Week One Continued
Rested and refreshed, Jema sets out in search of a parnter once more before she goes to her first day of work. Time is so very precious in this mortal city. How can these mortals be content with a mere ninety days of life? It seems so little, and yet as she has seen, mortals see it as so much.
Her luck s better this time. She finds in the park above her home an artist who is fascinated by her tale. She can't tarry long, lest she be late for work, but she stays long enough to learn that his name is Alexy Fresco, and though older, he has no partner and would like to see her again.
Se spends the morning after that in further study, pursuing the fabled Ambrosia. It had occurred to her, while at work, that once the dish was within her grasp it would be a grand thing to share it's blessings with Alexy, if he chose to assist her. It was after all in the nature of fae folk to grant boons to chosen mortals now and again. However, after a morning of deep study, she discovers why the dish is not a mortal staple, or even widely sought. The magical fruit the dish requires was once a reward granted to heroes, and still retains some of that nature. Those who wish to benefit from it must first do great things. worse still ,the putrid fish which wards off death, the dish's other ingredient, was poisonous to all but those with magic in their blood. Any mortal who partook of the mythical meal would at best be unaffected, and at worst die a painful death.
Jema would not be deterred form her quest, however. After all, she would have plenty of time among mortals. And even if she could not share her immortal meal with her partner, should they have a child, he would surely be able to partake of the Ambrosia. Even a scant trace of magical ancestry was enough to negate the dangers. With her discovery heavy on the thoughts she invited Alexy to visit her barren plot of land.
She did not tell him yet of her discovery. Unless he wished to try the dish she never planned to. Instead, they turned their talk to other things. She knelt, and offered him a ring with a bright glowing stone. Her coworkers had explain to her mortal marriages. She wanted Alexy to be her partner in her quest and this seemed to her the best way to ask him. The ring had once been magic, a key to open the gate to Underhill at will, but in this city of steel it held no power. She asked him to keep it safe for her and he agreed, honored by her trust in him.
They did not delay in making their marriage official. Jema was still far from her goal, but with his help they were able to build a small home and start a garden, where she planned to one day grow the magic fruit she sought. With that in mind she spent her day off from work searching for seeds.
Alexy began working hard to chronicle her quest, beginning with painting a portrait of her as she was now. Between his work to record her life, and her job and growing garden, they had little time to spare for one another. However, they still found time time to nurture their affection for one another in the wee hours of the morning.
And that brings us up to the end of week one.
