"Hm? You're going to see the Aranara? How about taking me along?"
The voice came from Nahida's hair ornament—the current "residence" of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Idris shook his head. "Not looking like that. If the Aranara see you as a twig on Nahida's head, they'll think I did something weird to you again. If you want to come, at least finish getting out of that branch first."
He planned to meet the Aranara anyway. They were ancient guardians of the forest with real power. They would never fit into human society, but he still needed to greet them, set them at ease—and make sure that, when it mattered, the forest's sentinels listened to him. They were, after all, the best watchmen a rainforest could ask for. He had no intention of "subjugating" them; Aranara had always been the most faithful to the god of wisdom.
Denied, the Tree King immediately bristled from her perch.
"So you two are going off on a private date without me?"
Nahida flushed scarlet. "It's not a date! Don't say nonsense, Tree-King senior! I just want to take the Grand Sage to see friends I haven't visited in a long time!"
"If you don't bring me and only the two of you go, how is that not a date? I don't care—you have to take me."
She sounded ready to roll around and make a scene. Idris could picture the ancient white-haired lady pouting and play-acting right there. He also understood. She had woken from an era of loneliness; her old friends and memories were mostly gone. What remained were Nahida, Idris, Sumeru—and the Aranara. Watching the two leave her behind would be crushing.
Even so, he stayed firm. "I'm not bringing you like this. If you really want to go, finish molding a body in the next two days. If not, I'm locking you in a safe chamber until we get back."
"Objection sustained—with prejudice! Just you wait, Grand Sage Idris!"
Her indignant squeaks rattled Nahida's bangs. The two exchanged a helpless look and let it be.
The day slipped past in work. Idris always had memorials to clear, alchemy and formations to study, and the occasional dinner someone dragged him to. Night came quickly.
After a week, Nahida was still shy, but she could now lie calmly on the bed as a "body pillow." Idris was a disciplined villain; if he said she was just a pillow, he'd treat her only as one. He didn't even pull her into his arms—just rested while soaking in the overflowing vitality she gave off, and slept wonderfully.
Tonight, though, the vitality felt… too rich. In his sleep he caught a second, unfamiliar, herbal sweetness on the air. He didn't think much of it, and slept like a stone—until morning.
He woke half-suffocating, head buried in something soft, like sinking into a very gentle slime. He reflexively leaned back, opened his eyes—and froze.
A stunning white-haired beauty filled his vision. She was like an adult reflection of Nahida: wavy, snow-white hair; a body fragrant with life itself; lithe lines perfect without excess. She lay on the bed facing him, eyes warm and clear.
He very deliberately ignored where his head had just been, swallowed, and asked, "You… are the Tree King?"
"Good morning, Grand Sage Idris." Her smile turned playful. "You look very different asleep than when you're acting all stern. No wonder Nahida likes to sneak peeks at you."
"That's— that's not true!" came a mortified squeak from behind her. Nahida, of course.
Idris rubbed his nose. "How about we get off the bed before we talk?"
The cot in his quarters was a single. One tiny Nahida had never been a problem. One full-grown Tree King… was. Both women blushed and agreed. Surprise achieved, embarrassment followed. It was the first time she'd ever been so close to a man.
Once they'd all stepped back and cooled off, Idris took a proper look. Awe flickered in his eyes before he smoothed it away. "You look good, Tree King. Not just a body—there's vigor in you."
Rukkhadevata inclined her head. "Thanks to you. Without your help, I'd have vanished from Sumeru's history, let alone been reborn."
"A small favor," he said lightly. "Call it self-interest. In any case, since you're up and walking, it's time to assign you a post—and announce your identity."
She pouted. "You're ruthless. We were just sharing a bed and now you're throwing me to work. No wonder Nahida calls you a big meanie."
Nahida, cheeks aflame, nodded hard. On that point, she had a lot of opinions.
Idris didn't spar with two goddesses at once. "How far have you gotten with alchemy?"
"Far enough," she said serenely. "While my body reformed I studied your methods. I haven't refined a pill myself yet, but I've learned what I should. I can handle the Alchemy Division's elder seat—don't worry."
She was still the god of wisdom. However arcane, alchemy would yield to her soon enough.
"Good. In a bit I'll announce you as Sumeru's Grand Princess," he said, "and take you to the Alchemy Division to assume office."
"No objections." She smiled. It was a curious reversal—once, humans worked for gods; now, gods worked for a man. A strange, novel cycle she fully intended to savor.
After a quick tidy-up, they went to the Alchemy Division. Idris had the entire department assembled.
"The six classic schools each have their own elder," he began. "As a new pillar of the Akademiya, the Alchemy Division must have one too. Today, I'm appointing the right person."
A ripple went through the crowd of several hundred. Four of the top students stepped forward, brimming with confidence, and bowed.
"Grand Sage," one asked respectfully, "which of us will you choose?"
On the sidelines, Dinazad and several others sighed. Those four were plants—candidates secretly backed by elders from other schools, hoping to seize the Alchemy Division's elder seat and tap its future profits. It wouldn't shake Idris's supremacy, but it was disgusting—and crafty. Each of the four was genuinely excellent, both in skill and student prestige. If Idris passed them over, who would convince the masses? Unless he had someone even more qualified than himself… but was that possible?
He smiled. "The seat belongs to the capable. Until now, I didn't appoint anyone because there was no one sufficient."
He paused, letting the murmur crest.
"But now… there is."
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