Chapter 5

The glowing lanterns of the Floral Kingdom's barracks cast dancing shadows on the marble floor. Astera, fully suited up in his captain’s armor—a hybrid of royal crimson and vibrant gold—sits on the edge of his bed. His twin swords, Chrysanthemum and Empire, are laid out in perfect parallel.

He dials. The line rings twice.

Nalea (Phone):
Hey, what’s up? You sound… armored.

Astera:
(chuckling)
Good ear. Yeah. I leave in the morning.
This one’s big.

Nalea (Phone):
How big?

Astera:
Two fragments.
Wachstum and Putrefacci.
If we pull this off, we’ll be down to the last three.

Nalea:
(curious)
Which are?

Astera:
Kakia’s—the Sigil Fragment of the Universal Destroyer,
Regenora’s—the Sigil Fragment of Genesis,
and Siegfried’s—the Sigil Fragment of Flames.

There’s a pause.

Nalea (Phone):
(quietly)
You’re gonna be dealing with Putrefacci. That’s… no joke.

Astera:
(sighs, rubbing his temple)
Yeah. He’s the guardian of rot.
A literal walking entropy machine.
And Wachstum? He’s constantly evolving. There’s no predicting his terrain or power shifts.

Nalea (Phone):
That’s a cursed combo if I’ve ever heard one.
You going in solo?

Astera:
Nah, I’m bringing a team.
Berwick, and Asche are coming along.
Alto offered, but Shizuku said I had to “take responsibility.”
Whatever that means.

Nalea (Phone):
(smiling)

It means they trust you.
You’re not the “floral child” anymore, you know.

Astera:
(chuckles softly)
I better not be. I’m fighting an immortal fungus god and a mutating jungle incarnate.

Nalea (Phone):
Be careful, okay?

Astera:
Always.
…and hey, thanks for picking up. I just wanted to hear your voice before I go.

Nalea (Phone):
...You’re sappy. But you’re welcome.

Astera:
(laughs)
It’s the flower thing.

Nalea (Phone):
Go save the world, Captain.

Astera:
You got it, future Imperial U valedictorian.

Nalea (Phone):
Damn right.

Click.

He exhales slowly, standing. The air around his twin swords flickers with heat and light. He gives them a nod, then turns toward the door.

Astera (to himself):
Wachstum. Putrefacci.
Let’s see what kind of bloom fire can bring to rot and ruin.