Ironwind Landing. The Red Chamber hummed with the sound of engines, as if eager to take flight at any moment, while several people exchanged greetings. Among them were Eda, Jun, and their companions departing from Ironwind, along with some who had come to see them off.
Ken, his arms wrapped tightly in bandages, bowed deeply at the waist. Jun stepped forward and tried to dissuade him.
"It was the same when we first met, and also with Ms. Layla. We are truly grateful to both of you."
"Why would a sick person come all the way out here and do this? Please get up."
"My benefactor is leaving, so as an honorable Oceaner, how can I not see him off?"
Jibin lowered his head with a somber expression.
"I may not understand honor like this guy... Anyway, thank you. I'll frame the signatures you've given and pass them down for generations!"
"No, you don't have to go that far."
Beside them, Layla shook hands with Eda. Fey stood by her side.
"Um... Eda. Thank you so much. Just, for everything."
"If you're grateful, live serving the flower within you."
"Yeah, I'll remember that."
"Um... Ma'am."
Layla's expression twisted at Fey's words.
"...Kid. Even though I look like this, I'm younger than your mom. Call me Layla.'"
"Um... But you look older."
"Fey, it's rude to comment on someone else's appearance."
Eda gave Fey a brief etiquette lesson, and Fey apologized to Layla.
"I'm sorry. Um... Layla."
"Yeah, yeah. So, does Fey want to become a witch too?"
"Um... I'm not sure right now."
Layla briefly pondered what to say to this little one. Encouraging her to become a witch might be too burdensome for the child, considering the current perception of witches. However, it was difficult to say otherwise with Eda standing beside her. So, she decided to say the most neutral thing.
"Listen to your mom, be kind, and you'll figure it out."
Meanwhile, Bones was saying goodbye to two young boys. Whenever he was bored, Bones would tell them stories about the lumen caves he had explored, his exploits in wars, hidden histories unknown to the public, and so on. Thanks to him, the boys' perception of Bones shifted from a scary old soldier to someone akin to a wise hermit.
"Can we come play with you again, Mr. Bones?"
"Mr. Bones, you are really cool. Second only to our dad."
Bones chuckled at the innocent praise from the children and replied.
"Haha. Yeah, sure. Come back later. There are still stories I haven't told you yet. Oh, and I can't let that comment slide. Am I less cool than Jun?"
"Well, because our dad is the greatest runner in the universe."
Seeing Kay still idolize his father as the greatest runner, Bones leaned in with a serious expression and whispered something to him. Of course, it was a joke.
"Hmm... Seems like you don't know what your dad did at the lumen caves. Let me tell you, that guy blew up quite a bit..."
"Bones, enough with the weird talk."
"Oops."
Eda's words from behind made Bones snap to attention.
"As soon as we start gossiping about your husband, here you are."
"I wish you wouldn't say weird things to the kids."
"Weird? I'm just trying to tell the truth."
"Anyway, instead of that, please remind Benzel not to forget my request."
Due to the attention he drew with each step he took, Benzel couldn't come out to see them off. Instead, he greeted them from inside the secret office. Especially to Remi, he pleaded tearfully not to leave, but all he got in return was curses.
"The so-called fan club for the songs I sing. Tell Benzel to disband that group and collect all the illegal recordings."
Fire sparked in Eda's eyes. Bones, without realizing, stepped back and answered.
"Ah, got it. I'll make sure the Chairman doesn't forget."
"Eddie, are you still bothered by that?"
When Remi appeared from behind and spoke to Eda, Eda blinked and replied.
"...Remi. Shall we discuss this issue in more detail later?"
Then, Jun and Bones shook hands. Bones chuckled and said to Jun.
"You noble brat. It feels like just yesterday when I first saw you, now you've grown so unrecognizable."
"I never thought we'd stick together for so long, Bones."
"Yeah. It'd be nice to have a drink, but unfortunately, it's not possible. Let's pray that this damn company goes under by the time we meet again."
"It's kinda weird praying for your own company to fail."
"If we're talking weird, you've got me beat."
They lightly bumped fists and shared a brief hug, Bones and Jun.
"All right, ladies and gentlemen. We're heading to our final destination now. Hold on tight."
Everyone boarded the Red Chamber, and as soon as Remi's words fell, the Red Chamber rose up with a thunderous engine roar, leaving Ironwind behind. Except for Yen, the three kids seemed a bit nostalgic for the gaming console they had seen in Benzel's secret office.
/
New Iran. The headquarters of United Mining, but also where Red's hut is located. A modest hut nestled amidst a sea of flowers. It's where Eda spent her teenage years and where she held her wedding. And now, it's the final destination of this family trip.
Early evening. Three adults sat outside the cabin, bringing chairs with them, while the children, dressed comfortably for play, ran around exploring. These children, hearing only stories from their parents, found the vast expanse of white flowers stretching beyond the horizon fascinating, something they couldn't see in East Ocean.
While Fey, Shan, and Yen were frolicking around, Kay, perhaps pretending to be an adult, stood by with his arms crossed, watching with the adults. He even wore a headband with "1st Son" written on it, obtained from somewhere. But his desire to join in was evident to the adults.
"Kay, you can go and play too."
Jun, dressed in traditional East Ocean attire, said. Despite Kay's obvious eagerness to join, he shook his head hesitantly.
"...I'm the 1st son... I should carry myself with some gravitas!"
"Puha."
Remi couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
"Auntie, did you just laugh?"
"No, no, of course not."
"Hmph."
Thinking Remi was mocking him, Kay sulked. Remi turned to Kay.
"You, wearing the headband and carrying yourself with such, ha-ha… gravitas, where did you learn that?"
"Mr. Bones taught me."
Listening quietly, Eda turned to Kay. She had retrieved her Red Chamber witch attire from the closet after quite some time, but it still fit comfortably, perhaps because her figure hadn't changed much. She opened her mouth to speak to her son.
"So, our 1st son wants to stay put. But you know, Kay, when will we come back here again after this? The flowering season in East Ocean is so short, and you know you won't see this kind of scenery often, right? Would you want to regret missing out?"
Kay blinked, thinking Eda's words made sense, and started eyeing the younger siblings running around in the flower field, with eyes resembling hers. Then, as if resigned, he said, "Then, just for a bit..."
With that, Kay also ran to join his siblings.
In the sea of flowers emitting a fragrant aroma, the children ran around joyfully, making merry sounds. Although the flowers seemed to stretch endlessly, they swayed with vitality like waves in the ocean.
The children laughed heartily as they created pathways through the flowers, occasionally hiding among surprisingly beautiful blossoms. The smaller flowers swayed under their feet, and the cool breeze tousled their hair.
Yen, being the smallest, sometimes found herself buried in the sea of flowers where the larger ones grew, but whenever that happened, Kay would quickly rush over to his direction, so there was no real danger.
Fey held onto her twin brother, Shan, tightly, observing a particular faded-colored flower. She grabbed Shan's clothes and examined the flower.
"Shan, look at this. There are a lot of faded-colored flowers here."
"...I get it, can you please let me go now?"
"Nope. You might run away."
As Fey had pointed out, there were indeed many flowers around with colors that seemed faded, almost as if they were wilting. It was like dropping gray paint into a sea of white flowers. This phenomenon wasn't exclusive to this area; scattered throughout the flower field, there were patches where flowers appeared faded.
Unable to understand why there would be such areas in a place where flowers always fully bloomed, Fey decided to seek help.
"Mom!"
Fey shouted loudly, summoning the most knowledgeable expert she knew about plants.
"What's up?"
As Eda walked over slowly, Fey showed her the state of the flowers.
"Look at this. These ones have weird colors."
"Fey, how about letting go of Shan first and then showing me?"
Even as Eda spoke, Fey, who hadn't let go of her brother, released his grip on him as if resigned. As soon as he was free, Shan darted away, and Fey looked at him with a tinge of disappointment.
"He's running away."
"Shan's more interested in topics other than flowers. Shall we take a look?"
Eda focused her two eyes on the faded flowers. Indeed, it was a sight that didn't fit in this place where flowers always fully bloomed. Eda examined the petals and stems, observed the leaves, and even dug a little with a hand trowel to check the root condition. Fey observed her mother's actions closely. Eda nodded as if she understood roughly.
"Fey, why do you think flowers wilt?"
"Um... because it's time for them to wither?"
Fey offered her own answer to Eda's sudden question. Eda smiled and explained to her daughter.
"That's the most appropriate answer in a normal situation. Flowers naturally bloom and wither. However, this place is where flowers never wither. They're always in full bloom here, so it can't be considered natural. Then, we must consider that something is disrupting the ecological balance here."
"Ecological balance?"
Fey wore a puzzled expression, not quite understanding what was going on. Eda rummaged through the flowerbeds until she found what she was looking for.
"I found it. Fey, come take a look at this."
Both mother and daughter noticed something growing among the stems of the flowers. It was an immature flower bud that had yet to bloom.
"Among the fully bloomed flowers, you'll find things like this. These buds should also bloom like normal, but they're unable to do so. The reason is simple: there are too many flowers here, and they're not all receiving equal nutrients. So, you have buds like this that haven't bloomed yet, and bloomed ones that are withering because they're not getting enough nutrients."
"What happens then? Do all the flowers wither?"
Fey stroked the flower bud with a worried expression. Eda gently stroked her daughter's head and explained.
"No. The root cause is that there are too many flowers, so once a certain number wither, the others should be fine. Then, when the flowers proliferate again, this phenomenon repeats. It's one of nature's cycles. Fey. It's like Ignis, the cycle of finite life that he sought to balance..."
"Huh?"
Fey raised a questioning eyebrow at Eda's sudden tangent.
"When Mom used to live here, I managed the flowers to prevent excessive proliferation. That's why this didn't happen back then. But now that it's out of human control, things have turned out this way."
As the evening sun cast its glow upon them, the hues of the New Iran's stars illuminated the white flowers, painting the flower sea with a sunset glow. Stretching and yawning, Eda turned to Fey.
"Fey, can I ask you something?"
"Me? Sure, Mom."
Fey nodded, thinking that her mom seemed a bit strange today.
"Here, like these flowers, if I personally take care of them, they can live for a very long time, perhaps even eternal. But if I don't, they naturally fade away. That's just how it is, it's the nature of the universe. So, was it right for me to give them eternal life?"
"Huh? Um..."
Not realizing the odd tense of Eda's question, Fey began to ponder in his own way.
"Well... I still think taking care of them is the right thing to do."
"Really? Why?"
Eda asked Fey as she gazed at the setting star. Not seeing Eda's expression, Fey replied.
"Because it would be pitiful. It seems like it would be painful for them to wither away."
"Is that so?"
Eda stroked Fey's head as she spoke.
"You sound just like your dad. But thank you, Fey. I also feel the same way."
"Mom."
Fey grabbed Eda's hand and spoke with a slightly worried tone.
"You seem a bit strange today, Mom."
"Oh? Maybe coming back to my old home has made me a bit sentimental."
Eda turned to Fey. With the wind blowing from beyond, her long hair swayed, revealing her face. Under the sunset glow, she smiled.
/
"Ah... I'm tired. Eddie, Jun. I'll take the kids and go to bed first, so you guys can come in whenever you're ready."
"Just a little more playtime?"
"No. It might be dangerous once it gets dark. If you really want to play, let's go inside."
As night fell, the stars embroidered the sky, watching over the sea of flowers. Suddenly, yawning, Remi gathered the children who had gathered around her, who seemed to want to play more, and led them inside the cabin. Ignoring their protests.
"I hate you, Auntie. You're mean."
"Oh dear, Yen. But Auntie's resolve won't waver, no matter what."
Receiving the children's tantrums, Remi led them inside the cabin, closing the door behind her. Outside, Eda and Jun sat down, continuing to admire the flowers. Starlight gently descended from the sky, and the blooming lumens illuminated the ground. With such light, they had no trouble observing the surroundings, even without a single lamp. Though, it wasn't enough to go into the flower field and play more.
"Jun, did I ever tell you what I learned from my master here?"
After a long silence of admiring the sea of flowers, Eda spoke. Jun turned to her and nodded.
"Yeah? I've heard a few times. It was in that diary too. You learned about plants, starsong, trading, philosophy, and so on, right?"
Eda smiled gratefully for remembering, nodding her head.
"Yeah, that's right. I learned a lot from my master here. I got scolded for not memorizing the names, appearances, and effects of lumen plants, and sometimes I even had to stand with my hands up. I got scolded for mishandling plants, and for not being able to spot typos when learning how to read documents..."
"So, all you remember is getting scolded?"
Jun joked, and Eda laughed, nodding in agreement.
"She was always stern. Nevertheless, she never resorted to violence, and once he said something, she always kept her word, just like my husband. Perhaps that was her way of expressing affection. And... despite her sternness, my master taught me everything. She was like a mother to me. And if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have met my husband."
Eda rose from her chair and walked towards the flower garden. Her hair floated in the night breeze. The left side of her long robe fluttered in the wind as she approached the flowerbed. Just before stepping into the garden, she turned to Jun and asked, her eyes carrying an unfathomable weight of years.
"Jun, I asked Fey the same question too. Was it right to grant them eternal life, defying the natural cycle of the universe, the will of our creator? Were our mistakes?"
Eda and Jun's eyes met. He rose slowly from his chair.
Jun was like Eda in some ways. Lately, he had been remembering bits and pieces, memories and emotions that he didn't know were his own. Watching the opera "Melody of Starsong" had been particularly revealing. He was still Jun, but distant ancient memories had merged with his own.
Not just Eda, but beyond her, gazing into the vast expanse of the universe, Jun replied to Eda. Helius responded to Terra.
"No matter how many times, I would have acted the same. I couldn't turn away from the screams of agony, the voices pleading for salvation as life faded from them."
Eda nodded in agreement, closing her eyes.
"I feel the same way."
She resumed her walk through the sea of flowers, carefully avoiding stepping on them. Even though her pants became damp from the dew on the flower petals, she didn't mind. Eda walked until she could barely see the cabin, closed her eyes, and began to concentrate.
The starsong of the planet whispered into her ears. It was the collective flow of all the lumens coursing through the planet, the song of all life on the planet harmonizing together. Eda's mouth opened slowly, and the ancient voice representing all the souls of the planet flowed out from her.
" ~~ ~ ~~~ ~ (Singing)"
Centered around Eda, the sounds of nature and the waves of lumens spread out in a spherical pattern. Within the vast sea of flowers, every flower seemed to bloom as if they were opening their petals wide. In that instant, everything, from withered flowers to those yet to bloom, responded to her voice.
As the ripple created by Eda's voice swept through, flowers, including the faded ones, began to bloom vigorously as if infused with new life. The air was filled with an exhilarating atmosphere resonating with her voice, and the flowers responded by blooming even more brightly.
Lumen infused vitality into the flowers, allowing them to bloom without the nutrients of the earth, sparing them from the agony of withering. Where the ripple passed, it left traces of lumens rising gradually, akin to dust stirred by passing cars.
The influence extended to the exterior walls of the but, causing flowers to bloom up the walls and onto the roof. Inside the house, unaffected by the phenomenon, the children still playing remained unaware. A giant female figure momentarily emerged from Eda's body. It was a familiar sight to those who had seen the ancient murals of the lumen cave or the runners of the Thousand Peaks. The goddess of music and the wielder of lumen energy, the form of Terra, briefly materialized above her.
In an instant, the vast sea of flowers was brimming with vitality. Although the space was too vast to capture in one glance, every flower had enough time to bloom with just a single breath. Even after infusing life into every flower, the remaining lumens, seemingly eager for more play, began to frolic through the air.
Crossing over the risen lumens like fairies of the flower garden, Jun walked towards Eda. Without a word, he embraced her from behind, resting his arms on her shoulders and clasping his hands in front of her chest. Feeling his warmth, Eda placed her hands on top of his.
As the risen lumens gradually subsided, the two spouses closed their eyes, feeling each other's warmth amidst the cooling night breeze. Amidst the slight chill settling in their bodies, the warmth of each other's bodies was the only comfort. As the lumens quieted down, Eda turned around, pulling Jun close and whispered to him.
"Jun... you feel it too, right? Who we are. No, who we were... Looks like master was right. Is my recovery also thanks to Jun?"
Jun responded in his calm voice, "I'm not sure. I can't seem to recall that far."
Eda trembled, not just from the cold. Jun wanted to reassure her. Since the day they returned leaving Phoenix behind. No, even long before that, he had sworn to protect her. To reassure her, he offered his heartfelt sincerity.
"But one thing is for sure, regardless of our past lives, we are who we are now. Eda. Nothing, not even Ignis, can separate you and me like it did back then in ancient times. Our lives are connected."
Eda stopped trembling and nodded in his embrace, trusting him. That's why Eda couldn't help but love him. With him, she could overcome any fear. He was always there for her.
"Yes, I know. We made a vow when we got married. But..."
Eda suddenly shivered, not from cold or fear. She just wanted to act a little weak in front of him. The atmosphere was perfect. There was no one around, just the two of them amidst the beautiful sea of flowers on a starry midnight. Eda's warm instincts kicked in. She deliberately gave a shaky gesture and looked up at him.
"Jun, I'm cold."
"Cold? Then let's go inside for now. You might catch a cold in this chilly wind..."
Eda sighed inwardly. Her beloved husband was strangely clueless at times like these.
"No, I think you need to take care of something here."
Swish.
Eda lowered the front of her robe a little and whispered to him.
"...Could you warm me up?"
Now Jun understood what she wanted. Eda held Jun's collar, relaxed her body, and fell backwards. Jun followed her lead without resisting. Jun made sure to wrap his arm around her in case she might get hurt.
Thud.
The two collapsed onto the flowerbed, and flower petals lightly fluttered up.
And that night, Eda conceived their fifth child. A girl named Shuran. Shuran Lee it was decided.