Following a tall woman, Anette and the two girls were led to a room where they were requested to "please wait here; someone will come to take charge of you," the tall woman announced before taking her leave, leaving the trio on their own in the room.
Imitating the two other girls, Anette went to take a seat, beads of sweat dripping from her face.
While earlier Anette was outside the Floravelle, this time she was not behind the establishment's backyard wall but rather within the establishment itself, inside the property. To make things worse, it seemed she was not within the establishment as some sort of customer but rather was mistaken for a girl wishing to work for the Garden.
How exactly did she arrive at this exaggerated point? Well, the answer lay within—
"I am so lucky; here I thought I would be the only one to enroll in the establishment. To think there would be two others as well," the petite girl sighed with relief, reaching for Anette's hands as if they were old friends.
—The answer obviously lay within this girl, who, a few minutes earlier, in the middle of the confrontation between the suspicious girl and Anette, had intervened, asking if the two of them were just like her, here to find a job in the Garden.
To the girl’s question, the suspicious girl answered that yes, she was there for that.
Of course, this was not the case for Anette, but she was still asked if she was. While Anette was intent on clearing up the misunderstanding, before she could do so, the three of them were called out by a tall woman from the door leading to the Establishment’s backyard.
The woman misunderstood and thought she was here for the same purpose as the two other girls, whom she seemed to have gathered around, causing an even more complicated misunderstanding to take place, in which the three of them altogether were assumed to be girls wishing to work for the Floravelle. In truth, Anette was here for a whole other reason.
Anette knew that this was a misunderstanding she could’ve easily dispelled, but being clutched by the girl she had bumped into and being the target of the still-vicious glare of the other girl, she chose to play along, only to then, at this point, really regret that decision.
"By the way, you two are? My name is Chamia, but people call me Charmy. I prefer Charmy too. What’s yours?"
At that question, Anette sighed, only to find out she was not the only one to do so. The other girl, still mean-looking as ever, also sighed.
"Hm? Is there a problem?" the girl asked, oblivious.
Under the girl’s oblivious pressure, Anette went on with, "Ana?s... My name is Ana?s," giving a fake name, or, to be exact, a name she no longer used, and a nickname to cover it up, “feel free to call me Ana if you want.”
"Ana?s, it’s already a beautiful name, sounds fancy. I’ll call you that," the girl verdicted, before asking the second girl, with the same oblivious pressure, "And you?"
The girl let out a sharp tsk that both of them heard. Anette, who now mentally noted she should go by Ana from here on out, clearly caught the irritation in the girl’s tone at the other girl’s clinginess and overly familiar behavior. But for the clingy girl herself, it either went straight over her head like a passing breeze.
"Lii..."
"Lii?"
"Lydia, that’s my name," she declared, glaring at Ana. "My name is Lydia."
For some reason, Ana couldn’t bring herself to be convinced by the girl’s so-called name. Yet the other girl, upon hearing it, rejoiced: "Lydia... What a beautiful name. I like it."
"Hm... thanks, I guess..."
Much to Ana’s utter disbelief, the girl reached for her hand, then the other girl’s, pulling them close for a hug.
"Huh?"
"Wh—"
Despite having spent half her life with a rather lax and loving upbringing, first by her parents, then by those who replaced them, the girl’s level of liberty and clinginess when interacting with her made even Ana uncomfortable. For a moment, she thought maybe the girl’s interaction was normal between peons, but she knew many peons. This isn’t a peon's thing.
"Lydia, Ana?s. I thought I would be the only one to join in. I’m glad to not be alone. I’m sure it won’t be easy, but we’re together in this. Let’s be friends from now on."
As baffling as the girl’s demeanor was, Ana understood from the relief she distinctively noticed in her voice that she was being genuine about all she said.
At that very moment, more prompted than she ever was, Ana thought about leaving this place before the situation got any more complicated than it already was. She was mistaken for a peon, and not only that, she was mistaken for a peon girl wishing to become a flower, a girl working in the Garden. "This is bad," Ana felt. Yet she had a vivid impression that it could still get worse. "How?" She didn’t know, but this situation was within reach of the possible.
Ana wanted to break free from Charmy’s embrace, like Lydia had promptly done before, but before she could, she was released by the girl herself as a voice called out to them.
"Girls."
A tall, ash-haired woman strode into the room, followed by a black-wavy-haired young woman of undeniably stunning appearance and another woman with ash-colored hair.
As the tall ash-haired woman came to a halt, prompting the trio to an acknowledging bow, Anette, when raising her head, studied her features in detail.
With sharp and defined features, she exuded a certain air of authority and strictness. Her hair was pulled back tightly into a bun, which suited her age. She wasn't exactly what could be referred to as young; she was more of a madam, one who had faced and overcome numerous challenges to earn the title.
"My name is Emma, but the three of you may refer to me as Madam Acacia, or Lady Acacia if you feel sycophantic. I am what's called here a Thorn, just like this person," she said motioning at the other woman beside her.
"You may call me Madam Datura."
Though Ana had the feeling Madam Datura was in the same age range as Lady Acacia, she looked noticeably older. Perhaps it was the no-nonsense expression she wore; unlike Lady Acacia, there was no softness to her presence or her features. She radiated a bossy, venomous aura. Needless to say, even after hearing only a single sentence from the woman, Anette already had a firm opinion of her personality.
Then, gesturing to the person at her side, the third individual, a woman of stunning beauty, Madam Acacia said, “And this is one of our most important flowers: a vine.”
"My name is Uta. You can call me Uta," the girl smiled softly, igniting a unique reaction in Anette that made her frown slightly.
The girl looked only a little older than Ana, likely in her late teens. Her skin held a warm caramel tone, and her eyes glimmered like soft embers. Her wavy black hair fell freely, cascading over her shoulders like a curtain of ink. Though her dress was modest, her presence, and the gentle, inviting smile she offered the trio, drew attention with ease. She wasn’t tall, nor particularly short; she stood at that perfect height that inspired both a protective instinct and an undeniable respect for the confidence she carried.
"She is, or at least hopefully will be, a fellow flower of yours," Lady Acacia declared, to which the trio nodded.
Standing there, Ana mimicked the two girls beside her, studying the trio across from them. But unlike the others, Ana watched with a specific purpose: to figure out what they were. The answer, once it came to her, was simple: Peon, Highbreed, and Peon.
It was obvious who the Highbreed was and who the Peons were. The distinction became even clearer when Ana felt a strange sensation wash over her. She glanced at the girls beside her and saw the expression in their eyes, they had felt it too. That discomfort, that invasive pressure... She knew it well.
She was familiar with the skill, having it herself and having had it used on her before. Appraisal, one of the few known identification skills that allowed someone to peer into another person’s stats, revealing critical information like status, skills, and abilities. Normally, this kind of scrutiny would expose "Anette's" truth. But Ana wasn’t particularly concerned. She was confident that she wouldn't be found.
She had only one goal now: to avoid locking eyes with the caster of the skill: Lady Acacia.
As soon as the discomfort vanished, Lady Acacia clapped her hands together, successfully bringing the trio’s attention back to her, away from the shiver-like sensation she subjected them to.
"Thorns, Vines, Flowers. I am sure that to you buddings these titles do not mean much yet, but what you need to know is that on top of being a Thorn, I am the Matronne of this Garden. In simpler words, I run this place," Madam Acacia revealed.
The reveal was not much of a reveal to Ana. She had gotten a briefing from her brother the night before, after all, and already knew that the establishment was owned, or at the very least run, by a woman who went by that flower name: Acacia. A noble without public family name, granddaughter of the man who founded the now popular Garden franchise.
"Now, now," she continued smoothly, as if to soothe their supposed awe, "I did not say that to intimidate any of you. It was simply to make things clear and to properly welcome you to the floravelle."
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"Thanks, Lady Acacia," both girls rhythmically replied; only Ana didn’t, which prompted all eyes, noticing her silence, to turn onto her.
For a moment, there was an urge, a reasonable urge, the one to use this opportunity to clear up the situation. Yet, upon being glared at for some reason by Madam Acacia, "Thanks, Lady Acacia" was the only thing she found herself replying with.
Ana thought to herself. But at the same time, she understood the impulsion that made her say no, that woman in front of her was a Highbreed.
There was no physical distinction between a Highbreed, a Verdenkind, and a Peon. Aside from the common arrogance Highbreeds often displayed, or the quiet confidence that tended to leak from Verdenkind, there was no reliable way to tell them apart, especially when those traits were muted or simply absent. The only true confirmation came from the right skills: Appraisal, which allowed one to peer into a person’s status, and Identification, which revealed the skills and abilities someone possessed. A handful of other, more instinctual abilities existed as well. These subtle senses could detect when someone was more than a Peon.
It was through one such instinct that Ana recognized the woman before her as a Highbreed. From there, the next conclusion was easy enough to reach. She had to be either nobility, affiliated with the Faith, or both.
In any case, that person had just appraised the three of them. From the lack of reaction, this meant that she saw nothing, which could be interpreted in two ways: either there was nothing to see, or there was something she was unable to see. Considering the fact she wasn’t able to see past Ana’s nature as a Highbreed, mistaking her for a Peon, Ana couldn’t help but wonder if this couldn’t be the case for a certain person, whom she glanced at out of the corner of her eye, only to immediately look away when the said person, as if sensing her gaze, turned toward her.
"Since we are now done with the presentation and welcome, I believe it is time for us to talk about the reason for your presence here," Lady Acacia said, her eyes traveling up and down across the three young women. "I believe the three of you came here with the intent of becoming a flower, knowing all the details which this line of work of ours entails."
At these words, which Ana didn’t even realize were a question, the two girls nodded, closely followed in the movement by a mimicking Ana.
"Good. However, even though you have made the journey here, stepped upon the soil of this establishment, and taken your first step toward becoming a Flower, I will still allow you time to consider your decision. For as financially rewarding as this line of work can be, it may very well be a choice you come to regret for the rest of your life."
For a moment, Lady Acacia seemed hesitant to make mention of some subjects, but a glance at a nodding Uta seemed to have convinced her otherwise. "Under normal circumstances, each one of you should have a thorough interview with me, but that is a luxury I believe I can’t afford. We'll have it in a few weeks, when you'll have made your final decision, and until then, I'll expect you to thoroughly sleep and reflect on that decision. Until then, Uta the Vine will show you everything you need to know about this establishment, which may or may not be your new home in the future, and everything you need to know about the flowers, who may or may not become your fellow flower."
With these words, Lady Acacia left with Madam Datura, seemingly done with what she came to say, entrusting the care of Ana and the other girls to the "Vine" named Uta, who, still with an entrancing smile, asked,
"I have already introduced myself, but the three of you, I think I have yet to hear your names."
Since it was to her that the girl's gaze first turned, Ana was left with no other choice but to reiterate her earlier self-introduction,
"You can call me Ana or Ana?s," Anette declared, giving the girl the choice between this fake name and this nickname like she did with the girl earlier.
"Which one do you prefer I call you?"
"Ana."
"Then I’ll call you that from here on out, Ana."
"…Thanks."
"Can I ask something… from what corner of the continent exactly are you from?"
The question made Ana hesitant to answer.
Could it be that this one figured out that she was not a peon? Just like she did Lady Acacia earlier? But as she asked that question, she came to realize that it didn't make sense. She was confident in her ability to hide what she was, be it in her mannerisms down to her very nature and name, so her question toned to a simple choice for Ana: should she double down with a lie or just tell her the truth about where she came from? Which prompted the girl, who seemed to have sensed Ana’s reticence, to immediately reassure her, "Don’t feel yourself forced to answer, I was just asking out of curiosity hearing your accent."
As if to prove these words, her gaze shifted to the girl next to Ana, who introduced herself as, "My name is Chamia, friends call me Charmy, I'm 15 years old, and I come from Miriandelle, it's a city right by the Parting Sea—"
The revelation of the girl's age came as a shock to Ana, who didn't expect the girl to be that young. Ana finally came to understand why the girl was so childishly clingy to her and the other girl, she was just a child, at least by 18-year-old-Ana's standards.
"Oh, I know Miriandelle, that's far away. You come all the way from there?"
"Yup."
"That's far..."
"Yes."
Turning toward the remaining girl, Uta asked, "And you."
"My name is Lydia. I’m 15."
If Charmy's young age was something that came across as somewhat of a shock, she was even less ready to hear the other girl's age.
"I come from—What?" She frowned at the girls' surprised expressions, Ana included.
Though the girl was not peculiarly old-looking, she did, if fair to say so, look like she was over 15. Over 16. Over 17 even. If this girl was truly fifteen as she claimed, Ana thought, what was it about her that tricked her into thinking she was older? Inspecting the girl, Ana noted in her mind her height, the mean expression on her face, and perhaps those unique silver hair roots of hers. So much about her made Ana sure she was at least as old as herself, or even perhaps older.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, nothing," the three girls denied.
"I see… as I said I am 15, and I come from, uh,... actually, that’s personal, so it should be fine if I don’t reveal that, right?"
"Of course."
Once done with the introduction the girl announced, "Now then follow me, and I will show you around."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"By the way, there's no reason to be so tense around me; I'm not as important as Lady Acacia, or as uptight as Madam Datura to warrant such tense and rigid interactions. I’m just a flower, like what you, in a few weeks, will be," she gave them a smile, beautiful smile, that Ana was confident would mellow the heart of many. "This place is about to become your home, I will show you your room but before I do so I’ll show you the essential spots and the people you must know."
Led by Uta, the girls, including Ana, followed to be introduced by Uta to a few of the many must-be-known residents of the establishment and shown many of the must-be-known rooms and corners of the palace-sized establishment.
After a long afternoon of introductions and showing around, Ana and the two girls were ultimately led to their respective rooms, which, to Ana’s greatest surprise, were decently sized and furnished. A biased part of Ana was, when they were mentioned as being brought to their rooms, expecting the said rooms to be shared, but it turned out they weren’t. Side by side in the very same hallway, Ana, Charmy, and the other girl, Lydia, were in separate and respective rooms of their own.
As Ana sat sighing on her alleged "bed," a knock came at her door, and before she could stand to verify who the one knocking at her door was, the door opened, revealing a girl, a little girl, no older than ten, entering Ana’s room and carrying in her little hands a large plate, atop which were dishes that Ana immediately understood were her dinner.
"I’ll take it from here on—" Ana hastily intervened, taking the plate from the little girl’s hand.
By the time Ana finished placing the plate on a nearby table, the little girl had already left, closing the door behind her and giving Ana no time to properly thank her.
Though the little girl wasn’t personally introduced to her, Ana knew from Uta’s earlier explanation that those little girls, since the previous girl wasn’t the only child Ana encountered within the alleys of the Garden, were the youngest of the Garden's denizens and that they took on little tasks such as serving up food or running errands for the flowers and the other establishment’s denizens. They were referred to as tenders.
Thanks to Uta spending the morning and afternoon explaining the inner workings of the Floravelle, Ana gained a much deeper understanding of the organization’s hierarchy.
At the top of the establishment was the Matronne, or Lady Acacia as she introduced herself. She worked closely with the Thorns, going as far as referring to herself as one. It being a group of elder women, usually former Flowers, whose job was to oversee both the business side of the Floravelle and the well-being of its inhabitants. The Flowers were the girls who participated in the main activities the Floravelle was known for, while the Garden Tenders were the staff who kept the place running. Among the Tenders were young and old girls in charge of cooking, cleaning, and safekeeping, as well as the Gardeners, who acted as the establishment’s guards.
Overall, this meant that, with very few exceptions among the guards and cooks, everyone who lived or worked at the Floravelle was female.
"That was something new," Ana sighed. "A unique, to say the least, experience." Looking at the food served to her, it was clear that the meal, while tasty-looking on the outside, was clearly designed to help the girls consuming it keep a light weight.
Ana took in the sight of the lavishly laid-out spread before her as she sat at the small table. Despite her own plate being relatively modest in size, the table was brimming with a lavish array of dishes and delicacies. Determined to fully immerse herself in the experience before departing the establishment later that night, Ana picked up her fork and knife and began to savor the meal before her.
Once done, Ana lay on her bed, waiting for the late-night opportunity she had been anticipating to sneak out and at least free herself of the awful situation she had put herself in.
The hours went on, and soon came the time that Ana believed was the right time for her to take her leave. Her room, having no windows leading out, left her with no choice but to sneak out, tiptoeing across the empty alleyway leading to where she remembered seeing a way out.
It was then, just as she was about to turn left, that Ana stumbled face-to-face with someone for the second time that day.
"You!?"
Both appeared to be the last people who expected to run into each other here.
"What are you doing here?" Before Ana could seize the opportunity to first ask that question, the girl, Lydia, did.
"What are you doing here? This late at night?"
Ana was overcome with the desire to put an end to this masquerade right now, but in the face of the other girl's presence, she found herself repeating her earlier decision: pursuing the lie, the masquerade. "I was looking for the toilets." As both girls glanced in the direction they both knew the toilets were, Ana, wishing to divert the focus from her lie, asked, "And you, what are you doing here?"
"I, too, was looking for the toilet, just like you."
For reasons proper to herself, Ana could not bring herself to believe the girl’s words, but having herself lied, she took her words as though they were true.
"Did you find them?"
"I didn't, but now I have. It’s this way," she said, indicating the direction in which the toilets were.
For reasons Ana herself couldn’t comprehend, instead of using this opportunity to run off, she silently followed the girl to the toilets. During their walk, Ana, stealthily eyeing the girl, reminded herself of everything that happened earlier in the morning, how she saw a person teleport right beside this girl, and how the girl pursued her to inquire about it, which pretty much confirmed that what she saw was not a figment of her imagination.
From that first interaction forward, she had a bad feeling about this girl who called herself Lydia. All throughout the morning, she acted as a peon would, just like Ana did, but with her the question was: is she? Because this girl left Ana thoroughly perplexed; she couldn't tell if the girl was a peon or not, something that had never happened to her. It confused her, so she yearned for clarification, and she had a means to do it: a skill named Appraisal that she wielded, which, if used, could allow her to confirm what that person was and, further, who she was. But in that moment, being alone walking those corridors, she found not the courage to use it, for that morning she saw someone use |[Appraisal] on her and see nothing, meaning that if she wasn’t a peon, that girl might have a skill capable of hiding her true nature. That made one wonder what other skills she might have up her sleeve.
Ana was a confident person, but she knew not to be arrogant. As an inquisitor, she was skilled in a particular area, but in one such field she was lackluster: combat abilities. She was subpar, so it was in her best interest to avoid conflict, especially in a place like this one where she was alone with no hope of assistance.
Going along with the lie she herself had woven about looking for the toilet, Ana went on with the business she pretended to need the toilet for, and the other girl waited for her, which prompted Ana to also wait for her when she, too, went about her own business.
Regardless of whether their initial quests for toilets were true or not, both girls’ business involving the toilets was finished, and now both strode in the direction of their rooms into which they both vanished, without bidding each other good night.
For one who was never saved, to bring salvation to all.
In the vast continent of Aethelgia, legacy is power. Bloodlines decide talent, ancient Arcana shape nations, and forgotten miracles still echo through the roots of Aethelhum, the cosmic tree worshiped by millions. Empires rise around inherited might, and behind every noble crest lies a history written in magic, conquest, and silent tragedies.
Siegfried Fors was not born into this world. He once lived behind screens and firewalls, a hacker who bent digital laws until fate bent him instead. After dying in an act of selfless instinct, he awakens as a child in Fors Barony. But peace is fragile. Strange forces hunt for children marked by destiny, empires whisper of national treasures gone missing, and ancient powers stir beneath the soil. In the middle of it all stands a boy who was never meant to exist here.
Yet Siegfried’s arrival is not a coincidence but the beginning of a quiet upheaval. For one who was never saved in his first life, he now walks a path where salvation becomes something he must forge with his own hands, for himself, for his family, and for a world teetering between old rivalries and awakening dangers. As empires maneuver in the shadows and forgotten legacies resurface, a single boy carries the potential to tip the balance… or shatter it entirely.
What to expect:
- Emotion-rich storytelling centered on flawed, compelling characters
- Unique magic systems, elemental paths, and Arcana
- Deep worldbuilding with layered mysteries that expand across arcs and continents
- A progression system tied to growth, struggle, and discovery
- A protagonist who grows through vulnerability, not perfection, moving through grey area.
- Themes of redemption, family, salvation, and destiny
Appeals to readers who enjoy: Mushoku Tensei, Frieren, Lord of the Mysteries, TBATE.
Volumes One & Two ongoing — steady releases.
New chapters released regularly — join the journey.