Bab 12: Fog Of Mystery

"Do you think it's because the flower finally bloomed and that's why the concealment screen couldn't hide the overflowing spiritual energy?" Aradia mused seriously.

"There is that possibility," Neville agreed. He couldn't think of a reason why his concealment screen failed. Although his abilities had regressed when Aradia found him, he had recuperated in these ten years. He wasn't in his best condition but he didn't think it was so bad that a simple concealment charm of his would fail at the critical moment. It didn't even make any sense.

He could only accept this outcome.

"Where is the Blue Flake? Let me see it."

Aradia went behind the headboard of her bed and opened a secret compartment before taking out the glass box covered in a ragged cloth making it look ordinary and even dirty. No one would think that something precious was hidden behind this dirt.

She placed the box in front of him and took out the blue moonstone from under her belt. Only by using this blue moonstone as a medium, she was able to use some energy like other people who were born gifted. Since she wasn't gifted, she could only do her best.

Aradia unlocked the glass box with a spell and a refreshing air hit both Aradia and Neville as soon as the box was opened. The glass box was enchanted and when it was locked, everything was normal. However, once the box was opened, the Blue Flake's energy started seeping out. Both of them felt intoxicated by that sweet and cold air that the Blue Flake gave off.

Looking at that exquisite flower in front of his eyes, Neville actually chortled. His soft paws extended as he wanted to touch the flower before his eyes but at the last moment, he recalled something and held himself back from touching the flower. He looked at his paw with some regret in his eyes.

"I can finally stand tall in front of my master again," Neville said cheerfully. "I can roister for a lifetime. My noble self has finally witnessed the flower of the legend. Oh, it's so beautiful."

Aradia actually looked at him with some disdain and felt like he was embarrassing her as well right now. Was there a need to be so happy? He was acting like he found a big treasure or something.

"You, little human have no respect for the flower of the legend!"

Aradia gave him a blank look, "I cultivated it. I don't need to be as exaggerating as you. Although it took ten years to make it bloom, I still managed to make it bloom. Doesn't that mean I can do it again? I already have experience."

Neville stopped talking. He also knew that she was indeed right. She did it once. She could definitely do it again.

"But that's you," said Neville. "This lord still needs some time to bask in the spirit of the Blue Flake. It's cleansing my body and soul." His blue eyes suddenly noticed something, "The book said it has six petals. Why there are only five here?"

Aradia didn't answer his question but asked her own first, "The book said? You have never seen the Blue Flake before?"

"Uhhh..." Neville looked away as he didn't know how to answer that.

"You really haven't?!"

"Do you think it's cabbage that can be found anywhere?" retorted Neville. "Why am I calling it the flower of the legend? It's one of the seven flowers from the legend. There is not a single soul alive in this world who had seen it." He paused for a moment before rephrasing, "At least, not on this continent."

"Then why did you make me work so hard for it?!" Aradia was losing her temper right now.

"I already told you that not just anyone is able to cultivate this flower," reminded Neville. "It's you who wanted to take the risk."

"Because you said, it can bring me immense benefits," was Aradia's response.

"It can," said Neville. "Of course, it can. You take the name of Blue Flake and the people on this continent will be coming after you to get this treasure. You're still taking it as just a flower? Why is it called a myth? Because no soul alive can confirm what's written about it in the books." He actually gave her an appreciative glance, "Now, you actually have it. You are still too young to understand why I'm feeling so agitated. You haven't seen or heard what people can do for this flower. Having it before my eyes in my life is unreal to me."

Aradia really hadn't understood the value of this flower until now. Her sole purpose to cultivate it was because she wanted to become powerful. When Neville told her that the seeds she had in her pouch were of the Blue Flake, she was skeptical but she still wanted to try it out. She had been patiently taking care of this flower for ten years.

"I suddenly recall that you said not just anyone can touch this flower," Aradia suddenly spoke up.

"Yes," replied Neville. "Why do you I am not touching it? I want to but I can't. These mythical flowers are loftier than me. They choose their owners."

"But I could touch it."

"You're different," said Neville. "No flower can refuse your touch."

"Why?" inquired Aradia in confusion.

"Because you have a special physique," said Neville. He explains further. He wouldn't be able to even if he wanted to. Because there were some things that he had yet to figure out himself. All those things were related to Aradia. He had been patiently staying beside Aradia all these years because he wanted to figure out the mystery she was.

As Neville said, it was one of the flowers from the legend and yet, Neville found a dozen or so seeds in her possession which shocked him. He was just trying his luck when he asked Aradia to cultivate the flower. He did not expect she'd succeed. And since she did manage to do so, it only thickened the fog of mystery surrounding her.

Aradia had her own thoughts and wasn't concerned about Neville's thoughts at all. Her brows were knitted as she asked, "Then what does it mean if the flower called out to someone?"

Neville was stunned for a moment, "The Blue Flake called out to someone?" He paused as he thought of something, "Then the man who injured you. He was the one that the flower called out to?" Aradia nodded her head. "That explains why the concealment screen didn't work. How would it work? The flower pulled him there and showed him the way. Nothing could stop him."

"Does it mean that the flower chose him?"

"It could," replied Neville. "That man is certainly blessed."