The Book Of Flowers

Under the Xiang Prison

-- Xiang Kingdom, Jade Palace --

...

'Veskal. Don't die'

...

'Your friend is waiting for you, Veskal...'

...

'Your time has not come, my dear...'

'I beg you, open your eyes...'

"HA-!?"

Shock instantly ambushed his body as his eyes filled with light returned. The feeling of wanting to cough went straight up to his chest and out through his mouth

And when he tried to get up, there was a clattering sound coming out from the thing holding him back

A chain, binding his hands together. Not only that, both of his legs were also tied so that he could not get up

The memory that he was captured by the Xiang royal forces was implied in his head. He immediately tried to find a gap from the chain to open it and escape

I don't know where she was put during her fainting that long. All he knew was that the place was dark, dirty, dusty, filled with insects and rats. There was only a weak torch light from the corner of the room that could help him see

How long has he been unconscious? What happened to Black Hunt?

All sorts of questions came to his head as he looked for a way to get out of the chain

Then...

Whose voice did he just hear? A familiar voice, but I don't know where he heard it...?

...

But before he could get an answer, or a way to escape, someone opened the door of the room on the opposite side of the torch

Someone appeared from behind the darkness, and showed himself as a warrior from the Xiang kingdom

Veskal put on a watchful attitude, when all his instincts said that the man was the enemy

Not long after, the man threw a plate of wood food that he brought before Veskal until the contents spilled until the cold soup on it splashed into the face of Veskal

The soldier then brought his face closer to Veskal, clasped his chin forcibly, then looked at him cynically

"Eat. If you're going to die for not doing so, make sure you ask me to eliminate you. I really want to do it because of what you've done to the other soldiers"

He then threw Veskal's face away from him violently, before leaving with a snort of disdain

But he had not been able to get out, he heard Veskal laughing in a soft tone. Feeling challenged, he turned back with an annoyed face

"... You act like someone who knows all too well about suffering. But you don't even look older than me, you arrogant brat..." Veskal said later

But the soldier was unshakable, and refocused on getting out of the room after saying, "Enjoy yourself in this prison. Your existence is very important to our kingdom"

"... Then this is how you treat people who are important to your kingdom? Very generous...!"

He silently did not answer to Veskal's reply, until he came out without saying another word

Veskal this time was left alone, with a meal half of which had already been spilled onto the floor

But how else? He was a prisoner, so he did not expect a good service from the Xiang kingdom

He took the plate and devoured all the food that did not taste good on his tongue

"Bitter..."

Even so, he still had to live. He should be able to get out of that place, since it was his mission, to return safely

No matter how bitter the food is, it must live. He should be able to see me and Verdea again

He kept repeating those words in his head, distracting himself from the situation until he fell asleep again. Falling asleep waiting for a chance to leave that doesn't know when it's gonna happen

...

"Heh!? Why is there a body here!?"

"Where!?"

"AH!! BODY MOVING!!"

I don't know who was exclaiming, but Veskal immediately woke up again due to reflexes. But he was immediately upset when he realized that there was no body and the man's words were just a lie

He also turned to the person who said that, full of anger because he wanted to fall asleep

There was someone else inside the place. He thought he was the only one there, but his guess was wrong

"Who are you?"

"Collin Hortensia son of king Artorius please don't eat me lord of corpses!!"

"Don't talk so fast"

Wait for...

When the man raised his head, Veskal was convinced that he was Collin. His face was exactly the same, with the eye color and hair typical of all Artorius' children, except Verdea

But the question now is, how did he get caught there?

Collin suddenly grimaced, trying to reach Veskal. But the chains that bound him wanted to remind him that he had a limit to move around in the room

"Vescal--- I--- Hate here---!"

"But how did you get stuck here too? Since when??"

Collin tried to wipe his tears, but his tears would not stop. He also sat folding his legs back, facing Veskal

"Oberon's suspicion that 2nd brother is pairing-Supervisory magic in my body is really-I-I-I can't do anything right-I-I can't do anything right

--- I'm just making things difficult for my mom-just-! In a moment -- I will definitely be sent to Hortensia back--!"

"Mr Collin..."

My instincts were right, and Veskal bowed. He was against Collin's arrest at the time, and it was the first time he was upset with me. Mainly because I made Verdea's mindset 'change' towards her brothers

But my instincts are never wrong. Sometimes the execution is not true. But Veskal has been against it lately, including my instincts that say he's going to be kidnapped by someone

Once again that instinct was right, and he ended up in the dungeon of the Xiang kingdom right now. Everything happened just because he wanted to prove himself...

"... So, since when is the lord here?"

"2 days ago, in the evening. Now it's my third day here... It's still morning..."

Collin seemed to be starting to feel relieved. Veskal also immediately breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Collin's tears stop flowing profusely

But there was something that made Veskal wake up after Collin's words just now

"wait. You seem to know very well the time out there?" Veskal asked curiously

They are underground. There was no way they knew the time outside other than by counting with their hands and heads since they were put into that place

"Ah, I can also do observer magic. I usually put that magic on the leaves or stems of plants"

"Hm? That means..."

"Yes... Maybe I can talk through it. But only one of the 10 plants that I peeled"

"D-where did you put it?"

"... There are 5 in Hortensia. 1 in Bestia. 1 in Xiang and..."

"3 in Goeitias?"

"To be precise there is nothing in Goeitias. The rest I forgot where to put. Maybe in Orion when I teleported there"

Collin laughed awkwardly, rubbing his head, while Veskal immediately grumbled in annoyance as his hope was lost instantly

"If you may know, why did you put watch magic in those places?" Veskal asked later

"Eh... To be honest, there is no particular reason. In addition to those in Hortensia that are useful for monitoring, other supervisors I put to observe the activities of the population in the world only"

"Hm... Just deserve it"

Very unfortunate. There was no tool he could use to contact Elf Miralius

But it's okay. He was sure that I would go save him

...

I'm gonna go save him...

Again he felt it was just difficult. His heart riled to itself because it felt like it had forced me to go to Xiang to save him. Worse, he was sure that I would do it, and would not just stop

...

"Vescal?"

"It's okay. I was just thinking about Vainzel..."

"... I'm sorry I can't help you too much..."

"S- It's really okay. Master need not be so lethargic..."

Collin then nodded slowly, but his head was still down

...

"So, the point is we're stuck in this prison...?"

"... That's how..."

There was nothing in this place other than a chain that bound them and a torchlight that began to go out

The two of them were silent, not knowing what to say anymore

"... How about we just take a break? Maybe there's a chance next time?" Colin suggested

Veskal just nodded. And so, he began to melt himself in a long sleep. I don't know when he should be