The Book Of Flowers
Lose
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The sound of fire devouring...
The sound was very unpleasant, especially when we could see what was being devoured by the fire
...
In this area of Fire Elves that was mainly filled with sand, me and all my friends witnessed all the people who were killed, being devoured by the fire as their funeral
A very sad sight. The smoke above the fire even looked as if it was sending their souls into space
The powerless me immediately hugged Ivor who began to shed tears
"I didn't expect-There's gonna be more to go-Vain--"
...
I'm sorry, friend...
I have absolutely no power in dispelling death. If I could, I would try my hardest to save all these Elves
...
Ahaha...
I just thought about the worst thing in the world
All the Elves are dead and we have to do their funerals...
They will not be able to enjoy the festival that will take place any minute...
And all that happened because I didn't expect them to get killed
"Being a leader is exhausting." I muttered in our arms.
But that is the truth. This is what it means to be a leader. You have to accept every consequence that your choices create
If what you get is a bad consequence like this, you have to re-develop your mind
...
I will try to develop my mind again...
I certainly don't want any more victims like this...
"Oberonian"
Hm...?
Gwen, stand by our two sides. Me and Ivor certainly immediately let go of our embrace
It was because Gwen looked very eager to report something precarious. His face was more than enough to say his intentions
"There was someone who hurt Luca Erzebil. And that guy almost killed her, if only Mrs Ordelia hadn't been there"
Ordelia...?
I looked towards Ordelia who had been looking at me since
Apparently he didn't say anything so that I could be present in this place first huh...?
"Where are they?" I asked Gwen
"I locked her assailant in a place next to Luca Erzebil's cell. And you better hurry, because the kid I'm holding is a fire elf"
Prison cell. That means they are in the flower Elf area
...
The night is getting late. I'd better check on Luca and his assailant before I go to bed to end the day
And it's not fair that the boy should miss the funeral of his comrades-in-arms. I'm even sure he attacked Luca to avenge them...
"Gwen. Make time for me at noon tomorrow to meet every family of this poor soldier" I said
"I'll help too..." Ivor offered to
But he didn't look at all. His eyes that continued to shed tears were still glued to every wooden mattress that was engulfed in fire— where the Elves of the fire that had gone were lying
I wanted to hug her again so she wouldn't have to cry, but...
"Gwen. Hug him"
"Huh-?!"
"Ready, Oberon"
Not yet had Ivor pushed his mother away, Gwen immediately hugged her son who was taller than him. Ivor's head he's bent down, so he can rest on his shoulder
And like a mother naturally, Gwen certainly knows what she has to do to handle her child. Ivor's messy hair he elus slowly, until Ivor was still stunned without doing anything as usual
"You must understand that every death is inevitable, my dear... Especially now..."
Ivor started grimacing back, and returned Gwen's embrace. Her face she hid on her mother's muscular shoulder, so that she could cry without restraint there
For the first time I saw Ivor crying so hard. The person who was usually very jolly and excited, so it felt impossible to make him disintegrate like this, turned out to be the one who fell the hardest to the ground
It makes me feel sorry. Because every time we went through heartbreaking things like this together, it was only the first time he had allowed himself to be crushed by crying out loud helplessly
I don't have a position here anymore. I'd better be right away
"Vaina"
...
Huh...
This time it was Veskal who called my name. Verdea who looked worried was also coming behind him
I knew exactly what was in the heads of these two boys
"We want to come with you"
...
Better so. Nor do they have a close connection to this cemetery
"Don't be left behind"
I immediately darted away in order to quickly deal with this matter. Unlike Verdea and Veskal who looked at each other first
The two also agreed that Verdea should be carried alone by Veskal so that they can leave faster. And after safely being on Veskal's back, the two darted along so as not to lag far from me
......................
"You're so sure to execute that black witch, Vain?" Verdea asked
That's a clear question the answer
"Sure, Veri"
I don't know what made him doubt that I would do it or not...
"... I only asked because there was an Elf who said, that this would be the first execution in Miralius"
...
...
...
That's so...
Whoever that Elf is, he's right. By deciding the execution would take place tomorrow, Luca Erzebil was the first person in Miralius' history to get the execution in general
For the reason I did it...
"... I don't know why I wanted to execute that man"
...
Yep. I really don't know
Satisfaction in revenge? The security of the people of Miralius in the future? The self-worth of a leader?
Maybe all three
All I know is, I feel like I have to kill him tomorrow, right in front of everyone
But it still feels wrong if I have to do it with my hands. I want to do it, of course...
It's just, there's still something lacking...
*set!!*
*set!!*
...
"It was fortunate that the flower Elf area was right in the middle of Miralius. Wherever we are, getting here is an easy thing" Verdea commented, as he descended from Veskal's back
"That's because Father took the form of a tree. Only flower Elves have the knowledge to keep the shape of the tree well"
Put that aside. We should hurry in
Yep. We've arrived right in front of the prison where we're holding someone. And with an accelerated pace, the three of us entered without one more word
"They're being held there, huh...?"
For every cell that has a prisoner in it, the fire magic on the torch located in front of the cell's door will ignite automatically. We are doing this to make sure that the violators of that rule are still in there
And the two people that Gwen is holding right now she's putting right in the 2 corner cells on the left side
We who walked towards him since then were finally able to capture the image of Luca first in his cell. And then, on the very tip of the cell, the attacker was seen sitting on a mattress while putting his face on his knee
...
"The boy..."
"... Not older than me..."
Veskal and Verdea are connected to each other the word immediately began to look pity. How not?
They were very correct to say that the boy was no older than Verdea. Especially when he raised his tear-filled face, pointing at us
The young face was immediately shocked to see our presence. He even fell down from his bed only to be able to kneel respectfully to me, his king
"Greetings to the Oberon. I'm sorry that my current figure is so unfit to face you" she said
"Wake"
My orders were immediately followed by getting up slowly and standing there with a look that tried to be strong
But even I knew, if I brought up the funeral, he would tremble immediately
It's just, I have to do this as slow as possible...
"What's your name?" I asked
He was silent for a moment. It seemed that he did not want to answer, because he considered that I was considering a punishment for him. But inevitably, I am still the king of his kingdom. The king the leader of his people
"Revon Agnes, yes Oberon. D-come from the Salamander clan, and the son of Ovena Agnes"
He's a commoner. I have never heard of the surname Agnes in the surname of the warrior Salamander clan
"Then your parents..."
The boy again muttered, twisting his fingers together to distract for a moment
"K- I haven't seen them since 5 years ago, Oberon.."
...
That's so...
Now I understand why this young man intends to become a soldier of the Salamander clan...
He was also more than enough in terms of age. It's a shame I have to hear the news
"All the surviving Elves have returned to Miralius, young man"
"I know it, Oberon!"
...!
"I... Just want to serve you, and follow my friends who have long been warriors of our clan..."
...
And if we're talking about his friends...
All of them, or at least some, must be buried right now...
...
...
...
*cloth!*
I opened the door using my Mana. The boy clearly showed that he was surprised to see what I was doing, especially when I slowly approached him
Not one bit he felt he was being threatened or oppressed. Quite the contrary
When the eyes of the two of us who were aligned met, I nodded. I slowly pulled over, then allowed him to come out and go back to his clan area
He was a little distrustful of it, always exchanging his gaze between the open cell doors where my two friends looked from the outside, and came back to me. His eyes continued to go back and forth for a while, until...
He started to look like he was grimacing. But of course, he held back those tears from coming out
It seemed like everyone from the Salamander clan did not like to be seen crying...
"Sobbing is okay, young man" I said
His eyes were on me again, before he could leave. And he, too, was wide-eyed...
Strayed, looking at the soft gaze of his king. A soft look directed at him. Something that made him feel special for having been feared by his king
Only this pity can I point to him. Losing someone important in your life is very painful
I don't need to discuss if I lose a lot of people like that at once...
...
"Go and report to Gwen's top brass that I've allowed you. Then, tell him this"
I slowly put my lips into her ear. I've been more than convinced that my decision he's about to hear is the most correct
"I will allow you, Revon Agnes, as the one who will execute the black magician tomorrow"
Sentences that I deliberately did not allow it can be heard by my two friends though. Both of them are certainly wide-eyed, astonished by the decision I have made
Putting them aside, even Revon looked puzzled as well. Although his face was still a mess because it was holding back tears, his mouth opened slightly in disbelief with what came out of my mouth
"You really want him to execute that man tomorrow? I'm sure it'd be better if you did it, wouldn't you?" Veskal asked
...
Sure do. I also said that I would execute him with my own hands
But...
"... There's someone more deserving of this honor, once I figure out his condition"
And I have other plans for now
"You two should sleep now. We have to get up very early in the morning to carry out the execution immediately before sunrise"
"Why before sunrise?" Verdea asked
"Because for the Elves, not being able to see the sunlight the next day was the greatest punishment. We Elves really appreciate all the life that is in Vitario, and the people who are playing with them is something that for us should be destroyed as soon as possible"
Forget about appreciating life. Other than the Elves and Miralius' own side, I don't care about other lives. Even if they are our allies
My frustration regarding the enslavement of the Elves could not disappear at all
...
"You can take Natasha tomorrow. That too, if he wanted to" I turned to Veskal
But not only the person I was going to, the person who was still confined inside his cell now even reacted to hearing that name
"You want to make him witness his friend's death or something?" Veskal asked
"Hey. I said if he wanted to. If not, then just let him take more time off"
I have no ill will at all to an enemy who is already helpless. Except digging deeper into the information from him to help us in the future
...
It'll end quickly, I'm sure
Compared to Rosalia and Jael, the new enemy we are facing right now is a group of people who are not careful at all
It would be beneficial if their number from the beginning is small, but the difference in language if their number is greater
Whatever it is, we must not waste our profits right now
......................
--- The next morning----
...
Again the sound of fire devoured. A torch was in hand, in front of a crowd that was watching someone who was helpless and was about to meet his end
Cowering without power, like a deer that has entered into a lion's den and cannot get out. After all, the gazes from the Elves also rendered him completely helpless. After all, he would not be able to run away
That's the fate of a Luca. And in front of the grieving Natasha— standing furthest in the crowd, he was someone who was about to die surrounded by eyes cursing at him
The executioner has also arrived. With a slow step after I called his name before everyone, he walked over. Slowly but surely. A gift given by his king to him
Given by me to him
The torch in my hand already sounded impatient to use. Luca, dressed in white and tied to an oil-stained wooden pole, limply looked to the side, right at the man who was about to bring death upon him
He has arrived. I slowly passed the torch to a young man named Revon Agnes, and he gladly and unhesitatingly accepted it
His eyes were filled with embers of rage, and there was no need to explain why. Now in front of him, the two people were staring at each other. Between a murderer and one who will kill
The last look that produced nothing but dissolving Revon's fury deepened
...
The young man is tired. His teeth tightened in annoyance. And with a chaotic mind, he threw his torch violently, until it burned the oil-stained wooden pole before him
Luca's legs have been completely burned. He groaned a little as a result of the pain, occasionally chuckling due to the irony he was about to face now
The irony of a memory still lingers, as long as he can clearly hear the screams of the past that have passed
The sight was heartbreaking, and the screams only added to the suffering
"In the end, I die like them..."
That comment he also made...
But Revon just kept quiet. He was silent and cursed
While the fire had devoured Luca's entire body, he stared at the person one last time. And I don't know why...
She cried. When she looked at Luca who was already engulfed in the burning fire, she cried
Luca could feel one thing when he saw that look...
Though filled with hatred, that look...
...
...
That look made Luca smile...
"Sorry, it's disappointing you"
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...
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The sound of fire devouring...
That's all, the voice is left...
...
No one cheered...
No one is happy...
No one had any joy when the person they labeled as the villain was dead
All who watched remained silent, as the black smoke billowing in the dark sky departed, bringing Luca Erzebil with him into the air
The sun began to rise, and the first person to be struck by the light was myself standing beside Revon with a heart of gloom
...
Yep. This is why I want you to punish Luca yourself
"So, how do you feel now...?" I asked him
Revon grunted in annoyance while trying to hold back his cries. It was obvious that he felt unsatisfied by the results. But that's the result...
"Why--?! Why should he win---?!"
...
I don't know the answer either...
If there's one thing I understand about all this is, I'm afraid
I was afraid that I would also feel defeated, even if I could come out victorious against Rosalia later
...
"... I guess humans are, aren't they?"
"I don't understand-Oberon--"
...
"They have their own conditions in how and why they want to win in this life"
Not like us Elves. We're constrained
The strangling bond since our ancestors walked over Vitario. The world we know of was limited to Goeitias long ago, and now to Miralius, since the defeat of the thousand-year war
Again the word lose. Ironic right?
But, did we really 'lose' in that war? Or do we feel that we have 'lost'?
Confusing right?
Then humans. Beings who are free and are the rightful rulers of this Vitario. The people who are destined to rule over the others as the most 'perfect' creatures'
I went out to learn about them. About their traditions and their lives. But how surprised I was that freedom was so vast. Unlike what I imagined when I had not thought of getting out of Miralius and exploring
There is no limit to the word 'freedom'. And man, as a people endowed by that advantage...
I understand why they are said to be the most perfect creatures. I understand why I love them and their lives
And through my friends, I also understand more about humans
"Some of them never really lose at all costs. Their end has come, but they understand one thing. The next day wasn't for them, and that was enough"
"... But how can you call that a victory?"
"Because they've tried"
"...!"
"- And they cherish every effort they make, as well as all those who precede them have done"
Respecting yourself is something that humans have always done. From there, they can appreciate others. Then, in the end, they can appreciate life itself
"Humans are not the best. Some of them you must think of as a savage creature. But they do one thing we don't do"
Isn't that right, Ayahanda? Even since your life as the first Elf, our people have never lived this one thing
"- We love others, but do not love ourselves"
We never have a choice to love ourselves. Be it my friends who swore at my feet first, the Elves who loved me as their leader, or my former self
But everything is different now. Me, different now
I have a choice
"Drown it in your hearts, my people! My buddies! Then, when you have got the desired answer, come to me!"
I will always help people who want to help themselves
"That applies to you too, young man. The journey of life is not easy. I lost too. But I rose again, formed another bond, and now here I stand. As a leader you'd expect"
That happened to the five of you too
Luna, Ordelia, Ivor, Luxor, Lyralia...
And that goes for you, Remina. You are my last hope to make sure that my friends, as well as the Elves are able to love themselves
That they may not be bound to me simply because they are bound to me...
"For the future of all of us, right?"
Hopefully, my fire of hope continues to burn as big as this fire. I hope...
The future of the Elves always shone brightly, even though it had to start the day like the morning sun...
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...
...
"Natasha..."
At the far end of the silent crowd and dissolved in their minds, two people stood side by side. One just looked weakly ahead, as well as heard my words
But the other one was helpless, looking for a place to keep him from falling
Veskal only fell silent, as he glanced at Natasha who seemed to tremble wanting to cry, but could not lean anywhere
...
So then...
He was the one who provided the place for the young lady to lean on
Slowly she moved Natasha's body to get closer to her. And when he was already attached, Veskal hugged and circled Natasha—'s head while also sticking his face on the woman's shoulder...
Natasha fell silent, still trying to hide her face that wanted to cry. Till...
"... I lost"
"..."
"... I lost, Tasya..."
"..."
"I won't be able to throw away my friend, however"
...
...
"But I have to lose my friend in this day---!"
"... Then let me be your friend"
"..."
"I can't replace Luca. But I beg you..."
"... Veskal-"
"I beg you not to go again-Don't leave me-"
...
That's a selfish plea. So selfish, that it felt like he was trying to rule over everything
But that's human. And when man admits with earnestness that he has lost, he has lost...
He lost, in the moment he met his childhood friend. He loses, in the moment they embrace each other like they used to
Crying is exactly like that. And it reminds them of a blessing, if they used to only be able to lean on each other
Until a cruel fate must separate them
...
...
...
When the two now have a choice...
What choice will they choose...?
