The Flower Is Finished

I don't know how long I had been walking. I could hear birds sleeping, leaves brushing against one another, and the wind blowing fiercely.

My hands felt cold. My wet clothes remained clinging to me, keeping me company in the darkness. Pain throbbed in my chest, and my hand was deeply scratched. When I opened my eyes, I realized I was stranded on the edge of the beach.

My thoughts immediately went to the shell I had taken with great difficulty from the depths of the sea.

Luckily, I had kept it in my pocket. I let out a breath of relief when I felt it was still there.

"Thank goodness I still have it… it didn't fall," I murmured.

After that, I hurriedly looked around. The sky had grown darker. My eyes widened as I remembered Milo's struggle to bring me from the deep ocean to the shore. Panicked, I shouted his name.

"Milo!"

"Where are you?!"

I yelled loudly, staring anxiously at the sea.

I was about to swim back, drawing a deep breath, preparing myself to search for Milo.

"Milo…"

Just as I was about to dive in, Milo suddenly appeared before me—his small body emerging out of nowhere.

"Why are you calling me?" he asked.

I rushed toward him and scooped the little fish into my hands.

"How were you able to carry me from the deep, dark ocean?"

"Did something happen?"

"Are you hurt? Are you okay?" I bombarded him with questions, but he merely rolled his eyes lazily.

"You're really troublesome," he said.

I scratched my head awkwardly.

"I really feel bad for you… but are you truly unharmed? And how did you escape from the octopus?" I asked again. He only rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Hurry and go. Before the sun completely sets, you'll get lost in the forest," he ordered.

I ignored him, making sure that Milo wasn't injured.

"Are you really not hurt?" I asked once more.

He nodded.

"I'm fine. And if we meet again someday, maybe I'll explain who I really am."

With that, the little fish leapt from my hands, disappearing into the sea. I could only watch helplessly as he vanished beneath the waves.

Without realizing it, that was our last meeting—or perhaps a meeting that would someday become a story of its own.

I turned back one last time, making sure Milo had truly returned to the sea.

With unease in my chest—and pain still lingering—I continued walking slowly toward where Farrel and the others might be. Perhaps they were still waiting for me.

The sounds of crickets and birds echoed through the dark, silent forest. There was no activity except animals searching for food and birds watching from above.

I walked slowly, the pain in my chest growing heavier. My breathing felt labored, as if a stone were pressing down on my chest. The cold lingering in my body made it hard to breathe. I staggered forward. Though I couldn't fully remember the way, I had entered this forest several times before, and faint memories guided my steps.

I didn't know how long I had walked. The darkness was overwhelming. Eventually, I sat beneath an old tree. From there, I could see flowers blooming softly and fireflies drifting through the night, collecting nectar.

For a moment, I watched them, feeling something familiar—something I once felt as a child. I gazed at the sky, which looked as though rain might fall soon. Carefully, I caught a few fireflies and used them as light.

"Forgive me… this may sound selfish, but with your help, I can find them," I whispered softly before continuing my journey.

Suddenly, my pendant pulsed with a deep red glow. I felt my ancient fire stirring, my body growing hotter by the second.

"Are there demons again?" I wondered silently.

I released the fireflies at once and scanned my surroundings, making sure no one was about to attack me from the shadows.

"Show yourself!" I shouted loudly.

At that moment, I felt it—someone was watching me.

Crash.

Crash.

Crash.

A branch shot toward me. I dodged just in time.

Crash.

Crash.

Crash.

"Kreeeaaak—BRRAAAAK!"

A tree fell beside me. I moved quickly, running to avoid the collapsing trees.

Crash. Crash. Crash.

More trees fell with each step I took. The faster I ran, the more trees collapsed behind me.

"Damn it… they're attacking me from the shadows," I cursed.

I glanced back to make sure they were still chasing me, then hid beneath a fallen ancient tree.

Breathing heavily, I made sure the shell was still safe. Swiftly, I hid it inside my sock beneath my boot.

"I need to hide this somewhere safe."

After securing the shell, I began forming a plan to identify my attacker. It seemed they realized I was hiding, as the falling trees suddenly stopped.

I waited, strategizing.

"Kreeeak… BRAK!"

"Kreeeak… brak… brak…"

The bombardment resumed—trees collapsing one after another. Whoever it was seemed enraged.

Before I could attack, they sensed my location. A massive tree beside me was struck.

I barely escaped and stepped out of hiding.

Before me stood a figure wearing a black cloak and a mask. Long hair flowed from beneath it.

"So you finally—"

They weren't a demon… yet my pendant was throbbing violently.

"You found it?"

"Hahahahaha!"

Their laughter echoed, and I clenched my fists.

"Who are you?" I demanded.

They toyed with their fingernails, as if I were nothing.

"You'll never know who I am. But I will kill you."

Suddenly, they raised both hands. Branches surged toward me violently. I dodged and drew my sword.

Prok… prok… prok…

After I evaded the attack, they clapped slowly, chuckling.

"So… you've mastered everything George taught you?"

My brows furrowed.

"George?" I repeated.

Instead of answering, they hurled several tree trunks at me.

Before I could react, I sensed a demon attacking from behind. I leapt upward, slammed my foot against the ground twice, and on the third strike, I launched myself into the air. Trees and demon collided—impaling the demon instantly.

"Aaaargh!"

The demon's scream rang out as it was crushed between tree trunks. Rotting stench filled the air.

The cloaked figure laughed loudly.

"What do you want?" I asked again.

They unleashed magic, weaving spells with swift movements before attacking.

I dodged again—and then my ancient fire erupted.

"Aaaah!"

Plants withered instantly as flames burst from my body. The sorcerer was blasted backward.

"Hah… hah…"

I steadied my breathing, watching them cough blood.

I stepped closer, but they retreated slowly.

"I'll make sure you die," they hissed.

With a snap of their fingers, they vanished.

All that remained was a shoe, stained with blood.

I picked it up and used a nearby branch to collect some of the blood spilled on the ground. I smelled it.

"This blood… it's different," I muttered.

"Is he a sorcerer… or a demon?"

Suddenly, pain surged through my chest.

"Cough… cough…"

Just as I suspected, the effects of staying too long in the deep ocean were catching up to me. It felt as though a massive stone was crushing my chest.

"I have to find them," I said.

I continued walking slowly, stopping often to steady my weakening tbeat.

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