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Somewhere in the East Central Plaza
of Floyent Kingdom; the east side botanical garden
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Multiple carriages arrived today unexpectedly. A lot of nobles are visiting the botanical garden, but instead of watching and learning about plants, all of them are swarming at the front gate as if they were waiting for someone to arrive.
"Master Tsisgaridzen, I'm done loosening the soil in the left garden."
I look back at the person who called me, it was my apprentice; Mr. Lieven, a bachelor who was tall and handsome that graduated in horticulture and came here to work at the East Botanical Garden. That was 1 year ago when I accepted him as my apprentice… 'He's already well-versed in plants and their management and I don't have anything to teach him anymore. That is why I don't understand why he's still littering here and not asking for a transfer to the greenhouse.'
"Great, thanks for your hard work, Lieb."
"…. There's a lot of nobles today, master."
"Right, it is suspicious for nobles to come and swarm here today. This isn't even the Central Garden"
"…. Do you want me to use force to make them leave?" Lieb said as he grasps his rake menacingly.
"You're a noble as well, so act like one."
"—But,"
"No buts. Those nobles came here to witness something, and that something will soon come. Like I always told you, it would be better to wait for a plant to grow naturally rather than using magic. Because something that grows naturally bears a unique trait and complete structure, while something that grows with the help of mana could only produce replicated mana. You do understand what I meant right?"
"Yes, master"
I closed my book and stood up.
"Let us come and wait for the main guest"
Lieb follows as I stride to the front gate.
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As we arrived at the front gate, we could hear the nobles whispering.
"Is it true that they would come today?"
"Yes, the crowds here are enough evidence that the heir and the prince and princess of the Welsh dukedom would be coming here"
"It's a great opportunity to make connections to the duke"
"Right, also I heard that the heir is acting weird these days"
"Oh, yes that rumor"
…
"I see, so the lords and the lady of the Welsh are coming here today," Master said.
"Apparently, from what the rumors are saying"
"If that so…"
Master walks in the middle and uses her magic to create a tall wall; a wall like vines with poisonous thorns.
"What is going on!"
"Kya!"
The nobles run as the vines create an empty path in the middle to the door, caging the nobles on both sides.
"Who do you think you are!?"
Master lightens up the place with flowers. "I am the sage here in the east botanical garden. As the sage, I should take care of the safety of the lords and lady of the Welsh. Un-invited guests who will try to approach the children of the moon will receive punishment!"
Everyone stays quiet.
The flower surrounding the master made her more beautiful.
"Lieb, come here. The Welsh household has come" She called.
As I approach her, a carriage with the crest of one of the well-known dukes in the kingdom arrives.
A moon crest symbolizes the bearer of the last light.
The knights opened up the door and escorted the lady of the Welsh to come out but….
"Where're the lords?" everyone asked.
The lady approached us. "Sorry for suddenly arriving without a proper appointment, but if it's alright, my brothers and I would love to view and learn about plants"
The sage smiled. "Of course, but please excuse us for asking, where's the lords?"
The lady smiled and the sky turned darker than night. Everyone is panicked when suddenly two people flying from the sky arrive at the door.
"Pardon us"
Heavy pressure came swirling in the place as if the atmosphere was gone causing all the nobles to faint. The plants are drying like their nutrients are getting sucked.
"Big brother! Keep your aura quiet or the plants will die!" The lady pouts. The Tall guy came near her and patted her head.
"My bad."
The sky returns to its normal state and the atmosphere is breathable again.
"Excuse us" the heir of the Welsh smiled.
"Please follow me, I'll show you the way" Master bowed so I bowed as well.
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10 minutes before the arrival
in the east botanical garden
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"Brother teach me."
"Teach you what?"
"Brother is an expert in using the magic of the moon so if it's alright, please teach me how to properly use mine!"
I could see the determination in his eyes.
"What should I teach you?"
"Anything brother!"
I glanced outside at the blue sky.
"Hmm… do you know how to fly?"
Everybody stays quiet.
"Eh—fly brother? Welsh can't fly." Both Niven and Melissa said.
"Eh? We can't?"
"Yes, we can't" Niven with a strong reply.
"What, moon children can fly" I disagree with them.
"How? Oh, we can if we have wings" Melissa said as she moved her hands like she was flying.
"Wings?"
"Yes, I heard from the other kingdom that they use magic to create wings" Niven brushes off Melissa's dress.
'What… I clearly remember in the past that moon users could fly. I even fought side by side with him as he flew so high in the darkness…. Wait! — darkness'
"Oh."
"Hm?" Both of them look back at me.
"Yes, we can, If it's dark"
"Dark?"
I can see the confusion on their faces. By snapping my fingers, the sky above the carriage turns dark. But even though something suddenly happened, the knights of Welsh are still calm.
'As expected of the Moon knights, very well trained'
I turn back to Niven. "Come, Niven, I'll teach you how to fly."
I opened the carriage door and it stopped. Niven and I stepped outside.
"How about me???" Melissa pouted.
I patted her head carefully.
"Niven will soon teach you when we are at home and when you are wearing a proper dress"
"Okay!" she smiled. "Take care! Meet you at the garden" she replied as I closed the carriage door.
"Lord will you be alright?" knight Vaile asked.
I smiled at him
"Yes, pls take care of my little sister until we're back"
"YES, YOUNG MASTER!"
The knights and the carriage continue to move.
Niven and I were left in the middle of the road.
"But brother… how do we fly?"
'It's funny enough how he is confused but still decides to follow me'
"See the darkness? The darkness is the friend of the moon. I need you to feel the darkness, the overflowing mana poured by the darkness to you, and then create an elemental circle sticking on your shoes that is pointing upside down."
"Upside down? Why?"
"When you activated the elemental circle, it would pour out mana shared by the darkness to you. Once the mana leaks, I want you to imagine that you are lighter than a feather and you better not get scared of heights."
"Why?" Niven asked while he created a magic circle.
"Once you felt scared your body would feel heavy and you would fall. Also, when you land, just slowly stop the leaking mana, don't suddenly stop it especially if you're in high places, it's dangerous"
"Oh— Okay, I understand. But where did you learn this brother? From father?" Niven asked.
His question caught me off guard. It triggers a scene in my memories that I hope will stay forever with me.
*The darkness in the forest swallows us, as we walk to the path*
[ Your Highness, I didn't expect them to team us up despite our bad relationship…]
*I sigh as I look back at him*
[ As far as I'm concerned right now, I only need to end the war not to start a fight again with you]
[ Pfft— Fine. I'll behave today, after all, tonight is my time to show off.]
*He suddenly floats in the air, spinning and… showing off*
[ Flying?]
[ Why are you jealous?]
[ No. I don't have the right to be jealous of my people.]
[ Yeah-yeah, that princely role you have. Not going to lie but, if I were you, I'd quit already. Handling the problems of other people is such a pain in the ass.]
[ I can't this is my role and no one can replace me.]
[ Hmph! —well because I pity you right now, I'll teach you how to fly! But don't you dare tell this to anyone or the wind dukedom would come and beat the shit out of me!]
*I laughed*
[ Alright, I swear in the name of Austyn.]
*He smirked*
[ Great! Then we moon children can only fly when it's dark, this is our forte, and you—the sun child should only fly in the morning. Don't try taking my time to show off you got that!]
[Yes, I understand.]
[Great, well then. The only thing you need to do….]
"Brother?????" Niven suddenly touched my shoulders. I immediately return to my senses.
"Ah— from books, I learned it from books"
"Oh…okay," Niven said as he tried to float.
'Damn I need to get a hold of myself and stop reminiscing for minutes… still, he was the prettiest as he soars the sky peacefully… you will be forever in my heart comrade.'
"WOAH BROTHER, I DID IT!" Niven shouts as he barely floats into the air
"You still got to practice more—" I float higher than him "—before you could reach me" I followed.
Niven laughs as he follows me floating in the sky.
"Although I knew no one can beat brother, I won't give up!" He replied.
"Right… Well then, we should not make Melissa wait"
"Okay!"
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East side botanical garden
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"Please forgive us, lords and ladies, we failed to assess the situation as we almost allowed them to approach you," Master said as she bowed.
I could only bow with her.
'It's not my master fault… to be exact it's the Welsh fault for not sending a letter in advance that they would be arriving today… but as if these high nobles would confess that...'
"Please raise your head. You people are nobles too, and it's our fault for not sending a letter asking for an appointment. Please do excuse us" The heir of Welsh replied.
'H-he… I can't believe it. A high noble confesses his fault?!'
"Is there something wrong?" He glanced at me.
Master suddenly hit me on my shoulder.
"It's nothing my lord, my apprentice here can't hide his expression well so if he offended you, please do excuse him, he didn't mean it," Master said as she bowed again
"Ah! Master, please don't! It's my fault, I should be the one t—"
"Alright, relax" The heir of Welsh holds both my master and me on our shoulders. "Relax, we are here to have fun. You guys aren't an exception." He followed.
We walked and the master explained the different kinds of plants.
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Melissa enjoys asking the sage about different kinds of plants and flowers, but Niven can only follow her, watching and protecting her.
"Your master is surprisingly good"
The apprentice glances at me. "Yes, she is" he looked back at his master and smiled.
'Hoh…'
"I like her" I bluntly said.
The apprentice was surprised that he did a 180 turn just to face me. "You what?"
"You heard it right"
"You can't"
"And why that?"
He glanced back to his master. "BECAUSE! —because she's my master"
I sighed. "Know what, you're so obvious that I don't even need to lie much"
"You're just lying?"
"Yeah, I am— obviously. If you like her, why not just confess?"
"It's not that easy…"
"And why's that again"
He stays quiet.
I tapped his shoulders. "Listen here, brother. Your master is a sage, beautiful and intellectual —I could guess that you are too but instead of asking for a promotion, you keep sticking your butt around here to be with her— am I right?"
"…right"
"See! Why are you hesitating then?"
"I can't… master poured all her life into her studies, if I confess, I'm just gonna hold her back"
"You gonna what?"
"Hold her back"
"Huh? …why"
'I'm super confused. How can a simple and sincere confession hold back a person… oh maybe he means he's going to distract his master from studies… hmm makes sense'
He stared back at me. "Why? Well, if I confess, we would be marrying and we'll be having children and children aren't easy to raise and some of my master magic would be transferred to the child's body and thus master and I can't focus on our job and I would be—"
"PFFT—"
"Why are you laughing?"
"HAHAHA— I'm sorry. I can't HAHAHA"
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"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
A laugh echoed here in the garden. It was the heir of the Welsh laughing his heart out pointing at Lieb.
"What's with them?" I asked unconsciously
"Maybe they're talking about something fun" Lady Melissa replied.
"It's been a while since big brother laughed as that," Lord Niven said.
Lady Melissa nodded in agreement, and then both of them dragged me to the other side of the garden
'… what are they talking about though….'
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The heir of the Welsh won't stop laughing
'I didn't expect that the day would come that I'll be witnessing one of the respected lords of this land to laugh in front of me…. No laugh at me'
"Seriously what's funny?"
"Ah sorry Haha, I'm just— you know *ehem. I didn't expect what you said. I thought when you said that you'll hold her back, you meant distracting her from her studies because she's gonna think about how to reply to you… but I didn't expect you to think too far"
"Why, that's just what to expect after confessing though"
"Ah no, you should think about those things if she accepts your confession… oh, I see I understand, you have an innocent side of you huh, Haha"
"Innocent what!?"
"Nothing. You're intellectual but you lacked the love part"
"…. How about you heir, do you like someone?"
"…Me…"
"Yes you"
"None"
"Eh… like really no one's come to mind"
"Yes. I guess I'm super busy to think of love or so"
"Hmmmm…. That's acceptable. Nobles like you are focusing on how to take care of your fathers' positions after all"
After what I said, the heir of the Welsh looked at the sky with a sad expression.
"Did I say something wrong?"
He glanced at me "No, you didn't. You're right. Heirs like me— we are supposed to take care of our father's position… but sometimes there are situations that we failed to do so" He walked, following master and his little sister and brother.
'Failed?'
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After hours of viewing and walking around the garden, the Moon children decided to go visit the east town.
"It's our honor to be able to serve the Welsh household" Master bowed.
"We also had fun!" Lady Melissa said.
All of us smiled. Lady Melissa and lord niven enter the carriage assisted by the master.
"You" the Heir of the Welsh calls for me.
"Yes?"
"You better confess or lose the game" He smiled.
I smiled back at him "I know"
He asked for a shake hand. I reached for it.
"Invite me to the Wedding, I'll be the Godfather," The heir said laugh
"Haha, I will"
The heir rides the carriage. All of them wave to us, as they move away.
Slowly they're gone from our view.
"What did you tell the Heir of Welsh earlier? He even laughed non-stop" Master asked.
I glanced at her. 'She's still beautiful whatever situation she's in'
"Hm… not telling! It's a man-to-man talk" I said as I walked inside.
"A what?"
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"Please stop here," Big brother Lewis said. The carriage driven by Roderic stopped.
"Is there something wrong brother?" Melissa asked.
"No nothing, brother just remembered that I still need to go somewhere. Is it alright for you two to go home first without me?"
I smiled. "Of course!"
"To be able to have fun viewing flowers with my brothers is enough! Brother Niven would teach me how to fly too! Please take care, big brother!" Melissa said. I nodded in agreement.
Big brother Lewis patted our heads.
"My little siblings are mature now. I promise to come home early." Big bro Lewis said as he stepped out of the carriage.
"Vaile, take care of my siblings."
"We will do our best to make sure they're safe!" Vaile replied.
"And Roderic *big brother glanced at his watch. —come pick me up around 4 at the central plaza"
"Yes, sir Lewis!"
Big brother waived goodbye and we looked at him slowly disappearing from afar.
"Big brother is super cool!" Melissa said
"How about me?" I pointed at myself.
She chuckles "Of course brother Niven too!" Melissa hugged me so I hugged her back.
'Big bro lewis… I won't disappoint you
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'Nobles like you are focusing on taking care of your fathers' positions after all.' The apprentice's words were engraved directly on my mind. His words unexpectedly remind me of things in the past.
[ You are the crown prince! Stop bringing shame to the royal family! ]
[ Aren't you a failure, why can't you just drop dead?! ]
[You are so annoying! You even failed that simple test! Just thinking of you governing the kingdom scares me to death! ]
[ A failure like you would never be a king! ]
[ You've been doing your best honey, don't be sad… sooner or later, your father will open his eyes and realize that you are this kingdom's only Sun. ]
[ Don't listen to them, you are the chosen heir, the one who would take over the crown, it is your destiny, my child. ]
[ I never had a son! ]
"Mother…"
"AH! —Get out of the way!" A voice came from above.
It was a woman falling from the sky straight to me.
"MOVE!!"
"Wa- what!"