Morning arrived beneath gray skies.
The weather matched Arianne’s thoughts.
Quiet.
Restless.
Ever since yesterday…
The System’s newest quest refused to leave her mind.
[The Second Seed]
[A seed has begun to wither.]
[Seek the place where life quietly gathers.]
“…”
Life quietly gathers.
There was only one place she could think of.
The Hunter Association greenhouse.
The missing evaluator had spent nearly every weekend there.
If there was a clue…
That was where she would find it.
“…”
There was only one problem.
She was eight.
Eight-year-old noble daughters didn’t simply decide to visit the Hunter Association by themselves.
After breakfast…
Arianne stood outside Lady Rowland’s study.
She knocked twice.
“Come in.”
Lady Rowland sat behind her desk, surrounded by neatly stacked documents.
Without looking up, she continued signing paperwork.
“What is it?”
Arianne stepped inside.
“I’d like to visit the Hunter Association.”
The sound of a pen stopped.
Lady Rowland finally looked up.
“The Association?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to visit their greenhouse.”
A brief silence followed.
“…”
“The greenhouse?”
Arianne nodded.
“I’ve become interested in spirit plants.”
“Master Conrad suggested I learn more.”
Lady Rowland studied her daughter for several seconds.
Long enough to make Arianne wonder if she’d be refused.
Instead…
She reached for a small notepad.
With a few quick strokes of her pen…
She signed her name.
“Very well.”
Arianne blinked.
“…Really?”
“You asked.”
“If you’re serious about learning…”
“…Then learn properly.”
She handed the signed authorization to a nearby maid.
“Prepare the family car.”
“And have one of the estate drivers take Lady Arianne to the Association.”
The maid bowed.
“At once, my lady.”
Lady Rowland had already returned to her paperwork.
The conversation was over.
“…”
“Thank you, Mother.”
No response came.
Only the quiet scratching of a pen across paper.
Arianne quietly left the study.
An hour later…
The Rowland family car rolled to a stop before the Hunter Association headquarters.
Arianne stepped outside.
For a moment…
She simply looked.
The building was enormous.
Less elegant than noble estates.
Far more practical.
Hunters entered and exited through the front doors almost constantly.
Some wore light armor.
Others carried enormous weapons.
Several civilians waited near the reception entrance.
Messengers hurried in and out.
The place felt…
Alive.
Very different from the quiet discipline of the Rowland estate.
The driver opened the door for her.
“I’ll be waiting here, Lady Arianne.”
She smiled.
“I won’t be long.”
Inside…
The reception hall buzzed with activity.
A young receptionist greeted her with a practiced smile.
“Welcome to the Hunter Association.”
“How may I help you?”
Arianne offered a polite bow.
“I was hoping to speak with Inspector Han.”
Recognition immediately crossed the receptionist’s face.
“Lady Arianne?”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid Inspector Han is currently occupied.”
“I understand.”
The receptionist smiled apologetically.
“If you’d like to wait…”
“Our public greenhouse is just behind the lobby.”
“It was one of Evaluator Ellis’s favorite places.”
“He spent nearly every weekend there.”
Arianne’s curiosity immediately returned.
“May I?”
“Of course.”
“It’s open to everyone.”
She pointed toward a wide glass corridor filled with sunlight.
“The entrance is just through there.”
Arianne thanked her and quietly walked away.
As she reached the greenhouse doors…
The familiar blue screen appeared.
[Quest Area Reached.]
[The Second Seed]
[Objective Updated.]
[Find the withering seed.]
Her heartbeat quickened.
She slowly pushed open the glass door.
Warm air welcomed her.
Rows of healthy flowers stretched as far as she could see.
Everything looked vibrant.
Everything looked alive.
Then…
Near the farthest corner…
She noticed a single section where almost nothing bloomed.
Arianne stepped inside.
Warm sunlight poured through the glass ceiling.
The greenhouse was even larger than the Rowland estate’s.
Spirit herbs lined the central walkway.
Medicinal plants filled carefully labeled beds.
Colorful flowers bloomed beneath carefully maintained mana lamps.
Everything was healthy.
Everything was thriving.
“…”
“So this is where he spent his weekends.”
She could almost picture the missing evaluator tending the flowers.
Watering them.
Pruning them.
Talking to them.
The thought made her smile.
Without warning…
The System appeared.
[Spirit Sight Activated.]
“…Again?”
The greenhouse changed.
Not physically.
Only through her eyes.
Countless streams of pale green mana flowed beneath the soil.
Every planter shimmered with life.
Some brighter than others.
Some slower.
But all connected.
Just like the greenhouse at the Rowland estate.
Arianne slowly walked between the flower beds.
She wasn’t looking at the flowers anymore.
She was following the flow of mana.
Eventually…
She reached the neglected corner.
Unlike the rest of the greenhouse…
Very little grew here.
Several planters sat empty.
A few wildflowers struggled between cracks in the stone path.
“…”
Strange.
No one had bothered removing them.
She crouched beside the nearest flower.
It wasn’t a spirit flower.
Just an ordinary white blossom.
Tiny.
Fragile.
Yet…
It continued blooming.
Despite being surrounded by stone.
Despite being ignored.
“…You’re stubborn.”
The little flower gently swayed.
Arianne blinked.
There wasn’t any wind.
Then…
She noticed something.
Fresh water.
The soil around the flower was still damp.
Someone had watered it recently.
“…”
Someone was taking care of flowers that weren’t even part of the greenhouse.
Curious…
She followed the trail.
One flower.
Then another.
Then another.
Tiny wildflowers.
Each one tucked between cracks in the stone walkway.
Each one freshly watered.
The trail eventually led toward an open side gate.
Beyond it…
She caught sight of someone.
A girl.
Around ten years old.
Silvery-white hair swayed gently behind her.
She wore a neat but modest dress.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing that stood out.
A small watering can rested comfortably in both hands.
Every few steps…
She stopped.
Poured a little water onto another tiny wildflower.
Then continued walking.
She never looked up.
She never hurried.
As though…
The flowers were the only thing in the world that mattered.
Arianne quietly watched from the greenhouse doorway.
“…”
Without warning…
The System chimed.
[Potential Detected.]
Another window appeared.
[The Second Seed]
[Target Located.]
[Distance: 42 meters.]
Arianne’s eyes widened.
“…”
“The little flower girl…”
The silver-haired girl finished watering another flower.
She gently smiled at it.
Then continued walking toward the street beyond the Association grounds.
For reasons she couldn’t explain…
Arianne felt as though…
If she let that little girl disappear now…
It would become much harder to find her again.
Without thinking…
Arianne hurried after her.
“Wait!”
The little girl paused.
Just for a moment.
Then…
She continued walking.
Not because she was running away.
She simply hadn’t realized someone was calling for her.
Arianne quickly caught up.
“…Excuse me.”
The silver-haired girl finally turned around.
Large silver eyes met emerald green ones.
Quiet.
Wary.
Neither spoke.
For several long seconds…
They simply looked at one another.
“…”
“…Hello.”
Arianne smiled first.
“My name is Arianne.”
The little girl blinked.
She lowered her gaze.
“…”
“…”
No answer.
Instead…
She tightened her grip on the watering can.
Almost as if she were afraid someone might take it away.
Arianne immediately shook her head.
“I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“…”
Another long silence.
Then…
A tiny voice.
“…I have to water them.”
She pointed toward another crack in the pavement.
Another tiny flower.
Barely visible.
Arianne stepped aside.
“Oh.”
“Sorry.”
The little girl carefully knelt.
She poured only a few drops of water.
Just enough.
Not a single drop was wasted.
When she finished…
She gently brushed a speck of dirt from one tiny leaf.
Her movements were unbelievably careful.
As though…
The flower were something precious.
Arianne watched quietly.
“…You really like flowers.”
The little girl nodded.
“…They don’t leave.”
The words were so soft…
Arianne almost missed them.
“…”
Her heart tightened.
The System quietly chimed.
[Growth Recognized.]
A second notification appeared.
[The Second Seed]
[Connection Established.]
[Current Affinity: 3%]
Arianne blinked.
Three percent?
She hadn’t done anything.
“…”
Maybe…
Simply staying…
Counted.
The little girl slowly stood.
“…I have to go.”
Arianne hesitated.
Then smiled.
“…Can I know your name?”
The silver-haired girl looked down.
For a moment…
Arianne thought she wouldn’t answer.
Then…
“…Erin.”
She turned.
And quietly walked away.
Arianne watched until the small figure disappeared around the corner.
“…Erin.”
She repeated the name to herself.
The System appeared one final time.
[The Second Seed]
[Target Confirmed.]
[Name: Selene]
[Current Growth Status:]
[Withering.]
[Recommendation:]
[Nurture with care.]
Arianne smiled.
“…”
“I think…”
“We’re going to be friends.”
Far ahead…
Selene paused for just a heartbeat.
She glanced back.
The noble girl was still standing there.
Still smiling.
“…”
For reasons she couldn’t explain…
Selene smiled too.
It was only the smallest smile.
But…
It was the first one she’d shared with another person in a very long time.
END OF CHAPTER 16