The Scarlet Forest - Leah and the Swamp Fairies

It had been two days since Vivien drafted Leah Starr into her own version of social work to atone for her misdeeds. And after she took over the duty of writing down her findings and helping her analyze the water samples, she quickly found the time to go back to her personal studies. The sap wasn't part of her active studies though, since Runa hadn't found time to help her yet. Miles meanwhile had an indifferent reaction to the conscription of Leah and found no fault in Vivien's arguments. Thus, Vivien left the Erie Estate together with Leah to follow her own agenda for once. She wanted to get some supplies from the fairies in the park's swamp and maybe have a run in with some of the town's inhabitants. She still wanted to conclude some tests regarding some local curses, and it would help a lot with her future decursement attempts and help her to understand and develop new kinds of magic in the process.
It was still early in the day when they reached the first stage of their journey. The noon just started and since many of the dangerous mages were active through the night, she didn't need to fear many of them. Although the really powerful didn't actually care about time. She turned towards her assistant and checked up on her. „Leah, what is your current status? I might need you to conduct a trade with the fairies and for that I need to know your mana reserves.“
Both of them continued their walk while talking, with Leah keeping the pace of her benefactor, always staying one step behind Vivien. „Status is optimal for operation. However mana depletion is somewhat above the expected level. Everything stays within tolerance.“
Vivien stopped both of them for a second and turned around. „We can't have you below operating standard forever, dear. There could come a time when I need you to help me and we can't wait for you to recharge. I might need to consider a solution. I could ask Miles to get Finean's old Ioun Stone back. It would upgrade the faulty design of this transformation and turn your mana core into a self sufficient unit.“ Vivien got her notebook from her satchel and began to sketch something, before adding some minor details, mostly runes and verses from different languages. She wanted to try and alter the initial curse itself, but this could be risky. And her oath forbid her from willingly endangering uninformed people.
Leah meanwhile took note of her surroundings, examining the passing mages for any potential threats. While doing so, a secondary obeservation came to her mind. „Miss Vivien, is my attire appropriate for my duties?“ Vivien didn't question her choice of clothes, since keeping 'Leah's' old attire seemed to be in line with her emulation. But what she had left was the remains of another person and body. While not as decrepit as her garments from the forest, the leftovers they gathered from her previous hideout were ill-advised and ill-covering her new body. Going by Leah's comments, they alreasy were like this even before her new existence. Since her body no longer required warmth, clothing would perhaps only aid her human interactions. So she cocked her head and uttered the important question. „Would a different set be beneficial for you, or maybe would it be better were I naked?“
Vivien looked up from her notebook and examined 'her' Leah again. Then she snorted... or giggled. She did something in between. „Oh I could think of a lot of ways to increase your abilities and interactions with others, dear. Most of those include a special purpose though and I don't want to specialize you just yet. None of those include changing your old clothing. After all your primary function is to preserve your current and old self in line with your directives. This is just an experience to teach you some 'human' values. So unless your emulation wants to change them, keep them. After all, I expect the next realignment to restore your humanity and I want to give you good, not bad memories of our time together. Though we definetly need to upgrade your mana core or circumvent its efficiency proplem until then. I stay with my idea of an Ioun Stone.“ She got closer to Leah and led her wand across her hull, slightly injecting a spell. Nothing happened. „At least this magical alloy has a natural spell resistance like Finean's. We could build on that. But I would need to study different materials and measures before. Yours is the best I know, and it wasn't made or ensorcelled by me.“
Leah computed the information Vivien had just given her and finished formulating her response soon after. Her emulation told her to react positive and so she began to smile. „That's a relief, Miss Vivien. I shall consider the issue further during my next charge cycle.“ She turned from her surroundings to the sketch in Vivien's hands. „By the way Miss, what is it you are trying to depict?“
Vivien stopped her sketch once again and showed it to her assistant. On the paper were now several smaller sketches of Leah's components and some more or less strange numbers. Maybe they were depicting Vivien's estimation of what Leah should be capable off or maybe it involved her projected costs and dimensions. Although most likely Leah might have been better to determine those herself, the sketch was mediocre at best and didn't show any artistic talent. „It's you. And some parts of you.“
Leah examined the sketch, comparing the markings to her internal schematic. Although visually inaccurate they still captured the facts and reality of her form rather well, such as her data banks suggested a drawing should do. „It's...beautiful.“ Leah would have emulated to blush, but her form lacked the physical ability. She considered that this too may need to be upgraded. „However, that is quite an intimate drawing Miss Vivien. 'Leah' would appreciate it, if you would not show that to others. It may reveal her... vulnerabilities.“
Vivien laughed. It wasn't a derogatory laugh, but a happy one. „I guess your perception of intimity changed a bit, dear. Or maybe Leah was always a little bit too sensible about her appearence?!“ Vivien teased Leah's old self a little, but considered a pragmatic approach. She loosened the page from her notebook and folded it twice. „Here take it. You can keep it yourself and hand it to me once we want to check something. We don't need to check your 'specifics' all the time anyway. You can just give me a run down.“
„But Miss Vivien, paper is inefficient. I can just store it on...“, her emulation protocol came into effect and told her this was a sentimental gift, „.... no, thank you Miss, I shall take the utmost care of your diagram.“
„Even though you may be able to store it for now, Leah, you will not stay a robot forever. And I can't use you like a computer interface.“ Vivien put her notebook back into her satchel. „So let's go on, shall we?“
„Affirmative.“ Leah radiated with her emulated smile along the way and it almost seemed to be actually genuine rather than just an emulation.

Once they reached the park, Vivien once again focused on her satchel. Several small items came to light, including a strange vial with a blue liquid and a small book. Leah was still obsessed with her 'gift', or at least her emulation of her old personality. Contrary to Leah, Vivien didn't think much of her pragmatic solution to Leah's insecurity, but it seemed to have fulfilled its purpose. Yet soon Leah's gently glowing red irises focussed on the book in Vivien's hands and she began to analyze the situation again. „More sketches, Miss Vivien, or some light reading for the park perhaps?“
The book in Vivien's hand was really small, nearly tiny. While Vivien was amused by Leah's question – and she wasn't wrong, a side of Vivien really enjoyed reading in the park – the real question should have been how anybody could write such a tiny book in the first place. „No. I promised the fairies some books to read and made miniature copies of some of the bigger ones in the study. Despite that I chose some of the less serious ones and sadly they might either vanish or become really big in the next cycle. So I don't know how the fairies will react to it later on. I might need to prepare a reconciliation gift by then. Maybe some fun magic jokes. I'll try to warn them though.“
Leah simulated the proposition of giving books to fairies in her mind, based on the data available to her. Thus, she formulated a response based on the conflicting results. „Are such creatures capable of reading literature? Their craniums are so small and they seem more intent on harassing the local flora and fauna, particularly the fauna with their insane pranks. Besides“, she continued, „what books do you believe them to take interest in?“
„No, dear. Your old self is thinking about pixies. Fairies are far more open for other things besides fun. And they are very much capable of logical thought, not cunning. So long as we don't insult them, we should be fine. The book got some stupid ideas of humans about fairies. They like to laugh about a human's stupidity too. So if your old humanity is easily hurt, you might want to avoid them while they read this.“ Viven swung the vial in front of Leah. „Since I asked them to offer me a bigger amount of fairy dust, I got something in return. Runa can't provide us much. This vial contains crystalized mana I extracted from the mana spring in the forest. I wouldn't drink this, as it might turn me into a mana spirit or worse, but the fairies are magical creatures. They like that stuff. Kinda like fairy coffee.“
„Ah!“ Leah updated the data stored in her mechanized brain and reran the simulation returning a more satisfying outcome. „I see. I hypothetize that 'stupidity' sprouts through missing facts in an attempt to abridge the missing with foregone conclusions. I should reevaluate prior assessments with proper logical parameters.“ She considered this futher. „Miss Vivien, forgive me, I fear I have just been....stupid.“ Her head tilted down in an approximation of embarassment.
„A fault confessed is half redressed.“ Vivien moved on and waved the book in her left hand back towards Leah. „The fairies are waiting and so is my research. Charge your mana core, you will entertain them, too. I need my reserves for some experiments later.“
„Affirmative, cells cooled and operating at optimum.“ Leah attentively followed on behind Vivien, examining her surroundings for threats, but also for a glimpse of the aforementioned fairies.

Vivien and Leah passed the fountains and moved to the southern park, towards the giant meadows of flowers, most prominent for its huge selection of roses - and the alraunes and garden fairies living within. There Vivien stopped and looked around. The book and vial were already back in her satchel by then and instead she procured a bigger book. Once at the side of the meadow, she used her wand again to call forth her typical artificial bench. With ease the tree roots came forth and shaped themselves to a perfect seating bench, to accomodate both of them. „Let's wait here for a while, Leah. We still got a moment before the appointed time.“
Leah took a seat on the bench as instructed. „Affirmative, I shall monitor the environment for any change in circumstances.“
Vivien sat down herself and opened her book. It was a book about an old legend, something about old demons and other threats of the darkness hidden deep below Sunnyglade, and in several places. Considering the town's attitude and the people inhabitating it, it might actually have been true. Nevertheless, Vivien couldn't concentrate that day, because something was weighing down on her mind. She couldn't put her finger on it. All she could do was grab her head when she became tired, until finally she decided to lower her book.
Leah noticed Vivien's silent reflection and in turn examined the page off the book she read last. „Miss Vivien, you seem unhappy. Is there anything I can assist with? If the book has upset you, I can dispose of it.“ The page in the book was written in strange symbols and glyphs. Leah was missing the data regarding their context.
Vivien flicked her hand and closed the book by that. Unsure about the reason, she put it away again. Maybe it was just a fluke... or she came down with something? But Leah's words had distracted her from her slight headache. „Do never consider to dispose of knowledge or art, ever... again!“ Vivien's eyes seemed rather serious, not angry... but serious. She loosened her gaze and leaned her head back against the well-formed backseat formed by roots of the bench. „Reading those things is just“, she sighed, „... tiring I guess.“
„Yes, Miss Vivien, I shall add books to my directives. I shall not harm except in self defense, including books and art.“
„Those directives may guide you now Leah, but once you are human again, they might be lost. I would like for you to make it a part of who you are, to learn to respect and love the knowledge others have left behind. You don't need to agree with them though.“ Vivien tilted her head towards Leah. „So would you like to be more human again? I guess it couldn't hurt. And the arcane cylce might wash over you without returning your humanity after all.“ Although certain at that moment, Vivien started to reconsider her decision to turn Leah into a robot. She only harmed her pride and egoistic self for now, but would she go further if no one held her back?
Meanwhile Leah considered the proposition to be more human again. She ran the question through her emulation software several times and concluded. „I find this form... peaceful.“ Leah imitated to close her eyes in reflection, as this required the main attention of her CPU. „In my previous form things were far more chaotic. There was a constant need to establish the necessity of my being. In doing so, I sampled the great many flavors that life offered, but none were to my pallet. No, perhaps I had tried too much and could no longer taste anything.“ She opened her eyes with a slight smile. „One might describe my current form as 'flavorless', but it is subtle and more importantly I can actually 'taste' it." She looked over to Vivien. „Perhaps it was by my very name, that I wanted to be a shining 'Starr'. But here and now my purpose is clear, to serve and assist you, Miss Vivien.“ She looked back out to the rose gardens. „As I said, it is calming.“
„Don't get too comfortable as a robot, dear. This is not your natural form and your current logical analysis might change once your human emotions return.“ Vivien arose from the bench, still slightly perturbed. „But I respect your choice. For as of now the robot girl you are is my assistant and she is free to chose her life as well.“ Vivien turned around towards the bench and waved her wand at it. „May I return it to its natural state?“
„Certainly.“ Leah rose from the bench and considered Vivien's words. „I shall consider my humanity further. My current form offers an insight and perspective which is difficult to achieve by humans. I shall make the most of this gift.“
Vivien dismissed the bench and returned it to the soil without ushering a word. She was used to the spell and it was simple enough for her by now to complete with gestures alone. „Leah, if you, and I mean the real you, consider this existence as favorable, I would be glad to accept you as my personal assistant again come the next cycle. But I would also accept you as a human in that regard. You don't need to sacrifice anything.“ Vivien turned her head to the swamp. „Now let's meet up with the fairies. They might be waiting soon.“
Leah attentively followed along. „Thank you, Miss Vivien.“

The swamp was buzzing with life during the day. Frogs croaked, insects swarmed everywhere and the smell of nature assaulted Vivien's nose. It wasn't so bad... if you got used to it. They moved along a narrow boardwalk and quickly left common ground. This area of the swamp was not to be accessed, but she did so anyway. Vivien mumbled her abusively trained frostwave spell and a small film of ice formed below and in front of them, freezing the swamps surface. During the first steps, it seemed for a moment Leah might have broken through, but her weight suddenly lifted. Small pockets of air more or less carried her along the ice now, but that still creaked below her heavy steps. Vivien had cast a small air spell to alleviate her problem. „Don't strive too far from me, or find a way to support yourself Leah. We don't want you to test your water resistance, right?“
„Miss, in my current form I assure you I am quite water tight to at least 500 meters.“ She hesitated before continuing. „However, it is embarrassing to admit that in this new form I weigh considerably more.“ Leah looked to the ground in embarrassment, but also with an analysis. „I fear the ice may not sustain both our weight. How deep is this swamp, Miss Vivien? My optics cannot make out the bottom.“
„Neither can I. I don't plan to research that though. It's just the direct route to their village.“ Vivien smoothed over the topic. „With the weight lift from the air spell and the bridge from the ice, you should be able to move along... I guess. Just try not to break my concentration.“ Vivien stepped forward and continued to deep freeze the surface of the swamp and keep Leah lifted, but the ice behind them melted forbodingly quick.
„Y-Yes Miss Vivien, I would rather not put my water resistance to the test today.“ Leah tentatively followed along, but stayed ahead of the receding ice. „It's a relief that you are so skilled with ice magic, and I have experienced first hand how resilient it can be.“
„Don't worry, I keep it up. I would have to clean you otherwise.“ At least she never did freak out in the face of water like Finean.

As the two left the dangerous waters behind, they reached a hidden glade inside the swamp. Small stone circles were hidden in the shadow of old trees and flowers blossomed all around. Vivien turned to her assitant while she took out her 'gifts' again. „Don't step into the stone circle's, unless you want to be at the fairies' mercy.“ She changed her focus to the glade again. „Now where are those little fae. They should be around here... visibly around.“
Leah made careful note of the circles arond her, adding a red luminosity to their outline only she could see. „Acknowledged. I feel the fairies have enough gifts already, no need to add me that list. I fear they would leave my circuits in a twist.“
Since the fae did hide from their guests, Vivien decided to make it worthwile. She opened the tiny book she brought with her after she took a small sip out of a blue bottle, and started to intonate a pictorial invocation. Swiftly, words like knives flooded the glade and imitated all of the prejudices written in the book. Those 'fairies' that came to be, powerful as the spell had been cast, became far too real and even started to assault Leah and Vivien. Although they were only partially corporal, they quickly began to harass anything they could find. „Oops...“ Vivien smiled and quickly procured a shield to let the little pests splatter and dispense once they dared to enclose on the two. „Well I properly announced our presence at least.“ She giggled once more. She clearly enjoyed her 'mistakes'.
„Miss Vivien, what did you do!?“ Leah attempted to further shield herself from the tiny assault, yet struggled to keep track of their fast movements. „Do these beings still constitute books or art?“ She asked as her metal tips lifted themselves up to present her mana electrodes ready to charge. To her dismay, her display of mana had worse effects. Drawn to the LEDs and mana source, the fake fairies - mana junkies of course - launched themselves at Leah's eyes and other parts.
„No, they represent mischief and prejudice.“ A small cavalry of shiny blue fae charged into the fray to attack their twisted images and get rid of the imposters. „But please do be careful. We don't want you to hit our hosts.“ Vivien didn't move. Her shield did all the work. And most of the shadows were after their originals now anyway.
Leah readjusted her stance as the fairies moved in. She appeared to be somewhat confused. „Was this your 'gift' to them?“
„Maybe. I might have altered the presentation and will still give them the book though.“ The fight between the fairies and the fakes raged on for a small while. They could have easily beaten them with their magics, at least Vivien was rather certain about that, but some small dots flew towards Vivien. Since they were unfazed by her shield, they were real fairies. It was never meant to block out the real ones.
„That's no funny! They are stronger than us! Make them go!“ Vivien looked around. At first it wasn't that apparent that her spell was so powerful. But the fairies really refrained from using their own magic. She didn't know why and maybe she had overdone it. She turned to her assistant Leah. „I told you you might be part of their entertainment, Leah. Compare the magical signature of the real fae and Runa in your database with the fakes. Aim at all with an artificial aura. Spare the swamp fairies.“
„Affirmative.“ Leah took a defensive stance and scanned the impromptu battlefield. They moved quick, as did all fae, but she only needed to glimpse for a second. With no biological barriers in place, the data wasn't corrupted. „The magicka resonates at a different frequency, perhaps due the difference in their origin and source. But I can only differentiate them with an accuracy of 75%. I will either need to make contact with the created fairies to get their full signature or I will need your spell's signature for more input.“ Leah reached out to snatch a fake fairy from the air. Using her machine like precision, she focused on one of the apparitions and calculated her trajectory. After she waited for the right moment, she snatched and plucked one from the air. Now with direct contact, her electrodes analysed the aura emanating from such creatures. „Analysis complete.“ She released the ravenous fairy for a last respite and took a step back. „Mana Diffusion Wave charged, expected accuracy at 98%.“ A heavy pulse was emitted from her finger tips and a wave of energy swept across the glade. It felt sickening, but at the same time seemed to have no lasting harmful effects, at least not on Vivien. The frequency was just right to disperse the apparitions and leave the genuine fairies unharmed, well mostly. The wave struck the apparitions and, as it touched them, made them implode into a fine dust of mana. Regrettably not all the targets were affected. As the wave drifted off, some of the more distant ones kept their form and got seemingly agitated. Further, some of the real faries seemed drunk after the ordeal was done, flying slightly less graceful. „Will this be enough or shall I prepare a second attack?“
„No. The fairies will handle the rest from here, I am sure.“ As she spoke, the previous annoyed fairies already joined her sisters again. It probably would be over soon. „How are your mana reserves now?“
„Sufficient, though it may be best if I return before my reserves run lower.“ The metal caps on Leah's fingers closed and she resumed a more neutral stance. „Will we leave the fairies to their games now?“
„No. Not unless I got my fairy dust. And some roots.“ Vivien dismissed her shield. „Let's wait.“
„Huh~“ Vivien's ribbon grumbled half asleep. The seemed ot have awoken her. „What's all the yelling about, can't a goo get some sleep?“ Ina was still groggy.
„Nothing Ina. We are simply visiting the fairies. I need some dust of theirs.“ The small swarm, now superior in numbers, still got problems with their little fakes. But once they subdued them, the previous complains stopped and they started to ignore the little group again.
Leah decided to carefully watch the fairies. She was still warry, because she held such little true information about them. Leah would need assimilate and scan the information of one or more of the books in the library on fairies upon their return.
In the meantime Vivien decided to capture the fairies attention again. It would have been bad, if they dispersed without giving her her pay. Thus, she made several flowers sprout in the middle of the field, entangling themselves and die, leaving back a sea of colourful petals.
When Leah finished her preparations for the following schedule, she turned to the ribbon that sprung to live. „Ina, good you could join us. An extra pair of eyes should increase the probability of success in this endeavour...“, the machine paused, finishing her calculation, „...slightly.“
„Hey Leah!“ Ina said rubbbing her eyes. „Why does this keep happening?“ Since Ina slept most of her time and studied late in the night, she frequently awoke in the middle of some fray. It was somehow ironic, as she was meant to assist Vivien too. But with Leah at her side now, the problem remedied itself quickly.
After the fairies ignored the little amount of extra flowers in their glade, Vivien began to cast her spell anew. Gently, she invoked the winds and carefully lifted up the petals to create dancing twisters of beautiful colours. In her mind, she actually wanted to let proper figures dance, clad in beautiful garments for a ball, but apparently failed since her concentration wasn't enough for that. At least she finally caught the attention of some of the fairies.
But as the movement from the fairies began to increase again, Leah raised her arm in caution. „Miss Vivien, I have reserves for another Mana Wave. Say the word and I shall repel them.“ She was aware that they were here for a reason, but the faries' behavior was erratic and difficult to predict. Her logical mind didn't like it very much.
Despite Leah's aversion, the fairies began to be mesmerized by the dancing petals and Vivien suddenly stopped their dance with her wand. The fairies seemed disappointed. „Make them dance again!“ „Flowers are pretty, pretty lady!“ Vivien smiled. „I'd love to let you enjoy them longer. And my assistant droid will let them move again with pleasure.“ She made a rather intimidating pause. „If you get me my dust and the roots you promised.“ The fairies looked at each other and started to play some kind of childish hand game. Apparently someone had to get the stuff with others and no one wanted to. After all they would miss the show. Vivien sighed. „Leah, please get ready to use your mana reserves to conjure several smaller whirls of air.“
Ina moved down and returned to her normal form on Vivien's shoulder. „Oh that looked fun!“ Ina said happily. „We do it again?“
Leah's exposed her mana circuits again. „I can think of more efficient ways to make them dance, Miss Vivien.“ Leah's emulation told her to just blast them away. However, judging by Vivien's previous actions and the stern look she was receiving in between, that was not an appropriate course of action. She looked back to her mistress once again and back to the fae. „Understood. Commencing elemental invocation.“ Leah stepped forward and kneeled down to touch the ground. „This will not be kind to my mana fuses.“ A small hum ensued. „Give the word and I shall create a field with enough force to lift the petals. I will be able to adjust the sway and flow with small jet streams.“
„Just... make them dance.“ Vivien started to wish Leah was a sorceress again. Giving precise orders wasn't really her thing. Meanwhile some fairies left the scene while others bickered on. Vivien could only hope that some of her goods would arrive anytime soon.
„Hmm“, Ina was thinking and crawled to Vivien's ear. „Hey I have no idea what's up with Leah, but she is freaking me out.“ Ina was confused by Vivien's new assistant. And indeed, her actions seemed to be based primarly on her emulation and not her current self.
Leah's  hum began to increase as her standby kicked into active service. Slowly the coloured petals on the ground began to lift off the ground again; first by a few inches, then after a few moments up to a meter in height. As the vivid colours became caught in Leah's magical field, she continued with the next step. Little jets began to form and caused the petals to flutter and sparkle together with tiny mana crystals formed from the mana steam caught in the field. Contrary to Vivien's artistic display, they simply swirled and dance around Leah herself, but still in a gentle fashion. „Is this sufficient, Miss Vivien?“
„You should ask your audience.“ Vivien judged the pouted faces of the fairies who got a weird and shrouded piece of metal with a petal cover instead of their dancing vortexes. „Definetly not.“ Vivien took another sip from her root extract in the vial and considered her next move. „I promised them a petal dance, they get one.“ Vivien took over the petal dance from Leah and the remaining petals on the ground, but could only muster a mediocre display compared to her show before. The fairies didn't mind. Now that the air had become less intense without Leah 'corrupting' it, they actually joined the whirls and danced in tune with the petals. They were simply petal twisters, sure, but something a pure fae could easily enjoy. Several other fairies came out to join the petal dance too.
Leah's face adopted disappointment. „My apologies, Miss Vivien. I'm sorry my display was less than adequate for our hosts. I could have increased the output, but feared it would be above established safety parameters.“
Ina didn't notice the shattered ego of Leah. She only had eyes for the dancing fae. „Wow, pretty!“ Ina said, as she allowed herself to enjoy the display even further.
Vivien thought back to Finean and how she was afraid of using magic in fear she would consume her own mana core. Leah did so out of safety. Neither of them were completely right or wrong. Sometimes it seemed weird to her. As long as they had a soul, they should be able to cast magic and new mana could always be acquired, at least in this town with all its magicka. Distracted by her thoughts, she looked at her empty vial and nearly lost her spell. Well, maybe a biorhythm was more useful in some regards. Leah really needed that Ioun Stone, though. There was no way around it.„No Leah it's fine. Don't overexert your physical form.“ Vivien stored the empty vial in her satchel and turned her already lowered head to Ina sitting on her right shoulder. „Want to be pretty too, Ina?“ She hummed to herself.
„Huh? What do you mean, Vivien?“ Ina asked curiously.
„Acknowledged, I shall maintain a steady mana flow until further instructions. Mana reserves at current capacity will hold for prolonged use of 3 hours, 22 minuets and 38 seconds.“ Leah looked to the fairies who seemed to be edging closer and began to grow concerned. „Miss Vivien, the fairies seem to be responding. In my current state I will not be able to repel them. I fear they might try and run off with my screws if left unchecked.“
„Wait and see Ina“, Vivien muttered, before Leah's outrageous accusations and angst reached her. „They are no Gremlin's either, Leah. Stop that.“ The group of fairies finally returned and hastily dropped several roots and a vial full of strange dust at Vivien's feet, before hastily joining the crowds. Apparently they wouldn't miss it for the world. Since the newcomers didn't have their share, Vivien decided to keep the magic up a while longer. Thanks to the root extract, she didn't feel really exhausted either.
Some stray fairies began to perch themselves on Leah's form, mostly observing the petals at play from the comfy seat Runa already enjoyed herself. But some took more of a simple interest in Leah, especially with her badmouthing them. They started to hang from her artificial hair and some started to braid strands of her artificial air. Some of them even inspected all of her openings, nestling themselves in front of them. „M-Miss Vivien, how much longer will this be necessary? I fear I'll be finding fairy dust in my joints for weeks.“
„Oh I could use that.“ Vivien saw no danger in their little game. And since not all fairies seemed to enjoy the petal dance, some might need other recreations. Leah served her purpose. Yet, although she thought about the joke and could really use more dust, some fairies actually started to pour dust into Leah's crevices... sanddust. „You should really stop giving them weird ideas.“ Vivien lectured Leah and pointed her head towards some fairies on her back.
The robot became really anxious. „They seem to have discovered the malleable properties of my rubber sections. I fear if they keep this up and continue jumping on my chest, they may knock some of my sensory nodes out of alignment.“ As if on cue, a particularly round fairy dropped down on her chest. Yet, in truth it was just an illusion created by the fairies to tease her even more. „Ngh!“ She emulated a grumble. „It appears I will need to recalibrate my sensors upon the other repairs now.“
During the whole conversation, Ina remained silent, but was still intrigued. „Well, so what were you planning, Vivien?“
Vivien slowly let the petal dance die down after another minute. „Wait and see, Ina.“ Once the petals died, she let some leftovers fly over to them without the fairies following up. To stop and distract them, she made a last little petal devil on the ground. Meanwhile the petals she called to them fused together and landed on her goo companion on her shoulder. A flower or rather petal coral was made. Caught in the moment, Vivien did the same for Leah, though hers was snatched away by her fairies, who in return at least left her in peace. Now they were arguing who would keep this souvenir. Vivien sighed. Leah had to decide between peace or her coronal. She didn't really care.
„Thank you, Miss Vivien. Had I the resources to spare, I would cry.“ The fairies finally scattered, completely distracted by the new offering. Leah had no urge to get the coronal back. „I fear I may need to be combed upon our return, in fact a complete servicing may be in order if there is time.“
„Thanks Vivien, this is beautiful.“ Ina said holding her coral.
Vivien turned around and signaled Leah to do the same after she picked up her payment. „It's time to leave, girls. Our buisness is done. And if we leave now, they might not pester you again, Leah. So, are you coming?“
Leah stood upright immediately and dusted off her form. „Not a moment too soon. Please lead the way, Miss Vivien.“ She made the question out to be a courtesy, but she knew full well that only Vivien's ice spell would get her out of there without a prolonged bath afterwards, and she wanted this to occur as quickly as possible.
Ina climbed back up on Vivien's hair and reformed to her ribbon. Then the whole group left.
None of the small fairies still cared about them. One group used Leah's coronal for little tricks in the air, spinning it in their hands and flying through the turning ring. The other group started to play in the heap of flower petals and others just did what ever they pleased. But there were other eyes watching the group from afar and they were far less innocent or naive. Runa mentioned the greater fae that governs her old village, her big sister. In fact several villages had old wise fae as their leaders, protecting their little sisters from the shadows. But she never showed herself to Vivien up until now, something she found disappointing. She really wanted to meet her.