Chapter 2: The Surprise That Comes With Flowers
Once Braev Lee learned of his daughter's actions and the consequences that followed them, he was mortified.
This led in Edea's punishment of being trapped in her room without any form of contact or outside information, preventing the furthering of her plans for the wedding. And this time, Braev remembered to seal the secret passage that led to the dungeon, further irritating the woman. Who was he to boss her around? She was eighteen for crystal's sake! Not to mention, he was retired, too! In the back of her mind though, she understood her action's backlash (even though she didn't remember the fight herself) and decided to sit back until everything was fixed.
When the repairs were finished (and Braev did not know how in all of Luxendarc did she completely decimate the couch but not that drugged cake), Edea was allowed to continue arranging her friends' holy ceremony. And the next thing on her list…was dresses.
Agnès, being the modest one of the group, wanted nothing more than a simple white gown, but of course, Edea insisted on far more appealing styles (claiming that Tiz would never be able to resist her again, to which Agnès frowned upon). Magnolia got fed up with their passive-aggressive arguments, and during one of their heated discussions, she literally grabbed the two, boarded the hot springs "airship" and instructed Mary to take them to Florem as fast as she could.
And now, she's currently watching Edea toss Agnès multiple dresses, the poor girl struggling under the weight.
"I feel…an overwhelming sense of something sinister pointed at us…" Agnès could have sworn the clerk is glaring at her. Edea, oblivious to the attention she's attracting, looked over her shoulder. "Ah…Agnès, it's just you. Now, how about this one…" Magnolia sighed in boredom, slightly regretting her spur-of-the-moment decision.
"Edea, Agnès, I'm going outside for a bit."
Vivid lights battled the natural rays of the sun as Magnolia entered the colorful streets. Girls of all ages gossiped in the corners of alleyways, occasionally pointing at an unfortunate character for their lack of style. Nearby merchants advertised the latest products from their most recent travels. Coming up to one of the stands, Magnolia skimmed through the items, picking up a particularly interesting object once in a while.
What she didn't notice was the way the merchant looked at her. He eyed her curiously, like a child with a new toy on a shelf. Never before had he seen such a fitting outfit (she has equipped the Summoner asterisk today, hoping to perfect Charybdis until her impromptu trip), and seen it on a well-figured woman.
"Miss, can I ask you something?" The summoner looked up from her search, surprised over the request. "Y-yes? What is it?" A poster was handed to her. "You see, you look so wonderful in that outfit of yours. I was wondering whether you would be interested in entering the Sacred Flower Festival." She staggered back in shock. "Umm…I'm not really suited for this sort of thing." The salesman laughed. "Nonsense. I'm sure you have what it takes." Magnolia stared at the paper with an almost longing way.
"I'll…consider it."
…
"Eh?! Some random person goes up and suggests you to enter the Sacred Flower Festival?!" Edea shouted harshly, a few heads turning away from the sound. Agnès flinched, although whether from Edea's loud vocal chords or from the mention of the festival itself is left unknown. "I don't have very good memories regarding that festival…" The happy, jubilant mood halted its festivities at her comment. The Templar's daughter frowned at this.
"That's right…the last time you entered, you didn't get a single vote. Not to mention someone threw water at you." The pope nodded in agreement. "It was slightly nerve-wracking being up there, but it's not like I needed to win. I only needed to deliver a message to Olivia…" Magnolia felt the air thickened around her, threatening to choke her. Agnès had her head down, sighing upon saying the late water vestal's name.
In a flash, the grieving look was gone, and the former pope smiled hesitantly. "Enough about me though. Edea, from what I heard, you won last year's festival." The blonde girl blushed lightly, and she played with the ends of her Ninja outfit. "That…wasn't really…I didn't mean to win. We were stopping by Florem to check on the water crystal when the festival was interrupted by Geist. I tried to stop him, but I was almost cut down until Alternis…oh wait, Ringabel, appeared."
Agnès tilted her head sideways, trying to recall who this "Geist" was. "Is he…the one with the Exorcist asterisk?" A nod from Magnolia answered her question.
"Yes. Apparently, because of Ringabel's vow to protect Edea, they won the title of Flower Girl and Flower Boy," Magnolia continued, "It was really touching to see those two." Edea started rambling, "I-it's not…really, it's…geez, Magnolia!" The moon native giggled at her embarrassment, with Agnès joining in with short bursts of laughter.
"In any case, I think you should enter, Magnolia. It'll be a fun experience for you." Edea haughtily raised her head up. Oh, one of her plans is starting…
"You know, I should enter just to defend my title."
"Eh?! Really, Edea?!"
"Of course, I'd like to see people try to outclass me." The Eternian flicked her bangs arrogantly, displaying an attitude of well-played confidence. In Edea's mind, however, she was thinking the complete opposite.
"I really don't want to enter again, but for the sake of this…" Edea abruptly pointed a finger at Magnolia, who took a step back in shock. "Magnolia, I'm challenging you to a beauty contest! Prepare yourself!" A few quiet seconds passed. Agnès blinked, dumbfounded over Edea's sudden attitude change.
The summoner was quite confused over the situation. What compelled Edea to act this way? "E-Edea?! Why are you...?" She was cut off by Edea's seemingly impulsive statement. "If someone claims that someone else would be more suited for my title, naturally, I will have to defend it. Now Magnolia, are you a woman enough to step up and fulfill that expectation?"
Magnolia gulped once before stuttering, "I-I don't know what's going on but…" A competitive glare was sent in Edea's direction.
"I accept your challenge!"
Party Chat: The True Test of Beauty
Agnès: Florem still needs to undergo many changes if it wants to return to a more pious lifestyle.
Edea: True, but I doubt the outer beauty gig will disappear.
Agnès: I agree. Maybe finding the harmony between old and new methods of judging beauty is the threshold Florem needs to cross.
Magnolia: It wasn't this...pompous before?
Edea: Well, it was like this when we traveled on our journey four years ago. Agnès was so shocked by the changes, I almost felt bad.
Agnès: Edea, it's not your fault that the changes in Florem came by your father's order. I'm sure he had no choice...considering the knowledge that he knew...
Edea: You're right. I'm sure my father slightly regrets what happened here. Anyway, I need to prepare for Magnolia's defeat.
Magnolia: Bring it, Edea!
Agnès: I guess outer beauty is here to stay.
A few days later…
"I wonder where Agnès is...she didn't leave any sort of message of where she went," Yu murmured as he picked at his white mage robes. Tiz, in his fencer asterisk, gripped the handle of his sword uneasily. "True, but Agnès can take care of herself. Besides, it's not only her that disappeared. Edea and Magnolia are gone too." Yu frowned at this. "That's true..." A blaring sound screeched into the town's ears, and everyone reflexively covered their ears and cringed.
"Welcome to the 50th annual Sacred Flower Festival! Everyone, please head to the stage and join us for our contest." Both males didn't get the chance to react to the announcement, for Tiz heard his name being called in a frantic way by a familiar voice.
"Tiz! Please help me!" Agnès panted when she caught up with Tiz and Yu. "They're life-savers!" she happily thought. "Please, you have to stop Edea and Magnolia." Yu became alarmed. "Stop them from doing what?" The panicking woman did not answer him. Instead, she dragged her fiancée over to the lit up stage. The announcer had just escorted the last contestant to the back of the built-in curtain.
"Hey! Agnès! What's going on?!" Her face visibly paled as the announcer called for a ten minute changing time. She finally acknowledged the breathless warrior. "Oh...this is bad. What do I do?" Tiz gently rubbed her shoulders. "How about you start from the beginning?" Agnès clutched her chest and nodded.
By the time the two males were filled in, the first contender, a lively lad around sixteen, already stepped out and was answering questions by the host.
"W-what?! Why would Edea challenge Magnolia to...this?!" Yu stammered hurriedly. Sure, he was used to her somewhat unorthodox ways, but this was a bit too much for the boy. As for Tiz, he caught on to Edea's plan immediately. "Well..." Tiz pondered for a bit, "There's not much we can do at this point. We might as well watch and see what happens." His other companions glanced apprehensively at each other before pointing their attention at the decorated stage. As more and more people entered and exited the walkway, Agnès's grip on her abnormally large shopping bag tightened.
Yu noticed her anxiety and, putting to the bag, asked, "What did you get, Agnès?" The brunette blushed slightly, shifting into her nervous thinking mode. "Oh, this? Umm...this is...my wedding dress. I wish I could show you now but..." He saw her eyes flickered to Tiz, and he got the message. "Maybe another time then," he said.
"And now...contestant number thirteen, please come onto the stage." Low whispers glided back and forth between the audience members. Then, a moment of silence as the girl strutted on. When the girl was revealed, sharp gasps broke the suspense.
"N-no way..."
"Even I wouldn't be that crazy..."
"She can't be serious!"
Tiz and Agnès could only stare in definite horror. They were too slow to shield Yu, and the youngest drank in the sight before him.
Edea was cladded in the infamous Bravo Bikini.
The Eternian winked, sending a bunch of men to faint on the spot. The rest of the audience denied the image being presented. She turned to the announcer and flirtatiously introduced herself to the stunned crowd.
Tiz was the first to snap back. "E-E-Edea?! Where did she find...?!" Agnès slowly covered her eyes; her poor mind couldn't handle the sudden shock. "Did she always have that with her?"
Yu's face was scarlet red, his face too unbearably hot. "Tiz...w-w-w-what is she wearing?!" His answer came in an awestruck, horrified tone, "That's the Bravo Bikini, Yu."
Edea suggestively waltzed back behind the curtain, leaving the audience in their shocked, prone state. The announcer uncomfortably coughed and stammered for the next contestant.
Magnolia, of course, witnessed the show Edea put on and began to doubt again. While no one knew she has the dress she had on now (she saw it in a shop from Ancheim and bought it despite the group being low on pg), she didn't think she could pull off the look anymore. Still, the host was calling for her, and she sucked in a deep breath.
"It's Showtime!"
Yu slapped his face multiple times, trying to banish the racy picture in his head. Both Tiz and Agnès shifted with awkward movements. Hopefully, the next person wouldn't be so bad...
Out of the blue, Tiz let out a harsh gasp, with his eyes bulging out a bit. Agnès once again covered her mouth, swallowing her own gasp. Yu feared the cause for their reactions. "What now...?" He turned to the stage...and immediately his cheeks glowed bright crimson.
Magnolia held her eyes closed, feeling the wind blow back the ends of her dress. The front cut low, with the middle of her chest and stomach exposed to the artificial lights. Her skirt stopped at her knees, while black boots pulled up to the end of the skirt. A small portion of her hair was wrapped into a simple bun, with side bangs draped on her flushed cheeks. Her precious magnolia adorned her hair. When she turned around to face the host, the audience could see her naked back.
The two former warriors of light felt faint grins forming. "Magnolia looks so beautiful in that," praised Agnès. Tiz nodded his approval. "Where did she get that though?" Agnès pondered over his question, "She must have had for some time. I don't remember her buying something the last two days we were here." Yu remained silent, still staring intensely at the girl dressed in black.
"Hey, Yu. Are you okay?" Tiz shook his shoulders a couple of times until his glossy eyes snapped out of his trance. "O-o-of course I'm fine!"
The announcer was finishing his last question. Magnolia shakily answered, and in her nervousness, took a quick glance at the crowd. She made eye contact with Yu, and her confidence crumbled.
"W-w-why is he here?! No...!"
She instinctively covered herself and rushed off to the back. The audience murmured in confusion. Tiz, being the most worrisome of the group, quickly shouted her name before attempting to come on stage and comfort her. But before he could, a high-pitched, girly voice interrupted him.
"Everyone, the true diva, Praline á La Mode, is here!"
Several boys started to cheer as the idol parted the crowd with ease. Her fans swarmed the front of the stage, pushing others out of the way. Agnès was pushed more than once, and Tiz took a defensive stance next to her.
"Everyone, I think that it's time to light up this boring contest! After this song, I'm sure the winner is obvious. After all...when I sing..."
The newly arrived lump of people all shouted with passionate vigor, "WE GO WILD!"
"Yes, that's right! Now, time for my show to begin!" Praline raised her microphone and sang a tune that reflected her lively personality. Slowly, people started to form miniature blushes. The cheering increased in volume as Praline dominated the stage.
The host of the festival was the one clapping the most. "Oh, how wonderful! You are our new winner!" The performer gasped exaggeratedly. "What a pleasant surprise! Thank you everyone!" More people cheered.
Edea was beyond furious. "Oh no you don't! I put effort into this! I'm not letting this go without a fight!" She stormed onto the stage, fury boiling through her blood.
"Praline! Stop this! I won't forgive you for snatching my title without a proper fight!" The idol halted her voice, looking at Edea with slight distaste. "How about you? Did you plan to seduce your way to victory?" The barely covered girl sneered at her question.
Magnolia decided then to step out and investigate the commotion. When she spotted the former member of the Black Blades arguing heatedly with Edea, she intervened with a surprised greeting.
"Oh, so you entered too, huh?" Praline stated in her squeaky voice. Magnolia felt the strained tension in her voice. "Well...too bad, seeing as I already won." Edea shouted back, "That's because you charmed the guy!" Praline irked. "It can't be helped. Personally, it doesn't look like the both of you would win, anyway."
Now the Ba'al Buster was mad. "You think it's easy trying to gain the confidence to stand up there?! It took everything for me, and yet..." She clinched her fist, sending a glare to the performer. "Now you've done it!" She drew her wand, while Edea whipped out double daggers. Some of Praline's more motivated fans assumed a battle position next to the idol.
Tiz and Yu staggered back at their yelling. "Someone has to stop them!" Yu exclaimed. But his cry fell on deaf ears, as both sides looked ready to tear each other apart. Tiz turned to Agnès, and found his special someone glaring with unforeseen anger at the performer.
"I understand Magnolia's feelings. It's truly a scary task; leaving yourself open to the judgement of others. But when someone insults another's bravery," Agnès calmly stood among Edea and Magnolia, "I have no choice but to intervene!" With that, the battle between the females began.
It was a battle to be seen. Praline buffed her attendants before sending them to slice the three female warriors. Edea, with her Ninja asterisk, dodged their incoming attacks and occasionally stabbed one in the back. Magnolia stood still for a moment before waving her rod up to the sky, and the infamous Deus Ex blasted electricity onto the opposing side.
The biggest threat was Agnès, though. With her mastery in black mage and arcanist as backup, she brilliantly casted Sleep onto the enemies' side, followed by Interment, wiping out waves of hypnotized fans with a flick of her hand. Fortunately, she lessened the damage so that it didn't cause severe injuries. Praline felt herself slowly cornered as her attackers started to gain ground.
Finally, after Magnolia summoned Susano-o, Praline knelt down in exhaustion. Various burn marks scarred her arms and puffy dress. The three women glared at the fallen idol, waiting for her to say something.
"Why? Why must I be robbed of attention again? This is not fair!" Praline pouted childishly, stomping the ground with her beaten-up boots. She hastily ran off in embarrassment, and Edea huffed in relief. Agnès patted down her short pleated skirt, wiping any dirt from the fabric. Magnolia scanned around for any signs of damage, but the stage and nearby areas looked unscathed. Half the crowd laid peacefully on the floor, courtesy of Agnès. Yu raised his staff and casted an Esunaga, and the mass of people slowly rubbed the sleep out of their eyes.
"Huh...what was I doing…?" The announcer wobbled to his feet. A few people massaged the back of their heads. The other contestants poked their heads out from the solid curtain. Awkward seconds ticked by in silence.
"So...umm...next contestant?"
...
"Hey, Magnolia, I'm sorry for suddenly imposing this on you." Edea played with her fingers. The girl in the black dress shook her head. "No, it's okay. Besides, it was a different experience for me, and I had fun, even though I was quite nervous up there." Both of them laughed, calming the competitive aura between them. The shepherd's fiancée breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness." Tiz rubbed his head, almost embarrassed that he stood still during the entire ordeal. "I'm glad that you three are okay. It's quite a scare watching your fight." Yu nodded in agreement.
"Hehe...sorry. I did make preparations for this." Tiz let out an exasperated groan. "On that note, how in the world did you find that?! I thought for sure it was burned…" Edea struck a victory pose.
"Apparently, the sage really liked the Bravo Bikini, because it's made out of flameproof material." Now Tiz really stumbled back in shock. Agnès's face couldn't be any redder. "Such is its terrible power…" she quoted.
"Everyone, thank you for your patience. We are ready now to announce the winners." Agnès felt the rivalry light up again in the two light-colored haired women, and she gently backed up into Tiz's arms. He lightly wrapped them around her, blinking at the serious glares of the two.
"I don't plan on losing, Magnolia Arch!"
"The same goes for me, Edea Lee!"
All the contestants piled onto the stage, forming a straight line next to the man with the microphone. He launched into a somewhat dry speech about the festival's recent changes. And after a few minutes of this, he pointed the microphone at the audience, explaining that the winner will be crowned by the loudest applause.
When it was Edea's turn for judgement, wolf whistles echoed through the city, putting Edea in the lead. She accepted her praise with a flick of her bangs. Magnolia began to fidget under the pressure.
"Now then, next is Magnolia!" Some clapping and energetic shouts were given, but it didn't match the volume of Edea's applause. Magnolia flashed a bittersweet smile.
The judging round took only a few more minutes, but the winner was obvious. Edea was announced the winner for Flower Girl, while the lively boy that started the competition won Flower Boy. The Eternian cheered with happiness. The audience clapped excitedly as the winners stood up front. Magnolia stood among the defeated, half-heartedly clapping for her scantily dressed companion.
"Too bad, I guess. And to think I actually had a chance…"
Later that night…
"Oh, Magnolia. There you are." The mentioned person turned from the bunny cosplay statue to Yu, who was hiding his hands behind his back. "Yu…why are you up so late?" The white mage went by her side, absentmindedly admiring what little light the stars above gave in contrast to the blinding lights on the streets. "I could ask you the same. Are you okay?" he asked in a soft voice. She nodded slightly; the frown on her face did not lessen in the slightest. "I will be. I have to admit, it was a bit embarrassing…"
Yu shifted nervously. He usually didn't pay attention to the way Edea or Magnolia dressed (or Agnès for that matter), but experiencing them fighting over their assets left him speechless with bright red cheeks. "Umm...Magnolia, I have something for you." He revealed a pure white poppy from his covered hands. In turn, Magnolia gasped at the flower.
"I found it in the nearby fields while we were on our way here. I thought it would be a good time to give this to you. Here you go." He gently placed it into the girl's cupped hands, breaking into a grin at her surprised face.
"Oh...it's beautiful, Yu. Thank you." She twirled the small plant, examining the similarly shaped petals around the pollen stem. "I'm glad you like it. Well...I better go back to the inn. Today was...an exhausting day. Good night, Magnolia." She watched her love run back to the hotel. Her gaze went back to the pale bloom in her hand, and she grinned softly at his gift.
From behind the bunny-girl sculpture, Edea peeked at her blushing friend. She giggled as Magnolia grasped the poppy closer to her heart.
"Worked like a charm!"
She chose this time to make herself known. She energetically shouted, "Magnolia! What do you have there?" The mentioned girl jumped at her name. "Ah...Edea. How did dinner go for you?" she greeted. Edea held multiple take-outs out for her to see. "Very satisfying. It's been so long since I had food in Florem. On another note, who gave you that flower?" Magnolia stayed silent for a while. "Oh...umm...Y-Yu did…" she stuttered.
Edea's smile widened. "That's just like Yu to give you flowers. And especially that kind of flower…" Magnolia tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?" Her companion only gave her a sly grin.
"In Luxendarc, each flower has a different meaning to them. You could call it...the language of flowers." And with that statement hanging in Magnolia's mind, Edea flicked her blonde hair and headed back to the inn.