The Book Of Flowers
When I Met Him
-- Year 257, Peace Calendar----
A magnificent castle. The castle made of white marble looks beautiful when exposed to sunlight. Its beautiful architecture adds to the beautiful impression of the palace in the eyes of those who see it
Flowers of various types and colors grow beautifully and give the impression of colors that add to the beauty of wooden buildings that are no less good in this city
Butterflies and children played on the streets of the city happily, accompanied by the boisterous atmosphere filled with people who always put a smile on his face
It was a beautiful sight in my eyes
I, who had just arrived in this city called Hortensia, was looking forward to what I would find there, seeing the friendly and comfortable atmosphere
For 20 years I traveled and left my hometown, only today I saw a very friendly atmosphere like this
I put my slightly heavy traveling bag on my shoulder. I began to move my feet towards the city gate that even looks magnificent, just like the other buildings in this city. I was really excited with full expectations regarding my journey within the magnificent city. I've even thought about the things I'm going to do there, from looking around a lot of stuff, looking for a job and meeting new people
But, my hope was dashed instantly
*bruk!*
The soldiers standing guard near the gate pushed me away from the city gate, just for a reason
It was done to me because I had no official passport and permission from the king of this kingdom to enter. And quite frankly, I did force to enter
Yes, it is natural that this kingdom is peaceful. They're really strong at making security systems like this, and I'm sure that there's hardly any intruders who dare to mess around here
I cleaned my yellow shirt because it was taped with dust when I fell pushed. I then turned my eyes hidden behind the veil of the robe I was wearing towards the guard who pushed me
“Then how do I get an official passport?” I asked as I continued to clean all the clothes I was wearing
“You have to go through several tests and get a hand stamp directly from raja”
Hah. I don't care whether or not there is, but based on this tight guard, I'm sure the procedure is difficult and strict as well
Maybe next time...
Without a second thought I immediately paid my respects to the guard. I don't want to be too troubled and too bothered to go in there
But, what a pity. I had high hopes...
......................
-- Magnolia village, territory of the kingdom of Hortensia --
“Oh! The rancid boy is back!” Exclaimed a man with a rogue face who looked like a criminal who had just come out of prison
Everyone there cheered happily, except for me who knew what they were going to do to me
“Tract Us!”
“Pesta! Party!”
The cheers of those intending to take and squeeze my money again poked my ears all the way to the deepest part
I just came back and went inside this place to eat, they immediately tried to bully me
The man's hand then coiled around my shoulder, making me uncomfortable and immediately wanting to leave, especially with all eyes on me
“Come, give me your money and treat us” The whisper is slow
I just sighed and lowered my head
“I no longer have money”
“Hah!? Yesterday you had a lot, right?”
“If spent there is indeed the rest?”
“…”
I dare not look at him. Scared because I might have to hit this guy in the face. I then slowly counted down the seconds in my heart and…
*bruk!*
I was hit to the point of floating to a table not far from where I was standing, breaking the table in two when I landed
My body immediately felt quite a pain as it hit the table hard
I slowly tried to lift my body up, but the man then grasped the top of my hood and made me see his stinking, irritated face
“You... Have dared to talk back apparently”.
I just looked at him with a sharp look
The man then smiled and smashed my head on the floor before he stepped away, picked up my bag, then said “Loser"
Everyone's laughter sounded really loud. I finally managed to sit down and just lowered my head and hid my face under the veil I was wearing
My heart feels hot. But I kept trying to endure the pain and didn't want to get carried away
Unable to hear those laughs for too long, I got up and ran out of the place, leaving my bag taken
......................
Today may be the unluckiest day for me.
I already had high hopes shattered in an instant when it was not allowed to pass through the gates of Hortensia city
I lost my things that those people took away. My body also still feels sore coupled with my clothes getting dirty. Maybe I should have hit one or two people inside...
Not to mention that this shirt is bright yellow, making the stains very visible
I walked out of nowhere, out of the village. The sun was already drowning and I was starving
Fortunately, the housekeeper threw some inedible lettuce in the back alley. At least I have some food. But, not enough huh…?
Yes already. Food remains food. I just spent it before it got moldy
I was busy chewing some lettuce in my mouth. My feet kept going while I was still busy chewing
Go on and on…
Finally, after my meal ran out, I realized that my feet were taking me to a forest, just as the sun was starting to go out of sight
The atmosphere suddenly became dark and silent. The voices around me were only filled with the sound of crickets from a distance, but they were clearly silent
I looked around and realized something. After remembering all the places I went through, I creeped out in fear
“... A-“
Damnit. The forest is usually filled with bandits every night. I've never been through this place while traveling because of it
*sruk, slew!*
The sound of a bush being touched sounded in my ear. I panicked and tried to run away, but instead hid behind a tree because I could not move too far
I slowly peeked at the direction the sound was coming from and found an adult man wearing all black clothes walking between the bushes with difficulty with another man carrying something heavy
“You're sure we have to go through here?” Ask the man who brought that thing
“Yes. I know this road won't be safe. But this is the fastest way if you want to escape”
Wait for. They look suspicious, but I don't think they're bandits. Bandits usually come in the form of groups
But why are they trying to escape? What's on that guy's shoulder?
I was trying to see what it was carrying, and when the person who was carrying it turned around behind me, I realized it was a human being
I was shocked and unintentionally let out a small sound, resulting in the two people being shocked as well
I hid my head again and I shut my mouth just as the two men were looking towards where I was hiding
The man who did not bring the man walked towards me in hiding. Panicking at the sound of her approaching steps, I tried to run away. But he quickly noticed me and threw my right foot with a throwing knife, before I managed to run too far
The man then ran over to me whimpering in pain and stomping on my head, while the other followed from behind
“Sials. There's someone who saw us”
“What do you think?"
The person who stepped on me was hardening the pressure on his feet and making me feel even more pain
“We'll just finish it. People who pay us will not be happy if there is a witness”
“Wait! Wait up! I don't mean anything! Me-!“
“Silence boy. Or should I crush your head first?”
He cut my words. If this is the case, I can't negotiate at all
Get that guy harder. I groaned because of the pain I felt from that person's pressure
I'm desperate. I can't do anything anymore...
I had to use my power again this time
“Throw Them!” I shouted loudly
Instantly a root vines from the ground and lifts the two people into the air in an inverted position. They were both shocked and shrieked in confusion as to what had happened
Their faces covered in black hoods were then revealed and revealed their terrified expressions
Not long after, the roots threw the two of them into the air, away from me somewhere
I just look and pray that they land in a safe place and not kill them
…
Ah.. I'm interfering with people's affairs again...
I grimaced at myself realizing what I was doing while wrapping my body on the ground
But I swear, it's just because I'm afraid to die. I'd better get out of here before I get tangled up to a more complicated matter
“Agig tree... Please help me..”
Suddenly a voice rang out again and made me flinch. I looked at the voice fearfully and saw the person they were carrying lying on the ground
He looked like he was delirious in a fainting state and looked in pain
When I looked at that person further, I realized...
If he was a child
...
...
...
This boy looks like he is 7 or 8 years old with his small body...
I approached the boy slowly. She looked still unconscious, but to be sure, I touched her cheek slightly with my index finger
“…”
He's not waking up…
What do I have to…? I can't take this kid anywhere. Not to mention his clothes made him look like someone of noble descent. I might be accused of kidnapping her later...
…
...
...
I can't just ignore my morals...
Hah..It is better that I immediately make a little defense here so that the bandits do not approach. If she wakes up later, I'll ask her where she lives so I can take her home
Maybe I should hurt 1 or 2 more just to protect this kid…
…
Slowly the tree I commanded moved its roots, lifting the child up on its branches until the roots of the tree covered its small body so that the child would not fall
While I ordered some other plants to pay attention to the passers-by around us, then followed the boy up the tree and sat on the same branch where he fell asleep
I looked at her face that looked like she was having a nightmare. I slowly approached him again and examined his face and neck
Making sure he wasn't hurt, I checked his whole body and revealed his arm and leg shirt
He didn't have any injuries, thank God…
However, he still looked like he was in pain. A cold sweat poured down his forehead and his body creeped out as if he was terrified of something
His breathing felt heavy as if he had run away being chased by something. A sudden sense of compassion gnawed at me seeing the unfortunate condition of this stranger to me, mainly because he was very young
It was very inappropriate for a little boy to feel the pain...
I sat by his head this time with my feet hanging from a tree branch
I hesitantly stroked the boy's shiny black hair slowly. One time, two times, three times. The child's face instantly turned a little calm
Her breathing still felt heavy, but I'm sure she's calmed down. I'll make sure he'll calm down, too
“…”
The night is long. I probably won't sleep tonight. I should be sleeping and not moving right now because my powers are quickly exhausted at night
But this kid. I feel sorry for him. The criminals who took him said that someone was paying them to do something to this kid
So mean. 20 Years I've been traveling, and people never change at all.
Be they commoners, nobles, kings and even the most holy priests had their crimes hidden
Maybe I said this because I come from the fairy race or Elf. We fairies have no evil thoughts that break the rules and break the boundaries like this. We are only doing something to sustain our lives, but it does not include taking the lives of other living beings without good reason or intention. There is a rule that prohibits us from doing things
I don't understand the human mind. Why are they always like that? Vile evil things that I can't even think of at all can and always do
Even kidnapped this kid. The kid who looks like he still needs his parents is kidnapped and taken away...
…
If only humans were like Elves…
Sometimes I am jealous of humans. They can do this like they are not bound by any rules in this world. While we fairies must always follow the teachings that thousands of years have been run by our race
I want to feel freedom like a human. I want to do something new. That's why I traveled and left my hometown
There are no rules against us leaving. But the Elves, as a people who are denigrated, are not necessarily welcome in the outside world
My parents have tried to tell me many times, but I still insist on going to explore the outside world
They're correct. I'm barely welcome in this world. Only people who have bad luck like me are willing to help me. The rest of them are oppressing me
I can fight back because I'm strong, but my parents wouldn't like it if I hurt someone
I also hate hurting living things. If I hurt someone, that person will demand revenge, and could create problems that could end up killing each other
I always thought so. I always thought it was true, coupled with the teachings of the Elves who usually do not allow killing thinking sentient beings
I just sat there, thinking about all the things I was going to do in front of him, waiting for a long morning to come. Something I have to do to help this kid get back to his house
I'm yawning. Without realizing it, my drowsiness overcame my body and in the end, I fell asleep...
......................
OHHHH!!!
I'm asleep!
I was unconsciously asleep…!
That boy!
I looked to the side, where the boy had been before
She was still sound asleep, my right hand was still on her head because last night I kept stroking her hair
He even started breathing regularly. The sweat on his forehead had also dried up, maybe I accidentally absorbed it with my fingers
Thank goodness she's okay...
I lifted my hand from his head, but somehow, he just woke up and surprised me
The roots that enveloped him instantly came down when he realized he did not want to lie down anymore. He rubbed his blurred eyes and got up from where he was lying, then turned around and looked at me who was sitting stiff, confused to explain what
We looked into each other's eyes. But his flat expression and my confused face made the situation feel strange
“Who?” Ask
“I found you kidnapped!”
"…"
Ouch. I unintentionally said it too clearly because I was confused...
“Please tell me things I don't know and just relax”
Whoa... He felt very cold even though he was a child...
“Good..”.
I then told the details of the incident to the boy
He looked like he was nodding and agreeing, but he seemed like a person who quickly understood this kind of situation. Especially since he seems to be actively talking to me, showing that he cares enough about the situation
“The information is not very useful yes..” In the end he also said.
“Useless!?”
I immediately felt weak when what I said was useless by this child
“At least I know that we are not far from Hortensia”
Oh? So he lives in the city of Hortensia?
He then hung his feet on a tree branch, just like me
“Your name?”
“My name?”
“Whose else?”
I'm still nervous and confused, son... Don't look at me like that...
“... Vainzel”
“Repeat?”
“Vainzel. Call me Vain”
“Hm..
“Any!?”
I sat down softly again and covered my face
My name is strange…
It was the first time I had introduced myself to someone, but she called him weird instead
“But good also if you are used to hearing it”
“Heh?”
He praised my name just now...
“Then it's my turn. I'm Verdea. Nice to meet you”
...
She. Introducing herself.
For a long time no one had introduced his name to me so politely
Verdea yes…
“Verdea... Verde... Veri!”.
“Hm?”
“Ah, no! I'm just making your nicknames that I'm good at call”
I brush my head while laughing. A sense of pleasure enveloped my head because after such a long time, I was finally able to talk casually like this with someone
She looked at me confused, then smiled a little. From his expression at that time, I could tell that he was happy, just like me. Happy to have a new acquaintance who makes himself feel comfortable
...
Our first meeting. A 7-year-old boy who is on the verge of being kidnapped and an elf who travels in a world that is not friendly to him. The two people who meet because of destiny and are always together because of destiny
The first meeting I never forgot, even after all the time we were together
…
*hug
I looked at Verdea who was making that stomach sound...
“You hungry?”
His face flushed red and he replied to my question with a soft nod while holding his stomach
