Chapter 21 - From Pan to Plan

Aldren lift the men up in beds of air, and then Reinhart and he started to head north. All the time, Reinhart was thinking about a name for his new little friend, while also being conscious of the time. He had only been transformed now for 30 minutes out of 4 hours he could hold this human form.

Part of Reinhart hoped that he would get to see Maze before having to transform back to his instant dinner form, but it shouldn't matter. There would be many other unique Dralkons that could help him transform back if needed. Reinhart just wanted to have a chance to have a conversation with Maze when they weren't running for their lives.

"What is the plan?" Reinhart asked as he walked beside him, pushing some of his unkempt brown hair out of his face.

"Right now, there is no real plan other than training you both. That young Queen of yours is going to have to get stronger to be able to gather people. She will need to take back her home, and then push to take the rest of this world from Farid's grasp," Aldren explained and then looked over at Reinhart. "You need to be her spear and her shield. You will need to lead the armies that she commands, but also protect her at all costs. You humans cannot speak like we do, so you need someone to bind you all. Maze will become that binding."

Reinhart nodded, understanding the gravity of what Aldren was implying. Reinhart wasn't just here to save himself, he was a symbol of hope and protection for the Queen and all Fallenia. Maze needed a powerful ally who could not only stand with her during the battle but could also be the invisible force that bonded the world in unity amid these tumultuous times.

Amid his pondering, the Yolk Tree suddenly trembled, chirping low in mild distress. Startled, Reinhart immediately soothed it, cradling his magic companion gently. "What's wrong, little guy?" he asked, his usual jovial expression shadowed by worry.

It remained quiet, casting a peculiar glance at Aldren and then towards the unconscious guards. Reinhart deciphered the unspoken worry; the Yolk Tree was worried about their prisoners and the strange aura they were giving off.

"Don't worry, Aldren has taken care of it. They won't harm us or remember anything." He reassured the Yolk Tree, deciding to temporarily name it 'Sprout'. The little tree shimmered in response, its glow returning to normalcy.

Aldren watched the interaction, his gaze contemplative. "You continue to surprise me, Reinhart. Not just with your adaptability and quick thinking, but with your capacity to empathize. Your bond with the creature, Sprout, is an epitome of depth and tranquility. It proves you're capable of the daunting responsibility that's been thrust upon you."

Reinhart turned his head to the side, and let out a sigh. While Aldren's words were nice, he wondered just how much of that was actually true for himself. He was in a new body, but even with everything, some of the self-doubt from his past life still lingered.

"Prrredt?" Sprout asked, and Reinhart frowned.

"Sad? No, just worried," Reinhart said, but the Aldren stopped.

There were in a clearing in what seemed to be the center of the forest, but nothing about the place stood out. Aldren turned to Reinhart and gave him a closed-mouth smile. "I know this must be very different than where you come from, but have faith in yourself. The past is gone forever, the future not yet here, but I think that you have found something worth fighting for and protecting here in the present, yes?"

Looking at Aldren, Reinhart realized how true his words were. Before his diagnosis, he was a hardworking man, a staunch provider for his family. Parkinson's had robbed him of his task and purpose, pushing him to the edge of losing all hope. Bocchi, although strangely, had given him another chance, a new role, and Sprout brought life to his otherwise structured, meticulous existence. Reflecting on his past journey and the new path unfolding ahead, he found himself agreeing.

"Yes, you're right. This is a fresh start, and I need to do a better job of leaving the past in the past," Reinhart confirmed with newfound determination, patting Sprout gently. A soft 'prrr' echoed from Sprout, resembling a content purr.

Aldren nodded, pleased with his introspection. "Grief, doubts, past failures... they are anchors holding us back. Remember the past, and cherish the experiences, but never let them define you. As we move forward, you must realize that your power doesn't lie in your strength alone, but also in your heart and resolve. Fallenia needs a protector, Maze needs a companion, and you, Reinhart, need a purpose."

His words resonated deeply within Reinhart, stirring something in his heart. He found an uncanny similarity between his old life and his new one. He was once a construction worker, dedicating his life to building strong, secure infrastructures. And now he was tasked to construct, not buildings or bridges but faith, courage, and kinship among the people of Fallenia. This was his new construction project.

Clutching Sprout close to his chest, he softly whispered, "I think I was always meant to be a builder. And now, I have another building project..."

His voice trailed off, leaving a comfortable silence. The clearing felt serene, peaceful, much in contrast to the war-stricken world outside its veil. Life appeared minuscule but significant compared to the sky-kissing trees and the mad dash of time.

"Now," Aldren said, turning back to the center of the clearing and waving a hand. "Let me be the first to invite you into the humble home of the Grin'nix Dralkon, and my family!"

As he spoke, the ground around us started to glow with lines, and then the ground started to lift up in sections. Reinhart watched in amazement as the glow intensified and the ground lifted to reveal a beautifully lit path leading into the ground. Aldren waved for Reinhart to follow, and the ground closed back up around them once they were inside and making their way down a long path.

After a short walk, the path opened up to a massive cavern with carved-out caves everywhere. each of the cave openings was covered with heavy stone walls and steel doors, but they were covered in strange glowing crystals and vines to give them a mystical appearance. The entire cavern was illuminated by a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a gentle light across the entire area. Within the cavern, Dralkons were milling about, some tending to various tasks while others were engaged in quiet conversation. Each of them looked different, with varying skin, scale colors, and sizes, yet there was a sense of familiarity among them all.

Against one wall, there was a huge kitchen filled with specialized tools that Reinhart couldn't recognize, and a few distinct Dralkons were bustling about preparing what smelled like a delicious meal. Reinhart had been worried that all the Dralkon ate were horrible-smelling dishes after getting Aldrens request for that Noxious dish.

Aldren gave him a broad smile, "See? Not all Dralkon cuisine is an acquired taste!"