The Book Of Flowers

Walk Slowly

--- That night, where Eleanor lived----

"No Albert. We have to make it smaller. I can't possibly carry such a large Mana stone"

"B-this?"

The two people looked dazed just for making some magic stones

The woman looked very overwhelmed and tired because her Mana began to drain, while the man looked very stiff in making a small stone

In the middle of it, Veskal also appeared from behind the door of the room where they worked

"Night. Sorry if I'm interrupting"

"Just calm. You're not bothering" Eleanor replied

He did not for long instantly refocus to concentrate his Mana inside the magic stone

"Vescals. Help me" Albert asked

Veskal who daritadi just stood up immediately sighed. Inevitably, since he had already come, he had to help Albert and Eleanor

He sat down next to Albert. Before him was filled with the already petrified Mana and some of its fragments after being eroded. A crystal stone the size of a watermelon was seen sitting in the middle of the table

"So, should I use this?" Veskal lifts an instrument shaped like a sculptor

"Rubber. But cut the big crystal using it. Don't scrape it right away"

"understand"

But...

If there's a sculptor, there's always a hammer, right? Why isn't there here?

"Where's the hammer?"

"Nothing. just scrape some of that crystal with your hand"

"This hard rock should I scrape with my own energy?"

Veskal knocked on the big crystal. From what he had just done, he immediately knew that it was harder than a diamond

"The stone is not hard if you know how to make it soft. That's Mana, you know?"

"Is that so...?"

Slowly, he looked back at the large crystal. He started trying to recall the magic lessons I taught him and Verdea

No further than blood. The only thing that is different is that we can control them. Blood can freeze, so can Mana. So, mana can also be liquid, just like blood

The only difference is, we can control Mana to be liquid or solid

"Hup"

With a single swing of a finger, a small part of the stone was cut vertically. Before he fell, Veskal caught him carefully, then hardened him again for a while

"seen? You're a natural in this" Albert said with a smile

"Hows it? She can't?" Eleanor asked

"I can" Veskal immediately responded

Eleanor nodded in understanding, then picked up which stone Albert passed

"... Looking at your attitude now, it seems like this is commonplace huh?" Veskal asked

"Not every day. This I usually do when my husband was alive"

"!!!"

'Ah, looks like I triggered the wrong conversation', Veskal thought

"You know my husband? He doesn't have magic like me, but he's very good at leading. He is also smart and his face is perfect"

Eleanor continued the conversation. Veskal's curiosity began to reappear, and inadvertently, he asked a question

"... Then, what happened to her?"

"He died as a result of Eloy's rebellion to usurp the throne 9 years ago. Eloy executed him right in front of me, because he wouldn't bow"

"..."

What a sad story. But somehow, despite being related to her husband, Eleanor told me about it like an ordinary subject

"I feel sorry for your husband..." Veskal muttered

"no need. That was his last message to me before he was executed"

"... But, isn't it sad to lose someone you value and love so much?"

"Vescal!"

Albert interrupted the conversation. However, Eleanor immediately gave him a gesture to remain calm

"I... I would be lying if I didn't miss him. It's just..."

"... What's?"

"... He wants me to feel proud and continue to inherit it"

"... That wouldn't be enough, would it? To satisfy your heart"

"Why should I satisfy my heart in that way? There are many ways in this world, and each person determines them independently, right?"

"..."

"My husband, he died with a contented heart. He was satisfied because he knew I would continue to look after his family's city. He doesn't know if I'll be better or not, but he's satisfied because I inherited it

He died peacefully, that was enough for me. After all, I really love him"

"..."

Her... Correct

The woman's shoulders and back looked small and weak, but she continued to bear a lot of burden. Just like...

Two friends, me and Verdea

"... I always feel weak in front of people like you" Veskal muttered

He slowly started to work on sculpting that Mana stone

Albert glanced at him as he unintentionally heard the muttering

"Feeling weak?" Albert asked

"... I just want to be strong. If not for me, I want to do it for them"

"..."

The first stone carved by Veskal was finished. However, he placed the stone on the side of the table and did not directly throw it at Eleanor like Albert

"... You're great at this" Albert praised

"really? I'm not sure this is perfect enough"

"... Um... Veskal"

"Why?"

"I realized that on the way to Miralius that time, you always tried to force yourself to help"

"..."

Forced oneself...

"I don't want to be left behind by them. L'm... Not wanting to be left out again. But I know they won't stop"

...

Veskal nodded

All he wanted was to be strong. So that everyone could pursue him easily. So that Verdea can live quietly and not like it. So that I don't get burdened myself anymore

Our road is long. And during that path, he could only see us from behind. Push us, and get rid of whatever it is that's bothering us. But he wanted to chase us both

He knows he won't be able to rest because we are moving fast, but he wants to chase us. We were not far from him at all, but it was as if an invisible powerful force was restricting us both to him, making him unable to catch up to us even if he felt capable

When he managed to catch up to us, he just wanted to pull us along to walk slowly. Enjoying that trip with our friends, that's what we should be doing, right?

But he knew that his current abilities were still not enough. There's still a lot of things he has to do. Even though he had told me I should rest, he was sure that it would not be enough

And for now...

"I beg you, Lady Eleanor. Teach me alchemy"

"... Learning magic and sword techniques is still not enough for you?" Eleanor asked

"As Albert said, I just want to push myself. The world is very unfair if we do not have the strength and effort. So, I want to learn a lot of things to protect everyone"

"... You are so burdening yourself, aren't you? Just like those two guys"

"If I don't do it, the two of them won't stop. I want to stop their obsession first"

"... Well, you have a point"

Eleanor got up from her seat, then looked at the stone that Veskal had carved

"But I'm sure you can do this"

"Thank you"

Veskal looked pleased. He could finally learn something new again

"I only have one condition, and that one thing is pretty simple"

"Did? What's?"

Eleanor smiled slightly at Veskal and said, "Whatever happens next, never show remorse. Because it's the best thing for you"

Veskal's eyes immediately sparkled in admiration. He then nodded in response to Eleanor with a smile

Eleanor returned her smile

"Alright Albert. I left lessons for you"

Albert was immediately shocked and put on an unacceptable face. But what can he say. It was his master's order, and he only accepted fate

Veskal also thought that he would be trained directly by Eleanor, but it was unexpected that Albert had to bother

But well, the important thing is that someone intends to teach him

He also brought his chair closer to Albert, making Albert creep in panic

"Please cooperate, Albert's cousin"

Albert took a deep breath in response to Veskal's words

Eleanor herself only smiled at Veskal in awe of his determination

"Well... The two cousins were really not much different" He muttered softly

In the next minute, the door of the room opened again. Verdea entered the room, and her eyes were fixed on Veskal

He seemed to be panting in panic. Veskal wondered why, and he immediately drew closer to Verdea to calm him down

"Vescal!!" Verdea suddenly exclaimed

"Hello? Yea!? Why Verdea?" Veskal responded in surprise

"I seem to have made a big mistake..."

"... Huh uh?"