Page 44 of Body of Echoes

Amidst the majestic flowers, fountains and waterfalls created prismatic sprays of light that danced cross metallic, glossy leaves. A sense of raw power hummed in the air as if nature was coexisting in perfect harmony. This place was alive, living and breathing like an ever-evolving entity, refueling something deep inside my soul.

Roses that burst in a riot of colors caught my eye, their petals unfurling like wings of a thousand fairies.The smell was tantalizing, beckoning me to explore more. But, I guessed they weren’t beckoning anyone else at this time of day. It was as if the gardens were for only me to enjoy.

Peeking over my shoulder, I saw the king had decided to stay behind to have a casual chat with some citizens.

I ventured deeper into the gardens and closer to the roses. I leaned forward, closed my eyes, and inhaled a scent sweeter than ocaberries tasted. I scanned the next few roses, sniffing and letting the relaxing glee spread through me.

As I traveled around the corner, I almost tripped over a man hunched over with a shovel in his hand and a beige sunhat. His white shirt was marred with dirt patches and his blue pants were ripped at the knees.

When my foot scuffed the dirt path, he turned and looked up at me. His bronze hair was drenched in sweat beneath the hat. His oval face smiled as his pastel pink irises riveted on me. It had been the most genuine smile I’d seen since stepping foot in Elizy.

“Oh, hello,” he greeted and stood, coming to just taller than me. His broad shoulders were muscular, but also,he carried some weight to him, making him bulkier than Fletcher.

I raised my hand to wave a greeting, but my fingers sparked blue and the area of flowers he had been tending shriveled to brown deadness, then flaked apart with the breeze.

I gasped, my hands flying over my mouth. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” I showed him my palms, saying, “Sometimes my magic doesn’t work quite right.”

He looked down and chuckled momentarily before returning his gaze with a kind smile. “That’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I was pulling them out anyway.”

I grinned at his attempt to humor me. I knew he was lying because I had just seen him planting the last flower. It puffed into five perfect bubbles and wisped out like cotton. “I’ve never seen these kinds of flowers before.” I searched my brain for anything that resembled the flowers before me in the botany textbook I had growing up reading but came up empty.

“Oh, really? Well, these are all flowers native to the Ölden Lands. Perhaps you are more familiar with those that are indigenous to the continent of Lenïbus? Do you know?”

I shook my head. “Never heard of Lenïbus before.”

He huffed and scrunched his lips to the side as if he was trying to figure me out. “How about Aerthion?”

“That sounds familiar,” I lied. Something about being in such genuine presence pressured me into sounding remotely more impressive than I actually was.

He nodded. “We’ve got some plants indigenous to Aerthion here if you’re interested.”

“Well, where’s Aerthion?”

“On the eastern hemisphere. A long travel from here.”

I remembered flipping through my botany textbook and always landing on the sunflower. I loved sunflowers. I would love to see one in person. Its bright golden petals made me think of happiness and its constant search for the sun made me hopeful.

“Ah, yes. You’ll find sunflowers in the Aerthion region.” His pink irises looked over his shoulder toward the tree line and pointed. “If you continue that way, you should run into them.”

I widened my eyes, spikes of shock overtaking me at the realization that I had sent him my thoughts.

“Oh, did you not mean to send that to me?”

I shook my head in a daze. “My magic is unpredictable.”

He gave a knowing smile and bowed his head slightly. “That’s okay, Princess Ripley.”

Discomfort settled in my jaw, and I took a small step away.

He smiled and chuckled. “My eight-year-old cousin said that Princess Ripley made a special appearance in his class today.” He smiled at me. “Welcome back.” He took his hat off and held out a hand to me. “Oh, I’m Graff, by the way.”

I stared at his strong, open hand then stuffed mine in my pockets defiantly.

He gave a soft chuckle. “Probably a good idea. My hands have dirt all over them.” He wiped his palms on his shirt. I watched him gulp then say. “Um… Would you like a tour of the gardens?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I’m just going to stroll if you don’t mind.”

A sullen smile took over his face as if he was disappointed by my refusal. “The ocaberry farm is really neat if you travel back far enough to the left. Feel free to grab some if you need a boost.”

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