1175. The Origin Flowers

The starry night left the child unable to speak. Her starlit eyes devoured the universe above in all its glory.

The beauty of the stars exceeded Stella’s wildest imagination. She had only known about the Aspiring Stars and the Luminaire of the Derma Layer. Even those who had eyes described the stars as tangible – something that could be reached if one tried hard enough.

It never occurred to her that the stars were be unreachable.

And that was ok.

Because there were billions to make up for it.

A faint breath left Stella as she gazed into the night sky. The endless star trails formed the eye of the universe. Perhaps because of this illusion it felt like the universe was returning her gaze. The faint shimmering streaks of light that fell out of the rings resembled tears.

She giggled to herself. That smile then faded to a concerned frown.

“It looks like it’s crying.”

“Does it?” A voice spoke from behind her.

Stella was currently standing in a field where only black flowers grew. These flowers were not found anywhere else in Elysia. Golden veins ran through the black petals like spiderwebs, and they emitted particles of golden light which seemed to join the stars above.

These were called Origin Flowers. They did not previously grow in the Nexus. In fact, white lilies once grew along this cliff. But these flowers took their place over time. It spread like a blight and was believed to be one at first until Lailah assured them that these flowers were safe.

It was also no coincidence that their color scheme matched Frost’s as well.

“Don’t mind the flowers.” Frost spoke softly as she joined Stella’s side with light steps. “They’re a byproduct of my existence. Strange, that my presence can produce life that can feed on Sin.”

“Sin…?”

“Sorry. Maybe it would have been better to say that they can produce sustainable energy? A little bit of Light and Qliphoth. Though, they can induce a myriad of ill effects if handled poorly. Don’t worry. They’re rather safe since they’re contained to this mountain. The Floor of Nexus limits what they can do. They carry an enormous amount of Nex too.”

The terminology was lost on Stella. She wasn’t that deep into the conspiracies of the Nexus. After all, she was just a child whose only main focus right now was to continue her studies at the Academy.

Still, Frost wasn’t averse to teaching her about it. After explaining it to Stella for a brief moment, Stella replied with:

“Like Genesis Stones!”

“Yes, except these flowers don’t grant as many possibilities. They hold a fraction of the Light that Genesis Stones do. Then again, Genesis Stones are more of a vessel or an amplifier for Light. They require an idea as well. Not sure about these Flowers, actually.”

“So they’re both very different, right?”

“I’d put them as two sides of the same coin.”

Frost threw her a gold coin, since Stella might not have known what a coin looked like to understand the idiom.

“Not much use for these flowers to begin with. The power output is nothing compared to what we have now. Besides, while they can make for excellent materials… They’re pretty weak to Caldera Industries’ blends. Never mind my own…”

Stella’s eyes glistened as she waited for Frost to finish her sentence.

Frost cleared her throat, and uttered: “Blood,” instead of “Flesh and bones.”

The Origin Flowers were a unique specimen. They were born from Frost rather than the Nexus. While Stella didn’t know much about it, she had overheard one time how the Nexus – which was made form Genesis Stones – was supposedly born from the woes of the ‘Captured Star’.

In a way, these flowers were the same.

It was a shame that they had little practical use since Genesis Stones were far superior, given that Frost could easily weave them into technology. These technologies also had little to no downsides, aside from misuse or a form of Corrosion, especially with the Modules. Hence, why the Modules were solely used by Healers.

Frost murmured to herself, reading that these flowers could be used as a fuel source, or second as a replicable base material. But what was the point when they already had the Reality Manipulators to create infinite raw materials? Or better yet, Frost herself?

Frost then read what Stella assumed to be a prompt beneath her breath.

Origin Flower

<

It grows in places where others once did. Because of its tendency to bloom where others have withered, they are believed to be a blight. They are the flowers of the beginning and the end. May civilizations tread carefully with its petals

>

<

A flower born from the essence of the Amalgam. It only exists in its most stable and purest form within the domain of the Sovereign Star. It is a material of extraordinary complexity, containing all aspects of existence in a singular form. The smallest exposure to the Origin Flower may induce severe Qliphoth Corrosion. Considered to be the Sovereign Star’s Gift (Minor Gift)

>

“Does that mean I’m in trouble?” Stella asked, though she wasn’t worried in the slightest. After all, Frost wouldn’t dare bring her somewhere so dangerous.

“You’re safe. These flowers don’t have the thorns or the metallic edge of lesser purity variants. Well, that’s what my trillions of other neurons are saying anyway. Haaaah.”

“You sound tired. Does it remind you of something?”

“Unfortunately, yes. It reminds me of the plants that used to bloom in the Pale Forest. I had a glimpse of that place once. And I don’t even have a Zone of Arbitration. Not that I know of yet.”

The topic seemed to bother Frost. It brought her closer to what the Stars beyond Elysia were. Not the ones that twinkled in the night sky, but the monsters Stella had once heard of.

Stella, in an attempt to lighten the mood, brushed the petals of a flower. Its soft edge, and the way the golden veins flaked with motes of light caused her eyes to sparkle with awe.

“But you’d be the kindest Star of them all. Joy calls you the Sovereign Star. What if these flowers are something that can help people rather than hurt them? They’re your gifts! You said so!”

“I like to think so too. But people aren’t kind, even to themselves. In my world we have people who destroyed the Earth for the sake of profit. Believe me, I’m more shocked than I’m letting on right now. I wasn’t aware of their existence till just moments ago…”

Frost plucked the same flower and brought it to her face. Then, she cast her gaze to the infinite cosmos above. Stella looked in the same direction as her, and imagined she was staring off into another world.

“… Will they misuse it?” The words came out before she could think, and she instantly cupped her mouth.

Frost gently removed her hands and sifted her fingers through the girl’s hair affectionately.

“That’s a given. I find it strange how flowers from here are also implied to be elsewhere. Then again, stranger things have happened. Elysia has the tendency to tap into other worlds for better or worse.”

Frost cast the flower aside and patted her head.

The girl turned to a shade of red as her eyes darted around, not knowing where to look. She would always turn in the direction of Frost whenever she patted her head. But because she had eyes now, it became too embarrassing to stare.

Eventually, her eyes wandered back to Frost.

“Here I am complaining to a child. Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to offload my problems onto you. My burdens are shared with plenty of people already. I wanted to show you this sight again with just the two of us. I’m sure you have a lot on your mind as well. I’m here to lend an ear for you before we head back and settle you into your new life.”

“… Ah… It was for me again…”

“No shame in that.”

“… You’re always doing so much for me.”

Frost squeezed her cheeks to snap her from her self-depreciating trance. The girl made a soft squeak before mellowing into the pinch, like a cat leaning against an owner’s hand to encourage more scritches.

“You’re not the only one I look after. I’ve done my fair share with countless others. The Moons were in the same boat as you. The same with the Healers.”

“Um… Even so… It’s still very hard for me to accept it.”

“Then it’ll be even harder for you to accept this.”

A warm stream of light cascaded from Frost’s hand onto Stella’s body. Particles of light danced around her before settling into her chest. An impassioned flame lit up in her heart, and for a moment, she saw blue words being written just above Frost.

“W-what… did you…?”

“Congratulations, Stella. You have my Blessing.”