A knock on the door startled her from her sleep, and she struggled, flailing against her blanket. Her limbs ended up tangled but she calmed as she looked around the room in the low-light.

The door opened upon hearing the movement from inside. “Little Flower?”

She hummed in response, unable to get up. The door opened fully and her eyes met Tulip’s. Her eyes widened in concern. “Why are you on the floor? Did you fall out of bed? Are you alright? Oh, goodness.”

She rushed over and gently extricated her from the blankets, then grimaced when she realized she wouldn’t be able to tell new bruises from old. She gently pushed the frantic hands away and stood. “M’fine. Slept floor.”

The Priestess’ brows furrowed. “You slept on the floor? Why?” She shook her head. “Nevermind, but you should still sleep on the bed! Sleeping on the floor can make you sick!” She gently interlaced their fingers and began to lead her out of the room. Tulip continued to nag as they walked, but she stopped listening when the same aroma as the night before reached her nose. They opened the door to the kitchen, met with the sight of the Head Priest gently stirring the large pot. He acknowledged their arrival without turning to them.

“Priestess Tulip, I’m sure she’ll understand in time.”

They both stopped and Tulip reddened avoiding the Head Priest’s eyes as they entered the kitchen. “Right, of course, um.”

Dahlia chuckled and turned to the other occupant of the room. He slid a bowl filled with a slightly modified soup onto the table and indicated for her to sit. “Come, eat, we have much to discuss this morning.”

She sat slowly and pouted when Tulip disentangled their fingers in order to sit across from her. The Head Priest set down two more bowls and sat at the head of the table. He cleared his throat and his expression gentled. “Now, yesterday we mentioned the Naming Ceremony.” He waited until she nodded to continue. “All you will have to do is kneel in front of the altar at the beginning of service, you’re lucky because today is the weekly service of our garden, so many of the preparations needed were already done. I will take care of the rest, and you will know what to do when the time comes.” He paused for a moment and gave her a considering look.

“Normally, the townsfolk are told of the ceremony ahead of time in order to prepare offerings and are able to gather in larger amounts than the weekly service.” His fingers pressed into his temple and he sighed. “Because of your unique situation, we have decided to do the ceremony right away, meaning the townsfolk will be unaware until the church opens its doors, but there will still be an abundant crowd.” He steepled his fingers together and stared into her eyes. “They will respect your presence, and you will not be looked down upon. You will become a respected member of this town. Are you ready for that, child?”

She absentmindedly spooned the soup from her bowl and looked towards Tulip. Tulip met her gaze with an encouraging smile. “We’ll both be there, and we’ve both received names from this ceremony. It is hard to describe exactly what occurs, just know that you will be safe.”

She met their unwavering gazes and nodded, seeing no deception in their eyes. They both smiled with her acceptance and emptied their bowls quickly. They shared a glance and the Head Priest stood, taking their bowls and placing them aside. “I will make the final preparations, the doors will open when the sun reaches the top of the steps.” Priestess Tulip nodded and stood. “I will take our Little Flower and change her robes.”

She reached out her hand and it was clasped in a firm grip. She was led to a new room, just behind the large chamber. It was filled with shelves of things she didn’t recognize, gold tools sat in stacks and a rack stood filled with robes more ornate than the plain white she wore.

Tulip grabbed a smaller robe from the rack, covered in gold and green on top of the white, they looked similar to the ones Tulip wore, but were barren of flowers. She ran her small fingers across the fabric and marveled at how they felt. She looked up to see Tulip’s lips were hooked up at the corners, eyes shining in amusement. “Come, they will be yours.”

She dressed quickly with the help of the Priestess and was surprised to find her own image staring back at her when she turned. She startled and narrowed her eyes. She’d never seen herself save for reflections in the water. Her desaturated brown hair stood stark against the white, making her look gray against the vibrance of color.

She tilted her head and looked into her own eyes, gray and dull. She scrunched her nose and looked up at Tulip tugging at her hand in a signal to leave. She pushed past the mirror and back into the hall. Suddenly voices could be heard as she left the room. They carried down the hall in murmurs, the words spoken unintelligible.

They walked together, hand in hand, and she took a breath before the door. “Don’t worry, you’re safe.” She believed her.

The door opened and numerous eyes moved toward them. She froze and her breath quickened. She hid behind the Priestess. Dahlia’s voice echoed in the chamber. “Today is special. We will be welcoming a new member to our clergy, to our garden.”

A small push had her standing in front of Tulip and she fidgeted, rubbing the ends of her sleeves between her fingers. Tulip gently guided her to kneel in front of the marble altar and whispered words of encouragement into her ear. She couldn’t tell what she said over the roaring of blood in her ears. As soon as she turned away from the stares and toward the Head Priest she met his eyes and he gave her an encouraging smile. She blinked hard and spots danced across her vision. She refocused. The stares burned into her back.

“The Naming Ceremony is a sacred tradition amongst the Gardens, and graces us with a name worthy of our place within the ecosystem. My name is Dahlia of Vita’s Garden, The Head Priest of this place of worship. Named for steadfastness and commitment.” His expression shuttered for a moment before he looked to the side, where Tulip stood, holding a freshly plucked fruit in cupped palms.

“My name is Tulip of Vita’s Garden, a Priestess of this place of worship. Named for hopeful beginnings.” She strode in front of her, offering her the fruit.

They spoke in unison. “We offer this fruit as the first seed, accept it with both palms and eat, lay the pit in the ground so your name may be received.”

She took the fruit with both hands and hesitated before sinking her teeth into its flesh. Tulip stepped back behind the altar. Juices ran down her chin until she pulled it away, the only remaining portion the pit within. She couldn’t taste a thing. She set it down on the moss, digging until the dirt beneath showed through. She covered the seed and waited.

Dahlia continued once she met his gaze. “I call upon the Great Nurturer to bestow this wandering petal with a fate name, so that she may join the ecosystem and fulfill the role she is meant for.” Time seemed to slow and the dawning sunlight seemed to glow brighter. Warmth filled her body as something seemed to peer into her soul, into her fate, and retreated when she began to sweat. Her skin was flushed and she knew she didn’t have the strength to stand.

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Gasps filled the chamber as she glowed and from the newly upturned earth sprouted a flower. Time seemed irrelevant as it grew at a pace visible to the naked eye. It bloomed directly facing her, a brilliant white with a warm yellow center. More shoots of green covered the floor of the church and bloomed, soon the moss could not be seen under the sea of white and yellow.

“Daffodil of Vita’s Garden, named for rebirth and new beginnings.” She understood this without words, impressed upon her mind directly. She felt innately that there was more, or the potential for it, but she raised her head to meet Dahlia’s stare. “Announce your name, child.”

She stood with a stumble and turned to the wider chamber. She stared into the sea of eyes, they burned but couldn’t match the weight of Asmophel’s stare. “I am Daffodil of Vita’s Garden. Named for rebirth and new beginnings.” Silence followed her statement, before the eyes lowered and she could only see the tops of their heads. They bowed from their seats in respect and she smiled.

She turned back towards the altar to see Dahlia giving her a warm smile and Tulip stepped forward. “Welcome, Daffodil of Vita’s Garden.” Dahlia echoed. “Welcome, Daffodil of Vita’s Garden.”

Tulip grasped her hand and she felt whole. The ground seemed farther from her feet and her body no longer ached.

Tulip knelt and scooped the flower that had bloomed directly from the first seed into her palms. Moss clung to its roots.

She swept Daffodil’s hair away from her shoulders and tucked the flower into her collar, weaving the roots into the fabric. She looked down, only now noticing the green tulip in the same place on the Priestess’ robes, and looking up she could see among the plentiful plants, a black dahlia clung to the Head Priest’s.

Golden light distracted her and she looked to see a single gold circle hovering over her flower. It faded quickly and it seemed her flower was unchanged.

Tulip gently pushed strands of hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek within a warm palm. “Your first. Yours to cherish and protect, and only when you prove that you can keep them alive will you earn more.”

She gently touched its petals, her head bowed.

She left the chamber with as clear a mind as she’s ever had, staring at Tulip’s hand clasped in hers. She squeezed, unheeding of the murmurs that started with her departure and Dahlia’s continued sermon.

Tulip sat her down at the kitchen table and gave her a bowl of soup, it was only then that she realized how her stomach gnawed at her, as if trying to eat itself. She slurped it up in record time, and only when her hunger was sated did she acknowledge the Priestess sitting across from her. Tulip was silent for a beat more, eyes unfocused as they stared into her own. “Before… Before I thought you were ten at most, but now…” She shook her head and stood, suddenly departing from the kitchen. Before she could think to follow, tulip barged back in, dragging the mirror she had seen in the storage room. “Just look.”

She did, but she did not recognize the person in the reflection. She furrowed her brows, and met the pale yellow eyes of the person in the mirror. Her hair was the same, the color of ash, but her skin was ruddy and clear. She looked fuller, rounded, sharp edges softened. She grew.

“The magic of the ceremony and Asmophel’s gaze… Sometimes it has effects we don’t expect.” Tulip worried her lip and her gaze turned to face her.

“The magic would heal, we knew, but how much… and your eyes…” She sighed heavily and sat with a thunk. “Years of malnourishment and neglect I understand, but to this extent?” Her eyes looked to the ground. “You could be as old as fourteen!” Daffodil flinched as her voice raised and Tulip fell silent. “My eyes?” She asked when Tulip didn’t continue.

Her voice came out clear and soft and Tulip turned to her with wide eyes. “Yes, your eyes.” She took a deep breath and put her hand over her mouth. “The eyes are a representation of the magic present in our soul. Before, yours were gray, meaning you had no magic. My eyes are pink because I have practiced two magics: life and water. Gold and purple.” She looked into her eyes considering. “But you have practiced no magic, but now they are yellow. It seems Asmophel has left her mark. It is an honor and a burden, a sign you may grow into formidable power.”

Daffodil pursed her lips, not quite understanding. Tulip waved her hand, “for now it is unimportant, but will be useful as you study healing magic, like that spell I used to heal your sunburn.” Daffodil perked up a bit and smiled, happy that she would be learning.

Tulip shook her head roughly, momentarily causing her hair to come into disarray. “But, what I called you here to talk about are the rules you’ll have to follow now that you’re an official member of the ecosystem.” She sighed. “We’ll go over them multiple times, and I’ll remind you whenever you need it.”

Her eyes stared into hers and she clasped both of her hands in her own. “This will be an adjustment, but both myself and Head Priest Dahlia are here for you, Daffodil, no matter how powerful you may grow.”

Daffodil felt the heavy atmosphere and gently laid a hand atop the Priestess’. Tulips shoulders lost their tension and she leaned forward to pull her into a quick hug before leaning back and fixing her appearance, resuming her usual stature.

The rules were relatively simple, but what she retained were how to introduce herself: the order is your name, then your garden, and when it is required, your position. She was now a Deacon, so she would introduce herself as-

“Daffodil of Vita’s Garden, a Deacon of this place of worship.”

“Very good.”

And that as a member of the clergy she would learn to heal.

She couldn’t wait, the phantom sensation of warmth in her veins making her itch.

They sunk back into silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

Dahlia joined them when the sun reached its apex, the light streaming in the windows bright. They sat in a comfortable atmosphere and Dahlia used a spell to examine her body. It had five circles. “What are the symbols?”

Dahlia startled from his trance and the spell flickered before fading. He considered for a moment before bringing up a simpler spell, the same spell Tulip had used, Burn Heal. “They are runes. Our system of writing and the language of the world.” She nodded, reaching out to trace the ones on her sleeves. “You will learn what they mean, and how to utilize them, during your tutelage. Priestess Tulip and I will teach you.” She smiled softly with her head lowered, her expression shielded by a curtain of hair. A warm hand patted her head.

“Your body is completely healed. I would have done the same, but I didn’t wish to overtax your body. Asmophel’s benevolence has graced us.” She nodded, recalling the warmth that had sunk into her bones. “But you will still need to rest, so we will begin your tutelage tomorrow, for now, you should retire to your rooms. The spell on your flower will last until you can keep its vitality yourself.” She hesitated then stood. Tulip stood as well and grabbed the mirror.

“Um-” She started then stopped, unsure. Tulip smiled and she relaxed. “Can I- bring the mirror?” Both showed surprise, then understanding and Tulip covered her mouth to smother a giggle. “Of course.”

They left the kitchen, leaving Dahlia behind, and Tulip dragged the mirror across the threshold to her room. She set it against a barren wall, then gave Daffodil a warm hug before leaving her alone. Daffodil sat in front of the mirror. Dust spun through the air, glowing in the light from the window. Half of her body sat in shadow, her face lit in harsh light. She couldn’t stop staring into her own eyes, the pale yellow so much brighter than her gray. Pools of vibrance where they used to sit, dull. She smiled, at first a simple tilt of the lips, then it widened to reveal her teeth, healthy and whole. She sniffled and tears rolled down her cheeks.

She dabbed at the water in surprise and began to giggle uncontrollably, the sounds clear and bright. Her throat didn’t protest as it usually did and her body moved fluidly without stuttering and aching. Her smile faded and she sobbed in earnest, face hidden in her hands, just as smooth and clean as Tulip’s, her heart warmed. She missed her mama.