Mantle of Allergy

The end of the world is not a time, but a place …

-from the book of Faerie

In all of his immortal years Goober had had suffered the problem of not being taken seriously. Up until now he had accepted his role in paradise, in the garden, and in the world, as being secondary to everything else.

He would always be the support act to his best friend Puck, and his humble concerns would but shadow the greats around him. He was content to be a bystander, never an instigator, in fact, up until now, he thought himself to be content with just about everything.

Small creatures might nibble at his toes or scuffle around his feet, because they felt safe around this gentle soul. He was Puck’s confidante, uncle to many, but father to none.

Now he had taken this time for himself at the retreat, and the mantle of allergy had lifted off and was then disposed of by one of the Brothers. It had happened during a blessing at the burial of one of their elderly residents. Just prior to cremation one of the Masters approached Goober where he sat and lifted the parasitic shroud from his etheric person, and then proceeded to place it onto the deceased only minutes before his body was ignited. The crusty armour was now completely dissipated, and the relief for Goober was instantaneous.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series