The Book Of Flowers
Dreamtime
"Verdea...?"
Verdea was still feeling very sleepy. His tired body did not let him open his eyes at all
"Verdea...?"
But the voice kept calling. He was sure that he had just fallen asleep, but the voice kept calling out to him like he wanted to wake up immediately
"Verdea...?"
The voice sounded closer. But his eyes were still tightly closed. He kept trying to open it, but fatigue completely overcame him
"Verdeans... Wake my son..."
The voice now felt like it was very close to him
There was a light on Verdea's face when it was right in front of her
And in the end, he could open his eyes and see the figure of that voice
But, his face was filled with an extremely bright light. The figure was wearing an all-white shirt and now, crouched right in front of him
'Who...?'
Verdea's mind wondered who that person was
Angels are the first thing that comes to his head. A figure filled with bright light and wearing all-white clothes. That was the image of the angel he knew
"Malai-kat...?"
He's trying to get up. His head was still heavy and dizzy, and he was just sitting where he lay
"Is that the call you gave me?" Ask that figure
Verdea whose head was still dizzy was finally able to sit properly
He also answered the question of the figure
"You look like an angel..."
The figure laughed a little. His gentle voice completely calmed Verdea's mind
"Please call me anything. Demons or animals can be"
That's not the reply he wants
"Then I'm being disrespectful, aren't I?"
"really. But I told you I didn't matter"
"... Angels by the way..."
Verdea's eyes looked at the surroundings around them
"What is this place?" He then asked
A river-like surface of the water was spread out in all directions, and it was struck with the morning sunlight that was beautifully reflected by the surface of the water
The newly rising sun is visible on the horizon without a single object blocking the view of the eye
The thing he could find in this place was a giant cypress tree standing behind them. However, he felt strange to realize that a fir tree growing on the surface of the water like this
He looked back at the figure and waited for his answer
"... Ah, sorry. This place was so beautiful that I enjoyed it too much" The figure said
"... I think so too. But what is this place?" Verdea asked again
"Why are you asking? It's your soul"
...
"... You kidding...?"
'This place is my soul'
Many questions he wanted to ask the figure, but he felt that not all would be answered
He confirmed his sitting position to be sitting cross-legged, facing the figure he did not recognize
"You're this... Who?" Verdea asked again
But the figure did not give him a clear answer
"You can think of me as anything and anyone like I said before"
"Whoever...?"
Whosoever. Answers that make the question more and more extensive
The figure's answer only adds to Verdea's question
The figure also called Verdea earlier, indicating that she knew her name. But how can it be?
However, Verdea forgot about it thinking the figure would not answer him
"If this is my soul, what are you doing here?"
"I just stopped by to look around"
"Then?"
Silent. The figure slowly turned towards Verdea, so that she could answer the question more properly
"I want to stay here..." That figure also reveals
'But, this is my soul'
Although the figure said so, Verdea could not possibly let someone she did not know enter her soul without permission
"After all, how did you get into my soul?"
"... A little hard to explain. And it's not time yet"
...
He already suspected this. He knew that all his questions would not be answered. And because of that, Verdea closed her mouth and did not ask again
But, realizing the Verdea residence in an instant, the figure actually began to ask back to him
"Why is he suddenly silent?"
"...There's nothing to talk about with you"
"Haha...! Sorry, sorry...
Then why is there a tree in your soul?"
Verdea shrugged her shoulders instantly. He himself did not know why and how the tree could stand in his soul
"I don't even know why everything here could be here"
"For the sun and the surface of this water, I understand why. I just don't understand this tree"
"... You talk like you're an expert at this"
Verdea leaned her shoulders against the tree trunk while continuously exchanging gazes with the figure
"Either... I can say I'm quite experienced"
"... Then what does that mean?"
"Like that. The newly rising sun signifies your still childish nature"
"Ehmm..."
Verdea puffed her cheeks and threw her face away from the figure. Being called childish made her unhappy, remembering when I called her 'the boy'
"I mean. And for this clear water, signifying your innocence" the figure continued
"It feels like you're saying I'm a kid"
"less clear? Or do I need to describe your current attitude?"
The figure then chuckled a little followed by Verdea who felt annoyed and turned her face even more
"Your sarcasm is very similar to my friend's"
"Friends?"
"Yes. Her name is Vainzel"
"The name's a little weird..."
"Oh!? You agree too, don't you!?"
"Yes... But it's still someone's name, so I shouldn't be so bad"
He's not wrong, and Verdea knows it
"He always felt powerful! He lived in my castle, but now he's the one in control!"
"Then, why let it go?"
"... Because I believe in him"
"..."
The figure was silent without reply, giving Verdea room to continue his sentence
"I've only known him for a few days, so it feels weird that I trusted him that fast...
But he was always kind to me. He always takes care of me when no one wants to, and even willingly begs his other friend for help. All of that just to take care of me"
Verdea folded her legs up slowly and placed her face on her knees. The shadow of all the things I had done for her flashed back, as her gaze began to empty. Slowly, a smile began to form on his lips
"I was just an outcast. I'm not an amazing person or anything" either"
"... Can't say that to yourself, Verdea"
"... Why?"
"..."
The figure drew his seat closer to Verdea and leaned his back against the same tree
"You know, even thieves and criminals also have a special meaning for their existence?"
Verdea looked at the face of the figure
"... Why do you think criminals like them can be special?" Verdea asked in astonishment
"Then think about this. If all men had clean hearts, what would happen?"
"... The world will be better"
"Normally people would think so, right? But for me, it will keep you from being called human"
"Huh?"
"You can be called Elves because of the sanctity of your soul when that happens, but you will not be able to be and be called human again"
"... Wouldn't it be better to be born an Elf?"
"Maybe. But I'm gonna say this. You humans are the most perfect creatures in the world"
"... Why that?"
"Because you can do any evil and any good in this world"
Evil and good...
Two separate but fused things, like 2 different sides of a coin
"But what good is it to commit a crime?"
"... There is evil necessary to produce good"
...
That figure is not wrong again
"For example, you beat someone to protect someone else, or you steal to feed your hungry sister"
Verdea once again stunned her, thinking back on this topic
"I'm not saying these things can be considered moral. All I want to tell you is that evil must live with good
Just like your life should be there for your friend..."
The words then pierced into Verdea's head
"For... Vainzel?"
"... Why?"
"Why do you think I'm there for her?"
...
"As I said earlier. After all, come to think of it, he couldn't possibly be willing to give such a big favor to just anyone, let alone always take care of them"
The figure's words always have a point, Verdea thought. His mind was then filled again by my treatment of him all this time
I can refuse the king's request to be his bodyguard, I can't take care of him if I want, I can abandon him like everyone who treats him
I can even go at any time
But I didn't do it at all. Wh-wh-what for?
All of those things flashed through Verdea's head in such a short time. Until, a feeling perched on his chest. A huge feeling of pleasure instantly warmed his heart
She was crying at that moment. Her tears couldn't hold her at all, no matter how hard she tried to wipe her
...
"You sure... She needs me...?" Verdea said in a soft tone
"... That's obvious, Verdea" he replied with a smile
Fear suddenly perched in Verdea
She was afraid that if I left, no one would care about her anymore. Even Luna, Ivor, Ordelia, Luxor and Lyralia. They just followed my words and came because of my request
And because of her conversation with this figure, she increasingly wanted me to stay by her side
"Hey, no need to cry"
The figure that was just sitting, slowly hugged Verdea
But, she kept crying. Why didn't...?
"Then, what do you want to do?" The figure also asked
...
"... I want to continue to be friends with him. I don't want him to leave..." Verdea answered slowly
"Then, you should try to maintain your relationship"
"... But... I have to what...?"
"The answer is only to yourself. He's your friend. I won't be able to help you"
"But-"
"Recure yourself. Reassure yourself and the answer will come by itself. For now, fight"
The word stained in his head. It was exactly the word he had heard
Verdea chuckled and made the figure wonder why
"Your words are similar to Vainzel's" he commented later
The figure flinched. His face then made a gentle smile that was covered with a bright light
The real smile he wanted to show Verdea
"I'm sure he's a good friend"
......................
"Very... Veri..."
"Good, fine. I'm up"
The sunlight that struck his face made the glare of his eyes
Verdea woke up with me sitting on the side of her bed shaking her head in surprise
"What dream are you trying to wake up so hard?" I asked him
...
"It's just a weird dream"
"Hm...
--- Why are you crying?"
"It's okay"
She wiped her flowing tears and tried to hold her back, even though I knew she was feeling sad
"..."
This kid, really...
Why do you always have to make me feel sorry...?
...
I held her in my arms carefully. To calm himself down even further, kuelus his head slowly
He just kept silent without twitching, then hugged me back and closed his eyes
Don't cry anymore, Veri...
I was right here...
"Nightmare?"
"... I don't know..."
"You crybaby"
"It's awful..."
I chuckled and stretched my arms, followed by her
"Yes, we have to have breakfast. You won't want to hear Ivor noisy" I said
"Hehe. That guy never shuts up, huh...?"
"That's fine. He's like a dog that's looking for attention"
We kept joking around until he got out of bed by himself. She immediately went to take a bath leaving me busy preparing her clothes
He kept thinking about the dream and the words of the figure in his soul. And at the same time, I still thought of Verdea's words the night before
The answer is only to themselves. We have to convince ourselves and keep fighting
Then, that answer will appear to us. Answer so that we can stand on each other's side for a long time
"Ah, troublesome" We said simultaneously, in different places
A pair of people made up of Elves and human children
A pair of people who are not well received by all humans
What we do and what happens next, only God knows. Me and him at the time were just hoping for the best
