While the High Mage got everything in order, Gardenia dreamed of burning skies, fallen empires, and chasing after a golden dragon. She woke with a start and an ache in her heart that she could not explain. No matter how hard she tried, she could not remember what her dream had been about. All she knew was that it had had a sad ending, for her heart ached as if she had lost a loved one.
In the days that followed, Gardenia worked with San Wol on what she learned was her ability to manipulate water. When she was Astra, her element had been fire, and now her incineration ability was no more. It was not until the day of the ritual that Gardenia once more laid her eyes upon the High Mage. The moment she looked upon him, that heart-wrenching pain returned, spreading through her being. It was as if something was preventing her from remembering.
Jia er rushed forward but was not fast enough to catch Gardenia as she fell into the coral pool.
"We must begin," said the Noct High Priestess, "the ritual requires her ladyship to remain submerged until the cosmic alignment ends."
"It is true, my lord," San Wol reassured the High Mage as she took her place on the other side of the coral pool.
It was as if the stars had decided to greet them, and the heavens had begun to dance. The High Priestesses began to chant. Gardenia's body was lifted from the pool, levitating as cosmic hands embraced her.
Gardenia's mind was in turmoil. She could not distinguish between what was real and what was a dream, for it all felt real to her. There was a time when she was light as a feather gliding in the wind without a care in the world, and then she chanced upon a wounded dragon undergoing a tribulation. This chance encounter sealed their fate.
They found each other life after life, and life after life, the heavens interfered, forsaking their union until finally, the little flower demon gave up her immortal core to save the divine dragon, or so the heavens made her believe. As a dragon, her beloved was magnificent, but as a man, he held a beauty that surpassed all others; he was simply breathtaking.
There was a time when the little demon flower believed the world to be perfect for only a moment, and that was when she was with the golden dragon. But fate was cruel, as it forced them to part ways. The little demon flower felt like she was on fire as her core was extracted and shattered into shimmering stardust. She could still hear her beloved's screams of anguish as she dispersed into nothing.
Jia er watched with worry as Gardenia's features contorted in agony. What exactly was she seeing, he wondered. If only he could take on the pain she was feeling. As the cosmos finished their dance, so did the High Priestesses finish their chant. Gardenia's body was slowly laid back into the pearl pool.
When Jia er looked at Gardenia, he could only see what she had once looked like. Yet, at that moment, he could see the appearance of her current vessel, and he found Gardenia was not as lovely as Chu Hua's original form.
When Gardenia opened her eyes, she first saw a swirl of silvery stars, followed by a whirl of aquamarine blues and purples with pink and orangy fire tinges. The world was no more than what the cosmos allowed. Gardenia stood at the center of the cosmos, the only other being a silvery silhouette that slowly transformed into the Moon Mother.
"It has been a very long time since you stood before me, child," the Moon Mother's smile was filled with sadness, "Why have you come so late?"
"I do not know how I came nor why I am here," Gardenia answered, "I wish to be free of all that binds me." She spoke without thinking, allowing her emotions to guide her. She walked forward, taking Mother Moon's outstretched hand.
Mother Moon's smile lightened a little. "There are different forms of freedom my child would prefer?"
Gardenia was not sure what to answer. There was a sudden tug at her heartstrings. Something was calling to her, and someone was waiting.
"Do you wish to go to them?" Mother Moon asked.
"I feel that I should," Gardenia said. As the pull grew stronger, she was yanked out of the cosmos; she could feel a pair of arms holding her in a tight embrace.
"Open your eyes," a voice as sweet as honey ordered. You have been asleep for far too long," the voice was filled with desperation. Did you forget you promised to return?"
Gardenia wanted to stay in the embrace and feared that the warmth she felt would dissipate if she opened her eyes.
"But I like how things are at this moment," she whispered, "it's warm and sweet." Gardenia opened her eyes slowly; a face sculpted like jade looked down at her with grief and respite.
"What took you so long?" Jia er held her tighter, afraid she would disperse once more if he let go. He did not believe his heart could take it.
"I wanted to return sooner," Gardenia's throat felt like she had swallowed sand. "My head feels heavy, and my throat is on fire."
"That is to be expected," San Wol interjected between the two and placed a flask to Gardenia's lips, "this concoction should help."
Gardenia was about to thank San Wol when she realized who she really was. "Why would I take anything you offer?"
San Wol had expected as much; after all, it was she who tricked Chu Hua into shattering her own core, claiming that doing so would help His Divinity complete his ascension.
"You have no reason to believe, let alone trust me," San Wol said, "but do understand I, too, was used by the greater gods. I do not say this as an excuse, for I still had a choice to make, and in the end, I made the wrong one." San Wol prostrated herself before Jia er and Gardenia, "I will serve you until the bitter end."