The Witch of Flowers

Iris sighed. It had been almost a week since her attempt to contact Gaius with her blessing. She hoped Gaius had delivered her location to somebody who would leave the forest to fetch her. Gaius might have misunderstood her contact. Her body’s condition would have been disclosed with the method she used to contact them. Hopefully, Lux and Nyx didn’t misunderstand and think that the king and prince of Phisofia had been responsible for her injuries.

She only had to wait a little bit longer to find out. Sarah approached her during the selection event, sitting next to her as they prepared to paint, the newest challenge they were given. “How are you, Miss Iris?” she greeted her.

Iris recalled that they were in public and was careful in her greeting, “I am doing well, Lady Sarah. How are you faring?”

Sarah grinned, obviously amused by their now routine greeting. “I am well. It is quite a beautiful day.”

“Yes, the sun’s rays are quite soothing,” Iris said, feeling the sun’s warmth at her back. Iris had taken to coordinating her selection events with Sarah. They both seemed to feel better for it. Sarah seemed more relaxed, and very few people made rude remarks or shot her nasty looks with Sarah around.

“This afternoon, there will be a selection event out in the gardens. Would you like to be my partner for the event?” Sarah asked.

“I’d love to,” Iris admitted. The gardens had been so very beautiful, and there were already fewer candidates to worry about now. “Have you received a letter from your home?” Iris asked. She had sent a message home asking about the situation at the border.

“I heard back from my father this morning. Apparently, the healers he sent to the border are overloaded. He wants to hire more from other territories to send to the border, but the number of qualified healers is quite low right now. Most are trained in treating illnesses and minor injuries, but not injuries from battling monsters. Sending inexperienced healers would be more of a detriment than a help at this point. He’s considering bringing back one of his healers to train some of those inexperienced healers, but proposing such a thing after the merchant issue is likely to upset some people despite his intentions.”

“I hope it all works out soon.” Iris managed. The thought of people suffering terrified her.

“It will. It seems that the monsters are attacking a little less frequently, like something caused their numbers to decline slightly. It isn’t winter so it isn’t a hibernation event. In fact, they should be more active at this time of year since they should be coming out of hibernation and mating. Whatever the cause, I’m relieved none of our people have gotten hurt yet, but I am worried about the ones fighting at the border.”

Perhaps it was...no that was just silly. Her grandparents were responsible for maintaining that barrier and Iris wasn’t there to reinforce it either. She’d ask the great spirit lords once she got home if there was anything that could be done to repel the monsters. In the meantime she would try to recover enough to make more potions. The potions, at the very least would help the injured recover.

William walked along the path with Brent at his side. He was hoping to run into Iris at the selection event even if it would draw more attention to her. “Have you found anything?” he asked Brent.

“No, I thought the intruder might have been with the slavers, but they were sent by the father of the noble lady who was sent away first. They are being punished and their family has been stripped of their title to prevent them from retaliating again,” Brent replied. “The slavers seem to be laying low at the moment, but a few more people have been caught with slaves. They are being questioned at the moment to try to identify how they managed to buy the slaves.”

“Good, if the questioning doesn’t yield anything, use whatever means at your disposal to get them to talk,” William said firmly.

“I will. I hate slavers and those that are willing to work with them.” Of course he did after what happened to his little sister. If he had any other choice, he would have kept his guard away from the case, but Brent was the best investigator he knew.

In that moment, Iris came into his view. She was laughing while walking with Duke Laurine’s daughter, Sarah he believed her name was. If the report was to be believed, then ever since Iris had rescued her from the assassin, Iris and Sarah had become close friends, or something similar. It was nice to see Iris smiling, laughing. A strange twisting sensation coiled in his stomach. He wanted to be the one to make her smile. No, William shook his head. Why would he even think that? Iris would be happier when she was able to go home. She would be much happier when this situation was resolved. He didn’t deserve to make her smile and laugh, not when it was his negligence that had allowed those slavers operate in his country, hurting his people, hurting Iris. Besides, she was only participating in the Princess Selection as a formality. Never mind the fact that every single one of the older noble women who guided the selection events always spoke about Iris with a sense of reverence, saying that if only she wasn’t participating in the event as a formality to keep her safe from the slavers, she would be their top recommendation. None of them cared that she wasn’t a noble. They said that she behaved in a manner more noble than most of the young noble ladies participating this time. The only other participant they seemed to have good things to say about was Lady Sarah Laurine. Both young women were the top contenders, and Sarah had expressed a desire already to be disqualified so she could return to take care of the situation at the border.

He had been wrong to assume that Duke Laurine had only sent healers to the border to help his daughter’s standing at the Princess Selection. Obviously, Duke Laurine and Lady Sarah were sincere in their worry about the situation at the border. Iris froze in her walk as if startled by something. It was only then that he realized that she had noticed him. Iris bowed her head as he grew closer. Damn it. He never wanted her to bow to him, not when he had failed her so strongly by letting those slavers operate within his country. Suddenly, he remembered her words. She had thought the other victims were from Sauriel. Had she come from another country as well? It didn’t matter, William decided. It was still his fault that she was held captive within his borders even if she wasn’t one of his citizens.

“Good Afternoon, Your Highness,” Lady Sarah curtsied. William hadn’t realized he had walked even closer as he thought about Iris.

“Good afternoon Lady Sarah Laurine. I am happy you ladies are enjoying the gardens around the Blue Palace.”

“I agree, it is quite amazing,” Lady Sarah replied. “Iris was just telling me what she knew of all the flowers here. She is probably more knowledgeable than most of the palace gardeners.”

William was relieved that Lady Sarah had mentioned Iris. It allowed Iris to join the situation without breaking any societal niceties, not that he cared for them in the first place. “I don’t think I’m that knowledgeable. It’s just that the palace gardeners are responsible for all the plants at the palace, not just flowers. Their knowledge is just more broad while mine is more specialized on flowers and medicinal plants.”

William shook his head, “Do not discount your knowledge. I heard from the head palace healer and his assistant about your potions and unique magic. Though, I should warn you that for your own safety, it might be best to keep some aspects about your unique magic private.”

Iris frowned, “I suppose you are right. Thank you for your suggestion.” She bowed again and avoided his gaze. William hated it that she was acting so formal with him, though he knew it was for the best for now. The other ladies would tear her apart and try to demand her be punished for disrespecting a royal if she did so. It didn’t change the fact that his stomach twisted in discomfort at the thought of her bowing to him.

Iris’s expression changed again as a commotion started not far from them, first worry and then excitement. William looked towards the commotion, guards shouting as two figures riding large animals. As they grew closer, William noticed that the two figures were young men around his age wearing envoy uniforms from the Great Forest of Lux. Still, they did not enter the palace grounds using the official protocol. Palace guards cornered them, pointing their swords at the envoys. “Stop, intruders. If you continue, we will be forced to use force,” the guards shouted. They must not recognize them as envoys of the Great Forest of Lux. It was understandable for the guards. It had been ages since an envoy from the Great Forest of Lux had visited the Palace. It had been back when the treaties were signed.

The two envoys stared at Iris, relief on their faces. How did the envoys know Iris? Why were the envoys so familiar with her? The two envoys dismounted. In the next moment, the animals’ nature became clear. The giant fox and white tiger changed shape. They looked similar to lupine and tigerlike demihumans, but William knew better. Their animal traits were more defined, a sure sign that he was looking at important residents of the Great Forest of Lux.

The two male animal people vanished from his view, likely moving too fast for his own eyes. William blinked and they were at Iris’s side. “Iris, you’re hurt.” Worry and rage flashed across their face. “Is anybody here responsible for your injuries?”

“No,” Iris said sharply. “I was hurt by slavers and my captors. The prince of this country rescued me once he learned of the situation. I was brought here to recover and to stay safe from the slavers until they are caught.”

The two animal people looked at him with a glare. “Then why did you need to use one of your blessings to let Gaius know where you were instead of sending a message to us?” the wolflike animal person growled.

“Because, even if they have the best of intentions, there could have been others who don’t have good intentions that would take advantage of my connection to the Great Forest of Lux. I just thought it would be safer if I called for help in secret. Besides, I thought it would be quicker to call you directly.”

William watched this whole exchange in shock, not sure how to process the situation unfolding in front of him. Brent was right. Iris had multiple blessing, and he was starting to think the reason behind those blessings was something that would decide further relations between Phisofia and the Great Forest of Lux.

“I see. We brought some of your potions. Drink one now,” the tigerlike animal person demanded holding out a potion that was of even a higher grade than the ones that she had produced in the infirmary.

Iris nodded and drank the potion. The exposed scars on Iris’s body vanished moments later. He bet the rest had as well. That grade of potion could heal almost anything short of severed limbs and even that might be possible depending on the person who made the potion.

The guards started towards the two animal people, with four staying behind with the envoys that were sent along with them. William quickly moved between the guards and the animal people. “Stand down, and send a message to father. Tell him that envoys from the Great Forest of Lux are here.” He quickly turned to the animal people. “I am sorry for the misunderstanding with the guards. I will do my best to resolve this matter as soon as possible.”

The animal people glared at him, standing protectively between him and Iris. “We will be taking Iris home. If anybody tries to stop us, then they will regret it.” the tiger like animal person snarled.

“I do not intend to stop you. I am certain you are strong enough to protect her from the slavers. If she had told me her connection to you, I would have had someone send a messenger to you to fetch her instead of keeping her here. We only kept her here for her safety since the slavers are still on the loose.”

“Faris, Yuki, it isn’t his highness’s fault that I am here. Do you think anybody back home would be able to help track down the slavers and the rest of their victims? I don’t like the idea of letting anybody else suffer like I had.” Iris stopped the two animal people from snarling at him any longer with her words.

“I’m certain the great spirit lords would have no trouble assisting once you are settled back at home,” the foxlike animal person said hesitantly. “But our priority is to get you home.”

“I understand that, and I would appreciate getting home soon, but those slavers had somehow made it past the barrier in the Great Forest of Lux. I don’t know if it’s because of...” Iris trailed off looking almost devastated.

“It isn’t. Floris and Faunis discovered they were using a twisted magic to pierce the barrier without being detected.”

Iris frowned as if she realized something, “They were using twisted magic for the lighting of the underground slave market as well. It felt off, but I didn’t quite understand why at the time.”

“We’ll take care of the rest now, along with the envoys. Great Spirit Lord Lux appointed them himself.” William assumed the tigerlike animal person’s words were more for him than Iris, though she did nod in understanding at his words.

“Miss Iris?” Lady Sarah Laurine’s voice almost squeaked from the shock of what was going on before her.

The two animal people once again tensed and started to move between her and the one speaking protectively. Iris stopped them though. “Faris, Yuki, this is Lady Sarah Laurine. She’s the one who helped me call for you two. We’ve become friends.”

They relaxed momentarily. “I see,” the foxlike one replied, “Thank you for being her friend while we were not here.”

“No, I should be the one thanking Miss Iris. After all she saved my life,” Lady Sarah replied, bowing slightly.

A couple of the guards he had sent away to contact his father returned, rushing for him. William noticed Brent tense at their approach, but managed to avoid striking out against them as they closed in. One of the guards quietly spoke to him. “His Majesty wants you to escort the envoys and Miss Iris to the audience chamber.”

William nodded, but wondered if the animal people would accept that. “I have been told that His Majesty wishes to meet with all of the envoys and Miss Iris.”

Iris whispered something into the two animal people’s ears. They looked uncomfortable but nodded. “Very well,” the foxlike animal person nodded, and gestured for the two envoys to join them. “Lead the way.”

William swallowed before nodding. He led the animal people, the envoys and Iris towards his father’s audience chamber. Hopefully everything would go well, and Iris would remain safe. The intensity in the atmosphere made it almost hard to breathe. If he made one mistake, he could start a war between Phisofia and the Great Forest of Lux. He could see other countries coming after them for risking the treaty as well. He couldn’t let that happen. All he had to do was make sure Iris was able to return home safely so the animal people would have no reason to believe them as an enemy.

As they arrived at the door to the audience chamber, William nodded to the announcer. “The envoys from the Great Forest of Lux, His Highness, and Miss Iris have arrived.”

“Let them in,” William heard his father’s voice respond.

William noticed Iris swallow. Damn it, this should have been unnecessary. If he had only managed to catch those slavers before now, he would have been able to send her home before this. The door creaked as it opened, revealing the audience chamber. Everybody stepped inside slowly. The animal people and envoys surrounded Iris protectively.

“I hear from the palace guards that your arrival did not follow protocol for envoy visits to royal palaces,” his father’s voice sounded commanding. The animal people didn’t even flinch at his tone, but the two envoys looked uncomfortable. The older of the two bowed slightly.

“I apologize for the nature of our visit, however, the situation was urgent. Great Spirit Lord Lux demanded us retrieve Lady Iris as soon as possible. I was also told to deliver this journal to the King of Phisofia as it would help explain the reason behind our visit,” the older envoy said. It was obviously a practiced speech, probably one he had been told to rehearse over and over before they arrived here, but when had he been assigned as an envoy. He looked to be from Sauriel, just like the other victims of the slave traders that Iris had managed to rescue before her own capture. Were these among the same people she had rescued. He remembered Iris saying there were three other victims in the carriage, but there were only two. Perhaps the last was too young to make the journey. The envoy produced a leather-bound journal that looked to be somewhat old.

His father gestured for one of the guards to fetch the journal. Iris looked a bit concerned, but also confused. When the king opened the journal his facial expression changed, revealing shock. After a few moments of reading, he cleared his throat. “I see. So Miss Iris was raised by the great warrior mage Vessa, and the unrivaled healer Garrick as their granddaughter. Is that correct Miss Iris?”

“The journal might say granddaughter, but we aren’t related by blood. Even if they viewed me as their granddaughter, I can’t claim that title.”

“I understand what you are saying, Miss Iris, but they have declared you as such and therefore you will be considered their granddaughter. Aside from all that, it seems you have an important connection to the Goddess as well,” his father shook his head. The revelations he had heard shocked him to his core. He guessed her connection to Garrick would explain her prowess with making potions.

“My grandparents never explained that to me, nor did any of the great spirit lords. They just told me to experience life happily and without hardship,” Iris looked like she didn’t know how to talk about it.

“An included note explains that they passed away shortly before your disappearance,” his father said softly. Iris flinched at the words. “A great loss. I hope they have entered the goddess’s embrace peacefully.”

“They passed away in their sleep a week before the slavers appeared,” Iris’s voice trembled very slightly. William wished he could approach her to comfort her, but knew that the action would likely cause more problems than it would solve. She hardly even knew him. He doubted he could help her make her feel better about losing the people who raised her with love and care.

The animal people moved closer to her protectively. It was obvious they cared for her. He hoped that they could help her feel better, but at the same time he wished he could be among those that could comfort her. “It seems that Iris is to be taking their place as a diplomat representing the Great Forest of Lux. Of course that means that our country has no trouble with sending her back home. However, might I ask you visit the capitol’s Church of the Goddess. I would like to understand more of the Goddess’s connection to Miss Iris.”

“Very well,” one of the animal people said roughly. They looked angry to have caveats added to their ability to take Iris home, but relieved all the same to have her back safely.

“I’d also like to request assistance of the Great Forest of Lux in tracking down the slavers responsible for this situation. As my son is responsible for the investigation, please talk with him to make arrangements.”

Iris was relieved to see her old friends, but part of her was sad to part ways with the people in the palace, namely Sarah, William, and Brent. Bianca as well. They were all so very kind. Iris didn’t know what it was about the prince of Phisofia that drew her in, perhaps it was his sense of duty despite her not even being from his country. Iris swallowed. She hadn’t told him where she was from. He might despise her for that, for not disclosing that she wasn’t one of his citizens, not his concern. Still even now as he helped to escort them to the nearest Church of the Goddess he seemed to care for her well-being.

As they walked in the massive doors to the church, Iris was startled by the old oak tree in the center surrounded by a velvet rope barricade to prevent people from stumbling into it. It gave off a similar sensation to being near the Great Oak at her home. Still something felt off, like it was weak, suffering. “Excuse me, excuse me, pardon,” she heard a voice growing closer as they pushed through a crowd of people, likely gathering at the sight of the country’s prince. A young man in priestly robes stopped in front of them. “My apologies for the crowd. I did not receive much notice of your arrival.” He was speaking to her and nobody else, pretty much ignoring William as he grabbed her hands. Faris and Yuki shoved themselves between them the moment the young man touched her.

“Back off,” Yuki snarled.

“Yuki,” she tried to push past her friends. “I’m fine, calm down. We’re supposed to talk to an oracle aren’t we?”

“That doesn’t mean that they can touch you carelessly,” Faris hissed.

“Faris, Yuki, move and stop this nonsense. I am perfectly fine, and he doesn’t mean any harm. Do you want me to tell on you to Byakko and Fenrir when I get back home?” The two finally calmed down, moving away, but she could still tell they were tense enough to rush in at any moment. “My apologies for Faris and Yuki’s behavior.”

The young man quickly shook his head, “No, no, it is not their fault. I definitely got overexcited. I’ve heard so much about you from the visions from the Goddess. This past year she’s been so worried about you sending warnings and pleas for the church’s knights to track you down quietly, but there were no clues we could uncover. Please, let’s speak in the inner chambers. They are much more private.”

Iris nodded and followed, noting the others following close behind. Iris felt a sense of calm reach her as she passed into the inner chambers. The blue stone under her feet felt soothing, like she was walking through a forest stream. The green stone that broke up the blue felt vibrant, like she was running across the forest floor. It felt like home, like the Great Forest of Lux. The lights felt like sunlight, very much unlike the twisted magic she felt coming from the lights the slavers and her captor had used. “As I’m sure you can feel, the inner chambers of the Church of the Goddess are made to resemble the most holy of places, the Great Forest of Lux. It is the place that is most closely connected to the Goddess, so we must do our best to resemble it if we wish to hear the Goddess’s voice. Usually, most oracles have to kneel on the floor with naught but a small cushion for their knees, your connection to the Goddess allows for an easier method. You just have to remove your shoes or touch the floor with your bare hands. If you are willing to wait a few minutes I can fetch the best cushions we have to make the process more comfortable.”

Iris shook her head, something urging her to just do as she always did in the forest. “I’ll just remove my shoes. I am quite used to not wearing shoes in the Great Forest of Lux, and this place feels so similar. It’s been so long.”

Iris quickly removed her shoes, luckily she hadn’t worn heeled shoes that morning. They came off easily and then her feet met the floor. It was warmer than she thought it would be given that she was standing on stone. It felt just like walking on the sun-warmed ground of the forest. “Ah, um, yes, very well. All you need to do is stand near the altar and let loose any of your blessings, even your unique magic will do.”

Iris nodded and walked barefoot towards the altar. When she had been younger, it had almost been harder to avoid using her unique magic than it was to use it. She let go of her restraint as she drew closer. She heard a gasp as she assumed flowers must have appeared at her feet. She had always been told of her days as a baby when she would turn any place she wandered into a flower covered surface. Iris wasn’t all that surprised to look down and see irises cover the green stones that she walked upon and lilies sprouting on the blue stones. The flowers spread out, almost covering the whole room’s floor as she drew closer to the altar. She stopped in front of the altar as she felt a shimmer, a glimmer of something calling her. And then the light felt as if it exploded from a nearby statue. A being cloaked in light with beautiful white wings covered in a cloak floated before her. “Oh my sweet child. I’m so sorry me and my people weren’t able to protect you from the pain you suffered.” The sound of her voice echoed in her head and through the room. Was this the goddess’s voice? “Yes. You are here to learn more about your connection to me. I will tell you what I can, but there is some that cannot be said yet. You, my child were never meant to suffer in this world.”

Iris wondered what she meant, but didn’t speak not sure how to talk to this goddess. Her grandparents had written that she had been entrusted to the great spirit lords by the goddess, but she had never spoke to the goddess before, so how should she communicate. “You may speak to me as you do with the great spirit lords. In fact I would prefer it that way. I was always a bit jealous of them for being able to be so close to you.”

“I’ll try,” Iris managed. “Why was I entrusted to the great spirit lords and and my grandparents?”

“To explain that, I must explain where you originally came from and how I came to have you in my embrace. You were intended to be born in another world, under another goddess’s care. You were intended to save that world, but your birth came too late and the world was destroyed just as you were coming into being. The goddess of that world managed to pull you out of the physical world intact before her world crumbled and begged me to protect you. She was a sister goddess so she hadn’t even needed to ask. She wanted you to only live in happiness and never suffer any hardships and bestowed her own blessing upon you to ensure that you would be able to live however you wished.”

“But why was I born in this world?” Iris asked, unable to stop the question. If she was meant to be born in a dead world then why was she here? Why was she entrusted to the great spirit lords? Why was she supposed to grow up and live happily if all the other people in her wold died when the world ended.

“Because, the goddess of your world wished it. She didn’t like that she had to give you that burdern in the first place, but someone had to bear it. Still, since it was too late to stop the collapse of your world. We chose to bring you here. Your happiness repels monsters, repels evil in general. It magnifies the purifying capacity of your magic the happier you are. I decided to use that to my world’s benefit when I gifted you my blessing as well. Your unique magic is meant to bring more happiness. The unique magic that you recieved from the other goddess was to stop the monsters of your world from tearing it apart, but since it was too late, it was possible for me to tie both the unique magics together so that it would be easier to ensure you grew up happily, and no hardship would befal you. Unfortunately, I overlooked that some people were working to override the protections I had bestowed upon the world by twisting the magics into something sinister, something evil.”

“The lights,” Iris managed, “And the tools the slavers used as well. They felt…off,” Iris admitted.

“Yes indeed, they were wrong. Twisting magic like that could easily bring the monsters that destroyed your world upon this world. Luckily none of them know how to fully break the veil so this world should be safe. And even if it isn’t, your power would destroy them the moment they tried to cross over as long as you experience happiness.”

“Is this twisting of magic why the monsters at the border are causing trouble?” Iris asked.

“Partially, up until Garrick and Vessa passed, they were responsible for maintaining the central barrier on this continent. Luckily, you were responsible for the last reinforcement, so the barrier held for most of the year you were missing despite your suffering. If any more of your blood had been spilt, I doubt the barrier would remain at all.”

“Is there anything I can do to help with the monster situation? Grandmother taught me how to fight if it came to that. I already offered to make potions to help with the potion shortage, but that doesn’t solve the underlying problem.”

“No!” the goddess nearly shouted. “Do not approach the monsters, ever. I do not wish you to face that danger ever. You can make potions, but I will not allow you to get close to any monsters and risk your safety. No matter how much your power repels them, the danger is too great.”

“Then what can I do?” Iris asked.

The goddess sighed, “You aren’t one to give up that easily. I should know that by now. Very well. The safest path would be for you to help reinforce the barrier here and then back at the great oak in the center of the Great Forest of Lux. You could do the same for other oak trees in other countries. If I’m not mistaken, your grandparents hoped for you to travel, as did the great spirit lords. They wanted you to see more of this world.”

“That’s true,” Iris admitted. If it would help protect people she would reinforce the barriers like her grandparents had taught her, but traveling when all she wanted to do was to return home felt unbearable.

“I hear your hesitance. I understand your reluctance to leave your home after what you suffered, and I don’t suggest traveling right away. In fact, I will send word to Lux to make sure he understands that you must fully recover first. Never mind the fact, that he and the other great spirit lords will be reluctant to let you go anywhere for quite some time. I want you to recover from the malnutrition you suffored as well as ensure all of the slavers are captured so you do not face such danger again. I am quite angry at those humans who thought it okay to harm my children. I will send word to Lux when they are captured, though I expect you will also hear from the people of this country to the same extent. However, once that is done, I want you to see the world that you were brought into. I want you to see what this world has to offer. You love flowers, and there are so many different sights with different flowers that you can only see in their homes. Please see them all and find joy as you do so. Besides, you won’t be alone in your travels.” the goddess ended knowingly. “I must end our conversation for now. Your health will suffer if we talk much longer, and I truly wish for you to recover fully.”

William stood in shock as the glowing figure faded into the air, a look of longing and worry in her eyes as she gazed at Iris. Iris was meant to be born in another world? What did that mean? He had heard of incompatible magics harming the user greater each time they used it. Was this the same? No, he figured, the goddess seemed to care for Iris and had actually suggested she use her magic more frequently to reinforce the barriers, said that it was okay for her to make potions.

“Are you okay?” he heard one of the animal people murmur to Iris.

“I think so,” Iris said, her voice shaking slightly. “Still, leaving the forest again so soon.”

“It won’t be so soon,” the other animal person growled gently. “And you won’t be alone. We’ll be joining of course, and if I’m not mistaken, your grandparents sent a message to someone when they were initially planning for you to travel.”

“To who?” Iris asked, confusion on her face.

“You’ll see when the time comes. I’m sure they will explain why they are your escort when you meet.”

“I guess I should reinforce the barrier on the oak tree since I’m here now,” Iris quickly changed the subject, but William could tell she was still bothered by the situation somehow. He understood. If he had suffered as she had, he doubted he would ever leave palace walls again, definitely not before the criminals were caught, and even then. William remembered the blood he saw, the pain she was in when the whip slashed across her back, when the light left her eyes after she was whipped across the face, cutting open her eyelid. No, he didn’t blame her for being afraid to leave her home again. He hoped she would recover from the torture she suffered.

“Are you sure you’re okay to do so? Talking to the goddess takes quite a lot of energy for humans.”

“I don’t feel bad or anything. My magic has been a bit unstable lately, so I’m not sure exactly how to explain it, but I don’t think it will cause any trouble if I reinforce the barrier now.”

“I will clear out the chapel right away so you are not interrupted,” the priest announced, quickly departing.

“Oh, I was hoping to ask him if I should leave the flowers here,” Iris murmured.

He had never seen such a reaction to a prayer to the goddess, but nobody had a unique magic like Iris’s. The flowers her magic produced were quite beautiful. He wondered if he could ask his father to grow some lillies in one of the ponds on palace grounds and add irises to the gardens. They were so beautiful and soothing to look at. He was enchanted by Iris’s magic, and Iris herself. There was something about her that made him worry about her, to want to protect her even though she wasn’t a part of his country. He wanted to make her smile, make her laugh like Lady Sarah Laurine had done before during their walks. Instead, he was going to be sending her off, sending her away and back home. He could visit, William reasoned. After all, she was now the representative of the Great Forest of Lux. He could visit her under the pretext of improving relations between her home and his country. Besides, she had said that she wanted to make potions to help with the potion shortage. And the goddess had agreed to allow her to do so. He could act as the gobetween for the potion trade that she had proposed. He’d make sure that it turned out well no matter what he did. He’d make sure she was happy too. In the meantime, he’d find those slavers with or without help from the Great Forest of Lux. If he managed that, perhaps he would earn the right to be there for her, to become her friend.

“You can leave them,” one of the animal people said gently. “In fact, they will probably insist that you do. Evidence of reaching out to the goddess is considered sacred. All oracles leave their evidence to ensure that the message the goddess bestows in believed even if there is no other witness. Since there were several witnesses to your own, it isn’t necessary, but it is still tradition to leave the traces.”

“Oh, I see. That’s fine then,” Iris said softly. “I was just worried that they might get underfoot when people tried to walk through here again.”

“This area isn’t exactly public. It’s the chapel that is open to the public, to enter this area, an appointment must be made, and these appointments must be approved ahead of time. I doubt there will be another appointment here for quite some time. The only people who will see the flowers will likely be us and the clergy.”

“Alright, I’ll leave them then,” Iris murmured, looking around. They locked eyes for a moment. She gave him a small smile, a nervous one that made him almost sad. If he wasn’t a prince and was instead just a palace guard, would she have gotten closer to him. She always seemed unsure of how she should interact with him whenever he visited her in the infirmiry, but he had enjoyed their conversations. Still, it was Brent who was able to learn about her having multiple blessings. If he had been more approachable, would they have become friends. It didn’t matter, William convinced himself. He could become her friend now if she liked. They were essentially of the same rank, in fact she was probably able to be considered above his own rank at this point. She should have no trouble and nobody should be able to find fault if they talked in a relaxed setting informally from here on out. He should propose as much before he sent her home.

“Is there anything I can do to help with the barrier?” William found himself asking.

“Not exactly,” Iris murmured. “I learned both grandmother and grandfather’s parts and can do them at the same time.”

“So you’re doing two people’s jobs?” William asked. At her nod, he worried again. She was still recovering. Could she really do that without hurting herself. “Are you sure I can’t take the place of one of the people? I don’t want you to overuse your magic and suffer for it.”

“I’m sure. While help would be appretiated in any other situation, you aren’t exactly trained in what to do. The process is a bit…I’m not sure how to explain it but it is different from what you might think. I watched my grandparents reinforce the barrier in the Great Forest of Lux for most of my life, but only managed to pull it off myself a year ago.”

“I see,” William frowned. “I just worry.”

“She is not yours to worry about,” one of the animal people growled menacingly.

“Yuki,” she scolded the tigerlike animal person. “He’s just concerned, that’s all. I understand why. He was the one who found and rescued me from the people who had purchased me from the slavers after all.”

“Speaking of them,” the other animal person growled. “Where are they? Are they going to be punished adequately?” She had called the animal people Yuki and Ferris before, so this foxlike animal person must be Ferris.

Brent stepped in then, “They were arrested immediately upon discovery. They will continue to be so until the slavers are caught. Once the slavers are caught they will be executed. They would be killed for engaging in the slave trade alone, but they also used Iris to trade poisonous plants and were engaged in other illicit affairs so they will not be able to escape punishment no matter who tries to get them out of it.”

“Has anybody tried?” Yuki growled.

“No,” William shook his head. “Even among the worst of the nobles, he was not well liked.”

“A noble of this country was responsible for Iris’s suffering?” Ferris bristled.

William nodded, “Unfortunately yes. Good nobles are few and far between. Count Maelifos was among the worst. There was no evidence of his criminal activity until we came across poisonous plants being sold openly in a market in his territory. Their supplier was someone who worked for Count Maelifos. I had my bodyguard search the premesis, and he found Iris. After I was made aware of the situation, I sent him to call for guards to make the arrest while going to where Iris was being kept. I was concerned about being spotted since it seemed that the whole of the former count’s family were able to manipulate her with the slave crest. It is very well possible if they knew they were about to be caught that they could order her to kill herself or something similar, so I wasn’t able to do anything until the daughter of the count finally left the basement where she was being kept.” It was the greatest shame he could admit. He wished he had been able to stop Iris from experiencing that pain the moment he knew of it, but the risk had been too high. Had he interfered sooner and he had failed to stop the count’s daughter, Iris might not be here now, she might not have ever made it out of the basement. She might have died. No, William shook the thought. She was alive, and he would do everything in his power to make sure that she stayed that way, that she lived and was able to find happiness once more.

“You let her get hurt?” Ferris started forward, hands clenched into fists.

“No,” Iris grabbed his arm, “He didn’t let me get hurt. He took every action he could take given the circumstances. I couldn’t even move without an order allowing it,” Iris protested. “I only survived because Aquis’s blessing was still able to purify the rotting food I was fed every few days before I was killed by the illness eating such food would cause. If the slavers had known about the blessing and managed to shut off access to it with the slave crest, I wouldn’t even be standing here.”

William felt his stomach drop. He had heard about the conditions she suffered indirectly in clinical terms from the palace healer, but hearing it from her own lips, hearing that she was fed rotting food and only every few days…no wonder she was suffering from malnutrition even now. Her body must have struggled to provide her with energy to live while also making sure she didn’t die from the poisonous food she was being forced to injest with every order to eat.

It seemed the animal people were just as mortified by her words. He saw their horror and rage at the revelation. “I’ll kill those animals,” Ferris growled. “I’ll tear them apart, heal them, and tear them apart again, over and over again, until they finally understand what they did wrong when they hurt you.”

“No,” Iris shook her head. “There’s no need to do that. They will be killed anyways, besides we need them alive to make sure that the evidence for the slavers’ wrongdoing in preserved. I don’t want the slavers to get a chance to escape punishment.

“Very well,” Yuki frowned, “But know I feel the same as Ferris. They don’t deserve a painless death, not after what they have done to you.”

“They aren’t living painlessly,” William interjected, wanting the animal people to understand. “They are being tortured to get information about the slavers out of them, well, Count Maelifos anyways. His wife and daughter were not the primary holder of the slave crest, so they won’t have information on them. I do not intend for them to live peacefully until the slavers are captured. I will ensure that they are brought to justice.”

“Good,” Yuki growled.

“I have returned,” the priest announced as he interrupted the dark conversation. “The chapel has been emptied of all but a few other clergy.”

Iris nodded and joined started towards the priest. Everybody quickly moved to follow her protectively. William did the same, concerned that something might happen after hearing just how much Iris suffered. No, he would not allow anything to happen to her again. He would make sure those slavers were dealt with before they could hurt her again.

They arrived at the old oak tree in the center of the chapel Iris looked up at the tree, a sense of longing in her eyes. “It really is just like the Great Oak in the Great Forest of Lux,” Iris murmured.

“That’s to be expected, “ Yuki explained. “This is a sapling from the Great Oak. All of the trees that are part of the barrier are saplings of the Great Oak. The Great Oak is at the center of the barrier forming the foundation for all the protection the continent has from monsters and the like.”

Iris stepped closer, “Can I start now?” Iris asked.

“Or course, you can start whenever you like,” the priest said gently.

Iris slowly stepped closer. Only then did William realize that she had never put her shoes back on. Perhaps he should address that before she left the church. He didn’t want her to face ridicule for something so mundane even if it shouldn’t be a problem in the first place. Iris placed her palms on either side of the old oak tree. He felt the stirring of magic before he saw the glow. From her right hand came powerful protective magic, meant to strengthen the shield. From her left hand came powerful healing magic, meant to help heal those within the barrier. The moment the two magics met, it was as if a shockwave passed through the room and beyond. The magic pulsated, growing stronger and stronger until Ferris pulled her back.

“That’s enough,” he grumbled. “You said you wouldn’t overdo it.”

“Overdo it? I don’t think I did,” Iris murmured, but her gaze looked almost dazed.

“You are barely standing on your own now. You’re supposed to stop well before then, and you know that,” Ferris scolded.

“But the center of the barrier hasn’t been reinforced by my grandparents in a year. I thought that it might need some extra maintenence to make sure that it would stick properly. Considering the monster problem, I didn’t want to risk it failing because I didn’t put enough into it.”

“That would never be a problem,” Yuki grumbled, fussing over her too. William wanted to join in on the fussing. Iris had taken a great risk, overusing her magic like that. She could have died if Ferris hadn’t pulled her back when he had. “Never do that again, at least not like that. I will not have you overusing your magic to the point of collapse. You could have died if you weren’t careful.”

“I,” Iris started but then she sighed, “You’re right, I was a little careless. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Good,” Ferris and Yuki said at the same time before glaring at each other. William wondered how the two interacted without Iris around. When she was around they both seemed to dote on Iris, but they seemed almost competitive in their attentions.

William swallowed, remembering her shoes. “Amazing, just amazing,” the priest said. Only then did he remember their audience, an audience of clergy that were all murmuring with amazement. “I’ve never seen such a flawless barrier reinforcement, and with only one person at that. What amazing skill and magic control you have. Please, do be more cautious in the future though. The animal people are quite right. It is dangerous to overuse your magic. I know it must be harder to gauge how much is too much currently, so just be cautious in the meantime.”

William quickly approached the priest. “Iris left her shoes in the other room. Should someone fetch them for her?”

“Of course, I will do that right away. It is best to avoid undue scrutiny considering Lady Iris’s current situation.”

Iris was surprised by how quickly things were moving. Iris’s room had been moved to one where diplomats from other countries usually stayed, in a completely different building on Palace grounds. Corrin introduced himself and the sibling that had come along, Logan. Their younger sister stayed behind. Apparently, they would be leaving in the morning once a few formalities were dealt with.

Sarah came by for a visit. She told her that the Princess Selection had been pushed back a couple months and she had elected to return home shortly after Iris was scheduled to leave. Sarah was happy about the delay since it meant she could help her father with the situation at the border. Apparently, part of the formalities included preparing a carriage for their return, as well as escorts to make sure they made it back safely. Farris and Yuki tried to convince the king of Phisofia that it wasn’t necessary, but relented when he pointed out that Iris was still recovering and should probably take a more relaxing mode of travel back compared to riding on the back of their shifted forms.

Bianca and Harrison arrived in her room together, escorted by palace guards. “I am glad you are able to go home. I understand why you did not tell us where you came from, however, if we had known we would have contacted your friends for you.” Harrison said with a frown.

“Oh hush,” Bianca scolded her supervisor. “Iris is a young woman, and was in a very delicate situation. If we had been anybody else, or a bit greedy, then she could have been in danger had she told just anybody about who she was and where she was from. Iris, sweetie, I do wish you had been able to trust us enough to tell us, but I understand why you weren’t able to. I hope you’ll come by to visit sometimes, or at least write. I want to discuss so much with you about potion making. Your methods make a bit more sense now. The Saudien Method was made by Garrick, your grandfather. It makes sense that over the years he might have improved upon the method, never mind the fact that you learned from both him and Vessa. That unique combination might have made that improved method yours alone.”

“Grandfather made the Saudien Method?” Iris asked.

“Well, yes, he didn’t officially publish it or trademark it. It seemed he just wanted to share the method so potion making methods could improve even further. Most countries protect it as his invention though, so nobody else can take credit for his progress. Enough of that for now. We can discuss that later. We stopped by to make sure your friends know where your treatment currently stands and what precautions they should take while you continue to recover,” Bianca started.

“What do we need to know?” Yuki nearly demanded.

“She shouldn’t overexert herself, though using magic is fine, she shouldn’t strain herself. She needs to get used to using her magic again so it can stabilize, but overdoing it could likely cause more harm than good. She’s worked her way through most of the dietary restrictions of recovering from what she went through but she really needs to avoid greasy or oily foods. The high fat content is not good for her right now. She can slowly reintroduce them to her diet in a week or so, but while traveling the risk of complications is higher so she definitely shouldn’t take the risk of eating that type of food until she’s fully recovered,” Harrison explained. Iris knew and expected as much.

“Anything we should look out for?” Farris asked, standing over the two healers menacingly. Damn, Farris and Yuki could be intimidating when they wanted to, and she understood why they would want to now. They had always been competitive with each other, but having them both so focused on achieving the same thing without actually competing it was as if they were winding each other up to be even more protective of her than usual. She hoped they didn’t actually hurt anybody while they were like this.

“Most of the risk has passed, but she could still suffer extreme exhaustion if she overexerts herself, and pretty severe upset stomach if she doesn’t follow the food restrictions. I, er, it’s best if you know ahead of time, but she has suffered from nightmares that leave her screaming at night, so she will probably need a lot of support recovering mentally from her captivity as well.”

Bianca hadn’t said anything about her continuing to scream in her sleep. She did remember the nightmares, but only faintly. It always started with that terrible whip, and then with her trying to move to escape, and then the slavery crest tearing through her body and soul as she fought against the orders she was given. Iris couldn’t remember specifics, and was glad. The pain was enough to make her want to scream, but the fact that it felt far away when she recalled the nightmares was a relief. She remembered when she accidentally made the slavery crest kick in, how it felt as if her chest was being gouged open. No, she didn’t want to think about it, she didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t want to remember it.