"Autumn, 21st Day, Solstice
Today I told my group-mates that I wanted to grow flowers. Everyone except Brolim laughed at me. They're being so hateful. Jenfyr even told the other groups, and now Headmaster Craight wants to speak to me after classes.
🌱 ✿
Autumn, 30th Day, Winter's Eve
Today Headmaster Craight gave me a book on horticulture. He says that there haven't been any mages concentrating on something like that because plants grow everywhere. That's so short sighted. There are so many plants that aren't potent enough for the best spells. I think that I can cultivate proper materials with enough hard work.
🌱✿
Winter, 12th Day
Brolim has promised to help me build a greenhouse. He says that he will make it the most magnificent one in the world. I didn't laugh. It's good to have dreams. Plus, Brolim is very cute.
🌱✿
Spring, 1st Day
Jenfyr said that someone stole one of the Headmaster's Keys. I heard the commotion a few days ago, but I didn't think it was that serious. Headmaster Craight is going to have an assembly tomorrow to ask if anyone wants to confess, but I don't think it was one of us.
🌱✿
Spring, 20th Day
One of the gardeners gave me a plot of land in an untended garden and some daisy seeds. It's not too late to plant them. Having gone over my books, I think I will try to infuse some light energy in them before planting and see what happens. I'm also a bit worried; when I told Brolim about my plot, he said that it was probably due to a decrease in students applying. What if no one comes one year? How will I be a proper alumna to give guidance then?
🌱✿
Summer, 4th Day
My daisies have started to sprout! The stems aren't the right shade of green but instead a sort of strange blue-green like deep water. It's very strange. I can't wait until they bloom. Jenfyr gave me some nightshade seeds. She said that while they're poisonous, if used correctly they can also be medicinal. When I asked the healers, they agreed with her. I will mark off a bit of land at the corner and plant them there. No one could say when I should plant them, the gardeners included so perhaps it's now?
🌱✿
Summer, 10th Day
My daisies have spots! Yellow spots! Like some sort of cat beast! Still, the spots are pretty and don't affect the overall look. I plucked one, and it definitely had a very, very weak bit of light energy in it. Headmaster Craight looked very thoughtful when I gave it to him and remarked that I might graduate a bit earlier than usual."
*****
Lorenz paused and looked up. His mind raced. The little journal didn't have dates, but then again, it was meant for the author themself to peruse over a later date, and they'd already know when the dates occurred.
"Mottled daisies? Is she talking about mottled daisies?" Lorenz muttered, turning to his status screen.
He pressed the little button for the forums and a glowing screen popped open in front of his eyes. Lorenz scanned the opening posts and then inputted 'mottled daisies' in the search bar, calling up seven to eight posts of varying importance.
Several of the posts were talking about Megan's Quest and where to find the flowers. Lorenz was surprised to find out that it unlocked the MP stat. He'd thought it was a simple fetch quest.
One of the posts near the bottom was a botany compilation, showing pictures of different flowers. It showed a tiny 'pin' symbol in one corner, showing that it was a permanent post somewhere. On the pictures of mottled daisies, it showed three variations: one white with blue spots, one white with red spots and one white with glowing yellow spots which was marked as the rarest.
Lorenz felt stifled as if he was trying to breathe through water. He glanced at the journal sitting on the table, swallowing. Then he looked around the library at the plethora of books.
'She's the one who grew them? Did she grow all of them?' Lorenz asked himself, trying to calm himself.
He closed the status screen, opening the journal again. He failed to notice the three glowing yellow dots on his quest tab that slowly faded away as the screen disappeared.
*****
"Spring, Day 15
Today Brolim promised to be mine forever. It was so surprising! He has so many admirers, and he chose me! I'm always to my elbows in dirt, and sometimes it's even in my hair! The other girls disdain me for growing plants, but Jenfyr says to ignore them because they're just jealous I'm creating a new branch. Well, Jenfyr is also creating a new branch with her horses, so perhaps she's right?
🌱✿
Summer, Day 24
Jenfyr told me that someone broke into Hedgewind Academy and murdered their herbology teacher. At first, I merely thought it was tragic until I overheard some gardeners murmuring that he held a Key. Now I wonder if the other Keybearers are okay? Oh, well! Brolim also said that he's going to talk to his family about a betrothal. I'm still a little shocked.
🌱✿
Autumn, Day 15
Today Brolim's family sent over a familial crest to be embroidered on my robes. I didn't think it was real at first. My father has already agreed, but that's probably because he's so busy deciphering the Olkat ruins they found in East Bolins. The servants that Mom sent have already started on the embroidery. Brolim says that it might take too long so he's going to invent a machine to do that for me. I told him not to waste the research time on something so trivial but he just laughed.
🌱✿
Winter, Day 20
After much discussion, the Headmaster and the Council of Teachers have decided that I can graduate. They're going to send the results of the nightshade, the daisies and the pansies to the Greater Council and possibly even to the Conclave to see if I truly have created a new branch. While exciting, it's also very scary. Brolim says that he will protect me and not to worry. Silly Brolim.
🌱✿
Summer, Day 10
Brolim took me to a large clearing and announced that he's building my greenhouse there. It's truly too large for a greenhouse, but I'm letting him have his way. We'll see what happens next. I'm busy with this year's crop anyways. So many people have been asking for seeds, and I'm thinking of a new flower though I haven't figured out how to make it work. Wouldn't a flower that looks like it's made of stone be interesting?
🌱✿
Winter, Day 1
Someone attacked the Greater Council and shattered the Speaker's Throne! There was a Key hidden there! What a shocking secret! Jenfyr came to my parents' house and told me that there's a rumor that someone is trying to open the Crossroads, but surely it's just a strange rumor based on a fairy tale? Jenfyr always hears so much because people gossip while buying horses.
🌱✿
Spring, Day 4
I caught a thief! They were trying to make off with an entire plat of freshly planted daisies. They didn't even have a spatial inventory or storage device. I didn't think they were worth stealing, but obviously I was wrong. The thief said that someone has come up with a way to use them to make light globes instead of using fairy dust. Well, I guess that is a good thing for the fairies. Perhaps they can stop the poachers now.
🌱✿
Summer, Day 20
Today Brolim brought me to look at the greenhouse. I was speechless. He really wanted to know how much land I needed to grow special plants year round, but the size is far beyond my thoughts. It looks like a castle more than a greenhouse, but it's still beautiful. He promises that it will be done before the spring plantings. I told him a moderate size, which he has now decided to make into a six-sided solarium and went back to my experiment. The stone flowers are so interesting!
🌱✿
Winter, Day 15
Today is a dark day. Jenfyr has fled to the Wildlands with her horses. Someone accused her of being a spy for the Crossroads which is ridiculous. Before she left, she pressed an envelope into my hands, saying she could no longer hold it. When she left, I opened the envelope and was recognized by the Key of Growth. What do I tell Brolim? Do I tell Brolim? There's only five gems lit on the Key and the other twenty are dark. Even I've paid enough attention in history class to know that's bad. I shall bury it in a special place in secret. It's too dangerous to keep at hand.
✿
Spring, Day 12
Today Brolim and I were finally married. He showed off my greenhouse to our families and friends who were a bit speechless. Even I'm speechless at it. It's an actual castle made out of several different kinds of glass. We're not going to live there, truly, but it makes for the perfect workshop and Library.
🌱✿
Summer, Day 20
My greenhouse needs workers who aren't mages or free folk. I have had to stop too many small pilferages lately. Who knew that everyone loved flowers so much? Brolim has volunteered to make me some golems, but he's so busy developing his manufacturing machines that I can't bother him with that.
🌱✿
Autumn, Day 10
It's official! I'm pregnant. Now I can't put off my project any longer. By the time Spring comes, I won't be able to plant my flowers myself. I only have three apprentices left after the initial ten; the rest proved disloyal or dishonest. Brolim has brought me some books on golem making, but there's a lack I can't quite put my finger on. I will research further.
🌱✿
Winter, Day 20
One of my apprentices, Keim, has made a worthy suggestion. Of course he then ruined it by saying that I should stay off my feet more, but he's forgiven. I've made contact with a dryad who has taken my note to the Queen of the Green. Perhaps she'll verify my thoughts.
🌱✿
Spring, Day 5
The Queen of the Green replied and enclosed Ent seeds in her reply. She said that if I mix them with my idea, then a new form will be created that could be the helpers I'm looking for. I was hesitant to accept, but the dryad who delivered the seeds said that the Queen was very insistent that I use them. Then she explained. While I'm not sure it's the right thing to do, it's necessary. I separated them into five parts and planted them.
🌱✿
Summer, Day 5
The first of the Florae have gained sentience. It was fascinating to watch them grow, even more than watching my stomach swell. Keim and the other apprentices are fascinated by them. Crocus follows Keim around all the time, trying to hold the water cans and hoes. Rose follows me while the other three bother the other two apprentices. They are truly adorable.
🌱✿
Summer, Day 20
My water broke this morning. The baby came so fast. I had always heard that it took hours upon hours and so much pain, but for me, it wasn't so. Brolim arrived just as she drew her first breath. We've agreed to name her Lydia after Brolim's great-grandmother who was a fine spatial mage. Hopefully she'll inherit one of our talents.
🌱✿
Autumn, Day 15
I told Brolim that the Florae have been trying to use the garden tools with much difficulty. Brolim made that happy noise he makes and promised me tools that they could use. Then he asked if they could use MP which I think they can. Now he's gone off to his workshop to fiddle around."
*****
Lorenz closed the journal and took a deep breath. Then he placed it back in the folio. Glancing at the high windows, he could see a sliver of pink piercing the clouds outside. He gave a little chuckle.
He'd read the entire night away. Lorenz found the journal very interesting. It provided so many tantalizing things about subjects he'd never heard of before. What was this Conclave she'd mentioned or even the Keys that someone was stealing?
He contemplated sticking the folio back in the book it had been hidden in. Lorenz wasn't sure if the owner had meant to put it here in the library.
"Are you still reading?" Dahlia Crocus asked in surprise as she entered the library. She'd changed the pure white dress she'd been wearing for one of a pale blue that emphasized the faint bluish tint of her petals.
"I found an interesting history book," Lorenz explained. He picked up the folio with hesitation. "Can I ask－?"
"－Of course you can borrow it," Dahlia Crocus interrupted with a bright smile. "This is a library, and books were meant to be read." She glanced upwards at the windows. "Come. I was sent to bring you to breakfast. The counterattack will occur soon."
"Um, okay," Lorenz said, stowing the folio in his inventory,
He made a mental note to return it to her after breakfast.