Year 3988, 21st Day of the 9th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

NEVER WOULD have Elise thought that Orin's dignified mien would crumble. He had been tagging along with her like a trained puppy since yesterday, tirelessly persuading her to come to his Medical Hall.

If not for Aricson, he would not have stopped yesterday but since Aricson left again this morning, Orin began his pursuit. She finally escaped his clutches as she strolled into the garden.

"Elise!"

'Oh my god! Another one.'  She mentally groaned and walked as if she did not hear anything.

"Elise, wait!" Ruby irises, glimmering with amusement, filled her view in a second. "Why are you avoiding me? Why don't I invite you to an afternoon tea? The flowers in our garden can compete with the lands of Faerilyn."

"Thank you, Lord Brennan, but I am on my way somewhere."

"Come on, don't be a stranger. You can drop the honorific. You've been calling my siblings by name so feel free to call me Brennan as well." His lips curved into a charismatic grin but her body shuddered from the cringe. 

This was creepier than his usual way of treating her. As much as Orin changed, it was nothing compared to the 180-flip that Brennan had. Gone with those harsh contempt looks hidden in obscure eyes, there was now visible sincerity — even in his tone.

"Okay, then, I'll go ahead first."

She planned to head back to the library and try her luck once again to find any information about the Harbinger and maybe also resume her research. 

"Wait!" He blocked her again. "I want to repay a favor. As you know, I cannot just ignore my savior, can I? Only this once. I assure you won't regret it."

His eyes twinkled with a strange light and with that exact copy of Aricson's face, she sighed and reluctantly agreed.

Brennan brought her to another unfamiliar part of the garden with a greenhouse standing not too far away from them.

"This is my mother's greenhouse. She used to tend it but I'm doing it in her place now. There are some rare plants that can only be found here," Brennan informed and opened the door.

Her pupils sparkled in delight as she scanned her surroundings. Unlike the flowers that she had seen so far that resembled those in her world, the species here were the things she only skimmed over in books.

"Is that a Sea Orchid?" 

The blue dangling petals were the same as it was described. Blue was a rare color found in nature but this magical world had a clear abundance with it.

"Yes. They are one of the hardest to breed but it's fulfilling to see them grow," Brennan spoke with uncharacteristic enthusiasm but Elise was already lost in her world to notice.

"Oh my god! You have Prima Floras?"

Pure white leaves and stems carried the lush petals that resembled a white rose. It had been depicted to be the queen of the flowers named after the same title as the queen of the fairies. It was a well-deserved name due to its beauty and its rare condition made it more special.

"Don't they only grow from the soil of the Jewel Palace of Faerilyn?" she inquired, full of wonder and awe at the flowers blooming.

Brennan nodded, his lips still tilting on both ends. "We were given their soil so we can grow some here."

Elise frowned. From what she recalled, Jewel Palace was the home of the Queen of the Fairies. For them to be given such, was it just a political gift or a perk of them having their blood?

"But aren't the races in odds?" She could not help but speak out the question in her mind.

"Indeed but your enemy today can be your friend tomorrow. We have more amicable relations with the fairies than other races. Anyhow, these petals are the best for fragrant tea, will you like to try some?"

"Sure," she gladly obliged.

GOLDEN ORANGE already glazed the sky by the time Elise noticed it. She could now see what Faylinn meant about Brennan being similar to Erkhan.

There was still a trace of cunningness in those pupils but no more animosity. Moreso, how could a person who loved plants be a bad person?

She never expected him to have such an unbecoming hobby but it gave her another perspective. At first, she thought he was just pretending but it didn't seem like it the longer they talked. Maybe having a sleep disorder really affected his personality.

Their conversation only ended when a servant came in.

"Greetings, my lord and Miss Elise," he said with his head downwards.

"What is it, Lan?"

"There is a visitor requesting for Miss Elise," he replied.

"For me?"

"Elise?"

Both of them talked simultaneously with a similar surprise.

The young man only nodded. "It's Lady Amaranth Helianthus."

"Pardon? Have you misheard her? Why is she here for Elise?" Brennan's face crumpled with puzzlement.

"No, my lord. Lady Amaranth emphasized it several times saying it's urgent."

"Alright, bring Lady Amaranth here and treat her courteously," Brennan ordered and he faced her. "How do you know the Proelia of Aestas?"

"The what?"

"Proelia of Aestas."

"What is that?" she returned, wholly confused.

Elise had read a lot of books during her stay here but it was her first time hearing it.

"Oh, I remember you had memory loss. They are the esteemed warriors of Faerilyn. Perhaps are you related to her? Is she here to bring you back?"

"What? No way! I swear to god I don't know anyone named Amaranth," she urged.

Brennan only propped his chin and observed her. "Maybe she can help you recover your memories and bring you back to your family."

It sounded so righteous from his mouth but she was certain he was sounding her out. Though this time, he was more considerate and no threatening air emitted from him. Nevertheless, his suspicions were futile. Her family was not in this world in the first place.

She wanted to refute but her eyes almost popped out at the scene at the entrance.

A woman fluttered her way inside. 'Literally fluttered.'

Bright flaxen wings flapped behind the woman's back, the black veins formed an elaborate design with black spots in symmetrical places. The butterfly wings were almost two-thirds of her body but her magenta tresses reached up to her soles.

She was clad in an outfit similar to what she had imagined if fairies existed. Her dress mimicked the shape of a sunflower during gloomy weather. Its upper portion was adorned with green branches and yellow-colored flowers.

It was way different from what Elise had worn so far and only the sheer gauze of her sleeves gave a sense of elegance to her scanty clothing.

As she drew nearer, the woman was a visage to behold but there was no bafflement on Elise's side anymore. It was as she expected. How could a fairy be ugly?

"Ah, to meet a chicken in such a beautiful garden, how unlucky," the woman named Amaranth commented with no qualms.

Her amber pupils rimmed with ebony borders were framed in by tapering eyes. It gleamed with mischief while the thin lips curved, exuding arrogance as she raked them down. 

"Greetings, Nobilis of Helianthus. To what do we owe this honor on our humble home, my lady?" Brennan said.

"I'm here to see Elise. I had made it clear to the servant or don't they understand the common tongue?" Her right brow arched, still looking down at them.

Interestingly enough, Brennan refused to meet her gaze with his eye level on her neck when the woman had no intention of setting her feet down on the ground with the rhythmic flap of her wings.

"How can it be? Perhaps it's my lady's way of speaking that made it too difficult for our poor servants."

Amaranth narrowed her eyes and chuckled. "You must be joking. How can the problem be me? Why don't you just leave and let me and Elise talk in private?"

"You say such amusing words, my lady. Have you flown so high in the clouds that you forgot you're in Ember Isle?"

The woman flipped her hair and ignored Brennan. "Elise, let's go. I don't have enough time to exchange pleasantries with a red chicken."

Elise's eyebrows twitched but  Amaranth was already grabbing her without any permission. But, Brennan was quick to respond and held her other wrist.

"Our Elise here doesn't seem to know you," Brennan opposed.

"Of course, she doesn't but I know her. That's enough reason, isn't it?"

The two had a smile plastered on their faces but the crackling fire between them could cause visible sparks.

"Excuse me but I really don't know you," she said and tried to ease her hand away but Amaranth grinned and tugged her in one move, lowering her tone that only they could hear.

"Harbinger."

Brennan quickly pulled her back away but she clearly heard what Amaranth said. It was the word that had been haunting here these days. 

Elise turned to Brennan and spoke with decisiveness. "I think I do have to talk to her."

"If that's what you want but... Amaranth, just so you know, she's important to Aricson. If you do something to her, you won't only face the Flamion but also the Nobilis of Rosa." Brennan had dropped all formalities and uttered those words in an unnerving tone he had used to her before.

Amaranth only rolled her eyes. "As if I want to dirty my hands. If you can get out now, it'll be the best."

Brennan grumbled under his breath but ended up leaving them alone.

"Finally, the chicken has left. Of all places you had stayed, why did you come in this family of chickens? The dragons are most majestic than them."

Elise scowled upon hearing her words again.

"You keep saying chicken. Are you referring to the Vermilions? If that's the case, aren't dragons just a bunch of giant lizards?" Elise defended. For some reason, she could not withstand it any longer as Amaranth denote them.

Brennan seemed to get along with it but it was degrading. It reminded her of her family again. Her parents and siblings laughed off the silly name-calling but she would not allow it. The stupider it sounded, the more humiliating it was.

"Now, now. What set you in a bind? Anyway, I'm quite stunned you have colored her like the fairies when you're the Harbinger but he clearly stated you're a human from another world. Are you the same as me? But that can't be possible."

There were too many questions formulating in Elise's head but Amaranth was quick with her mouth.

"Here. You keep this." Amaranth clasped a suede cord on her wrist. 

She only stared at the simple black woven material decorated with a clear barrel-shaped bead at the center before Amaranth spoke again.

"He said he wants to talk to you."

"Who's 'he'?" 

Amaranth grinned, gesturing her forefinger, and pointed upwards. "God."

"Huh? Come again?"

"God," she repeated with a funny expression before her forehead creased. "I can't reveal anything more or else I'll suffer. I hate pain the most."

'A freaking god?!' Elise could not believe how things were getting more absurd but it was reasonable. That same god may be the person who sent her here.

"How can I talk to him?" she questioned as soon as rationality came back. Everything was possible in this world.

A clap resounded as Amaranth's eyes widened. "Oh! So that's what I forgot! I keep feeling I forgot something and it must be it. Maybe he'll probably visit you in your dreams too?"

"What?"

"You'll just know. He also said, as the Harbinger, you must trust no one and don't tell anyone your identity. The previous ones all suffered the same fate but he said this time is different so you must take care of your life."

"Are you even sure I'm really the Harbinger?" she questioned, thinking how ludicrous it was to hear it again.

"Oh, dear. Are you also inept? Of course, you are. You know for yourself that you just recently came to this world."

Her ears perked. "Then, can I get back to my world?"

"You can but I doubt. Why will you get back to a world where you don't belong?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Her brows furrowed further.

"Ah, enough questions. It's almost time for my next appointment. Just ask him. I'm sure he'll be more lenient to you."

Amaranth zoomed out, like a wind leaving as fast as it came, throwing her more questions than answers that she sought.