Chapter 61:
Suimen: Volume 4
The vibrant skies of the Floral Kingdom swirled in hues of peach and rose gold, scattered petals drifting across the air as the sun dipped beyond the kingdom’s famed crystal canopies. Amid the radiant courtyards of the House of Flores, Astera Flores had returned home.
He stepped onto the private garden dueling terrace—its floor tiled in mana-reactive stained glass shaped like vines and lilies—and was immediately greeted by the musical hum of resonance.
A breeze whispered. And then—
Rhodendris Azalea Flores, the Floral Emperor, landed behind him with effortless grace, long robes trailing blossoms and his petal-framed sword and rope dart—Bloomrend—resting on his shoulder.
Azalea
You’ve returned from Raureif. And you didn’t even send a bouquet.
Astera
(grinning, stretching his arms)
Sorry, I left my diplomacy in my other dimension.
Azalea walked past him, flipping his hair as if tossing away the remark.
Azalea
How was the boy emperor? Still soft around the soul?
Astera
Getting stronger every day. Reminds me of when I first came back home… but less dramatic.
Azalea
(offended)
I am not dramatic.
The vines around the court recoiled at his tone. Astera raised a brow.
Astera
So this is a regular reaction, then?
Azalea
Enough banter. Pick up your blade, child of my legacy.
The two clashed under a setting sun. Azalea’s style was fluid, punishing, and deliberately elegant, using petals and pollen-like mana to distort Astera’s casting sequences. Astera, in contrast, was a walking nebula—his floral magic creating gravity wells and light lashes to keep his father on edge.
But Azalea was still faster.
Azalea
Distracted. You rely too much on power. What did I tell you?
Astera
"That elegance is a state of violence disguised as grace.
Azalea
"And?"
Astera
(flicking light particles into orbit around his hand)
That I should learn to wield gravity as a brush, not a bomb.
Azalea nodded approvingly, then thrust forward—Bloomrend extending into hundreds of petal-like blades mid-air. Astera barely countered with a floral barrier, pushing off with a gravitational dash, flipping into the air and launching a barrage of compressed nova-pulses.
After hours of intensity, both collapsed in the flowerbed under the moon’s violet light.
Azalea
You’re improving. Nalea would be proud.
Astera
(blinking at the stars)
You met her?
Azalea
No. But I can tell from the way you hold back... She grounds you. That’s good. Keep her.
There was a long pause.
Azalea
Just... don’t let her tame you.
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