When Akatosh pushed the door open, he saw the place filled with medieval-like design but different. Its marvelous architect and different varieties of plants and herbs growing at every side are beautiful to Akatosh's eyes.
The building was somehow large yet bright from the inside, light penetrates through the ceiling windows shining down the plantation. The smell of the atmosphere was like a perfume not too much to the nose just a pure smooth smell.
Seven people can be seen tending the plantation. The one closest to him was a girl wearing a white robe embed with gold strips at the end. She didn't wear any slippers or shoes. Yet Akatosh can tell she was somehow used to walking barefooted. She was busy transferring the herbal plant to the other pots.
"Young miss, can you tell me the way to this place." Akatosh implores the girl.
"Follow straight to this path" The girl responds pointing at the large double door. "There… go left until you see a large red tree also, there are four paths. Follow the door that symbolizes a fire there you will reach a chamber. If you used the left side door it will lead you to the exit door."
Akatosh can see her hands dirtied by rich black soil. He was more interested in the herbal plant she was tending.
"What's your name, young miss," Akatosh says lowering himself.
She didn't hesitate to reply instead she was quick to say her name. "Name's Mir." She said with a joyful face.
What he didn't know was, it was Mir's first time to have a conversation with an outside people. After that Mir turns away facing the plants and goes to collect the leaves. Akatosh can tell she was happy to have a conversation.
"Mir ehh… You can call me Akatosh." Akatosh smile drawing his hand for a shake.
Mir looks at Akatosh and she too shakes his hand.
"Nice to meet you too uncle Akatosh." She smiles.
By the looks of it, Akatosh can tell Mir's face shows a tragic life. It was very obvious that her smile gives a nostalgic feeling the moment Akatosh saw her warm confrontation.
"Mir it is then. Kindly tell me something about these flowers." Akatosh said picking the one she'd gather.
"They're not flowers, this one is called Elven Shade," Mir says picking the follower that she collected from the basket.
Akatosh wanted to ask Mir about the plants. Their effects, their cure, and how to create a potion using them. Unexpectedly Akatosh then remembers someone was waiting for him at the exit.
Before Akatosh said farewell to her Mir stood up. "Oh, I forgot. I had some things to deliver too. I can show you the way."
Akatosh smile. "Well, I'm in your care then." Akatosh sigh in relief.
"Wait," Mir says, going towards the pots then goes around to grab her satchel.
The moment Mir opens her satchel scanning for something. He caught a glimpse of her belongings; it was full of papers and books. As she carefully scavenges the bag, Mir brought out a white brown envelope. It wasn't thin to say, rather holds dozens of letters. After that, she puts the plump envelope in her basket full of different herbals.
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Akatosh was more to Mir's knowledge, about the herbal plants. He wanted to gain her knowledge regarding these kinds of stuff Mir's into.
While Mir and Akatosh walk in the corridor full of flowers, roots, mushrooms some glowing plants.
"Mir, can you tell me about this plant," Akatosh said. Showing her the one that he took.
A purple-colored flower and an aromatic smell. The leaf was star shape and had few purple dots.
"Ah, that one. We called that Purple Mountain."
Akatosh smile for he can tells she was sharp. By just a glimpse Mir can already tell the varieties of the plant.
"I want her. I mean not that kind of thing but a companion to help with this kind of stuff." Akatosh thought to himself.
"Purple Mountain…" Akatosh says somewhat curious. "What do these have?"
"Well Purple Mountains… what do we call this. It can restore little of your stamina. Also, some people used this to make tea in resisting the icy cold there at the top of the mountains when gathering some ingredients".
"I see… this girl got some talent."
After taking their step they reach a certain room. Sitting at the center of the chamber, there was a peculiar tree surrounded by pure clear water. It was no ordinary tree the leaves were indeed reddish reflecting the light of the sun. And at its ground are different plants growing right beside the tree. It was a majestic sight to see.
Out of curiosity. "What is this tree?"
"What, you didn't know this?"
"Well… the truth is…" Akatosh says scratching his cheeks.
"This tree, it is known to be the tree of Azarus Love. During that time, Azarus fell deeply in love with an incredibly beautiful human. As for the gods, well… it was taboo to make an affair with the mortals. So Azarus had to secretly leave the Celestial Realm for him to see her. He disguised himself as a handsome adventurer. And there Azarus slowly envelops her with his heart. But what he didn't know… the human he fell in love with had someone that he too desperately wants her. It was a prince that he too had secretly fell in love with her. Until a day arrives that she bares a son, the only offspring of Azarus himself. Not long after that, the other gods have begun to suspect something from Azarus. He knows this would happen, so he left her. By faking his death Azarus returns to the Celestial Realm."
"What happens after that," Akatosh says, looking at the very tree.
"That time… after Azarus left the mortal realms. The prince found out that she had already given birth to someone. He was very jealous, he wanted to kill the child, to take her once more. But she knows this, in her dreams she saw her child butchered in her very eyes, killed by the prince. She kept dreaming of this not knowing that it was Azarus that warns her. He couldn't leave the realms of the gods, if he would she would suffer a far greater threat, a punishment from the gods."
Mir then let out a sigh going towards the tree. Were Akatosh too then follows her while listening to her stories.
"A tragedy broke, the prince had many ears and eyes. He was informed that she was leaving the land aided by one mysterious person. Gathering his finest men, they set out before she could disappear. The prince thought that the man who was aiding her was the one who took her first. Not knowing it was one of Azarus guardians, a normal human that Azarus entrusted. He didn't want to provoke the gods by sending a powerful being rather a normal yet skillful mortal. At the riverbanks, the current of the water was averagely strong. Meanwhile, the prince and his men rush to the scene. Aware of their coming Azarus's avatar sprang into action holding them. Buying enough time for her and the child to escape. With the prince highly skilled in archery he couldn't bear to see her escaping, drawing three shots at once he aims for the baby."
"Shoot he fired, before the arrows could reach the child, she used her body as a shield. For the guardian, he couldn't fight twenty men at once but how he manages to take them was unknown. Some say it was Azarus giving his power, others say was through his crafting of an alchemist and other stuff, creating an explosion. Leaving only her and the prince facing at each other, though the prince was now a psychopath, he lost himself out of jealousy and hatred."
Cutting her words, they sit on a bench looking at the tree where its leaves slowly fall. While Akatosh lingering's his nose on the flower, listening to Mir's story.
"So… what became of them?" Akatosh said to her looking at the Purple Mountains.
"All was lost, but she was able to save the child from the prince."
"And her?"
"She was killed by the prince, tearing her apart piece by piece. For Azarus grieve, he turns her body parts into a tree that symbolizes his love." Mir says, hesitates.
"The legend says that this tree is her."
"You could say that, though what became of her son was a mystery. Some say it was Faravish himself."