(Within the Eternal Garden, Veyrâs POV)
For a long moment, Veyr simply stood there, staring at Raymond in utter disbelief, his mind blank as his mouth refused to form words.
The proposal that had just left the Demi-Godâs lips sounded absurd, unreal even, as though the man were joking or worse, testing him.
He blinked once, then twice, trying to piece together what he had just heard, yet the silence that followed only made the air feel heavier.
âCan I even trust this man?â he thought, his gaze fixed sharply on Raymondâs face. âWhat guarantee do I have that he wonât trick me and leave me to rot the moment heâs already gotten all that he needs from me?â
His brows furrowed slightly, suspicion curling through his chest like smoke. Raymond stood there calmly, arms folded behind his back, smiling faintly as if he had just offered Veyr the most natural deal in the universe.
âDoes he even know what the Cultâs secret techniques are? Or can I just bullshit my way through this and feed him nonsense?â Veyr wondered, his eyes narrowing as he studied the Demi-Godâs expression, searching for any flicker of deceit.
He raised an eyebrow, still silent, still unwilling to break the stare.
âNah, I probably canât fake all of them,â he realized, the thought bitter in his mind. âHeâll notice somethingâs off if I do. But even if I wanted to teach him, I donât even know all fifteen forbidden techniques myself.â
A quiet sigh escaped him, his shoulders lowering slightly as the weight of the situation sank in, until finally, he spoke.
"What guarantee do I have," he asked slowly, "that you wonât betray me the moment I give you what you want? Itâs not like I can trust your word for it."
His tone was steady, yet underneath it lay the faint edge of challenge, as though daring Raymond to prove him wrong.
And to his pleasant surprise, the Demi-God did not seem to take offense.
Instead, he nodded thoughtfully, as if considering the question with genuine seriousness.
"A fair point," he said at last.
"How about I show you a gesture of goodwill to help you trust me better?"
He suggested, as he lifted the delicate flower still held between his fingers and gently placed it in Veyrâs hand.
"This," he said, "is the Moonshine Flower. In case youâre unfamiliar, it only grows here in the Eternal Garden. Itâs quite special, it has five petals, each one capable of changing the fate of a monarch."
Veyr glanced down at the flower. Its petals shimmered faintly under the divine light, glowing with an ethereal hue that shifted between blue and silver. The surface of each petal seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive, resonating with an ancient mana far beyond anything found in mortal realms.
Raymond smiled faintly as he continued, his tone casual but deliberate. "You need just one petal of this flower to concoct a Demi-God potion. So, in theory, a full flower gives you enough material to make five such potions.... provided, of course, that you can acquire the other rare ingredients required for the brew."
Veyrâs eyes narrowed in confusion as he turned the flower slightly, examining its strange texture between his fingertips. "Other ingredients?" he asked, his voice low but curious.
As listening to that question, Raymondâs smile deepened, his tone turning sly.
He leaned closer, close enough that Veyr could feel the faint warmth of his aura pressing faintly against his skin.
"Teach me one forbidden move," he said quietly, "and Iâll tell you about them."
Veyr stared at him, silent once again, as Raymond stepped back, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Until then," the Demi-God added, "keep that flower close, Dragon. Tuck it somewhere safe, inside your robes perhaps. Usually, no one can pluck a Moonshine Flower from the Eternal Garden without Father knowing, but..." he paused briefly, his eyes glinting with mischief, "...Iâve found a way around that. He wonât notice this one missing."
Veyr looked down at the flower once more, uncertain whether to be impressed or alarmed. The petals shimmered faintly in his palm, cool to the touch yet radiating a divine warmth deep within.
Raymond reached forward and gave his shoulder a light pat, the gesture oddly casual considering the weight of their exchange.
"Think about it, Dragon," he said with a smirk, his tone smooth and confident, as though he already knew what Veyrâs answer would be. "Iâll be back for your decision tomorrow."
Before Veyr could respond, Raymondâs form shimmered faintly, his outline distorting into threads of golden light that scattered into the air like fading fireflies.
And then he was gone.
The silence that followed was deep, broken only by the soft hum of the Garden itself, the whisper of divine winds moving through the silver leaves.
Veyr stood there for a while, still holding the flower, its faint glow reflecting in his eyes as conflicting thoughts swirled within him.
Was this a genuine gesture of goodwill, or a well-laid trap?
He couldnât tell.
âThe Demi-God Breakthrough Potion is extremely important for the future of the Cult.
If it really canât be brewed without this flower, then itâs a priceless treasure that needs to be protected at all costs....â
He thought as he slipped the Moonshine Flower carefully into the inner fold of his robes.
âIf there is even a sliver of truth in what he said, then maybe, just maybe, I have a chance to escape this place alive.â
He thought, as although he had not made his mind on whether or not to trust Raymond just yet, he felt like he should play this game just a little while longer, until he could uncover Raymondâs true intentions behind this offer.
*Sigh*
A long sigh left his lips as he looked towards the beautiful sky above, and wondered as to why fate was playing this cruel game with him? And as to what it really wanted?
However, no matter how he framed the question, the heavens did not reply, as in the end, he had to make that choice on his own.