By the distance, Inna could make out a rectangular shape that seemed to protrude from the ground.
As they grew closer, the form of the rectangular shape began to look more and more familiar.
"R-Raghnall?!"
Inna gasped out as she hurriedly made her way to him. Raghnall looked like he was peacefully sleeping on top of a rectangular stone that looked to be a makeshift bed. At first glance, Inna thought he was dead because he looked too pale but as she grew closer to him, she was able to see the minute rise and fall of his chest that showed his even breaths.
She was able to only walk a few meters ahead before a hand harshly grabbed her arm, making her unable to take a step further.
"Inna! You can't go near him right now!"
Surprised by his angry tone, Inna looked at Solomon with wide-eyes as she tried to calm her frantic heart.
"B-but… b-but h-he's…"
Solomon fervently shook his head as he pulled her back to his side.
"Look."
He said as he gestured towards the area around Raghnall. Prying her eyes away from his pitiful form, Inna finally realized the situation of the plants around him.
Nearly every plant at a certain radius was wilted while some were still in the process of wilting. In a few seconds, the flowers bloomed once again, and in a blink, they wilted. They continued this infinite cycle of blooming and wilting, making Inna feel like the ground before her was pulsing like a beating heart.
She also noticed that Raghnall was surrounded by thin vines that protruded from the ground. It covered his whole body and was near invisible if not for the light they emit. Their glow was pulsatingly in rhythm with the cycle of life done by the flowers as though they are all in sync.
"You can't go near him. Not yet. Wait until the roses have bloomed before entering."
Inna looked at him curiously as her eyes silent questioned him. Solomon already knew, just by one look from her, that he wanted her to explain everything. And so, with a sigh, he did but only the ones he felt like explaining.
"The roses will signify that the place is safe to cross… you've seen the numerous flowers that filled this place, right? Well, the vines of the roses here all attach to each flower. These flowers as I've said are capable of emitting large amounts of the purest form of Mana. But they cannot store this for long. The flower would soon go over its limit and thus dies immediately from mana overload. And so, to prevent that, the Rose constantly takes away the excess Mana from it just enough for it to constantly bloom. This excess Mana flows from the Rose's vines towards its bud, and once full, they bloom. And I predict that it'll be blooming in a few moment's time. So, in the meantime, why don't we sit and wait while enjoying the scenery, hm?"
Solomon didn't wait for Inna's reply as he reached into his pouch to bring out two chairs. After setting the chairs up, he ushered her to sit before following suit.
Inna had multiple questions but she didn't know where to start asking. And so, looking at the flowers around them, she asked whatever question that popped frequently in her mind.
"Your wife made all of this? She's amazing. It must've taken a lot of effort, huh."
For once since the time they left the room, Solomon finally showed a genuine bright smile.
"Yes, she is amazing, of course. I'd expect no less from the wife of someone like me."
He had his nose turned up in pride as he began to share stories without Inna's prompting. Inna rolled her eyes but she still listened to his stories with a small smile.
"Isn't she quite a unique woman? Although born from a prestigious family, she went and chose to wed an adopted noble instead. And--"
Inna's ears perked up at his statement.
"Wait, wait, wait… adopted noble? Was that… you? Or… are you the second husband?"
Solomon gave her a look.
"Wha--yes, of course, it's me! I'm my wife's only man!"
Inna looked at him in a new light as she urged him to continue.
"Yes, yes, I was originally an orphan, hence I knew about those Losers because I often visit the orphanage. You remember them, right? Those adventurers that tricked you… Anyways, let's stop talking about me… And let me brag about my beautiful and strong wife."
Inna giggled at lightly at his apparent show of affection. She could really tell how much he loved his wife because the mere mention of her made his eyes twinkle with joy.
He really doesn't hold back when it comes to his wife. And so, Inna decided to clamp her mouth shut and let Solomon brag about her to his heart's content.
"I told you she made all this, right? She's a great researcher. Much more than I could ever hope to be. Although she had trouble with physical activities like Combat, her magic abilities made up for it as well as her vast knowledge. Anything she found different, she would study it for no end. And she would usually write about her findings during her spare time. In fact, most of the books in the library I had back in the Sun Breeze Manor were made by her."
"And truthfully, I made the academy for her. She was a great teacher. The greatest I could ever find. Any student taught by her would astronomically improve in just a few days. Back when the academy was just consisting of a small unused room in our manor, she only taught orphans. But in just a few years, these orphans began to be regarded as geniuses. Salvia's talent for teaching began to spread throughout the lands. And those students who wanted to be geniuses began to swarm in our manor to be taught. And thus, the academy was born."
Solomon closed his eyes as he smiled wistfully.
"This academy… It wasn't originally an academy for the geniuses. It was an academy to develop geniuses. Salvia wanted every to realize that talent wasn't the only thing needed in the word to create a genius. It was the determination to work hard, and easy access to knowledge. She was a great teacher through and through."
"But a special blessing came into our lives, the birth of our son, and I knew that having the academy as it is wouldn't bring in much money."