"Oh no..." Zhu groaned, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Please don't tell me you're a flower."
She had been genuinely looking forward to beating up this stinky Faral.
Throughout their journey, he had been the most infuriating travel companion imaginable.
He hadn't warned her she was about to run off a cliff while fleeing the Bonecrest Wendle.
He had ripped her soul multiple times during her escape without the slightest hint of remorse.
He conveniently left out important details about the healing paste, like it may leave her in a comatose state.
Worst of all, he was a know-it-all who always sounded unbearably calm and reasonable.
To settle all of those grievances, Zhu had fully intended to punch him the moment they finally met face-to-face.
But now...
How was she supposed to punch such a delicate, beautiful flower?
The violet lotus floated serenely upon the fountain, its luminous petals glistening beneath the afternoon sun.
It looked far too elegant to hit.
"...That's cheating," Zhu muttered under her breath.
"No," Faral answered, completely ignoring her dramatic disappointment. "I am not a flower."
A brief pause followed before he clarified,
"To be precise, I am trapped within this lotus."
The courtyard fell silent.
Even Zhu forgot about punching him.
"...Trapped?" Mara repeated softly.
Herkid's eyes immediately lit up with curiosity.
Without hesitation, he walked over to the fountain and sat cross-legged beside it like an eager student before a respected teacher.
"What happened?" he asked, unable to hide his fascination.
Faral was an ancient guardian.
A being who had protected Hollowveil for thousands of years.
Yet now he claimed to be imprisoned inside a single lotus flower.
Here's a smoother version that preserves Zhu's teasing personality and Faral's dry wit.
Zhu frowned thoughtfully as she looked at the delicate lotus floating serenely upon the fountain.
"But... you seem so powerful." She tilted her head. "How could a tiny little flower trap someone like you?"
By the time she finished speaking, the innocent curiosity in her voice had vanished, replaced by unmistakable mockery.
Faral was silent for a moment before replying in his usual calm tone.
"Girl... your mockery has been noted."
A grin spread across Zhu's face.
"Good."
"I shall remember it."
"Oh?"
"And I shall repay it in due time."
The smile on Zhu's face froze. "...That sounded like a threat."
"I merely stated a fact."
Mara couldn't help laughing.
"I think you've offended an ancient guardian."
"I've been offending him since we met," Zhu replied proudly.
Both Mara and Herkid laughed when they heard what Zhu said.
Faral let out what sounded suspiciously like a sigh.
The laughter faded.
For several moments, only the gentle trickle of water filled the courtyard.
Finally, Faral spoke.
"I was not always the Guardian of Hollowveil."
The three exchanged glances.
"I was once a Spiritual Mana User."
Mara frowned thoughtfully.
"I've never met a user of that affinity."
"It is exceedingly rare," Faral explained. "My innate ability was called Astral Projection. It allowed my soul to leave my physical body and travel freely through the world."
Zhu blinked.
"So... you could just... fly around as a ghost?"
"In simplistic terms... yes."
"That is both incredibly cool and incredibly terrifying."
"It was useful."
Herkid leaned forward eagerly.
"What happened?"
"I was wandering in spirit form, as I had done countless times before. During my journey, I encountered this lotus."
The flower beneath them emitted a faint violet glow.
"It was not an ordinary spiritual plant."
"It was alive?"
"It was sentient."
The three fell silent.
"It possessed an innate ability unlike anything I had ever encountered. Before I understood what was happening, it captured my wandering soul and imprisoned it within its petals."
Zhu's playful expression disappeared.
"You couldn't escape?"
"I tried."
"For how long?"
"I do not know."
His voice remained as calm as ever, yet there was a loneliness beneath it that none of them had heard before.
"Time gradually lost its meaning."
Mara lowered her gaze.
"What about your body?"
"It undoubtedly died."
No one spoke.
"I know I had another life before Hollowveil," Faral continued quietly. "I know there was a place I once called home. I know I had a name."
He paused.
"I simply cannot remember any of them."
The confession settled heavily over the courtyard.
"My memories faded over the centuries. First faces... then places... then names."
"And eventually..." Zhu whispered.
"...Everything."
Herkid stared at the lotus with newfound sympathy.
"So you've been alone all this time."
"Yes."
"And you couldn't leave the forest?"
"I could extend my awareness throughout Hollowveil, but I could never travel beyond its borders. The lotus would not permit it."
"Then... why become the guardian?" Mara asked softly.
"If I could not escape my prison..."
Faral's voice carried a quiet acceptance.
"...I chose to give my imprisonment purpose."
"The Rushing Spring required protection. The ruins required a caretaker. The creatures of Hollowveil needed guidance."
"So I became their guardian."
Another silence followed.
One that none of them felt compelled to break
At last, Zhu bent over to the fountain.
She was crouched beside the lotus and gently poked one of its broad purple leaves with a single finger.
"...You know," she said quietly, "I don't feel like punching you anymore."
Faral remained silent.
"...Maybe just whoever made this stupid flower."
For the first time since they had met him, they thought they heard something almost resembling a chuckle carried upon the breeze.
Zhu tilted her head as another thought suddenly occurred to her.
"Hey, Faral..."
"Yes?"
"If you can't leave Hollowveil Forest, then how did you end up in my head?" She frowned. "We were already outside the forest when we first made contact."
For the first time since they had met him, Faral hesitated.
"...That," he admitted, "I am not entirely certain of myself."
The answer surprised all three of them.
"I believe our connection was formed through your ability though low as it was. As for why my consciousness was able to reach you despite the lotus's restrictions..." He paused. "I have yet to determine the reason."
"Huh." Zhu scratched her cheek. "So even ancient know-it-alls don't know everything."
"I know many things."
"But not that."
"...Correct."
A victorious grin spread across Zhu's face.
"Ha! I finally got one over on you."
Feeling rather pleased with herself, she reached out and gently poked one of the lotus's glowing petals.
"...Could you please stop poking me?"
Faral sounded genuinely inconvenienced.
Realizing he disliked it, Zhu's grin widened.
"Oh, so you can feel that."
Poke. Poke. Poke.
"It is rather unpleasant."
"Excellent."
She poked him again with even greater enthusiasm.
Without warning, several emerald vines sprang from the fountain.
Smack!
One neatly slapped the back of Zhu's hand.
"Ow!"
She jerked her hand back, clutching it dramatically.
"You stinky fart!" she protested. "That hurt!"
Herkid burst into laughter while Mara covered her mouth, trying unsuccessfully to suppress her own.
Smiling warmly at their antics, Mara looked toward the glowing lotus.
"So..." she asked gently, "is there anything we can do to help you escape?"
For a moment, the courtyard became quiet.
"...Yes," Faral answered softly.
There was unmistakable gratitude in his voice.
"I am glad you cared enough to ask."
After a brief pause, he added,
"Unlike a certain troublesome young lady."
Zhu rolled her eyes.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. I was going to ask eventually." She made a child like sound.
Herkid chuckled before becoming serious once more.
"If there really is a way..." he said earnestly, "...tell us."
Faral's guidance had saved their lives more than once.
Without him, none of them would have survived Hollowveil.
It only felt right to repay that kindness.
Faral's voice grew solemn.
"Actually..."
A faint violet light spread through the lotus.
"Mara and the girl are capable of helping me."
All three straightened.
"Really?" Zhu asked.
"What do we have to do?" Mara added.