60.- Whispers of The garden

The subterranean garden was steeped in the dense scent of damp earth and exotic flowers, an earthy perfume that slipped into Sebastián's nose with every breath, coating his palate with a sweetness that lingered. He adjusted the leather apron over his green tunic, the dirt stains on the fabric like badges from his days among roots and petals, and leaned over a "Lunar Whisper" plant, its silvery leaves catching the golden light filtering through the ceiling's jagged crack like a murmur of stars trapped beneath the ground. The Codex Florae Arcanum claimed it heightened the senses—the crunch of a dry leaf, the faint echo of a scream—and though he wasn't sure if it worked on humans, the idea of testing it with his own hands kept him busy, a spark of curiosity dancing in his mind. His fingers brushed the stem, rough and alive under his fingertips, and he felt the subtle pulse of sap, a beat that echoed his own as the humid air plastered his hair to his forehead in messy strands.

Days had passed since he'd stood in the shadows of the main chamber, watching Kaili tear off fingers and Aurora weave lies with those trembling adventurers. Faelan's screams still lingered in his memory, a distant echo that didn't faze him—he'd been there, arms crossed, his eyes flicking from the bleeding stump to the cruel glint in Kaili's gaze, his indifference as solid as the moss beneath his boots. He didn't care about the fate of those poor fools—the chaos was their playground, not his. But lately, Aurora had been more absent than usual, caught up in some mysterious plan that had him pacing the garden more than normal. He hadn't asked—he never did when it came to her cosmic games—and as far as he knew, it had nothing to do with those broken adventurers who'd dragged their shattered bodies back to the Guild. His boots crunched against the moss as he watered a blue flower, the cool water splashing his fingers and grounding him in this pocket of peace.

"Grow strong," he murmured, his voice a low whisper that faded among the vines, a crooked smile tugging at his lips as water dripped from his hands to the ground in tiny, glistening beads. The earthen golems lumbered nearby, their heavy steps thudding like muffled drums, one stumbling over a pot and spilling dirt across a patch of venomous nettles with a dull thump. "Clumsy as ever," he grunted, shaking his head as he nudged the mess back with his boot toe, mud sticking to the leather in wet clumps. It didn't bother him—their company was a steady hum that filled the silence as his hands moved among the plants, pruning here, watering there, the rhythm of a man who'd found his place amid the soil and blooms.

He knew something big was brewing—Aurora had been vanishing for days, her majestic figure slipping away into what he assumed were schemes that could shake entire worlds. But it wasn't his concern. He was the gardener, the one who kept the flowers alive, the one who'd spoken to the golden cocoon for a century while she slept, spinning tales she might never have heard. His sword, a gift from Kaili after decades of training that left him bruised and laughing, hung at his hip, a light weight he balanced with the same awkward grace he used to dodge her taunts. "Wonder what she's up to," he mused, sprinkling a flower with a stream of water that splashed his apron, his tone more curious than worried, a flicker of intrigue that didn't push him to dig deeper.

A sound cut through the air—light but firm footsteps, a rhythm he knew as well as his own heartbeat. Not the heavy thuds of the golems or the sharp rustle of Kaili's wings. It was Aurora's tread, soft as petals falling on moss. He straightened, brushing the dirt off his hands with a quick swipe, and turned just as she stepped into the garden, her dress of leaves and blue flowers swaying with each step, the fabric hugging her curves like a living canvas that caught the golden light. Her amber eyes sparkled with playful satisfaction, a glint of amusement warming the air between them, and her smile—that shy, sweet curve that always disarmed him—hit him like a bolt straight to the chest.

"Sebastián," she said, her voice warm and melodious, a gentle song that wrapped his name like a cherished gift, free of the ice she reserved for others. "How are my favorite flowers?"

He grinned, wiping his hands on the apron, heat creeping up his neck at her tone. "Doing fine, Aurora," he replied, his voice steady but laced with a nervous edge he couldn't shake when she looked at him like that. "They're growing strong—I've even been messing with the Lunar Whisper, like I told you." He nodded toward the silvery plant, its leaves glinting as if responding to her presence.

Aurora stepped closer, her feet brushing the moss with a faint crunch, and reached out to stroke a blue flower, the petals quivering under her fingers as if they recognized their creator. "I love hearing that," she said, her tone soft and brimming with affection that made him swallow hard, though her eyes seemed to dance with distant thoughts. "I've been busy lately—a little plan that's taken more time than I expected."

Sebastián tilted his head, curiosity prickling like a nettle. "Something big?" he asked, keeping his tone light, not pressing—he never did with her. "Not that I care too much, but, you know, I like picturing you out there shifting worlds around."

She laughed, a crystalline sound that filled the garden like wind chimes, her amber eyes glowing with affection that warmed him to the bone. "Something like that," she replied, her shy smile blooming as she stepped nearer, the scent of her dress—fresh flowers and a hint of earth—blending with the garden's aroma. "But I'm here now, and I think I deserve a break, don't you?"

He looked at her, her figure wrapped in that dress clinging to every curve—full breasts, wide hips, the promise of her skin beneath the leaves—and felt a familiar heat climb up his spine. "You've been running around," he said, his voice dipping into a chivalrous tone as he tugged off the apron with a swift motion, letting it drop to the moss with a soft thud. "Let me help you unwind—a shoulder massage, how's that? You've earned it after all that mysterious work."

Aurora blinked, her eyes widening with a spark of surprise that made him smile, then laughed, a shy sound that wrapped around him like a caress. "Oh, Sebastián, you're so sweet!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with contained joy as her cheeks flushed a faint pink. "Yes, please—I'd love that."

She stepped closer, turning to offer her shoulders, the dress shifting slightly as she did, revealing a glimpse of the curve of her back beneath the leaves. Sebastián swallowed, his hands trembling a bit as he placed them carefully on her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her skin through the fabric. It was like touching something fragile and precious—every motion tender, reverent, his fingers gliding over her tense muscles with a gentleness that clashed with the dirt under his nails. The scent of her green hair enveloped him, a wildflower perfume that dizzied him, and as he kneaded, his eyes inevitably dropped to the curve of her breasts, full and tempting beneath the dress, rising and falling with each breath.

"You're tense," he murmured, his voice rougher than he intended, his hands working carefully, feeling her relax under his touch. "But… gods, Aurora, you're so…" He couldn't resist—his hands slid down, bold and playful, until they cupped her breasts, squeezing them with a mix of tenderness and daring that made him sweat. "Softer than they look," he said, his tone a shaky blend of laughter and awkwardness, his fingers sinking into their plush warmth as his face burned. "They'd make perfect pillows."

Aurora let out a soft moan, a trembling little sound that slipped from her lips before she could stop it, her cheeks flaring a bright red as she turned her head to look at him, her amber eyes wide with a mix of shock and shyness. "S-Sebastián!" she squeaked, her voice a shaky chirp that quivered in the air, her body stiffening under his hands as another faint moan escaped her, her hands flying up to cover her face in a timid gesture. "Y-you're awful… b-but… don't stop yet," she stammered, her blush deepening as she ducked her head, her breath hitching slightly under his palms.

The air snapped with the crunch of footsteps and a rustle of wings, and Kaili burst into the garden, her towering figure filling the space with a presence that stole the breath. Her purple skin gleamed under the golden light, runes—golden, silver, red—pulsing with energy along her curves: large, firm breasts straining her black armor, wide hips swaying with feline grace, sculpted buttocks that seemed to defy logic. Her six iridescent wings twitched briefly, casting purple and blue glimmers before folding with a snap, and her sharp horns sliced through the dimness with a subtle shine. "What the hell is this?" she growled, her voice a mocking purr as her dark eyes locked onto Sebastián, his hands still full of Aurora's breasts, and the Demon Queen, blushing and moaning softly while trying to hide her face.

Sebastián froze, his fingers pausing on Aurora's softness as heat surged to his face like a wildfire, his eyes darting to Kaili with a mix of surprise and clumsiness. "Uh, ahem," he coughed, his voice wobbling as he tried to sound nonchalant, his hands lingering on Aurora's breasts for one more beat before pulling away with an awkward jerk, leaving Aurora with a stifled moan as she turned to bury her face against his chest. "Er… want a breast massage too, Kaili?" he blurted, his tone a jittery mix of nervous laughter and failed gallantry, his face flaming brighter. "I hear it keeps them firm—or so I've heard somewhere."

Kaili let out a sharp, barking laugh, a sound that echoed through the garden like a whipcrack of amusement, her wings flaring with a snap as she strode forward, her eyes glinting with mockery and a provocative spark. "A breast massage from your clumsy paws, gardener?" she said, her tone dripping sarcasm as she stopped in front of him, leaning in until her face was inches from his, her warm breath brushing his cheek. "Fix that dumb look first—you're like a kid caught stealing sweets." Her runes flared with a golden glow, and her smile twisted into a cruel smirk that made him swallow hard.

Aurora, still flushed, let out a shy giggle from Sebastián's chest, her breath uneven as she peeked up, her hands dropping slowly, her amber eyes meeting Kaili's with a blend of embarrassment and amusement. "K-Kaili, don't be so hard on him!" she said, her voice quivering with suppressed laughter as she pulled back a little, her cheeks still rosy. "He was just… helping me relax. He's so sweet when he tries."

Sebastián laughed, scratching the back of his neck with one hand while the other hung awkwardly at his side, the heat in his face rivaling the garden's warmth. "Guess the special massage is over," he said, his voice shaking between chuckles and nerves he couldn't hide, his eyes bouncing between the two women—Aurora, flushed and adorable, and Kaili, mocking and tempting. "But I can still do a normal one—shoulders, no more mischief. What do you say, Aurora? Kaili?"

Aurora nodded, her blush softening as she turned again, offering her shoulders with a timid shift that made him smile. "Yes, please," she murmured, her voice low and warm, her eyes dropping to the moss as her hands fiddled with the edge of her dress, a faint tremor in her fingers. "Just… no more surprises, okay?"

Kaili snorted, crossing her arms under her breasts to lift them even higher, the motion making her armor creak as she shot him a challenging glare. "Do it right, human," she growled, turning to offer her shoulders with a sway that rustled her wings, her tone a playful taunt. "But if your hands slip again, I'll rip something off—and it won't be a finger like that Guild worm's."

Sebastián laughed, his nerves melting into clumsy amusement as he stepped between them, his hands settling first on Aurora's shoulders with a reverent gentleness. The dress's fabric was rough under his fingers, but her skin's warmth seeped through, and he kneaded carefully, feeling her relax with a soft, shy sigh that made him grin. "There we go," he murmured, his voice steadier now, his eyes catching the lingering flush on Aurora's cheeks as she kept her gaze down, a faint moan slipping out when he hit a tight spot.

Then he moved to Kaili, his hands finding the warrior's muscular shoulders, the armor cool under his palms as he massaged with a bit more force, her purple skin's heat contrasting with the metal. "You're like a rock," he said, his tone a mix of laughter and light teasing, his fingers digging into her tense muscles as she grunted in response, a sound that hummed in the air.

"Shut up and work, gardener," Kaili shot back, her voice a mocking purr as she turned her head to glance at him, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "You're not half bad, though—might let you do it again if you don't get stupid."

Aurora giggled softly, her voice a timid echo that filled the garden as she looked up, her hands playing with a loose leaf on her dress. "He's good to you, Kaili," she said, her tone warm and playful as her amber eyes met Sebastián's, a spark of affection in them. "He always has been—even when he gets… naughty."

Sebastián grinned, his hands shifting between their shoulders, the warmth of their bodies and the scent of flowers wrapping around him as the garden buzzed with quiet energy. "I'm a man of many talents," he said, his voice quaking with laughter as he kneaded, his eyes flicking between them—Aurora, flushed and adorable, and Kaili, mocking and tempting. "But I'll stick to shoulders for now—don't want to risk Kaili making good on her threats."

Kaili laughed, a sharp sound that sliced the air as her wings twitched, brushing his arm with a touch that made him shiver. "Smart choice, human," she growled, her tone a playful challenge as she eased under his hands. "Keep it up, and I might not use you as fertilizer."

Aurora let out another shy giggle, her blush fading as she leaned into Sebastián's touch, her voice a warm whisper that enveloped him. "You're a treasure, Sebastián," she said, her amber eyes glowing with affection as she looked at him, her fingers brushing his hand in a gesture that made him swallow. "Even when you're clumsy."

The garden rang with their laughter, a warm, playful echo that filled the air with the scent of flowers and the creak of moss underfoot. The plants quivered in the golden light, the golems plodded on in their clumsy dance, and in that underground nook, three souls—a curious gardener, a shy queen, a taunting warrior—wove a carefree moment, their laughter threading a bond the outside world's chaos couldn't unravel.