Chapter 4 — Before The Fall (6)

We will now rewind time slightly, going back to the day when Shionne's grandfather was laid to rest in his burial ground.

***

Shionne's POV:

After my grandfather's funeral, I locked myself in my room and began researching everything I could about the elusive Elysium's Embrace.

Upon realizing that time was of the essence, I was overcome with a sense of urgency to find the said flower. Despite my determination, I was at a loss as to where to begin my search, as I had no prior knowledge of what the flower looked like or its location. Nevertheless, I was resolute in my quest to locate this rare and mystical plant, which only appeared once every four years during the frigid winter season.

To start my search, I needed to learn more about the flower's physical characteristics, behavioral patterns, and blooming circumstances.

"I already found out that Elysium's Embrace were going to appear this year, but that didn't necessarily mean they would appear just anywhere," I thought to myself.

This meant that I had a limited window of opportunity to find it, and missing this chance would mean waiting another four long years before it appeared again.

"Young Lady, it's time for you to go to bed," said the maid as she ushered me towards my bed. I pretended to close my eyes, and once I heard the door close, I got out of bed, used my fire magic to light the lamp, and continued studying the patterns and behaviors of the Elysium's Embrace.

***

The following day dawned, but I hadn't managed to get any real sleep. I mean, sure, my eyes had closed and opened a few times, but in reality, I had only managed to get two or three hours of rest. As a result, my head felt as if it was filled with lead, and my eyelids weighed heavily, drawing them down towards each other like magnets.

Desperately, I tried to force my eyes open with my fingers, but it was no use. They were still drowsy and reluctant to cooperate. Recognizing that my body was in dire need of rest, I resolved to take a quick nap, even if it was only for a short while.

***

The sun had already begun to set, casting an orange glow over the room when I finally stirred from my deep slumber. In that moment, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of panic as I realized that I had wasted precious time that could have been spent studying the flower of mourning.

Desperate to make up for lost time, I quickly grabbed the fifteenth botanical book from my growing collection and began to pour over its pages, absorbing every piece of information that I could find. However, just as I was about to flip to the next page, a sudden knock interrupted my concentration.

"Who's there?" I asked inquisitively.

The answer came promptly, "It's me, young lady." I recognized the voice as belonging to the head maid of the household, who sounded elderly.

The knock was followed by the creaking sound of the door as it opened slowly, revealing the silhouette of the head maid. Her wrinkled face was etched with concern, and her eyes showed signs of worry.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, casting a brief glance in her direction before continuing my research.

The head maid hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, concern etched on her face. "You haven't left your room since we returned from the cemetery. Are you feeling unwell, my lady?"

"I'm fine," I said. "I am just so sad that my grandfather is no longer with us. I need some time to grieve, to come to terms with his passing." My voice trailed off as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

Concern crept into the head maid's voice, "Have you slept enough last night, young lady? I'm sorry if I have to ask this, but as your humble servant, I'm worried about your well-being. As the head of the Alistair house now, it's imperative that you take care of yourself."

"I am taking care of myself well enough, head maid," I replied, my gaze still fixed on the botanical book in front of me.

However, the head maid's doubts were not easily dissuaded as she observed, "It doesn't look that way to me, young lady. You clearly did not get enough sleep last night as evidenced by the dark circles around your eyes."

I didn't have much time to spare on things other than learning more about the flower of mourning, so I hadn't checked my face in the mirror. As the head maid pointed out my physical condition, it became apparent to me that I had dark circles under my eyes—a clear sign that I had not slept well.

"I'll sleep after this," I assured the head maid, hoping to ease her concerns.

Curiously, she asked, "What are you even reading, young lady?" I had a collection of books scattered on the floor of my room, and this was the fifteenth book I had read in my search for information on where the flower of mourning might grow.

It wasn't enough to simply read these books; I had to analyze the behavioral patterns, significant conditions, and necessary environment for the flower to bloom. Finding the flower of mourning was difficult because it only appeared every four years in cold temperatures.

The head maid had noticed my reluctance to answer her question, and therefore, she fell silent. However, she soon spoke up again, this time about something that caught my attention. "The flower of mourning," she began, "a bloom that is believed to possess the power to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. That was your grandfather's favorite flower, wasn't it?"

At this, I perked up, my curiosity piqued. It was only then that I glanced at her, taking notice of her presence in the room for the first time since she entered. "How do you know that?" I inquired.

Her response was swift and straightforward, "I have been in the service of your grandfather for fifteen years, my lady. It stands to reason that I would know such things. It was the flower that your grandfather always brought whenever he visited your grandmother's grave."

"Do you happen to know where I can find this flower?" I asked her eagerly.

Her expression turned apologetic as she shook her head. "Unfortunately, no," she said. "I have never seen the flower growing on the estate grounds, and I am not sure where one might find it. I am sorry, my lady."

As I absorbed her words, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over me. The hunt for the flower had proven to be a challenge, and the possibility of actually finding it seemed abysmally low, or even lower than that. Her answer also dashed my hopes, and I realized that finding the flower would be an uphill task.

With a sigh, I asked another question, hoping that she might have some knowledge that could be helpful. "Then, do you know where grandfather had got them?" I inquired, hoping that she would provide me with a clue that could lead me to the flower's location.

If grandfather was visiting grandmother's grave every four years to lay flowers, it's likely that he knew where to obtain them.

The head maid paused for a moment, her eyes gazing off into the distance as if she were trying to recall a distant memory. "To be honest, I am not sure," she finally replied, her voice laced with uncertainty. "But I do remember that every four years, he would venture off in that direction," she said, pointing towards the north-west.

***

Another day had passed, and it had already been two days since my grandfather's burial. Although it was not yet nighttime, I was already in bed. I hadn't slept enough, so the head maid scolded me and insisted that I should go to sleep.

I was supposed to follow the head maid's orders and go to sleep early, but as soon as she left and her footsteps faded away, I got up and opened my bedroom window.

I wasn't going to sleep, at least not yet, because today was the day I had intended to search for it. I feared that if I waited any longer, it would slip through my grasp.

As I opened the window, a blast of frigid air hit me, sending shivers down my spine. The cold was so intense that I felt as though I would freeze in an instant.

Looking down, I suddenly realized that the distance between my room and the ground was far greater than what I had initially anticipated. Despite being aware that my room was located on the second floor of the estate, I had somehow convinced myself that the drop wouldn't be too high and that I could easily jump without any repercussions. However, as I peered down, my heart raced with fear and apprehension.

Determined to find a way out, I searched my room for any potential solutions. My eyes fell upon the closet, and without wasting any time, I made my way towards it with quiet steps. Inside, I found a plethora of clothes that I knew could be of use. Drawing upon the knowledge I had gained during my time in school, I began tying the clothes together to form a makeshift rope.

Once I was done tying the clothes, I securely fastened one end of the rope to the leg of my bed, while the other end dangled precariously outside my window. It was then that I decided to drop my backpack, filled with all the necessary items that I needed for my journey, down the rope before descending myself.

With the improvised clothes rope in hand, I lowered myself to the ground, safely avoiding any injuries.