hi! Thanks for staying with this story so far! Thanks for all those who favorited and/or put this on their alert list. Those who have been leaving their reviews. Or simply reading it ^^ I love you all!

For the subsequent chapters, I wouldn't talk much before the chapter unless you guys have some questions on your reviews. When I have something to tell about the chapter itself, I'll put it at the bottom of the chapter to avoid spoilers. So keep on the lookout for those commentaries! ^^


The hype of the Flower Festival, caused mainly by Gill sharing the first dance with Gwen during the Flower Ball, finally died down after a few days. Elviaros slowly returned to the calm small town it usually was.

Rachel, knowing how tense and awkward the situation in Leicestria household (with two broken-hearted men and one love-triangle with all the participants under one roof) was, offered to bring the sisters to stay with her since she had an extra room for two after upgrading her cottage. Initially, Gwen and Reine were reluctant to leave, but Rachel eventually managed to persuade the sisters.

As part of her Healing Art training, Reine took up a job as Elli's assistant in the town's clinic. Besides refining her aura control, Reine learned a lot about medicinal herbs. Since she was already familiar with wild herbs as a dragon, it wasn't particularly challenging for Reine to identify medicinal herbs and differentiate them from the poisonous ones—she just needed to learn what herb went with what other herb to make what potion.

Reine found a joy in her new profession. Besides learning more about human-developed art, it made her felt… fulfilled. It might be because of her survival instinct as a dragon that drove her to help others survived, but it might as well be the benevolent heart that dragons didn't lack of—unlike what humans might want to believe about them.

"Um… Elli?"

"Yes?"

Reine brought the tome about poison antidote before her master and pointed out a certain herb, "Isn't this… poisonous?" she asked.

"Yes, it is," Elli replied, "but in the small amount, it has healing properties."

"Really?"

Elli smiled, "Remember this, Reine: vice is virtue in excess. Goodness comes in proportion; too less or too much will be something bad instead. For example, fanaticism is actually an excess loyalty."

Reine was struck by the truth of those words. She listened intently as Elli continued speaking, "That is why the thumb rule of healers is aura control."

Suddenly, the sound of bell from the church reverberated through the streets of Elviaros. It was the sign of midday. Reine turned at Elli, who smiled at her, "You have to go, right?"

"Yes, thank you!"

Reine put the book at a nearby desk and took the lunches she had brought with her. She walked briskly towards the Animal Store; although now she was staying with Rachel, she still brought the brothers their lunches—so did Gwen to Allen. It had become their routine.

She was greeted by Rod's cheerful smile when she opened the door to the Animal Store. "Hey, Reine!"

Reine smiled back at him as she passed him his lunch, "Your lunch."

Looking at this, a young man whistled teasingly. Since the Flower Ball—in which Reine gave her first dance to Rod—almost everyone in Elviaros knew Rod had some feelings for the pinkette. And to them, it seemed that Reine returned those feelings although strangely, she didn't wear the marguerite pendant with her during the Flower Ball.

Then again, Reine wasn't very familiar with the intricate rules of the Flower Festival altogether.

"Looking good, Rod!" the young man complimented teasingly, "Just give her the Blue Feather already!"

Rod blushed crimson. "H-Hey… she's been bringing me my lunches since two seasons ago, you know…"

Jessica watched the encounter, too, and inwardly, she was troubled.

The day after the Flower Festival, Neil had always been the one volunteering to shepherd the flocks. And Jessica—just like most of the town did—knew that on the same day, Reine and Gwen moved out from Leicestria household to live with Rachel.

Jessica was shocked when she found out that the marguerite pendant that rested on Reine's chest didn't come from Neil; all along she had—not mistakenly so—suspected that Neil was fond of Reine.

Rod and Reine were having a small chat while Rod enjoyed his break. They were laughing.

Jessica sighed.

Could one build one's happiness over other's misery?


Neil sat down under the shade of the tree. Two weeks ago, he sat under the very same tree and worked his fingers through rose thorns to make the headdress.

Now, he simply stared at the distance, watching the animals grazing to their hearts' content.

Thor perched on his shoulder. These days, Neil preferred to bring Thor along with him since he would be out of the store most of the time. Meanwhile Thor, as if knowing his master's state of mind, obligingly followed him although all he did would be just perching on his shoulder.

Suddenly, the sharp hawk sensed another presence. He flew away from Neil's shoulder and went for that other presence. Neil turned around, "Hey, Thor! What is—"

He was stunned.

Reine was walking to his direction with Thor perching on her shoulder.

Neil remembered the first time Reine met Thor, the latter was so aggressive towards her that it almost pecked her eyes out. It was strange how a relationship could change overtime.

For the better or worse.

More importantly, how could she be here? He knew that she had taken up a job in the Clinic, so she shouldn't be as free as she used to be. That was his primary reason to volunteer himself in this shepherding duty—so that Reine could spend whatever free time she had with Rod, and so that he didn't have to be there to witness it.

Then… why was she here?

Reine walked to him as if there was nothing wrong. He turned his head away.

"I brought your lunch." She said, "Rod told me you never ate the lunches I left at the store, so I asked Elli whether I could have a slightly longer break to give this to you."

Neil didn't say anything, acting as if there was no one else there but him.

Reine reached out to him, "Neil…"

The moment her skin touched his, an electric current pierce through her skin. She quickly took her hand back and this time, she could feel the aura shield Neil had built around himself.

"Neil?" she called, this time confused. "Why…?"

He said nothing. He even refused to turn his head.

The wind blew, bringing with it several fallen flower petals on the ground.

Neil clenched his fist. These days, every time he felt a wind against his skin, he was always reminded of his Wind Elementer younger brother.

As if he mustn't forget.

As if he could ever forget.

"You're such a strange one," Reine said at last. "There are times you are so warm, yet others you are so cold. You saved me, but you pushed me away."

"Tell me, Neil Leicestria…" her voice trailed off. "Am I your friend?"

Neil closed his eyes and rested his head against the tree as another wind blew between them, as if wishing that this tree could shield him against Reine—or maybe the wind between them.

Reine clenched her fist. She couldn't explain why the heat was rising inside her as Neil gave her the cold, piercing shoulder. She couldn't understand why it had bothered her so, but she would admit that it did bother her.

"Why aren't you answering me?!" she asked, frustrated this time. "Why don't you even look at me?!"

Neil could hear her voice trembling, and this time, his resolve faltered, he let go of his clenched fist. He was about to turn his head around when it came again.

Another wind. Another reminder.

That's right. I am his elder brother. Neil told himself for the umpteenth time.

"Neil Leicestria!" Reine cried out as she couldn't hold back her frustration. And then those words came out from her mouth, "I hate you!"

It felt like a stab. For both of them.

Reine never expected she would say that. She never expected she would use such an… emotional word. For a human, no less.

For Neil, it sounded like his verdict.

He took a deep breath. And then he sighed.

"…Good."

And that was all he told her.


"I hate you."

Will their relationship wilt before it even blooms?

Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! ^^

A/N: Okay, so about this chapter... and many chapters ahead, I 'present' certain characters through their elements. Just like how Neil felt Rod is there just because a wind is blowing when he is alone with Reine. While the wind obviously interrupts their conversation, you can say that it's just the same as how Rod interrupts their blooming relationship (if you want to see it that way). And as for Thor, he knows that Reine is a dragon (hence his initial aggresiveness towards her) but soon he realizes that Reine is an important figure for his master, so Thor softens up to Reine despite she being a dragon. Pretty smart and considerate, huh?