Stalker

The group—Rover, Yangyang, Chixia, and Hanya—wandered the block for a time before coming upon a wooden stall where a storyteller had just finished speaking.

They lingered at the edge of the dispersing crowd, listening as voices—young and old—rose in scattered reflection. The tale had been of the Battle of the Crescent, a moment etched deep into Jinzhou's troubled past.

It spoke of General Geshu Lin, who had launched a bold offensive against the Threnodian Ovathrax, only for the heavens to betray him—the Retroact Rain descending mid-charge, turning triumph into ruin.

The General had refused to fall back, and this decision cost countless lives.

Some now call him reckless. Others, merely cursed.

In the battle's wake, the Sentinel appointed quieter hands to power: General Jiyan, steady and unshaken, and Magistrate Jinshi, composed beneath pressure. A signal, perhaps, of what the people had come to desire.

Even now, the memory of that day divides opinion—where does bravery end, and misjudgment begin?

Pretending not to hear the whispered ponderings, the group spotted the person they were looking for as Chixia called out, "Grandma Linsu."

An elderly woman, dressed in soft, well-worn garments, turned toward the voice, recognition kindling across her weathered features as she spotted the familiar faces.

" Oh, hello! Chixia, Yangyang, what brought you here?" she called, warmth threading her voice.

"Hey, Grandma Lin!" Chixia nearly barreled into Linsu, skidding to a breathless halt. "We're... here for some stories today, and..."

She glanced back over her shoulder as Rover and Yangyang caught up, a grin tugging at her lips. "Here's our new friend!"

She stepped aside and, with a practiced flick of both hands—like a magician unveiling a trick—declared, "Ta-da!"

"The ultimate badass! Crusher of Tacet Discords, Echo-crafter, Inferno Rider flattener, Feilian Beringal KO-er—all with a single punch! The legendary Rover!" Chixia declared with theatrical flourish, offering Rover a full-blown kingly introduction.

Rover's eye twitched.

He stepped forward and addressed the old woman with a composed nod. "Hello, Lady Linsu. I am Rover. Also..."—his tone flattened—"please don't listen to her..."

Linsu let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, that's just how Chixia talks. Please don't mind her." Her gaze drifted across the group, pausing as it landed on the smallest figure. "Who is this little munchkin?"

"I am Hanya," Hanya replied with a polite bow. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Linsu."

"My, my, calling an old woman like me 'lady'..." Linsu covered her mouth, a gentle chuckle escaping before Hanya added, "Lady looks too young to be called a Grandma."

"Oh my, you're such a sweetheart!" Linsu exclaimed, reaching into her pockets and producing a small candy, which she offered with a warm smile.

Hanya accepted it with a beaming face.

Rover smiled faintly at the exchange. Yet somewhere beneath the expression, a thought quietly surfaced: 'Was Hanya simply gifted with people, or was there more to her than met the eye?'

"Grandma Lin," Chixia called out, joining her hands in a small plea, "since you're the flower expert, I've got a favor to ask."

Rover showed Grandma Lin a picture of the unusual flower called Blake Bloom. Linsu admitted she'd never seen it before, not even in encyclopedias.

Feeling stumped, she suggested asking a local plant-type Resonator—a young woman who knew plants far better than she did.

Linsu's face softened with fondness as she recalled the girl who often helped at her store, brightening everyone's day with her smiles, like lovely Starflowers.

She even reveals how she affectionately called her "Lil Starflower."

Chixia asked where they could find her, while Rover commented, "That's a cute nickname."

Linsu exhaled deeply and muttered, "Oh, how I wish she was my granddaughter..." Then she turned toward the waterfall and told the group, "She's probably up in the back mountain doing some field research."

She explained that she had asked the young Resonator for help with a field in the back mountain, and that the girl was currently there inspecting it. Giving directions, she said to go toward the waterfall, walk through it, and they would reach the back mountain.

Yangyang thanked her, and Linsu warmly invited them to sometime visit her Penjing shop, promising treats.

With a nod, the group set off toward the waterfall. As they approached, the distant murmur swelled into a roaring cascade, filling the air with mist and cool humidity.

Sunlight pierced the canopy, fracturing through droplets into fleeting rainbows that danced in the spray.

The ground beneath their feet grew slick with moss and damp leaves, while the scent of fresh water mingled with the earthy aroma of wet stone and wildflowers.

Yangyang stepped closer, eyes bright with awe. "This should be the shortcut to the back mountain," he said, voice barely rising above the roar. "Once we cross the waterfall, we'll reach Mt. Pingting."

They moved carefully through the curtain of water, each step sending ripples across the shallow pool. Beyond the cascade, the world felt hushed and otherworldly, as if they'd slipped through a veil into a secret realm.

On the other side, sunlight softened beneath towering trees draped in delicate vines. The air shimmered faintly with the colors of the blooms ahead.

Yangyang pointed to a winding trail scattered with petals glowing softly in lavender, gold, and deep crimson—as if the flowers themselves were guiding the way.

"The flowers seem to be showing us the way. Let's follow it," she suggested.

They moved forward along the petal-strewn path. Soon, the blossoms wove into an arching bridge, their intertwining stems and blooms forming a natural walkway suspended above a gentle brook.

Soft petals glimmered, while the hum of bees and flutter of butterflies lent the scene a quiet magic. Yangyang gasped, eyes wide with awe. "A bridge of flowers... That's impressive..."

"Hey, there's someone there." Chixia pointed ahead.

Before them stood a petite girl, her blond hair tipped with vibrant green, framing lively green eyes that shimmered with unusual pink pupils.

She wore a green flower theme dress, the folds of the skirt falling in neat pleats. Her hands, clad in white gloves with fingertips exposed, moved gently as she tended to the flowers nearby.

Noticing their approach, she looked up, a gentle smile curving her lips. "Hello... Are you lost? Do you need help?"

"Are you Miss Verina?" Yangyang asked. Hanya chimed in softly, "Lil Starflower?"

Verina's eyes widened in surprise. "...Starflower? That's what Grandma Lin likes to call me... also..." She pointed playfully at Hanya. "Who are you calling little?"

Hanya's expression tightened, her pride pricked. "Hey, I am limited by my existence, okay!"

Verina tilted her head in curiosity. "So you cannot grow?"

Hanya avoided her gaze. "Yeah... something like that."

A shadow of sadness crossed Verina's face. "How unfortunate. Every flower must grow."

Catching their eyes, she quickly covered her mouth and smiled apologetically. "Oops, sorry! I should've introduced myself first. I know it's polite to do so here in Huanglong..."

" It is... It is a delight to make your acquaintance," she said, introducing herself with a gentle nod. "I am Verina. My "pressure" to have the opportunity to meet with you today..."

Rover gently corrected Verina's use of "pleasure," prompting a shy smile as she explained she hailed from the New Federation, unfamiliar with the local customs and language.

Their brief exchange carried a lightness, easing the tension between strangers. Verina's trust in Rover was quietly affirmed by the nearby plants, which seemed to respond to him—after all, she mused, "Plants don't lie."

Chixia, Yangyang, and Rover explain that had been sent by Grandma Lin to seek Verina's expertise on the mysterious Blake Bloom, showing her a picture.

With careful scrutiny, Verina examined the image, comparing its shape and features to countless known species. Yet none matched perfectly.

Her brow furrowed as she speculated the flower might be newly cultivated—imbued with a rare Resonance energy, brimming with Remnant Energy. The cross-shaped veins and subtle, wavering frequency suggested something unique.

"I'll need a real sample," she said thoughtfully, "to determine the proper soil and Resonance type."

Chixia wondered aloud if wearing such a flower might serve as a mark—a secret symbol for those linked to it. Yangyang added that it could be a hidden sign, visible only to certain eyes, a lure to draw out their group if they moved through the city.

Verina smiled and offered to craft a replica of the flower using her Resonance. With a gentle motion, energy gathered around her fingertips, and a delicate bloom shimmered into existence—petals unfolding with quiet grace.

Chixia's amazement lit up her face. Her excitement was palpable as she shouted, "That's friggin amazing! Could you do that again? Please! I love it!"

Verina could only offer a helpless smile at Chixia's exuberance as she eagerly asked for more replicas to be made for everyone. Yangyang, watching her friend's boundless energy, shook her head in quiet amusement—only for her expression to shift.

A subtle disturbance brushed against the stream's surface. Her gaze hardened.

Without a word, she stepped away, following the ripple.

Rover noticed the change in her expression and moved to follow. "Something wrong?" he asked, though he, too, had already sensed it.

"Rover," Yangyang said, her eyes flicking between him and the path behind her while keeping her face toward him, "have you noticed?"

"We've been seeing these black petals for a while now…" She knelt and picked one up, holding it out. "They're scattered all over the place. I'm sure they're not made by Miss Verina."

"The streams have been disrupted," she added, concern lining her voice. "Someone's been following us."

Rover met her worry with a steady, confident smile. "Leave it to me," he said, then suggested, "You three should head back to the city."

"Rover..." Yangyang hesitated. "Are you sure you want us to leave?" Her voice was low. "It could be dangerous for you…"

"Trust me." Rover's smile didn't waver.

Yangyang exhaled, relenting. "…Okay. Chixia, Hanya, and I will wear these black flowers and look for members of the Black Shores in the city."

She turned to go, but paused and glanced back. "Rover, please be careful. Ring us anytime you need help."

Rover nodded silently, then moved off to find the stalker trailing them as Yangyang returned to the group.

"Oh, Yangyang, you're here!" Chixia said, handing her a Blake Bloom.

"Thank you," Yangyang replied gratefully, though her eyes were already sweeping the surroundings—until they widened. "Wait… where is Hanya?"

"Eh? She said she was going to find Rover," Chixia replied.

Yangyang's thoughts spiraled. 'Oh no.'

To be continued...