“To bring a mind full of romantic ideals, I want you to solve four riddles. The four riddles are about flowers and you need to be livid about your imagination.” Zirk explained towards Reysha.

“…That’s unexpectedly normal.” Reysha replied with a surprised countenance.

“A beautiful Dewdrop that shies away as the horizon is painted with shade. It hangs its head in embarrassment as the filter of light slowly fades.” Zirk told Reysha the first riddle.

“A beautiful dew drop? Rather than a riddle, it is more like a guessing game. Must he mean a flower that is scared of the dark and bask in the daylight?” Reysha contemplated.

“I am not exactly a girl who likes her flower. Could you lend me some more details?” Reysha frankly asked.

“Nope. No can do.” Zirk replied an immediate succession.

“I already knew that. It’s just that how can I imagine such flower when there’s no detailed description? Should I really need to resort to damn romantic ideals?” Reysha thought deeply.

“Scientific method is pointless and the process of elimination won’t be much of help since the question itself lacks any descriptive logic behind it. Most likely, the answer lies in the embarrassment part but what kind of flower should get embarrassed by the filter of light slowly fades? In hindsight, the filter of light slowly fades means nightfall.” Reysha deeply and carefully contemplated with a furrowed brows.

“Ooooh?!~ What is this?!~ The wiser and smarter Reysha Einhart is having a hard time?!~” Zirk teased with a horrid smug on his face as he leers closer to Reysha’s face.

“Calm down…calm down…that childish provocation won’t get through me.” Reysha tried to calm herself.

“What’s wrong?!~ Did you perhaps became dumb when it counts?!~ Ahahaha!~” Zirk continued his provocation.

At that moment, Reysha snaps momentarily and before she knew it, she grabbed Zirk’s head and firmly grasped with her hand. Upon the action, Zirk violently flails his legs as he tried to take Reysha’s hands off from his face but to no avail, Reysha’s strength didn’t falter.

“AHHHH! I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! IT’S GOING TO BREAK! MY HEAD IS SPLITTING! ARRGHHHH!” Zirk pleaded as he continues to flail his limb in excruciating pain.

“Ahh…I see…Morning Glory. A beautiful flower that unfurls its petals in daylight and closes at night. In a romantic ideal, that should be a radiant smile comparable to sunlight.” Reysha suddenly said. “Oh? It seems grabbing your head gave me insight.” She added as she let go of Zirk’s head.

THUD

“What’s wrong with you, you gorilla! That answer is correct though!!” Zirk exclaimed as he crawls away from Reysha.

“No, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Tsk, just give me the second riddle!” Reysha answered back with a vein bulging in her forehead.

“You’re not even going to apologize?!” Zirk once again talked back.

Reysha only snaps cold eyes towards him filled with hate. Seeing how Reysha reacted, Zirk’s body jolted.

“That’s a joke! Please don’t wiggle your fingers like you want to grab onto something again! I know that it’s definitely going to grab my head again!!” Zirk pleaded with a pale face as he slowly steps back.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Just give me the damn riddle!” Reysha shouted.

“A flower that beckons the dead but in exchange, shows an exquisite rare beauty that could only be seen at the end of one’s life. A beauty that even as the flower fade, the pretty memories it brought is immensely carved in one’s heart.” Zirk hurriedly gave the next riddle.

“Ah, I know that one. It’s Higanbana, the flower that blooms nobly at the riverside of Styx. It is definitely a beautiful flower worth of admiration while life passes by.” Reysha promptly answered.

“…Styx?” Zirk questioned.

“Crap! Does the existence of river Styx unknown here? No, it is definitely not known here…I have to gloss it over smoothly.” Reysha momentarily panics but was able to collect herself. “It is a term for the afterlife. I heard about it from Ivy.” Reysha explained.

“Ah, that Demon Lord! I see I see. I still have a lot to learn.” Zirk nodded as he acknowledges the new information. “Well then, are you ready for the next two?” Zirk asked.

“Yeah…bring it.” Reysha simply replied.

“A flower that represents the fresh season that glitters along with the radiant sun. Humid yet attractive, young yet feisty, and lively yet meek. A fragrant that will remind everyone of their youth and beauty of summer.” Zirk told Reysha the next riddle with a dignified voice unavailable earlier.

“I see.” Reysha muttered. “Nothing comes to mind…” She inwardly said.

“Gumamela? But that flower really doesn’t feel all summery. Dusty Miller? Hardly…Lilac…no. Something will remind me of sun…” Reysha began delving deeper into her thought.

“Sunflower? That could it be but…it’s not feisty. Come to think of it, he said young and beauty of summer. If I think of it like a flower bed, then a sunflower is hardly anything unique. If I want to impress a girl, I will compare her to a something rarer.” She continued her thought while placing a finger in her chin.

“Ah…so it’s a summer flower, right? Gumamela…is what I wanted to say but it should be of its kind. That’s right, Hibiscus. It’s Hibiscus, right? A red and feisty flower but since it’s petals are a little crumpled, it shows meekness. Young and lively as it freshly blooms at summer…” Reysha immediately conveyed her thoughts.

“That’s correct. You are starting to think romantically, Miss Reysha! That's good! Then the next one should be easy now as long as you keep thinking like that!” Zirk happily said as if he is watching a learning student.

“Spare me the compliments. They worth nothing coming from you. Just give me the last one.” Reysha beckons him to hurry.

“Sheesh, we got all day, to be honest! Well then, the last riddle is…A flower befitting of innocent royalty. A pure and naïve yet proud flower that exposes itself boldly. It's noble and profound of any new ideas, thus, complementing anyone who behests near it.” Zirk gave the last riddle.

Reysha closes her eyes. As soon as she heard the word noble, one flower immediately came to mind.

“Casablanca.” Reysha simply said.

“See! You are now ready for the second trial! Congratulations on conquering the first trial! You have now learned a romanticist way of thinking!” Zirk said with a delighted face.

“Like I said…I don’t need your compliment. Just tell me what to do next so I can get over with this sham already.” Reysha beckons him with a tired countenance.

“Well, Leader instructed me to so let’s do that. Your next destination is the waterfalls. Go and pursue the knowledge you desire!” Zirk pointed somewhere and Reysha just nonchalantly walked away.

“Yeah, yeah…” She said as she waved her hand without looking back.

Reysha never looks back and walks straight with a complicated expression, seemingly confused. She crossed her arm as she thinks of something that assailing her mind for a while now.

“The next trial, huh? The falls…must be that guy then…” Reysha muttered as she continues walking.

Reysha walks and walks and walks for about fifteen minutes. Knowing and mapping the forest beforehand, Reysha already knows where she needs to be without getting lost.

Not long after, the sound of gushing falls enters her ears. The smell of fresh water springing down enters her nose that gives pleasantness.

As she arrives at the fall, a bald man who meditates under the fall comes to her view.

“Hey, Marc.” Reysha called out to the bald guy.

“What the ****?! You’re already here, Miss Reysha! The **** is Zirk doing?” Marc said without opening his eyes.

The twelfth bandit, Marc.

Although bald, Marc is considerably handsome. Having a compact muscle all over his body, he gives off an impression of a veteran warrior. In reality, Marc is previously a monk and even now, he is still practicing his monk way of life.

Was a monk is actually a better term.

Marc was once a part of a traveling nomad whose goal is to rid themselves of worldly desire. However, he was kicked out from the group and Falikh found him afterward.

What was the reason he was kicked out?

“**** yeah! It seems my knowledge would now be used in practicality.” Marc said.

………

The reason he got kicked out of the nomad group is that of his foul mouth and strong language.