Cavaliere del Giardino Overture

ChapTer 18

Wandering into the snail garden they were welcomed by warmness and heat. The grass is a runner at the blocks, ready to race for the light as soon as the weather warms. Fresh sunlight illuminates perfect spheres of water upon its fine green wands. With the chorus of the birds above, this chill day already feels as if it has a touch of magic, as if anything may happen.

Sammy looked at the garden confused as she turned around seeing the snowfall. Yet the snails were warm. She looked around as she stepped into the house and laid Pilo on the bed. "Dad?" She asked to the seemingly empty home.

Caro yawned. "Sammy? You're home?" He asked. "How do you like what the Queen did? Permanently Springtime for our garden, if we got more magic users we could spread it around the world." He smiled. "Least to the desert," He said before looking at Pilo. "What happened to him!?"

"His shoulder is broken and he was hit with a sleep potion," She said before walking to the room. "I brought friends to the garden," she continued, "They need a place to stay while I go and end this," She said.

"You're leaving again?" Caro asked checking on Pilo. "Where are your friends?" She opened the door to see Bria cautiously trying to not step on the snails. Zito was chatting with Tarot.

"They're the sole survivors of what happened recently," She said. "That Mantis is Bria, he and Pilo are friends and that one is-"

"Zito," Caro nodded. "I met them before when I met Angelos....are you saying Angelos is-" Sammy nodded. The river is soft, wending its way between the banks that are the new vivid green only the springtime can bring. In the post-dawn light the water doesn't sparkle as it does at noon, instead, it is mellow like a Monet painting. "I apologize," He said. "Do you think you have what it takes to finish what he started?" He asked. Sammy nodded looking determined. "What is this for you?"

"Freedom," She replied. "I don't want anyone coming for us," She nodded as Caro sighed. "I know it's stupid but if something happened to me or you or even Pilo I'd feel like it was my fault," She said.

"I understand completely." Caro nodded before sighing. "Here comes the queen to check on Pilo."

The weather is the kind that feels like a kiss of summer without the fiery heat of noontime in August. The grass is a soft green that almost has a hint of blue and in the sky is enough pristine white cloud to show you how beautiful the sky was, how perfect. The concrete of the path was warm under Queen's bare feet and she was glad to be free of the confines of her running shoes. Who needed to run when walking felt so blissful. She stopped and closed her eyes so that she could focus just on sound. There is was, the dragon song, how could anyone not say that was music? She opened her eyes and let the daylight flood back in, bringing the late day right back into focus, she walked straight to them. "Is Pilo here?"

The two moved to let her in before hearing an audible gasp from Zito as Sammy turned to see a Mosquito step into the garden. Purple hair pulled in a tight ponytail, darker tan skin, red eyes, and fangs were hidden behind a bandana over his mouth. He pulled the bandana down as Sammy gripped her blade. "I don't wish to fight," The mosquito said before dropping his swords to the ground. They made an audible clunk. "I'm here to help this garden and whoever wants the gang dead,"

Sammy stared. "How do I know?" She asked. "Who even are you?" She asked.

"June, someone killed my friends," He said. "I never truly liked Dracula, I stayed in the gang for those two but...." He frowned. "They're gone now, so I was told to come here by that dying beetle." He looked up. "Are you trying to kill Dracula?" Sammy nodded. "I can help." June looked down before frowning. "Just make sure I-I'm never alone again,"

Bria looked to him a moment, Caro frowned and sighed. "Help him, Sammy," He said. "You're a knight now, this is your burden," He said. "Your decision."

Sammy walk to him and sighed. Around him bloomed flowers, The golden flowers were a sunrise that stayed, blooming with determined brilliance. It was as if they saw they were not the leaves nor the grass, and so they became themselves all the more; even more beautiful for their boldness. Golden petals radiated the sunny rays. Each one was a glorious sun of the soil so rooted in the good earth. They were the flowers of our joyful days, of the spring and summertime.

The two looked at eachother as He looked up at the snail. Sammy slowly hugged him. "You won't be alone anymore," She whispered to him. The hug was a simple enough gesture - affection, perhaps the fragile beginnings of love. The arms that held him were soft, yet strong. The feel of her body so close to his soothed him more than he had expected. But within seconds he pulled away.

"Thank you, Madam," he said nodding. "I-I look forward to staying here," June slowly bowed.

Sammy simply smiled. "How can you help me, June? Oh and uh, Madam is too formal for a knight, I'm Samantha," She said. "Just call me Sammy." She said as the two nodded.