Short Story; Ceanne's Tale part two

The cavern was much more elaborate than she'd expected. The entrance was marked by a ring of massive stone slabs, with tops of stones cut from the rock of the mountainside. The entrance was marked by a four slabs forming three doorways, shorter than the outer ring but quite impressive nonetheless.

She was quite relieved to see Hani waiting out front. Anything with that intricate an entrance, and this few people living nearby, was something she wanted no part of. Her responsibilities did not entail exploring mysterious ruins. She liked her job, and she planned to spend as much time as possible doing it.
Besides, it smelled funny.

"Miss Ceanne! I'm sorry I wasn't there to meet you. I just wasn't sure I could get back here if I left."
"Hani, don't run off like that. Now why did you come here; what's so important about this place?"
"It's magical. I was hoping you might know more."

Ceanne glanced around. She'd never really enjoyed it, but natural magics was her field of study back at the palace. It was why Mr. Nonismuld had asked her to join the program. Her dedication to the garden's upkeep was legendary. It had been quite surprising to her the amount of time it had taken the heads to figure out about sprites; she'd have introduced them to Kehls if they'd just asked.

There was magic here all right, but not all of it was natural. Several protective enchantments had been woven through the ring of stone around her. Several would be a bit of an understatement really, the combination of wards, enhancing charms, direct longevity spells and every other sort of protective magic concievable would make anyone within the ring unreachable as soon as they were activated. Beyond that, the enchantments would never wear off over time, and when active it would take more power than the whole imperial guard could muster on its best days. The altar, or table maybe, just in front of the entrance was enchanted with a very crafty set of alchemical symbols and enchantments that could be used to supply food and water for hundreds of men at a time. It was a fortress; there was no questions about that. The real question wasn't whether or not there was magic here; it was who, or what, set the enchantments.

But there was something else inside. It was the most powerful magic she'd ever encountered. Not natural, but it had the signs of nature. It was to nature like seeing a master enchanter's best work compared to his bread and butter. It drew her, pulling at her thoughts. Whatever was in there, it was powerful and it wanted her to find it.

"Hani, I'll take care of it from here. Stay safe, and don't wander off again."
"Yes Miss Ceanne."

The cavern was painted, there were stories on it's walls. The ones who had cut and set the stones, and likely set the enchantments, had left an account of their lives. Broken pottery told her they were gone now. The dust and slithering of an elder rat snake told her they had been gone for a long time.

There it was, a large open room. A gap in the rock above allowed sunlight to reveal the source of the magic she'd felt. A tree, naught but a sapling, with a single fruit. So very powerful, and yet such a simple thing.

~Eat, My Father's gift to a faithful servant. Take and eat.~

Ceanne stepped up to the tree. Something, something very powerful, wanted her to have this as a gift. She was nervous, bold action was hardly her forte. Yet she couldn't see any danger in it. It was, as best she could tell, benign, passive even. There was no reason not to eat it.

So she did, it was bitter. Juicy, but bitter; she opted on the side of hunger and finished the whole thing, seeds and all.

~Continue your works with joy, and so long as you grow not weary of them you need not stop. My Father shall watch over you, as you watch over His creation.~

Ceanne would never forget the words spoken to her that day. And she would forever joyfuly tend her Lord's creation.