The Book Of Flowers
Talk to Zaphir
Excuse me...
I know you don't like being in trees because of your height, but I'm sorry...
This alone was the safest place to talk without being listened to by Luna
So then...
"What are you eating today, Zaphir?"
"Chocolate sugar and whole grain bread"
"Your answer doesn't have to be serious..."
He hasn't changed. Always serious even if others try to joke with him
"I mean that why can Luna and you look so good? I'm curious and impressed that you can finally behave NORMALLY with each other" I explained
"I don't understand what your standard is with the phrase 'Normal', but yes. I made up with Luna"
"Tell me why. Soon"
...
...
...
"Pulse... Maybe it started from the time I was in the Dark Forest before hearing the news of the Eldwyrm gone"
Hm. Apparently from there first
"I'm actually trying to find the Dark Elves to spend time practicing. But, after a short while, I sensed a familiar presence, so I tried to escape from before him"
Then he told me all the things. When his feet were walking towards Luna on their own without him noticing. How he met Verdea and Luna there. How he was held by Luna and started talking
They change their hearts. A father to his son, and a son to his father. It was then ended by hugs from both sides who were looking forward to it a long time ago
And the key to the successful interaction of the two children's fathers is only one. I'm not surprised because he's the one either
"I am grateful that Prince Verdea was there at that time. Without her, neither I nor Luna would dare to talk to each other"
Haha...
In fact he started using the title 'Prince' to be included with the name of the child
Verdea had already earned Zaphir's respect without even needing more than a few months to spend with him
"It seems you are very happy with the presence of the boy now..." I responded
"... That's because... He reminds me of a friend I cherish"
...?
Friend...?
He never told anyone about this, not even Luna or me
I didn't know she had such a close friend that she could blatantly say she appreciated her friend
"This is the first time I've heard you spill your heart. Looks like Verdea still left a hole you haven't closed in your heart"
"The hole you said was never closed, Oberon. I just felt sure that this time was the right time to open myself up to everyone"
His eyes were also subtly staring at Luna who was busy chatting happily together with Natasha and Veskal, until her laughter could be heard quite clearly from up here
The smile she showed was no less subtle, making me ask if she was really the Zaphir I knew as I kept well her expression right now in meditation
I've known him for over 150 years, but I still don't know anything about him
"Can you tell me about your friend?" I then asked
Zaphir looked back at me with a slightly surprised face. He seemed hesitant, but then started to nod before I could shift the conversation
"Name Bjorn. He said that he was from the Gaia clan during the reign of Oberon Tractuck, but the Gaia official at the time said that he did not recognize Bjorn at all"
Not recognizing his own clan members? How could?
Every clan elder had a necessity at that time to recognize every face of his followers. That is because, in times of war thousands of years, they are all obliged to follow the military even though it will end in a simple life
Skipping a clan member was not normal for the previous higher-ups
"Any right? I had suspected him too, but then he immediately proved himself that he was indeed an Elf from the Gaia clan"
"Imitation of the flower of life on the largest lake in Miralius"
"really"
The flower that was made was merely an imitation, but its authenticity could be determined easily. Because, the flower would not grow unless that person had a strong attachment to the land of the Gaia clan
It was the maturation ceremony of the Gaia clan specifically. When a child from our clan begins to enter adolescence, they should be able to prove their magic power
"He was so annoying. The parable between me and her, may be the same as you and the two children
He often ran around like a child. Always experiment when training even if it ends up failing. He often persecuted the Elves, especially Titania Shimia when he ascended the throne first
He's really, really childish. But everyone could not resist that he brought a lot of laughter and lightening. When we just got home from fighting, he was already there and waiting, immediately giving us the smile we needed...
He was especially happy to spend time with me for some reason. What he saw from an orphaned moon Elf like me back then, I had no idea...
And he always pushed me forward. Even though we had to go through the collapse of 3 Oberon at once, and thousands of other deaths, he still encouraged me to this day"
...
His eyes are turning. He seemed to remember something unpleasant...
"... Then one day, he decided to join the fight, when the great Treant Augurtrail was in danger and when Titania Shimia disappeared was pronounced dead"
...
I know where the story continues after that. The story was quite famous among the Elves
So, the one who sacrificed himself was eaten by the tool was lord Bjorn hm...?
"... He did not ask to be immortalized at that time. He asked me specifically, to look after every Oberon that would appear
He said 'The sky will shine but be covered by clouds. But when it rains, the most beautiful flowers will make way for you to find the destination you want', just before she disappears from before all of us..."
...?
Audibly... Familiar for some reason...
I've heard that phrase, but I forget where it came from...
"... But, I let her down repeatedly..."
...
...
...
Hm...
"A lot of Oberon was not there after his departure. All were lost for a good reason, and also because we as the higher-ups had failed to protect them...
Oberon Caliph's. Titania Milisque. Oberon Falophe's. Titania Vurvis's. Lastan Oberon. Oberon Aestas's. Everything was gone because of my inability to protect them, just like my inability to protect the first person who could understand me..."
...
"But it's not your fault"
"...!?"
It does. His friend did leave a mandate to guard every Oberon that would appear
But everyone always comes and goes
I realized it the first time I met and parted ways with Verdea. Also, when Frank first met Verdea. And lastly, Veskal with Natasha
They can come and meet again. Farewell happens that easily. In fact...
...
...
Eyes open. The world I want with those two kids. The world we want to shape and see, will the three of us be able to see it together...?
Are the three of us able to always be together...?
...
"Farewell is not your will, but it is natural. The Oberon's death wasn't your fault, because they made a choice in action"
"... What are you trying to say, Oberon?"
Haha...
He was quite shrewd in battle, but in the game Zaphir said very slowly
"Friend Bjorn. He may just want you to meet a new person every time a moment passes"
That answer only makes sense. And I realized that Bjorn's words were not a prophecy, but a figure of speech
'When it rains, the most beautiful flowers will pave the way for you'
He had clearly said in that sentence, if he wanted Zaphir to find the best path he could see. The best way to find happiness in the future
"He wants you to keep going, until the flowers stop blooming. Because it's... By the time it arrives, you've got the destination you want"
"A purpose... What I want..."
...
"But, how long, Oberon?"
I knew you'd ask that...
But really, no one knows
"So that's why, he wants you to enjoy every flower that blooms on that path. Because every flower has their own beauty, don't you think?"
And Mr. Bjorn wants you to know them all one by one. Because on the way, only the flowers can be your friends in the rain
They can enjoy the rain with you. And having such a traveling companion is something of the best feeling
...
I'm a little surprised why people like Mr. Bjorn can be forgotten. Looking back, we do not have a historical record that is too strong for our people to keep. The clearest history we can only hear through people who see it in person. An eyewitness is indisputable from a story of the past
But... For us now...
Only Zaphir remains among the last tens of thousands of Elves who have lived since the war of thousands of years...
Our only witness to how cruel that time was for our people.
Death is spreading everywhere... Aestas Eternitia had to sacrifice herself...
...
Then, the tens of thousands of Elves who followed him then by killing themselves...
They did it as a sign of guilt from within their hearts. The death that ignited the blinds of the Elves without any light to guide
Except for one man who was always loyal to their king, every Oberon or Titania who rose as its leader
The only one who did not betray their king was loyal to him until death to bring the light
...
"And who would have thought, the fact that you have always been loyal to all Oberon and Titania is because of someone..." I said
Zaphir did not answer. He just gave me room to comment. So I took that chance as long as he still wanted to listen
"That also seems to be your reason to stay away from Luna hm...? Well, you can also say that it is the instinct of parents to provide comfort in life for their children...
Also, I have one question..."
...
Alright
"If you can, take care of Luna with your own hands, will you?"
"...!"
...
Ah yeah...
That's not a question, more a request
I just hope, since he already wants to have the intention to get close to Luna, he will definitely be willing to accept my request
But why am I saying that too, huh...?
"... I can, Oberon"
...
...
...
"I will do that, because I also want to occasionally be able to live for someone"
"You're talking like your wife's nobody"
"..."
He did not refuse, nor did he accept it
"... To be honest, I only married Amara because Aestas asked me to. He said that the Great Elf said, One day, the crescent moon in the dark night's embrace will lower half its light to the world. Above a clear river, picking up the light will make the stars shine to bless the world" Zaphir explained
Crescent...
Pick up...
...
"I also happened to meet Amara when she fell down from a tree near the river where you were always training with the prince and the little Elf. I caught it right away until we both got into the river"
...
"It's unfortunate that she died giving birth to Luna. Had she been alive, I'm sure she could have been a better example for my daughter..."
...
"It seems, you are indeed too dear to Luna hm...?" I also commented
Zaphir smiled again. His face really looked like someone who had already removed the heaviest burden from his shoulders. A face that shows the detachment from all burdensome worldly affairs
I never thought he would be able to calm down until all the fighting was done. But look at his face now
"I also don't know how to explain it, but the feeling you have when you see a daughter born is very warm, Oberon..."
...
Hmphc...
"It looks like I have to have a daughter first in order to understand how you feel" I said
"I wouldn't suggest if your daughter was so dissident" Zaphir replied
"It sounds so exciting! I would feel the satisfaction of being able to win against that kid's argument one day"
"Oberonian. That arrogant attitude of yours is out"
Alright, alright. The playfulness is enough
Who would have thought he could joke too. Zaphir really surprised me every time he spoke this time
...
"sorry. But, it seems like I have to go" Zaphir said later
Oh?
Just now I was wondering why, I caught someone looking at us from under a tree
More precisely, looking at Zaphir seemed to want something from him. Who else if not Luna
He gestured for Zaphir to come down and follow him
"Why? You guys got an appointment?" I asked
"Yes. He wants me to practice fighting with him"
His reply made me start shaking my head
Father son is the same. The descendants of the Selene clan were indeed filled with fighting maniacs
I said, "But don't riot until you invite the monster here", before allowing him to leave
He immediately nodded before jumping down and landing right in front of Luna who was not blinking at all. His son immediately protested because he had waited too long for the sign from Zaphir since then, but ended up having to come and invite himself
The two of them left while Luna was still seen lecturing, while Zaphir only watched with her usual flat face
Daddy son. They really look good while walking near each other
I wish I could see that scene more in the future. The two of them had also started to take steps closer to each other, so I was already feeling very relieved
Haaah...
...
That kid again, that kid again...
He really has the power to change someone, somehow. Be it for me, Veskal, Remina, Luna or something
He never ceases to amaze me with every change he brings us...
...
...
...
Have you seen, Seren? It seems, the hero who can help the Elves right now is someone from a race that you don't like
Verdea has brought change for all of us. He opened my mind. He helped Remina act more proud of herself. He helps Luna and Zaphir to get as close as a normal father
He helped all my friends to think more freely than a bird can fly in the sky
...
The Elves will enter their peak period again, I promise you that. And after that time has come...
I might want to try making a memorial for you. A statue of you that I will put on top of where you live right now
At least the tombstone you must have must be magnificent, so that the next generation can know the name that always protects us all
So rest up, big dragon. Thank you for being a good listener to me. Thank you for having fun with all of us
...
Then I remembered one thing. A memory of the past that begins to re-attach
The reason why I want to travel around the world. The reason why I recognized the parable that Zaphir said and he said it came from Mr. Bjorn...
...
I could not think anymore at that moment. So, I just kept silent, remembering every prophecy I heard from Father
