This follows Miz's Journal: Across the Bridge
I helped someone die.
It was an old tree. It was awake, like a person. It was being eaten, by giant termites. It was in pain.
I helped it die.
It gave us a seedling to plant, and it gave me part of its spirit.
I knew all the librarians on the Gallimaufry. I know basically what a family is supposed to be.
I only knew Grandfather Tree for an afternoon and then I took him away, by praying to a sky goddess I met.
I didn’t want him to suffer. This was supposed to be merciful. He approved of me doing it. And it was quick, just like we wanted.
It was supposed to be the best thing to do. The right thing.
So why am I crying?
I have a seedling now. I have to find somewhere to plant it.
It has to be somewhere safe. I can’t let anything happen to it. I can’t just put it in some soil and move on.
I have to keep moving, though, because I have to find a replacement for something else I destroyed.
Could we plant it in the elves’ forest? I don’t know. I don’t know the elves at all. I just know what I’ve read. And all of that could be wrong.
If we can get the Trimaldis’ people settled somewhere, I’d like to plant it at the center of their new community. I think we could ask them to keep it safe.
Would they really be able to? I hope so.
I learn more and more about the Archmagus. And early on, he doesn’t seem like he’s a bad guy. He made a bargain with Grandfather Oak, to give him strength.
I wonder if I’m feeling what he felt. I wonder if he started out wanting to help everyone and see everything. I wonder if it just got too much for him.
I wonder if that’ll happen to me.
I wonder if I’ll know when it happens.