It was the start of an in-between season, not quite spring, not quite summer.
Cutting through the cool, dry air, I flew among the broad-leaved trees of a forest. The forest seemed to be quite expansive; I'd been making my way through for some time now, but there was no end in sight.
As I wove my broom right and left to dodge the trees overhanging the extremely narrow path, the pesky branches kept rubbing against me.
I couldn't see the sky from where I was. Far off in the distance, I could just barely make out something sparkling on the other side of the mesh of green. The trees were too overgrown for me to see anything more.
"…Whoopsie."
Because I had been looking up instead of ahead, a tree branch had snatched my pointy hat. I stopped, went back, retrieved it, and then was on my way through the cramped forest again.
These woods are so dense. I should've just flown over them, I thought regretfully, but it was already too late. I had come far enough that doubling back now would take too much time. I could try to force my way up and out, but I had a feeling my hat wouldn't be the only casualty.
Somehow, it felt like I was always running late these days. As for whose fault that was, it was…well, completely mine, but so what? I kept on flying, mentally complaining to no one in particular.
I don't know how far it was, but after a while, the path suddenly opened up.
"Whoa…," I murmured.
There in the clearing was a field of flowers.
As I approached, I saw flowers of red, blue, yellow, and other hues spread out below me. Every one of them was standing tall and proud, reaching for the sun. When the breeze from my broom brushed past the blossoms, petals scattered into the wind along with
a refreshing aroma.
The fragrance, sweet enough to cleanse the depths of my soul, wafted up as the vibrantly colored blossoms danced in the breeze.
Holding my hat with one hand so it wouldn't fly off, I slowed my broom.
Here was a whole other world in the middle of the forest. My heart was captivated.
"…Oh my."
Among the field of vivid colors, I saw a human form.
I wonder if that's the caretaker of this place? I turned my broom in that direction.
"Um, excuse me?"
When I called out from atop my broom, the person remained seated but turned to face me. She was a lovely girl about my age. "Oh, hello."
"Hello. Are you the caretaker?"
She shook her head. "No. There is no caretaker here. I'm just here because I like the flowers."
"No caretaker…? You mean these flowers are wild?"
"Yes, that's right."
Wow.
I had thought flower fields only grew under the supervision of humans. Although I suppose flowers existed before humans did, so it's not like they needed us to grow. But to think such amazing scenery could exist just by the power of nature, without a helping
human hand…
Incredible.
"Are you a witch?" Noticing my chest, the girl tilted her head.
"Indeed. I'm on a journey."
"How wonderful— Oh, actually, in that case, I have a request."
"Sure, if it's something I can do."
The girl picked a number of flowers, removed her jacket, wrapped it around them, and held them out to me. It was an impromptu bouquet. "If it's all right, I'd like you to take this bouquet to the country you're going to."
"Is there someone you want me to give them to?" I asked in confusion as I accepted the bouquet.
"No one in particular. I only ask that they be given to someone who can appreciate their beauty. That much is important."
Meaning, I suppose, that you want to spread the word about this flower field.
I certainly understood the desire to show this beautiful vista to someone.
"In other words, you want me to advertise the flower field, right?"
"Do you not want to?"
"No, I don't mind at all. In fact, I'm more than happy to," I replied.
The girl smiled with deep relief and said, "Thank goodness."
For a short while after that, we engaged in light but lively conversation. At least, I think we did. I told her about the places I had visited so far, and she told me about her favorite flowers.
After we had passed some pleasant time together, I said, "Well then, I'm going to continue on, so I'll give your flowers to someone in the next country, okay?"
"I'm counting on you, Miss Traveler." She shook my hand with a smile.
"..."
Something felt strange. "You can't leave this place, can you?"
"No, I can't," she told me plainly. "I'm fine, really, as long as I stay here in this flower field. I spend all day with the flowers. I'm happy just being here in the sunlight. Isn't it wonderful?"
The girl never got up from her spot.