Chapter 23
“The Seeds of Memory”
“Don’t overstep your bounds.”
Lukas spoke sharply, like he was crushing the words in his mouth.
“This kind of thing… really pisses me off.”
Rosedale remained silent for a moment, still holding his hand.
She hadn’t expected her words to hurt this much—especially when they came from someone like Lukas, who rarely showed his pain.
It echoed like a soundless scream in her ears.
She had purposely avoided bringing up Lukas’s family—Cain had warned her.
But still, when faced with death, he instinctively thought of them first.
And that, of course, was only natural.
Rosedale had never known what it was like to lose someone like that. It was a world she couldn’t fully understand.
“Lukas.”
She leaned down and gently kissed the back of his hand.
He flinched just slightly—and in that small moment, glowing golden dust appeared out of thin air and slipped between his fingers.
“I didn’t mean to mock you… or hurt you.”
“…”
“I just wanted you to know… you’re not alone.”
She remembered that first day she’d seen him—his lonely shoulders had looked so fragile.
“You’re not alone, Lukas. Cain is here. The people of the empire are here. Even the weeds outside that garden… none of them would ever leave you truly alone.”
She hadn’t understood it back then, but after listening to Cain… she finally realized:
He felt alone because those he wanted to be with were no longer in this world.
“If you didn’t feel alone… you’d probably smile more.”
She had thought about it every day:
How could she bring happiness to the first human she had ever blessed as a divine messenger?
Just like she’d turned ether into mana to grow herbs in her garden—maybe she could return something precious to him, using the same energy in this world.
Even if it was only a tiny fraction.
“The things we love… they’re not really far away.”
Lukas stared at the golden dust as it streamed between his fingers like starlight—long, slow, familiar.
“They only seem distant because we can’t see them.”
“…”
“But just a little bit—I’ll return them to you.”
She lifted his clenched fist between their faces, gently cupping it with both hands.
Her small, pale hands poured mana into his.
“Let them come back… the things you miss. But you have to offer a little bit of your memory too, Lukas.”
“…”
He didn’t reply.
But unlike before, he didn’t pull away or get angry.
His silence… was his answer.
With a soft smile, Rosedale leaned her forehead gently against his closed fist.
She nudged him.
“Well? Aren’t you going to lean in too?”
Lukas hesitated—but eventually, he brought his forehead toward hers.
Her bright smile opened wide when she saw him comply.
“Now close your eyes. Tight.”
Lukas obeyed, slowly shutting them.
The heat in his hand burned almost painfully as his other senses sharpened.
Rosedale’s voice soaked into his ears like honey.
“Focus, Lukas.”
“…”
“Think of everything… and everyone… you miss most.”
Even just remembering them made his chest tighten.
But the images came easily—without effort.
Shedon, calling out “Brother!” with a smile.
His gentle mother. His strong, kind father.
Those warm, never-returning days.
“…”
A soft sound escaped his throat as he swallowed back deep sorrow.
Rosedale, feeling her nose sting for some reason, whispered a prayer in her heart:
“If you’re listening… please respond. If you’re still watching over him… please don’t leave him alone anymore.”
In answer, the space between their foreheads lit up with a warm glow.
She felt the seeds trembling violently in his palm.
As if they’d been waiting for this very moment.
Lukas could feel it too—but instead of recoiling in shock, he held on tighter.
Tightly. Desperately.
Eventually, the tremor faded. The light dimmed.
Both of them slowly opened their eyes.
“Did it… work?”
They looked at each other, uncertain. Lukas gulped.
Even he looked tense—never having experienced anything like this before.
Rosedale was anxious too. She didn’t want to disappoint him.
Fairies knew where mana went after death—but humans? That was uncertain.
She had tried to gather their scattered ether through Lukas’s memories.
“They’ve been gone so long… I wasn’t sure any of their identity would still remain.”
But she had done all she could. Now they just had to wait.
“Shall we open it? Are you ready, Lukas?”
“…Yeah.”
His voice trembled slightly, but his eyes sparkled with hope.
Rosedale slowly unfolded his fingers—one by one.
“…!”
She gasped.
“Lukas!”
“…”
He didn’t answer.
He couldn’t.
His gaze was frozen, locked on what he saw.
“They’re the same…”
“What is?”
Rosedale waited, eyes wide.
“The seeds… their colors.”
At first, they’d been nearly colorless and white.
Now—each one glowed with vivid, familiar color:
A soft yellow like his mother’s gentle eyes.
A deep blue like his father’s strong, steady gaze.
And a rich green like Shedon’s lively, youthful eyes.
“Rozi… did you see their portraits?”
“No. Cain wouldn’t let me.”
She swallowed nervously, watching his expression.
She didn’t need to ask whose portraits he meant.
She already knew.
“Why? Do they look like… the people you miss?”
“…Yeah.”
Lukas trembled again and clenched the seeds in his palm.
He was afraid—afraid to lose them again.
“Haa… thank goodness.”
Rosedale finally exhaled, relieved.
“They’ve been gone so long… I was worried the ether wouldn’t still be there.”
No, she couldn’t say for sure those seeds held their actual souls.
But maybe—just maybe—some part of their love for Lukas had made it through.
She smiled wide.
“Let’s plant them now.”
“These?”
“Yup. Those.”
Her expression seemed to say, “What else are you gonna do? Boil them for soup?”
Still a bit hesitant, Lukas finally placed the seeds gently into a pot.
Rosedale covered them with soil and patted it down.
“Grow well, and let us meet again.”
She whispered softly.
Suddenly—
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Three tiny sprouts shot up, each the same color as their seed.
Lukas stared in awe.
What will they grow into? Who will we become, together?
Even if the sprouts turned into something totally new—it no longer mattered.
They had already comforted him.
More than enough.
“…Rozi.”
His voice came out at last, filled with emotion.
“Can I… hug you?”
“Of course.”
She smiled sweetly.
But just as Lukas stepped forward—
“Ow?!”
Rosedale suddenly reached up and pinched his cheek.
“R-Rozi…?!”
Her eyes narrowed, fierce.
“Apologize first. For what you said earlier.”
“I’m sorry. I really mean it.”
The words came out fast—but his eyes were serious.
He didn’t even pull her hand away from his cheek, even though it clearly hurt.
“I should’ve apologized first. I was too harsh.”
“…”
“Actually, no—I was cruel. You can curse at me if you want. Or hit me.”
Even though she was already pinching him hard, Lukas leaned in closer like a scolded puppy.
“I was wrong. Really.”
“…”
“And… thank you, Rozi.”
Finally, Rosedale cracked a smile.
She let go of his cheek, and he rubbed the red mark with a groan.
“Rozi… is it torn? Why can’t I feel anything?”
“Pfft.”
Rosedale burst into laughter.
Lukas tried to smile through the pain—his cheek still stinging.
“Can I hug you now?”
What a sly fox.
She narrowed her eyes—but spread her arms wide.
“Come here.”
Lukas leaned down and wrapped himself around her.
As their bodies met, the warmth of his gratitude settled gently on her heart.
She patted his back softly, then looked up into his eyes.
“Thank you… for loving me.”
“…”
“And please take care of me… from now on.”
“…”
Her eyes glowed like sunlight.
Lukas, feeling like he was seeing the sun for the first time, stared for a long time.
The word “from now on” quietly embedded itself deep in his heart.
Even as he stepped back, his chest tingled with emptiness—like something had just left him.
It wasn’t supposed to mean much… but maybe…
Maybe it meant everything.
