Gardenia’s Heart

Even though no sunlight entered the small cell, Lily knew that night had already fallen.

(Finally, I can wrap myself around Lily like this again) Nia commented with joy, her many tentacles carefully weaving around every curve of her wife’s body.

“You really do love hugging me, huh?” Lily laughed softly, running her fingers along a few of the tentacles as she finished adjusting her dress.

When they arrived in the city, a spell had been used to detect anything hidden beneath their clothes. Although Nia didn’t fully understand what was happening, the moment she sensed mana similar to her own mana-location probing Lily’s body, she quickly retracted her tentacles to avoid detection. Now, being able to embrace Lily again in this way filled the metamorph’s mind with joy.

“How are we doing this? Do we just rush out and knock out the guards before they call for backup?”

Making sure her panties were snug enough that not a drop of Nia’s seed would escape, Lily stretched her body before turning to look at the bars. She studied the cell door, wondering what would be the most efficient way to take down the two men guarding the entrance at the far end of the corridor.

(There’s no need. We’re simply walking out~)

Right after Nia’s words, a portal resembling a starry sky opened inside the cell. Tilting her head, Lily stepped through it and found herself near the entrance of the garrison, surrounded by clusters of tall trees.

“I thought portals couldn’t be used this way inside the forest,” Lily commented, surprised.

In a swift motion, another starry portal appeared. Using her tentacles to reach through, Nia pulled out two blades made of stardust.

(It’s something I only realized when we entered Area 1, but the barrier doesn’t seem to have any effect inside the city. At least for short-range portals like this, I can create them without any trouble. And my mana-location is working almost perfectly now.)

Nia spoke with confidence, but something in her words caught Lily’s attention.

“Wait… almost?”

Using one of her tentacles, Nia pointed toward the horizon—directly at the massive tree whose branches pierced the clouds.

(My mana-location works by sending out pulses of dark mana and receiving them back, which lets me gather information about people and the surrounding area. The pulses can travel through objects and even underground, but the mana radiating from the World Tree is so dense here in the city that it disrupts most of the pulses I send out.)

Staring at the colossal tree glowing with a soft golden light in the night’s darkness, Lily crossed her arms in thought.

“All that mana flowing from it… this must be what Zaylin mentioned the other day, about the surrounding trees growing so large. But then, does that mean the mana it emits is stronger than yours?”

As she asked, one of Nia’s tentacles brushed against her cheek, rubbing affectionately.

(If needed, I can increase the power of the dark mana pulses to prevent them from being disrupted, but doing that would make them detectable to mages—and that would expose us. For now, I’ll keep the surveillance focused only on our immediate surroundings, as I did in the mist, rather than trying to scan across kilometers.)

Nia’s explanation made sense, and Lily couldn’t help but shower the affectionate tentacles with kisses, grateful that her beloved was constantly protecting her.

Once she was sure Nia had received enough love, Lily began walking around the towering trees, carefully exploring the area.

The elven city of Lampides was built above ground, so when Lily looked up, she could see the upper level filled with elves walking across suspended bridges. Since the forest floor was dimly lit—aside from a few military buildings—there was little risk of anyone spotting her.

Even in the darkness, Lily had no trouble seeing her surroundings thanks to her night vision. After walking for several minutes, something finally caught her attention.

Amid the low grass, dozens—if not hundreds—of colorful flowers, painted the ground in a radiant rainbow.

“So this is how the elves manage to produce so many medicines,” Lily murmured, crouching down and running her fingers along some of the mana herbs.

Just like the mana-rich walls of the Caligo mines, the entire forest floor surrounding the World Tree was saturated with mana. With such high concentrations, mana herbs would grow in abundance naturally, allowing the elves to harvest them and craft their products.

(That’s probably also why they avoid building homes on the ground, ) Nia added, her voice cheerful as she watched Lily’s bright eyes admiring the flowers.

While analyzing and trying to recognize each mana herb and flower with childlike fascination, Lily didn’t even notice time passing—until a soft pink light began to illuminate the area around her.

“Oh, good evening, Maple,” Lily greeted the glowing sphere, finally noticing the fairy’s presence, and gave her a small nod.

As the floating pink orb responded with a sound Lily couldn’t understand, she wondered if the way elves communicated with the fairies was similar to how she heard Nia.

(Oh, there are more of them now.)

At Nia’s words, Lily looked around and saw four glowing orbs of different colors approaching.

Just like the first time she had met Maple, the new fairies began circling her as if inviting her to play.

“Hm… What should we do about this?” Lily mumbled. While harmless, having a cluster of glowing lights circling her wasn’t exactly ideal when she was trying to stay hidden.

Waving a tentacles back and forth, Nia tried to shoo the fairies away. But despite her efforts, the fairies remained stubborn, continuing to float around the silver-haired girl.

(Want me to use a spell, Lily?) Nia asked, her voice tinged with irritation, as if she were ready to act the moment she got approval.

“It’s okay, I’ll try handling it myself.”

Reaching out her hand toward the glowing spheres, Lily watched them gather around her arm as if understanding that she was calling them.

“I can’t play right now. Could you come back later?” she asked softly and slowly, as if speaking to small children.

She wasn’t sure if the fairies could truly understand her, but the moment she finished her request, the fairies pulsed gently a few times and then floated away.

Watching the last one vanish into the foliage, Lily could barely hide the surprise on her face. Even though it had worked, she still couldn’t believe they had actually listened to her.

“Maple, can you take us to Zaylin?” Turning to the pink fairy, Lily asked gently. Without hesitation, the orb began floating in a specific direction.

As Lily hurried after her, she began to wonder if she could ask one of the fairies to take her to the Labyrinth. That possibility seemed like the perfect way to avoid getting further entangled in Lampides.

However, given what the elf had said the day before, she couldn’t simply ignore the existence of the Sage.

If someone truly existed who could know her location and intentions at any given moment, then neither of them would be safe—no matter where they went.

After walking for a few minutes beneath the city, Lily finally spotted a small, green-cloaked figure carefully hiding near a tree.

The moment the figure noticed her presence, it immediately dropped to its knees and lowered its head as far as it could.

“Thank you so much for agreeing to speak with the Sage,” Zaylin said in a rushed tone, as if Lily’s appearance had brought her immense relief.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a conversation. Only after that will I decide whether I can offer my help or not,” Lily replied, waving her hand dismissively as she adjusted her black hood.

Zaylin lifted her head, her expression a mixture of conflicting emotions. Still, she knew it wasn’t the right time to ask for more—and so, she didn’t press the matter.

Just as she was about to turn away, her pink eyes landed on Lily’s waist. Somehow, even though she hadn’t entered the city with a weapon, two black blades were now neatly tucked beneath her cloak.

“Is something wrong?” Lily asked, noticing how Zaylin had frozen in place.

“N-No, nothing...” Zaylin placed one hand over the other, pausing for a moment before speaking again. “Uh… You’re coming with me to speak with the Sage, right? Actually, nevermind, let’s get going!”

Hearing the elf’s hesitant question shift suddenly into a hurried statement, Lily tilted her head, wondering if something was bothering her. She considered asking, but Zaylin and Maple had already begun walking ahead, so she let it go for now.

Lily soon noticed that the elf girl seemed to know the forest floor beneath the city like the back of her hand, moving effortlessly even through the darkness.

“Is there a reason there aren’t any soldier patrols around here?” Lily asked, her eyes scanning the path ahead.

She already understood that this area held the barracks and the mana herb gardens, but she couldn’t grasp why such important places seemed so poorly guarded.

“Destroying the forest’s vegetation without permission is considered a grave crime among elves. Hardly anyone would be foolish enough to damage the mana herbs or the trees. Besides, we simply don’t have enough military manpower to patrol inside the city while it’s under alert,” Zaylin replied, moving quickly while scanning their surroundings to ensure they were safe.

“Another city on high alert, huh…” Lily muttered, her brows furrowing.

It wasn’t the first—or even the second—time she’d experienced something like this. And every time a city entered a state of emergency, supposedly due to some looming threat, she always ended up in trouble.

“Even though the Sage warned the Elder Council about an imminent danger, they refused to mobilize the army to protect the forest due to logistical costs. It was only with the help of the current Queen that she managed to convince them,” Zaylin added, her voice turning bitter as she recalled something that clearly frustrated her.

“And what exactly is this danger the Sage is warning about?”

“We don’t know.”

Zaylin’s answer came without a second of hesitation, and Lily’s frown deepened as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

“If you don’t even know what the threat is, is it worth deploying nearly your entire military force?” Lily asked, starting to wonder if meeting the Sage was worth it after all.

Zaylin stopped walking. Slowly, she lowered her hood, and her short, pink hair swayed gently in the faint night breeze.

“If we don’t know what’s coming, then we need to be ready for anything,” she said firmly. “I believe in the Sage. Even if no one else does, I know we have to act—if we want to survive.”

The wavering tone in her voice had vanished. Now, she spoke with conviction, her fists clenched tightly by her sides.

Although Lily felt she should challenge the elf’s logic, she knew this wasn’t the time for it.

“So, where are we going now?” Lily asked, one hand resting on her hip. In response, the elf simply pointed upward with her index finger.

Tilting her head to follow where Zaylin was pointing, Lily finally noticed what stood above them.

The fortress was intertwined with the colossal tree it had been built into. Elegant towers rose like silver spears, bathed in the moonlight, while amber-colored stone walls coiled harmoniously among the massive branches. Flowering vines draped over arched structures, balconies, and stained-glass windows, swaying gently in the breeze.

That castle was larger than anything Lily had ever seen. Since it stood above the canopy, higher than the surrounding trees, she hadn’t noticed it until now—but once she did, she couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“Are we... are we sneaking into the royal castle?” Lily’s shaky voice betrayed her shock.

However, turning back to her with a look that suggested it should have been obvious, Zaylin bent her knees and leaped high into the air, soaring dozens of meters with a single jump.

(Looks like we’re doing something reckless again.) Nia chuckled softly, tightening her tentacles around Lily’s body.

Letting out a small sigh, Lily stroked the tentacles wrapped around her. The warmth of the otherwise cold, gelatinous limbs soothed her.

“Follow me.”

Watching the elf wave from a branch above, Lily shook her head with another sigh before letting her black wings form, lifting her effortlessly into the air.

When they reached halfway up the trunk—just below the height of the city—Zaylin moved aside some green vines covering the bark, revealing a small entrance blocked by an iron grate.

“Maple, would you open this for me?” Zaylin asked the fairy fluttering nearby, nodding her head.

Instantly, Maple transformed into a small key and unlocked the gate, allowing the elf to slide inside.

Lily followed suit, stepping into the narrow tunnel, which was just wide enough for her to stand comfortably. Her black wings dissolved as she entered.

“What exactly is this place?” Lily asked, tilting her head as she looked at the carved passageways inside the tree.

“The Sage told me these are escape tunnels built during the war. They were never used, and since only a few people know about them, there’s no surveillance here,” Zaylin explained, pulling the vines back over the entrance and locking the gate once more.

Letting out a low whistle of surprise, Lily followed her through the dark tunnels.

She didn’t need to breathe, so the thin air wasn’t a problem for her. But even though Zaylin seemed to have taken this path several times, she still had to wipe away sweat and drink water a few times as they climbed dozens of meters through narrow corridors and staircases.

Finally, at the end of the passage, another grate came into view—this one quickly unlocked by the fairy once again.

Pushing open the grate, and then the bricks behind it, a soft reddish glow from candle-lit lamps spilled into the tunnel. Slipping out, Lily found herself in what she assumed was a gardening tools storage room.

“Can you see that balcony?” Zaylin called, leaning on one of the nearby crates as she pointed toward a small window across the room.

Walking over to where the elf stood, Lily realized they had successfully made it past the palace walls. While the storage room itself was dimly lit, the outside was relatively bright. Looking in the direction Zaylin had indicated, Lily spotted one of the balconies, its windows open near the top of one of the grand towers.

“If we go together, there’s a chance we’ll draw the attention of a guard. Even though our army is short-staffed, the royal guard hasn’t been reassigned to patrols outside the city,” Zaylin explained as she unlocked the warehouse door with Maple’s help.

At those words, Lily furrowed her brows once more. Even though the balcony was only a few hundred meters away, Zaylin was basically asking her to take the risk alone.

“Fine. But I need you to do something for me,” Lily replied in a cold, commanding tone.

The chill in Lily’s voice sent shivers down Zaylin’s spine.

“Y-Yes, of course! What is it?” she asked quickly, doing her best to resist the urge to flee. A cold sweat trickled down her back.

Lily narrowed her eyes at the elf, slowly twirling her index finger in the air as if drawing a small circle. “Turn around and crouch on the ground. Cover your ears, close your eyes, and don’t you dare move from that position until you’ve counted to sixty.”