The stairs that led to the rooms below the Astrologers' Observatory were well used, steps worn in places where many feet had fallen and it remined you that this was truly a privilege. Even though you had a job to do you couldn't help thinking how many great observers had been down there as students and now you get to poke around down here too. Your thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Alster, "Don't step on that, it looks slippery." You look down to see green and purple residue from the decaying plants. "The entire life cycle of the plants are accelerated, the grow fast but they are also dying and decay faster too. The green and purple goo was being visibly slurped up by hungry plant roots that had pushed up through the stone floor. An arm sized crystal in the centre of the room was pulsing at a very high rate. Richalt asks the Chief Astronomer Biota, "is that your power source for the astrolabe, the sextant and the reticle and all the other mechanical equipment in the observatory?" 

"Yes, but it has never behaved like this," she replied despondently. "You repeat the words, astrolabe, sextant, reticle, in mocking tone while wiggling your head to Haden and you both have a giggle. Alster, leans in between the both of you and whispers quietly to you both, "well at least he knows what they are for," and leaves you with the kind of  stern look  a father would use to reprimand his children. 

Seeing that the plant was all stemming from one large root that was somehow feeding off the accelerated crystal Richalt decided to call on his sprite partner, Ivy, who uses her connection to the natural world to coax the plants away from the Astrologers' crystal and disconnect from the increase energy. Once the roots of the plant fell back from the crystal and were only receiving sustenance from the earth they began to slow their growth. "glad you knew what to do," said Alster to Ivy and her human medic. "What we did worked but it doesn't explain why the plants had gone out of control like they did. 

As you return upstairs to see the results of your botanical excellence, well Ivy was the genius but you were very impressive in support, you see that there are already visible changes in the plants reach and growths around the room.  The hum of the crystal and accelerated growth had attracted other sprites to the observatory's grand room and seeing you work together, some of the nearby sprites disappear into the heavy foliage and return with strange, glowing seeds. They drop them into your hands. "Are they thanking us for what just happened? you ask Ivy who through Richalt said that the sprites gave you no answer, vanishing among the flowers. It's clear they know more than you do, but what's going on?

In this episode you change from seeing Ivy as Richalt's helper to his equal. What evidence from the text shows this change? Answer in Thy Quests to move forward.

Next E1Q3 The Wild Gardens