Basil and Thym

A whole side of the courtyard had been sanctioned off for the ceremony, and it was a brilliant day for an outdoor event. Wind rustled through the trees in the campus's heart, notably warm for fall. 

A few scholars and their soon-to-be apprentices mingled with friends and family, come to support them.  Thym noted a couple local press members taking advantage of the open-door event, milling about the meeting spot flanking the entrance to Orion. They caught sight of Rosemary, who attended to a couple in need of assistance.   She looked up and shared a quick smile refocusing on the task.  

They still had a little less than an hour before the event kicked off. 

“A roll call of sorts was expected to start fairly soon," Basil began "I wonder if there’s a hold-u-AH!”

A small and dense something plopped down from above, impacting Basil's shoulders. It cheered loudly as he nearly toppled over with a yelp. 

The attack was followed by an exasperated outburst of "NUTMEG" as a large figure rushed over from a couple of yards away. 

Nutmeg hopped down.

"Yeah, Sumac?" the kid asked, blinking behind her large glasses as if she'd done nothing wrong in the world, ever.  Sumac sighed, his tired eyes falling upon his charge as he spoke. "Basil, apologies. Er... this is Nutmeg. You remember, Saoirse's daughter." 

  Nutmeg, who couldn't have been more than 10 years of age, fixed her hair idly, tucking loose strands back into small dense buns. 

"Well." Basil blinked nervously, straightening his attire. "She must learn not to do that again. For my sake." He smiled weakly.

"Basil... right! 'Ah remember." She leaned forward towards the lanky scientist with a measure of scrutiny, and then swung around to eye Thym. "An who are YOU s'pposed to be? 'Aven't seen you around." 

Thym mirrored the gesture, crossing their arms and  looking down their nose. "Why I'm your new rival, kid!" They turned off the dramatics with a grin before tagging Nutmeg on the shoulder and bolting for the nearest tree. She laughed a sharp "HA!" and skittered after them. 

  Sumac and Basil watched with stunned silence. Sumac broke it with a sigh. "So much for keeping tidy before the ceremony."

  Basil furrowed a brow, suddenly sharing the sentiment, watching Thym perch on a branch as Nutmeg dashed towards them. "Right…" 

"Huh…"  Sumac tilted his head, the action accentuated further by his tophat.

"Yes so, actually, who...is that?" 

"I will learn your name, You!" Nutmeg caterwauled as Thym swung to another branch just out of reach to the youth's advances.  

"With Time, perhaps you shall." Thym chuckled. 

Basil sighed.  

“That’s Thym.  They’re….well, I suppose they’re about to be my apprentice.” 

Sumac was noticeably shocked.

“An apprentice?  Since when?”  

“It kinda came together last minute.” Basil admitted “But they deserve this.”

“Completely understandable.” Sumac gave a nod and turned his attention back to Nutmeg “She needed a good school situation before the semester started.”

Nutmeg followed Thym higher up the tree, and Basil frowned and walked closer.

“Thym...” called Basil from below. “I think Rosemary’s waiting on us.” 

Thym smiled and dropped to the ground with a casual sturdiness, and then reached up for Nutmeg. “Come on!  Basil says we haven’t got all day.  Maybe we can pick up on this tomorrow?” they winked. 

“I will destroy you at tree climbing!” Nutmeg promised, trying valiantly to refuse Thym’s help as she flopped out of the tree, only to land in the arms of a watchful Sumac.  She giggled.

  “Anyone else joining us today?” Thym asked, smiling expectantly at Basil and Sumac.

  Sumac frowned.  “I think Caraway finally picked her apprentice.”

  Basil stopped in his tracks, but Sumac was too distracted to notice.

  “Finally found someone on that list of proteges she thought was worth her time.  Hope she doesn’t change her mind.” Sumac remarked.

  “I smell...resentment.” Thym said, sing-song “Spill it.  Why don’t we like her?”

  “...well...” Basil bit his tongue.

  “Her views are harmful.” Sumac filled in, matter-of-fact “But she is very stubborn about them, and equally convinced that not only is she right, but she has every right to teach those views to this city’s brightest.”

  “Well, if they’re so bright, she won’t get far.” Thym shrugged.

  “Well said.” Basil nodded.

  “Heads up, there she is.” Sumac said, muted.

  He nodded subtly at an older lady approaching Rosemary, with a young teen at her side, quietly avoiding everyone’s attention.

  “I WILL DESTROY HER!” Nutmeg declared, earning an embarrassed look from Sumac, and a chuckle from Rosemary.

  “How about introductions first?” the captain bargained “We’ll be getting started here soon.”

  Back at the towers, Basil led Thym to the head office of Orion, of Arcturus itself. Cardamom's office. A scenic lift ride for Basil, as Thym raced him on the stairs, made the trek to the top floor office a short one.

 Asking for an apprenticeship with one of the leading scientific communities in the world was no small task.  But Basil seemed comfortable heading it up, and Thym followed his lead, no need to find anxiety in the situation.

"Anything I should know about this Cardamom?" Thym asked at the door.  

“Her understanding is the reason I’m here.”

And with that, Basil knocked.

Following a soft response from the other side, they entered into her room. Gold streamed through the windows on the far side of the office, accenting deep purple carpeting and drapery. 

Cardamom stood. She was an older woman with an immediately apparent strength of will, a confidence that couldn’t be bought. The head director was tall, russet skinned, with upward styled gray hair that added inches to her. Her deep lavender eyes caught the light as they fell upon her visitors. 

 “Basil! I heard it was quite the eventful trip."  A tension fell away from her as she saw him now, safe "I was so glad to hear you were okay.”

He nodded “Yes, I imagine there will be a lot on your plate after that ordeal. I’m sure whatever actions are taken in response will protect our members and prevent future dangers, but as you must know, that’s not why I’m here.” 

"So I was told…"

Basil stepped forward with Thym. “Cardamom, this is Thym. Thym, the head of the Arcturus guild.” Cardamom respectfully regarded them, reached down and offered her well-adorned hand in addition to her peaceful smile. 

“Thym, it’s a pleasure.” 

Thym went for the handshake.

“You are beautiful.” 

Cardamom let out a single chuckle.

"It's good to meet you!" Thym added.

Basil and Cardamom sat and Thym followed suit. 

“We met… formally… on the voyage,” Basil began. “They’ve not a pedigree, not a formal education, but they worked briefly as an airship engineer, a feat of its own for their age.  In the short time we corresponded, they’ve greatly impressed me with their craft, creativity, ideas, and bravery. They were responsible for not just finding solutions to the blight at Virgo keep but nearly singlehandedly protected the tree from attack."

Thym had the wherewithal to feign humility, but they grinned down at their hands, folding and unfolding in their lap. 

"And not only that." Basil continued, his voice finding a note of light emotion. "Cardamom, They have the spirit of Arcturus. The connections they’ve made in just the short time amongst Draco’s crew and Virgo’s members…” Basil took in a deep breath, and looked over at Thym.  “I’ll gladly take this chance on them. They, Thym, they more than deserve that… whether or not it’s through an association with our guild or on my own, I’ve promised them an opportunity at an apprenticeship.”

Cardamom looked at Thym for a long moment, processing.

"You want this apprenticeship?"

"Of course!" Thym stood to elaborate, determination rising, but Cardamom raised a hand to pause their incoming barrage. 

  "Basil, may I speak with you? Alone?"

  "But-" Thym cut in

  "It will just be a moment." Cardamom added.

  Basil nodded over at Thym, who stood and backed out of the room, shooting a none too happy glare at Cardamom as the door was closed behind them.

  A voice in the back of Thym's mind shouted run.  

  Maybe Saffron had said something about them, or Cardamom hadn't take kindly to their intrusion.  Thym stayed their worries for a moment and placed their ear at the gap between the door and frame.  They had to know what was said.

 “I know that this isn’t what you meant when you said any chance.” Basil sighed.

 “To be frank, you are right. This isn’t at all what I expected.

 Basil, I said I’d support you, and I stand by that. I just want to make sure. I know you’ve thought this through, but I need to hear it. Do you… truly think this will be good for you? For them?”

“Without me, they aren’t going to get a chance. I know. I know what it’s like. I understand that. I have to, I want to do this.”

  “Why them?"

  "I've made my case."

  "It could apply to any candidate we have waiting for a mentor.  Why Thym, really?"

  "They… understand. You wanted me to connect. This… this is the first time since, that it’s felt... Okay.”

  Cardamom lowered her voice to continue, and Thym strained to catch her words, but only heard the sharp points of her whispers, 't' and 'ck' sounds with no vowel accompaniment.  Basil answered in kind and Thym frowned as they lost track of the conversation entirely.  Finally with a more pronounced sigh, Cardamom spoke up again.

“So be it.”

“...Thank you.”

  Thym heard a chair move and jumped back from the door, beginning a pace in the hall as if that's all they'd been doing.

Cardamom and Basil seemed to buy it well enough as the door was opened.

“Thym.” Basil beckoned them back in. He stood beside them as they both returned to Cardamom. 

  "So?" Thym asked.

  "Basil does not advocate for people lightly." Cardamom held Thym fixed in her gaze for a long moment, then turned to Basil "I trust you to take this chance." she smiled "An apprentice of yours is family to all of us. I’m... proud of you. I hope you enjoy finding that pride within them as well.”

  Basil nodded.

  Cardamom placed her focus back on Thym.

  "Welcome.  I expect you'll honor Basil's trust."

  Thym bounced in place, and Cardamom finally broke out into a full smile.

  "Well, you two best prepare for the ceremony!"

"Woah." 

  Thym paused in the doorway.  Before them was another Arcturus common room, cozy in its plush chairs and warm fires.  But this entryway space was massive next to the lounges of Virgo.  

  And there were stairs!

  Thym cast a single wide-eyed smile to Basil before taking off towards the nearest staircase.

  Basil smirked, letting them explore ahead. The main entryway for Orion was grand, but it was not what he’d brought them to see. And they’d see soon enough. He couldn’t dare rush the experience. 

Thym gazed through the second floor windows, watched in awe as the entryway’s floating lamps circled about the room, but it wasn’t long before they headed towards Orion’s left wing.  Basil strode ahead of them while they wandered the hallways, growing more enthusiastic as they reached another doorway.

"This," From the breezeway, Basil smiled, opening a double door for Thym "This is why New London is one of the greatest cities in the world".  

The Library stretched away behind Basil, and Thym’s eyes went wide.

"Years and years of study and one could barely begin to absorb all this collection has to offer." 

There was so much to see. Books at every angle. Large windows comfortably lit up the space, reaching up alongside the numerous floor-to-ceiling spanning cases. The New London skyline peeked through the rows and rows of knowledge, each line of shelves harboring what must’ve been a few thousand books each.  Unimaginable stores of information.

  Like any good library, where there were books, there were reading nooks. High or tucked away, dim or bright, a spot for lounging or intensive study, this place felt as if it could satisfy anyone’s habits. 

 A system of sliding ladders was affixed to each row, and the tallest ones sported safety tethers. It was a conscientious system, allowing scholars, students, and encumbered librarians to ascend and descend without worry of a nasty fall. Thym could just picture their new mentor, and honestly any downtowner, happily taking advantage of the safeguard. But not them. 

Basil made a sweeping gesture across the space. “Scholars from all over visit to further their studies. And ah, help desk is here to our left if-” 

“Basil?” Thym was distracted, starry eyed and ogling the next level. It featured a bridge-like walkway that connected the ends of the collection while keeping the space open and uncluttered “Vantage point?”

“Ah. yes” He turned and strode towards the wall of script before them, turning left at its corner. A stairwell hid just beyond the edge. At the reveal, Thym raced up, and this time Basil followed, only just managing to keep up with his long two-step strides. 

  They stopped, panting, to overlook the collection, stretching out below them, around them, and rising yet above them.

 "Collections spanning the century, wide areas of study from architecture, anthropology, and of course engineering." Basil smiled, pointing out the aisles as he listed their genres. There was pride absolutely welling from him. Thym had seen Basil take pride in his work, but not quite so unreserved.  A comfortable pride.  Upon stepping into this wonder, Basil seemed like a different person, younger and eager to share the place that’d become such a part of him.

"Alchemy too?" Thym asked. 

"What there is left, and found, we have and protect here at Orion." 

Pausing on the elevated walkway,Thym leaned over the rail with glee.  “Wow.”

  Though overall quiet, the keep was a bustle of reserved excitement, passion-driven academics exploring shelves and pages.  Thym smiled over at a youth scaling another of the high-reaching bookshelves. They waved and the young scholar waved back, before turning back to their task of searching. Thym looked back to Basil, and followed his gaze towards a tall figure carting some books back towards the front.

He gestured down to the librarian. "I know a great deal about this place, but you won't find an archivist more familiar with Orion’s collection than Serpentine.  If you ever have a question or need anything related to the library, she's the one to approach. Unequivocally reliable, pointing countless scholars in the right direction for years."  

“Huh. Well neat. Hey, thanks.” 

Basil dipped his head. 

“Care to see what might become your favorite aisle?”

Thym bounced in response “Let’s!”

Taking the stairs back down they looped around, and though resolved in his direction, Basil had to pause to watch Thym take it all in.  The kind of quiet, awed respect he found this place to inspire wasn’t there.  Instead, his new student was elated, hungry for revelation, running about from shelf to shelf as they passing row after row, before finally spinning to a stop at the section Basil had pointed out from above. He suppressed his smile as he traced the edge of a long, lacquered wooden table positioned outside the row he was walking past. “Before I started focusing more into alchemy, I rarely strayed from this spot.”

As they entered the section, Basil’s fingers fell gently over the spine of a book. He held a soft nostalgic expression, like these books could have been photos of dearly missed loved ones. Thym wasn’t yet so familiar, but… maybe someday they’d understand.  Basil turned and looked about, hands now clasped behind his back. 

“There's a great deal I could recommend to you, and will… yet there's a certain charm to traversing this collection yourself, discovery though your own discretion."  

"But I will say, this one here" he pointed to a book, mostly gray, almost standing out in its dullness. "It's not a read you can just walk away from. I think you’ll appreciate taking a look eventually." 

Basil moved onward through the aisle. Before they followed, Thym climbed up, slipped it out enough to commit it’s appearance and title to memory. 

Transcending Limitation Through Innovation. 

Thym repositioned the book and rushed back to join Basil at the end of the aisle. “You don’t suppose I could check a couple out today?”

“Well, first we really should… take the last steps in officializing your apprenticeship. Meet with Cardamom.  But… soon, yes.  I’d imagine you’ll be able to check out any you’d like.”

“Aw.” Thym responded with put-upon disappointment.  They supposed it’d be easy enough to read what they liked without leaving the library with it.  Or to leave the library with whatever they’d like, but they tried to put that thought on a backburner.

“I suppose I should return these?” Thym asked, producing from their coat the handful of books that Basil had leant to them on their voyage.

“Excellent idea.” Basil nodded once in approval “Let’s take these to Serpentine.”

She was not merely tall. She towered, maybe a full foot or taller than Basil. Behind pink tinted frames, Serpentine’s eyes fell on Thym as they approached. Her dark thick eyebrows gave her an added air of seriousness. 

“Basil here said that you were the one to go to for any and every library related matters.” Thym smirked, leaning on the island counter that separated them. “Anyone ever climb to the top of the cases without those supports?” 

Basil shot them a sharp questioning look, but it hardly cut through Thym’s bravado. 

Serpentine sighed. She glanced over to a short, pastel-bowtied library-goer and gave an exhausted smile. “Web… Too often forgets. Mostly he goes up and down just fine, but there’s been a couple times where he’s managed to get stuck up there… and he did break an arm last year from a fall.”

Basil frowned. Thym turned to look at him, more specifically his arm.  “Say Bas, you haven’t fallen off one of the long bookshelves have you?”

A silence.

“I kid.” They nudged him with a smile. “Well if I lose an arm pursuing boundless knowledge at least I have someone to go to for a replacement, hm?” 

“Please just remember... I can’t replace a broken neck.” He said flatly. 

“Dramatic. I’m sure no ones ever died grabbing a book. Anyways, these are for you!” 

Thym grinned as they plopped down the books.

“Oh?”

“Checking in” Basil confirmed. 

Serpentine nodded, sliding the books closer to her. She flipped open the covers, stamped the cards inside, and made a note on a log sheet which she then turned to Thym. “Sign please.” 

“Righto!” Thym laughed and scrawled a quick signature by the items indicated. 

“Thank you...” Serpentine raised her eyebrows. “Sorry, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure- you’re with Basil?” 

“Oh yep!  I’m Thym!  Apprentice.  Or, soon to be apprenticed.” Thym winked up at Basil. He simply blinked an affirmation.

Serpentine straightened and smiled. 

“Well. Welcome to Orion. If you are anything like Genovere, I imagine I’ll be seeing a lot of you.”

 Basil descended the ramp purposefully and with great care paid to his footing. Thym surveyed the grounds below with great interest.  They'd gone as far as to openly protest the return to New London, but arriving amongst the spires of Orion keep, Thym found themself trying to fight the smile that lit their face.

"So this is Orion. We'll be living here?" Thym walked backwards in front of Basil "Or do you just study here and crash somewhere else in New London?" 

"Your quarters will be on the Orion campus. I'll arrange rooms." 

"Next door again?" Thym laughed.

"Potentially. Although assigned rooming tends to fluctuate." 

"Change of pace every now and then. Sounds good to me." 

  Thym turned and ran ahead, pulled in by the new sights.  They bounded along the tower walkways, taking in the city skyline, the bustle of the keep below, the rhythm of a new place.  Basil perked up a bit.  It was refreshing, in a way, to see someone experience this for the first time.  

  Thym soon found the entrance to the tower interior, but was stopped by a guard at the door.  Basil strode forward to meet them.

  "Who's this?" The guard asked Basil, gesturing to Thym.

  "My...apprent-"

  "Who are you?" Thym interrupted.  

  The guard, who stood square and towered over them, chuckled.  

  "Name's Dill.  You?"

  "Thym, like Basil was sayin-"

  Dill was studying Thym's features closer now.  

  "I swear I've seen you around."

  "I...don't think so." Thym took a step back.

  "Hold on!" Dill rested a hand on Thym's shoulder, and they looked up at them skeptically, until the guard slid their hand over, pulling Thym's coat back from their scar.

  "Hey!" Thym pulled back, slapping Dill's hand away.

  "H-hey!" Basil echoed in protest.

  "Ohoho! You're that kid!" Dill exclaimed excitedly.  Basil looked on with bewildered concern.

  "Do I...know you?" Thym asked, offended.

  "Hey, Saffron!" Dill called back into the tower "You won't believe who Basil's new apprentice is!"

  There was a moment's pause, and Basil and Thym exchanged looks.

  A voice finally sounded back, growing closer as it continued.

  "Frankly, I don't care who Basil decided to-"

  The person emerged, a woman wearing the trappings of a guard captain, smaller in stature than Dill but just as strong.  She looked to Thym with disinterest, then paused, then her eyes widened.

  "It's you!"

  "I don't know you people!" Thym snarled.

  "You were the informant though, right?" Saffron asked, eyes still wide "That night, on the Draco?" 

  Basil frowned "Captain, What is going on?" 

 “Where did you find them?” Saffron demanded, pointing to Thym.

  “I...the...Draco.” Basil replied, confused.

  “How do you keep doing that?!” Saffron asked, this time at Thym.

  “I’m good?” Thym offered.

  “Wait, wait,” Basil pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to process “Informant?  From the Draco attack?  That was you, Thym?”

  Thym shrugged.

  “We looked for you!  Where did you get that info?” Saffron was lowering her voice now, leaning closer to Thym.

  “Eeeeeeeee…..I mean…..” Thym shuffled their feet.

  “Thym, it’s okay.” Basil assured.

  “What?”

  “We already understand you are… proficient, at hiding on a ship.”

  “Right.  Oh yeah, no right.” Thym perked up a bit “Yeah, that’s basically what happened.  I was stowing away.  Caught word of things and thought ‘well that’s not cool.’  No insider information, sadly.”

  “Hm.” Saffron straightened and smiled a little “Well.  In that case, thank you.”

  Thym nodded with a wink.

  Any further conversation was cut short as Rosemary finally disembarked.

  “Saff!”

  Saffron turned and smiled, softening.

  “Rosey.”

  Rosemary ran up and planted a quick kiss on the guard captain’s cheek.  Professional.  But their smiles were all but subtle.  

  Dill rolled their eyes playfully and herded Basil and Thym through the doors.

  “Oh, and Thym,” Dill called after Thym, already rushing off to look around “Glad you’re ok.”

  “Okay?”

  “You crashed pretty hard that night.” Dill recollected “We were pretty concerned when you vanished.”

  “Ah.  Well, I’m tough to break.” Thym grinned.

  “And tough to get rid of.” Dill beamed.

  “Call me bad penny.” Thym muttered as they walked away.

  Basil was all but dissociating.  

  “Crashed?”

  Thym perked up a bit.

  “Hey, so remember my glider design?”

  Basil shook his head “The one you were working on when- Oh.” He paled as realization struck.

  Thym was grinning again now.

  “You said it wouldn’t fly.” They barely contained a laugh.

  “You-”

  “It already flew!” Thym snickered “From one whole airship to another!”

  “And then crashed?” Basil added, taking the lead down the spiral stairwell.

  “Ok well it was a rushed job, a support snapped, but that’s not the point.  And besides did you think anyone would just go around hiding on ships without an escape route?  Come on.”  Thym ran ahead of Basil, laughing.

  “Well excuse me.  I haven’t ever been a stowaway.”

  The tower rooms consisted mostly of private office spaces, which, while having excellent views, held very little interest for Thym or their tired tour guide.  The duo emerged from the spire base into the central courtyard, and Basil gave a quick overview.

  “Right, so, over that way is the dormitory-”

  “Very nice.”

  “That building over there is the bear guard headquarters.”

  “Bear guard?” Thym asked absentmindedly.

  “Arcturus’ guard.  Our friends at the doors and the tree?”

  “Right.” Thym spun in place, taking it all in.  A new home.

  A home.  Maybe.

  “And this way-” Basil started towards the main building “This is why we’re here.”

  He barely contained the smile that tugged again at the corner of his lips, surprising himself with how excited he was to share this place.  He strode ahead to the doors, opening one.

  “Welcome to Orion.”  

"But why New London-" Thym asked for the eighth time in half as many days "When there are keeps all over Europe?" 

Basil sighed.  Thym's incessant questioning was starting to wear him down, and he found that despite his usual reluctance to face the end of a trip, he was ready to not be trapped on a ship with his to-be apprentice. 

"Thym, I live there." Basil insisted bluntly, tired of explaining himself.

"Exactly, aren't you ready for a change of pace?" 

Thym rocked backwards on the ship railing that they'd insisted on sitting upon, and Basil gulped, fearful that they would plummet off the edge.

“It’s not as simple as that. I have responsibilities. Speaking of which, there’s work downstairs I need to finish and pack away." he muttered, heading to the back of the ship.

The Draco burst through a small cloud and Thym, attention diverted by mist and cold, wandered to the stairs near the mast.  They laid out on the deck, head rested on their arms, and peered down the warmly-lit stairway.

"Chive?  How's it going down there?"

A few heavy footfalls sounded below and then Chive was staring up at them.  

"Still good." he chuckled "Yknow, you don't have to check up on me every hour." 

"Well, no one else is." Thym observed. "C'mon, admit it, it'd get lonely if no one said hi!"

Chive redirected his smile towards the floor, rubbing the back of his neck.  "Well I can't say I don't appreciate the company."

Thym nodded knowingly.  "So what are you working on down there?"

"The engine." Chive answered offhand.

Thym put their ear to the floorboards and listened to the humming thrum below.

"The engine doesn't need it." They said confidently "What else you working on?"

  Chive frowned up at Thym, but his eyes sparkled mischievously.  

  "I have my own projects." is all he answered.  

  "Show-" 

  Thym was cut off by Rosemary as she glided across the deck.

  " We're about to reach Orion, come see!"

  Thym sighed and stood, following the captain to the bow.  The ship was lowering through layers of mist, the familiar skyline of New London now rising up into view.  

  The city was beautiful, no doubt, but Thym only frowned down at it.  Ahead, the three levels of Uptown London hung suspended.  The ship took a sharp turn before reaching them, sailing away past the main hub of the city.  Thym popped their ears and looked to Rosemary with curiosity.

  “Where are we docking?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at them.

  “At Orion, of course.”

  “There’s no way you have a dock….there….”

  Thym regretted their hasty judgement as the Orion campus finally shifted into view.  

  For every measure that Virgo had been beautiful, Orion was vast.  The main campus alone, with its classical brick, stone, and iron architecture, its columns and corridors, rivaled the largest colleges in the country.  A wide grassy courtyard set apart the mass of study halls and office spaces from the dorm rooms, connected only by covered outdoor walkways.  And it was all shadowed by the two ornate towers that rose into the sky.  Towers that, to Thym’s joint amazement and embarrassment, hosted a small, private airship dock.

 Rosemary didn't speak, but the twinkle in her eye said all.

  “Okay then.” Thym admitted “I gotta see this.”

  Rosemary nodded, her attention split as she guided the navigator’s way to a safe docking.

  “Where’s Basil?” Thym asked, mostly to themself.  They knew how protocol dockings went.  Despite being close, they wouldn't be able to actually disembark for at least another twenty minutes.  

  Searching below deck, Thym found him sitting, staring at a project but preoccupied massaging his arm above the prosthetic.

  “You good?” Thym called.

  Basil startled slightly before lowering his hand and going back to his work.  

  “I’m fine.”

  “It’s the altitude shift, isn’t it?” Thym asked, softly, but without any traces of doting.  Matter of factly.

  Basil shrugged.  “It’s nothing.”

  Thym gave a nod and changed the subject.  “So, guess we’re gonna be spending a lot of time together soon.”

  Basil nodded.

  “We should get to know each other better.”

  “I’m sure we will.”

  “C’mon, give me something.”

  Basil sighed and rubbed his temple “It’s been a long trip.”

  “Do you have a favorite subject?”

  “Alchemy.” He offered dryly. 

  Thym plopped down next to Basil.

  “Guess I knew that.”

  They waited for a return question and got none.

  “Mmmmm how about favorite color?”

  “Does that matter?”

  “Fair enough.” Thym leaned back “Okayyyy, birthdays.  What’s yours?” 

 Basil froze at first. “Ah- er, November 28th.”

  “I’ll remember it!” Thym promised.  They leaned on the desk. Basil stared down at his hands, looking increasingly uncomfortable. 

  “I should give you a nickname.”

  “Please don’t.” 

  “Not anything dumb.  How about teach’?  

  Basil shot Thym a confused glance.

  "Yknow, short for teacher?”

  Basil scowled.

  "You're right." Thym grinned "It's bad.  I'll put a pin in it."

  "Let's... just get inside." Basil said, collecting his things with a sigh "There's something I think you'll enjoy seeing."

Basil knocked, an efficient two raps on the door of their airship captain. As they waited Thym grinned up at him, and a smile found the corner of his lips too. 

It disappeared as the door opened to Rosemary. Despite the daily check-ins, she still looked pleasantly surprised to see them. 

“Good evening Captain.” Basil greeted.

“Basil… Thym. Good to see you both.”

“May we confer?” 

They entered the room, essentially still a dorm but outfitted with an extra table and chairs, a private meeting space for the captain and her crew if need be.

 Basil lingered at a chair, standing stiffly, wanting to take to pacing again, but he took a deep breath and sat.

  Even beginning to announce this was so odd, it didn’t feel quite real yet.  He’d been so focused on Thym, he should have prepared for this bit more, if Thym were to study with Arcturus, it would be more than just a small decision kept between them. They’d be part of the guild. Announcing them as such, that felt important to get right. He paused as he gathered himself. 

Unfortunately for him, Thym did not.

“So this apprenticeship thing, it’s a pretty typical deal with you lot yeah? I’ve only really met Bay and Juniper but- couldn’t help but notice all the pairups.” Thym hadn't been able to stop themself talking the entire way "A lot of different fields too.  Did anyone else have former education or is it all new talents?  The guild is fancy enough I'd think it's all academy grads but hoooooo guess I was wrong, eh?  And what about-"

"Thym, please…" Basil interrupted. Rosemary looked on with curiosity. 

“The refocus into the program has brought a lot of individuals together recently, but there’s always been a strong teaching aspect to the guild. And yes, people from all walks of life.” Rosemary offered with a smile. 

“Huh. Awesome!” Thym grinned. “So what about you two? Were you apprentices once?” 

“Rosemary was. Actually the apprentice of the Head of Arcturus herself.” Basil pointed out. 

"Woah, really?" Thym looked at the captain wide-eyed "And...who?...Is that?"

Rosemary cleared her throat pointedly.  

"Basil had no mentor with the guild."

Thym squinted at Basil, who seemed to pale at Rosemary’s retort.  

"Didn't you say you joined at 14?"

“Never mentored.” he confirmed with a solemn nod. 

"Just that good." Rosemary all but muttered. 

Thym gulped.  The captain had, until this point, seemed the type to float above conflict, but the tension growing in the room...Thym could've cut it with their sword.  Basil must have struck a nerve somewhere, and Thym figured he knew it. He stared down at his tightly intertwined hands with a remorseful expression. 

Rosemary drew a breath, and suddenly the mood had dissipated.

"What did you need, Basil?"

“Right yes. The reason Thym was asking about the program…   As you know, we’re preparing our leave, and as far as Thym is concerned… they deserve a chance.  I’ve decided to assume that responsibility. I’ll take Thym on as my apprentice.” 

Rosemary blinked at Basil, wordless for a moment.

"Come again?"

"Basil wants me to come with you guys as his apprentice!" Thym filled in helpfully.

Rosemary looked back to Basil, who dipped his head slightly in affirmation.

"You're...certain?"

Thym was nodding so enthusiastically, Rosemary worried for their neck. Basil loomed beside them, and Rosemary couldn’t deny that he looked absolutely serious on the matter. 

"Thats….what am I saying?" she gathered a smile "That's wonderful!  Congratulations are in order!  I'll send word to Cardamom right away, I'm sure she'll have no objections." 

She reached to shake Thym's hand in both of her own.

"Welcome, properly, to the family!" her grin almost matched Thym's now "You better get packed up!  We're headed to Orion early tomorrow."

"Great!" Thym exclaimed "And where is that, again?"

The next few days went far too fast.  There was so much work to do, so much to organize for the future, and even with the struggles, so much to celebrate now that Arcturus was cleared of their 'blight'.  And yet, despite the solution, Basil still came off as stressed and distracted. Parsley and Coriander didn’t seem to think it odd, so Thym had refrained from worrying about him. His worries wouldn’t be relevant for much longer anyway.

  Thym, Chive, and the twins had their party, away from the eyes of elder Arcturus members who may be want to judge. Basil, of course, did not attend.  For better or for worse, Thym's presence, their boundless energy, seemed to reveal cracks in their fellow youths' facades of early maturity.  The four could most always be found as a group, enjoying the last of their time together.  Their days were filled with more laughter, the nights with singing and dancing and perhaps a bit too much young wine.  

  Thym found, to their frustration, that they had begun to detest the thought of leaving, but far too soon, the time approached.  The Draco would set sail the next morning, and they reminded themself that it was good.  New things awaited them. A fresh city. And there Silphium and Rosemary had promised reliable connections and lodging at the very least. 

There was no need for goodbyes yet, only good nights, as Thym left the company of their friends and retreated to their room, the thought of enjoying such comfortable rooming one more time surprisingly alluring.

  As they prepared for an early slumber, Thym caught sight of a now-familiar object: A note left in their quarters. It had the telltale signs of Basil. Crisp and immaculate. They unfolded it to find the shortest note they'd ever read from him. 

Meet me at The Tree, 8pm, wanted to talk to you about something. 

                             -Basil

  They shoved the paper into one of their coat pockets, and looked outside.  It had to be nearing 8:30 already.  In the dusk, the arboretum glowed a soft yellow that bathed the forest with an aura of magic.  Beautiful.  Unlatching the window, Thym swung over the sill, scrambling down the side of the building, and followed that light.  

  The chirp of crickets in the cool evening welcomed them as they neared the glass structure. Even with the soft glow of Diana’s tree, the crisp starlight wasn’t hindered, twinkling down and harmonious in the void above.

  The guard who sat in vigil of the complex smiled warmly and offered Thym entry. 

They spotted Basil pacing a couple floors up and scaled the stairs to convene with him.

  “Very mysterious of you.” Thym said as they approached, producing the note from their pocket

“What's on your mind?" 

  At Thym’s arrival Basil stopped his pacing, staring past them for a moment in silence.

  They glanced up "One more look before we go?  A recount of our heroics?” 

  They posed dramatically, waiting for Basil to pipe up.

  As he started to speak, Basil again walked the raised platform, the leaves of the tree overhead and just barely out of reach. 

“I’ve seen you naturally and effortlessly connect with the intellectuals, scholars, and scientists that put their lives into this place. You fit in here.” He took a breath, a deadly seriousness carved into his face. Thym wondered if the altercation at the tree had been more traumatic for Basil than he let on. Was that why they were here? 

Basil continued “Thym, I wanted to know...

What do you think of being able to not just keep those connections, but chase your promise in engineering... Live, travel, and study with others tracking down their dreams of the future...

Would you, given the chance, dedicate yourself to-”

“Wait, wait.” Thym stepped back, chuckling “Stop, go back…. Is this a speech?  Did you practice this?”  They tilted their head “This sounds like a speech.  What are you saying?”

Thrown briefly, Basil stuttered. 

“I- I- ah… Thym you - You are a brilliant engineer, and you deserve the chance….  I can see that. And I hoped I could provide you with that chance. If you want it. I would - I'll take you as my apprentice.” 

Thym stood silent, processing the offer.  Then laughed.

“That's… you know that wouldn't fly.  Its funny, I…its a good joke.” They looked at Basil as the forced chuckles faded slowly.

He looked horrified, like this was all genuine. Like he was sincere. 

Thym's eyes widened “No thats...thats not what you're like...You're for real aren't you?  You mean that?” 

“I don’t - I wouldn’t dare joke about- Thym...” Basil wrung his hands and limply stood, a fine sweat forming on his tensed brow. 

“No no of course not.  It's just-you can't possibly think...” Thym reached out to place a hand over Basils’, trying to pause his nervous fidgeting. Basil stiffened but didn't pull away.

“I’ve given this a lot of careful consideration.” Basil affirmed.

“Well,” Lowering their hand, Thym thought about the matter more seriously, “I'd say I'm going to disappoint you, but considering how you found me I guess there probably aren't high expectations?” 

They smiled, small but genuine, and the arboretum seemed to glow all the brighter for it.

“Well I'd expect you to take your interest in engineering, be willing to learn more and improve your craft, and finally to chase opportunities to create and design when you desire.” A smile crept upon his own lips but he fought it, the seriousness of the situation focusing him away from emotion. “Do you think you could meet those expectations?” 

  “Yes!” Thym laughed again, this time a true expression of joy “Yeah of course I can!  Holy shit, I can really stay?  You think it'll work?”

“It'd be wrong to send you away. Like I said, you belong with Arcturus… I can't be the only one to see that. So Yes. You can- and with your potential, I believe you should.” 

He didn’t voice his concerns that perhaps Thym’s entry into Arcturus would be denied in response to a myriad of factors. But Basil had to hope, in his review of his encounter and acquaintanceship with Thym, he had to admit. It felt fated that he discovered them. It felt right that they were so intertwined into the spirit of Arcturus. A guest? Hardly. He would advocate for them. Thym belonged here, more than he had once, maybe even more than he did currently. 

"And no more… being passed between tour guides and supervisors… I'd be one of you?"

 “I’d be responsible for your primary instruction, and yes there’d be an apprentice ceremony to make it official.” 

  Thym made a face.  "A ceremony?  I don't just...sit in your workshop and learn from your work or whatever?" they giggled "Pageantry.  Huh."

  He laughed “Try to think of it as… celebrating your welcome into the guild.”

  “A celebration!” Thym beamed “I like this.”

  Basil didn’t say how much the idea of skipping the ceremony would have lifted a weight off of him, he didn’t want Thym to get the wrong idea. And he truly believed an official position as an apprentice at Arcturus would be well worth celebrating. If only he could have lived the same, without worry. An apprenticeship could be truly invaluable, not only opening doors and resources, but offering fellowship and community. 

  “It's getting late... but… we should check in with Rosemary.  Some news for her.” Unlike the other times he reluctantly said so, there was just a slight tinge of excitement sneaking into his voice. 

  "Oh my god yes!" Thym was actually bouncing now, punching the air "That makes it so official."

Thym spun in place and then, noticing there were more alchemists wandering the levels below them, shouted in excitement for the whole arboretum to hear.

"Hey! Im gonna be Basil's apprentice!"

At the outburst he jumped and then cringed while a chorus of confused muttering filled the building. Again, finding himself the center of attention thanks to Thym.

With a nervous smile, Basil patted Thym’s shoulder and gently eased towards the stairs. 

Once more, words left him, but his hopes stayed. Hopes for Thym’s bright future, and that he could do his small part in helping them prepare for it.

  Thym stepped gingerly over the charred remains of wicker chairs and wooden tables to get a better look at the blackened tree that had, only days before, been so beautiful.  It still stretched through the two stories of the keep, its roots remaining integrated into the structure, but the structure itself was in shakey condition.  Several fresh planks and sturdy beams had already been built into the lower room to hold up the otherwise compromised integrity of the whole hall.

  Wordless for once, Thym only winced as they beheld the extent of the damage.  Gingerly, they traced their fingertips over blackened surfaces, and sighed, gaze drifting mindlessly to the center of the room.

  Basil thought he saw their hands tremble slightly, but it might have been a trick of the light, dapples of sun filtering through misshapen windowpanes.  Standing between darkened walls and ash-coated floors, Thym seemed the only thing in the room to be rendered in full-color, a real person in a black and white photograph.  Yet, frozen by their thoughts, Thym might as well have been part of the still image.

  A familiar voice, no, a pair of familiar voices, broke them out of their daze.

  “It’s not dead.”

  Coriander’s voice.

  Thym turned and smiled slightly to see the twins.  There was a mannerism to the speaker, a certain reserved eccentricity, that clued them in to who was who.

  “It’ll take a while to heal.” Parsley continued.

  “But it will heal.” Coriander added “Just a dark ring in its history.”

  “In the meantime we have a good excuse to update the complex, at least.” Parsley sighed.

  “Who managed to put this out?” Thym asked.

  “It was a group effort, mostly the guard of course.” Parsley answered, stepping closer to Basil and Thym “But Rosemary and Chive were coordinating the troops.  They really know how to keep their heads on them in a tough spot.”

"Mood." Thym muttered.

“We...heard what you two did.” Coriander, yes, they were sure it was Coriander now, grinned “We wanted to throw a party or something-”

“You wanted to…” Parsley interjected.

“To celebrate having alchemy back for our keep, and keeping it safe, you know?”

“But it didn’t really fit the mood of…” Parsley waved their hand around at the damage to their beloved keep.

Basil frowned and grumbled, "A party following a terrorist attack. Yes, I'd think not." 

“I'd settle for a good drink!” Thym laughed “You guys must make some nice ciders or something here?  On the down-low?  Come on.”

The twins winked in sync.

“And we have to have Chive and the lot too.” Thym added.

“It’ll have to be soon then.” Parsley said morosely.

Thym frowned and looked to Basil.

“You guys are leaving soon?”

Basil nodded.  “Events here have already delayed the return journey by a few days, but despite the important work left to be done here… some of us have pressing matters to return to at home as well.”

“Right.  Well, me too.” Thym shrugged.  Their mind screamed ‘About time’, their sensibilities telling them to run to freer spaces and closer futures, but their heart…

“I’ll miss you, believe it or not.”

The twins looked at each other, then at Thym, and then the smaller redhead found themself scooped up into a double embrace.  Thym started to resist, but their struggle died where it began as they realized how nice it was, to just be hugged.

“We’ll never forget you Thym!” Parsley promised.

Coriander squeezed tighter “You best visit us!  Uptown Ireland is only an hour out so you have no excuse.”

Thym hugged back with their full strength, but refrained from promises.  

“Hey, tall boy!” 

Basil looked over reluctantly

“I’m gonna miss you too!” Thym all but shouted.

“We will still be departing together.” Basil reminded them.

The twins threatened to pull Basil into the group hug.  He stepped back politely and offered an awkward pat on the back to the nearest sibling, the identity of whom he was still a bit uncertain.

He regarded the ginger trio with a half smile. “I won’t miss the stress, the uncertainty, the danger.”

“And that was before the terrorists.” Thym joked.

Basil let out a quaint and awkward laugh, “but, I can’t deny it was good company. We... did a good job.”

“Hell yeah.” Thym replied “We’ll be legends.”

The next day found the keep in the early stages of recovery and repair.  The day before had been total chaos, the night a singular exhausted respite.  Now was the time to make sense of the mess.

The attackers that the guard had managed to detain were being taken to an Arcturus base in New London for questioning, and in the meantime there was nothing but word of mouth to carry the details of all that’d gone wrong, and all that had saved them.

Everyone had a tale to tell, but none had so much to say from the front lines of action than Thym.  It seemed the entirety of Virgo wanted to know what had happened at the tree, and Thym was more than happy to oblige.  They bathed in the attention, in the awe of scientists and guards alike.

Basil walked in during a mess hall retelling of the situation to find Thym standing on a bench, speaking theatrically.

"So I ran to the complex, and of course Basil was already there-" Thym saw Basil enter and lit up "Speaking of!"

Thym ran over to him and patted the tall alchemist’s upper arm. “You shoulda seen him. Basil to Diana’s rescue.”

Basil clammed up, the shock of all this attention too much to handle. He avoided the glances of everyone and with the gentle removal of Thym’s arm from his own he distanced himself to the cafe food bar for his breakfast. 

"As I was saying, it was me, Basil, and five fully armed men."

Bay leaned in, enraptured. “Okay but 5 people!? Guessing Basil was little help so-” She laughed. “HOW?”

"Ok, first of all" Thym replied, chuffed "Basil was some help.  He may not have a sword but he was out there throwing things, using garden shears to defend himself, being a general distraction…"

A few people, Bay included, turned with surprised awe to Basil, who was now seated in a corner.  He retreated further into himself with a quiet whine.

"Thym…" 

 Coming down for breakfast was a mistake. He’d had his worries … and they were absolutely founded. 

Basil thought about returning once more to the cover of his room.

"Secondly," Thym continued, drawing the attention back to themself "The complex is built well for defense.  Like a castle tower…. wait was that purposeful?" 

Thym was met with shrugs and confusion.

Cryptic.

"Oh, and a final thing-" Thym tried to rescue the moment "I'm damn good with a sword." They grinned knowingly as their audience laughed, and rambled on about the fight.

Just as all the commotion was about to force his leave, a voice rang out behind him. “Genovere.” 

He didn’t need to turn around to know it as Captain Rosemary.

“I need to speak with you, may I steal you for a moment?” 

He sighed and rose to his feet. 

She led him outside, the courtyard only a door away. 

“More questions?” Basil inquired.

On a nearby bench, Rosemary took her seat. Under a shade tree it faced the outdoor plots that provided food to all who lived and worked at Virgo. “Sit down please”  

He stiffly obliged. 

“What is it you need?” Basil said, an edge to his typically measured voice. 

“Nothing at all.” she smirked and leaned back on the bench. 

“No?” 

“But I do recommend you take this time for yourself. Feel the wind, take in the quiet, or ignore everything. Grab your food if you’d like. Whatever you need to do. If someone comes by, I’ll make like we’re having an important conversation.” 

She pulled out a notepad from the satchel on her side. 

He considered questioning her. Find out why she’d do this. What he’d owe to her later. But he let it go. 

With a strained exhale, he simply nodded and looked off.

Rosemary kept her promise.  

She turned away every prying visitor, telling them all that she needed a moment to take down Basil's record of events, but when the courtyard was empty, she was silent.  She busied herself with writing, and maintained a facade of the kind of distance Basil held her at by default.

He wouldn’t dare tell Rosemary where his thoughts went. Fears too personal. Stresses too telling. Variables and complications that would only ever be his own.  But she didn’t pry. And for once, he tried to believe that she didn’t expect him to share. It had been a long time since he felt that degree of comfort in her presence. 

Basil was unsure how much time had passed when Rosemary finally sighed and put away her things.

“I have to go now.” She directed a little nod at Basil “I know you won’t accept recognition nor reward for your actions.  But I hope you’ll accept a moment’s silence every now and again, when you need it.”

She didn’t wait for any response, just walked away with a soft smile.

Thym had sat down to some food in the meantime, alongside friends who’d began telling their own experiences with the fire.  But at Basil’s return, they quickly excused themself and bounded over to the re-approaching alchemist. “So that talk with Rosemary must’ve been something.” 

“It was actually … alright.” Basil reflected simply. 

“Mm, that’s good.” Thym shrugged “I was gonna go see the damage from yesterday.  You coming?”

 Everyone in the keep watched with curiosity as a disheveled and bloodied Basil and Thym were escorted back inside. 

Thym was tended to first.  Their cut was cleaned and bandaged appropriately, and they were given a fresh set of clothes to wear while the bloodspattered ones were whisked away to be laundered.  Thym was still boisterous, and full of complaints about Arcturus’s guard, until finally, they were filled in on the fires set in Virgo’s own campus.  The promised distraction, meant to steal attention from the tree.  In truth, the guard had done their most important job. No one was seriously hurt, despite some damage to one of the favored common rooms.    Still, Basil could have died alone, alongside the ancient wonder he was so desperate to protect.  Something about that sat very wrong with Thym. 

After all was cared for,  there was still the long and borish responsibility to recount the exact events of the day.  The guard had to take down paperwork.  Rosemary and the twins wanted to know everything.  Even Silphium had been inquisitive in hearing Basil and Thym’s record of things.  Basil argued his distaste for the situation and Thym couldn’t help but take note of a passion almost frigid within him.  He made a point of Thym’s bravery.  It was a fortunate turn of fate, he insisted, that they’d been there. Despite their better reason, Thym took their chance to make a criticism on Virgo, and even Arcturus’ overall security failings.  Silphium took the evaluation to heart, taking notes in awe as Thym laid it bare and dry.

It felt like a different day by the time they were released from the director’s office, and encouraged to rest. 

Finally a moment of respite, not questioned, not celebrated, not overwhelmed, the two who’d single handedly defended Virgo’s heart took the time to catch their breath. Basil had planned to promptly retire to his room, but both he and Thym lingered at their doors. Throughout all the talk today, there was still something that felt left unsaid. Basil opened his door and stepped aside, inviting Thym in. “Tea?”

Thym nodded “God, that sounds good.” 

Basil went about heating water over a small gas burner.  Thym stole the quilt off his bed and wrapped it around themself, the lighter spring wear they’d been given not warm enough for the cold night air.  The soft sounds of wind picking up outside, the pouring of water, the echo of footsteps up and down the dorm hall, were enough to nearly lull Thym to sleep by the time Basil placed a hot teacup in their hand.  They stirred.

“Well today was, A Day” Thym smiled cheekily.

 “Certainly was A Day…”  Basil sat down with his tea, warming his hands. He stared off and away from it all, past the walls, past the confines of Virgo, the extensive plains of the island, and then far away into years long gone. 

Basil set down his tea, and raised a hand to his face. 

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t more help today.” 

Thym scoffed.

“You figured out what was happening.  I was just backup.” Thym stared at Basil for a moment, as if trying to decipher something under the surface.

"You're...weirdly bold." 

Basil squinted “What do you mean?”

Thym sipped from their tea, thinking.  

"Just wouldn't have pinned you as the type to do something so reckless." there was a twinkle of mischief in their eyes as they gazed over the edge of their cup "What was your plan?  You know, had I not shown up?" 

“When I said I expected to die back there, I was serious.  But plan? No I just… I couldn’t let them take the tree.  I realize I’m not much but… I couldn’t just … stand to the side and hope… let it happen.  Just because something isn’t understood doesn’t mean it isn’t important, or doesn’t deserve protection. ”

“Bold and noble.” Thym stuck out their tongue. 

“But you understand. You risked everything today too.”

"Bold and stupid." Thym muttered, chuckling to themself.  They downed the last of their drink and set aside the cup.  

"I don't like bullies." they said finally, feeling that a moment of honesty wasn’t entirely out of order.  “Listen, if they had attacked the guard, or tried to steal something, that’s not my problem.  But you were unarmed.  And a tree is defenseless!  Not that I usually care about trees this much but I mean…” they chuckled “it’s beautiful.  The world needs beautiful things.  Makes travel worthwhile, you know?” 

Basil sat by, thinking. “There tends to be something worth protecting everywhere you go. But taking up that responsibility… It is noble. So thank you, Thym.”

Thym nodded slightly, and it took Basil a moment to realize they had also nodded off.

He shifted in his chair. “Thym?” 

At their lack of response he sighed and stood with a frown.

He was exhausted as well. The stress of today had been convincing enough for him to consider turning in earlier than usual.

Basil weighed the situation. The thought of Thym sleeping at the foot of his bed while he slept there felt intensely awkward. Out of the question. Yet he also couldn’t bring himself to rouse and move the bundled sleeping youth. 

He picked up their empty tea cup, and set it away. 

Basil rubbed his neck with a yawn and took a couple pillows from his bed. He set one closer to Thym’s head and the other he brought along with him. 

Easily resigned to it, he sat back in his chair. With one arm curled under the downy pillow he laid his head down at his desk. In mere moments Basil had found sleep as well. 

Basil, still quiet, leaned back against the tree, and shakily placed the garden shears down beside him. Shallow breaths seemed all he was capable of. But everything was still. A contrast to all that had been in the mad rush to save Diana’s tree. 

Tuning into Thym’s scarlet tinged visage, he was brought back to the moment at hand. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice faint. 

“Heh this is nothing." Thym touched the still-bleeding gash, wincing slightly as they realized it's depth, then turned their attention to Basil "You didn't get shot or anything, right?" 

They knelt next to him.  

He shook his head slightly. “Better than I could’ve expected. Unscathed,” he dipped his head “alive, and…” He looked up, noticing Thym’s bare hand. Pressed against the tree bark. 

He opened his mouth to berate the action but then stopped, realizing … he himself leaned on Diana’s tree for support. 

“-more importantly the Tree is safe.” He finished, sliding down to sit on the glassen floor. 

Thym stared at the living wonder, enchanted, smiling faintly as threads of gold light swirled between their fingers, reflecting in their wide eyes.

Then they pulled their hand away, breaking the spell, and chuckled.

Basil stared at them, confused, as Thym began laughing outright.  

"Today is ridiculous." Thym snorted, the adrenaline finally retreating from their limbs, escaping into misplaced giggles.  They shrugged off Basil's gaze and laid on the glass floor, staring up at silver branches.  He found himself copying the action, looking up and wondering if Diana was thankful for their bravery. 

The sun was nearly done setting when they heard a commotion downstairs.  Thym gripped their sword again and sat up, peering through the floors, then relaxed their grip.  The breakers of the silence were Arcturus guards, distinctive in their polished armor.  

“Oh, here comes the calvary.” Thym pulled themself from the floor as the guards reached the stair-top, stopping in mixed horror and awe and the scene before them.  

 “I think a couple got away, if you’re interested in tracking them down.” Thym said, nonchalant, ignoring the two bodies that lay between themself and the guards.

“We found one.” a guard said, finally.  She knelt to examine the corpses, then nodded to her companion.  He called down the stairs. 

“Captain, all is well.”

Rosemary, running a moment behind the guard, rushed the stairs, armed and breathless.  

“They’re okay?”

She reached the second floor and the tension fell from her.  Staring wide-eyed, first at Thym, then the floor, then finally Basil, she took a moment to piece together what happened.

“What were you thinking, the both of you?!  When the twins reached me...I thought for sure…”

Her gaze fell back on Thym, on their sword, their bloodied face.  “You did this?”

Thym’s confidence faltered a bit.  

They’d killed people in a place of safety.

“They would’ve killed Basil.” Thym delivered by way of explanation. 

Basil steeled himself and stepped forward, grabbing the attention. Thym had protected him and now it was his turn.

 “The truth is that Thym saved Diana’s Tree from the assailants. Had they not been here to protect it… The terrorists would’ve surely met their goals and we would have lost a lot more than just myself.” Basil looked pointedly to Thym’s sword and the scattered weapons of the fallen terrorists. “We were forced to defend ourselves... We got lucky Thym here is quite skilled with a blade. A bullet grazed them, maybe some bruising, but apart from that... ” Basil smiled over to Thym. 

“We held our own.” 

Rosemary lowered her weapons, a pair of sharp throwing daggers, and stashed them away, drawing out a clean handkerchief instead.  She approached Thym and pressed the cloth to their face, finally slowing the bleeding.  

“You’re alright?” she asked them softly.

“Like Basil said, maybe some bruises, but we’re fine.” Thym let Rosemary move their hand to their cheek, holding the already-stained linen in place “Debt repaid, maybe?” they winked “We got outside for a bit!” 

“Oh, and so much more.” Rosemary assured them, squeezing their shoulder, and wouldn’t she have hugged them, embraced them both, if she could?  But her gratitude had to suffice.

“Thank you.” Her gaze shifted to Basil “Your bravery will be commended for sure.  Are you…?”

Basil only nodded and stepped away.  “I am fine.”

The captain nodded, “Of course” then turned to her guards.

“Check the complex, make sure all is in order.  And put out a search for the escaped men.”

“You’ll find a herbicides a floor up.” Basil added, as the two left to follow their captain’s orders.

“Come now.” Rosemary gestured to Thym “Let’s get that gash cared for.” 

Thym made the first move without hesitation or decorum.  Stepping forward as they slashed fiercely through the air, they forced everyone back, giving Basil room to do what he may.

Skirting around the edge of the tree, Basil set his sights on the herbicide containers. Grabbing them was an easy task while Thym had most of the attention trained on them, on the wild unexpected swings of their cutlass. Basil unarmed felt barely worth the attention. 

Swallowing his fear once again he drew the attention of the terrorists. “You can’t kill the tree without these!” Giving up on the congested entrance as a viable escape, he shot a pointed look to Thym and then to the tree canopy.  He took off up the loosely spiraling stairs. 

“Up!? Okay!” Thym declared.

With a flourish of their blade and a well-placed kick Thym knocked back an assailant, his pistol flying away, useless for the moment. 

In a few bounds, Thym caught up with Basil as they reached the next level.

“We have to slow them down. Surely Parsley and Coriander will send help?” He fretted.

 Hands full, Basil looked longingly at a medium sized cart near the edge of the stairway. 

“Righto” Thym flung the thing down the stairwell at the men pursuing them. 

Listening to the ensuing chaos below, Thym scanned their position.

"This is defendable!" they decided "Now get those poison-thingies out of here before the shooting starts again."

  Basil considered the risk of one of the containers getting punctured, grimacing at the thought of the toxins spilling across the complex.  Reluctantly, he complied, running to stow the herbicides another level up while Thym stood ready at the top of the second-level staircase. From below Basil could hear the sporadic splitting sound of gunfire and at every missed shot, the splinter of glass.  Two blasts.  A shattering sound.  A scream that was decidedly not Thym’s, and the solid thud of a body collapsing down stairs. 

The beating of his heart pounded in his ears as he frantically found a spot to hide the herbicides, although on the top level... he found much less equipment, with only much smaller objects stored higher up. The ground floor harbored supply cabinets and heavy bags of fertilizer that would’ve been much more conducive to a proper hiding place.

Here he resorted to slipping the herbicide loosely behind some sparse shelving. 

Once he was dead they’d have to spend some time looking for it. As long as they hadn’t been observing from the quite-nearly transparent floors below, he could hope the search would slow them down.

 Thym seemed to be proving an adequate distraction. Below he could see them holding their own.  Now against 3 attackers.  Having completed his task he froze, feeling quite useless. He wished desperately for his pistol, left securely aboard the Draco.

  The keeps were supposed to be safe… 

  Scanning the top level once again, he noticed a pair of large shears that hadn’t been returned to the station on the lower level. His stomach turned at the thought of using them but nonetheless he grabbed the sharp edged tool and hurried to help Thym in whatever way he could manage. 

“Good news- Ran a couple of em off, and one might not get far.”  Thym reported, the pattering of Basil descending the upper level stairs alerting them to his return. He took careful cover against the side of the tree near Thym, who’d stationed themself at the choke-point at the top of the stairs. 

 Scanning the area for trouble, his eyes caught sight of Thym’s sword as it clashed against an aggressor’s blade, Thym’s weapon now streaked with blood. 

“Just stay behind me and we should be fine.” Thym ensured.

Hearing no response, Thym risked a glance over to Basil.   It only lasted a fraction of a second as one of their adversaries took aim at them again.  Thym barely had the speed to dodge as the gun fired off far too close to their head, the sound ringing out louder than the fight as the bullet grazed a deep cut into their cheek.  

Stunned, Thym stumbled back, finally leaving room for a sword-bearing assailant to rush the second floor, coming for Basil with determined speed.  Basil flinched away and raised the shears, catching the brand for a moment in the cross of the blades.  However, the swordsman was stronger, and despite Basil’s valiant efforts, he found himself staring down the steel tip of his enemy’s blade, and took in a sharp breath, prepared for a gruesome end.

Just as his arms were ready to give out, the pressure dissipated.  The man’s sword fell to the ground, and then the man.  His life welled out from his back.  Behind him, Thym stood only for a moment as fresh ruby red trailed from their sword, then turned with the intention of exacting an equally swift vengeance on the man who’d shot them.

Thym let out a low hiss.  They had seemed in good spirits about the battle, but now, blood dripping down their face, head still spinning, they sliced angrily through a second life.  

Seeing the turn of the tide, the final terrorist backed down the stairs, turning to flee as soon as he was out of reach of Thym’s blade.  Thym watched until he was clear of the complex entirely.