nodded. "Good. Then listen carefully—I have a task for you all. Five of you will focus on controlling these air types, ensuring they are distributed properly within the glass house according to the plants' needs. The remaining ten will concentrate on absorbing mana from the plants and applying it to the growing buds."

He turned toward a wooden box near the edge of the glass house, gently prying it open. Inside, fresh Lunaris plants lay nestled in the soil.

The spirits eagerly gathered around, picking up the delicate plants one by one. As they absorbed mana from them, their forms shimmered with vibrant green light.

"Amazing! What is this sensation?" one spirit exclaimed in awe. "This mana is incredibly rich. It's rare for such young plants to contain this much power."

Ashan observed their reaction with a smirk. "I take it you like it? How about using this mana as nourishment instead of requiring an external supply? Will this be enough to sustain you?"

The spirits twirled around excitedly. "Yes, absolutely! This mana is more than sufficient. We're happy to take it."

"Good," Ashan said, glancing around at the frost-covered interior of the glass house. "It seems the cold doesn't bother you either. That means we can begin immediately. I'll supervise and make adjustments if needed."

With that, the spirits sprang into action. Elowyn busied herself with watering the plants while the spirits deftly manipulated the air, filling the space with the perfect balance of air. Meanwhile, the mana-infused spirits worked, strengthening the tiny buds with every touch.

Slowly but surely, the plants thrived. Their small leaves became richer in color, their stems more resilient. The process was smooth, efficient—proof that Ashan's plan was succeeding.

As he watched the healthy Lunaris plants flourish before his eyes, a smirk crept onto his lips.

Hugo, I wonder just how devastating your loss will be.

To be continued…