The Book Of Flowers
Augurtrails
--- Meanwhile, the Forest Gate----
...
...
Whoa, whoa...
I'm sure not everyone can talk to Leshy. No, if that person isn't someone who doesn't really matter
Especially if the Treant before him was not a fellow guard of the Elves. I can guess who he is
"Augurtrail", a name I threw out
He was surprised, making sure that my guess was correct. He's an Augurtrail
A Treant figure whose body was made of teak wood. Leaner compared to Treant in general, and has a very innocent face shape. He even started to look nervous at my sudden presence
Leshy looked at her to make her more relaxed, as she stood up to welcome my return
"Oberon yes. I introduce you to Augurtrail, the second guard of the Elf clan, and a friend of Titania Shimia" Leshy introduced Augurtrail to me
"You always avoid me for some reason. Does this also apply to every Elf leader after Titania Shimia?" I asked
This is the first time I've met him in person...
"A-I don't know how to say hello to all of you..." Augurtrail said, before flinching. "I forgot my manners!"
She was very nervous in speaking huh...? Though just a moment ago, he looked very relaxed with Leshy...
"He came to visit Seren. He intends to go and send greetings to me, but you have arrived first huh"
Hm... So
"Do you like it if we sit down and talk for longer, Augurtrail?"
My request made her flinch again. She started acting shy, as Leshy and I waited for her answer
And in the end, he gave a confirmation
"understand"
Glad to hear that
The three of us sat in a place that we thought was comfortable, but still close to each other. Just as the Augurtrail was sitting, suddenly a great many birds came and perched on its branches and branches
I was a little surprised by that, but I also remembered that Treant was the house of the Elves who was closest to the senseless creatures. They were nature itself, unlike Elves in general who were tasked with protecting nature
"You seem to be very gentle with those animals" I flatter him
"It's nothing. I'm a Treant, so it's been my instinct to be gentle with all these little creatures"
He even allowed a small bird to perch on his finger. He lowered his index finger from his head and he looked at the bird that perched above him with a very gentle gaze. It was obvious that he wanted to pet the sweet animal, but he was afraid that it would hurt him due to their size difference
"Titania Shimia also said that this was a noble task. Take care of nature, love the creatures in it, and give them shelter"
His eyes suddenly dimmed, feeling a sudden sadness in his heart. With a heavy breath, he revealed it clearly
"Cool is not due to this task. At the end of his life, I was sure he felt satisfied enough to be able to protect many things at once. Although he is not sure, if the future will be good for what is protected by him"
...
"We've all lost someone we kept in our hearts, Oberon huh. But, that doesn't mean losing like this will also hinder us yes" Leshy added
"... I know that, Leshy"
If I were the one who used to sit together with the two of you, that sentence would feel like half the reality
But...
"That's why I'll try my best to keep the living"
...
Both silent. Augurtrail began to turn his head to look at each other with Leshy. And Leshy nodded to signify something
His head turned back to look at me
"I have no right to judge whether you are a good leader or not, Oberon. But if I could say, this figure in front of me is not what I heard from the Elven's complaint in Miralius" He said later
"Hm? What am I like?"
"You remind me of Titania Shimia. It's just..."
...
He was silent again. Leshy too, began to plant his chin on the ground, leaving room for Augurtrail to use for as long as he needed
"... Justjust?" I asked too
He started to sigh. Something heavy he will say soon
"... Titania Shimia never died in front of us. He left his duty as a leader and left
Contrary to you who is not at all daunted despite being given such scornful whispers. You continue to do your duty as a leader, even if your own people reject you"
...
Hm... That old story...
The other higher-ups will definitely tell you that Titania Shimia is no more than any other Elf leader. But what Zaphir said is true. And what Augurtrail is saying is now — someone close to Titania, reinforcing what has been told to me
Titania Shimia is indeed never without respect. He disappeared for some reason, and somehow his fate
"Even so, he was one of the people who introduced the Elves to success. Thanks to it we were able to survive better in a thousand-year war. Thanks to him too, your name and Zaphir appear in our history as the best warriors and ears of the Elves"
"You also gave a lot to the Elves, Oberon. Even if you compare it to my queen, the achievement you have obtained is not something the Elves have ever seen"
He intended to discuss my achievements in re-establishing relations between Humans and Elves, as well as quelling some of the big problems that made us all flattered by many
"And I haven't finished it. If I fall now or pull my steps back, all that achievement will be for naught"
Both of them understood why I had to stay ahead in this destiny battle
...
"However, I must agree with Augurtrail, Oberon yes. Making peace and even the improvement of social relations with humans is a great achievement. In our history, only the Fathers could be on good terms with that people"
"If you don't count Titania Shimia's husband, Leshy is right"
...
Husband?
"wait. You said that the husband belonged to Titania Shimia...
Is it a human?"
Augurtrail nodded without the slightest hesitation
"Hows it? The reign of Titania Shimia was a time when the Elves began to be aggressive towards the human race"
"So, that guy named Whistle is indeed her lover huh...?"
Leshy also knows about this...
"Herran Whistle is the name of Titania's husband Shimia. And if I were to be honest with Oberon, I wouldn't be by your side with the Elves if I hadn't met the man first"
Hm...?
"He's a very respectable human being. An adventurer who had high curiosity. We met by chance, and he asked for my help to point the way to Miralius"
Augurtrail then lowered his head, as if there was guilt in his heart
"... Inside my head I could imagine Titania Shimia finishing him off on the first step she stepped foot on the Forest Gate. I intend to drive him out of my sight and die. But, somehow I can drag him to escort him to this place"
"Then fate brought the three of you together, huh?" Leshy interrupted
"Titania Shimia almost took our heads off. But, in the end, it was he who convinced my queen to forgive us"
Herran Whistle
...
"If she's really Titania's lover, how can she not be recorded in our history?"
It's been stuck ever since that name was introduced to me. And from the lethargic look on Augurtrail's face and the slight agape, I just kept quiet and waited
...!
Oh my...
"The seed of hatred that my queen instilled into the people began to gnaw her back. When Herran died from being killed at the hands of a man, and the Elven's rejection of him, I saw how broken my queen's heart was from the mere gaze of the face..."
...
And those two things took Titania Shimia away to leave her duty. The guilt of being the one who instilled that hatred must have gnawed at his heart...
If I can be honest, her sadness and anger are understandable. He has the right to do so, and not at the same time
It's cruel, isn't it? For most people, the fate of a leader is a curse, not a blessing. Only a handful of people can turn that into a blessing
...
"At this time, I really hope that Herran is a Verdean for the Elves. If he is not gone and given more time, I am sure the Elves will enter the golden age faster..."
"But ill-fated, the man died because of a war that did not involve him huh. Even when he defended us, the Elves at that time still hated the humans huh"
...
"A Verdean to the Elves..."
I am a little amused to listen to that, although my gratitude is also turbulent
"You're right. Had a man like Verdea come early in that time, I'm sure the suffering of the Elves today would not have happened..."
However, I was very lucky to meet that child at this time. He was truly a messenger, for me, for the Elves and for his own people
...
"Have I told you about Verdea's other identities?"
I don't know where that thought came from. But, I feel that both should know about this
"The fact that he was Marcellus' emissary was named Regulus?"
"...!"
Ah, so they already know. Their calm reaction showed that well
"Nothing is left of my ear, Oberon. It's my duty to serve you like that"
"I don't doubt that, Augurtrail. And it seems, you've accepted that fact without any more problems"
Augurtrail and Leshy were silent, one of whom smiled and the other closed his eyes
"Then, what's the point of us getting pissed at him huh? Because of the duty he carries as the protector of mankind? He's more than that, and I always hope so
And I hope, yes Oberon. I wish he was the one who could take care of you and give you direction"
...
I was happy to hear that word from him...
"Thank you for believing in him"
"No need to. I'll just shut up for now. The fact that he had something to do with Marcellus still pisses me off"
Ahaha...
"Even so, Oberon..."
I refocused when I realized he raised his head — stared straight at me. His slightly long snout was directed straight, as his eyes were filled with a serious attitude
"I remind you not to get too close to humans. Destruction for the Elves who do not heed my ban is always fatal huh"
...
That's the word he said to me. That sentence somehow, has the same tone as what my parents said back then
'Don't get too close to humans'. A sentence that will not be forgotten. A warning, more precisely
...
"You may be too late to warn me, Leshy"
I've been too far between humans. Many of my friends are also from that group
I also did not heed the words of my parents...
"Thank you for warning me. It's just, I can't pull my steps back. Here I am"
Whatever it is, I won't be able to stay away from humans. Especially those two kids...
...
"Then take care of them, Oberon"
The Augurtrail that had thrown out his sentence caught the attention of both of us
"Humans don't live forever by our side the Elves"
The sentence stopped there, ending with a wide, soothing smile
Yep... I understand it's Augurtrail...
I understand that Verdea and Veskal will not live as long as our people. They may be gone at an age that hasn't even touched 100
And most tragically, they would probably meet their end at the end of this battle...
The best thing I can do for them is to provide them with enough happiness
...
I'm sure, this is what Father felt when he was the only Elf before, and ventured to look after the humans...
"But... There are times when I don't know how to make those kids happy..."
Because there was a time, I felt that the two were getting further away from my position...
...
"You'll know, Oberon"
Augurtrail got up from his seat. Slowly he bowed, as if he was greeting for permission
"It's time for a flower to bloom, right? All you need to do is take care of the flowers properly and appropriately"
He really wanted to leave, seen as he started turning from my position and Leshy
"We're meeting here, Augurtrail?" I said to him
"The rested Gnomes will soon come out. I don't want to bother them with my presence"
"Your presence doesn't bother you, Augurtrail"
Although I'm sure you're the one who's gonna be bothered with them
But he just waved awkwardly, as long as his heavy steps were pointed east towards Goeitias
...
"Verdea would love to meet you, Augurtrail"
His steps had also stopped. Silence came between the three of us, as he slightly turned his body back
"Send my regards to him. L'm... Would love to meet him too"
And then he walked back. Just a matter of seconds, we could not hear the sound of his footsteps, let alone his form in the eyes. The Augurtrail is gone, while the Gnomes are coming back
"Sorry we're late to greet you, Oberon" Welt, their top brass, greeted me
...
...
...
I hope you'll see Verdea again. Because it's...
I think I understand why you don't want to feel close to others anymore...
