The Florist: This Tree Requires Scary Offerings!

Chapter 13: Seira

The black-haired frowned. “He was murdered?”

“Why are you surprised? You’re the angel of death.”

“Because I didn’t take his soul.”

Jibreel raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t take his soul?”

The black-haired folded his arms. “Take me to Iblis. You were with him, right?”

“I don’t know where he is right now.”

“What?”

Jibreel sighed. “The place Iblis is at is protected from the outside world. It’s like a dimensional pocket that floats in a void. It is also directly linked to the jinn graveyard. I don’t fully understand it, but that might explain that boy’s link to Iblis and his affinity to time and space. I’m not very curious about Ivy, but I definitely need to know what happened to Iblis.”

“You didn’t ask him?”

“He doesn’t remember.”

“No way...”

“He tried to commit suicide as soon as he learned the truth about the jinns being murdered, and that’s what led us to... the strange place I talked about earlier. Only he could access it. I tried to trace my way back there, but I can’t find any hints.”

The angel of death narrowed his eyes. “So... To sum this up, three people potentially know the way to this place, Ivy, Iblis and whoever threw these jinns into that grave.”

“Yes...” Jibreel pattered the wall, holding up the book. “But then again, I can be mistaken. I feel like I’m missing something.”

The black-haired smiled, amused. “It has been a while since I saw you so hyped about anything.” He took the book from his hands. “Is it because your wish was granted?”

Jibreel eyed him. “Was it?”

“Yes. Everyone saw it, but not all acknowledged it,” the angel of death read through the book as he spoke, “So it would be better if Iblis never leaves the lower realms. Conflict isn’t what we want right now. Until word is out, make him lay low. Since he doesn’t like me very much, you take care of this.”

“Why doesn’t he like you?””

“Who does?” the angel of death laughed, “But, I don’t know. I never asked.”

He stared at the flat surface of the open book and smirked weakly, closing it. “It was quite the sight.”

Jibreel lowered his head. “It was, but they deserved it.”

“What about those who didn’t?”

“Death is mercy for the oppressed and punishment for the oppressor.”

“Try saying that to them when you take the soul out.”

“I don’t take souls out.”

“Precisely.” The angel of death rested the closed book on Jibreel’s head. “Don’t talk about things you know nothing about. Death is painful for anyone, even you and me.”

Jibreel lowered his head. “I didn’t mean to be arrogant. I apologize.”

The black-haired’s gaze softened. “As long as you understand.”

“Then... Was it painful for him?” Jibreel asked. “His soul was pulled out, but it wasn’t you who did it. His soul should still be somewhere. You’re not there to claim it. He lived for thousands of years without it, relying on a human core.”

“Do you feel bad for him?”

Jibreel frowned, sitting down on the steps. “I don’t know.”

The angel of death sighed. “It was my oversight. Theoretically, there should be a way to extract souls, but it’s restricted and forbidden on all levels.” He sat down and hugged his knees. “Your human friend is here.”

Jibreel looked down and saw Ivy standing there, holding a dozen books. Jibreel stood up. “What are you doing?!”

Ivy climbed the stairs towards him. “Why...?”

Jibreel watched the confusion in his eyes. “Why does it say that there are only seven kings? Where are the remaining two?”

Jibreel’s eyes widened. He took the books from Ivy’s hands and read them quickly. “Seven...”

The angel of death narrowed his eyes. “This is getting more and more interesting. Ah.” He stood up. “I spy the grumpy angel coming this way. I’ll go hold him off.” He jumped downstairs and ran towards the archives’ entrance.

Jibreel grabbed Ivy’s hand. “Did you regain your memories?”

Ivy shook his head. “I don’t... I didn’t... I definitely learned a lot, but...”

Jibreel clenched his fists. “Then, do you know the way towards a giant tree?”

Ivy stared at him in silence. Jibreel took him to Iblis’s castle. They walked into the jinn’s bedroom. 

“It should be here.” Jibreel rummaged through his papers and books. “Where is it?”

Ivy sat on the bed. “What are you looking for?”

Jibreel glanced at him. “His diary... He had one. I’m sure.”

“I never saw him write in one.”

Jibreel took out a thick blue book that was lying on top of a closet. He opened it and frowned as a blue light surrounded him.

“You little thief.”

He blinked as his world turned blue. Looking around, everything was frozen still, including Ivy. 

Iblis appeared from the light around him. “Looking into my things so shamelessly, how can you call yourself an angel?”

“It’s an emergency.” Jibreel scowled. “I made you a promise. I will save you.”

Iblis touched his chest. “Intentions are enough. I’m not blaming you. You saved Ivy. That’s all that matters.”

“But, you–”

“You won’t find anything in that book. It’s just a little hobby I use sometimes to chase away boredom. I didn’t write the way to that place. Even now, I don’t know how to get there.” He smiled. “Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

“What do you take me for? You think a little plant will take me down?!”

“They did.” 

Jibreel clenched his fists. “That’s because I wasn’t paying attention.”

Iblis lowered his head. “I’m just a ghost now. Finding me won’t do anything. You can’t help me.” His lips quivered. “I deserve this, so don’t help me.”

Jibreel stared at him in silence. “No... I will... Whether you like it or not, I will.”

Iblis pinched his cheeks. “You’re too serious. Can you smile for me?”

Jibreel touched his face but raised his eyebrows as his hands went through him. He lowered his gaze to the ground. “You don’t have to act as if you’re fine. I know you’re lying.”

Iblis’s smile widened. “It seems like my time is up.”

A sphere in his chest started cracking. “The glass you gave me cannot hold on for long.”

“Idiot...” Jibreel touched his face with his fingertips. “Right after repenting, you do this...”

“Jibreel. Listen to me.” 

The angel looked up and saw a serious look on the jinn’s face. “When I returned to that place before I lost consciousness, I saw people there.”

Jibreel’s eyes widened. “So... Many people can go in there.”

“Don’t come. Don’t try to save me. These people didn’t seem to have any interest in me. They were there for something else.”

“What... is it?”

“Other eggs.” Iblis rested his hands on Jibreel’s shoulders. “That place gives life, just like a womb but not quite like it.”

Jibreel shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

Iblis folded his arms thoughtfully. “It means that perhaps, that place is in fact–”

The angel frowned as the blue light disappeared suddenly, and time began to move again. He gazed ahead in silence.

“Are you okay?” 

Ivy touched his arm carefully. “Hello?”

Jibreel glanced at him and shook his head. “You must regain your memories,” he whispered, “Make it your priority.”

Ivy nodded. “I know. It’s always been the case.”

“The archives didn’t help you, but there must be another way.” Jibreel walked towards the window. “I must leave now. I’ll return you to your planet before that.”

“All right.”

Jibreel picked up the diary from the ground then teleported Ivy away. He sat down on the floor, hugging the book in silence.

He opened his eyes, hearing the sound of a woman singing. He sat up and saw a woman with bright red hair reaching down to the ground and playing the harp at the setting sun. He watched her with round eyes. “So... beautiful...”

She eyed him, her gaze softening. “Come closer. I can use an audience.”

He walked towards her but frowned, feeling the soil pulling him down. His hands reached out for her. “But... you’re too far... Too... far...!”

“What’s your name?”

Ivy gasped, jolting up on the bed. He looked down at his gloved hands, panting and crying. 

“You’re finally awake.” Yuma was standing beside his bed. “I... found you outside, and you collapsed as soon as I got to you.” 

He lowered his head. “I heard that you protected me from the third dragon. I...”

He clenched his fists. “Despite everything I said to you, you protected me so naturally. I...”

Ivy walked past him without answering. Yuma’s gaze saddened. “You’re not ugly. I... didn’t mean to say that. It was only to make you angry. No matter what, you would never scold me. You always take whatever I say and never talk back. I feel like even I killed you, you wouldn’t mind at all.”

He held Ivy’s arm. “You never tell me anything. You keep me in the dark. I know you want to protect me, but it’s so frustrating! I want to... help you...”

Ivy stared at him for a moment before looking away, but Yuma took his chin. “From now on, it doesn’t matter how you treat me. I will never do what I did before. Never.”

“I am ugly,” Ivy spoke, “I know it.”

“That’s not true!”

“Yuma,” Ivy sat down, watching Yuma’s bright red hair locks. “Have we met before?”

Yuma’s eyes widened. “No. Never. I... don’t recall we did.”

“Right.” Ivy cupped his fist in his second hand and squeezed his grip, bending forward. They heard knocks on the door. Yuma opened to find Orpheus. 

“Where were you?” Orpheus grabbed Ivy’s arm. “You went missing for an entire month.”

Ivy looked down absently. Orpheus grabbed his jaw. “Look at me.”

Ivy looked into his electric blue eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t feel well,” he whispered, “I want to take some time off.”

Orpheus stared at him in silence. Yuma pulled them apart and hugged Ivy protectively. “He’s tired. Can’t you come back later?”

Ivy grabbed his phone and checked the date.

“22 October 22022.”

He glanced at Yuma. “I found you... there.”

He clung to Yuma’s arm. “Let’s go to the place where we first met.”

Orpheus walked to the door. “I’ll cover for you today. Don’t do this again.”

Ivy took Yuma towards his motorcycle and drove towards the dorm where he met Yuma. The red-haired hugged his waist, closing his eyes. “You’re too fast!”

“I need to verify something.” Ivy squeezed his grip around the handles. “If it’s true...” He shook his head. “Ignis.”

The dark red-haired man ran beside them. “Yes, sir?”

“I can’t fight anymore. Will you be our escort?”

Ignis nodded. “I’ll call Ugo too.”

They stopped in front of the dorm. Ignis frowned, seeing only two graves in front of a demolished building. “What’s this place?”

The building stood in the middle of a shopping centre buzzing with life, but nobody seemed to mind it.

“Another one.” Ivy glanced to the side and saw a woman with white hair and purple eyes staring at the building, unhappy.

Ivy’s eyes widened slightly as he took a step back. “Seira.”

Ignis frowned. “What’s wrong? Is she the enemy?”

Yuma glared at her, taking an offensive stance.

Ivy’s eyes watered as he was about to run away. “She’s my worst enemy!”

The white-haired looked at him and laughed loudly. “Baby Ivy!” He yelped in surprise.

She rested her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with you?! Why is your face covered? Let me look at you, you silly boy!” She waved her hand. Then, a strong wind blew away Ivy’s clothes. He gasped, covering his legs. “What are you doing?!” he screamed in a whisper. Ignis wrapped him up in his white cloak quickly.

“There, officer!” 

Their eyes widened as a woman pointed at them with a policeman. “There’s a nudist there!”

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!”

They screamed and ran away. Seira laughed. “I miss you so much, Veve!”

“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” Ivy blushed and covered his face.

“You’re too slow, Veve!” She lifted him up in her arms and kissed his cheek. “I like you naked better, to tell the truth. Those scars are sexy.”

“Just kill me already.”

Ignis frowned, confused. “She doesn’t seem like a bad person, boss.”

“She’s... Uh...”

Seira narrowed her eyes. “Yes? Who am I?”

Ivy sat down with them at a restaurant they picked to hide from the police. Ivy pointed at her. “She’s Seira Bleith. She’s from the exorcism department.”

“We... have an exorcism department?” Yuma asked.

She nodded. “It’s not very famous though. You can only join it after graduating.” She took Ivy’s hand and threaded their fingers. “And this bad, bad womanizer is our captain.”

Ivy looked away from her, laughing nervously. “Please don’t break my fingerahh-ah... P-Please!” He knelt down as she started twisting his fingers. “Where did you disappear into, you filthy pig?” She gritted her teeth, grabbing his collar. “I will beat you to a pulp, you good-for-nothing captain!”

“Hold on.” Yuma knocked on the desk. “Ivy didn’t graduate yet, didn’t he? He failed fifth grade fifteen times.”

Ivy glanced at him. “Who told you that?”

“Ludovic?”

Ivy sighed, taking his seat and picking up the menu. “I... won’t do the same mistake twice.” 

He smiled at Yuma. “I’ll tell you everything.”

Seira slapped the back of his head. “Spill it, you pig!”

“Right now, I’m thirty-two,” Ivy started, “Fifteen years ago, I was seventeen. By then, I was already a fifth-grade student.”

“Wait! You graduated high school when you were twelve?!”

“Yes.” Ivy placed the menu down. “On the graduation ceremony, an attack happened. I could never graduate officially. However, I had the requirements needed to join one of the special branches. With time, people forgot about that part and thought I actually failed for fifteen years.”

“How... can you get your acknowledgement?”

“I just have to repeat the year.”

“Why didn’t you do it sooner?”

Ivy lowered his head. “I was busy.”

Yuma held his hand. “Is it because of me?”

Ivy pursed his lips. “I don’t remember. I don’t know what happened clearly in those fifteen years. I would tell you if I knew. I believe I took the exorcist branch because it has the most high-paying jobs. Maybe I did that to pay for your hospital bills, or maybe there was another reason that I forgot. In all cases, I met Seira there. She’s six years older than me, so she’s older than she loo-oouuuh... Please spare me. I won’t say anything about your age,” he fell to his knees as she twisted his second hand. “Have mercy.”

She huffed, letting him go. They began eating.

Ivy glanced at Seira. “The reason why I left the team so abruptly was because in the last five years, I... My health deteriorated greatly.”

She sighed. “I know, I know. We’re the ones who nursed you, after all. Yet...” She pulled his cheek. “The first thing you do when you wake up is take up an exorcist job and then disappear for two months! Do you have any idea how worried everyone was?!”

Ivy lowered his head. “I can’t go back now. I’m bound by a punishment.”

“Punishment? Who’s punishing you? I’ll punish them in my own way.”

“Stop it, Seira,” Ivy held her hand. “It doesn’t make me happy to see you so agitated. Are you still taking your medication?”

She sighed and looked away. “Sure. Whatever.”

He glanced at Yuma. “That motorcycle I have. I don’t ride it often, right?”

Yuma nodded. Ivy held his hands. “I’m sorry. Back when I saved you, I was still under the effect of a five years long coma. I didn’t explain things thoroughly. I feel better now.” He pattered the desk nervously. “That bike is infused with the element that I have an affinity to. It’s time. If I activate a certain setting, I can use it to travel back in time. Yuma, apparently, you woke up in the past, twenty thousand years ago.”

Yuma raised his eyebrows. “But...”

“It happens,” Seira spoke, “It happens very often.” 

She folded her arms, swaying the cigarette in her mouth around. “But it’s not random. Someone made you wake up in 2021.”

Yuma frowned, confused. “What... happened then?”

“The old world came to an end. The nine months of darkness started on the first of April 2021. You woke up on the thirtieth of March 2021.”

Yuma’s face went blue as he leaned back on his chair. “Then... I-If I didn’t call Ivy... I would have... seen it...”

“You would have been eaten by those freaks, first of all,” Ivy spoke, rubbing his forehead. “Another thing. When you called me, I was still in a coma. Your call woke me up. That means that... Maybe we did meet somewhere. I don’t know. That’s why I asked you earlier.”

Seira narrowed her eyes. “So both of you have no memories of what happened. Interesting.”

“Rather unsettling,” Ivy shook his head. “More importantly, that building. Nobody is noticing it.”

“Yes,” Seira glanced at the passers-by through the window. “They can’t see it or interact with it. For now, it doesn’t seem to be dangerous, but just in case...”

Ivy lowered his head. “Someone pushed Yuma to the past. Why? Who would do that?”

He scratched his head. “I...”

“You’re still weak,” Seira took his chin. “Do you want me to fill you up?”

His eyes widened. “What are you saying in public, you shameless woman?!”

“Honestly, he’s right.” Seira gritted her teeth as a girl with dark purple hair pinched her nose. “You really can’t hold the animal inside, can you?”

“Sh-Shut up! Don’t scold me, you snake!”

The girl rolled her eyes. She rested her hands on Ivy’s shoulders. “I’m glad you’re okay, captain. However, you can’t wave your sword around in public.”

“Hah?” Ivy lowered his head and gasped. “Clothes... I’ll go buy clothes. Now.”

They left the restaurant with Ivy facepalming. The woman smiled at Yuma. “Are you the boy our captain worked so hard to protect for fifteen years?”

Yuma smiled shyly and nodded.

“Just so you know...” she grinned. “You have no chance. He’s already married.”

“Huh? I wa... wasn’t... Wait, he is?”

“Yes.” She folded her arms. “He said so, but he said he doesn’t remember his wife anymore. He just knows that he’s married.”

“Ah... That’s weird.”

“Aren’t we all, to be honest.” She shrugged.

Ivy took black jeans and a blue shirt. “This should do.”

“Wear this one too, please! I will pay for it.” Seira slapped a black leather jacket on top of his clothes and entered the changing room with him. Yuma blushed, hearing him moan and cry for help. The purple-haired laughed. “I don’t think I saw captain being so lively before.”

“What do you mean?” Yuma asked her.

“Ever since he met you, it seems like his mood improved a lot. Before, he used to be a block of ice. He hardly talks to anyone. He’s always in his own world. Now, he’s a completely different person. I’m glad. Of course, his interaction with Seira has always been this chaotic, but still...” She patted Yuma’s shoulder. “It’s all thanks to you.”

Ivy left the changing rooms, crying. “I was violated.”

“You’re exaggerating!” Seira laughed. “Anyway. Let’s get out of here. I paid for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank me with your body.”

“Oh, no.”

“I’m joking!”

“Dealing with you is as irritating as I remember,” he whispered, exasperated. His body then froze, his eyes widening slightly. “Right.”

He grabbed Seira by the shoulders. “I remembered... a bit of my past.”

He left the shop. “I stayed in the university for two months and didn’t remember much.”

“What are you trying to remember?” The purple-haired woman spoke. “Maybe we can help you. Maybe a ghost possessed you, and it’s sealing your memories.”

Ivy looked down thoughtfully. “Yes.”

“Wait... Ghosts exist?!” Yuma asked.

Ivy nodded at him. “The people who tried to attack you as soon as you woke up, those were ghosts who got a physical body through eating human flesh.”

Yuma’s eyes widened. “Uh...”

“After the nine months ended and six months before that, many souls were not claimed. They roamed around for centuries and millennia.” Ivy continued. “Not everyone can see them, but those who can ought to claim them.”

“How interesting.”

They glanced to the side and saw a tall man with short black hair and turquoise eyes watching them. The man approached them. 

"Can you give me more details?"