The Book Of Flowers
For you
--- In the meantime, Miralius----
"Ughh! Why would Fyon try to be in a place like this??" Verdea protest
Luna who walked with him while tracing the Dark Forest just silently did not answer, complaining as well as her response
He no longer has the power. Not because the Dark Forest drained him, no
He felt his power drained because he had to pick up Fyon who... I'm with Zaphir now
"Hey, I know that you don't like your father, but don't ignore me either..." Verdea complained again
"I just tense up Verdea. My father didn't talk to me at all, and I thought..."
Luna who stopped in the middle of her sentence was curious, but then she had to hold it when she realized that Luna looked grim
"... You want to find a chance to talk to him?" Verdea then asked quietly
Luna also just nodded resignedly because her intention was discovered
"But you better forget. I'm definitely not gonna talk to him again..." Luna said
He continued walking without caring about Verdea who wanted to lighten the atmosphere
Verdea, who was aware that her efforts were not successful, remained silent, following Luna as she watched whether the Mana stone she was wearing was still filled enough or not
Then suddenly Luna stopped again so Verdea accidentally bumped into her. But even with that impulse, Luna could not she move from her place
Luna just stood up, silently pecking as if she had become a stone
He was also curious about what was in front of Luna so he stopped and pecked like that
Verdea knows why. It was because his father, Zaphir, was now in front of Luna
And not only his son, Zaphir also silently pecked when he saw the figure of his son that he did not think would be found in the thick fog in that place
The two of them did not say anything in the middle of the atmosphere. But it has also become commonplace for Verdea due to certain moments
When the two met, they rarely exchanged sentences. They're just going to talk about the plan, and that's it
The closeness between the two feels so nil, that even Verdea just feel sorry for it
Both kept quiet. No one intends to talk
Till...
"... Sorry to interrupt" Zaphir started talking
But also, he ended their meeting the moment he started. Just like that he walked past Luna who was still silently sculpting, trying to put on a flat face to hide his sadness
The two did not move at all, until Zaphir left
...
That's why Verdea is moving
Not 3 steps away Zaphir, Verdea suddenly caught his hand and held his departure
Zaphir was confused, as was Luna who had just witnessed that
A sigh escaped from Verdea's mouth as she stared at Zaphir in the eye
"... You're just gonna leave? Even without greeting your son?" Verdea asked
The question itself immediately urged Zaphir to the point that he did not know what to say. He tried to slowly escape, but Verdea did not let go of his hand
He knew that Zaphir would not be rude, so Verdea would make the most of it while she could
"At least just one greeting. Good afternoon... Hola... Hii... Whatever it is for your son" Verdea said again
"I don't have the time of the little prince. Please let me go"
The sentence immediately pierced Luna's heart until her head was bowed
But Verdea did not give up. He once again used a few sentences to attack Zaphir
"Then at least look him in the eye" Verdea once again asked
"I've done-"
"No! You lowered your gaze right at the moment you saw Luna! You think I'm unconscious??"
Zaphir just kept quiet and now trying to break away getting louder. But Verdea can still hold it
And because he was still stubborn with his stance, Verdea put his right hand to join Zaphir's arrest
One more sentence he used to persuade Zaphir
"... Then call his name"
...
...
"That's not hard isn't it, Zaphir?"
Zaphir didn't even try to break away again. He just turned back to his feet, along with Luna who was still down
Verdea still continued to try to persuade Zaphir by looking into his eyes without blinking a single bit. Zaphir realized that and recognized Verdea's determination
He also understood, that determination would not be able to shake him at all, even though he was being rude
That's why he gave up. He did what Verdea wanted. One name belongs to his son
"Luna"
...
A name
But the owner of the name did not respond
He just smiled wryly and threw away his face, responding to a call that should have made him happy for that once in a while...
"That's the first time in over 100 years you've called my name"
100 Years more. No one would believe it, but it really happened
And during the memory of Luna that he could remember, Zaphir only called her name once. ONE. TIMES
This was his second time, but the long wait between the first and second calls made him feel annoyed
"How many years do I have to wait for you to call my name for the third time? Another hundred years?" Luna asked with insinuation intent
His body began to tremble. Verdea understands why he's like that. Luna was now feeling nervous and riled up because this was her first time having an argument with her father blatantly
It was the first time he had continued his heart. It was also the first time Zaphir had heard of it directly
And it felt like for both of them it was very painful. They did not want to hear the opinions of the other party, but they had to
"... Also true. What's the point of you calling my name right now...?" Luna continued
His tears began to be unable to hold until he had to wipe every grain that came down while trying to hold back the one that was going to come out
While Zaphir was silently stunned full of regret. His head was down, not knowing what to say
Verdea was silent. He knew he couldn't interrupt
Zaphir must respond. Not because of someone else's request, but directly from his heart
So he took off Zaphir's hand
The choice was in the hands of the Elf. He can either run away, or answer Luna
Verdea will just observe
"... I can't call your name"
"!!!"
The first words were shocking from Zaphir, so even Verdea did not expect it
And that sentence also made Luna growled
Furious because of the confusion that was increasingly made by his father
"Why??! Why do you have to refrain from calling my name only!??" Luna called out loudly
"Because I don't want you to get close to me..."
Again a surprising response, the more piercing Luna's heart
"Because..pa...?"
He wanted to know what was on his father's mind
He wanted to know what kind of father did not want to be close to his own son
He should know. Zaphir's answer will determine his assessment of his father
"ANSWER ME!!" Luna this time shouted, completely desperate waiting for that answer
"I ALWAYS TRY TO FIND YOUR CONFESSION! I TRAIN HARD FOR YOU EVERY DAY! I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME HAVING FUN WITH ALL MY FRIENDS! I BECAME AN OFFICER FOR YOU!
AND ONLY NOW DID YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GET CLOSE TO ME?? YOU WANT TO TELL ME MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN IN VAIN???"
"I SAID ANSWER!!"
"BECAUSE I WANT THE BEST FOR YOU!!"
Zaphir's reply shook Luna's body until she stopped talking
"I just want the best for you!! I don't expect you to want to get close to me!!
You shouldn't be a warrior!! I just want you to hate me and what I hold dear, not follow him!!"
Zaphir paused for a moment. Her breathing was completely irregular and she started crying
It was the first time Verdea had seen Zaphir cry, so did Luna. The two of them were wide-eyed to see a tall, known cold official suddenly shed his tears
"I'm hoping--- At least you'll meet someone-He who can-help you in every problem-Good guys like Luxor who will-Be your life partner without needing me------
I just want you to be happy with someone like her - Stop following the wheels of life of our descendants - and choose to live a simple life like any other Elf--and-so
Cursed be my blood -!! Why do you have to be like me---!!?"
...
That's... Fill Zaphir's heart
The man known as the shadow of the moon. A fierce and fearless higher-ups. Cold and unforgiving
He broke the whole picture in an instant, breaking his heart into his son. What was left to Zaphir in front of the two men was a large man who began to tremble with what he held dear
Zaphir calmed himself down, as he continued to try to continue the conversation because there was no better way out than that right now
"... I just wish Amara was alive now..."
The name sounded new to Verdea's ears, but not to Luna
"I just wish he was alive, and at least give you the affection that a cold-blooded warrior like me cannot give you
I really don't know how to give you the affection you want..."
...
"I told you I just needed a confession, didn't I...?" Luna replied this time, while hugging herself
"I've confessed to you for a long time! I admit you are talented! I admit that you would surpass me had the incident that broke your Mana core not happened!
But I have to refuse! That's because I want you to live more worthily as a woman!" Zaphir is replying
"Just because I'm a girl???"
"Just because you are my only child!!"
...
"I told you to stop chasing your dreams first. But you're not listening. It is precisely when you meet Oberon, that you increasingly want to become a higher-up..."
...
...
...
"I don't even know what else to do... Even if I have to apologize, I don't know what to do..."
Eyes dimming. He had already told what Luna wanted to know. All of them
Now he will accept whatever it is that harsh sentence his son will throw. He understood the consequences of that sentence
But...
What he received was exactly the opposite of what he had expected
"Then give me your oath"
Lunas...
Unlike what Zaphir had expected, his son looked very calm even though his eyes were swollen. He seemed to know what the two of them had to do in order for this matter to be resolved
Zaphir chose to follow what his son wanted
"... Swear that you will never reject my identity as a top brass"
"Luna-in!"
"It's too late to turn it down, isn't it??!"
...
Zaphir nodded, not intending to fight again
"I swear"
But Luna didn't stop there
"Vow that you will always call me by name from now on. No more 'You' or 'Hey' when I say hello"
"... I swear"
...
"This is the last one..." Luna said
Zaphir just resigned and prepared himself
"... Can I hold you?"
"...!"
Zaphir is stunned
He did not at all assume that the request would come from his son. The same child he had neglected without that affectionate attitude
Hugged...
He only ever hugged one person first, his wife. She once held Luna as a baby, but she wasn't sure that such a hug was what Luna wanted right now. So he was confused whether he should do the exact same for Luna as well as he did for his wife Amara
He hesitated, but even Zaphir was silent without a word and opened his arms
Luna's eyes sparkled at that, and without a doubt she reciprocated her father's behavior with a hug. Without needing a split second, in an instant he had already tightly hugged his father
Zaphir also realized what he had to do while he tried to hold Luna's weight. And with that, he closed his arms again and he put his lips right on Luna's head
"Yes. Hugging it like this..." Luna said
"You talk like your mother..." Zaphir replied
Luna was satisfied, and the two of them simultaneously took off their embrace
"Heah... I always wanted this. It wasn't as sad as I thought..." Luna commented while scratching her non-itchy head
Then they were petrified when they realized they had forgotten one thing. And the two of them stiffly looked at it
Yep. Verdea was still there, grimacing moved to see it as if she had just finished watching a play shown on stage
"Finally you guys are communicating--!!" Verdea commented, pulling her handkerchief out and cleaning her rushing tears
But Luna did not receive that response well and immediately held onto Verdea's two shoulders with a menacing look
"Don't tell anyone this. Especially Vainzel"
"I understand I understand--"
Luna turned back to her father. He still looks awkward, as well as Zaphir who looks a little threatened because he thinks Luna will also force him to shut up
But at least, Luna could already feel a little normal with her father
"Other times... I want to try training combat with you..." Luna said shyly
Zaphir nodded slowly
"I'll prepare some food as well to eat after that" he added
Luna smiled at her father's response, looking at Verdea who was smiling as well
"Then, now we can find Fyon!" Verdea exclaimed later
Luna also agreed happily, while Zaphir only faintly smiled at the enthusiasm of the two
However, he suddenly felt the air of an approaching existence rapidly towards the three of them. Luna noticed it as well, but it was a few seconds late compared to her father
Then the figure appeared with a breath of breath. His Mana Stone he held in his hand, not he recollected it like everyone else used to do
That person is Ivor. And he looked very tired after running towards them at full speed
"Ivor...?" Verdea asked
He felt something was wrong, as did the other two
It was confirmed by Ivor who began to convey the news with his body and eyes shaking violently
"Cool..."
"... What happened to the protector of the Forest Gate...?"
"Cool just died, Zaphir...!!!"
