How To Rebloom Withered Flowers

Night fell over Floraleyse, as the celebrations continued tirelessly throughout the entirety of the town, the crowd still livened through Yvessa's song, through the festival games they played, and through the delicious food they consumed.

It had been decreed by the Mayor that since the Flower Festival had been unceremoniously interrupted, they would simply… extend their celebrations by a day. Surely a little confusing for any passing by travelers.

But ultimately, a welcome thing indeed.

As Shanna sat watching the festivities from afar, her familiar shadow loomed closer and sat a short distance from her. She cast a sidelong look at Rondy, his hood up as usual, his demeanour reclusive as usual.

"Apparently…" Shanna began, unsure at first if she was hoping for conversation or merely voicing her thoughts aloud. "…People are saying the princes signed their pact because of the birth of their children… And that the king had been hoping on them gaining a new prospective as their kids grew up during that initial 10 year pact. I guess they must have, to sign another one voluntarily…" Shanna mused to herself.

At the prolonged silence she found her eyes drifting to the great starry expanse above as she continued to reflect aloud.

"You know, even without the potions they'd ordered… Brava, Yvessa, Mayor Bunby… Everything ended up okay for them..."

Wondering if he'd dozed off, Shanna found herself looking his way, her eyes landing upon his face… Only to see he was definitely awake, and staring deeply and directly into hers.

"Why didn't you sign the deed?" He asked.

"Wh-What…?" Shanna said completely taken aback.

He shook his head and repeated himself. "That's what Mayor Bunby gave you, isn't it? The house deed… He told me so himself. Why didn't you sign it?"

Well, this was unexpected.
She shook her head as she met his gaze earnestly.

"Well because…"

She hesitated a moment before remembering Yvessa's earlier words wishing them both honesty and the courage to deliver it, before shaking her head.

"It's because I don't want you to be burdened by my feelings anymore." She returned her gaze to the stars, captivated by an especially bright one. "…I realized throughout all this that you are your own person… You're different than the Rondy I knew, that I dated…"

"…You have your own tastes, likes, dislikes, and I'm sure your own desires too..."

She looked his way again. "So I guess to answer your question… I didn't sign the shop deed, because I want you to be happy and comfortable as you are. To live the life you want to, without me forcing my own feelings onto you… So if you can do that for me, then I'll be more than happy." She concluded with a smile.

His face seemed to contort as he wrestled with her words, directing an intense stare to the tip of his boot. "What if I'm not..." he muttered under his breath.

Shanna was starting to feel she needed better hearing…
"What?"

He turned to face her again, his expression agonized. "What if I'm not happy?" He repeated.

"What if…"

And then he paused… Seemingly battling his own inner turmoil. When his face returned her way, it was rosy from the blush that coloured it, a clear sign of which of his inner thoughts had won the conflict.

"What if I want things to continue as they are…?"

Shanna found her mouth falling open.

"W…Wha…" Her eyes squinted as she tried to somehow discern the hidden meaning in either his body language or words. Was it housing? Rent? Did he not want to pay rent? ...That felt understandable, in this economy no wonder people turned to theft.

"What… What do you mean?" She finally decided to ask, her tone slow as her mind continued to frantically race for other plausible options.

He looked skyward as his body hunched inward. "D-Do… Do you need me to spell it out?"

Shanna nodded immediately.
"I do."

Rondy's face fell on his knees with a crack. He twisted his head her way, his expression exasperated.
"I-Isn't… Isn't it obvious…?"

Shanna reeled back as she shot him an incredulous look. "It is most certainly not…!" She took a breath before she continued. "Obvious, clear, honest are the last words to describe you!"

"After all, who was it that knew Norri was the Midnight Picklock but didn't say anything?"

"Wha…" He raised his face off of his knees.
"Well, who was it that knew Laven was the one who visited the store, but didn't say anything? You didn't even vouch for Yvessa!"

Shanna's cheeks flared out at the rebuttal. "W-Well, that's because I thought he was the Midnight Picklock…! So, once again if you'd told me, then I could've told you! ...So there!"

There was a strangely pensive silence before Rondy spoke again.
"You're… You're right."

Shanna found the breath for her next retort snatched away in the aftermath of those unexpected words.

"...I'm sorry... If I had been honest, maybe trusted you with my feelings, I..."

In the midst of his lingering words he'd turned his head aside, his hood and the stray hairs that blew about in the wind the only part of him Shanna could see.

"When I… When I first awoke in that room, everything was scary and alarming." He began. "It was too bright, too messy, and there was too much I didn't understand…" He shook his head.

"…But over time I found I was becoming less and less afraid… and more annoyed. Annoyed at you."

Was this supposed to be clarifying things or a subtle way to call her annoying, Shanna thought as her cheeks puffed out. Without an expression to guide her to that answer, she was left waiting for him to continue.

"…But… As more time passed I-I realized that was changing too… That rather than being annoyed, I found myself relying on you, becoming dependent… And valuing our time together."

Shanna found her proud bravado, the pouty expression she'd previously worn crumbling apart and changing into one transfixed on his every word, her heat beat intensifying with every passing second.

"What I mean to say is…" Rondy started, pulling his hood down and facing her directly.

"Rather than y-your Moonlight… Will you allow me to be the Shadow to your Sunlight?"

She couldn't help but gape.

What was this? A confession? A proposal? There was no way, right? After all, she'd already made peace and come to terms with everything… They were friends… Wasn't that right?
Or was it room mates? Acquaintances…?

Her own muddled confusion spilled out of her mouth as stuttered words.
"B-But I… But y-you…"

Rondy took the opportunity to clasp her hand within his own as he stared into her befuddled eyes with his own heartfelt ones.

"Do you accept…?"

After a few seconds of silence, his determined gaze fell apart as looked at her sheepishly. She could tell he was debating repeating himself… Debating whether to ask again...

So then… It was serious…?
He was serious?

She found herself sniffing, found the tears threatening to well again. She shook her head as she attempted to steady her emotions.

"Why would you even need to ask me that…? You should know, that no matter what, through thick and thin… You'll always… You'll always be my most important, most precious person in the whole world, Rondy."


~ ~


As morning arrived, Shanna awoke with a stretch, the sunshine continuing to be as beautiful and golden as it had been all week.

Today would probably be the last day she slept in that room.
They'd probably need to discuss swapping rooms with each other... As well as so many other things as well.

After yesterday's conversations, Shanna had signed the deed on the spot.
An emotional release that had left them free to continue enjoying the merriment of the festival from that same distant spot, moments for the two of them alone.

Shanna made her way over to the window sill where the Atristus flower and the little seedling lay waiting for their daily nourishment, as she unlatched the window and pushed it open.

She reached for her lyre and began to pluck at the strings, filling the upper floor with its harmonious rhythm.

She knew the lyre's song would have no effect on the Atristus flower.
She now knew what the flower needed to bloom.
One of the first things eagerly asked, and one of the first answers given under duress.

As the golden rays fell upon her face, the little bud, and the flower did she consider it again.

Everyone's relationships had encountered obstacles and setbacks… And their journey's had taken routes and paths previously never taken.

But even so, the results had been favourable.

She and Rondy were the same.
She was sure they'd still get into little arguments. Argue about food, or spices. Gripe about their little quirks or habits. But in the end it wouldn't matter.

Because even without their previous memories, even without their old dynamic and interactions, their bond had come out just as strong as before.

And the end result had remained the same.

Right as her tune reached its conclusion, Rondy awoke and exited his room, looking as tired and weary as usual.

"Ah, good morning my shadow!" Shanna called out jubilantly.

Rondy averted his gaze in embarrassment as he mumbled a good morning back to her.

Ah. Whoops, Shanna thought to herself.
The pattern had been too familiar, and she'd subconsciously leaned in for a good morning kiss, as had been the usual affair between herself and the old Rondy.

She righted her posture, hoping the pet name hadn't overdone it either. This was a different Rondy after all, so things would be slightly diff-

Sudden contact on her cheek caused Shanna's mind to stall and her heart to flutter as Rondy leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

A kiss…!

Shanna turned her face in surprise, having had just enough time to see the bright blush erupt across Rondy's face before he sped down the stairs muttering something about Alchemy.

She couldn't help but chuckle, as she saw the Atristus flower beautifully starting to unfurl out of the corner of her eye, its white petals radiant under the beating sun.

As it so turned out, the one thing withered boyfriends needed was the same thing withered flowers needed.

And love, was something Shanna had in abundance.