Chapter 5: Garden of Living Flowers

Caled and Quinn stood in the bustling guildhall, surrounded by the usual chatter of adventurers. The air smelled of parchment, ink, and the faint scent of ale from the tavern next door.

The two had just finished their last quest and were ready for another. Caled scanned the quest board, his eyes landing on a simple request: Collect herbal leaves from Living Tulips in the Garden of Living Flowers.

"This one looks easy," Caled said, pointing to the notice. "Living Tulips are harmless, but they're good for training. What do you think?"

Quinn nodded, her blue eyes scanning the details. "Sounds like a good way to stretch our legs. Let's take it."

They approached the counter, where Amelia, the guild clerk, greeted them with a warm smile. "Another quest already? You two are really getting along well," she remarked, her tone light and teasing.

Caled chuckled. "Well, Quinn here is an incredible brawler. I'm lucky to have her as a partner."

Quinn's cheeks turned pink. "It's not that big of a deal," she mumbled, looking away.

"No, really," Caled insisted, his voice sincere. "Your close combat skills are amazing. I've never seen anyone move like you do."

Quinn's blush deepened, and she fidgeted with the strap of her bag. "You're exaggerating," she said, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

[Affection Meter: 65]

•••••

The Garden of Living Flowers was a serene place, filled with vibrant colors and the gentle hum of nature. The grassland stretched out in every direction, dotted with flowers of every shade.

It was a popular spot for new adventurers, as the Living Flowers were more of a training dummy than a real threat. Still, the garden was alive with activity—adventurers sparred with the flowers, their laughter and shouts filling the air.

Quinn scanned the area, her sharp eyes searching for the Living Tulips. "They should be around here somewhere," she muttered.

Caled, meanwhile, bent down and plucked a small red flower from the grass. He twirled it between his fingers, admiring its delicate petals. "This reminds me of your hair," he said, holding it out to Quinn.

She blinked, surprised. "My hair?"

"Yeah," Caled said with a soft smile. "The same shade of red. It's beautiful."

Quinn's face flushed as Caled gently tucked the flower behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her cheek, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"Your hair, your eyes… everything about you is beautiful," he added quietly.

[Affection Meter: 70]

Quinn's heart raced, and she looked at Caled with a mix of affection and disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she simply stared at him, her blue eyes wide and vulnerable.

Caled, seemingly unaware of the effect he had on her, pointed toward a cluster of Living Tulips nearby. "Let's get started," he said, his tone casual as he walked away.

Quinn stood there for a moment, her fingers touching the flower in her hair. She watched Caled's retreating figure, her chest tightening with emotions she couldn't quite name. She was falling for him—fast—and she knew it.

The Living Tulips were exactly as described: harmless, one-meter-tall flowers that swayed gently in the breeze. They were more of a nuisance than a threat. Caled and Quinn moved in perfect sync, their teamwork seamless.

Caled raised his hand, and the air around him crackled with energy. "Elemental Nova!" he called out, releasing a burst of elemental power that swept across the field.

The attack struck multiple Living Tulips at once, their petals scattering in the wind.

Quinn, meanwhile, handled the stragglers. Any Tulip that tried to attack Caled was met with a swift punch from her. Her movements were fluid and precise.

Together, they made quick work of the flowers, their combined strength drawing the attention of nearby adventurers.

"Are they a couple?" someone whispered.

"They fight like they've been together for years," another replied.

Quinn overheard the comments and felt her cheeks grow warm. She glanced at Caled, but he seemed unfazed, his focus entirely on the task at hand.

Once the battle was over, they began collecting the herbal leaves from the fallen Tulips.

Quinn held up a handful of leaves, some of which were slightly singed. "You might have overdone it with that last attack," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

Caled laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, sorry. I'll try to control my power next time," he said, though his tone was light.

Quinn shook her head. "Don't apologize for being strong. You're special, Caled. You shouldn't feel sorry for that."

Caled's expression softened, and he looked at her intently. "You're special too, Quinn. I can feel it."

Quinn's smile faltered, and she looked away. "I'm not," she said quietly, her voice tinged with bitterness.

As they made their way toward the garden's exit, the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The other adventurers had started to leave, and the garden grew quieter. Caled and Quinn walked in comfortable silence, the only sound the crunch of grass beneath their feet.

Suddenly, Caled reached out and grabbed Quinn's forearm, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned to him, confused. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Caled didn't answer. Instead, he leaned his head on her shoulder, his breath warm against her neck. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'm just… tired."

Quinn's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she gently brushed her hand through his hair, her touch soft and reassuring. "It's okay," she whispered. "You can rest."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the world around them fading away.

Caled's voice broke the quiet. "I can hear your heartbeat," he said, his tone almost teasing.

Quinn's face turned crimson. "A gentleman shouldn't say things like that out loud," she scolded, though there was no real anger in her voice.

Caled raised his head, his eyes meeting hers. Slowly, he leaned in, his face inches from hers. Quinn's breath hitched, and she closed her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest.

But before their lips could meet, the sound of footsteps interrupted the moment. Caled immediately stepped back, putting distance between them. A group of adventurers passed by, chatting loudly, oblivious to what they had just interrupted.

Quinn's face was still red, and Caled scratched his head awkwardly. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, they both burst into laughter, the tension dissolving into the evening air.

[Affection Meter: 75]

As they left the garden, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Quinn glanced at Caled, her heart full. She didn't know what the future held, but in that moment, she was happy—and that was enough.