CHAPTER 91: FLOWER TRAILS AND SPA TALES

Sunlight streams through the swaying canopy as the team makes their way through the forest’s winding paths, led by the three newly empowered witches. Only... they don’t walk anymore.

They fly.

Wherever their feet hover, flowers bloom. Vines stretch toward the sun, leaves unfurl, and even the air feels cleaner. Birds chirp in harmony, and woodland critters peer out from the brush with wide, glassy eyes.

Behind them, the team strolls in awe.

"Okay," Sera says, squinting at the nearest witch. "Are they, like, half-goddess now? Because this is giving serious main-character energy."

"They do look kind of divine," Penelo whispers, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with admiration.

Pip walks just behind the witches, shoulders back and chin high, basking in the enchanted air like a blooming god of spring. The forest responds to his every step, flowers burst open, vines curl affectionately around his feet, and even the squirrels salute him.

One stands at attention with a nut balanced on its head as Vuvi raises an eyebrow. "Pip... did you get new powers from the Seedmother or something?"

Pip nods proudly and throws out a casual wave of his hand. A wave of blooms ripple outward from the gesture like a technicolor sea of petals, and several vines spiral from the earth to form a crown around his head.

Penelo gasps. "Nature subclass unlock!"

Zora clutches his heart midair and gasps. "Unbelievable. He’s like a golden woodland deity now."

Veena crosses her arms. "Still doesn’t make him cooler than you?"

Zora glares. "I spent centuries studying magic. Building power. Traversing dimensions. Pip gets his groove on one time and nature bends to his will. This is unjust."

Vuvi smirks. "That’s divine power for you. It pays in perks."

Pip beeps smugly.

Toward the back of the group, Penelo glances behind her and frowns.

Lula walks slower than usual, her ancient book cradled tightly against her chest. Her ears droop, and her eyes are downcast.

Penelo slows and nudges her with a shoulder. "Hey. You okay?"

Lula pouts. "The Seedmother didn’t know what it says... What if no one does?"

Penelo wraps an arm around her shoulders. "We’ll figure it out. This book’s been hidden for ages... if anyone can help, we’ll find them."

Zora drops in from above, upside-down. "That would be my friend. We’re going to see him after the dwarven kingdoms, remember?"

Sera perks up. "This that mysterious mentor you keep mentioning? The one who knows ancient languages?"

Zora nods. "Yep. Weirdest guy I’ve ever met. Wears silk robes, bathes in wine, and knows everything. I mean, the dude once told me the secret name of the moon."

Vuvi raises an eyebrow. "You sure he’s real and not some hallucination from a magic mushroom trip?"

Zora grins. "Oh, I thought that too at first. Until he granted me a minor reality-bending spell by patting my butt."

The team stares.

"He’s also probably a god," Zora adds, flicking a leaf off his shoulder. "Makes sense. Infinite wisdom. Infinite libido. Wild party tricks."

Veena gawks. "Wait... you think your pervy wine-bathing friend is like an actual god, god? Not a demi-god or some forest spirit?"

Zora nods. "Yep. He threw the craziest parties ever. Taught me more about magic than any tome. I never questioned him. Mostly because I was terrified he’d unmake me."

Penelo blinks. "Okay but... what if he is a god?"

"Then we hope he’s still in a good mood," Zora says. "He owes me a favor. Sort of."

Lula’s eyes gleam with hope.

The forest opens at last, the edge of the noble estate glittering beyond a field of gently waving wildflowers.

The witches float down, forming a soft arc beside the team. The forest seems to lean forward with them, leaves brushing against Pip like adoring fans.

The eldest witch bows low. "We are forever in your debt."

"Especially his," one of the others whispers, eyeing Pip like he’s the last fruit tart in a starving bakery.

Pip gives a humble beep, then shoots a vine into the air that bursts into a bouquet of glittering blossoms.

As the team waves their goodbyes, the witches lift into the air again, hair glimmering, and vanish into the forest mist.

The trees sigh behind them.

They’re barely halfway up the noble’s marble steps when the doors burst open.

Lord Varuzil and his three radiant, golden-haired daughters pour out, eyes wide with excitement.

"You’ve returned!" the noble shouts. "Was the mission successful? Did the witches demand tributes? Did they try to eat you?"

"They tried to thank us," Veena mutters.

"They floated," Penelo adds.

"They glowed," Lula says dreamily.

"They were powerful," Sera says with a smirk. "And Pip tamed every last one of them."

Varuzil blinks. "Pip... tamed them?"

Vuvi sighs. "Look. The forest is fine. The witches are fine. Extremely fine. And the problem is officially solved."

Penelo puffs her chest. "Pip bedded the Seedmother herself. The entire Green Vale is about to experience a century-long bloom."

Lord Varuzil drops to his knees. "He... what?"

.

"Yep," Sera says proudly. "And he’s still standing. Golden hips and all."

Pip beeps and tips an invisible hat.

The noble recovers quickly, leaping to his feet and clapping. "This calls for celebration! You must stay the night! At least!"

Before Vuvi can protest, the daughters are already clasping Pip’s hands, surrounding him like bees to a divine-flower.

"Please," coos one.

"Just one night," murmurs another.

"We’ve prepared the bath house!" adds the third, oddly proud.

Vuvi pinches the bridge of her nose. "They just want to climb Pip like a golden jungle gym."

All three daughters squeal in unison. "YES PLEASE!"

Pip beeps shyly, shoulders rising like he’s not sure how to take the compliment.

Sera bursts into laughter. "Oh we’re definitely staying."

The noble beams. "Excellent! We have the finest spa facilities in the Green Vale! Enchanted baths! Massage golems! Chocolate fountains!"

Zora hovers nearby, stroking his bony chin. "Did someone say enchanted bath?"

The sun begins to set, and the estate glows golden in the light.

As servants prepare rooms and draw steaming baths, the team lounges in the marble courtyard, basking in the afterglow of forest magic, victory, and a rapidly approaching spa night.

Vuvi slumps into a velvet chair with a groan. "Alright. We’ll rest here. But only tonight."

"Sure," Penelo chirps. "Just like last time."

"I mean it!" Vuvi says.

Sera plops beside her, towel draped over her shoulder. "If the spa’s half as good as they say, I may never leave."

Lula giggles. "Especially if Pip’s there too."

Pip poses beside a fountain, birds perching on his arms and shoulders like he’s made of branches and sunlight.

From the edge of the courtyard, one of the noble daughters calls out, "Pip, darling! Come test the herbal oils!"

Another yells, "We made you a golden robe!"

"Do you prefer strawberry or watermelon lube?!" asks the youngest.

Veena leans toward Vuvi and whispers, "You think they’ll fight over him?"

Vuvi lifts her flask. "No. They’re gonna worship him."

Sera stretches. "They can worship him all night... after he gives me a back rub."

Penelo raises her hand. "Hey! I called dibs on the first massage!"

"I just wanna rub his thighs!"Lula says dreamily as she clings to Pip’s arm.

Veena sighs, hands on hips. "I still can’t believe this is our life."

Vuvi groans again but smirks. "I can..."