Jaded Winds

The greenhouse hummed with life, caressing Lucius the moment he entered, cleansing him like an ice cold shower.

Intricate curls of vines lazed across crystal beams overhead, dripping down blossoms in blues and golds. Bushes and shrubs shrouded tall, enveloping the area in the warmth found under the wings of a grand maple tree. A wind gently swayed throughout the glass structure, one that Lucius could now fully feel. The harmonious jungles of green plants seemed to turn to him in greeting on his arrival, noticing his return and welcoming him back to their luscious home.

As beautiful as ever, maybe ever more so now. After seeing all the filth firsthand, a place like this becomes so much more important. Lain, you really have created something special.

He followed the cracked stone mosaic path onward, the gentle breeze guiding him deeper into the green. Every surface stood half swallowed by moss, like the earth had been turned into a carpet and laid over all. The fountain still poured out its liquid starlight, rippling streaks of silver across the greenhouse and tending to the plants in Lain’s absence.

Lucius cupped his hands in the translucent liquid and raised it to his lips, feeling the cold rush cascade down to his soul.

This place needs to exist, all of Lain’s work will live on forever. I’ll make sure that the grass is still green when she returns, as green as the day she left it.

Passing by silver ferns, violet mosses, petals that dripped with changing shades, orchids with pollen that sparkled like distant planets, he pursued on with the wind still brushing him forth.

Hidden under the crystal beams above, among the alcoves of spectrums of green, a small tree rose up from a damp bed of soil, like it had just been watered a moment prior. Its trunk was a healthier shade than before, but the paleness within the veins still showed distinctly throughout. The beginning stages of blossoming buds hung from its branches, waiting for their times to finally bloom.

Lucius crouched down right in front of the tree, and with his eyes closed he placed a hand on the middle of the thin trunk.

Just like she showed me, focus, focus…

Jade green resonance began to form around his perched hand, just enough for the flame to travel up his finger, following the grooves of the tree up to an unripe flower. The jade essence wrapped itself around the bud, caressing it and urging it to life. The singular flower opened its soul and bloomed, a pure white blossom shimmering in the light.

I…actually did something. I used my resonance to give this flower life.

The wind around Lucius picked up its intensity, following in suit the path of his resonance and swathing the tree in its touch. The breeze purred, morphing shapes in impossible directions, finally taking the gleaning form of a woman’s figure, just barely visible through the transparent air.

Yes, Lucius, you have done well, the zephyr hummed, the notes carried like a breeze blown through leaves.

“What…Lain is that really you? How…how are you here?” Lucius asked the wind, jumping to his feet like he’d seen a ghost.

Do not be afraid. I am glad you have returned here. The green remembers you.

“Oh Lain, I…I…I need you, we all do. Oh my god, so much has happened. All of it horrible. I’m so scared, scared that I’m gonna mess everything up again. I’m so sorry Lain, I’m so, so sorry. I was so weak…I…I…”

Lucius dropped down to his knees on the soft soil, the overwhelming rush of emotions weighing him down like he was soaking wet from a treacherous flood.

“My resonance is so fragile, I’m not like you or Surazal. I can’t do anything all alone,” he continued, “Everytime something begins to go right, I…I just feel like it's gonna be taken away. Counting down the seconds until it's gone.”

Keep on the path Lucius, focus only on that. Stay true to the light, stay true to what you know.

“I don’t know anything, nothing seems true anymore. Every step I take just puts more people in danger. Things made more sense with you here, but, I will bring you and Surazal back. I did just what you said, I talked to the twins and they have a plan to reverse all this. I…I promise you I will fix this. I will get stronger, and I will see you again, face to face.”

The breeze flew over to Lucius’s face, and he could feel the strands of his hair being tousled by the essence of delicate fingers.

You already have all that you need. Remember, I live on in your mind. As long as you think of me, I will exist forever. Now, be on your way, little one, there is still much of your path to travel. I will always be with you.

The wind slowly unraveled her figure like a ribbon, her gusts spreading out peacefully over the lively surroundings. With one final twirl of Lucius’s hair, the breeze was gone, and the greenhouse resumed its silence.

“I have everything I need,” he repeated out loud.

Lucius stood from the cool ground, and retraced the steps he had taken on the spiraling mosaic path, back to the entrance of the glass structure. Before exiting the greenhouse, he turned for one last look and gave a ‘see you soon’ wave to the plants, feeling that this wouldn’t be their last encounter.

“Everything okay?” Ultra asked when Lucius returned, having barely moved from his waiting position.

“Everything will be. I’m glad we came here. But I’m ready to head back now, every second counts, right?” Lucius replied, stepping towards the shimmering entrance of the Angiporium.

“It certainly does,” Ultra said, and the two of them proceeded out into the night.