Chapter 6: The girl in the flower shop
1987 Words
The meaning of life is always tailored to your own life.
The cold winter breeze is starting to fade. The white cold snow that covered the whole city before was gone. Dead trees go back to life while the little small buds of light green sprout.
Spring is coming.
Time sure flies and I’m still in the middle of my aimless journey. It's making me a little dejected waking up every day.
Well, despite that, it's still cold. So cold that only this cup of hot chocolate is the only source of warmth in my body.
Sitting on a bench holding a hot cup. My body shook as I took a sip.
“So good… But still not enough…”
I wanted to buy more hot chocolate, but unfortunately… I have no money left. Not a single one is left. This hot chocolate in my hand was only given by my kind-hearted old woman who saw me shaking in coldness.
I believe my wallet fell in my pocket somewhere while I was traveling. I’m careless, I’m an i***t… I had better out my belongings of belongings next time. Especially my wallet. Without money, I would be doomed in a city.
I’m surprised that I was able to survive last night without eating and sleeping outside there.
But the sad part was…
“ It's my birthday today!”
Today is February 3rd.
“February 3rd… Without a doubt, today is my birthday.”
I said as I looked toward the calendar hanging on the bulletin board in the park where the bench seat was located.
I don’t have memories, but I do know little things about myself, like my name and birthday. I don’t have full amnesia, where patience didn’t even know their names. If I travel more, I might recover more.
I have to stay optimistic.
I thought and made a fist.
The cruel cold breeze passed by.
“So cold!”
After consuming the hot chocolate, I immediately went to the nearest guild to do some quest. If I’m able to accomplish a quest immediately, I’m able to accumulate some money. Money that I can use to rent an Inn and let me order some fried chicken.
I want some fried chicken on top of rice. Drenched it with gravy and it's perfect.
“This is no monster quest on the quest board.”
I said.
A waitress heard my voice and responded.
“Sorry about that, but the cold weather in the country affected the monsters and their quest. Around this time of the year, the city is always peaceful. The monster that used to live nearby is only going on in mid-spring and summer to mid-autumn. We can only offer questions about helping with some odd jobs.”
Odd jobs?
Is this quest about scratching a mountain bear's back considered an odd job? Another weird one is this job of whipping an old man to work. That old man must be some kind of masochist.
“I’m struggling to have money…”
“You’re struggling with money… Hmm…” She stares at my body, checking every side. “You lack shape, but you do have a great face. Honestly, you’re weirdly cute.”
Weird and cute? What a weird combination?
I won’t be angry about the lack of shape. I’m still young. My thin body will still grow. I won’t lose hope.
“You’re going to be popular with old men.”
“What kind of job are those?! Are you out of your mind?”
“You’re just going to service them?”
This girl is talking like it's normal. It's weird. That kind of service is weird. Since arriving in this city, I’m very unfortunate. First I lost my wallet and now I’m dealing with a weirdo.
“I’m not into that kind of job?”
“The pay is quite high… What a shame for a cute girl like you?”
“I want to do a quest to earn money. I want to earn money to survive.”
I need food and rent. I’m sure I won’t survive another cold night on the street.
The waitress went in deep thinking for a moment.
“There is one… But it's not a quest. There is a flower shop nearby and they need people to help them out. Looking at you. You must be a magic user, right? You could help them. The cold weather is affecting their business. Using your magic, you might be able to help them.”
“Really? I would like to apply immediately.”
“The pay is low, but they offer food and shelter.”
“That’s perfect!”
The waitress drew a map leading to the said flower shop. After receiving the map, I immediately ran toward the flower shop and reached it.
I opened the door and the bell attached on its upper part rung.
“Is there anyone here? I'd like her to apply for… Huh? No one is inside.”
As I opened the door, a bunch of colorful flowers was presented to me. Different flowers, colors, and shapes. The different aromas float in the air.
I stepped inside and closed the door. Deciding that I’ll wait inside this shop.
Walking around. My boots touched something.
My boots touch a person lying on the ground.
A dead body?!
Why is there a dead body here?! I'm the only person here. Meaning, I’m the prime suspect for this murder. The red liquid was spilling onto the floor. It's still dripping, the murder is still nearby. Should I pursue the culprit? No, it's better to run away in this kind of situation.
If I’m convicted, I go to jail. I won’t be able to continue my journey.
But leaving this dead body alone is bad. Should I call for help… I’ll try screaming.
“...”
I flinched when something grabbed my feet.
It was the woman on the floor.
“Are you dead?”
“No, I’m not.”
The woman replied.
The dead speaks!
I jumped a little bit. It took a few more minutes before I realized that the girl wasn’t dead. She is not dead, to begin with. She slowly stood up and then got some water to drink.
She looked at me and said:
“I’m sorry for scaring you, my dear customer… May I help you?”
“It’s fine… My reaction is just exaggerated. I should check your pulse before labeling you as dead. I’m the one who should apologize… Moving on, I’m not here as a customer. I’m here to apply for a job. I heard that the flower shop is looking for a temporary helper. I would like to apply.”
“I see, so that’s why you are here… Before hiring you. Could you use some kind of flame magic?”
“Yup, I’m a magic expert.”
She stared at me closely. Stepping forward, she looked at me directly into my eyes.
That scent…
The scent she’s releasing is quite familiar. I can’t pinpoint it. But it's very familiar and I don’t like it at all.
The woman made a step backward, looking at me with doubt.
“You look too young to be a magic expert. Are you a magic expert?”
That’s what everyone says.
I showed her the proof that I’m an expert magic-user. I pulled out my adventure card. My class is in S class and only a few adventurers can reach this stage.
Adventurer forged can’t be forged. The card only shows one person's level and class.
“An S class… Did you steal it from someone?”
“I’m not.”
“Trusting people these days is very hard. But look at the picture and name. This must be you… Umm… Miss Hanayuki. What a weird name…”
Calling my name weird became the norm for me. My name is very odd and I can remember it written in a different form of characters.
I do have glimpses of me writing the same characters with different names before. Kanna **(Round of fruit trees)… It's something like that. I don’t even know where this knowledge can come from. Maybe it's something from my past self.
My memory loss is making me curious and makes me unlock some weird memories.
“Umm… Do you know anything about my name? Like the origin of my name.”
“Your name… It's weird but I don’t know its origin. Why do you ask?”
“I lost my memories and I can’t remember my past self. I don’t even know whose my parents are and where I came from. It's roughly 6 years since I woke up knowing nothing.”
“That’s rough.”
After that, I told her that I was traveling aimlessly around the world, hoping that someday. I might unlock all my memories and find my origin. At the same time, I told her about the unfortunate event that led me to apply for the job.
It's better to be honest, and reveal my pure intention.
The woman seemed to understand.
“I understand everything… It's just sad that we can’t have you as our worker for a very long time because, after earning money, you’re going to go and continue your journey. But it's fine, I’m used to being alone after all.”
Saying sad, sadly, like being used to being alone with a brimming smile, makes me extra sad.
This girl also has it rough.
…
The girl in the flower shop was called Fina. She is the daughter of the owner. Her father and mother help her, but for today her parents are out in the city buying some fertilizer and other stuff used in the garden.
Accepting me as a helper. Fina immediately took me to the botanical garden behind their shop. In that garden, they grow flowers. They used flame magic to make the surroundings at a temperature where flowers could survive.
Fina immediately teaches me the basics of growing plants. Taking care of them and the schedule of watering the flowers.
As a helper, that’s the only thing she said that I was going to do. Arranging flowers will be her job.
Having some time with Fina. I find out that she is a very kind person.
How is this person used to being alone?
The clock strikes noon and we’re about to have our lunch.
Seating next to each other. She serves me warm food. Starving, I immediately chowed down. While eating and eating like a beast. I noticed her smiling next to me.
My face got red.
How embarrassing!
“Hanayuki is so cute… Do you have a boyfriend?”
“I don’t I’m a traveler. Also, I’m not into romance…”
“This is the first time a girl like you. Normally, girls will be interested in that kind of topic. I mean, girls are always longing for a prince on a white horse. A knight that will save you from danger. Romantic relationship with an awesome, handsome man.”
Fina’s eyes glimmered as she said those words.
True, girls do have that kind of personality, but I am not meeting someone like that. As a traveler, having a relationship with someone is out of the question. Long-distance relationships are hard.
“How about Fina? You’re pretty… Do you have a boyfriend?”
“I won’t say I have… But I’m interested in someone. Nope, I should not be.”
Looking at her eyes, she seemed to be thinking about something. Her eyes became melancholic.
Did I say something wrong?
Should I apologize?
I should think of something else to break the ice.
“Wait… I’m a temporary helper in this flower shop. Where is the real helper of this flower shop? I was wondering.”
“His outside search for the Eternal flower.”
Eternal flower?
- Writer
