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Thankfully the garden wasn't a mess of hedges, it was a simple leisure area without anything fancier than a humble statue of Mother Earth in the center, patrolled by the odd bored tabard-wearing guard who welcomed you and your dads with polite bows. Your destination was a lonely pavilion with a nice view of the grand tree occupied by a short, stocky man who just finished eating and, upon seeing you, gestured in welcome.
As you got closer, your heart seized in a surge of empathy you had to swallow. This dwarven man was the first of his race you ever came across and... he didn't look healthy. Garbed in a white robe with streaks of bright blue, the man wore a half-mask of porcelain that masked his left eye. The lower parts revealed a beardless face with crackled skin colored like the stones of the grand highway running through all the Allied Kingdoms. His hands were also similarly gray; the single glowing amber eye looking straight ahead like an unmoving gem barely gave him life.
''Thank you so much for answering my request so soon, master cleric, young lady.'' Alive he was, his movements were slow, methodic as if a gentle tremor could break him. ''I'm well past the spring of my youth; thus I ask our discussion to be candid for I cannot remain awake for much longer today.''
This man, this dwarf, must have been directly affected by the cataclysm that ruined your two races.
''It is our honor.'' You sit in front of him, gesturing for your dad to follow. He was caught in a rare moment of being genuinely overwhelmed. ''I'm sorry that my mother wasn't able to come.''
''There is no need to be so polite, you more than anyone must know how the awe of men can be stifling.'' Furibol laughed and waved, his movements looked clumsy while he spoke with a perfectly normal tone of voice. There was a... delay between his speech and mannerisms as if his body and soul weren't synchronized. ''Baron Bram wishes to extend his welcome and hopes to host you both this evening with his son.''
<span class="mu-i">His son. Augustine didn't like him.</span>
''Then we'll be seeing him.'' Your dad answered. ''Since you've requested honesty master Furibol, I'll say my question.'' Your dad pauses to look around, yet the dwarf smiles and nods, encouraging him like a grandpa. Nobody could try to eavesdrop on your conversation without being seen here, the terrain is open. ''<span class="mu-s">Could your eye be an Acorn of Earth? One of the forbidden Pearls of Powers.''</span>
