He sat, cross-legged, meditating in the courtyard. The odd shout and holler came from the nearby training grounds, where his compatriots honed their skills. He was training too, but his spear lay on the ground beside him.

His awareness extended to the earth, shifting through dirt and stirring countless seeds into being. Sprouts at first, and then vines burst from the ground. They wound about the wheels of a nearby caravan wagon, literally rooting it into place. A carpet of grass and small blooms sprung to life around him, vibrant in contrast to the rest of the grounds.

He orchestrated the colors and patterns meticulously in his mind’s eye before committing them to reality. He only looked up from his trance when he sensed a figure coming from the doorway.

Claire stood there, taking in the sight, loose curls swaying. She looked back at him squarely. “I already told you, Jared. No.” and retreated back inside.

“Fine.” He huffed, stood, and left, his garden melting away behind him. Women…