The Book Of Flowers
Verdea Trust
- - City Bargalos - - - - City
Verdea and Frank continued to huddle while the others were helped by the Dwarves who brought them to treatment
Zaphir didn't seem to want to leave my side, although I'm sure the wound on his neck hurt a lot. Though the Dwarves had warned him as well, but he was still standing near me
"Go a little Zaphir. I'll follow you later"
"... I don't trust these Dwarves"
Which other than Elf do you trust Zaphir...?
He inevitably had to open up even a little to other races...
"I'm sorry, but just let him stay. Thank you for your concern" I said to the Dwarves
They only looked at me and Zaphir with disappointed but smiling faces, then left while occasionally looking back
I just waved my hand slowly while smiling to take them away
"Happy?" I asked Zaphir when they were far from sight
"No. Get this man away from me" he replied, pointing to Artorius standing next to him
Artorius just stayed there. He seemed to want to talk about something, but felt oppressed by Zaphir who was upset
I wonder why that man could be the most famous king of Hortensia. He was oppressed just because of someone's words and looked more like a coward...
I won't force him to talk. After all, if it doesn't matter to me, I don't need to waste time either. Nor was he too good a relationship with me or anything like that
"We're okay, grandpa. Mission success" whispered Verdea to Frank who was still hugging him and crying
He stretched out his arms and saw his grandfather's eyes
"See. I'm it's okay. Just a little dusty. I'm afraid grandpa sneezed that it's too close to me right now"
The two of them then laughed a little
A heart-warming sight...
Verdea then wakes up with Frank and approaches me
"Vain's. Long time no see" Verdea said
I smiled as I stroked the boy's head. She brushed my hand away with a pouting face like she was saying, 'I'm not a child anymore'
Looking at her face, I just laughed
"My greetings to the venerable Oberon" Frank said
Frank then bowed respectfully, but I immediately intercepted him before he could bow further. "No need to duck" I added
"Thank you for making sure my granddaughter is back safely" Frank said
"ahahaha. I am his friend and bodyguard. It's my job to ensure his safety" I replied
Zaphir suddenly looked at me with a cold, stiff, deadly gaze. He seemed to ask 'what does the guard mean?'
I just shook my head, and he immediately kept quiet without doing anything else
...
Besides, the reason I sent Verdea here was also to ensure her safety. I don't know why he's so desperate to break into Hortensia territory
Or the...
"... Come, let's go to rest first" Frank said again
I opened my mind and immediately invited Zaphir to come with me. He's pale now, probably because the wound is getting sicker
Well... I asked him to leave earlier. Don't blame me if he's getting sick now. After all, no one can force him to do anything, not even me
And...
She will definitely not feel happy with my healing magic later...
......................
-- The residence of the city leader --
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!"
"Stop yelling and stop moving right now!!" I snap
Zaphir then tried to endure the pain again as strongly as possible
The shout of hers made my ears hurt...!
I was just trying to cure him. It's for his good to know too!
It felt like I was dealing with Darwin alone. My ears are buzzing right now because I'm the closest to him right now
"When will he stop shouting?" Verdea asked as she covered her ears with her palms in front of the bed where Zaphir and I were sitting
Veskal sat right next to her while also covering her ears
"Silent boca - AAAAHHH!!!"
The two of them only closed their ears again with an annoyed face as Zaphir shouted once more
"He's right, Zaphir. You should at least learn a little self-resilience" I replied
"It hurts so much you know!?"
Oh wow. Now he just whines saying the wound hurts. If he had listened to me earlier and wanted to do some ordinary healing first, he would not have needed this
My healing magic is also very weak compared to Ordelia. The wound on Zaphir's neck was barely covered at all even though I had healed him for 30 minutes
"Vain's. Let me fight this guy later" Veskal said
"DW-HA-AHHHHH!!"
"I TOLD YOU TO STOP MOVING!!"
I want to hit Zaphir on the head right now, but I still need to focus on healing his wounds
"Oh my God, this Elf..." Verdea Mumbles
Huh... Sorry if he interfered...
We're also at the mayor's house right now...
I feel responsible for Zaphir's screams that might disturb the comfort of the people who live here...
Verdea and Veskal alone look disturbed...
"Veri-s"
'VAINZEL!?'
Woahs. Shock me...
What the fuck? I was even shocked to the point that I accidentally unleashed my healing spell
"What's that?" Ask Zaphir
I don't know, but...
It came from my pants pocket
Verdea and Veskal who had just not listened were also curious. The two of them slowly drew closer to me as I felt my pants pocket
And from inside those pants, I found a tracking seed
...!
'Vainzel!? Vainzel!?'
"Hello!? Seren!?" I returned the voice
'Vain!? Thank goodness, you survived...!'
Zaphir was surprised to hear my words, then brought his ear closer to the seed I was holding
Verdea and Veskal then looked at each other and tried to remember something. They also remembered that Seren was the guardian dragon of the Forest Gate. They also came closer to hear Seren's words
'Where are you now!? I'll pick you up' asked Seren who was agitated
"No need!" I said quickly. "If my friends are there, ask them to create a teleportation circle outside the Forest Gate area. I'm sure that's the safest way for now"
"HUH!?" Verdea and Veskal, together. "Teleportation again?" Added Veskal
"You want Seren shot down by that black witch what? That guy can't be guessed, can he?" I retaliated. "How's Seren?" I talked back to Seren
"All right, I'll be back to Miralius soon. See you later"
'I'm retreating. May the Great Tree always bless you'
I put the seed back in my pants pocket
"... So then... We're going to Miralius?" Ask Verdea
I just nodded in response
A grievance-filled expression was implied on his face. Not just him, Veskal did too. They look really desperate right now
"If you can't stand teleportation, there's no need to go along" Zaphir said
"Whispering. You're my nobody until you can tell me what to do" Veskal replied
The two of them tried to oppress each other, but none of them wavered
"Stop right now" I said. "I'll draw her teleportation circle right now"
I intended to get out of my seat, but Verdea got in the way before I could
He looked straight at me with a sad face
"How is... If we just rest first. Youknew... A walk or something" He said
...
"But-"
"It's okay, isn't it?" He cut
This time, his face turned bleak, like a dog asking for attention
I who could not stand his expression just nodded slowly
I'll probably regret this... But he looked so happy that I didn't have the heart...
......................
He walked cheerfully while circling the city of Bargalos with me. Every now and then, he greeted the Dwarves living in this place with a friendly smile. The Dwarves who were already familiar with it also returned with smiles and friendly greetings
I just walked slowly behind her while looking at her from behind
...
This kid is so big. His body was almost as tall as mine. His hair was so long that he had to make a ponytail. And that little face of his... It looks the same, but different
"You're so big..." I murmured softly
Verdea somehow listened to my murmur and gave a small smile, then slowed her steps slightly to the side with me
"What's wrong?" Ask Verdea
I looked down without looking at him
"... 5 years have passed...?"
...
"... I really feel awkward meeting you right now, not like I imagined" I continued
"... Why?" Verdea asked
"out of... I thought you were angry with me" I replied slowly
Verdea suddenly stopped walking. I realized it stopped a few steps in front of him
He looked back at me with that sad face
"Why should I be angry with you?" Ask Verdea again. "Is it because you left me at that time?"
I threw away my face because I couldn't look at him anymore
"... Why do you say that?" Ask her again in a louder tone
He walked closer to me then directed my gaze with both hands towards his face
I saw firsthand that sad face that had started to tear up
But, I can't say anything. I don't know what to say
I tried to take my eyes off, but I stayed glued to her eyes
"I want to ask you one more time. Why-"
"That's because I never tried to find you!"
Verdea gasped at my words that suddenly came out
He slowly removed both of his hands from my face
...
"... That only?"
"What do you mean just that!? I never looked for you, listen!?"
I threw my face away once more from the sight of his eyes after saying that
I'm stupid. I want to cry and hit my face right now. I actually said that in front of his face
...
...
...
" 'I will always love you, wherever you are' "
I heard Verdea. My eyes widened as I slowly looked towards her face that was already filled with teardrops
"I always remember that-" He added, then started wiping his tears
...
Her... Waiting for me all this time?
That long?
With no certainty at all...?
...
"Very... I-"
Duk!
He hugged me without further ado
His eyes shook and began to shed tears
As I returned his embrace slowly, his tears poured down his cheeks
"You-I always put all the blame on yourself. Why do you always burden yourself? This isn't all your fault. But--- You always try to do your best--- for all of us. How could I be angry with you? I'm the one who's been burdening you too much. Even now so--" Verdea said
...
"I--I've always believed-in you. I always pray-so that we meet again. I-I always remember those words-you
And now-we've-we're together again. I'm stronger-- Now. So--- You don't need--- Just bear all my burdens for you-just-"
...
I shed tears with him
Unexpectedly, the little boy who was grown now was still waiting for me to return to his side, as if a chick that still needed its mother
I always thought he would be mad at me when we met. Angry that I left him for years. Angry because I forced my will on him
But she was crying in my arms right now. Crying happily just because she can see me again
Nothing in my dreams even if something like this would happen when we met. But, I was really grateful that she welcomed me back warmly
Huh... I'm really grateful
Thank you for believing in me all this time Verdea
If something like this happens in the future again, I will not repeat my previous decision. L'm... Will no longer disappoint you
Thank you for believing, son
