The language of flowers
The carriage left the rammed earth road and entered a secluded path half-hidden by weeds. After a bumpy ride of about half an hour, a wide valley appeared before them.
In the center of the valley, scattered ruins lie scattered. Weathered stone pillars lean towards the sky, and broken reliefs are quietly eroded by moss and vines. Only a few sections of the remaining high walls stubbornly stand, telling tales of their former grandeur. The afternoon sun pours down on these ruins without any obstruction, only adding to the desolation and loneliness.
The convoy stopped at the edge of the ruins, seemingly intending to take a short rest. Everyone got out of the vehicles one after another, stretching their muscles and joints, which had become stiff from sitting for so long.
Frieren's emerald eyes swept over the desolate landscape, her gaze calm. She habitually raised her staff, and a pale green, vibrant magical glow began to gather at its tip.
"Wait, Lady Frieren!" Ruby's clear voice rang out, tinged with a hint of eager excitement.
Frieren paused, the faint light at the tip of her staff not fading, but she turned her head slightly to look at the red-haired girl running towards her.
Ruby her hands on her hips, a smug smile on her face that said, "I knew you all along."
"Hmph~ Ruby knew it! You want to use Flower Field Magic, don't you? Seeing a desolate place like this makes you want to fill it with flowers. Ruby knows all about Lady Frieren's habits!"
She puffed out her small chest, her tone full of confidence. "Perfect! Ruby's Flower Field Magic has improved a lot lately! How about we have a contest? Half for each of us!" She stretched out her slender finger and drew a virtual line in the air, roughly dividing the ruins in two.
Looking into Ruby's Ruby, expectant eyes, Frieren nodded. "Okay."
"It's a deal then!" Ruby replied cheerfully, raising her staff as well.
The two exchanged a glance, as if a tacit understanding flowed between them. Then, they simultaneously pointed their staffs at the ruins in front of them and whispered in unison:
"Flower Field Magic!"
In an instant, a miracle occurred.
Like an invisible paintbrush dipped in the most vibrant pigments, the desolate ruins, which were originally only gray-white rocks and withered yellow weeds, were visibly covered by a surge of colors.
Countless tender green shoots broke through the soil, quickly sprouted branches and leaves, and then Bloom into thousands of flowers. The rich fragrance of flowers instantly filled the air, replacing the original dusty smell.
The half of the ruins Ruby in charge of was covered in a sea of blooming flowers, creating an elegant and harmonious blue and white hue.
Most of them are Cecilia Flowers with petals shaped like elegant triangular trumpets, pure white and swaying gently in the breeze, like a young girl's pure dream.
Interspersed among them are large swathes of pure blue, tiny-petaled Blue Moon Weed, like fragments of starlight scattered on the ground, creating a charming contrast with the Cecilia Flowers.
On Frieren's side, however, it was a completely different scene. The variety of flowers was dazzling, and the colors were even more vibrant.
Clusters of bright yellow Daisies, elegant tulips, and golden sunflowers chasing the sunlight... and many other flowers of various shapes and sizes, some delicate, some elegant, some strange, together create a vibrant and richly layered picture.
Ruby tiptoe, peering curiously at the flower field on Frieren's side. She blinked her big eyes and asked in a puzzled voice, "Eh? Eh? Why didn't Lady Frieren conjure up Cecilia Flowers this time?" She remembered that Frieren seemed to like this flower quite a bit.
Frieren's tone remained calm, as if stating a perfectly simple fact. "You can definitely conjure up Cecilia Flower, but I haven't conjured up a duplicate."
"I see~" Ruby exclaimed in realization, then pointed to the Blue Moon Weed in her flower field, saying with a mix of shyness and pride, "The other flower Ruby conjured up... is... is the flower from Himmel's hometown... Lady Frieren, what kinds of flowers do you conjure up? I don't recognize so many of them!"
Frieren's gaze swept over the sea of flowers she had created. She tilted her head slightly, her long silver hair cascading over her shoulder. "I've forgotten the names of the flowers. There are too many."
"Ugh... so casual..." Ruby muttered to herself, but couldn't help but examine it more closely. "Daisy... tulip... sunflower... I don't recognize it... I don't recognize this one either... Eh? Is this Mirror Lotus? But why is it... an unopened stamen?"
She noticed that among the sea of flowers in the Frieren garden, there were several clusters of Mirror Lotus that stood out, but they were not in full bloom; instead, their petals were tightly closed, presenting a demure bud form.
Frieren followed her gaze and explained calmly, "I don't know, Lowell said he likes it."
Ruby's face flushed, and she stole a glance at Lowell beside her, lowering her voice, "Really...?"
Lowell simply smiled without saying a word, his gaze gently falling on Frieren.
The other side of the flower field has become lively.
The moment the Flower Field Magic took shape, Heiter cheered and rushed into the sea of flowers like a big child. He nimbly picked the golden sunflowers and quickly wove them into an enormous sunflower wreath that could almost cover his entire head. Then, laughing heartily, with an agility that was completely out of character for a monk, he slammed it onto Eisen's head.
Eisen's thick beard and serious face looked particularly comical against the backdrop of this whimsical flower wreath.
However, this usually composed dwarf warrior was not angry at the moment. Instead, he seemed to be infected by the joyful atmosphere and laughed loudly. He even awkwardly spun around several times, showing off his new headdress like a vain child. Then, he and Heiter chased and played around in the flower bushes like children, one in front of the other, laughing loudly.
Linié watched this scene quietly, her deep blue pupils blinking, then she reached out and gently patted Lupa's shoulder beside her.
Lupa was grinning foolishly at Heiter and Eisen when Linié patted her on the shoulder. "Hmm?" she exclaimed and turned her head away.
Linié didn't speak, but simply gestured with her eyes to the two figures running through the flowers.
Lupa immediately understood, flicked her pink ponytail, and flashed a bright smile, "Okay! Let's go too!" She ran into the sea of flowers first, with Linié following closely behind.
Lupa, like a cheerful little wolf, darted through the flowers, while Linié, though still expressionless, had her pink hair fluttering among the blossoms, her steps light, and she made soft, panting breaths as she tried to keep up with Lupa's pace.
Ruby looked at Eisen and Heiter, outwardly crossing her arms and pursing her lips in a disgusted expression. "Hmph! An old man and a drunken monk who's almost an old man, playing this game, how disgusting." But out of the corner of her eye, she kept glancing at Himmel beside her.
Himmel was squatting on the ground, his long, slender fingers deftly weaving. He selected a few of the whitest, fullest Cecilia Flowers, and soon, an exquisite wreath took shape in his hands. He stood up, walked to Ruby, and gently placed the wreath on her head.
"It looks beautiful." Himmel's voice was gentle, and her blue eyes were filled with laughter.
Ruby's face turned even redder, her hands twisting unconsciously behind her back, her heart pounding like a drum.
She lowered her head and muttered softly, "Eh... um... of course! Ruby is the prettiest!" She hesitated for a moment, then took out a wreath made of Blue Moon Weed that she had prepared beforehand from behind her back.
"Hey, wait a minute, Ruby, that won't do," Himmel said with a smile, stopping her.
"Huh? Why... why..." Ruby.
"The flower language of the Blue Moon Weed is forgiveness, pardon, and hopeless love..." Himmel smiled and patted Ruby's head. "Did this hero do something bad to make Ruby dislike him?"
"Oh no!? No, no!" Ruby panicked. She seemed to want to tear the Blue Moon Weed wreath in her hand, but after thinking about it, she couldn't bear to, and simply placed it gently in the flower bushes beside her.
"Wait... wait a minute!" Her hands moved so fast they almost left afterimages; it was as if she had used some kind of speed-up magic. In no time, a Cecilia Flower appeared in her hands. "This... this is it!"
Because she wasn't tall enough, she instinctively tried to use her Flight Magic to levitate, but Himmel smiled and lowered his head to make it easier for her. Ruby carefully placed the wreath in his blue hair.
"I'm really looking forward to the flower wreath you'll knit for me, Ruby."
"I... you... what are you expecting?!" Ruby's face was flushed red. "I just made one up on the spot... wait, I'm going to make one for Lady Frieren too!"
Himmel sighed, feigning sadness, "Really? How sad. I thought Lady Ruby was only making this Ruby for this handsome hero."
"Um... um... no way..." Ruby couldn't stand the atmosphere any longer. She stomped her foot, turned around, and ran away like a frightened little red bird, disappearing into the depths of the flower field.
Frieren watched quietly, then bent down and picked a few budding Mirror Lotus. Her fingers were not as nimble as Himmel's, but her movements were steady, and she wove a wreath.
She walked up to Lowell and handed him the wreath. "Here, remember you said you liked this kind of flower, and you've made it for me before."
Lowell looked at the wreath made of unopened Mirror Lotus before him, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile.
He lowered his head, letting Frieren gently place the ornament on his head. "Okay, Frieren."
At the same time, he took out a wreath made of blooming Mirror Lotus that he had already woven from behind him and carefully placed it on Frieren's silver hair. Frieren touched the wreath, her face expressionless.
Just then, Ruby ran over, her blush still fresh, holding a wreath of pink carnations. "For Lady Frieren... Huh? You already have one?"
She saw the delicate flower wreath on Frieren's head and pouted slightly, but when she realized it was Mirror Lotus, and a blooming Mirror Lotus, a sly, slightly teasing smile immediately spread across her face, and she drawled, "Oh~--"
Her eyes darted around, and her fingers moved swiftly, quickly unraveling and re-weaving the carnation wreath in her hand into a huge, slightly exaggerated one that could be worn around the neck. Without a word, she slipped it around Frieren's neck. "This is for Lady Frieren too!"
Frieren looked down at the heavy carnation wreath that had appeared around her neck, then gently touched the blooming Mirror Lotus wreath on her head. Her emerald eyes blinked, and she remained silent, seemingly accepting this warm "double gift."
In the distance, Lupa and Linié, seemingly tired from their chase, lay down side by side on a small clearing in the flowerbed. Linié silently sat up and, Imitation what she had seen earlier, wove a slightly clumsy but complete wreath of lilies, which she then handed to Lupa.
Lupa paused for a moment, then happily took the wreath and put it on. She then braided a vibrant little Daisy wreath and placed it on Linié's head. Linié touched the wreath on her head and said in a steady voice, "It looks beautiful."
The setting sun cast its last rays upon the flower valley. People sat or lay among the flowers, their bodies enveloped in soft petals and green grass, gently embraced by the vibrant sea of blossoms and their rich fragrance.
Frieren was even pushed around twice on the flower field by the Ruby, letting out a few soft "ah ah~" sounds that were different from usual, with a hint of helplessness and a touch of novelty, and a few petals stuck to her silver hair.
Further away, Solitär stood quietly at the edge of the flower field, her pale green eyes observing everything. She looked at the flower wreaths worn by everyone and murmured to herself in a voice only she could hear, "Should I find someone to wear one...?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Linié appeared in front of her without her noticing, holding a wreath made of pure white lilies, similar to the one she had given Lupa.
Linié raised her head, her deep blue eyes looking at Solitär, and said in her flat voice, "Linié remembers, you can't... 'isolate'? I don't quite understand, but, here you go." With that, she stood on tiptoe and placed the flower wreath on Solitär's head.
Solitaire paused slightly, her fingertips touching the soft petals on her head. She watched Linié turn and run away, then touched the lily wreath on her head again, falling into a brief silence.
The setting sun cast its golden rays across the entire flower valley, gilding this magnificent sea of flowers, born of magic, with a warm glow.
The ruins stand silently amidst the sea of flowers. The noise gradually subsides, leaving only the sound of the wind and the faint fragrance of flowers, enveloping this ancient land briefly soothed by kindness and vitality.
The flower language of Cecilia Flower is: pure love.