The next day, Eli was roused from his slumber with a touch from Elder Li. "Young one, it is time for you to start your new life. I will wake you like this for now, but in the future, you should learn to wake yourself up around this time. Now, get dressed. We have places to go and things to do." Elder Li said before turning on his heels and striding back out the door to the adjoining room.
Eli was still bleary eyed and yawning as he got out of bed and started about his day. He wondered how the Elder was able to get out of bed at this hour and not appear tired in the slightest. Yet, he still got dressed in a timely fashion and joined the Elder in his main room. "Good morning, Elder. Where shall we head first?" Already, Eli knew that there was no point in asking about what he was to be doing upon reaching their destination. Not after the night before.
"Follow me," Elder Li said, tactically avoiding the question. He proceeded to lead the way through the Research Wing, walking through doors that had once been impenetrable to Eli due to his status as a worker. Now that he was an assistant, as long as he was accompanied by the Elder or had certain tasks, he had more access to areas. As they walked the halls, there were rooms that were lined with shelves and books, rooms that were for the express purpose for experiments or research. There were even rooms that were designed for discourse between researchers, mentors, and Elders. Yet, none of these rooms were the final destination.
As they continued down the hallway, the Elder led them to a door that was at the end of a long aisle, just after a T-shaped intersection. Turning to Eli, the elder spoke. "For the time being, this will be your station." Without flair, or dramatic speeches and motions, Elder Li simply gestured for him to open the door. What met him was a dense sent of loam, plants, and water. Vibrant greenery was everywhere, the vast area surrounded by the walls that made up the building. Sometimes the plant life seemed to be growing wild and untamed. Other areas showed methodical control and delicate care. All around him were emerald green leaves, flowers of prismatic coloring. It was as if someone had started to colonize Eden, but decided to leave some areas to Mother Nature. It was awe inspiring and beautiful.
In all his time in his previous life, Eli had never seen such a beautifully cultivated garden. His mouth hung slightly open at the sheer majesty of the place. Elder Li smiled warmly as he watched the boy taking in all the sights. "This is the garden of the Research Wing. It is where we raise medicinal herbs, poisonous plants, and other such wonders. Some of these plants can require upwards of hundreds of years to mature properly. Some only require a few months. Others can mature in a year, but grow more potent with age. We use this garden to supply our people with resources as well as selling some to fund our researches. You will be coming here to learn how to properly tend to the garden as well as to learn the various herbs grown here. Regardless of your future path, herbs will always be useful."
Eli was at a loss for words as he walked through the garden. It took him a long time to find his voice once more. "Why do you allow some areas to grow rampant and unchecked, but others are controlled through meticulous care?" He lightly raised one of his hands to gently caress one of the leaves of a potted plant. Then gazed in wonder across an area that looked like an overgrown grassland.
"Some types of plant require delicate care and specific nutrients to grow properly. Others are hindered by too much care. We simply took the necessary precautions with each type of plant and determined their optimal growth requirements. You will come to understand the process in time. For now, just know that you are to come here every morning and afternoon." Elder Li ushered him forward to a shed-like building in one of the corners of the area. "Bora. Come out here and meet my new assistant."
After waiting for a minute or so, Elder Li knocked on the door of the shed. Yet, no one answered. Humming in frustration, he began stalking along the edge of the rows, peering along each one, trying to find this mysterious Bora. However, he still didn't see them. When he reached the edge of the wild growth, he gestured for Eli to stop. "Stay here. I will go and check." Elder Li waded through the grass and peered all around him. Finally, he stopped, reached down, and came up holding the ear of a woman. She appeared to be in her mid twenties and had apparently been sleeping before Elder Li had grabbed her and drug her towards Eli.
"This lazy girl is, unfortunately, Elder Bora Mun. When you come here, she will be the one to assign you tasks for the day. She may be very knowledgeable on plants, but be warned, she's like a cat basking in the sun. " Bora Mun visibly frowned, but said nothing. She agreed with the statement, but didn't appreciate the disdain that the tone held. She was an Elder. Elder Li shouldn't be dismissive of her in front of an assistant. It would undermine her authority.
"Old man Cato, I will have you know that I have already completed most of the time sensitive tasks and was taking only a short break before I continued with the rest of the tasks. You make it seem that I am a slacker who sneaks away without contributing to go sleep the day away. If you keep insinuating such things, you will undermine my authority. How would I be able to instruct in that case?" Elder Mun placed her fists on her hips, some of her ginger curls haphazardly sticking to her face, and dried drool plastered to the corner of her mouth. Her clothes were dirty and disheveled from the nap she had been roused from. Everything about her appearance betrayed the authority and conviction in her words, but Eli, wisely, kept that to himself, not wanting to be swept up into the conversation.
Instead, he simply bowed to her and said, "Greetings, Elder Mun. I look forward to assisting you in the future. I hope to learn from your guidance."
"At least someone has some manners. Unlike some old men I could name." Elder Mun looked pleased, her face lighting up with a satisfied smile. She shooed Elder Li off saying, "Now leave. I have to get back to accomplishing actual work instead of playing with books and scrolls. I'll take care of your dear assistant and get him up to speed." Turning away, she grabbed Eli's shoulders and guided him back to the shed they had just came from, leaving Elder Li shaking his head in slight exasperation. "Now, Let's get started."
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