Beatrice's cottage was in bloom the next time Yvlena set her eyes upon it. The roof brimmed with flowers local to the area.
Yvlena recognized some Fox Gloves, Luna Orchids, and Bloom Lilies herbs. Combined the area was covered in a sweet herbal scent.
Yvlena inhaled deeply allowing herself to smell something other than the swamp she had endured for ages. Bloom Haven was a literal breath of fresh air.
"Beatrice the cottage looks amazing!"
The old woman pulled open the door for the both of them to make their way into the house.
"I know, life has returned to the Floral district and I couldn't be happier to see it," Beatrice said. "Would you like some tea?"
"You know it," Yvlena said placing the basket she was holding on a new table Beatrice must have bought from Tom the carpenter recently.
'I really need him to do some work on the manor,' Yvlena thought. She looked around finding new furniture carved out of wood and new cloth items too.
The large table was decorated with a hand-woven linen cloth. Some of the cushions on the chairs had been replaced too. The hearth had fresh logs cut and set aside.
Who had done all this? It couldn't be Beatrice, right?
The elf took a seat on the now plush chair, beside the hearth and waited for Beatrice to come out with the tea she had already begun boiling.
"Beatrice, can I ask you something?" Yvlena began cautiously, in her mind she had a hunch Beatrice would be able to tell her about the once noble house of Flores.
"Of course Yvlena, anything,"
"Do you know anything about the name Flores," Yvlena asked.
The elf heard something clatter to the ground and ran to the kitchen to assist Beatrice who had dropped a spoon from the shock of hearing that name.
"Beatrice, are you alright?" Yvlena asked, diving to pick the spoon up and place it back on the table. She wrapped an arm around the old woman who remained silent.
"Why don't we go and sit down,"
----------
"I'm sorry Yvlena you just gave me quite the shock that's all," the old woman shook her head and raised a hand to run through her greying locks. "It's been so long since I've heard my family's name,"
"Your family?" Yvlena asked, all of a sudden the elf recalled the locket she had given to Beatrice with the initial T.F.
T.F. Twyla Flores.
"Oh my God, you're part of the former noble house of Flores," Yvlena said gasping.
[Beatrice's Daughter 8.7% completion]
[Story of the Harvest Guardian 15.7%]
"Lilian Flores is your-"
"Great Grandmother, yes. She was a Harvest Guardian much like yourself, I suppose that's how you came to know of her,"
"Yes, Bavga the bone witch told me about her and how the nobles didn't take too kindly to her occupation,"
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"They could not see beyond their prejudices, dark did not mean evil but it's difficult to convince anyone set in their ways of something,"
"I'm sorry Beatrice, for bringing up this old wound, clearly it's something that still bothers' you," Yvlena said.
The old woman shook her head again, standing to continue making tea for her guest.
"Like I said it was just a surprise. No one calls me much by my surname anymore, Twyla was proud of it though. Proud to come from the line of a Harvest Guardian,"
"I imagine she was,"
'Maybe that's why she went to find Rael,' Yvlena thought.
Yvlena sipped her tea and ate bread with Beatrice who was always happy to have the girl around. They chatted for a bit about the state of things before Yvlena asked to take a nap.
"Beatrice, is it alright if I rest here for a bit?" Yvlena asked.
"Of course my dear, take as much time as you need. I can't imagine there aren't many useable beds within the manor," the old woman said.
"Thank you,"
----------
Aya logged out of the game with a sigh, her eyelids felt heavy from all the things she had done, but it was finally time for her to get some sleep.
"I'm pretty sure Kuti is a summon but I'll have to check tomorrow when I play," Aya said yawning. She set the Revsita aside and curled into the mattress for a good night's sleep.
----------
"Aya get up!" Mars' voice said in a whisper, the dark haired girl had been shaking her awake forcing Aya to open her eyes. The brunette blinked herself awake wondering why her roommate would be waking her up at such a late hour.
"Mars! What?" Mars slapped a hand over the girl's mouth, telling her to be quiet. That's when Aya heard it. The sound of something trying to come in through the main door.
It was probably burglars, the most common criminals in Axen.
Aya didn't have to worry about them when she had her special locks but now with the moving efforts they only had the basic steel ones to rely on.
Beside Mars was a baseball bat wrapped with a sock, while Mars herself had a calm but worried expression.
"Someone's trying to break in, how long would it typically take the police to arrive if something happened?"
"This far and this late? It would take forever this is the lowest priority area in Axen," Aya said in a panic, she had lived through a break-in before, one of the nights before she had gotten her locks.
"Alright, grab the heaviest or sharpest thing you can from the kitchen and stay close," Mars said patting Aya's head. "Don't cry, I'll protect you,"
"I'm not crying," Aya whined quietly as she got up from the bed in her pajamas and followed Mars into the kitchen.
The lights in the apartment were off and remained that way so the would-be intruders didn't know anyone was in the home. The girls kept their footsteps slow and light.
Aya pulled the nearest knife from the kitchen rack and waited beside Mars.
"You got it?"
Aya nodded vigorously, holding the handle of the knife with a strong grip. The girls waited on either side of the door. Their hearts pounded in their chest as they waited for the miscreants to force their way in.
"It's no good, these are steel locks," one of the voices said outside the door. Aya and Mars heard a sharp smack, the sound of a person receiving a slap.
"You idiot, you told me you could pick steel locks," Another voice whispered.
"Cheap steel not expensive steel, shame too if we got in the broads in here are definitely loaded,"
Another slap resounded through the hallway. The voices' muffled complaints trailed off as the footsteps slowly receded into the distance.
Mars and Aya let out synchronized sighs of relief, placing their weapons on the floor. A weight had lifted off their collective shoulders with the knowledge that no one was trying to come in through their door.
"We almost got robbed," Mars said. "That's never happened to me before,"
"Axen City bids you a grand welcome," Aya said leaning her head on the wall.
"It can take that welcome and shove it," Mars said.
Aya laughed, already she was too used to the harsh realities of life in Axen city. Now she was only eager to leave this crime infested rat hole.
"I only wonder how they knew we were women," Aya said.
"What?" Mars sat up, alert at Aya's words.
"They said, if we got in the broads in here are definitely loaded, how did they know we were...women,"
"Someone must have tipped them off," Mars said. "In which case we should keep an eye on the door just in case anyone else wants to play,"