He smiled a little brighter at her words. It was very true that having someone to speak with that you truly trusted was something of a treasure. There were not a lot of moments in his past that were filled with sharing, but he and his master had exchanged insecurities from time to time. He remembered being able to tell him how much the absence of the life that should have been his; of the pain that ran in his veins from a birthright ripped away. It was a secret that he did not share often, but he was certain that it was safe in the corridors of the Master's mind.

He glanced up at her quickly at her slip. He had nearly forgotten that the tree was an extension of the nymph and suddenly felt self conscious for examining the content of the branch so willingly. For a moment his thoughts ran to the magickal links between nymphs and trees. How did that that work? Was it an exchange of life force? How severely did the goddess Angela's magick influence the links that she was able to hold with her tree? He shook the thoughts away before speaking; wanting to make sure he addressed her with the proper attention. 

"So, if you and this tree are one in the same, where does the link end? I understand that you won't feel it being crafted, but do you feel it when it falls from trunk? Does it hurt? And does your essence remain in a branch once it falls?" He scooted up to the edge of his seat; the branch resting across his lap and the stew restng in his palm. He was excited and interested in the ways of her magick. And the way that her magick impacted the material itself. 

He paused as she spoke. How long had it been since he had a meal with someone that didn't want anything from him? Months? Years? He couldn't remember. He remembered how much he hated fielding questions in the middle of a meal and suddenly felt very embarrassed by his questioning. How rude could he be? 

"I'm sorry. I'm asking far too many questions. Ones that you don't have to answer. Thank you for the meal. It has been some time since I have eaten well," he said; shoveling the spoon into his mouth to silence himself. If his mouth was full, maybe his foot wouldn't be able to fit into it.

She thought on his questions and laughed. “It is fine, try not to fret. I’ve never had anyone care enough to ask these questions before. I’m trying to figure out how to answer… These are firsts for me.” She gave him a confident smile as she hunkered down in her seat and rested her elbows on the table. Her chin found her palms as she thought fondly.

“First… I suppose the tree and I end where one of us dies. Our deaths unlike normal Nymphs do not effect each other. That is the gift from my Goddess Mother. I am not tied to this tree but more so I have given it my soul for now. Have you ever lost a limb but could still feel it? Of course not… but that is what it feels like. When the lightning struck me… my tree I mean I felt it. I felt my branch come down but it was only for a second. My magic runs through this branch with mighty force… always. It is enchanted wood.” She gave him a smile. “But only because I am a nymph and it is my tree.”

She blushed a tad and laughed a bit. “Please feel free to come back to my tree whenever you want. I’ll always cook for my guests. You are an honored guest of my tree.” She stared at the branch. “It’s been a long time since I had a friend that was not a tree. I hope that you will be my friend and come back. No one ever comes back.”

He couldn't help but to blush at the woman's words. This tree was her; entirely. He should have realize that in his examination; it wasn't the first time that he had run across something that was attached to another soul. Yet somehow, he hadn't felt invasive. The branch had somehow welcomed his vision, and pointed his eyes towards the vastness of the tree's spirit. Perhaps it was this overwhelming connection and freedom of expression that he felt the nymph. Either way, he did not hide the flush of his cheeks.

"Branches such as this wield tremendous knowledge and power; the likes of which will be all to welcome in my work." He smiled at her words; glad to know that the soul bind wouldn't cause he harm in his workings. That was the last thing he wanted to do; to harm such a beautiful creature would be like burning the World tree itself.

"It has been a only a short time since I have enjoyed the company of another, and I welcome it all too readily. I cannot imagine how it would be to not share one's time with another. Though, I fear the time will come when that will be the case for me." His mind could not help but to hear his master's warnings. His ability was new, and they knew very little of it's origins. He had to remain mysterious; being known only as The Blacksmith. He had to protect himself and those that would benefit from his craft. He had to be disconnected.

His eyes moved to his companion as she ate. And for a moment, he let his thoughts fall to a different future. One where he found somewhere to be happy, where he could craft for those that he deemed worthy. One where he could build a family. Have a wife. Have children. Was that even possible now? Knowing the trouble that could come from it? Was it really worth the possibility of pain?

He shook his head lightly, hoping to shake free the doubts. His future was all but certain and he couldn't stray from the path that his master set him on…. right?

"May I ask who the last person was with whom you shared a meal?" he asked, hoping to shift his thoughts away from the not so great future that he had been promised.

The blush didn’t escape her nor did it leave her cheeks as they spoke. She wasn’t upset but rather happy that her hard work could be put to such a good use. Her golden gaze never left him as she listened to the last time he had been with a person. However, he turned the question onto her and she was suddenly really sad. It wasn’t that she didn’t count her family. But when was the last time someone other than her family visited her?

“My brother Thyme. However, someone who is not my family? A very long time, it’s been at least a decade since I’ve seen a stranger visit me. I don’t know many people at all. Thyme comes to visit when he can and so do many of my other siblings. We have our own lives and it makes it hard. I suppose without being able to leave this tree that I live the loneliest of all lives.”

Daphne also wanted off the sadness. She looked up at Blacksmith and she chuckled. “I suppose when I think about it… that I was always destined for a lonely life. It makes me think about whether or not I can have the things that normal people have.” She grew even sadder as she looked away and she thought about her mother and all the things she had. She had this forest which could be considered her children but the trees were not people and while it kept her company it simply wasn’t the same thing.

“You are always welcome back to this tree. You can have dinner here whenever you want.” Her gaze was sad as she looked back at him. “No one should be alone Blacksmith. Not even those of us who have no choice but to stand still where we are.”