“Now then, apologies for being too hasty my Elder,” I apologized, creating a rose and floating to be tucked between the folds of his robes.

“Let us not dwell on earlier. My guards were too, hmm, presumptuous in mistaking you for minions of the forest. I will take it as just due.” He expressed his words by taking the rose and creating a vase to place the flower in and hovered it to the side.

We sat face to face on floating clouds that overlooked the hall. I peeked down to see Leah pacing the floor in her cute angry manner.

I stroked over my ear with my fingertips and could hear what Leah was muttering under her breath.

“He nearly kills them then gets invited to a private conversation? In all my years, I have never seen someone rewarded with a comfy place to sit and talk. And just what is with him? C-calling me beautiful out of the blue like that. Ah! Whatever!”

At this point, Leah stopped pacing and started fidgeting with her hair while muttering about how arrogant I am.

I let out a little chuckle then stroked over my ear again to stop the spell.

“Since we have gotten that out the way, let us get to the matter at hand.” I said, looking back to the old man and speaking in a deeper tone with a fake smile.

“You would like to know about the dungeon?” He questioned, already seeming to know my intentions, “your colleague has informed me of your difficulties. Along with seeing your deep wounds.”

“Poison I was told. I do thank you for getting rid of that. My restoration magic only reaches the ability to close wounds. Have you fixed up that blue-haired beauty’s wounds down there? She didn’t get hit by the tail so there is no poison in her. Lucky isn’t she?”

The elder looked at me before letting out a defeated sigh.

“Your poison was only a small dose inside the entry points of your chest and arms.”

My smile faded, the rose in the vase turning black and wilting. I corrected my posture and brought my hands over my lap. I started creating Sakura petals in my palms.

“So there was poison in those claws… how much is inside Leah?”

“An amount we cannot extract here in the temple.”

“Well find a way!” I yelled, the petals blackening and crumbling out my hand.

Breathe.

“My apologies once again.” I bowed my head and started to create the Sakura petals once more. “It is just… that girl cannot die. Not yet, I need her.”

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“I’m sorry boy, but extracting poison is like untangling wires inside the body. Think of it like this, inside you was only one or two wires. But, inside her, is a web too complicated and will take too long to extract. It’s like infusing or controlling mana. If she had more control, the process would be simpler.” He created another rose inside the vase, filling it with water.

“Fine. Say she cannot be cured here, there must be another way is there not?”

“There are three options,” he held up three fingers, folding them after each option, “one is to seek the magic of an attuned monk or one who has practiced restoration for several generations. Your headmaster would possibly be able to make her free of the poison.”

“He already tried to create a portal to our school, the communication is blocked.”

The old man gave me a suspicious stare. Shoot. I slipped up.

“I mean I have already tried to create the portal. Ha. My wounds are still recovering. Anyways, what of the third option?” I stammered, hoping to keep the conversation away from that other topic that I was not too curious about at the moment.

He cleared his throat. “The third option is to evoke the power of the Gods and ask them for a kind blessing.”

I gave him a blank stare.

“A joke boy. Don’t take it so seriously or I’m going to feel guilty.”

Why must things be ever so difficult.

“I enjoy a good joke. However, there was no beauty in the one you just told,” I said, floating about fifty petals to my side then went back to creating more, “Very well, where may I be able to find the closest monk.”

“There is none here in Cristalcrest city nor is there one that I know of in the Emerald realm.”

My raised eyebrow twitched. My grin started to fall, but I brought it back up.

“So, you are meaning to tell me that the flower down there is going to— wilt?”

“In lack of better terms, yes. Unless you manage to defeat the beast that has poisoned her, you should start preparations for her death.”

I created fifty more petals and again, floated them to my side to be held in the air.

“How long?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“How long does the poor girl have.” I questioned, now my smile completely fading.

“Four days is my estimate. Three days until her body starts to deteriorate.”

The old man stood up and reached his hand out to me.

“Now, about our other topic. Who are yo—.”

“I am sorry Elder, but that will have to wait,” I said, interrupting as I outstretched my hand to him, “My rose needs tending to.” I glanced downwards.

As he was about to shake my hand, I brought it to my side and faced my open palm downwards. The hundred floating Sakura petals in the air floated graciously down to the people below.

To Leah below.

“It’s beautiful! Take a picture!” yelled Leah, twirling in blissful ignorance as the petals showered the hall.

“Until I have defeated the dungeon and bring back what’s mine, only then will I shake your hand Elder.” I rose to my feet and bowed once more before jumping off the cloud and floating down to Leah’s side.

“Leo, took you long enough. What were you guys talking about so cautiously that I was not invited to take part?”

I looked at her through the Sakura petals between our faces. This is beauty in its entirety.

“Why? Are you jealous, my dear?” I teased, handing her a pink rose made from the Sakura petals, “Now then, let us begin our journey.”