The Shadows of Nature

2. The Future Present

Iris stood with a small smile amidst the five shadows, facing only two within the circle formed by them on the outside, but her focus remained equally on each. Trina flicked her finger to produce a green spark that playfully circled the little one, Iris's aura flapping in a demure manner in response.

Like a melodious giggle.

The spark settled on a yellow chrysanthemum that sat nearby within the circle, its posture strengthening and it stretched towards the sky. It fell back to its humble position as it was left by the spark's hold, briefly exhausted but then immediately reinvigorated. The spark's movements were now more restricted, burdened by the information it gained, but that added a style to the motion as if it gave meaning to this brief spark. It travelled till it hit Trina's head and dissipated into glittering fragments and the shadow slowly opened her eyes, directing her gaze towards Evelyn.

A leaf sprouted from the flower's stem, its presence feeling artificial yet integrated with the flower's existence. However, nothing else responded to it, as if its environment did not acknowledge. It didn't sway with the wind, it didn't give off any scent, it didn't respond to the sunlight... as if existing in a pocket world within that of the flower. Its growth was oddly paced and it had already neared the end of its life. 

A breeze not of this world swirled around the flower, picking up this esoteric leaf as it returned to its place. Evelyn held it between her palms, closing her eyes as she brought her hands closer until the hologram disappeared, into her energy. As she opened her eyes, her gaze turned to Galen.

A wisp of grey circled the flower, its speed increasing until it was practically a full, thin circle. It's height increased until it turned into a sphere that engulfed the little living thing, though it never interacted. 

Quietly observing for a while, a moment that simultaneously felt long and brief.

Then the petals of the flower spread wider, its vibration momentarily with trepidation turned into refreshment, as if gaining a newer perspective into its world just by remembering what it was. Who it was. As the sphere lifted the flower went back to its previous state, changed ever-so-slightly only by time.

Galen lay out his palm and the little ball kept spinning on top of it, slowly dissipating as each wisp probed into his arm, travelling to his mind. As soon as it final thread touched his thoughts, Galen turned to Conrad.

Conrad simply blinked and the field the shadows stood on did the same. There was a flash of red for the briefest moment possible, tightening the space around the flower and all that was extracted flew to the one who performed the technique as soon as the pressure was released. Conrad closed his eyes, peering into the tube that connected his mind to the deepest reaches of that little living thing. His lips quivered momentarily, almost displaying an emotion that he wiped off immediately. As he opened his eyes, he looked at Audrey.

The leader nodded to the little shadow while she and everyone else took a step back.

Iris simply sat next to the flower, tuning out everything with the exception of the soil that held her flowery friend, and its immediate surroundings. As she focused one sense, she blocked everything else.

First comes sight. What a deep yellow, compassionate and wilful. Petals in full bloom, bright and strong under the warm sunlight. Beautiful. Swaying gently, like drawing out a small smile in hopes of instilling that sentiment in its surroundings, especially in the shadows around. The clouds above moved in accordance, standing over the shadows to provide a cool from the warmth while letting the little one in the centre bask in the light.

Then, listen. It appears to be singing a pretty melody, almost quiet. Full of a certain emotion, planted in it at the time of birth by someone who feels so far away. Unreachable. Yet always there. Conveying the sentiment that it is filled to the brim with, other relations suspended in companionship. 

Next, touch. So soft, so real despite its possible origin lying far from reality. A memory shot through Iris's mind, a time when the shadows dear to her were happy together despite the strife they faced. It was warm and sincere, and the little one couldn't help but finally smile.

Audrey pursed her lips, sighing.

Finally, smell. So sweet and delightful, drawing her into a world which she could escape to without forgetting her true time. A place of comfort that helped by reminding something of itself. 

My conscious mind, my inherent nature.

At the end, Iris opened all of her senses, seeing the object in its totality. A simple flower, sitting alone at the centre of the circular field of grass. So small. So precious. Without lifting her gaze, she projected her thoughts in the minds of the five shadows.

"This flower was planted by Elek, for the five of you."

Even though the five had figured it out by now, hearing the words come from her hit them all with something that brought back that pang of sorrow. 

"Not too long ago, somehow. Perhaps his request travelled as a whisper from wherever he is to the Nature of Earth, and it now blooms."

Evelyn wiped her tear with one hand and held Conrad's with the other, hoping the shaking would stop.

"If you spend enough time with it, it can take you to a world built for you. Perhaps one built on memories, or energy, or dormant thoughts, or raw emotions, or fragments of the other lands, or music, or nothingness. Just quietude. Anything."

Trina and Galen smiled. The former looked rather fondly at the little one who felt that gaze, her smile melting into something kinder. Audrey simply listened.

Everything. She discerned everything, merely using those five, ordinary senses.

----- -------

Iris hadn't thought about it before, but it was now all that pervaded her mind.

The little girl sat down cross-legged over a little patch of grass at the base of a garden, observing the flowers before her with a spark in her eyes that came rarely. It was the oddest garden of Sylva Vita, harbouring all sorts of flowers in a seemingly randomly manner. The soil was the same across and flora of different species sat together, unlike the arrangements everywhere else.

Bundles of bright, colourful and pretty things scattered across this piece of land. Perhaps, in their own way, conversing with Nature as they grew into their nature. What comes for these little existences after this life? What are the things that mean the most to them? How independent are they? What are they independent from? Who are they? Identity, such a fickle thing, but it supposedly defines life nonetheless.

She would know the answers. She knows so much. 

Her gaze finally caught the holly, iris and sunflower that sat together in their own little corner, separated from the others as a unit, but still amongst everything else.

Iris shifted her position, sitting next to those three for as long as she wished to.