Fiore slept soundly, her body exhausted from the past few days. She finally dreamt of better days with all those she held dear, but even though she felt she found where she stood with the villagers and slowly making friends with others, she felt like she wanted more. She dreamt of far-off places where she could discover new things like fungi. Was she always this curious by nature? She noticed she needed to become more familiar with the outer world due to her reactions when visiting the Empire of Time, but even though she visited twice, she couldn't see everything she wanted. Afraid of what would happen to her village she could only be away for a day max. 

     Problems like this circled in her mind, her dreams interrupted, and one more thing weighing heavy: her power. "Does the world need to have a Celestial of nature? How long is my life span? My 16th birthday is near and marriage proposals are on the horizon. I've seen others get them at this age. But, finding a partner, how can I if they don't see beyond the Celestial...Maybe I could meet the other Celestials...No, that would mean taking them away from their homes, and many are royalty so that would mean changing their way of life and... what if they want to merge this village with their kingdom... I don't want that to happen either. Also, if I had to pick someone...it would be nice to at least like them. It would be nice to have something like my father had with my mother...l still wonder why he wasn't affected by her aura".

     Fiore began to toss and turn, but a rumbled feel through the ground woke her up and thoughts of danger invaded her mind. She quickly zoomed out of her room and out of the house, leaving her shoes messily strewn at the door and the doors opened. She sped away and tried to pinpoint exactly where the villagers were all gathering. With each step, the trig, rocks, and spikey bushes she ran into left her feet scarred and bloody, the wounds not healing as quickly due to her fatigue. She kept searching for danger, but nothing had alerted her of anything, yet she was still worried about the unusual occurrence.

     Nyssa was trying to get out of the rowdy crowd and make his way back home, but in the distance, he saw Fiore coming at Mach speed, "Oh dear, we woke her up", he thought as he greeted his daughter. She panted a bit but ultimately sighed in relief as she saw her father in his usually calm demeanor and the villagers freed from danger. "What's going on so early in the morning, "A boy collapsed in front of the gate late last night and after a bit of food and rest, he began to make medicine. He's been giving it out as thanks, but turns out he has medicine for every ailment so people are trying to trade. It's getting rowdy but nothing violent". Nyssa looked back at the crowd and then at his daughter, she looked like something was weighing on her, "Why don't you get in the mix? I know you are the one who usually heals the villagers, but this kid looks like he comes from a family with this profession. It's not every day we let anyone in this easily. Maybe we can have him teach someone in the village. Ya know, learn a thing or two", he said as he pushed her to the crowd. Fiore resisted a bit, but he was right, if she wasn't able to go out of the village, the next best thing was to interact with those who could. She weaved herself into the crowd asking people to keep quiet and continue, they obeyed. She slowly made her way to the center and saw the special guest. 

     A young man sat on the ground in front of overzealous people throwing food, blankets, and even money at him. The young man felt overwhelmed as his supply of everything had just run out and only a cube of salve for cuts remained. "Everyone, thank you for your donations, but I don't have anything left. If you want some more, I will gladly make it but please give me some time", he said trying to save the last cube for himself but a singular outlier then caught his attention. In between the crowd, he saw a pair of feet without shoes, small cuts could be seen on top and underneath, blood spewing in some places. He stopped what he was doing, a sigh escaping her mouth as he took out the cube of ointment and some leaves from his pouch. He quickly crawled to the injured person and the crowd split instinctively, the pair of feet set right in front of him. 

     He kept his head low, sitting on his knees. "May I?", he asked. Fiore placed her foot on his lap, the youth cleaned the cuts and added the ointment gently, but as he did, the cuts miraculously healed instantly. The youth was dumbfounded, he heard everyone clap and cheer for joy for this singular person. "It works so well, but I don't think it will be so potent on any of us", he heard one say, "Well, she is a Celestial, so what can you expect". When he processed what he heard, he slowly panned up. A flowing dress covered in a rainbow of breathing flowers, hair in ringlets with vines entangled in them seeming like jewels going through her curls, her eyes a rainbow of colors. Her face looked like the embodiment of exhaustion, an expression that peered above all else. His face went pale when he realized who he was touching, "Did I offend a Celestial with my medicine?", he thought as he quickly bowed his head, "Pardon me, Ms. Celestial, I didn't mean to act familiarly". 

     Fiore grew confused but smiled at the youth, "Please, there is no need to act in such a way. Please raise your head". The youth did as he instructed, and their eyes met head-on. As the clouds revealed the sun, his eyes shined like amber as he stared at her with curiosity instead of the usual fixation or obsession. A gaze that was soft yet also apprehensive due to the unknown environment. She had never encountered someone who looked at her this way, "How peculiar", she thought. Fiore quickly shook away her thoughts and continued, "Actually if I may, do you mind speaking with me after you have taken care of your business", she asked, intrigued. The youth nodded, more relaxed as the Celestial didn't seem hostile, yet he was still a bit on edge, but he nodded at the invitation. Fiore nodded back, "Then, I will be waiting for you in that flower garden over there", she said as she pointed in the direction of a green patch just out of sight, "And please, take your time". 

     The youth kept his eyes on Fiore as she walked away, flowers growing with each step she took until he realized, "She got her feet dirty again".

     Fiore made her way back to her home, her father going to the well to get some fresh water he asked her to start eating the food the villagers had brought her. As she saw the steps, she saw Zarvan with a worried look on his face, "Good Morning Zarvan, you don't look well, is something wrong?".  Zarvan saw Fiore worry for him and felt that what he had just witnessed was a trick of the light, there was no possibility of the most beautiful being having any interest in a human, but he just needed to confirm something. Zarvan turned to Fiore and asked, "Fiore, do you like being around me?". Fiore was caught off guard, but a sympathetic smile spread across her face, was her friend feeling insecure? She wanted to reassure him that even though the villagers did make the odd face, she would never do the same, "Of course I do, there is no reason now or ever why I wouldn't".

     Zarvan left the village in a bright mood, his attendant covering his face, helped bring the bags of seeds that Fiore had gifted Zarvan as a token of good faith. "These seeds can withstand anything regarding weather, it is something I created to last a few generations". Zarvan smiled at her thoughtfulness and intelligence, "I will be forever thankful. Please don't forget to write to me Fiore, I always look forward to your letters", he said as he kissed her hand goodbye. However, Fiore pulled him in for an embrace, "No need for that, you're my friend. And you too don't forget to write, it makes me so happy getting a letter from you". Zarvan could hear tiny sobs from Fiore, he returned the embrace as a few tears escaped him too. 

     The duo then went their separate ways, however, even if they would meet at the yearly banquets, didn't mean they would spend time together. As Fiore waved goodbye, a warrior came to inform her, "My lady, the young boy from the morning is waiting for you in the garden". Fiore nodded and headed to the meeting place.

     A maze full of rose hedges filled the area, and vibrant colors surrounded him, his eyes always admiring the beauty that surrounded him. This village was unlike anything he had ever seen before, it was an herbalist's dream due to the plethora of flora that grew on these lands. Plants thought to be extinct, plants that should wither within hours, vegetation sprouting a new within hours just to move like they are waving hello. This place was like a haven and was even more beautiful than the rumors had described it. As the youth looked around the plants seemed to lean in a certain direction, as he turned to see, he saw the Celestial approach. He quickly stood and bowed, but again the Celestial said that there was no need. 

     They sat on a table, the youth still admiring the beauty around him. Fiore began the conversation, "Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Fiore and I am the Celestial that resides in this Village, do you mind giving me yours".

     "No, my lady, my name is Faris. You have such a lovely village, but it seems the people here come from different walks of life".

     "You're correct, many come from destroyed villages, conquered lands, or survivors of violence. This place serves as a haven for people who have nowhere else to go. So, what brings you to this side of the forest?".

     Faris hesitated but decided to be truthful, "I came to meet you, my lady, and thank you for what you have done". Fiore grew surprised but let him explain, " I'm not sure if you remember but there was a kingdom a week's travel from here. During the last year of their reign, they were destroying nearby towns and villages. My family and I were a nomadic tribe of herbalists selling medicine and trading and we were caught in the crossfire during one of their raids. We were surrounded by fire, surrounded there was nothing we could do. My mother acted as a cover for me and hid me, but I saw as they..." he began to trail off, trembling at the thought. 

     Fiore reached out and handed him a handkerchief, "Don't force yourself, you don't need to say it". He took the handkerchief and nodded, "All in all, I couldn't get their white armor out of my head, so I tried to track them down and it led me to the ruins of a decimated kingdom. I couldn't wrap my head around what I had stumbled upon, yet I felt an emptiness grow in my heart. So, when I found out what happened, I decided to find you. So thank you, my lady, for avenging my people and my mother".

     Fiore was taken aback by Faris's story, but she didn't feel she deserved many thanks. She wasn't thinking of the consequences of the eradication of that kingdom, she just thought it would be easier if they were gone. It could have ended badly for her and her villagers if they were affiliated with a Celestial, she felt she just got lucky. "No need for your thanks Faris, but I'm curious about what you plan to do now".

     "I'm not sure", he gave a sullen expression, but still managed to smile at the Celestial. Fiore sighed as she felt her gut telling her something, "Faris, you want to say something else don't you?". Faris looked back at Fiore, his eyes grew tired as he remembered all that had occurred to him, and he turned away, "I'm sorry, I can't". Fiore gave a sigh closed her eyes and created a dome around them, Faris gawked at the cage-like design, a work of art. Fiore then created a dealing circle for them, "How about this, I want you to say it. I have a feeling it's not very nice, but I prefer you tell me now instead of it eating at you later. Your words will have to consequences with me". 

     Faris looked around them and saw her word etched on the ground, he felt guilt at even thinking of the words, but he felt this was the only way he would be able to say it. he reached out, and the moment he touched her hand, everything spilled out, "I wish you hadn't destroyed that kingdom. The reason why I was looking for them was because I wanted to die too. I couldn't save my mother and now I couldn't even join her. I didn't have the nerve to end my own life, because she tried so hard to give me a sliver of a chance, but I feel like it was wasted on me. Why was my life so much more precious than hers?", tears ran down his cheeks as he yelled out his worries, but Fiore never judged as he continued, " Even though I did come here to thank you, I also came because I heard rumors that the Celestial of nature could take the form of the most beautiful person you know, so I had hopes to see my mother...but I guess there must be something wrong with me because everyone else sees something, but I can't. Now, I just have this empty feeling stuck in my center and I just feel bitter about that too. I notice now...I have nothing left. But, you know, now that I say it... I'm glad she's gone, that way she won't be able to see what a disappointment I've become". 

     Fiore saw as he broke down, but as an outsider looking in she decided to speak, "Did you love your mother?".

     "Of course", he replied angrily.

     "If you could go back, would you do anything to save her".

     "Without a doubt!", he yelled.

     "And did she love you".

     "She did!".

     "Then why doubt her decision? You have doubts about your life and you have the right to do so, but do not question why you were saved. She loved her son, and she wanted him to survive, because if you survived it was enough".

     Faris's eyes widened at the revelation, he still had doubts, but he felt he had forgotten a crucial part of his mother. Her last words to him were "I love you". He cried some more as he felt shame, but his heart felt a little lighter now that he said it out loud.

     Fiore left the dome up and Faris finally calmed down. He began apologizing for the outburst, but she brushed it off, "It's normal, sometimes we just need an ear to listen to us". Faris snickered at the comment, but he still felt in debt to her and the village, "Is there anything I can do for you, my lady?". Fiore was about to brush it off but saw an opportunity arise and proposed an option for him, "Then how about this Faris, stay here for the time being. You can replenish the supplies and you can help to create medicine for the villagers, of course, you will be compensated and given the tools you need". 

     There was a spark in Faris's eyes as he heard the proposal. He had nowhere else to go, his two journeys ended in the end,  but maybe this was a chance to find a purpose. He smiled at Fiore, his words sincere, "It would be my pleasure, my lady".