Garden Knight

Part 27

"Think not that the bud isn't ready, nor that beneath the petals are not perfect. Think of it as art ready to bloom into a sun ready to give off its light. Think of it as the flower it already is, perfect within and destined to open. It is the promise, the hope within that is born to seek liberty and to be a giving part of our world."

He remembered those words. Caro remembered hearing his king speak those words. He and Tarot sat with eachother in the snail cafe. A small hut in the middle of the garden with drinks to be served and little umbrellas to collect. The two had small cups of green and herbal tea. Tarot downed the green tea and Caro the herbal peppermint tea. "I'm sure you heard that scream last night, that cracking means he's out," Tarot said. "I've been dreading this day the past 400 years," He messed with his fingers as he frowned. "I know this isn't your fight and it's incredibly selfish for me to involve you in anything like this but I need you to help me, Caro," The noise of tea kettles ringing and steaming was all that was left in the cafe. Caro silently nodded. "You will!"

"For the betterment of the snails, I'll do anything,"

"Caro, why is it that you care more about these snails than your old Garden?"

Caro frowned. "These snails gave me something I needed in a time I needed it, They gave me somewhere to go, someone to love, something to protect, I'm sure you feel the same way about the tower and your queen," He said. "My old garden wouldn't need me now anyway, the survivors probably moved on from needing a garden knight." He took a sip of his tea. Rain floats in gentle waves as if gravity is soft music from the Earth, a sweet beckoning serenade. Each drop bequeaths itself unto the cooling air - wet lifeboats in a dry sea. On the way, out were small umbrellas for the snails. Caro picked one up and put it over his head while Tarot just walked in the rain back to the huts that Caro stayed in. He opened the door shaking out the umbrella and smiled. "We'll leave once the rain stop, alright," He asked to a nodding tarot. "See you then," He shut the door and turned around to smile at Willy. "So, We're gonna have to help Tarot kill a godlike bug," He said as Willy sighed. "What!?" He asked. "Are you okay, lovebug? Do I need to do anything to get me to go?"

"Well, take me, Gaulin, and Samatha with you."

"Who will watch the snails?"

"Queen can, she's been teaching the bees to look after them."

"Samantha? Wait! No! I am not taking my star pupil to this, it's too dangerous," He said.

"She won't get hurt you'll protect her,"

"Willy..." He said frowning. "Fine, can you please tell them all we're leaving after the rain stops." Willy nodded leaving the hut.

Samatha was actually practicing in the rain. She was spinning and stabbing her spear towards a monument to the last snail king. Built a few dozen years ago, this fountain in the snail garden is here to represent the blooming of this region during earlier ages and the echoes of it still visible today. Its position within this community is meant to represent the intertwining of all lives in this community and the strength that comes with unity.

It was designed by a young artist who admirably captured the natural influences of the region and used an expressionistic style to convey his vision in this piece of art.

Every element was crafted and created with deluxe materials from local suppliers, ensuring this monument will continue to provide joy and wonder to this community for ages.

She stopped when she heard footsteps. "Oh, Hi!" She stabbed her spear into the ground. "Willy, Have you come out here to train me too?" She asked. "Caro and Queen have two very different fighting styles, so, I've been trying out both," she said. "It's weird but I found a mixture of elegance and speed, I call it, Snail side!" She grinned.

"I think I'll pass I'm not too keen on using weapons," He said. "Caro wants you to come with us on a long adventure," He said.

"Oh? Where are we heading?"

"The Attuned garden." Willy looked at the younger as she pulled her spear from the ground. Rain falls like God's own poetry; each drop is a single letter in a song that takes eons to sing. It has always been music, always called to them in ways no one can explain. When the patter of the drops tumbles from grey skies the melody brings serenity no matter the chaos in their life. Rain. Blessed rain.

"Attuned garden huh, why there?" She asked. "I'll go but I heard rumors from some of the bugs that fled from there, it's completely destroyed, the garden's gone to shit," She said before frowning. "Sorry for my language," she said.

"I don't know it's just something Caro want's us to go to," The second that word left his mouth everyone heard a voice.

"Why was I forgotten!?" The voice said. "Why was I forgotten but they get praised!?" It continued. "I will show you pure Nightmare until you each remember me!"

Caro and Gaulin both saw something. A black knight rising out of the amber ground, he raised his blade, a long clear blade with blue running through the middle and a metal tip. He brings it down and the two see it.

The Garden.

The garden is littered with weapons, blood, and suits. Red, gray and black are the new colors of what was once a marvelous, tender forest, which has now become the stage of a cruel war.

The air which would normally carry the sounds of dragons, rivers, and wildlife is now merely a canvas for the stench of death and the cries of the dying, hell has descended upon this area.

Two parties fight each other because of a betrayal, but it's clear who will win. The dead and wounded of the losing side are abundant and lay in heaps around the Garden and the faces of the fighters are grim with strain and gloom, they want to give up, but somehow keep fighting.

With a certainty of victory, the winning side fights with a sense of relief knowing all will be over soon. Some have succumbed to fatigue and are sleeping amidst debris, rubble and their wounded, while others can only think of home and what they left behind.

The toll on both nature and humanity is heavy. It'll likely take ages before this garden will have recovered. It's clear gore, blood and bodies have taken the place of trees, trees, and flowers.