“Anything good?” Tifa asked, looking at the various females hanging suspended in clear fruit.

“Well I figured out how they knew we were here,” I responded. “They have some kind of contraption that August —the head of the whole operation— gave to each team he sent out. They were only told it would lead the teams towards the multisystem users, little Isencia in this case. Somehow, they locked onto your Spore instead.”

“How mysterious. I wonder how that happened.”

“I have my theories,” Indeed I did. After trailing the two for this long, there were only a certain amount of conclusions one could come to. Not to mention, I spent a lot more time with not only my father, but out on my own as well. I had gained knowledge from not only other Environs, but the Reformed as well. Father often took me into the city. I took more after my father in physical appearance. If Reforms did not know what to look for, I would easily pass for one of them.

“Why don’t you share them? I would hate for Cia to come into any danger. I would have no choice but to take my frustrations out on you, right elder brother?” Tifa always had the closest bond with Isencia. It seemed her protective instincts decided to rear their head when she found out Isencia had left. However, I knew my twin sister was just pruning. Hopefully, it will stay constructive. Maybe I should have said kidding? The Reforms do use that. Sprouting? Perhaps.

“Lianfa,” Tifa prodded me out of my thoughts, used to my constant staring into the canopy.

“Yes, I believe he is a Figment.”

“Figment?”

“You were there when Father told me. Remember, the fourteenth race.”

“Ah yes, the…. Figment…. Stop the feedback loop and end the cycle.”

“I am fairly certain we have discussed this before. Nevertheless, the fourteenth race was sealed far before our time. Father actually knew quite a few of them before. Supposedly, he traveled with one into the Pearl Necklace for a bit. I forget what he did, but he was a noncombatant. In any case, the Figment mysteriously went missing one day. The four of them thought she was attacked at first.

“Months passed looking for a beast that didn’t exist. Eventually, they decided to head back to town. All but one actually. I don’t recall the name, but one of the remaining four decided to continue the climb. The reasoning for his decision was lost along with Father, but that is beside the case. They returned to—”

“Lian, you’re making a forest of a mustard seed.”

“Do not all mustard seeds turn into a forest if given enough time?”

“Yes, time we do not have. Eventually, this party’s absence will be noted.”

Do you see that large party to your left? Supposedly, they are all here for us.

“Our dear sister truly has no care for who overhears her, does she? It is humorous that she believes only Yuclaus can hear her. Is she not worried the enemy will have an Environ that could hear the forest shouting her words?”

“Her carelessness is something we should discuss once we return with Mother—”

No, it doesn’t seem like they know exactly where we are. You see that group trailing in the distance? That is where they are. The girl with blue hair is the one who can sense the vines.

“We need to stay focused, try to ignore Cia. Long story short, Figments were sealed, I’m not sure why or how. The point is: they aren't supposed to be here. Yet, Yuclaus is one, I am sure of it. The pink haze his “body” turns into is a dead giveaway. It is confusing though, you would think he is a young Figment, as it seems he is unaware of how to consume. The only problem with that theory, is that they can’t reprodu—

Oh, the group is not happy that the dangerous party is branching away. It seems there have been quite a couple of parties trying to get a head start. Like… The group we passed. We were right, they were trying to lure us in. They are quite successful. I believe they have safely brought in a few multisystem users.

“—ce. So, he can’t be young. Then why leave himself starving? We have seen them collect plenty of memories, right?”

“Mhm.”

“So I am at a loss. Is he trying to injure himself? Appear weaker?”

“He could have just hit his head really hard.”

“Tifa, I am fairly certain that’s just a rumor. A Reform cannot simply forget everything by hitting their head, I doubt a race made of memories would allow something so trivial to harm them.”

“They’re made of memories?”

“Precisely. And just like memories, they are timeless, as long as they aren't forgotten. Meaning, they need to eat more memories to keep their bodies in the physical plane. He isn’t eating.”

“Couldn’t he just take his own memory, eat it, and then remember it again? In that sense, aren't they the Environ dream? A self-sustaining ecosystem,” Tifa had a different idea of the Environ dream than I did, though her definition was true in the historic sense. The ideal of having a whole ecosystem that is perfectly balanced. A natural haven, Eden. My definition was obviously tainted by my more… Reformed upbringing.

“I am not sure of the specifics, but I believe that is impossible. It has to do with their merge into the physical plane. As a rule of thumb, I assume every race has some type of sustenance they need to survive, and when ingested, comes out either changed or not at all.”

“So Yuclaus is one of these trapped Figments, is slowly starving to death, and is purposely ignoring it?”

“Without all the technicalities, science, and life, yes you are correct,” Tifa truly knows how to be a weed sometimes.

“Learning about a fourteenth race is fascinating, but what does it have to do with them tracking me?” Tifa followed up.

“I don’t know,” I summarily responded. I just thought Yuclaus being a Figment was suspicious, saying as they are not supposed to exist at the moment. It would make sense they are tracking him by his memory body, or something along those lines. That could be why Tifa’s spore is causing interference. She absorbed one of the trees that had become more ethereal through her experiments; her spore had taken on those illusory qualities.

Oh. You will enjoy this Yu. A bunch of the multisystem men get swayed by the helpless act the girls give off. One of them —it is on a lottery— slowly gets them to fall in love with them. They push off anything sexual saying they need to meet their family, and then bring them into the Inquisition. The craziest part: some of them are fine with being tricked, and end up following along with the restrictions. The finisher: the girls then leave, completely ignoring the multisystem user after that.

“...”

“...”

“I feel a lot less guilty about trapping them and accessing their brainwaves against their will now.”

“I just feel even more uncomfortable than before,” Tifa concluded.

“So yes, Yuclaus is obviously suspicious,” I continued, “And your Spore is being sensed by every group that gets too close.”

“Does it matter? I’m fairly certain we can take all of them on. We have spent the last few years solely improving ourselves. A majority of these aren’t even second generation either.”

“I am not quite so certain. It seems there are a few original Transmissible. And one who could be dangerous.”

“Someone who can challenge us? I did not take you as one who likes to cry splinter Lian.”

“She is quite famous, infamous to be exact. The Administrator they call her. Every Reform who knows of her is terrified. This group is a prime example. They came to get a head start, yes, but also to not be in the main group when she arrived.”

“And? These Reforms were not tough.”

“Tifa. We basically poured salt on a bunch of sprouts.”

“If this is part of their most vital, I do not see how this Administrator could be much more lively.”

“Let us gather more information before doing anything drastic, ok?”

“Fine, I'll drop the apple. All I’m saying is if she touches Sen, she will get pricked.”

“You’re going to get our roots cut,” I said resignedly.

“You’re going to get their roots cut,” She rebutted.

“Them? I only really care for Isencia. I think Yuclaus is too much of a risk.”

“I don’t know, he’s grown on me. Plus, I think they look cute together,” Tifa said along with a wave of longing.

“Do you wish you found a Reform?” I decided to pry. Personally, I am more fond of the Microns, but who am I to judge? Speaking of which, perhaps we will meet some in our travels? Having a partner who can not only adapt themselves, but also use my Spore to assist would be splendid.

“It just reminds me of Dad,” Sadness washed over me, a nearly physical wave of scent originating from Tifa. This situation was out of my comfort zone, but I knew what to do. I walked up to Tifa, and wrapped her in a large bear hug. Well, not a sizable bear hug, just with more “umph” as father would say. Environs were not known for physical contact, but growing up with an affectionate father left an effect.

“Thank you Lian,” She said, head touching mine. It was nice having a stolon the same height as me. Isencia was still short given her age, Nadian is far too tall, having not progressed on his Branch of Life as of yet. Maturity always went limb in limb with height. I am glad we all kept the Environ trait of constant growth. When enough time had passed, I pulled away. Tifa no longer emanated a deep sadness.

“If any of the Stolon had seen that, I would never hear the end of it,” I sprouted to illuminate the mood. Hm, not sure about sprouted. I will try to use “kidded” in the following seasons.

“I am fairly certain they all know, Lian. It is no secret that you are cork on the inside,” Well, at least Cia doesn’t know. I have to keep my shaded, aloof, big Stolon image. It has been carefully carved for far too long to let drop now. Speaking of Cia, has she said anything for a bit?

“Have you heard Isencia in a bit?” I asked Tifa.

“Now that you mention it, I think so, but we were too focused on our psithurism. Also, we should really let them go and get spreading. The longer I keep this illusion over us, the more likely it is that another party will stumble by. They can sense my Spore, right? I should put it away as soon as possible.”

“You are right, I am overwatering,” I waved my hand at my Spore, and the fruit opened. Viscous juice and Reform alike fell to the forest floor. I hesitate for a second, before allowing some of my newest creations to drop as well. They were more difficult to control than my Spore, but still were better to have than not.

Meagan knows where you are now. I guess she found the vines through hearing. She’s looking straight at you.

“What? Who’s Meagan?”

“I have absolutely no clue, there was no Meagan in any of the adventurers’ surface thoughts. You made sure to switch up the illusions right?”

“You should be asking if you properly stimulated their mind, not if my illusions were at fault.”

“So then, we don't know who Meagan is?”

I don't think we could. Maybe? She seems more disturbed than I thought though. Maybe retreat for now, swing around. There was a momentary pause before Isencia continued.

Go out and meet them.

“Did that sudden shift seem odd to you? And disturbed? What is going on?”

“Tifa, I have no idea. We should follow, figure it out.”

“What about the book? I think it is called a roster, or register or something. Is that not our priority?”

“Oh did I not tell you?” I could have fluttered. I thought for sure I had told her what the adventures knew. “The Roster is not here. The idea that it would be must have been a way for mother to guarantee I stay with the two of them for longer. The Reforms take a healthy amount of precautions with the Roster, it is the key to acquiring their system afterall. It seems we need to travel to the closest city and steal it out of the Guild. A daunting task to say the least.”

“This city is in the direction Cia is headed right? So does that mean we get to watch over them for a little longer? Yay!” Tifa raised her fist a tiny bit, she must truly be excited.

Go out and meet them.

“Well, it looks like we might as well stay with them. Retract your spore, we need to make sure Cia is safe. Knowing our luck, she will end up meeting that Administrator woman.”

“No! Knock on iron Lian! Now we have to hurry!”

“I am fairly certain the Reforms say ‘knock on wood’,” I said. I swung my leg over my mount, as an identical one walked next to Tifa. These were one of my first creations, I never named the pair, I find it in bad smell.

“Why would we knock on our skin?”