Kiaria let the soft radiance of his Halo of Heal expand gently from his body. The monochrome-white glow flowed through the air like warm mist, brushing over Diala and Princess Lainsa. The violent sneezing finally stopped, though their noses were still red and their breathing uneven.
Hidden among the herbs, the Naughty Plantlet burned one of her own tiny leaflets.
A faint, sweetly bitter smoke drifted toward them.
The scent slipped into their lungs, and the last traces of congestion vanished instantly.
Princess exhaled in disbelief. "So it can cure… and torment… at the same time."
Diala rubbed her nose quietly, still embarrassed.
But the plantlet was not pleased by their presence–especially not after sensing the invisible thread that tied the boy in front with the short girl walking behind him.
She had noticed it the moment they entered the field.
Not love.
Not yet.
But something dangerously close.
The breeze rolled across the herb field in slow, gentle waves. Countless medicinal plants swayed, releasing layered fragrances that felt warm and clean to the soul. Kiaria walked at the front, alert but relaxed. Diala followed him carefully, eyes glimmering with curiosity as she studied each unusual leaf and stem. Princess walked at the rear, her posture lazy, but her senses spread wide.
Beneath the soil…
Tiny roots began to move.
Without warning–
A thin green vine looped around Diala's ankle and tightened sharply.
"Huh–?"
Her foot jerked forward.
Balance vanished.
Her body tipped.
Diala fell.
Before Princess could even take a step–
Before thought could reach Kiaria's mind–
His body moved.
Pure reflex.
He stepped forward in one smooth motion and caught her around the waist, pulling her sharply back against his chest.
Their bodies collided softly.
For a single suspended heartbeat–
Kiaria's arm was locked around her waist.
Diala's hands clutched the front of his robe.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Her lashes trembled.
His breath stopped.
Princess stared at them.
The field went utterly silent.
Then–
WHRRRRRR–!
Several thick vine protectors burst out from the ground like living ropes. They wrapped around Kiaria and Diala in a blur–around wrists, shoulders, waists–binding them tightly together back-to-back.
Before either could even shout, the vines yanked upward.
Both were lifted into the air.
"W–WHAT?!" Kiaria barked instinctively.
"KIARIA–!" Diala cried, panicking mid-air.
At the same time, another vine lashed around Princess's waist and hauled her up as well, hanging her a short distance away.
"I KNEW IT WAS TARGETING ME TOO–!" Princess shouted in outrage.
From every direction, feather-soft herb leaves began to rise from the ground. They glowed faintly with gentle spiritual light, floating as lightly as breath.
They surrounded them.
Then–
They moved.
They brushed across Kiaria's neck.
Against Diala's wrists.
Along Princess's cheek.
Tickle.
Tickle.
Tickle.
Kiaria broke first.
"P–PFFT–ST–STOP–HAHA–!"
Diala tried desperately to endure it–but being tied to Kiaria made every tiny movement unbearable. Her shoulders shook violently as laughter escaped her against her will.
"I–I c–can't–! I can't–! Hahahaha–!"
Princess struggled furiously, teeth clenched in humiliation.
"You insolent plant–! When I get down–HAHAHAHA–!"
Kick.
Twist.
Struggle.
The vines never hurt them.
Only restrained.
And because Kiaria and Diala were tied together, every movement worsened everything.
Their laughter overlapped.
Breathing tangled.
Hearts pounded.
Hidden beneath a cluster of glowing leaves at the center of the field, a tiny plantlet trembled with silent joy.
Two tiny leaf-arms hugged a flower bud tightly as she shook with delight.
She had finally found something more fun than terrifying beasts.
At last, the vines lowered them gently near to the ground and loosened to not cause bruises.
Princess straightened her clothes slowly, eyes blazing.
"That… thing is officially on my enemy list."
Diala's face was completely red from ear to ear.
Kiaria cleared his throat, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
A soft childish giggle drifted from the bushes.
"He protects you fast… I like him…"
Diala nearly combusted on the spot.
Kiaria's amusement vanished instantly.
The last trace of laughter in his eyes froze.
His pupils turned faintly white.
"Empty."
The world paused.
Vines released.
Leaves fell still.
Sound muffled.
His gaze snapped toward the hidden plantlet, blazing with silent fury.
Before he could move–
Diala rushed forward and wrapped both arms around his waist tightly from behind.
"Don't," she whispered urgently. "Please."
The tension shattered.
Protector vines surged forward instinctively, forming a dense wall before the plantlet.
The Naughty Plantlet gripped one leaf in fear and peeked through the vines.
For the first time…
She met a gaze that did not threaten her life.
But felt… familiar.
The same origin.
The same power.
Her tiny expression dulled.
A silent apology formed.
Princess rushed forward immediately and flicked one of the flower petals–hard enough to sting, but not enough to harm.
"How dare you do things like that to us, you sneaky girl," she scolded. "I'll settle this with you in the real world."
"I'm sorry," the plantlet sniffled. "I just wanted to play. No one plays with me. Everyone only fears me."
Princess crossed her arms. "Hey, stop acting. That's terrible acting."
She glanced toward Kiaria and Diala meaningfully.
"I'm not angry because you're naughty. I'm angry because you made things even more awkward between those two."
The plantlet burst into mischievous laughter again.
Kiaria and Diala both looked away, mortified.
After the awkwardness settled, the plantlet extended several vines forward and placed three tiny crystal vials in their palms.
Princess opened hers and froze.
"T–This is… Milky Dew Drops of Zerili Tree."
"You have quite a collection," Diala said softly.
The plantlet turned to Kiaria. "What is your name?"
Kiaria smiled faintly. "I'll tell you when we meet in the real world."
"Oh…" The plantlet drooped slightly. "I felt familiar energy in you. That's why I asked."
Kiaria gently placed his palm over her small leaf-face. "Just don't play like that with random people again. If she hadn't stopped me… you might not exist anymore."
"You can't erase me," she puffed proudly. "If I vanish, this sanctuary vanishes too."
"I know," Kiaria replied calmly. "We have the same purifier power. But your mental foundation is still weak. I can't teach you what I used."
Diala crouched a little. "What's your name?"
"I'm Vern Willow Plantlet," she replied happily.
She leaned close and whispered to Kiaria.
"You and that girl are in love, right? If you two eat twin leaves of the Cupid Plant together, you can read each other's thoughts. It is in the right corner of the field and its appearance is love shaped spade leaves."
Kiaria blushed deeply, declined immediately, and poured five drops of pure relic spring water into her roots.
"This is our parting gift."
Then…
They walked away.
Behind them–
Vern Willow watched quietly.
And for the first time in many centuries…
She felt loneliness fade.