Tristan spent much of the day working with Dorni. The design he had thought of was, unfortunately, panned by all the gnomes.

"Bandoliers full of artificed items? That's silly," one said.

Another added. "I was already wary of the amulet belt, but this is just ridiculous. It'll hamper movement!"

Dorni finally shook his head. "Lord Tristan, you should really consider a shield, instead. We could easily incorporate slots for the rods on the back of a shield, and you could have it slung over your shoulder when not in use."

"I'm already becoming overburdened with weapons," Tristan replied as he gestured to his armor and weapons that were set out nearby. "I love the dagger, by the way." It was a gorgeous piece, the same blend of metal and design as his sword, just appropriately sized for the weapon type; a nice replacement for the one that melted away when he fought the Starsworn. "But that on my other hip, and then the maul slung on my back, over the cloak, mind you, the Queen's Wood staff, my bow."

One of the gnomes slapped his forehead. "Dorni, didn't one of those Winterbloom brats of Zeltana's have something for this exact issue?"

Dorni scratched his beard. "Be more specific. Which brat?"

"The one who was born with the spell type that did what the fairy dragons do."

"Extradimension is what the Citadel called it," Tristan added.

"That thing! Lord Tristan, you should just get a bigger storage space."

"The issue is quick access," Tristan replied. "Without needing to rely on having essence to access it."

The gnomes each put their heads down to their chins in deep thought, muttering ideas to one another in a near hive mind state. Finally, Dorni snapped his head up and locked eyes with Tristan. "You will have to deal with having multiple weapons you heft around, Lord Tristan."

"Figured as much," Tristan replied. "So, a shield added on top of all of that is right out."

"Ooh! What if we . . . no, that won't work." Once more, the gnomes put their heads down in thought.

Felicity flew down from the branches and landed on Tristan's head, gently batting his ears. "What's going on?"

"They're thinking."

"Duh. About what?"

"Some way to let me have more artificed spells on hand."

Felicity looked at the neatly stacked pile of round, platinum rods that could hold artificed spells, the spread-out papers with Tristan's ideas jotted on them, and then across the corridor between crafting stations. "Why not cloth?" She hopped from Tristan's head, glided to the ground, took her Elfanoid form, and walked over to grab several scarves. "Just take this, make little pockets for the rods, and then roll them up like this." She quickly rolled the fabric into a tight bundle and tied it off with twine. "Artificed items just have to be within touch, right?"

"Not quite," Dorni replied as he looked up and joined Felicity at the table. "It must be integrated into something touching the person. But you gave me a brilliant idea, young lady." He turned to Tristan. "A scale cloak. We can attach scales made of precious metals and forged to the requisite quality for being an artificed item."

Felicity glanced at Tristan's armor on the mannequin nearby, and then back to Dorni. "Couldn't you have done that to all the little scales on the main armor setup?"

Dorni shook his head. "Those scales had to be tiny to allow for the best mobility. These scales will be—" He cracked a big grin and looked at Tristan. "Looks like we've come up with a use for all those dragon scales. On their own, they wouldn't count. But if we gilded and decorated them, those would count."

"Well then, let's get to it. Craft the scales and then let me know when we are ready. I'll do all the spells and artifice them. Make sure we mark them out with numbers in Elvish." He looked at Felicity. "Each number will correspond to a spell. Every single Fifth Order spell or lower that I currently have access to."

Dorni spoke up at that. "We can always do multiple layers if we need to add more! Or, rather, fill in the gaps." The gnomes began setting to work, dispersing and shouting out orders and replies. A well-oiled machine that was stirring to life as forges blazed and words were bandied back and forth. Dorni, however, stayed put and spoke. "It will take us two days."

Tristan looked at Felicity. "Well then, I think we can keep ourselves occupied for a few days."

Felicity grinned and grabbed his hand. "Come on. Down to your chambers!" She stood on her tiptoes so that she could whisper in his ear. "We haven't done anything for weeks. You better be able to keep up."

After two days of amorous repast, only broken up with visits to the Summerbalm Springs and a unicorn-back tour of the Fey Realm, Tristan was summoned to Dorni. As he walked up, he saw all the scales laid out, with the different spells next to them. They set to work; Tristan connected to the Fey Realm more than capable of using the full suite of spells at his disposal. The gnomes, on the other hand, had to rotate through their numbers to continue the bevy of spells. By the end of the process, over two-hundred spells had been artificed into scales, meticulously attached to one another, and then put onto the Cloak of Winterbloom. A banner of all the creatures Tristan had slain, on full, colorful display along his back. It would add some weight, but post-Trial of the Sap, Tristan was not concerned with the extra heft. The scales would also act as an additional layer of protection.

That is a lot of spells, Zeltana said in his mind as they worked on the last batch. Not taking my warning to heart?

Tristan replied in a whisper that only he could hear; especially with the sound of tink, tink from little hammer strikes drowning out his words. "I don't want to have to constantly reference my Omnitome. That's why I have the scales with those little, gilded numbers, and the matching chart sewn into the inner lining."

Not what I'm talking about. You're going too broad, not narrow enough.

"I can always detach the cloak if needed. I'm also not memorizing these ones. I'm following your advice on that part."

I still think you will face choice paralysis in the moment.

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"It's not meant for being used in the moment. It is meant to be accessed outside of a fight. Plus, those scales are hard, and with the reinforcement? I can use the cloak like a shield to protect from arrows, if I wanted."

I suppose that is fair. Just make sure that you do not forsake your go-to spells and martial prowess in favor of these artificed trinkets. Sheer skill will overcome the most potent of essence-weavers.

"If that's what you think," Tristan replied. But the more he pondered her words and cast spells into the artificed items, the more he realized he would be an absolute idiot if he didn't take her sage advice into account. After all, she had been a conqueror and had doubtless come up against hundreds of mighty threats. "Thanks for the feedback. I promise, the cloak and all these artificed spells are just to save time outside of a fight."

Good. Now, about the dryads; I had previously advised you to unseal them last. However, circumstances seem to be forcing you to prioritize them. The Daylight Dell awaits.

Tristan finished up the last of the spells he needed to artifice and then thanked the gnomes before heading over to the cooking area. There were almost always people cooking, whether gnomes or residents. After grabbing some delicious vegetables on a skewer, he headed up to the top boughs to look out over the Fey Realm. "Okay, where is it."

Look to your left. Tristan did so. Now, you see that part just past the Fallthorn Forest borders, but before the rise of the Undermount?

"Yes. It's just a little spur of regular forest."

It hides a chasm. A chasm that is filled with constant sunlight, hence the name Daylight Dell. The seal is in there. The region that was sealed away and will slowly spread will cause rifts to appear in the ground.

"That seems dangerous for the rest of the residents."

It complements the Summerbalm Springs very well, as the waters can flow through the crevices and drop in magnificent waterfalls, making grottos down below. Plus, the Fallthorn Forest will begin to grow some roots to span the gaps as bridges. And of course, jumpshrubs will grow in the depths to cushion falls. Although, you could make changes to the Fey Realm at the cost of some of its ambient essence. Permanent, lasting changes.

"Each time I unlock part of the realm, more ambient essence is available, yes?"

Mhmm.

"Since you're basically one with the realm, do you know how much is left?"

I know you like numbers. Ninety-percent. You won't make a real dent until Elves start to return. And even then, as long as you don't repopulate and have hundreds of children, the total cost would not be that much.

"Then perhaps I should make some changes to the Fey Realm . . . such as giving everyone the ability to fly while here."

Oooh. Make it wings like what the fairy dragons have! But ones that can be furled or unfurled. You could also reduce the essence cost if they require flapping, versus just magical hovering. Restrict it to while within the realm, as well.

Tristan grinned as he focused on his essence crucible. It was already being pushed in a lazy, both-direction spin to allow him to regain essence from the ambient amounts in the environment, but now he sped it up. The power of the realm flowed through him like a torrential flood and sent a tingling sensation through his whole body. He spoke his will into existence. "All creatures of the Fey Realm, all species and Heritages that are permanent residents; you shall be able to manifest spectral wings of your choice in design, and fly through the skies, while you are here."

A massive shockwave of silver energy surged out from his chest, leaving him gasping for breath at the sudden expenditure of all his essence, and subsequent surging funnel of ambient essence rushing through his body to continue to fuel the change. The silver shockwave crackled with all the colors of the rainbow before slamming into the edges of the Fey Realm, and traveling up into the endless skies above, and down below the dirt beneath them.

Tristan was sucking in deep breaths as he slowed the crucible to a slow both-direction spin. "Is . . . is it done?"

Yes. Great job. Try manifesting your wings.

"Okay . . . hey, wings?" He felt that same tension in his shoulders as he did when he was under the effects of the Wing Glide spell. Glancing back, he saw phantasmal, silver dragon wings with icy spikes poking from the edges spreading out from his back. Flexing his shoulders, he felt the phantom muscles respond and flap gently. A loud woosh of air met his ears, and he let out a laugh.

Glancing down, he saw Fey Realm residents manifesting wings of all types – butterfly, sparrow, hawk, dragon, dragonfly, full-blown dragon, even ones that looked to be made of paper. They began shouting excitedly and tried to figure out flapping. Several got a few feet off the ground before falling back on their butts, panting in exhaustion.

Pfff. Haha! Zeltana's enchanting voice echoed through Tristan's mind.

The Matriarch landed on the platform behind Tristan with a loud whumpf. "Lord Tristan," she said in her full-sized fairy dragon form. "What is this?" Her tone was accusatory, yet amused.

"A permanent change," Tristan replied as he looked down on his subjects with delight. "Since the Heavenly Realm partial grafting gave us the ability to build atop stationary clouds, we'll need a way to get up there and build, won't we?"

"I suppose." The Matriarch walked up next to him, her massive head hanging over his shoulder. "Are we still unsealing the Daylight Dell today?"

"Yes. Gather up a force. Volunteers only. We go to free the dryads."

A few hours passed and Tristan, fully decked out in his armor and with the loud, clattering scale-covered cloak fluttering behind him, thundered across the landscape atop a fully-armored Onyx. All around him, fairy dragons mounted on unicorns, and spriggan who were running with long, loping strides and keeping up with the less-than-top-speed trot. The whole group traveled as one, and the forests parted before Tristan, as if sensing his arrival and making a path for them.

Bertram was riding alongside him, mounted on a white unicorn that was also heavily armored. He was grinning. "I hope we have a good fight when we get there! I've been bored playing househusband."

Tristan just shook his head and pressed his thighs into Onyx's sides as the ravine grew closer. Onyx came to a stop, and Tristan dismounted. "Being a spouse has its downsides, sure, but Rory should be due any day now. Right?"

"Oh yeah. Hopefully the kiddo wants to stay in the egg for a good while, so we don't have to stick around for too long." He looked at Tristan and grimaced. "Not that I want to abandon him or anything; I still want to be his father. But the hunt-urge is strong."

"I haven't felt it that much." Tristan drew his sword and pushed essence from his still-spinning crucible into one of the scales on his cloak. It glowed with a deep, gold light before manifesting the Wing Glide spell, since essence usage was effectively nullified thanks to his both-direction spinning crucible. "Everyone!" he shouted. "Get your wings out. We're going down there!"

A pair of enormous bird wings expanded next to Tristan, and glancing to his side, he saw Onyx preparing to jump down into the ravine. "Flight is freeing, Lord Tristan. But it feels odd, using these muscles."

Tristan jumped down and angled for a steep dive before coming up in a little U shape at the bottom of the dell, then evened out to gently float down. He glanced up and watched as the rest of his forces glided down at various speeds.

Felicity landed on his head in her armor and grumbled. "Now we aren't as special."

"Who?"

"Fairy dragons!" Felicity snapped back. "You made it so anyone can fly now."

Tristan felt a pang of regret. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about how you would feel when I did it."

Felicity let out an exaggerated sigh. "What's done is done. But you can give fairy dragons something else."

"Like what?"

". . . I don't know. Maybe . . . ooh! Give us the ability to shapeshift into inanimate objects!"

"Something to consider." Tristan looked around but didn't see the seal in the rocky cleft. "Spread out! When you find a spiral, let me know."

The military force dispersed, and it took a good fifteen minutes before a unicorn spotted the seal, hidden underneath a fallen stone. One of the spriggan pulled the covering rock out of the way, and Tristan walked over.

"Okay everyone, get ready. We don't know what happened while it was sealed. Prepare for battle." Armor began to shift and morph as crucibles spun to pour essence into the various artificed spells. Tristan poured some of his essence into his armor, activating Scales of Our Foe, Armor of Ice, Near Miss, and Lucky Instinct. His sword surged with power as he used Elemental Imbuement – Multi with a focus on ice and lightning, and the blade lengthened as Dragon's Doom was activated.

Tristan knelt and put his hand on the seal. He poured essence into it, and the symbol glowed a bright white just like the rest had. Then, it turned a deep, bloody red.

Zeltana said one word in his mind. Fuck.

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