As good elthean of the Earth, the regrowers only needed a couple of gestures to work their magic. It resembled what he learned in the Galya from Lunaluz, because from what his eyes captured, it was enough for them to move to connect with that element, although Finnian felt that there was more than his senses were able to notice.

Themis was called the great turtle, and although he moved slowly, where his big legs passed, they removed the ground thoroughly, leaving room for the rest to begin the recovery process. Instead of setting aside what had been lost, it allowed the land to heal gradually. At first, it was not appreciated precisely because it did not shine, but it was enough to pay attention to verify that life returned even in an inhospitable place like that.

Although it seemed simple, the energy used was so great that an error could do more harm than good, but that did not prevent any of those present, whether or not they were part of that particular group, from helping to speed up the process. The wolves helped to move what made the terrain more complex, while the rest teamed up with the dinosaur-elthean. With a couple of gestures, they showed them how to plant seeds and gave them a little spark of magic to make them sprout.

“For a moment, I thought they could make nature grow in minutes,” said Finnian.

“It would be a sight to see,” Leith admitted.

“Although this is a good start. They help the land to regain the shine of the past,” Aer said.

As concentrated as their new teachers, he twisted a smile to imitate him and put a hand on the ground. While it was confirmed that at Elthea he perceived life and magic more intensely, the area was different, similar to when someone was preparing food and had been cooking it for a while. You ignored what it would look like at the end, but you basically knew the job was worth it.

“You should rest a little. Exhausting yourself will not make this move faster.”

Blanche’s words, while accurate, were unusual after several hours of working without speaking. Nor was he going to reveal the training he received or the resistance he had won, so Finnian simply shrugged.

“How is Ark? “Aer said, pointing his head at the little elthean.

“He does need to sleep and eat well,” Blanche said, expressing a slight smile. “I don’t know how long it will take to be like before, although I guess it will survive.”

“His condition is understandable,” Ead intervened. “When receiving a lot of damage, any elthean can level down. It’s the way we have to endure pain in extreme cases.”

Perhaps at its Basic level, it didn’t seem as strong as Aer, Rune or Leith, but they would find out what the new team member was able to do. Even Blanche admitted that she could not be luckier: they had survived, and on top of that, she was there with an acquaintance.

“I know I haven’t done much of my part,” Blanche said, squeezing her lips. “Everything changes at such a speed that I still find it hard to get used to.”

“I understand that too well,” said Finnian.

“I didn’t think I was going to find another of my kind either,” she admitted.

While he thought that two Signers were better than one, as they could share the burden of their mission, there was a detail that Blanche expressed and was not far from his experience. They came to Elthea, and they were all watching them as if they were unique saviours, but the path they walked was too lonely for anyone to understand them.

“That’s not a bad thing,” Finnian said, taking the sand off his pants. “Although this is nothing like… getting up, going to school, doing homework….”

“Are we in summer and think about studying?” Blanche said, raising both eyebrows, surprised by the comparison.

“We just started the holiday; what did you expect?” Finnian defended himself.

However, that world and everything revealed wherever they went completely altered that routine they had become so used to.

“I guess I couldn’t have a better partner,” Blanche said, giving him a quick nudge.

“Are you serious? At school, it’s not that we were good at working as a team,” Finnian admitted.

“Things are different. Here it is not that we will do exams or get grades, right? “Blanche said. “Also, knowing how I know you, I’m sure you already learn much more about this world than you show.”

“Not at all. I learn as I go, just like everyone else.”

“You’re not anyone,” Blanche said. “Did you find out why you have more than one partner?”

“I just know the same thing as most,” Finnian said. “If I can do something like that, it’s because Elthea needs it now more than ever. “

An answer that didn’t seem to please her but wouldn’t stop Finnian from resting at night by not sharing everything with Blanche. He ignored too many things to start numbering or drawing out meaningless theories, and although he could chat for hours, it’s not that they were standing while watching the rest work.

After a quick meal and a well-deserved break, the afternoon passed as fast as the previous hours, although with a different climate. Aer, Rune and Leith interacted with the pack and the other elthean, while the rest did the same, almost forgetting how their paths crossed.

“Do you know where Kali has gone?” Finnian said, to what Blanche denied.

“I just know Kali would go back when she finished helping other elthean,” Blanche explained. “She will be back. It always does.”

“Have she left that way other times?”

“Few, but it’s because she doesn’t like to stay and do nothing. Kali says she will be with me when I need it and that I must be the one who makes the decisions. “Blanche said, lost in her thoughts.” I miss her sometimes, we wouldn’t have gone so far without her help, but I guess everyone needs help.”

“At least now you’re not alone,” Finnian smiled.

The dinner was different from the one you would have imagined. Apart from taking out their tent, they made a bonfire so that anyone, both present and others in need of help, could join in. The regrowers settled near them and Themis, who seemed to enjoy the calm that surrounded them and the deserved rest that all had earned. The wolves, on the other hand, were different. Some slept and regained strength, while others watched so that the others could do the same.

“Why do I feel you have been more fortunate than I have?” Blanche said, leaving the tent to sit near him.

“It depends on what you consider to be lucky,” said Finnian, biting his lip to avoid releasing everything that passed through his head.

Their first steps could not be filled with fewer dangers, but they had managed to straighten themselves out over time. Perhaps she was right, and luck accompanied them since they escaped the second time from the Eroder, even if he didn’t feel that way. Not even Blanche, who admitted that she had visited fewer places and met many less elthean, seemed pleased with how everything went to them.

“Perhaps Ark needs another potion,” said Finnian. “I’ve been thinking that maybe that speeds up his recovery.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary, and I prefer he doest it by himself,” Blanche said. “It is strong, and we cannot neglect ourselves if we want to be at your level.”

“We’re not competing. You remember that, right? “Finnian said, releasing a laugh.

He was aware of it, but that also made him see that the Blanche he knew continued in the background. Competitive, relentless even if she didn’t show it from the beginning. Finnian would not suggest how to behave, but he only hoped that her pride would not become an obstacle even when everyone had different ways to do things. What would she be able to do? Would Kali have taught her to use magic?

“It has a lot of character, even if it doesn’t seem,” Blanche admitted. “Before leaving, she reminded me of not showing what we are capable of if it is not necessary. And for her, that only involves mortal danger.”

“She must take her duty seriously, but it’s not alone,” said Finnian.

Although the fairy would end up returning, he was assured that Ead would not abandon them. He could be relaxing like the others, but instead, Ead was learning as much as possible from those around them. For the time being, her goals were united, unlike Blanche’s silent companion.

“Do Signers not need to rest?”

A new wolf had spoken, one that appeared near them and that until now went unnoticed. Slightly smaller than the rest of the pack, his blue and white fur was scrambled as if he wanted it to look like that.

“We recover forces near the fire. Sleep is overvalued,” Finnian replied, holding the serious look for a few seconds and then releasing a laugh, freeing the tension of the moment.

The animal’s great crimson eyes focused on him, perhaps ignoring his attempt to joke, succeeding in causing something similar to a shiver. The feeling of having seen him on another occasion did not fade, although he was not as communicative as the other elthean. Then, the same wolf focused on another one that approached them. Braunah looked at him and, without having to say anything, he shook his head and left.

“It seems that everything will be quiet for now,” the wolf assured them.

“Who is that?” Finnian inquired.

“It’s Nero, one of our trackers. Although it does not have useful information at the moment.”

The answer came from a new wolf that appeared next to Braunah. Unlike most wolves, whose colours danced among whites, greys, browns and blacks, this fur was of a very particular blue-whitish tone. Her amber eyes smiled at him without adding a word, getting Finnian and even Blanche to correspond with the gesture.

"It's Flicka, my partner," Braunah said.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Finnian replied, then pointed to Nero and added. “Are you family?”

“Very keen,” he granted the alpha.

“Why did he leave? “Finnian said.

“Don’t worry, it’s always closer than we think,” Flicka began to say.

“Our son prefers not to join the rest of the pack most of the time,” Braunah said.

For an instant, it seems Braunah would add something, intrigued even more by that attempt. However, the wolf ended up moving away, leaving Flicka next to them. She approached his side with softness and stealth, giving him touch with her nose on his head. She walked away, inviting him to accompany her, although Blanche went into the tent before Finnian could say anything. Maybe so many crowds were overwhelming her.

Nearby there was a stream where the water flowed calmly, which allowed them to cool down. The peace of the atmosphere was comforting, and although they were not alone in the background, Finnian would soon figure out what was that wolf thinking.

“I guess coming here was an excuse for more than just separating me from the others, wasn’t it?” Finnian said, pointing the obvious.

“I’m not going to eat you.”

“You wouldn’t be the first to try, believe me, but I still think I don’t look delicious,” Finnian exclaimed, just as Flicka gave her a long slick on his face, causing him to laugh nervously.

“I don’t change my mind,” Flicka joked.” I wanted to talk to you about something, although it is difficult to find you doing nothing.”

“Well, I like to take advantage of the time,” said Finnian, getting his face wet.

“The Signer’s life, hadn’t they told you?”

“I came here without knowing anything, but I’m a fast learner.”

Shrugging his shoulders, he discerned what it was all about.

“It’s understandable. Even you are a mystery that has taken shape,” Flicka said, sitting beside him. “But we have already seen that you are well accompanied.”

“They’re pretty impressive all,” Finnian said.

“What about the girl? Why is she so closed?”

Was Flicka interrogating him? And even if it were, that seemed the right time to get him answers. That’s why he didn’t hesitate on telling what Blanche had lived or other details of Flicka’s interest, such as his arrival at Elthea, but nothing too concrete.

“Things are getting worse,” Flicka nodded.

“That’s why you wanted to escort us,” Finnian said.

“Partly. I would ask you about which of them is your partner, though… Would it matter? Everyone seems to react to your power. Or with you rather,” she said.

“I’m not sure why it happens, but it’s not something that works with anyone.”

“Have you tried it?”

“Only with them, but I don’t think this should be forced either,” Finnian said.

Did he see the disappointment in her eyes? Indeed, but he was starting to get used to reactions like that. Ailfryd already told him that when others found out (because they would), they would try to take advantage of it. That is why they needed to learn how to defend themselves, to avoid becoming the tool of others. He was the living proof that the change in Elthea, this time, was more significant than ever.

“You would have been of great help. If we had joined forces, neither the Eroder nor the Lord of Calamity could stop us.”

“Do you want to fight them? “Finnian asked.

“That’s the plan, although having you here now, maybe we should modify it.”

“Sorry, Flicka. Why do we talk about this? Isn’t Braunah supposed to be the leader of the herd?“ Finnian said.

“I’m here for her, but….” Flicka looked back, just where they came from, “We wanted to talk with you first before anyone else did.”

“And being here changes the balance of power, am I wrong?“ Finnian murmured.

“We have the same goals. Collaborating could benefit us. Even when it’s not that way.”

Finnian returned to the camp, just as Flicka did, although each one followed separate paths, remembering the words they had shared. It was a compelling offer, of which there was no doubt, but something told him that he should get involved with them nothing more than necessary.