The Crown and The Rose Chapter 29: The First Day (Part Three)

The Crown

I put down Mr. Flower and take a fighting stance. "So may I know why the great phoenix might be looking for ?" There is a sly smile on my face.

"Isn’t it obvious?" The sa expression reflects on Seraphina’s face as she takes her stance, "To even our score? And other than that—" Her eyes trail down to Mr. Flower "—you seem to have managed to make your flower bloom. It makes things easier for . I will take you out and take your flower. Two targets with one arrow."

"Hah, Seraphina, do you seriously think that I will let you take out this easily?" I scoff, "If you do then I won’t even be able to call you stupid. Because you know just who is superior here."

Seraphina’s smile wanes at my words, and she charges at . She throws her fist out at a ferocious speed. I duck and aim for her stomach, but she blocks my attack with her thigh, and then she grabs my hair. I quickly jump back, dodging her attack.

"So... who is superior now?" Seraphina’s deathly smile is returning to its place and my jaw tightens with tension and seriousness.

Tension tickles every muscle in my body, creating a knot inside my stomach. I take in a breath and retake my stance.

"We are just getting started, Seraphina. Don’t underestimate your foe too early. It can backfire." I say before lunging in for another attack.

Seraphina’s leg shoots up from the ground, I catch her leg and spin it around, causing her to lose her footing. I then pull her at arm’s length by her leg and fist her hair. I let her leg go, spin her around by her hair, and pull her into a headlock, her back is pressed against my chest. I don’t waste another beat and slam her down on the rciless ground with a loud thud and branches snapping sound.

Seraphina lets out a primal groan as her eyes beco unfocused and her mouth falls open. I can even hear the bones in her body snapping. Seraphina lets out a mouthful of blood before finally passing out.

I suck in a sharp breath as I look down at Seraphna’s limp body, making sure that she is actually unconscious and not deceiving like earlier. A wave of relief washes over as I am sure now that she truly has passed out. Seraphina is a person I never want to go all out with. Her magic is way too destructive. It will only bring chaos and no result.

"You are a good fighter, human." Mr. Flower acknowledges, "This girl is a formidable foe."

"She really is." I nod, admitting its statent. Then start to scan the area around us, "So, where is her flower? Do you see it?"

"I can sll it." Mr. Flower makes a motion that makes it seem like it is sniffing, "It is nearby. This girl hid it sowhere near here."

I lift an eyebrow at him, "You can sll?"

"Of course, I can." It ’shrugs’, "By the way, I think you should look into the bushes and behind the tree trunks. The flower might be there."

I nod as I get to work. After a short search session, I finally manage to fish out an unblood flower. "I think this is it." I show the flower to Mr. Flower.

"Yes." Mr. Flower agrees with , "So how will you make it bloom?"

And realization hits hard right in the chest, "I don’t know." I lower my head, worry slithering up my spine once again, "I used all my water on you and I don’t have anything on to make it bloom right now."

Mr. Flower appears to be pondering over my words as well, "Well, I think we should first get to the lake. Then you can use the water to make it bloom." It suggests like an experienced parent.

"Yes." And it dawns on , "You are right. I can use the lake’s water to make it bloom." A small smile tugs on the corner of my lips, "Thanks Mr. Flower, you are a live savior."

"He he, you are welco." It laughs smugly.

I then continue my journey to the lake which seems to be miles away from my current, by the ti I get to the lake, I have another six hours left. I have already spent six hours from the twelve-hour ti limit.

A frown appears between my brows as I get close to the lake, it is pitch-black. The water of the lake is filled in and out with dark magic. The atmosphere is suffocatingly thick with heavy dark magic. Even sanding around it is making my instincts flare red. My gut is telling to never ever get close to this lake. I will be reduced to ash if I get close to it.

I don’t even realize that I am trembling and sweating like crazy.

"Human..." Mr. Flower’s gaze switches between and the lake ahead, "What kind of magic do you wield again?"

"L-Light magic." I stamr, my leg refuses to listen to and take a step ahead toward the lake.

"Then what are you doing here, brat?" Mr. Flower spits furiously, "Take another step toward it and you will be burned to ashes. This is a lake made of pure dark magic! Scram, now!"

I try to gulp down the unknown fear clogging my throat and stubbornly shake my head, "If I don’t dive into the lake now then I will be eradicated afterward, and if I dive into the lake then the dark magic will burn to ashes. I will die either way. So I refuse to give up. I will pass the trial."

I will stand tall before the lord...

"Are you crazy?!" Mr. Flower’s ’eyes’ widen in horror, "I am trying to save you here, brat and you are trying to die?!"

Suddenly my resolve stills once again and my expression tightens. I stop the tremor of my limbs and turn to Mr. Flower. "Mr. Flower, you were supposed to help with your ability. What kind of ability do you have?"

Mr. Flower is caught off guard by my sudden question and takes a while to answer , "I use the healing ability. Pretty useless for your current situation."

Healing ability...

And my eyes round as sothing dawns on , "Yes! Healing ability! This will do!"

"What do you an?" Mr. Flower knits his eyebrows.

"Listen, I am gonna approach the lake and make this flower bloom, and all along the while you will keep using your ability on so that even if the dark magic scorches my skin, I will heal imdiately and won’t die," I explain my plan to Mr. Flower.

Mr. Flower’s ’eyes’ widen, "This is Absurd!"

"I know it is, but this is the only chance we have gotten here." My jaw tightens as I look ahead and take a step forward.

The more I get closer to the lake I feel my skin scorching, and stinging pain shooting across my surface, discoloring my complexion. And suddenly I feel a warmth enveloping in it. I look down and see Mr. Flower glowing brightly. A soft yellow aura coming out from him. He is healing .

"Reckless brat..." It spits.

I can’t help but grin. I quickly reach the shore of the black lake. No one is around, seems like they haven’t found the lake here. I quickly place the unblood flower on the ground and cup my hands to fish out so water. The mont my hands touch the water, it feels like soone has just poured a glass of lava on my hands, I hitch and endure the pain as I bring the water over the flower.

The air is dense with dark magic, my little amount of light magic won’t work here, but I can think about it later, I need to give water to the flower first.

Surprisingly the mont, I pour the water over the flower, it starts to stir and move a little.

"What is happening...?" I blurt out.

"Seems like the lake water fueled the flower with magic, you don’t have to use your magic on it anymore." Mr. Flower explains.

The unblood flower slowly starts to bloom and another identical face as Mr. Flower, "How can I help you?"

My head shoots in Mr. Flower’s direction, "Mr. Flower, what kind of ability do I need to reach the depth or the surface of the lake?"

"The lake is fifty ters deep." Mr. Flower says as he continues to use his magic on , "So, to maintain your breathing, you will need wind ability."

"What kind of ability do you have?" I turn back to the new flower.

"Wind." The flower rasps.

A smile tugs on my face as I grab the two flowers and get on my feet, "Good. Both of you help get to the other surface of the lake."

And without wasting another beat, I jump into the lake.