The Flower Is Finished

My feet immediately stopped when I saw someone leaning against a tree.

"You…"

When we arrived at the first basecamp, suddenly someone I recognized appeared in front of me.

"Are you one of George's men?" I asked, trying to remember.

He seemed shocked by our arrival and immediately bowed down.

"Forgive me, Lord Xanders," he said while begging for forgiveness.

I told him to explain what had happened.

"Explain what happened," I said.

He raised his head and looked at me.

"Captain George ordered me to wait for you here. He believed you would come here."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"He gave several orders for you, Lord Xander."

I frowned because it sounded a little strange.

"So George told you to wait here because he was sure I would come?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Are you alone here?" I asked again.

He nodded once more.

"I truly had no intention of betraying Captain George, but his command is an order. I had no choice but to obey it."

I understood what he meant.

As a subordinate, we could only follow the orders of our superior, even if we knew it might be dangerous.

"How long have you been here?" I asked, noticing he was still breathing heavily as if he had just arrived.

"I only arrived about an hour ago," he replied.

I nodded.

"What really happened in the hall?" I asked, remembering that the flood had been massive and saving people there would be difficult.

"We managed to bring several prisoners and hostages. But there were many traitors among us. When we discovered them, the traitors suddenly attacked us. Captain George was injured, and he took several people who truly wanted to escape the hall. Before that, he had already realized there were traitors among us, so he ordered me to find you and wait here."

Hearing his explanation, my fists clenched.

It seemed the Elf clan had truly betrayed itself.

How could someone betray their own clan and kill hundreds of their own people?

"Can you take me back there?" I asked.

Time was limited, and the rain was getting heavier while night was approaching.

"I can take you there, my lord," he said.

I nodded and turned to Alex.

"Alex, can you stay here and protect them?"

He nodded, although he looked hesitant.

"Let me go with you," he said.

I shook my head.

Farel and his parents were still injured. I couldn't leave them alone.

"No. I need you to watch over them. They're still poisoned, right?" I asked quietly.

He nodded.

"Yes, the poison is still affecting them."

I nodded and patted his shoulder.

"This is your chance to impress your future in-laws," I whispered near his ear.

"You… tch."

He tried to protest, but his face flushed slightly, though I could see him smiling faintly.

"Let me come with you."

Suddenly Michelle stepped forward.

Both Alex and I turned toward her.

"Are you sure you want to come with me?" I asked again.

"I will be your partner," Michelle said confidently.

"Are you really able to protect yourself?" Alex asked.

She nodded.

"Yes, she can be relied on," I said softly.

Alex looked at me.

"Let me go with you, Xanders," Farel pleaded.

But I immediately shook my head.

He was still injured.

"No, Farel. You're wounded. I don't want you to get hurt again while helping them."

He sighed heavily.

"I can take care of myself," he insisted.

I still shook my head.

It seemed he didn't realize that the poison was still in his body.

"You're really taking her with you?" he asked while looking at Michelle.

Michelle glared at him.

"You think I can't handle myself?"

"Well, I think you—"

"Enough, Farel. You stay here and take care of your parents. I will go with them," I interrupted.

I didn't want the poison in Farel's body to spread further.

"But Xanders—"

I shook my head again.

His health was the priority.

"Alright, let's go," I said, inviting Michelle and the soldier sent by George.

"Wait a moment."

Alex suddenly took his medicine bag and searched through it.

Then he handed several medicines to me.

"Take these. They might be useful."

Michelle accepted the small pouch.

"What's inside?" she asked.

"Some medicines that might help," Alex replied.

After that we accepted it and quickly went down again.

Even though the rain had grown heavy, we didn't stop walking.

The rain became heavier and the surroundings darker.

Michelle opened the bag and took out several candles for light.

"Is this enough? There's only one."

Since the moon was hidden behind the clouds and the forest was completely dark, we lit the candle Alex had prepared earlier.

The forest became pitch black.

The howls of wolves and the roars of tigers echoed through the forest.

The soldier behind me suddenly looked frightened.

"My lord… will they kill us?" he asked nervously.

I turned to him.

"You're afraid of them?" I asked quietly.

Michelle walked in front holding the candle.

I walked behind her, and the soldier followed behind me.

"What is your name?" I asked, realizing I didn't remember it.

"Alrich, my lord."

The name sounded like a noble's name.

"That's a good name," I said.

He smiled faintly after hearing the compliment.

"Are we on the right path?" Michelle asked.

She had slowed her steps, realizing we might be lost again.

"Alrich… did you really pass through this path earlier?" I asked.

"I did," he replied.

I stopped walking.

As I suspected, we were lost.

And this wasn't even the Forbidden Forest.

How could we get lost here?

"Give me the candle," I said.

Michelle handed it to me.

"I marked the trees earlier. If this is the path, the marks should still be there."

I walked toward a large tree and examined it carefully.

There were no marks.

I checked another tree nearby.

Still nothing.

There were no scratches or signs left by a blade.

"My lord… it seems we are lost," Alrich said while looking around.

"The rain is falling, the ground is wet, the moon is hidden, and everything is completely dark," Michelle said.

I nodded.

"Is there a festival in the palace tonight?" Michelle asked quietly.

Suddenly I remembered.

Every year there was a festival.

But this year it probably wouldn't happen because disasters were happening everywhere.

The palace should show sympathy for the Elf clan.

"We need to find George," I said.

Even though it was still evening, time was running out.

During the Moon Festival, the moon usually appeared earlier than usual, and the sunlight faded quickly.

There was an old myth about the festival.

It was called the true festival of the moon.

When the moon disappeared and only darkness remained.

And during that darkness, crimes often happened.

Because of that, the palace always sent soldiers to patrol every territory during the festival.

Thank you for reading my novel .Don't forget to put it in the library