Gardenia’s Heart

After selecting the desired flowers, the rest of the preparation was just a matter of completing the steps.

The stems and leaves were carefully removed to avoid retaining moisture. Then, the flowers were tied with small strings and placed inside a cabinet, as they needed to rest in a dark, well-ventilated space. The drying process took more than two weeks—a period Lily spent in eager anticipation. She held on patiently as the beautiful flowers dried, barely containing her excitement when the moment finally arrived.

“Is it now? Is it now?!”

“Yes, Lily, it’s now.”

The flowers, now fully dried and preserved to last for years thanks to the careful process, were laid out on the table alongside colorful fabrics her father had set aside for the occasion.

“The Oceanite Lily dried even better than I expected. Since it’s a mana herb, it has already lost its main properties. But even though it can’t be used for potions anymore, it should maintain its vibrant appearance for many years.”

Oblivious to her father’s explanation, Lily could only stare eagerly at the beautiful flowers, which reflected the warm orange glow of the oven that also doubled as a fireplace.

“Can I start now?”

“Yes, Lily, you can. But remember to use the rounded-tip scissors I prepared for you.” He smiled gently as he watched Lily weave the flowers together with joy.

Unable to wait until dawn, Lily had woken him up in the early hours to begin working on the ornament. Watching her small hands carefully tend to each flower, the man got up from his chair to warm some milk for an early breakfast.

Lily’s cheerful laughter mingled with the bubbling of the clay kettle, the cold night wind present only in the soft rattle of the wooden windows.

After preparing two mugs of milk, the man returned to his chair, but as soon as he sat down, Lily jumped up and ran to him.

“I’m done!”

“Already?!”

Before he could even be surprised by his daughter’s swift work, two small hands lifted something toward his eyes—a delicate hair ornament that glimmered faintly.

Carefully holding the piece, the man studied its appearance. The ornament was a connection of three flowers arranged in a triangular shape. The Oceanite Lily, with its bluish glow, contrasted beautifully with the gardenia, which still retained a bright white hue even after drying.

He couldn’t help but feel proud of his daughter’s skillful work in weaving the flowers together without leaving any threads exposed. But as his gaze finally landed on the last flower, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“A fabric flower?”

At the far edge, a piece of brown fabric had been meticulously folded. Though its detailing clearly showed it was made by an amateur, its resemblance to a flower was unmistakable.

“Hehe~ Did Daddy like it? I practiced a lot to make it!”

With a triumphant smile, Lily ran to her room and returned with a wicker basket filled with several small fabric flowers she had hidden under her bed.

“I was wondering why you’d been going out so often in the afternoons.”

“Auntie helped me a lot by teaching me how to make them!” The girl eagerly showed off the many flowers she had folded without any tools, her victorious grin proving that her efforts had been worth it.

It was obvious to the man that by ”aunt,” Lily was referring to the village seamstress. The woman, even amidst her busy schedule, must have spared a few hours of her day to help her daughter.

”But why a fabric flower? Why not use real gardenias?”

Faced with her father’s curious question, Lily confidently pointed her index finger first at herself and then at him.

”If Lily is a flower, then Daddy will be one too!”

He froze in place, taking a few moments to process what his daughter’s words meant.

”You chose brown for the ribbon… is that why?” His words were slow, almost spelled out, but they were quickly met by the girl’s cheerful exclamation.

”Yes! Daddy’s hair is so beautiful! It couldn’t be any other color!”

Approaching her, she pointed to the decoration in her hands.

”See? The blue one is Lily, and the brown one is Daddy! Even though Lily will marry Daddy, if the sincere person Daddy talked about comes, she’ll be the white flower! Then, the three of us together will be a family, just like the flowers, right?”

Her joyful hops matched her curious gaze as she watched her father’s reaction. The man, stunned, didn’t know how to respond. Carefully kneeling to her level, he asked, ”Did you think of all this on your own?”

His words came out slowly, the strong emotion pounding in his chest making it difficult to speak.

”Yes! I’m smart, aren’t I!?”

Her radiant expression brought a soft smile to his face. He gently instructed her to turn around so he could fasten the decoration to her silver braided hair, quickly wiping away the small tears forming in his eyes.

After securing the ornament in her hair, Lily turned around with glee. Although its position made it hard for her to see it, she waved her arms happily and smiled.

”What do you think?”

”It’s beautiful. You look stunning, Lily. More beautiful than any flower I’ve ever picked in my life.”

Her father’s words filled her with joy. The man, his eyes slightly red, stood up and lifted her by her arms, spinning her around the room.

”Hehehe.”

It was a silly wish, but her mind reflected only one thought: how much she wanted this moment to last forever.

For Lily, her days were filled with happiness and laughter. Picking flowers in the forest, playing with her father, and enjoying delicious meals.

Anyone who saw her might think she didn’t have much, but to her, she had everything.

Was it vain to wish to keep it this way? Was it wrong to dream of such a thing?

For some reason, these questions began to creep into her heart.

When the first rays of sunlight pierced through the windows, what reached her ears was not the chirping of birds but the neighing of several horses.

”!?”

Her father was the first to notice something strange. He gently placed her small body on the floor and quickly went to check through the cracks of the window.

The moment he looked outside, his eyes widened, and he had to use both hands to cover his mouth.

”Daddy...?” Her voice carried her confusion. This was the first time in her life she had seen her father so frightened.

When he finally turned to her, Lily nearly jumped in surprise as he ran past her toward the living room table.

With a swift motion, a piece of the wooden floor was removed, revealing a small hollow space beneath.

She had never known it was there. Its dimensions weren’t large—perhaps big enough to hold a box, but far too small for an adult, even crouched.

The rapid sequence of events was too much for Lily to process, but before she realized it, two arms wrapped tightly around her. In just another second, she was placed inside the hollow space.

“Stay here and stay quiet. Don’t come out, no matter what happens. Do you understand?”

“Daddy!? What’s going on?”

Her father didn’t answer. Instead, a melancholic smile accompanied the press of his lips against her forehead.

“I love you, Lily.”

The wooden cover was replaced, and everything went completely dark.

Lily couldn’t understand anything. Why was she in the hole? Why was her father telling her to hide?

Yet, as if the world itself mocked her confusion, her questions were answered the moment screams of pain and despair reached her ears.

“Huh?”

Her mind, frozen with shock, could only prompt her to cover her ears in panic. Alarms of danger surged through her, quickening her breath. Her small body instinctively curled into a crouch, trembling in fear.

“What...?”

It was dark, but her wide eyes stared into the void. Lily couldn’t comprehend what was happening; her mind failed to grasp why the people she knew were crying and screaming.

The young man who brought her fish, the aunt who taught her to sew, the old man who shared stories—all their voices appeared and faded one by one.

Voices of familiar and unfamiliar people mingled. The clash of heavy metal rang out, and the ground shook as if the entire world were collapsing.

Lily was terrified. Cold sweat drenched her body, and her stomach felt as if ice had crept beneath her clothes. She didn’t know what was happening. Just moments ago, she had been making a flower ornament with her father, and now, everything had changed.

After what felt like an eternity, the noise stopped. It was as if the peaceful morning had returned, as if everything had been just a terrible nightmare.

But that silence wasn’t normal. Lily was clever enough to know that.

It wasn’t the silence of people being quiet. It was the silence of there being no one left to speak.

The tremors had caused part of the dirt walls of the hollow to collapse over her small body. The air, now not only thin but heavy with the stench of dust and rust, made each shaky breath painful amidst her panicked sobs.

In the center of what she now deemed utter darkness, something fell at her feet.

Reaching out, she felt the ornament she had made, clutched between her trembling fingers. The tremors had been so intense that even the braid in her hair had come undone, dropping the object in the process.

Even the faint bluish glow of the mana herb wasn’t enough to illuminate more than a few centimeters ahead. Yet, like a tiny light in the vast darkness, Lily gazed at the three flowers with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Family…”

To have a family meant to love and protect those who were important to you.

Lily was afraid of many things...

Afraid of what was outside. Afraid of who was outside. Afraid of what might happen to her if she went outside.

“Daddy.”

But what she feared most was being alone.

Biting her lips, the girl stood up. She couldn’t stay there any longer.

Pushing the wooden cover upward, Lily used all the strength in her small body to move it. Jagged splinters caught on her clothes, tearing them and leaving small cuts on her skin. But she didn’t give up. She forced her way out.

Forcing her body upward with her legs, Lily climbed out of the hole, the golden sunlight immediately washing over her.

“Uh... Aaargh,” she groaned in pain. Not even the surge of adrenaline could work miracles. Her hands and forearms burned with stinging agony, making it nearly impossible to think clearly.

Through her labored breathing, her wide eyes scanned her surroundings. Everything in her house had been destroyed—no, that wasn’t accurate. Her house itself no longer existed.

The walls and roof now lay scattered across the ground. The fact that the hollow she’d been hiding in hadn’t been entirely buried was nothing short of a miracle.

“Daddy…”

Carefully, Lily set the hair ornament down on the ground and turned around. There was no time to waste.

Dashing out of what had once been her home, Lily crossed the garden her father had spent his life tending. It was now unrecognizable, ravaged and broken beyond repair. Tears welled in her eyes as she forced herself to ignore the sight of lifeless bodies scattered around her.

The faces she’d once seen lit with joy were now pale and distorted in despair. The horrific sight numbed her senses, but nausea and dizziness crept in quickly.

What kind of force could have left these people in such a state?

Smoke from small fires and thick clouds of gray dust mingled in the air, blanketing the village with a sickening red haze. Like her home, every other building had been reduced to rubble, pieces of dismembered bodies scattered wherever her frightened eyes fell.

Her small feet stumbled forward along the path of destruction, each step trembling.

Among all the cries she had heard earlier, her father’s voice had been absent.

She had to find him. She had to.

The trail of debris and blood led toward the forest. Her father had always told her not to venture there, but now she had no choice.

Biting down harder on her lip and clenching her wounded hands into fists, Lily pressed onward.

This wasn’t the familiar path she knew. Branches scraped against her skin, and tall grass brushed her ankles. Yet, refusing to falter, Lily pushed forward.

As she moved deeper into the forest, distant voices finally reached her ears. The closer she got, the clearer they became.

“Did you make sure nothing was taken? Monsters don’t steal coins or food. Don’t leave any traces behind.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve checked. None of the men left any evidence behind.”

Lily didn’t recognize any of the voices. She stopped running and cautiously crept closer, hiding behind the trees. Peering through the gaps, she saw two men talking. Both appeared to be around thirty years old.

“We’re outside the mist now,” the taller man said, his tone firm and commanding. “We can’t leave any loose ends. Double-check. How many useful ones did we get this time?”

The taller man wore partial armor over dark leather clothing. His rigid voice and commanding posture made it clear he was in charge.

Removing his helmet, he ran a hand through his black hair, pushing it back. A small cloth wiped away the sweat on his face.

“Fourteen women and four men, sir,” the second man responded, standing straight with his arms folded behind his back. “However, one of the men, selected for his rare blue eyes, has an injured leg and is middle-aged. We’re awaiting your decision on whether to keep or discard him.”

As the man spoke, two more figures emerged from the trees. Another member of their group, dressed similarly, dragged a man by ropes.

The captive had dark brown hair, his eyes concealed by a blindfold. His body was riddled with wounds, clear evidence of a struggle. Lily’s heart sank as her gaze locked onto him.

It was her father.

The moment Lily saw her father, her heart raced. He was there. She could be with him again.

“I see,” the tall man said, his gaze sweeping over her father dismissively. “With a leg like that, he’ll be useless for work or sale. With no magical affinity, he will be useless to offer her.”

His next words shattered any trace of hope in Lily’s heart.

“Dispose of him.”

“Let go of my daddy!” Lily screamed, bolting out from the forest. Her arms reached desperately toward her father as she sprinted to save him.

Though blindfolded, her father recognized her voice instantly.

“Lily!? No! Lily, don’t come! Run away!”

His desperate pleas couldn’t reach her. Her mind had room for only one thought—a desperate, burning need to save him.

But before she could reach him, a powerful hand grabbed her by the neck, forcing her to the ground. Her body hit the forest floor hard, her breath escaping in a choked gasp.

“My apologies, sir,” said the man who held her down. His voice was calm, though tinged with unease.

Now kneeling beside Lily, he gripped her tightly, awaiting orders from his commander.

“You missed one, didn’t you?” The commander’s sharp voice cut through the tension. His piercing green eyes locked onto Lily’s, and she felt as if her very existence was being scrutinized, weighed by the man’s calculating gaze. “And she saw my face.”

Without waiting for a reply, the commander continued staring at her. Lily’s trembling blue eyes met his unwavering green ones, fear gripping her like a vice.

“Don’t touch her! Let go of my daughter!”

Her father’s voice rang out again. Summoning all his strength, he broke free from the ropes restraining him and lunged toward her.

But his effort was short-lived. A swift blow to his legs sent him crashing to the ground.

“We’ve wasted enough time already. Let’s finish this quickly.”

The commander placed his boot on her father’s back and unsheathed his iron sword with a cold, deliberate motion. The faint sound of the blade slicing the air preceded its deadly strike.

“No!”

This couldn’t be real. This wasn’t real.

Lily thrashed violently against the hand pinning her down, her entire being screaming in defiance of the scene before her.

“Stop! Daddy! Daaaaaddyyyy!”

Her face contorted in anguish, tears streaming uncontrollably. Each sob was a plea, each scream a desperate cry.

Her father, however, did not utter a single cry of pain. Not because he had died instantly, but because his will refused to burden his daughter further with his suffering.

“Daaaaaddyyyy!”

Lily’s voice echoed with despair as she called for him over and over.

All she could see was her father—his body drenched in bright red blood, pooling beneath him endlessly.

“Should we dispose of the girl as well, sir?” one of the men asked.

The commander’s sword slid from her father’s lifeless body without a sound, its blade dripping with darkened crimson.

“Unnecessary.”

In her state of utter shock, Lily was helpless as the commander approached. Each step he took felt like a death knell. His right hand, now glowing with a sinister blue aura, reached toward her.

When his five fingers touched her face, it was as though fire ignited within her, consuming her very being, as if a dense, dark miasma enveloped her soul, suffocating her existence.

And then, against her will, everything went black.