ay

lowers Maya ever l

ause it was rare. But because her mot

d whispered while braiding Maya's hair.

tood why her mother smiled so

she

wers survived by

like

nas came from. Her earliest memories were made of golden walls

ams that sang through ancient trees. About fairies who slept beneath mushrooms. About wolves that watched from a distance bu

stories over and over a

r were th

were th

grow without marble

g desperately to preserve a world that no longer existed.

aya in her womb when soldiers

ed by the Earth Goddess with the sight to find the hidden sacred village, knew of Ronas' weakn

owers, so Valir instructed the soldiers to latch ropes

to the capital and transformed into treasures. Living treasur

was all she knew. Yet compared to t

t for a

tell. Whenever night came, servants immediatel

ght. Wit

Maya never q

set and returned before dawn. Sometimes exhaus

said she had simply been speak

ldren Rona. He brought her candies. Colorful ribbons. Pretty dresses stitched with silv

t her with affection. Almost like a father she

e truly was one. Looking ba

pened on a stormy night. Rain hammered agains

out moonlit flowers that only bloomed once eve

door bu

l entere

Heavy a

a fr

ya saw fear flashed ac

ispered. Her voi

ya pulled her from the bed and

owed everything. Only a narrow

see. Enoug

to re

y as the room felt di

o his chamber. But that night he came to

Maya couldn't catch what h

nswered

wasn't thunder. Perhaps it was somet

d strangely. The r

oice beca

al

al

r. She pressed both hands over her mouth. Cold sweats dripped on her forehead. Her bo

the wardrobe smel

shattered. Then h

sil

ble s

Her smile looked broken. Tear strains showed under her eyes

am

immediately. Too tightly. As thoug

them spoke about what had h

by the window. The sunset painted every

r rarely used suc

tely straigh

bloomed there. Flowers cultivated by captive Ronas. Flowers

why people

ut it. "Because

's lips. "Yes." Then the smile

Maya's ear. "Beauty attracts attention

waiting for her

e becomes

ely that her mother was talking about that horrible night. Yet s

iful can bec

rs make people happy," she whi

took Maya's hands into hers. Her grip trembled. "If

"...promise me you

nked. "W

ise f

eya's expressio

nonethless.

h. Then she smiled. A real s

her for the first time on how

Creating felt natural. Destroying did not. She especially

fter day. Until Maya learned it, becoming the only

ater, her mot

afterward. As though wa

nt that once in a blue moon would give Maya extra pastries.

at night, she saw Valir for who he truly was. He was n

ribbons vanished. The prett

lve. And com

promise because it was th

or every second-generation Rona in Valir

bles, merchants, and invited fore

ch twist. They were livestock

t upon h

chi

it

ent spread through the audience.

's da

a's

s succ

aned forward. Sm

t she stood firm. Then

ed from the soil. Per

s er

ered her promis

ayed a silent apology to

als curled inward. Its ste

. Valir's smile disappeared.

e not

d he

he k

nly stared.

gh not quite as brightly.

another flower. The year aft

ot because she enjoyed lying. Bu

s became strained. His patience thinner. Yet hope remained. Perhaps n

when a Rona's abilities fully ma

the grand ha

ower. Then destr

time nobody gasped. N

y grew accu

s throne. The hall

e sounded danger

d. "Yes, Yo

. Not anger. Not yet. Disappointmen

The words struck h

fe

hter. Not little

fe

r, skin bleeding and a bit delirious, to the dungeon afterward

ne. Darkness covered almost eve

er there. No one watched consta

she sat alon

her clothes. Her back b

d her mother. Reme

hand. Not visibly. Not d

eathe. Life flowed through the cracks between stones. Roots stirred. Green shoots emerged. T

tly. The sound su

e in months, she

udie

sessm

pecta

ation. O

like the flowers she destroyed every

ged only

filled her che

others, guilt always followed. Every death felt

owing

ing

like

ly. Year after year. In hidden corners.

ssessed something nobody could take. Something

ma

ch

fu

see the forests her mother described. One d

w. No idea when. O

d hope. And hope, like l

ot proud. N

ing. Bloomin

day sunlight fin

lavender again. Some flowers

ike pr

ike me

lik