Chapter 83, Ivy Garden

We were all discussing what to do when Arata suddenly turned towards the city as if looking at something.

"Up ahead... this way." He stated as he walked forward.

"Oi! Argent!" Adonis was about to stop him when Theo stopped him. "Why?"

"That... isn't Argent or Arata in control right now." Lia answered.

"Yeah. The vibe is different." I answered.

"Trance Memoria." Van stated.

"Trance Memoria?" Alexis asked.

"It's the state in which the memory of the past and present collide. In other words, this place is related to a previous Le Fleur and Arata's responding to the memories of said Fleur." He answered. "Follow him, quickly."

We followed Arata as we went down the winding mazes with an empty look in his eyes. He turned down corner after corner and eventually stopped before a dead end.

"Did we get lost?" Angie asked when Arata suddenly touches the wall and it crumbles.

He walks on, deeper into the heart of the city. We follow him quickly not losing sight of him and marking the way back. The buildings eventually open up and Arata stops before what must've been a fountain. Along the way, most of the soldiers have dispersed to check the area along with some of the scouts so only the neutral party and the four representatives and Chase are here now.

"Joy." Arata says and suddenly Growth disappears and is replaced by a crimson fox.

It jumps unto what must've been the top of the fountain and the corners begin to glow and then a magic circle apears above the fountain and it begins to quake. Then, a blinding light fills the cave illuminating the city. From the light, life sprouts, the crumbled buildings are covered in ivy and vines, the cracked earth is overgrown by weeds and flowers, the fountain is covered by bushes that bloom in beautiful hues of yellow, blue and red as water once more flows from within it.

"S-so beautiful." Rosemary says as the petals and leaves of the flwoers are carried gently by the wind.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you all." Arata says but the voice isn't his, it's more feminine and in a tone and speech manner different from his. "I... only wanted to see my homeland once more."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Oh, sorry for the rudeness." He answers and bows his head. "I'm Ivy Heartsong, the ninth generation Fleur. Arata is safe, he's in the Dream Castle talking with other Fleurs."

"Why are you here, although the Sacred Flower is the point where all Braves meet, shouldn't it be impossible for you to do something like this?" Van asked.

"That's what I had thought too. I simply longed to see my honeland once again, so when Arata came here, you could say I was wishing for nothing more than to see this scenery again even if it was just once." She answered. "Arata... he must've felt the desperate cries of my heart and his Flower responded to mine. However, I don't plan to stay long, I'll return Arata's body to him after I finish this."

"How does that work?!" Monica exclaimed excitedly.

"I don't know either. Elias might know but... either way, just ask Arata yourself." She answered as she gazed at the scenery again.

"From what I have learned, all the Fleurs died a painful death and cruel death, if I'm not mistaken, you were..." Van was hesitant to continue.

"That's right, I was forced to undergo experiments and eventually died." Ivy answered. "But, I had always wished to see this place at least once more, even if it was in ruins or destroyed. All of my Petals died for my sake and that may have been the thing that drove me to insanity."

"But you seem better now." Hildegard said trying to cheer her up.

"I suppose so. I'm thankful to Arata for letting me see this scenery once again." She smiled and stood up. "Arata, thank for letting me see my homeland once again. I hope that you will not share the same fate we have."

"Wait! Do you know where the White Tiger is?" Chase asked immediately when she started closing her eyes.

"The White Tiger? I think you'll find that person has been by your side since the beginning." She answered and pointed to Autumn. "She... isn't human."

"Huh?!" We all exclaimed.

"The Priestess- No. The Magicain of Fallen Leaves is... not human." She repeated. "The Magician of Fallen Leaves, is the only humanoid familiar of the White Tiger. Inside her, the White Tiger sleeps."

We all turned to Autumn who was trembling with fear when she heard Ivy's words. Everyone was speechless and didn't know what to do when Ivy broke the silence.

"Before you, two paths now stand, choose." She said and we all turned to her to see her expression has changed. Her words were cold and sharp, without any emotion behind them.

"Awakened Calling." Van said as he clicked his tongue. "Could this be a Turning Point?"

"Turning Point?" I asked.

"When a great decision that affects the fate of the worlds is about to be made, the Sacred Flower is said to activate its hidden power and a person will appear before those who will make the choice presenting them with choices." He answered. "Is that why she appeared. Because the choice here will greatly impact the fate of our worlds? Then I can already guess what choices we will have to choose from."

"Either let her live and the the White Tiger's rampage continues or..." Hildegard is unable to continue her sentence.

"Kill her and end it's attack." Albert finished.

"Kill her or let her live. For the sake of a thousand will you sacrifice a single life or will you protect one life and scarifice a thousand?" She asked as she stared at us with dead eyes. "When the choice is made, will the flower bloom or wither, that decision is in your hands. Choose for yourself, Initium or Finis."

As she finished her sentence, Ivy closes her eyes and falls on the ground leaving us in a precarious situation.