"I am not wrong... I am not wrong... I am not wrong..."
The mont Rita stepped onto Flower Island, all the block-like little figures circling above the flower fields began shouting at once.
Her expression did not change. She casually swatted away one that flew up to her ear and tried to grab it while yelling.
"I really do not understand how she tolerates this place being so noisy."
Nivalis, standing on her shoulder, grabbed one of the passing figures and asked, "Can we take one ho? Smoke Tune planted a lot of flowers. We need sothing like this."
Rita rejected her without hesitation.
"No."
The group did not rush in. They waited at the entrance for a short while. When no force ca to drive them away, they understood that this was Deceitful Bloom’s silent permission.
Even so, none of them dared to act recklessly. They carefully avoided the flower fields and followed Dawn Cicada toward the area where the Flower of Deceit grew, keeping their movents as quiet as possible.
As for the shouting toy figures, those were beyond their control.
Just like the strange workshops scattered across Foolishness’s Toy Palace, the different seas of flowers on Flower Island each had their own unique effects.
Even though Rita had been sneaking in daily to repair Flower Crown Murder and study the island’s flora, ti had always been limited. She had also been too greedy, wanting to explore the Toy Palace as well.
In the end, she had not fully explored either place.
As they ran, the Flower Crown Murder wrapped around Rita suddenly loosened. It scattered into petals, rising into the air and drifting farther away with the wind.
Dawn Cicada watched the departing petals and frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Rita looked at the cluster of petals in the distance rging with her own and did not bother hiding her intention.
"Nothing much. I just want to know... whether there is any Sir Callia on this island."
Dawn Cicada fell silent.
She did not ask why.
Was it to confirm whether Deceitful Bloom had the patience to cultivate Sir Callia? Or to find out who the Sir Callia of the undead Wildfire blood for?
She was curious about those answers too.
As they passed another field, they ran into Mistblade, who was bent over, busily tending the flowers.
This was entirely her own initiative. Back in Moonlight Marsh, she had always been like this. Whenever a teacher needed help, she would stay behind and assist with whatever needed doing.
Rita stopped at the edge of the field and waved.
"Mistblade, we are going to look for Ask My Heart. Want to co?"
Mistblade glanced at the neatly arranged flower field, then wiped her hands on her apron. Every ti Rita saw her like this, she felt like she was looking at a professional gardener.
Then again, Mistblade approached everything with that sa level of seriousness.
She walked over.
"Sure. I want to take another look too."
Flower of Deceit was already beautiful. Its companion dew was unlikely to be ordinary.
The group continued deeper in. Along the way, they picked up NightFury, Cinders, and Sea Pony.
Nivalis looked around and asked Sea Pony, "Where is your Crab?"
Sea Pony replied, "It still cannot find its divine talent word. Deceitful Bloom called it in for a talk."
Perhaps because of the island’s owner, the Flower of Deceit, which was extrely rare even in Beacon, covered vast areas here.
Everyone moved carefully among the vines, searching for Ask My Heart.
Dawn Cicada explained to those who had never seen it before.
"The companion dew is to the Flower of Deceit what silver hair and red eyes are to each other. Do you understand? The most beautiful pairing in the world."
"The mont you see the dew among the flowers, you will know. That is Ask My Heart."
Rita paused.
"...You usually praise Deceitful Bloom alone. This ti you brought the entire Vineborne race into it?"
Dawn Cicada, who had been bending over the flowers, imdiately straightened up like a startled erkat. She looked at Rita with full alertness.
"What are you going to say this ti? Are silver hair and red eyes not beautiful?"
Rita tried to keep her tone neutral. She was genuinely curious, not trying to provoke her.
"Then when your hair turned light gold... was it hard to get used to?"
"Oh, not really," Dawn Cicada replied. "A ruler of a race should stand out. You know my position."
Rita nodded.
"Right. Flower King."
Nivalis, who had practically beco a native of BS at this point, burst into loud laughter. She was the only one who found the joke hilarious.
Rita could not help laughing too.
Under Dawn Cicada’s glare, she had no choice but to explain it as seriously as she had explained IKEA earlier.
...
In a room within the flower tower, Crab stood staring blankly at a floating droplet in front of it.
Deceitful Bloom rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window.
The sky was filled with Flower Crown Murder, far more than usual. They drifted across Flower Island, but unlike before, they were not wandering aimlessly.
They were searching.
Her gaze followed that unruly cluster of flowers with interest.
What was it looking for?
Ti passed.
Then, from sowhere in the distance, ca the excited voices of players who had found Ask My Heart.
At the sa mont, the drifting white petals in the sky ca to a halt. They gathered and began circling above a certain flower field.
Deceitful Bloom paused, then took a mont to recall what grew there.
That patch was the only flower field on the island with no flowers or vines left.
Because everything there had already run away.
And the timing had been rather precise. Right after Shrine Quiz.
But she knew the truth.
Even earlier, right after Card Swap ended, the flowers in that field had already started to grow restless.
Sir Callia.
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