Hanamizuki, Because Flowers Are Not Just Beautiful
Chapter 16: The Implied Meaning Behind It
“Sensei~ we want to go where the hell? It's been a long way from Laurel!”
“Do we want to hike without a destination? Tiring oncei~”
“Sst! Do not complain if you do not want to fail in the second round tomorrow!”
“What does this streets have to do with flower magic test sih—”
“Nah, it's up.”
Amaryliss, Iris, and Elder stopped their steps behind Riri. They arrived in front of a village. Uniquely the village has 4 regions from the north, south, west and east with a barrier that prevents it. It is located in the hills, with a variety of flower gardens.
“Woah, is this rural?”
“Yeah, let's go in and blend in with them.”
“Eh!?”
The first region they visited was the western region village. The vast flower fields that contain various types of colorful flowers are very soothing to the eye. What caught their attention was the black orchid flower.
“New first time I see black orchid, what kind of orchid is this?”
“That's a rare orchid in our western region, there won't be any region that can develop flowers this beautiful other than the western region!”
The one answering Iris question was not Riri, but an old man who suddenly appeared with a fierce gaze. From his appearance it seems that he was a farmer of the area because of his simple clothes and in his right hand he carried a spray of water and a bag of fertilizer on his left hand.
“Ah good afternoon sir! We just looked around!”
Said Riri saluting the old man respectfully. But with a stiff he brushed off Riri's hand.
“Seeing your appearance, you must be from the city of Laurel down there right? Why would a big man like you come to a village like this?”
“K-we're just—”
“We just took a regular study trip to research a variety of flowers that are not in the city of Laurel, sir. If you allow, may we know more about the types of flowers here?”
Before Amaryliss answered him, Riri hunted down his words. He said to the old man in a calm and mature tone like ‘guru real’.
“Heh, I can never trust Laurel's people again! I've been cheated many times for telling this rare western region flower information to a stranger! At the end, our rare flowers have been devoured by them!”
“Do you consider us also such a person?”
The farmer looked at Riri who was smiling at him with a fierce look. “North, west, and south are just like you! That's why I never let strangers in here!”
“Sensei, let's go..”.
“What makes you believe that we are just regular visitors?”
Riri's question instantly silenced the old farmer. And then he answered.
“We proved it through a spirit duel of flowers! If I win, get out of this village!”
“If I win?”
The farmer did not answer. But then he replied with annoyance.
“You can take some samples of my stem flowers! Heh, but I'm sure, beginner students like you guys won't be able to beat me who has a lot of experience!”
Riri just smiled forcefully at once annoyed.
It turns out there's an old man in this world who sucks like him…
“S-sensei? W-how is this?”
“Hm? Oh, Elder, you're fighting him, aren't you? So we can continue our journey.”
“EEH!!? HOW AM I!?”
Riri simply gave her a grin and encouraged the Elder who was a little scared when the old farmer looked at her ferociously.
“G-how dong..?”
“Sensei! Why did even the Elder intervene when you caused all this!? Just use your flower spirit and fight him!”
Sewot. Riri simply replied to him with a grin.
“Hmm, I think Elder can really fight him with a single strike.”
“Hah?”
The elder and the old peasant faced each other, he took out his flower spirit in the form of a shield. While the Elder still had not taken out his flower spirit.
“S-sensei... g-how is this...?”.
“Fight with relax.
”
The elder gulped his saliva, then took out his flower spirit in the form of a thin and slender white sword. Then closed both eyes concentrated.
“Without all your abilities, Sambucus nigra!”
Instantly the Elder made a slow movement with his sword. It was as if he was dancing on stage that stunned the audience.
“HAAA!!”
From the tip of his sword, appeared hundreds of small flower petals colorful yet beautiful. Like a grain of rain that fell from the sky, instead of brushed aside, the old farmer was so enjoying its beauty.
“This..really...really amazing...views like this...”.
The old farmer obliterated his shield and enjoyed his world in the petals the Elder had created from his Sambucus nigr sword.
“No, what I said, Elder can definitely defeat him in one strike.”
“B-how can sensei be as confident as that..?”
Riri put both of her palms behind her head and answered Iris's question.
“Well, I'm not sure exactly, hehehe~”
“Eh!?”
“Small girl, thank you for giving me this beautiful view! Like going back to my youth! Thank you very much miss!”
The old farmer greeted the Elder with a faint look on his face, The Elder only smiled stiffly in reply.
“Where was his fierce face earlier?”
“Old people are weird..”.
After talking and showing his rare collection of flowers, Riri and his 3 students also say goodbye.
“Thank you very much for your time, sir, but before leaving, may I ask you something?”
“Ya, what is it?”
Riri looked at the barriers that separated the 4 villages. The distance is actually not so far apart, but why should use a barrier?
“Is this village already divided into 4 regions and surrounded by such a barrier for a long time?”
The farmer took a short breath and replied.
“Actually we used to be one village and not restricted to such a territory, but ever since that person spread rumors about seeds, we became disjointed, we wanted rare flowers that could make money, he said, and adding to the prosperity of our village, unfortunately we all have different opinions, all want to get seeds, we can no longer reach a mutual agreement until finally our village is divided into 4 regions like this. There have been many ways that we have tried to do so that our village can be reunited, but most people here still believe in the existence of seeds that can grant everything.”
“Do you yourself not trust its existence?”
“Haah. But I still worry if our magic heirloom lights up and the seed omen will appear again. Lately our magic heirloom keeps flashing. So I keep doing preparations.”
“Thank you for the time, sir, we excuse you first.”
After saying goodbye, Riri and his 3 students moved away from the western region. They skirted the northern, eastern, and southern regions as well. No different from the western region, other regions also have the same case. Until midday, they all came out of the village and continued on their way.
“You guys quite understand what happened earlier?”
The 3 students did not answer Riri's question. They seem to be quite confused to understand it.
“Everything is due to misunderstanding until everything is split. But one that became their benchmark. That is ‘ada things I want to protect’”
“That thing..want I protect..?”.
Riri looked back where her students were following her. His lips are smiling.
“For example, the old farmer. I think he had a pleasant experience of living in youth when he saw Elder's magic. Behind his fierce face so, he still wants to see his village return to peace like before.”
“I...still can't understand it yet, Riri-sensei..”.
Said Iris lowering her face. Riri patted her blue hair softly.
“Nothing, there comes a time when you will understand all this, then before understanding it, I want you to see it first with your own eyes.”
“Sensei, what I still don't understand is, what does this all have to do with tomorrow's second-half test!?”
Amaryliss is still on the sewer and Riri just scratches her neck.
“Enough also the explanation, you know I don't have the talent nga—”
“Where else are we going?”
***
The atmosphere returned to silence after Amaryliss expressed her answer.
“Heh! The convoluted answer is so hard to understand! Basic suck!”
Excite 1A class participants who are confident in their answers. Amaryliss did not respond to the sharp gaze of her opponent. Both eyes are on the jury.
“How, with my answer, the jury? These are all the results of our difficult discussion.” decision
The jury seems to have a hard time making a decision. They are still negotiating with each other.
A few minutes later, one of the judges, an alumnus from 3rd grade, stood up and opened his mouth.
“After we decide, then the right answer is..”.
The atmosphere was again shrouded in tension. Amaryllis, Elder, and Iris held their breaths.
“The answer of class E is the most appropriate.”
“WOAAHH!!”
“WHAT?! THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! HEY, JURY! EXPLAIN WHY OUR ANSWER FROM CLASS 1-A SHOULD LOSE TO THAT CONFUSING ANSWER CLASS 1-E!!?”
Participants from the 1-A class who did not accept broke down the table and stared evilly at the jury. One of the staff teachers from the jury table stood to calm the mood.
“You are not deaf and heard the answer from class 1-E earlier is not it?”
Class 1-A participants were silent.
“At first Amaryliss-kun replied in convoluted and difficult to understand language. But after continuing to do so, the most appropriate answer to this last fictional story is indeed their answer, from class 1-E.”
“WHY!?”
“Your answer says, you will prove these false allegations and reveal your identity as a government observer, so that they cannot casually make murder allegations. If they resist, you will use Epiphyllum magic, time-living magic and erase their memories. Do you think life can go that easy?”
“A-what did you say..?”
The staff of the teacher came out of the jury table and stood in front of all the participants.
“We do give fictional stories, but the answer still has to make sense. Hearing the answer from the 1Ath grade, it was only the answer from a person whose imagination was only as big as a pebble. Even though your class is the highest level, you still need to learn a lot.”
Class 1-A participants no longer refute. Just silence.
“For class 1-E, I appreciate your progress in this year's magic tournament. Your answers make more sense and we can understand right away. ‘We will continue to investigate who has courageously charged the murder of a local resident to an outsider who doesn't even know anything. If the people of the 4 camps remain strong in giving us punishment, we still have the right to fight because we are innocent. So the path we chose was to engage directly with them. Looking at what their lives were like, looking for hard evidence that we were innocent and finding the real culprits to get caught. In other words, we choose the path of fighting, although it will not be easy. If there is still a way, we will unite the 4 camps to find the culprit. Because our position is an observer of the government’. Truly satisfactory answer!”
“With this in mind who made it to the final round is class 1-E! give them a standing ovation!”
The silent atmosphere returned boisterous with claps of hands and cheers after Carnation gave a feisty cue.
“Life class 1E! they are not a lowly class anymore!”
“Give cheer on class 1E!!”
Seeing this scene, Amaryliss, Elder and Iris were simply stunned. Indeed, so far Class E has never entered a magic tournament due to its relentless failure.
But this time it is a magic tournament that should not be missed.
“My pinch, I must have dreamed—aww!”
“I've pinched—”
“A-what are you doing anyway, Amaryliss!?”
“Gak call ‘galak’ again nih?”
Iris grunted a little. “This time I agree with your words..this time only lo!”.
Amaryliss just smiled. His gaze was fixed on the class 1-A participants who had underestimated him.
“You'll keep your promises, right? You will be ashamed to raise your head in this entire academy because you lost to class E like us.”
“You...!”
“The final match of the one-on-one spirit duel will be held tomorrow, then train as best you can and see you soon! Give one more cheer for class 1-E!!”
The sound of the spirit scream from Carnation in the upper tower really makes the atmosphere of the stadium more alive and increasingly boisterous even though the second half has ended.
“Final switch tomorrow yes.if only we pass means..”.
“Yap, the three of you will have a one-on-one duel. No one will know who the duel is first, prepare yourself.”
Said one of the judges before leaving his desk. Only leaving the participants of class 1-E and 1-A are still in the tournament arena.
“You...former princess..just watch out I'll reply!”
Class 1-A also left the arena feeling annoyed and angry. Of course, the high-level class is defeated by the low class, just like an ignorant person is more ‘bijak’ than a knowledgeable person, right?
“Leganya..ayo we also out of here—”.
“Elder-chan? Why?”
The elder was still in his place as Amaryliss and Iris stepped forward.
“Why...Riri-sensei did not approach us like in the first half yesterday?”
“Aah she must have slept in her house and not come! He was late yesterday, right? Calm down Elder-chan, why worry about a lousy person like him?”
“Hei! Why talk like that about Riri-sensei?! You're not polite!”
“S-already Iris-chan..a-ayo we go to the cafe and eat cake to unwind! Later let's ask Miss Carnation yes..about where Riri-sensei's house is..Surely she knows something..”.
Without a sound, Amaryliss and Iris nodded, with a different look on their faces.
***
Whatisit?
What's that shimmering flake?
The seed?
No, definitely not, no one knows what it looks like.
But my heart says it is a seed.
How would I know? Who told me?
Seeds.I'll get…
But what do I want after? What do I want? What…? What…?
Grab that piece and catch it…!
“There is no need to bother catching objects as small as sand that”
“Who dares to block—!?”
No. gabe. It's lies.
The seed fragments are gone.
What the hell is going on…?!
“A king just watch, no need to intervene”
My breath stopped when I saw someone in front of me.
Not likely.
“S-who are you..?”
“By looking at it you already know right?”
A sharp, but hateful look in her eyes.
A smile that was also as sharp as a knife.
What does all this mean…!?
***
“Master! Master relax! Master!”
“Ca...Came..ly...um....?”
“Pacify yourself Master..”
I catch my bad breath. My body felt heavy to wake up, I could only see Camelyum looking at me worriedly.
“Sorry .. I'm calmer now..”.
Camelyum clasped tightly onto my hand, his eyebrows still furrowed as he looked at me.
“You know how much I worry about you. I've expected that your body is not healthy since the black gray hair continues to appear in your silver hair.”.
I breathe heavily. “Kurasa...i am really thinking a lot..”.
“What makes you think too much? You can tell me all your problems! Or even your students, right? Or Carnation-san isn't a problem either, right? I can't calm down because you didn't show any sign of waking up from yesterday to today! I can't leave you a single step because your body temperature doesn't go up! How can I not worry!?”
My flower spirit looks more like a normal girl than a fighting partner…
“Sorry yes, Came-chan, and thank you.”
I gave her my smile and put my right hand on her hand that was holding my left. His face changed a little. She smiles.
“...Master..because of your current condition, you were forced to miss the second half that was completed last afternoon.. surely your students are curious where you went.”.
“No problem, I didn't give them anything. I fully believe in their abilities.”
“But...Master..must I tell them about your current condition to your students? The final round is tomorrow, this afternoon Carnation-san had come and checked your situation, he said you have to take a complete rest until you are full again as usual. He asked what you were doing until you became like this, and I replied as is, ‘Master fatigue’.”
I looked at Camelyum's face for a few seconds, then looked at the ceiling. Really, I don't know why my body is so heavy even though I want to wake up. Is this the rest of the wound against that boy named Azalea?
“That final chapter...they got there..?”.
“Yes, your 3 students, Amaryliss, Iris, and Elder, they will duel in the final tomorrow. I'm sure they must have hoped you'd come see them fight.”
“They fought well. Though I taught them nothing.”
“What do you think..your abilities as a genius teacher are starting to return little by little?”
I didn't answer right away. How could my genius just come back like a wink?
“Not me who changed, they who changed. I'm just being the direction of their wind. I think it's right that I follow Carnation-nee's advice. Following wind direction.”
Should I tell Riri that Azalea attacked again yesterday? And I tell you about Hana no Uta?
“Maste—”
Camelyum disconnected his words as he looked back at Riri's face, his two eyelids closing back on his pale face. A slight short breath sounded from his mouth. Camelyum could see clearly that his Master was not breathing normally.
“I'm sure..certainly Riri would like to see the final duel of his students...but..”.
What makes the flow of mana Riri continues to decline this drastic..do I have to consult Carnation-san again without Riri's knowledge? Then tell his students about his current condition? Think think…!
“Riri, I'm sorry for this time alone, I have to tell the person who knows your condition best. For your own good.”