Hanamizuki, Because Flowers Are Not Just Beautiful
Chapter 20: The Truth Revealed
“T-impossible..”.
“Castles of this size..and Riri-sensei lives alone?”
Of course the 5 girls who followed Carnation went to Riri's house must have been surprised to see the outside looks of the super big ‘kastile’ that was in front of them.
“But how can there be a castle in the middle of a forest like this?”
“I made it, specially for Riri.”
Carnation answered while opening a giant gate in front of him. As soon as everyone entered the castle grounds, they were all amazed by the expanse of flowers that were mostly white, completely matching Riri's silver hair.
“But why in the middle of the forest? Why don't you make a castle like this in Laurel's town just so everyone knows that there's someone as great as Riri-sama in this town?”
The statement from Alstromeria made Carnation smile a little. His hand pushed the large doorknob made of quality teak wood with Lily flower carvings on his right and left sides.
“Many things I have to tell you about that brat...as well as some other things that are actually difficult for me to tell the next generation like you.”.
Once inside the front of the castle, again the 5 girls were shocked, imagine, when the door opened, there was a very spacious room like a meeting hall! In the middle there are 3 minimalist-sized sofas with large flat tv on the wall. Then on his right side was a large shelf with many messy books. To his left was a large hallway and a door at the end of the hallway, which was none other than Riri's room.
Like the color of flowers in the yard, most of the interior is also white, with a classic-modern design. It makes anyone who sees it feel amazed.
“Why Riri-sensei..stay alone in a castle of this size..?”
“Hey, isn't she with her flower spirit?”
“Ah right! W-Where is Riri-sensei? Has she arrived here with her flower spirit?”
Blams.
The 5 girls who were still amazed to see the entire part of the castle immediately turned their heads together when they heard the sound of the door being closed.
“Your teacher is here, but for now, please don't see him first, because you won't be able to.”
“Eh?”
“What do you mean, Miss Carnation..?”.
Carnation invited the 5 girls to sit together on the sofa. He breathed heavily for a moment.
“What...sensei is fine..?”
“Ah, anyway you do not have to worry about the bad boy, you have tried hard to help him right?”
“Nona Carnation..”
“Ya?”
“Very much...which I want to know about Riri-sensei..all....I want to know everything...His arrival to Hanatarou academy....it's no coincidence right?”
“We are his students, but we don't know much about him, even though Riri-sensei has struggled to teach us so that we can become champions in this year's magic tournament…what he taught was hard to understand! If we know more about him.certainly we too..will more easily understand what he taught.”.
“Since the beginning I have always believed in the arrival of Riri-sensei to our class.although at first he looks terrible in teaching.but so far, I have always felt a warm aura behind his back…never once did I feel a pitch-black aura enveloping her..except on this day when Riri-sensei became like that.Was Miss Carnation aware, what really happened to Riri-sensei.?”
Hearing Iris and Elder's statement, Carnation did not immediately deny it. He sipped a little of the Camomile tea he had prepared just a moment ago.
“I also heard, if you call Riri-sama as son..Do you have a blood relationship with him.?.?”
Upon hearing Alstromeria's question, Carnation put the cup back on, gulping down a bit of his saliva.
“Riri-san is a good person, but there are those who do not like to see him become a good person, so that person wants to make the image of Riri-san fall. What kind of person wants to hurt Riri-san that I like?”
When Typha said with her innocent eyes, making Carnation unable to stand it and immediately rubbed the cat-eared girl, then looked at the 5 girls in front of her at the same time.
“The girls are always curious to know a lot of things that are not really interesting yes. I honestly don't want the next generation like you to listen to what Riri has experienced in the past. He also forbade me to tell it. But you are his students, and you also have full trust in him.then I will not hesitate to believe in you too.”.
“Nona Carnation..”
“Previous, take this.”
With his magic, Carnation took out 5 white petals, and gave them to the 5 girls in front of him.
“Lily flower petals?”
“Yap, your teacher's name is derived from the name of this flower. Swallow the flower petals round.”
“Eeehh!!?”
“A-does this petal have poison..?”.
The Elder just asked, because according to the flower magic learned in Hanatarou academy, do not be fooled by the beauty of Lily flowers, because the flower petals have toxins that can make the heart beat irregularly until the most severe is, death.
“Let's just relax, this flower I picked up and I took from Riri's homeland. There was no poison for him. This will help you get to know your teacher even more deeply.”
Although at first hesitant, finally they swallow the petals 5 flowers round. Carnation poured her Camomile tea again into her cup.
“Amaryliss-san, you're right, Riri's arrival to Hanatarou's academy wasn't just a coincidence. I did send it on purpose and made it your homeroom teacher, the hardest class to teach.”
“But why?!”
Sahut Amaryliss enthusiastic. He clutched his palms tightly.
“For...give him a new atmosphere..”.
“Atmosphere..new..?”.
“Your teacher was..Have lived in the last war of the struggle for seeds, exactly 15 years ago, in that time, maybe you were so small that you did not know the true condition at that time.”
“M-masa...last war of seed grabs...?”
“It was enough for him to have a lot of injuries, so I sent him here to forget all that, and live his life in peace. But... I did not predict an event like this would happen, as if someone wanted to make the image of Riri fall in front of many people, as Typha-chan said earlier.”
Typha who rarely showed her facial expression, this time both her eyebrows furrowed. The cat's ears that were on his head shrank downwards, and he pressed his palms against his chest.
“A-I will get rid of the person who wants to take down R-Riri-san!”
He said in a stammer. Carnation patted her hair.
“Riri is indeed a strong man, even though he was able to survive, and even though the entire Hanatarou academy hated his arrival, he still came not to escape. That's how tough he is, in his role of being a teacher.”
Iris bit her lips slowly. He thought back to when Foxglove attacked him who still could not control the spirit of the flower. He glanced at the sword he had on his lap.
“What does...wounds does he suffer…? Is severe…? Is it difficult to cure…? Is the wound still there until now.?”.
Asked Iris with teary eyes. Carnation touched the back of Iris' hand for a moment.
“Riri forbade me from telling her past. He did not want future generations to have the same fate as him. She just wants to be seen as Riri who is now.”
“T-but..”.
“When it looks like that, Riri is very liked by children, when she became a teacher at the orphanage first, almost all children are always waiting for her arrival. Riri is very easy to blend in with them. I was happy when I saw his face was happy with the kids back then.”
“B-really?!”
“But why us...?”
“Ya..but it only lasted for a few months.. After a severe injury, he changed, although the children still liked him, but he lost his ability as a teacher, so he felt desperate. Because I don't want to make it fall, then I sent him to this academy to find a new world.”
“So because of that..Riri-sensei..always say no talent teaching...?”.
Carnation smiled bitterly at Amaryliss' words. Then continue.
“If only he still had ‘all’ when I sent him here.certainly the whole academy will respect him as the only man in the Hanatarou academy environment.but well.
“Nona Carnation! All of that..what does that mean? Would Riri-sama be a different person if you had everything you said?”
Carnation was somewhat shocked when Alstromeria suddenly cut off his words. Realizing Carnation was looking at him, Alstromeria directly lowered her head.
“Sorry, Miss Carnation—”
“Riri..sorry yes, because I have to tell all 5 of these girls..if you will be angry with me later, I am ready to accept the consequences.”.
“Nona Carnation..?”
***
“H-should how long...a-I like this..?”.
“Until you can go deeper and see everything.”
“T-but..”.
“T-please don't fool on Riri—”
“Yes yes, now shut up and calm yourself.”
Dianthus helps recover Camelyum and Riri with his ability to analyze mana flow. After the flow of Riri contaminated with poison has returned to normal, Dianthus is looking for remnants of poison that may grow back if not immediately destroyed. He let out a light in both of his hands and pointed it at Riri's body, as well as Camelyum.
“Amongst all, you are the one who worked the hardest to destroy the poison that froze the flow of mana Riri, Camelyum. I think you're the most exhausted.”
“T-no...please prioritize my Master first...!”
“Haah..why are you as stubborn as this idiot anyway?”
Camelyum turned his gaze, looking at Riri next to him who still had not opened his eyes. He further tightened his grip on Riri's palm. His position and Riri were currently next to each other, Dianthus asked him to continue grasping Riri's palm until the recovery process was complete. Of course this is the first time Camelyum has been in one bed with Riri.
“I had a hard time doing this because of Nonaku's request.If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't do this—”.
“M-sorry..Dianthus-san..”.
Dianthus was rather surprised to hear an apology from Camelyum who looked timid. Seeing the blushing hue from the girl's smooth cheeks, Dianthus sighed for a moment.
“Haah..I can least bear to see the look of anxiety from a woman..just calm Camelyum...I'm just kidding..”.
Camelyum bit his lips slowly. Suddenly his heart was racing as he looked again at his Master's face.
“Where have you seen ‘isi’ from your Master?”
“A-I haven't..”
“Haah my goodness! I'm asking you to hold hands with your Master not to make out! You should see ‘kedalam’ it even further!”
“A-I've been doing it since! But..this is difficult..”.
“Huh? Is the poison still left?”
“I've told you no..Riri's heart is very difficult to open..although outside he looks very jolly as if nothing bothers him..but in it is not so..In it he looks dark and suffers.”.
“...Your role as the flower spirit is to prevent your Master from falling into darkness. You can see, right, the relationship I have with Nonaku? As well as the girls and the spirit of the flower?”
“A-me...”
Dianthus nudged Camelyum not to speak anymore.
“Now calm down first, look, your Master reacted.”
“R-Riri...!?”
Camelyum felt that Riri's fingers were moving in his hands.
“The recovery process will be completed in a moment, then before that, I am still curious how the poison can attack your Master. Do you remember what he last did? Or who was the last time he met? How long has the condition of his body looked strange?”
“I-it..I'm not sure but..”.
“Poisons can't just enter without a sign!”
“Kurasa...the condition is already strange..when the magic tournament in Hanatarou academy will begin..”.
“Tournament magic?”
“Riri always quibble if he is okay, he is indeed a stubborn person like you said.”
Dianthus shook his head. “You really fit so the spirit of the flower”
Camelyum smiled slightly hearing that.
“Did your Master ever get hurt? He had fought many times with the members of Kuroi Uta right?”
“Ya..but he is very calm and not rash, he will use me if it is desperate or his emotions really peak…rank 8 Azalea...when against rank 11 Oreanda and rank 10 Foxglove, he did not issue me at all to help him.”
“Master you are really reckless huh...the person he is fighting is not a human but does not use you? Geez..”
Camelyum just smiled briefly.
“So..the last one he fought was rank 8 Azalea...does he use certain attacks and hit your Master?”
“No, I don't think Azalea..I defeated Azalea. But after that he recklessly took out the Camelyum buster so that it made the mana again drained out. But no meaningful attacks from it.”
Dianthus. “Then how to fight Ixora?”
Camelyum did not answer him immediately.
“Hei?”
“Ah...when against Ixora that is..I appeared..and immediately made Riri run out of mana to fall asleep for 3 full days..”.
“You first appeared at that time and your Master instantly collapsed? Gosh..you two are really the strangest couple I've ever met.”
Camelyum gulped down a bit of his saliva, when he felt Riri's palm react again.
“So...they all do not make your Master hurt except spend mana...hmmh...difficult to also find the cause—”.
“Wait. I think I know something.”
The finished Dianthus gives the recovery light to Camelyum and Riri. After standing there for over an hour. He took a deep breath and let it out in relief.
“Haaahh...finally done too...what did you say earlier?”
Dianthus sat on a wooden chair with unique carvings on both handles. He took out a cup of jasmine tea in his hand with magic and sipped it slowly. Camelyum also tried to get up slowly and still maintain the position of his right hand that still holds Riri's hand.
“This may be.. but..I think that's the cause..”.
“What is it? say!”
“Saat..5th rank Daffodil injured him 2 times...”.
“Huh?”
Dianthus flicked his finger and the empty jasmine tea cup instantly vanished. He looked seriously at Camelyum.
“Where's the wound? What's the wound like? Is it severe?”
Camelyum was surprised when immediately asked questions.
“Ah sorry, I feel that's where the cause is.”
“T-nothing.The first one, his arm was hit by Daffodil's spear attack, but one of his students, Elder, managed to cure him. The second time, when Riri was off guard, the spear hurt her calf, and once I wanted to treat it, the wound was gone. Riri said suddenly the wound no longer hurt.”
“Daffodil the 5th rank yes..I think I've seen him in the last seed fight..but I don't know..”.
“If indeed the wound made Daffodil the cause..what is he trying to do by poisoning Riri?”
“Ya...Kuroi Uta organization is full of mystery and increasingly becoming...when against the 4th rank yesterday, Gladiolus was already troublesome. What about the rating above?”
“I will destroy them, and protect Riri with all my might to realize his wish.”
“So, is it time for those kids to know your Master's secret?”
“Eh?”
Dianthus folded his hands together and stood up from his place.
“Well, for today is enough. You said your Master was your priority, right? Then try again to get into his heart. Keep lying on your Master's side until he opens his eyes again. I've removed the remains of the little poison that's in his mana stream. Normally when he wakes up later, he will not be able to move too much because the mana flow has not been flowing under normal circumstances. Then you as the spirit of the flower, never leave him a step until he recovers. Understand right?”
Camelyum fixed the position of his slanted blanket. He leaned his back against the wall, while still maintaining the position of his hand that was still holding Riri's hand.
“Dianthus-san..thank you very much..”.
Camelyum lowered his head politely, to the point of making Dianthus somewhat shocked.
“Uh...yah please! I'm going to sleep first, night!”
Dianthus disappeared. Just leave Camelyum and Riri.
The place that was occupied now was indeed not the room that was hit by Gladiolus' attack the other day, but the room on the highest floor in Riri's castle. So that he could clearly see the sprinkling of stars from behind the glass window in the ceiling.
“Riri..”
Unknowingly, Camelyum kissed her Master's lips gently.