The following morning, Kael found the nameless man inside the greenhouse.
He wasn't sitting or watching.
He was working.
The gardener had placed three trays containing different seeds in front of him, along with small containers of soil and wooden labels. The work seemed simple: sort the seeds by size, discard the damaged ones, and organize the rest into groups before planting.
When Kael entered, the man was leaning over the second tray, holding a seed between his fingers as he examined it against the light.
"Better than pulling weeds?" Kael asked.
The man looked up.
"Much."
The gardener laughed from the other side of the workbench. "He said that five minutes after starting."
"Because it's true."
Kael approached. "And your back?"
"Better."
"Then maybe you've found a part you enjoy."
The man looked at the trays. "Maybe."
The gardener pointed toward a small basket beside him. "Those are the ones he sorted as nonviable."
Kael examined them.
