Gardenia’s Heart

Walking along the trails toward the gates, Lily used the time she had to analyze how the situation had progressed.

Ten elven soldiers escorted her on all sides, preventing her from making any sudden moves. Several meters behind her, the two elves who had accompanied her to the city walked while leaning on each other for support.

Although things hadn’t gone as she had hoped and were far from an ideal outcome, she had still managed to reach this place. Now, all that remained was to find someone who could take her to the labyrinth. However, as she glanced once more at her wrists, a soft sigh escaped her lips as she tried again to use her mana—without success.

(Lily, are you really okay? Do you want me to do something?) Once again, Nia asked how she was, her agitated voice making it clear that she was worried.

"It's all right, Nia, don’t worry." Murmuring softly, Lily gently stroked the tentacles wrapped around her waist.

Even though the shackles restricted her mana and were made of wood, they were flexible enough not to limit her movements entirely, allowing her to use her hands for small gestures like this.

Once more, she felt relieved that Nia hadn’t lost control when the elven general mentioned imprisoning her. Her beloved wouldn’t want her to be subjected to such treatment, and just like her, if not for the circumstances, Lily would have refused as well.

This journey was about gathering information on the labyrinth in the most peaceful way possible. If surrendering peacefully helped accomplish that, she would go along with it—at least until something unacceptable happened.

After walking for a few minutes while listening to Nia’s voice in her mind, asking how she was and expressing happiness at being with her in that moment, Lily finally found herself standing before the city gates.

The structure, over fifteen meters wide, looked sturdy enough in Lily’s eyes to withstand the impact of dozens of horned bears ramming into it at once.

With quick steps, one of the guards stepped out of formation and signaled to another stationed above the gate to open a small passage. With a dry thud of moving gears, the colossal gate began to open.

Despite the magnificence of the plains and the natural wall surrounding everything, the girls couldn’t help but be amazed once more.

Lampides had an almost mythical splendor, a place where nature and architecture intertwined in a living symphony.

The trunks of ancient trees seemed to reach the sky, their branches forming high arches where shimmering green leaves sheltered small communities within a labyrinth of elevated houses. The dwellings, sculpted from wood and woven with leaves, were connected by suspended bridges, finely braided from vines linking the residences.

Along the swaying bridges, Lily observed several elven children running joyfully, completely unafraid of the height above the ground. Birds and small rodents seemed to join in their games, while adults moved back and forth carrying baskets and pots filled with fruit and water.

Oil lamps were fastened to the branches, casting a soft, flickering glow along the paths. The air carried the scent of fresh moss and fragrant resins, blending with exotic flowers and the gentle breeze.

However, none of it compared to the sight she beheld, even from dozens of kilometers away.

The World Tree rose majestically on the horizon. Its indescribable proportions dominated her vision, and Lily couldn't help but freeze in place as she gazed at it. Its ancient-looking trunk pulsed with a faint golden light even in daylight, its branches defying the clouds and covering much of the sky. Even though it was just a tree, the feeling it invoked in her was greater than the unease she had felt when she first laid eyes on the colossal leviathan.

The possibility of witnessing something like that in her lifetime was something Lily had never imagined she would have the opportunity to experience.

"Over here, human." A deep voice echoed through the surroundings, drawing Lily's attention.

One of the elven soldiers beside her struck the ground with his spear, causing everything around them to vibrate. Now focused on her surroundings, Lily finally noticed one of the buildings closest to the entrance gate she had just passed through.

On the ground, several brick structures had been built in the spaces between the trees. It was clear that preserving the safety of the trunks and roots had been the priority, as none had been damaged, even among multiple buildings ranging from two to three stories tall.

Even without extensive knowledge of their culture, it wasn’t difficult to tell that the forest floor in Lampides housed the military facilities, judging by the numerous rectangular spaces resembling arenas and training fields.

As the soldiers closed in and instructed her to walk toward the first structure, Lily reluctantly followed them inside, casting one last glance at Kelios and Zaylin, who were prevented from accompanying her any further.

Upon stepping through the building’s entrance, instead of being led to one of the upper floors, Lily found herself facing a staircase descending underground before she even had the chance to take in the interior.

Due to the limited space—preserved to avoid harming the trees—even the underground had been masterfully utilized. Wide walls formed dozens of rooms in a complex layout, and as she walked through the corridors, numerous elves, likely soldiers, stared at her with surprised eyes.

After a few minutes of walking, Lily finally arrived at a door leading to a short corridor with a single cell positioned parallel to the entrance. Two elves guided her inside, ushered her through the bars, and locked the cell behind her.

With a calm gaze, Lily took in her surroundings.

The administrative cells seemed designed to punish soldiers or recruits for disciplinary infractions. The rectangular space contained a toilet and a sink, along with a cushioned bed and a small opening in the wall to allow airflow through the ventilation system.

Since they were individual cells, they provided enough room for moderate movement and a certain level of comfort, free from filth or neglect. Because she was not considered a criminal, she was allowed to keep the same clothes she had arrived in.

Once they ensured the cell was securely locked, one of the elves activated a light artifact in the small corridor, casting a soft glow throughout the cell before both soldiers turned and left.

The moment the door closed and she was left alone, Lily immediately felt her entire body being wrapped in a tight embrace, her vision suddenly obscured by majestic violet strands.

"Lily!"

Nia tried to contain her voice, but even so, her small cry echoed through the cell. With a sudden movement, the metamorph threw the silver-haired girl onto the bed, both arms tightening around her neck.

"Lily, I'm so sorry you have to go through this because of me! I'm sorry!"

Nia apologized over and over, her trembling arms showing no sign of loosening their grip on her wife.

"Nia..." Seeing the girl clinging to her so desperately, Lily couldn't help but curl her lips into a timid smile.

The metamorph knew that the reason they were in the forest was to search for the next Book of Truth, and to that end, Lily had even agreed to be captured in an attempt to obtain this information. Lily had spent much of her life imprisoned as a slave in a mine, and knowing that she now had to be locked up again filled Nia’s mind with guilt.

"Look at me, Nia." Though still shackled, Lily adjusted herself on the bed, gently pulling Nia’s tear-filled crimson eyes to meet her own. "As your wife, I will do whatever it takes to ensure your safety. Don't worry about what's happening now—I'm fine because you're here with me."

Lily placed a soft kiss on Nia’s eyes, wiping away the accumulating tears. She knew Nia would blame herself for this, no matter how much she reassured her otherwise, but she needed her to understand that having her by her side was what kept her strong, even in this situation.

Slowly, Nia stopped crying, her expression brightening. She quickly sat up on the bed, pulling both of Lily’s wrists toward her.

Tilting her head, Lily wondered what was happening when she noticed several purple tentacles gathering around her hands, wrapping around both shackles.

Without blinking even once, Nia stared intently at the restraints, her tentacles circling and probing the material.

Lily remembered the last time she had seen Nia so focused on something—when she had given everything she had to destroy the stigma that had imprisoned her memories for years.

With the same steady rhythm she used against monsters, Nia’s tentacles began dissolving the wood until it melted, merging into the gelatinous substance of her body. Within seconds, Lily could feel her mana again, and both her wrists were now free.

"If they want to keep us here, fine, but they won't imprison my wife like that." Puffing out her cheeks, Nia flopped back onto the bed, a small, confident smile spreading across her face as if she had completed her mission.

Seeing her beloved wife act that way made Lily want to shower her with affection immediately, but she couldn't suppress the concern that surfaced in her mind.

"Nia... won't we get in trouble if they see me without the shackles?" Lily asked in a hushed tone, her eyes shifting between the girl and the door.

"Hihi~ It's fine, there's no way they'll notice," Nia sang playfully.

As soon as the metamorph finished speaking, Lily saw the shackles reform around her wrists. From the tiniest scratch to the most intricate markings on the material, everything perfectly resembled the restraints she had worn before—except for one crucial difference: her mana was no longer sealed.

"I can't replicate the shackles’ properties with my material, but I can create a perfect replica in appearance." Rolling onto the bed, Nia threw herself against Lily’s chest, nuzzling between her soft mounds while wrapping her arms tightly around her back. "These shackles are strong enough to seal even someone like Selene’s mana, so they won’t even consider the possibility that someone managed to break them. No one will notice the difference as long as we keep our mana hidden."

Relieved to have such a dependable wife and soothed by the warmth of her voice, Lily ran her fingers through Nia’s violet hair while watching the restraints dissolve once more.

"Wait, I just thought of something... If the shackles were sealing my mana, doesn’t that mean they were sealing yours too?" Lily asked, a slight tension in her voice.

Since they shared the same body, their mana reservoirs occupied the same space. She and Nia were so deeply connected that she couldn’t imagine the shackles had only targeted her.

"Specifically, yes. The shackles worked by preventing the user from accessing their reservoir, so even my dark mana was limited. However, there was a limit to how much they could restrict, so only a quarter of the my total was sealed off," Nia spoke in a low tone, her eyes focused on her wife.

Lily knew that Nia had an immense amount of dark mana compared to her own, but realizing that even an artifact capable of sealing all of someone like Selene’s mana couldn’t take away even half of Nia’s made her eyes widen.

She had planned to praise her wife for her good work as always, but when she fully focused on Nia, she noticed that the girl hadn’t stopped staring at her this entire time.

Only now did Lily realize the implications of why Nia had been so worried earlier.

"If this had started sealing all of my dark mana... I would have killed them all."

Nia’s words were cold and devoid of emotion. She wasn’t joking or exaggerating.

Nia was a Heart. There were no metaphors or wordplay in this statement.

The metamorph maintained all of Lily’s bodily functions 24 hours a day without interruption. If such a fundamental task had been compromised by the shackles, she would have destroyed everything—regardless of who stood in her way.

"Thank you, Nia~"

Holding Nia in her arms, Lily kissed her cheeks a few times. She knew the girl meant every word, and though she didn’t like the idea of attacking the elves indiscriminately, if the situation had been reversed and Nia had been in danger, she was certain she would have done the same.

Even though the situation was tense, now that she at least had a moment of comfort with Nia, Lily could finally start thinking more calmly.

"If the elves have technology capable of sealing people's mana like this, how hasn’t it spread?" Lily tilted her head, deep in thought.

Hearing the question, Nia brought one of her tentacles to her chin, as if using it to demonstrate how seriously she was thinking.

"The material this is made of... I’ve never ingested anything like it before," Nia began, her voice low, her cheeks slightly flushed as if she had just experienced an extraordinary meal. "I believe these shackles were made from World Tree wood."

"They were made from that tree’s wood?" Lily repeated, her face slightly reddening at seeing Nia like that. Although the tree didn’t grant her any special traits or abilities, since it had the same properties as a mana herb, it was so rich in nutrients that it was almost as if Nia had enjoyed a grand feast.

"The World Tree probably exerts some kind of influence on the mana around the city. I couldn’t understand all the runes on the artifact, but they were certainly trying to shape this influence to seal someone’s mana." Nia rubbed her cheeks against Lily’s chest once more before finally lifting her face to continue speaking. "Most likely, the shackles are useless far from the World Tree, so I doubt they could distribute this artifact widely."

To Lily, the thought of the elves possessing an item that could so easily seal the mana of two-star mages was terrifying. If these shackles had been placed on her back when they were still exploring the labyrinth in Stardust Spring, Nia wouldn’t have had enough dark mana, and Lily would probably have died before she could resist.

Knowing that such an artifact couldn’t be used just anywhere was, in a way, a relief.

"This cell isn’t enough to hold me, so just say the word when you want to leave, Lily. I can get us out of here at any time." Noticing how deep in thought Lily was, Nia snuggled even closer to her wife, their heads resting together on the bed.

"Thank you, my reliable and beloved wife. I love you~" Hugging Nia even tighter, Lily spoke in a gentle tone.

"I love you too, Lily."

Like a cat seeking warmth, Nia curled up against Lily’s body, allowing the embrace—or more specifically, the girl’s chest—to completely envelop her.

"Did they mention something about a 'state of alert'? Do you know what that is, Lily?" Nia asked, her cheeks practically melting in the comforting warmth as she adjusted herself carefully atop the soft mounds.

The question made the silver-haired girl pause in thought, her expression contemplative as she tried to analyze the situation.

"I think it’s the same as what happened in Caligo when they announced high monster activity. Something seems to be warning the elves, and they’re taking all necessary precautions."

Lily didn’t know exactly what a state of alert entailed, but she managed to formulate a coherent answer based on her past experiences.

"Could it be related to that infection we saw on the ground?" Nia asked, recalling the greenish mist seeping from the vegetation they had encountered the night before.

"It might be connected to that. I should’ve asked Zaylin when I had the chance." Lily sighed. "I got so excited about the possibility of finding someone who knew where the labyrinth was that I completely forgot about it."

Despite her self-reproach, Lily soon felt small, warm hands running through her hair. Turning toward the woman in her arms, she saw Nia looking at her with a soft smile, as if silently reassuring her that it was okay.

"What should we do?"

Nia’s voice was calm. Even in such a complicated situation, she had absolute trust in her beloved. Seeing such unwavering confidence placed in her, Lily couldn’t contain the surge of emotions welling up in her chest.

"For now, we wait and see. If nothing changes in a day or two, we’ll act. That girl, Zaylin, defended me more than I expected—almost like she needed me to enter the city."

Lily still had too little information about the overall situation. For some reason, she felt that, just like in Caligo, there was much more happening in Lampides than it appeared on the surface.

"If we can trust her words, only someone of that man Riari’s rank knows the labyrinth’s location. Since elves navigate the forest with the help of fairies, maybe we could ask one of them for help."

Thanks to Nia’s abilities, they could escape if things went wrong. For now, Lily decided to go along with the flow of events until she had a clearer grasp of what was happening. If things took a turn for the worse and she could no longer rely on the elves, she would try to approach the fairies for assistance.

"There’s a limit to how much I can perceive with my intuition. If you notice any threat, you can act without asking me—I’ll trust your judgment completely, Nia." Even though she could analyze the situation and make plans, Lily knew things could change at any moment. It was safer to ensure that Nia could act freely if a real danger arose.

"Yes, I’ll make sure to protect you without hesitation, Lily~" Nia hummed, pressing even closer, merging their warmth.

Though it was still daytime, there was no harm in resting a little earlier. Letting herself relax against Nia’s warm body, after so many events in such a short time, Lily finally allowed herself a moment of rest and drifted into sleep.