The Book Of Flowers

Verdea Search

-- The next day, Ordelia's courtyard---

"Thatmghhh...!!!"

"..."

"Fruit! Why is it so hard to use intermediate magic?!"

"You just suck. I can do it easily"

Verdea clicked towards Remina who only smiled lightly

As soon as he failed to bring out the magic, Verdea felt increasingly riled up by it. He at least wanted to prove that what I said about him being incompatible with magic was wrong

But he couldn't even cast an intermediate magic as capable as Remina who could do it quite easily. That fire magic that he was quite proud of still did not have a level commensurate with Remina's water magic

He could use his right hand to amplify the magic, but Verdea wanted to do it with his own power first

I feel sorry to see him look so moody. Maybe I shouldn't have said that in front of him, even though I'm sure making him know it's just as important

And on the other hand, I'm quite grateful Ordelia didn't push herself too much

I'm not really sure he should come with me, but without his strength we wouldn't be able to do any part of this neat plan

He's the key, but I don't want to use it while I can do it with my hands

"Come Verdea. Try it again"

Putting that aside, Ordelia was quite charismatic as a teacher. Naturally Verdea was quite quick to learn manners from him

Ordelia knew full well that Verdea was not very compatible with magic, but she was still trying to teach it painstakingly

...

Haaah... Is there any way to add to where someone is...?

I don't like seeing that face. I feel guilty...

...

Hm?

I didn't see wrong, did I?

It's Ves-

...

Ah, I saw it wrong...

It's just my wishful thinking...

I feel anxious now, because he is not with us now, but in the hands of the enemy

Worse, I have absolutely no idea what's going on with him right now

I don't know if he's eating well right now. I don't know if he can sleep or stay up all night. I don't know if he's hurt...

...

I remembered what I was talking about with Cyth, and it made me even more anxious

I am afraid of losing both of my friends..

...

Huh...

"Vaine...!!!"

Verdea called. I better stop looking too deep

"Why? Her magic training incriminates you?" I asked him

"Give me some water...!!! I'm tired...!!!"

This brat...

Though Remina had not finished training, but she was resigned. Though he was just as excited when he asked to be taught by Ordelia

I just shook my head ignoring all that, then ordered a tree to drop water from its leaves, into the glass I was holding

I offered the glass to Verdea, who sipped it without hesitation

"Y!! Cool!! So fresh!! Next time I'll drink through those leaves!" He called out later

"Can't be every time. The tree may not be dewy. No dew, no water"

"Ah, right. But usually you get a glass of water with the dew...?"

He then began to examine the size of his drinking glass, while I was just smiling looking at his behavior

However, he seemed to realize something from my expression. His face even changed when he looked back at me

"Vain's. You think of something?"

...

I'm Caught

"... We better not talk about it. It'll just ruin the mood"

"My mood will always be broken if I don't know what's weighing on you right now"

He always knew how to make people give up

"alright. I'm thinking about Veskal"

Verdea's face immediately looked lethargic again, this time mixed sadly

I'm not strong. I've already unpacked it. My head was bowed down, not daring to stare at Verdea

Then slowly, he sat down beside me while looking at Remina who was still training

We were silent for a long time, as only the voices of the two people who were still busy were heard

I don't want to talk about anything anymore. The more I talk about Veskal, the more bleak the atmosphere will be

"Vaina"

"... Yea?"

"What do you think is going on with Veskal now?"

Huh...

That's a tough question...

"I don't know. I try not to think about it"

"... I hate myself..."

...?

"What do you mean?" I asked

"... You don't know why I want to practice like this, do you?"

I hope I'm right, because he must have asked for training to be strong to protect us all

"If you think that I just want to be strong right now, you're wrong

I want to find who I am" too"

Huh...?

"You may be confused. But, I always think about my dreams recently"

The dream...?

So he met Marcellus again?

"The figure named Canopus was present in the dream with Marcellus. He discussed a few things with me, but probably won't be too important to you

But, as we talked, he told me to find myself"

...

I felt that there was something strange about this figure of Canopus

Might as well... Because he was with Marcellus. I don't trust that man too much because of his history with the Elves

"Finding yourself? It sounds philosophical" I said

"That's why. Thats why... I want to deepen my magic as well

Who knew I could thrive in magic..."

...!

He's

...

Verdea, why...?

"Why do you humble yourself like that...?"

"It is, in fact, Vain. I am not talented in battle. The best thing I could do was swing the sword as Veskal taught me. I never even raised a real sword in a fight all this time

Then, when I learned magic today and talked to you, I realized that I was also not talented in magic

I promised you that I would try to synchronize the speed. But Canopus' words made me realize that I'm nothing"

...

"I should probably just keep quiet, like I always do. Because at the end of the day, when I'm busy strengthening myself, you guys always get things done when I think I can"

"Verdea!"

...

What the hell happened to him? Why is he like this?

Why did he suddenly not have this kind of spirit...?

...

...

I have to slowly handle this. Breathe in, Vainzel...

"... So, you think you're useless?" I asked him

Verdea faintly nodded, with a disappointed face that she pointed at herself

I raised her face, made her look me in the eye, and started talking

"Verdeans. If you are useless, if you have no meaning, me and Veskal will not fight for you all this time"

And that, is the fact

If he meant nothing to me, if I thought of him as another human being, I would just leave him in the hands of the Hortensia family in that day

But it was his attitude that caught my attention. A little forced, but there was something else that made me want to settle down nearby

"And I have absolutely no regrets about signing the agreement that day

Veskal did too. He followed you on his choice. He loves you for who you are, regardless of your shortcomings"

I looked into his eyes directly. At first his eyes were looking at my eyes. Then, it looks glassy. And finally, he seemed to want to grimace

"But I can't protect you. What am I supposed to do, Vainzel---?"

"Focus me. You must be king. That way, you will not only be able to protect us, but also everyone from Rosalia's cruelty"

"Why--- You're sure I can be king--?"

...

That's... A difficult question

But, if I have to answer...

"... Because you are the most trustworthy person, even if a little unreliable"

Verdea then put on a matted face with a smile, while hitting me for already harassing her

I offered to hug her, and she immediately replied with joy

"... Vains"

"Yes?"

"What will we do after Veskal returns?"

Hm... I haven't thought about that one yet

The two of us took off each other's arms, then started thinking

"... We'd better enjoy life in the palace after that"

I'm not sure, but there's a chance it might happen. Rosalia will probably have a formal party to introduce Verdea to the public

I already understand why... But, I want to focus on this mission first

"Hey, you done practicing?" Verdea exclaims

Remina nodded happily, accompanied by Ordelia who stroked her head gently

"Well... I want to continue after this..."

Verdea started to complain like before

"You think learning magic is as easy as learning a sword? More power is needed to cast magic you know?" Remina returned ketus

"... Well, you're right for once in a while"

Verdea turned her face away, while Remina instantly styled as a sign of victory

Children's. Their competitive attitude makes no sense at times, but is quite pleasant to look at

"... Ordinia, Remina"

"Yes?"

Wait, why am I replying?

"... Are you fully sure this plan will work out smoothly?"

...

They can't answer. Because it is true that it cannot be guaranteed that this plan will be smooth

But...

"Just trust me and Ordelia. For this kid, let's see"

"Hmph! don't say as if I'm useless, Oberon!" Remina said with a sullen face

I just laughed with the other two

"Oh, and Verdea"

Verdea looked at me with a curious face

"If you ask me who you really are, you're a smart man to lead" I told him

"... Why would you say that?" Verdea asked

"Because you know who to trust or not, and are good at controlling situations"

He's the only one who can trap me to keep being honest with him without hiding anything

Verdea was stunned, then somehow she seemed to be thinking hard

"Verdea?"

"I'm not sure that's enough..."

Heh?

"What's not enough?" Remina asked

"There you. The boy doesn't need to know"

Without the need for an interval of time, Remina directly doused it with water magic until Verdea's head got wet, then smiled with satisfaction to see it

And the two were fighting as usual~

Ah~ Normal days...