Jigano had to hide his own smile as understanding dawned across Emmett's face, though he did unbend his disguise enough to wink at the farmer as his shoulder was clapped. "I think you're experience baking will come in handy then," he chuckled. "But strong hands and a steady heart will take you even farther. Give the good lady my regards when you see her," he added, rising to look over the fields with a smile for what he saw.
Not ruin, but potential. A field that could be coaxed to grow again with care and nurturing. Pull the weeds, turn over new soil, and come Flowerbirth there would be new corn or wheat or rye here, offering hope and life to the Hollowed Grounds. The soil might not be as fertile as other places, but it was what they had, and they would find a way to make it work until time and nature could heal the damage the barrier had done to the land and life within it. All it would take was time... and stubbornness. And they had the latter in plenty!
Without waiting for Emmett to ask his name the older man waited until the farmer was focused on his shovel before shifting to a winged shape and taking off to join a flock of nearby rooks and crows, just one bird among several, until the whole flock took off in a flurry of feathers.
Not ruin, but potential. A field that could be coaxed to grow again with care and nurturing. Pull the weeds, turn over new soil, and come Flowerbirth there would be new corn or wheat or rye here, offering hope and life to the Hollowed Grounds. The soil might not be as fertile as other places, but it was what they had, and they would find a way to make it work until time and nature could heal the damage the barrier had done to the land and life within it. All it would take was time... and stubbornness. And they had the latter in plenty!
Without waiting for Emmett to ask his name the older man waited until the farmer was focused on his shovel before shifting to a winged shape and taking off to join a flock of nearby rooks and crows, just one bird among several, until the whole flock took off in a flurry of feathers.
