Treasure Trove

Listening to it, the blooming smile on Arella's face cracked a little. She hurriedly put a distance between the bouquet and herself.

"Brian?" Arella asked with uncertainty. Why would he send her a flower bouquet?

"Yes Madam, it is a gesture of thanks from Brian." Andrew tried hard to suppress his smile. He watched Madam's little antiques and found it very amusing. Madam is so pure. It is so easy to read her mind!

"What is the need to thank me?" Arella walked, and put the bouquet on the table. She gestured for Andrew to sit and have breakfast with her.

Andrew shamelessly sat and freeloaded on the free breakfast without any guilty conscience. He was starving! After all, he worked hard in the garden! He plucked every flower from the garden and gave it to Sir!

Yes! The bouquet was prepared by Adrian himself, and the flowers were picked up by Andrew. He had to run and empty every neighboring garden in order to satisfy Adrian's wishes!

And the reason? Just because in the morning, he found out that Brian wanted to gift a bouquet to Madam to thank her. It made Sir realize that he had never once given a bouquet to Madam himself.

How could he allow a stranger to snatch his opportunity to be Madam's first?

Threatened, Adrian left and went to the garden to prepare a bouquet himself. He had specifically instructed Andrew to present his own bouquet first and then deliver Brian's!

How could anybody be so childish? Was it not just a bouquet? Why be so possessive? But Andrew did not have the guts to question Adrian at all. Hence, he lowered his head and did the hard work of gathering the freshest of the flowers.

"You have not answered yet." Arella quietly reminded the man engrossed in devouring the food as if he were an incarnation of a hungry ghost.

"Oh! Yes, yes. Brian has advanced from B to A rank. He said that you inspired him and gave him a direction or something like that." Andrew wiped his face and answered sincerely.

Brian has advanced from B to A rank? A glint of admiration and envy appeared in her eyes. But why give her the credit? She does not remember doing anything substantial at all!

"Hmm, though he was already a high aptitude B ranked tamer, and was supposed to advance anytime, he was stuck. He had faced a bottleneck. He claimed that talking to you made him see the right direction. As to what he really meant, only he himself knew!" Andrew shrugged his shoulders as he commented.

Arella did not understand anything at all and she dared not take the credit. But Andrew was not interested in her denial, and Brian, the main person was not around. So, she closed her mouth and focused on having her breakfast.

"Are we going to continue to train like yesterday?" Arella asked dejectedly. Last night, she forgot to speak to Adrian regarding her day training schedule! Now, maybe she would have to run again.

"No Madam. Sir, has given me another task today. He wants me to train your flight skills." Andrew looked at Arella with curiosity and amusement. Sir had told him in the morning that Madam was a member of the Bird clan. So, he wanted Andrew to guide her accordingly.

Knowing that Madam was a Bird clan member did not come as a surprise to Andrew. Instead, he was curious as to know, how Madam came to this conclusion. How did she know that her Beast was a Bird? And what Bird was it?

But he knew his limits and did not poke his nose in matters he should not touch.

"My flight skills? Do I even have any?" Arella was not too sure of it. She barely made contact with the wings. Moreover, the wings have never responded to her call to date. So, how could she work on her nonexistent flight skills?

"That we can only know once we try out every possible method." Andrew had a vicious smirk on his face. 

Arella looked at his devilish smirk and swallowed unconsciously. Inside her mind, one line roamed, 'every possible method.' What did this package include at all?

"Done? Madam, please prepare a bag. Keep nutrients, food packets, and water. And also change into something comfortable and wear shoes." Andrew released a series of commands.

"What for?" Were they going somewhere? Arella asked logically.

"We are going on hiking today! Birds love trees. The compound only has trimmed grasslands. These are not enough. So, I will take you to the back forest today for a trip." Andrew smiled brightly.

Arella felt unconvinced. Was he really going to train her or did he just want to go on a trip in the name of training? Arella was not too sure. But she followed his words, changed into a comfortable trek worthy outfit, and took a bag.

With all the preparation in place, Arella was ready to walk all day. But as soon as she stepped out of the villa, she found a silver aircraft waiting for her.

She had question marks on her face. So, they were going on hiking in an aircraft?

Andrew took the lead and greeted the pilot. It was the same squirrel siprit beast who was Adrian's regular pilot. They greeted, nodded, and set off for their destination soon.

It only took them around five minutes to reach their destination. Arella became more unconvinced. Such a short distance, could not they have walked to this place?

As she descended the aircraft, an awe inspiring scene filled her eyes. Huge trees, untrimmed shrubs, various herbs, and a lot of wildflowers were littered here and there.

The wind was clean and fresh. As far as the eyes could see, only greenery appeared. Untamed, undisturbed, wild, pure, and having a spirit of their own; the trees looked majestic.

"This is an age old treasure trove of the spiritual stones and fountain. These trees have a mind of their own. So, do not touch them, sit on them, or pluck their leaves, fruits, and flowers. Otherwise, we might get lost." Andrew spoke calmly.

"These trees can think?" An unhealthy pallor appeared on Arella's face.

"More like feel. They can feel auras. For eons, they were watered with the spiritual fountain, so they have developed some senses. But you do not need to fret, Madam." Andrew began to walk inside the forest as he spoke happily. 

"So, far we have never heard any instance of them walking. As long as they stay in the place, they will not be able to hurt us. Oh! That does not involve the swing of branches though, that can hurt a little." Andrew rambled on and on.

"Swing of branches?" Arella whispered quietly. Since she entered that forest area, she had the feeling of being watched. And Andrew's words were like adding colors to her wild imagination.

More than a pleasure trip, it looked like a horror escape game to her!

That actually happened to me when I entered for the first time! I was not very careful and somehow stepped on a budding plant. The big tree next to that, raised its heavy branches and shoved me aside in one shot." Andrew touched his nose to hide the embarrassment.

Meanwhile, after listening to his voice, Arella's entire focus was on the ground. She refused to blink and put measured steps in the forest. Afraid that she too, would put her feet on a budding plant!