62 - Viridia Aquatica

[Author's POV].

"Stay awake, please," he murmured softly, hoping Olivia was still conscious. He realised his touch was probably causing her more pain than it was helping, and he despised that. He wished he could simply offer her some water to cure her thirst and make her feel better.

A little breeze blew by, sending leaves and twigs flying. Rowan frowned and looked up, perplexed by the unexpected rise in heat. The air seemed hot and stuffy, and he wondered if the rain clouds were finally approaching. He hoped it would rain soon so that he and his buddies might get some relief from the heat.

"Do you think this is a sign, Iggy?" He pondered aloud as he continued to massage her shoulders. "I mean the wind just happened to be stronger this afternoon and now it's suddenly getting even hotter." He returned his attention to Iggy to ensure his well-being.

"It's not just wind. More probable, a wave of energy was sent along with the wind by an object being moved." Iggy responded, sounding apprehensive. "It may not be a sign of the coming storm, although that does seem quite strange considering this isn't supposed to happen during the winter months when it's usually calm and clear."

"So, what could cause such a strong wind?" Rowan responded. "Although the weather forecast indicated a significant drop in temperature throughout the winter season, the suddenness of the change was unexpected. If it was a warning of an impending storm, shouldn't it have happened sooner?"

"There's only one possibility. Perhaps someone wants you to recall something that should not have happened," Iggy said, jumping up onto his paws. He moved anxiously, as if wondering what to do next. He stared into Izhi's half-opened eyes; her body was hot, and her lips were dry and cracked, with a tiny purple tinge to them.

"Why don't you release Beacon butterfly larva to find the Viridia Aquatica flower?" Iggy recommended. Rowan looked at him, then at Olivia, wondering why he hadn't thought of this sooner. He carefully lay Olivia on the grass, taking care not to disturb her injuries. He took his cloak, ripped it off his shoulders, and put it around her tiny frame to protect her. She had already been wearing her green one, which was doing little to keep her cool.

He stood up and removed a Beacon butterfly larva from his sleeves. It was a small finger-sized purple larva with silver hair that fluttered around happily in the air before landing on the grass. It then stretched its legs to become airborne and began walking in a single direction. "Take care of her," Rowan urged as he began to follow it.

Beacon butterflies Larvae are mystical animals that emerge spontaneously from Beacon butterfly eggs after a three-week incubation period, give or take a few days. Beacon butterfly eggs are typically discovered in groups of thirteen or fewer near plentiful food sources for future hatchlings. The eggs are claimed to be 3 mm to baseball-sized, with a leathery shell and darkly coloured purple with silver hair on the rear.

Newly born Beacon butterfly Larvae are just around a finger long and very little. The larvae have a voracious appetite; if not prepared, any potential owner may quickly run out of food supplies for the hatchlings. When they reach adulthood, they can consume almost any organic material. A Beacon butterfly larva spends its entire existence eating, sleeping, and pooping. Over the course of six months, they swiftly develop in size from that of a small snake to that of an average house cat to that of a small dog, until they eventually seek out an isolated, dark spot and begin making their own cocoon.

The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly takes an additional three months, and their cocoons are reported to be fairly resilient. A newly metamorphosed Beacon butterfly will rapidly expand from Small to Medium to Large size in nine months, where it will remain as an adolescent for five years before growing to Huge size in adulthood. Beacon butterflies live for an average of 60 years.

Wizard Milluefar is the one who tamed this beast, and it has since become a favourite butterfly of the Balefire Watch and the citizens of the City of Lanterns, where Milluefar once lived. They have also lately been spotted among the wilds of the underdark, having arrived via unexplained ways. An average Beacon butterfly is nearly fifteen feet long, with wings that average around seventeen feet long. Beacon butterflies are typically quiet, gentle insects that can readily be trained to carry a rider.

Their food consists primarily of carrion, but they can consume and digest practically any organic substance they come across, even wood, using their formidable mandibles. They usually retreat from battle, relying on their mandibles if trapped, and only employ their Dazzling Wings attack when outnumbered, forced to do so by a rider, or severely hurt. Beacon butterflies must be trained before they are utilised as mounts or creatures of burden. Training takes six weeks of training, and riding a Beacon butterfly necessitates an unusual saddle.

Rowan emerged from the magical curtain after the larvae; but, because of its tiny legs, the larvae took longer to find the flower than normal. He wiped his sweat and made his way to the south side of the jungle. It's now midnight, and the entire forest appears to be calm, with scarcely a soul in sight. The full moon's radiance illuminated the surroundings. Rowan cautiously walked down a tree root he had used to ascend, following the thin trail left by Beacon butterfly larvae.

He eventually came to a stop beside a little area where a small herd of Beacon butterfly larvae had gathered. He exhaled as he noticed the Viridia Aquatica, a rare and wonderful bloom.Its petals, a vivid green with a glossy shine, appeared to embody the soul of the lush forest itself. Each medium-sized and finely formed bloom perched on slender silver-colored stems that flowed gracefully in the gentlest breeze. However, he only found one bloom at the moment.

He sat near it and examined the blossom attentively. A cluster of tiny emerald-green drops, resembling little diamonds and sparkling with an ethereal light, sits at the centre of the flower. These droplets were more than just ornamentation; they demonstrated the flower's unusual ability to carry water inside its roots, getting sustenance from the rich, nutritious soil and the adjacent streams, which ran with crystal clarity.

Viridia Aquatica grew in the forest's most hidden corners, where moss-covered boulders sheltered patches of soft, moist soil ideal for growth. Rowan was often found near babbling brooks and hidden waterfalls, where the air was thick with the song of birds and the gentle murmur of flowing water. Today, everything is silent as if the whole forest is sleeping peacefully, except for the sound of Rowan's laboured breathing and heavy heartbeat.

Legends described Viridia Aquatica as a symbol of strength and connection—to the land, the water, and the soul of the forest itself. It was claimed that those who sought its flowers received not only beauty but also a better understanding of the delicate balance that kept all life in the enchanted land. They are not wrong, he reasoned, wiping his forehead again.

The night air became hotter with each passing minute, and he needed to get back as soon as possible. He extended his arm and attempted to touch the flower; his palms traced the cool surface, loving the smooth texture as the petals tickled his palm. His thoughts travelled back to the time when he and his friends had first discovered this flower. All seven had entered the Forbidden Forest, and he remembered feeling absolutely confused and unprotected, with no idea where he was heading. He couldn't help but giggle gently as he remembered how easily everyone had fallen for the magnificent flower.

Rowan closed his eyes tightly, concentrating on the touch of the leafy stem in his fingers. He pictured himself standing in a crystal clear pond surrounded by lovely aquatic plants, while the aroma of flowers permeated the woodland, making him feel comfortable and protected. He didn't feel thirsty anymore. He was desperate to drink the water, but he couldn't. He intended to preserve it for Olivia. He gently opened his eyes and smiled as he noticed the butterflies circling overhead.

He remembered when Iggy told him about plucking this blossom. He stated that plucking Viridia Aquatica was thought to be most auspicious in the early hours of sunrise or in the peaceful minutes immediately before dusk. These were thought to be the best moments for the flower to be in sync with the forest's inherent forces.

First, softly touch the flower with a pure heart and harmonious intent, as if coaxing a precious treasure out of its hiding place. It was critical not to disrupt the surrounding vegetation and then pick it out. As soon as the roots left the ground, the area around the flower was softly smoothed over, leaving no visible signs of disturbance. He hurriedly tucked it beneath his sleeve and returned to the cave. Olivia was still curled up in a ball in the grass. She lay totally quiet, with the exception of a slight rise and fall of her chest as she breathed softly. She has never appeared more gorgeous to Rowan. He moved closer to her, kneeling beside her.

"Hey...you're back." she muttered faintly, pulling herself slightly to sit up. Her voice seemed harsh and dry.