Page 22 of Chosen Spirits (The Bartender Mage #4)

"It's still looking stable," Julia said, using one of her runic spells to scan the miniature hydroponics garden in Leif's basement. "I couldn't say how much longer it will take, though."

Using his own spirit senses, Leif reached out to the growing herbs to see how much soul essence was left in the circulating water. "Between one and two more weeks is my guess. Maybe less, if there's a sudden growth?It's so close!"

Two weeks ago, after several days of back and forth with the mage sisters, and then a hard-won final approval from Julia, Leif had set up the mechanism by which he might be able to finally do what he'd promised I'ari.

He still couldn't enchant non-alcoholic substances directly, but a mouthful of grass had reminded him that he already knew a workaround to this limitation, which involved magical gardening.

The four pods were set up opposite his and Rahul's regular basement herbs, and filled with seeds given to him by Pini and Tithi, a cross between mint and basil with a fast germination period.

Under the eyes of both sisters, along with Julia and Lilithian, Leif had mixed the swan decanter's stored soul essence with normal water, then allowed it to circulate through the hydroponics system.

He'd then filled himself beyond the brim with spirit energy, allowing it to spill out into the surrounding area.

With bated breath, he and the others had carefully monitored the garden, and an hour later Julia's scans had confirmed what his own spirit senses had told him; that the seed pods were successfully absorbing the liquified soul, and it would only be a matter of time before he could undo the damage caused by the soul mask.

Julia had been given several days off of field duty in order to muster the runic spellpower to properly ward the corner of Leif's basement, considering the importance of the issue.

They'd floated the idea of keeping the garden at DOMA, but Tithi had argued against it, saying that even if Leif made the twice daily trips to ensure that the infusion process was running smoothly, the aura of Leif's basement was more suitable to growing, especially as it was already being used to grow such delightful other herbs and spices.

That, and it would allow Leif to respond quickly in case of any kind of unforeseen complication.

Leif laid a hand on the plastic reservoir, feeling the pleasant chiming of the circulating spirit, like gentle bells.

"So close," he whispered to himself.

Leif and Julia returned upstairs, meeting Rahul and Tucker who were doing final checks before their planned outing.

"Ready, cub?"

"Yes! Oh, I hope it all goes okay."

"I'm sure it will." Rahul picked up Leif's alchemist kit, while Leif himself grabbed a smaller pack with six ready-made potions.

He took a peek inside, running his fingers over the differently coloredbottles.

Tucker's idea had been a good one, and though the custom-crafted items were expensive, he'd saved up enough money living with his boyfriends to drop over a thousand dollars on super-cool potion bottles that were supposedly durable enough to even withstand high-caliber bullets with barely a chip.

"Make yourself at home while we're out," Tucker said to Julia. " We should be back in time for dinner, and then we'll treat you to that bistro. You still have your key?"

She rolled her eyes, already headed to the kitchen to toss a bag of movie-theater popcorn into the microwave.

"Somehow, Rahul, I'm sure I'll survive. Even if your entertainment system is substandard."

Leif looked at their wall-mounted, massive television, and Tucker leaned into him.

"She has a dedicated movie room," he explained as the three of them headed to the garage and got into Rahul's car. "Sound dampeners on all the walls, aromatics, adjustable lights, recliners, and an unbelievable sound system. Not just stereo, either, she's got these giant metal tubes and stuff."

"Our bestie is an audiophile," Rahul said, backing out and heading towards the road. "If you keep an open mind, I'm sure she'd love to share a film day with you. You won't regret it."

"I'll bring it up when we get back. I've listened to all of her podcasts, and some of the movies she's reviewed sound really neat! I think there was one about a pair of lovers from a wandering demon clan that sounded like it'd be worth watching?"

"You'd best bring a handkerchief, cub, that one's a tearjerker."

Leif nodded, then pulled out his phone, checking through texts and mentally readying himself.

It should go okay.

They drove to a part of the city that bordered the Mississippi River, where thoughtful city planners—meaning, after pushback from citizens led by orc craftsmen—had dedicated a swatch of green trails and parks all along either side of the water.

Rahul parked in a nearby parking garage, where Tucker proceeded to disrobe down to just a collar before shifting into his beagle form.

Afterwards, the three of them headed towards a centralized area with vending machines and a rest stop.

Leif double-checked that he had his phone and his emergency potion pouch.

While Tucker availed himself of a doggie drinking fountain, Rahul turned towards him.

"We'll be in the area," he said. "Hopefully not too far, but I think that depends upon whether puppy, here, gets the zoomies."

"Thanks. I'll call you if anything happens."

Leif waved goodbye to his boyfriends as they began walking north down the trail, then found himself a bench to sit down on. The weather wasn't bad, today, a bit of wind and a cloudy sky, but warm enough that he could get away with a cozy jacket and thick shorts.

After about ten minutes, he hopped up to get some blood flowing, pacing around the area. He was in the middle of reading through some helpful bird facts on a wildlife display when he felt someone approaching.

"I love the green hair. Huge fan."

Leif turned around, seeing an elf about his own age with a cocky grin and vitiligo skin. She was dressed in a fluffy trench coat, broad scarf, and dark clothing, but it was probably her top hat that screamed "theater student" to him, fitting with what she'd told him about herself.

"Thank you! I love your hat. I'm Leif, it's nice to finally see you in person."

He reached out a hand, and she shook it.

"Mina. So you're the spirit mage my mom was waiting years for, huh? Let's take a walk."

◆◆ ◆

"I remember the first time I wanted something," she told him, her hands gesturing expressively as they strode down one of the nature walks.

"It was about a year after the attack. My mom and I were watching a show that I apparently used to like, and I asked her to change the channel.

It wasn't much, but from the waterworks you'd think I'd given her the seas and the sands.

It got easier after that. I didn't have to be told to eat and shower, and I started thinking about what I wanted to wear instead of just putting on the first thing I touched. "

"Oooh, that's so awful!" Leif had started getting choked up, listening to her talk about her recovery after being mind-erased by the soul mask.

She wrinkled her nose, then abruptly turned and stepped off of the path, approaching a few of the trees.

"Hey, it's fine! I mean, yeah, it took a long time, but how many others can say that they managed to reinvent themselves based upon conscious choice?

And I must say, I like who I decided to become. "

Mina struck a pose like she were Hamlet talking to Yorick's skull, then swept her hat off and gave him a bow, her purple-striped hair bouncing free.

"I like this person too! She seems nice and enthusiastic."

Mina smiled at him, putting her hat back on. She rejoined him on the path, then held out an elbow. Leif clapped his hands, then linked his right arm in hers as they stomped down the path.

"It was intentional," she said. "You know the saying, fake it till you make it?"

Leif nodded. "Yeah, and it's got more than a grain of truth to it. Like, if you're a grumpy person, but you start being fake nice to everyone, eventually that kind of behavior becomes more habit than not."

"Yes, exactly. I chose to be someone enthusiastic and over-the-top, because it helped me to actually care about myself.

It's still hard, sometimes. There are days I'll get home from an outing, sit on my couch, and then just stare at the wall for hours on end instead of choosing to do anything else. But it gets better, day by day."

Leif reached over and patted her arm, then held his hand out, showing her the faint scars that lined his left hand.

"I can scarcely imagine how rough that must be.

I had my hand slashed open last fall, and the physical therapy took months, and it's mostly better, but there are still days where the pain comes back, for no reason at all it seems. But at least I can explain it.

You, though! Your own injury was so much worse. "

"Mmm."

"But maybe when I finish making the potion, things will be a little better? It's progressing well, should just be another week or two!"

"Leif…"

The two of them slowed their walk, and Leif disengaged so he could look over at her.

"It is good news, isn't it? All your lost memories! Well, not memory, memories, like you said. Just all the emotions attached to them, so your childhood won't be like reading someone else's book."

"That does sound nice, doesn't it?" Spending time with Tucker had taught him a lot about reading body language, and her cocky grin felt a bit forced.

Leif tried to put himself in her shoes, wondering how he'd feel if something like that had happened to him. The memory of being in that asshole mage's basement was easy to conjure up, as was the idea of the jerk stealing away all of his emotions.

Or it happening to Tucker and Rahul.