Gardenia’s Heart

Once upon a time, back when the Great Tree still grew, a curious mage was born—curious about everything around them. They were so wise and kind that even the fairies came to hear their counsel.

They were called the Archmage, not because they were the oldest, but because they were the one who understood the heart of the world.

The Archmage traveled far and wide, met many people and cultures, and sought knowledge. They searched for answers and ventured into the unknown.

One day, while walking through the forest, the Archmage sensed that something was wrong. The flowers were wilting, the streams had dried up, and even the animals were hiding.

Sounds vanished before their time, and an inexplicable chill lingered over the clearings. Something was draining nature’s energy—and the Archmage knew they had to act.

Determined, they followed the whispers of the leaves to the edge of the forest. There, between twisted trunks, dark, fluid shapes twisted and churned, as if made of pure shadow.

They fought.

The Archmage stood against the hissing shadows that made even the wind cease to blow. With a single gesture, they silenced the world. The water of a river halted, and a moment turned into a miracle.

At the height of the battle, when darkness wrapped around their light, the Archmage did something unexpected.

Reciting what the fairies had once taught them, they reached out to the shadow—and for the first time, it hesitated.

“You are part of this forest, too,” they whispered.

The shadow pulsed and flailed—aggressively at first, then… uncertain. Slowly, it drew near, and its dark form began to glow, like light filtering through leaves.

Gripping their staff, and with a crackle like raw energy being born, the Archmage spoke a single word:

“Akasha.”

In the days that followed, the forest sighed in relief and peace returned. The Archmage smiled—now, the shadows followed them on their strolls.

---

Folding the piece of paper and handing it over to the tentacle curled around her, Lily let out a long, heavy sigh.

“I can’t believe that after all of this, all we have on Sylvan is a children’s story.”

Shoulders slumped, the silver-haired girl let herself melt into the comfort of the three tentacles gently caressing her face, sighing even more deeply.

Even though some terms were beyond her understanding, the text reminded her of the stories her father used to tell—ones about sharing, friendship, wisdom, and understanding. From what she knew, tales like this were meant to teach children lessons—not convey crucial information.

(It’s okay, Lily. Any kind of information helps—even if it’s just this.)

Once again comforted by her beautiful wife, Lily regained the energy to pick up the paper again, her steps around the room slowing as she paced.

“If we look at it from a general perspective, the beginning matches what the guardian told us about Sylvan.”

Even if there were words and phrases she didn’t fully understand due to her limited reading ability, Lily could at least follow the plot—after all, it was a children’s story.

“The Archmage from the elven tale faced an opponent and won—bringing peace back to the forest.”

(It’s a story about friendship, right? Since the Archmage didn’t kill the shadow in the end.)

Two of Nia’s tentacles crossed in front of her, as if mimicking someone lost in thought.

“Well, Nox did say Sylvan was a pacifist. So if this is a story about her, it makes sense that it wouldn’t end in bloodshed.”

Jumping onto the bed, Lily let her body sink into the sheets without resistance. Not even a second later, a colorless sphere bounced onto her chest, wriggling slightly as if searching for the perfect spot to settle.

(Mhn... I just can’t grasp what that Archmage said at the end. It feels so disconnected from everything else.) Nia murmured, letting her gelatinous body relax atop her wife.

”Akasha...” Lily whispered.

The silver-haired girl didn’t understand the meaning of that word, and even when she’d asked Thelira, the elf had merely shrugged, equally clueless about its origin.

”Thelira said she heard this tale from her mother, that it became quite popular among elves—but even she doesn’t know where it came from.”

Prodding the colorless sphere that had somehow already tugged her dress down and now shamelessly rubbed against her nipples, Lily let out a soft laugh before stroking its surface.

(Ngh... Even if neither of them knows, there must be more about this somewhere, right?) Nia mused between moans, the fingers kneading into her sending shivers through her gelatinous form.

”Since it’s a children’s story, no one likely cared to study it deeply. But we might find something if we check the elves’ library later.”

Though she couldn’t read perfectly, Nia had self-taught enough to parse texts with ease. Even so, unlike the Book of Truth volumes she could absorb instantly, normal books still required time—time they couldn’t spare now.

(I’ll do my best!) Recognizing her wife was counting on her, Nia declared with gusto.

As they debated the text, the room’s light shifted gradually from orange to bluish purple. Night approached, and their departure loomed.

”Thelira said she’d escort us to the gate, but vanished after transcribing the fable,” Lily murmured between heated breaths, her face flushed and hair disheveled.

Now nearly fully undressed, Lily watched violet tentacles coil beneath her panties at her thighs. Since Nia hadn’t paused her ministrations for a second, the metamorph now took charge of cleaning the love-juice she’d spilled.

(Want me to find her? If I expand my mana-location range, even with the World Tree’s interference, I could cover the whole castle.)

Tugging Lily’s black dress back up, Nia—already retreated inside her body—used her tentacles to pull her gloves to her elbows.

”It’s fine. She’s royalty—probably buried in duties we can’t fathom. Let’s not disturb her.”

A faint yawn escaped Lily, though her legs still trembled. She’d grown accustomed enough to move steadily.

Though they hadn’t gone all the way—stopping at just caresses this time—she’d managed to keep their love session with Nia from literally shaking the walls. A confident smile spread across her face.

“Hyaah!” Biting her lip, Lily glanced down—just as two of the tentacles shifted unexpectedly beneath her dress, the fabric straining against their outline.

(Sorry, Lily~ I couldn’t resist.) Deciding her wife’s improved composure meant she could indulge freely again, Nia hummed while nestling deeper inside her.

”Nhm... Nia, your bad girl...” Lily murmured, moving her legs to accommodate Nia’s movements. ”Since we already did this morning, just try to keep everything in, okay?”

(Got it! I love you, Lily!)

As Nia’s cheerful reply reached her, Lily placed her right hand on her womb. From what she knew, doing it multiple times a day wouldn’t increase her chances of conception—keeping a regular rhythm seemed ideal. Besides, given the exceptional amount of semen Nia unfailingly released every single time, Lily feared she might struggle to walk if they lost control.

”I love you too. If you can’t hold back, it’s fine to let go... but warn me first so I can brace.”

As tentacles embraced her tighter, Lily’s expression softened. At any other time, she wouldn’t have minded Nia doing as she pleased, of course—but considering they would need to fight in the coming days, it was better to take it easy, just to be safe.

“We can go now, I’m ready.”

Finishing fixing her messy hair in a way that didn’t cover her differently colored eyes, Lily spoke softly, and a portal resembling a starry sky opened in front of her.

Stepping through it without hesitation, Lily found herself standing on a brick structure. The night wind greeted her, followed quickly by the startled shouts of two guards.

“Who are you?! Identify yourself!”

Standing atop the walls of Lampides, Lily looked to both sides. Two elves in metal armor surrounded her, fear on their faces, spears in hand and ready to strike.

After having shown the portal spell to Elarielle—the most powerful figure in the country—Lily had concluded there was no longer any reason to hide her ability, at least within Phaea.

Still, appearing out of nowhere among people was bound to cause alarm.

(Hm... What should I do, Lily?) Nia asked.

Raising one hand to her cheek, Lily scratched lightly at her face as she thought about what to do in that situation.

While walking alongside Thelira, none of the royal guards had dared to act against her. But now, alone and far from the palace, there was no quick way to make these guards understand she wasn’t a threat.

“Wait… she’s the prisoner from the other day! The one who vanished from the cells!” one of the guards said in a panic.

“Oh… that really did happen, huh?” Lily murmured.

Talking to strangers was never her strength, and judging by how the guards were getting even more agitated, resolving things peacefully no longer seemed like an option.

Just as her hand was reaching toward the hilt of her sword, a loud voice froze her in place.

“Stand down!”

Lily knew that voice.

Turning her head slightly, she saw a man climbing the stairs to the city wall. His most noticeable features were the gray-tipped dark hair and the obsidian eyepatch covering half his face—though the pressure he emanated was so intense, it made both guards drop to their knees without question.

“General Riari, right?” Lily said as the man approached her.

With a wave of his hand, Riari dismissed the two guards, who quickly descended the stairs. Walking with elegance, his white fur coat flowing behind him, Riari stopped in front of Lily, looking her over from head to toe before bowing slightly.

“I’ve been informed of your situation, Miss Lily. I apologize on behalf of the army for the way we treated you earlier.”

With one hand behind his back and one knee slightly bent, Riari spoke in a respectful tone.

Seeing the elf make such a gesture almost made Lily whistle in surprise.

“Don’t think too much about it. I didn’t exactly explain my situation clearly either. You were just doing your jobs.”

After a moment of thought, Lily gave the best response she could think of, remembering the excuse Thelira had made up earlier.

“Still, we treated you rudely. Is there anything we can do to—”

“You’re still too stuck on formalities, old man.”

Cutting off the conversation, a girl with golden hair leapt casually onto the wall, drawing both of their attention.

Elarielle now wore a combat-ready armor similar to the one she’d worn before. Upon her head rested a golden crown, its jewels softly glinting, and slung across her back was a large leather pack filled with supplies and gear.

“Your Highness,” Riari said in a surprised tone, lifting his head.

”There’s no need to speak like that.” Waving her hand side to side to stop the elven man from kneeling, Elarielle turned to Lily, her brows furrowing. ”I gave you permission to stay in the city, but don’t go wandering around without an escort.”

”Where I go and where I stay has nothing to do with you. Besides, I didn’t cause any trouble and showed up exactly at the time and place you specified, so how could I be in the wrong?” Lily replied, crossing her arms.

”I just don’t want someone roaming around and frightening the citizens. It’s impossible to keep track of someone who knows teleportation magic, so having someone accompany you is ideal—especially considering the state the city is in right now,” Elarielle replied, clearly exasperated.

Hearing that, Lily tilted her head. ”State? I heard you’re on high alert because of a danger the Sage predicted—is that what you mean?”

Bringing one hand to her forehead, Elarielle pushed up her bangs, an irritated expression crossing her face at the mention.

“Thelira doesn’t have control over what she sees in her visions. In one of them, she saw the entire city engulfed in flames. The elders don’t think it’s a big deal—they say she doesn’t know how to interpret her visions properly yet—but I’m not going to sit around doing nothing just because those idiots refuse to act.”

Elarielle huffed a few more times before finally stopping her furious rubbing at her temples. Letting out an irritated sigh, she turned to Lily.

“Tsk. By the way, where’s the paper devourer?”

(I’m right here, sore loser.)

When the voice echoed from nowhere, Elarielle turned her head several times, looking for the source—until her green eyes landed on Lily.

“Wait... inside you... how?”

When it had happened in the laboratory, she’d dismissed it as a trick of the moment. But now, seeing it a second time, she was finally certain.

“Couple’s secret.” Clasping her hands together and resting them against her cheek with a smile, Lily responded sweetly.

Elarielle frowned again at Lily’s answer, clicked her tongue, and turned away. Watching her reaction, Lily had to hold back a small laugh.

(That...) Nia murmured.

“Something wrong, Nia?” Lily asked, noticing that Nia’s attention seemed fixated on something.

(I guess it’s nothing. Like you said, nobles must have duties we can’t even begin to understand, right?) Nia replied. Her tightened tentacles embracing Lily once again, she was realizing how smart her wife truly was.

Tilting her head at the odd response, Lily considered asking what she meant, but a voice drew her attention.

“O guardian of the forest, please hear the call of your servant and extend your protection to us.” Pressing her palms together and closing her eyes, Elarielle whispered in a calm yet firm tone.

A pulse of mana resonated around the high elf. The next moment, a cyan sphere appeared between her hands.

“Iris, take us to the Labyrinth.” Stroking the glowing orb with a gloved finger, Elarielle watched as it bobbed in agreement, swaying back and forth before floating off ahead. “Riari, you’re in charge of the city’s protection until I return. I entrust Thelira’s safety to you.”

Without waiting for a response, Elarielle leapt from the wall and started running toward the forest.

“She really does live on her own terms, huh...” Lily sighed, crossing her arms.

Just as she was about to jump down from the wall, the elven man beside her spoke up.

“Miss Lily, I know I shouldn’t ask this, but if you can... please look after Lady Elarielle.”

His request made Lily raise an eyebrow.

“Are you sure you should be asking me something like that? I mean, considering everything that happened.”

“To be honest, I’ve known Lady Elarielle since she was very young,” Riari said with a gentle tone, unable to hide the nostalgia in his voice. “Before all the trouble began, before she became one of the fiercest warriors of the war and took on the weight of a hero alongside her mother... she was still a girl who could smile and enjoy the small joys of life.”

His expression carried a painful smile, as if cursing his own helplessness.

“Lady Elarielle carries the burden of every elf lost in the war on her own shoulders. After the death of Her Highness Virelia... no, even before that... Her Highness Elarielle has hardly been able to hold a conversation by her own choice. Not even with her own sister. Even a simple question like the one you asked earlier would usually be ignored. But today, she seemed a bit more... spirited. Even if just a little.”

Hearing his words, Lily paused. Considering their roles as subordinate and superior, she figured Riari didn’t feel confident that he could do anything for Elarielle. This didn’t sound like a general concerned about a nation’s ruler—but rather, a person worried about someone they cared for deeply.

“What are you doing?! Hurry up! If you can’t keep up, I’ll leave you behind!”

Standing in the green fields outside the city, Elarielle shouted toward the wall, her expression filled with genuine irritation—even from a distance, it was plain to see.

Watching the elven girl huff so rudely, Lily wondered if Riari was really seeing something different in Elarielle’s behavior. Shrugging, she jumped over the wall as well.

---

“Isn’t it wonderful? I think Lady Elarielle may have finally found someone who can be her friend.”

As night deepened across the great forest, Riari walked cheerfully through the royal palace. Beside him, a silvery sphere shimmered with joyful light.

For the first time in a long while, his face was lit up with an unusual brightness.

“Princess Thelira, this is General Riari. Her Highness Elarielle has already left. I’ve come to discuss the guards who’ll remain with you until her return.”

He knocked several times, gently but firmly, on the door before stopping to wait. Despite her condition, Thelira disliked having attendants standing outside her door just to wait on her whims, so Riari had to announce himself personally.

But when several seconds passed without a reply, unease began to grow within the elf.

“Princess Thelira, is everything alright? I’m coming in.”

Even if it was improper, given the girl’s fragile health, Riari knew he had to check on her. If something happened to her under his watch, the old general couldn’t imagine how he’d face his queen.

He flung the door open and rushed into the room, searching for the girl. But—

“Princess Thelira?!”

She was nowhere to be found—neither in her bed nor on the balcony.

---

“This spot will do. Let’s give Iris a chance to rest.”

Coming to a stop, Elarielle extended her hand toward the small cyan fairy fluttering around her, who began spinning around her fingers.

“That was sooner than I expected. I thought all fairies could move through the forest without getting tired.” Landing on the grassy ground in the new biome they’d reached, Lily watched her black wings fade from her back.

Since leaving Lampides, the group had passed through several biomes over the span of two hours. Even though the distance they had covered was significant, Lily still felt they were moving rather slowly. Unlike Maple—Zaylin’s fairy—who had managed to traverse much of the forest in a single run, Elarielle’s fairy seemed less suited for such effort.

“Every fairy has different strengths and stamina. They’re not all the same, and they don’t act the same way either.” Elarielle frowned, channeling mana into the fairy resting in her hands. “Iris has her own areas where she excels.”

Seeing the golden-haired woman turn her back with a huff, Lily let out a small sigh and shifted her gaze toward the flowers around them. The way the elven forest changed its entire biome every few kilometers was something that could have kept her entertained—if this trip weren’t so uncomfortable.

“Argh.”

The groan of pain echoed just as Lily had crouched to inspect the flowers on the ground.

Lifting her head in surprise, Lily saw Elarielle frozen with a matching look of confusion on her face. One of the elf’s hands clutched the strap of her now-dropped backpack, while the other hovered midair—clearly interrupted by the same noise that had drawn Lily’s attention.

“It can’t be...”

Her own voice trembled with disbelief, as if she couldn’t accept what she was thinking. Elarielle frantically opened her large backpack. Bottles of medicine, equipment, and documents spilled across the grassy floor of the forest.

Once the bag was emptied, her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened.

Inside the backpack, lying face-down with her cheeks flushed, a golden-haired girl gave a sheepish smile.

“Uh... hey, sis.”