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Chapter 6 - The Ivy Pillar

After a while Layla suggested a technique that Kurt seemed to get the hang off of, it was a water fist. His water fist was exactly what it sounded like, he was able to create a heavy pressured water ball around his fist, this meant it gave a good hit, but also most importantly protected his hand, allowing him to punch harder. Some of the problem with using your fist is that, if you punch something too hard, it will break your hand. With the water fist, once he made contact the water would immediately start cushioning his hand. He could at full strength though break past the water fist, basically running out the water cushioning the blow. In any event, Kurt felt he would eventually make it have different forms, like a spike or something. 

"So it seems like you're feeling very well, I guess we should talk about getting you back, and how something has changed with that plan."

"Huh, what do you mean? You're not sending me back."

"No, no I am, it's just now I'm coming with you."

"What do you mean with me."

"Well you have this pull from your world, since your from there and now since you have this connection with the well, we need to make sure that has some access."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I have to make a gate. If I don't it's possible the connection between you and the fountain will break, and thus that part of your soul." 

"What?"

"There are gates in your world?"

"No, no there are, it's just, there are not very many, and a new one would be a target."

"I agree it would, that's why I have to come with you."

"Why?"

"To find a proper place to put it, you could always just say here as well, that's an option." 

"Aren't gates rather big, I mean the one I went through was pretty huge."

"That seems excessive, I was thinking more the size of like you and me. And don't worry it's not permanent, we can always move it, though doing so will take time, it is not exactly a quick process for me. And moving the first one means I have to take one down and put one up." 

"Okay, so I guess that means I can come back," Layla nodded, "so we are all good really. I'll have to think of where to put it, and can you walk?"

"Walk?" Layla was hovering.

"Yes, a flying Faye will also cause some attention." Layla floated down to the ground, "okay good." 

"You're taking this better than I expected."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you becoming a Champion is sort of a big deal in a lot of ways."

"I'm not actually seeing many downsides to this, I'm definitely stronger now. Having access to these sides is something I can probably work with."

"You do realize it also means that if the well is attacked you are also sort of expected to defend it though. And unfortunately I'm a bit ambitious."

"What do you mean?"

"It is very likely my actions here will be noticed. I'm restarting a river, and a wasteland is starting to grow. I mean it's progressing a lot faster because of you, I said I think of the fountain as a pump, and you becoming a champion, sort of makes it possible. It will take a while before anyone serious will see, but eventually they will." 

"You're saying it's not if, but when?"

"Well, even wild creatures will be drawn eventually. Mindless creatures can be dangerous. It's a responsibility that you never asked for. But at the same time we can make allies as well."

"Like the gnomes"

"Exactly." 

"Sounds complicated."

"Don't worry I can handle all of that political stuff, it's not like I'm going anywhere."

"Why not?"

"The well is also a prison for me in a lot of respects, one of the benefits for me having a champion is you can escort me out of the well, but I will have to be close to you, or I'll be sent back to the well." 

"Sent back?"

"I hear it's rather unpleasant, but I'll slip through space back to my well, that will be tiring while I make the gate as well, I'll have to be let's say in the same building as you, depending on how tall, you won't have to hold my hand or anything, well after we slip through to your side, it's easier when we are touching for that. But after that, you can't run off, I'm not sure exactly what happens when there is no gate to go through too. I might just slip back to you or the well." 

"So you're in a cage."

"Are a tree's roots a cage? Or is it just a tree? I'm not like a human remember. Don't worry too much about me, I'm perfectly content here actually. it's a big cage anyway, those growths all the way out there, are fine, and it should get bigger with time. The other side of the world, maybe never, but I think a lot of people can say that without the cage at all."

Layla and Kurt continued talking, she explained they could go whenever they want but she asked for some of Kurt's advice because this side of the gate would be where they left from. After some discussion, they decided the best place for the gate on this side would be outside the pillar, you don't want a way into the middle of your encampment, but you also don't want the gate too far if there was ever a need to run, or has reinforcements. 

Looking up at the pillar, it was adorned in ivy, unlike when he was originally going up it. The strands of the ivy were growing all along the sides, making it stand out even more against the lifeless backdrop. Yeah, it was going to get noticed eventually, it was noticeable before, but now it was like a green thumb sticking out of the land, beyond that the waterfall, no matter how pathetic it was, was flowing once the basin at the bottom filled up, it would start traveling down the canyon. It was like a terraforming event had happened.

"It's pretty," said Layla, "noticing some of the vines had some flowers on them." 

"I wasn't expecting such a massive change."

"Huh? Why not Faye Well are like the source of everything, well not everything there are other things that sort of act the same."

"What do you mean?"

"I guess the most obvious is a dragon, they are like a moving, flying, self contained well in a lot of ways, it's different but the powers are very similar. Since a dragon can bathe someone in their flame and get the same benefit of drinking some of the well water. Obviously there are a lot of differences." 

"Dragons are the top of the food chain here then."

"Ohh gods yes, you would be best to avoid them. There is really nothing anyone can do about them." Layla stared off, like she was thinking of something else.

The gnomes had already made a simple doorway, and the growth of the trees around the pillar he could see, there would soon be a boon in their ability to make a habitat, there seemed to be more gnomes somehow. 

Once the gotten to the bottom of the stair well, Kurt and Layla started explaining to one of the Gnomes what they were planning, and he suggested the exact placement, even though it was going to be outside the pillar it didn't mean it was going to be outside the fortifications they were intending. It seemed like the Gnome had expected that this would at least be one of the options. The other main option was the very top of the pillar, but that still seemed too vulnerable to an attack from it, if the other side of the gate had proper fortifications it would be a great placement for reinforcements. Or some dead end inside, but that felt wasteful of the space in there. 

It was time to go back to earth. 

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