The team sheltered in the gorge, Thornstorm thorns falling.
"Clayton, what the f*ck!"
Kaelin writhed in pain as soon as he said that out loud, but he fought his pain and kept his gaze steady on Clayton. "How'd you do that?"
Still sprawled on the ground, trying to catch his breath, Clayton looked back at him with a mischievous grin. "Do what?"
Kaelin was about to lose it when Torren intervened.
Clutching his Pyreaxe, he gasped, "Clayton, those roots… what exactly are you?" His trust held, but he was unmistakably awed.
"Just a…"
"Don't even try to play dumb," Torren glared at him playfully. "I mean, you just stood your ground against a Luminous Seed Awakened for minutes, while you are only an Initiate Ember Awakened".
"How?! How'd you do that?"
Clayton grinned, Shedskin cloaking his power. "Just a gardener with tricks".
Torren sighed, speechless.
Veyra, looting a Pyreaxe, pressed. "That's no gardener's work. You're more, admit it". Her trust was near-complete.
