THE LILY CREST

Chapter 1: The Last Ordinary Day

The weather was great and the town was as lively as usual with kids running around and customers bargaining prices from farmers who sell their produce. It's just nine in the morning but my head was already sweaty with the scorching heat of a summer day. I pulled my skirt up a bit to walk fast and past many stalls and shops painted in vibrant colors and smiling faces from all the people around. I turned at a corner and inserted a key on the third door of the block.

"Finally", I sighed. "The day has just begun and I'm already all sweaty", I mumbled to myself while wiping the sweat off my body.

I placed my bag on the chair behind the counter and reached for a bottle of water that I have kept in my bag. The water gave a very cool and refreshing sensation on my dry mouth as I guzzled it down and it tempted me to just drink everything there was, but I needed to save some for later, so I only consumed half of it.

I immediately drew the curtains back, right after having myself refreshed, to let in some light in the room. And there, it illuminated my precious pots of plants and flowers that were arranged neatly on shelves and rows inside the shop. The sight of roses, petunia, and cattleyas showing their colors under the sun and the green of their leaves give a certain peace and happiness within me. It brought me back to my childhood days when I was happily dancing and singing around a beautiful garden while watching my mom and my sisters carefully prune and check the plants as they all laugh in amusement of my little show, and -

"Good morning",  a voice suddenly interrupted my daydreaming. I turned around and saw a young lady dressed nicely, folding her pink umbrella, and putting it at the side.

"Good morning. Welcome to my shop. How may I help you today?", I said with a smile and a curtsy.

"Well, I've heard from a friend that your plants are the loveliest in the whole Carina. Are you even aware that you're that famous?", she said with a giggle.

"To say that my plants are the most beautiful there is in the kingdom is probably an exaggeration but I'm happy that you have come to appreciate their beauty," I answered her courteously.

She went ahead and checked the displays in the shop. She wore a dress in an old rose shade with intricate designs of vines and flowers while her scent reminds me of spring. Her face does not give a hint of worry at all but of innocence.

"All your plants are alluring that I'm having a hard time choosing what to buy now", she complained.

"Why not start with something that immediately catches your eye?", I suggested.

She was busily scanning the plants, glancing from one side to the other, when something from one of the shelves caught her attention.

 "What is this beautiful thing here?", she inquired while pointing her finger to a cluster of white flowers. I instantly walked towards her to answer her question.

"That is a Casablanca lily", I said. "It's one of the few flowers that bloom at night. It's also one of my favorites since the flower symbolizes happiness - a reminder that there is always something in life that you ought to celebrate.", I continued. 

She stood in awe from my explanation and started asking for a plant and then another. 

"It's amazing how you can remember all those details. Where did you know about the lily?", she asked curiously. She had a point. Where did I learn about these things? Why did it feel like I've always known these facts?

"I got it from reading numerous books about plants when I was learning how to properly cultivate them years ago", I lied. I never read books about plants. All the skills I had in nurturing them just came out naturally. I did get a few insights from those who trained me but it did not include any symbols.

In the end, she bought ten plants and a bunch of flowers - which was a lot. She signaled two of her servants who were waiting for her outside to carry the pots and bring it to the carriage a few meters away. It is obvious in her green eyes that she is satisfied with the purchase while mine were beaming of happiness when she handed down the money.

"What a great day!", I said to myself while counting the cash and putting it all in a small metal box in one of the drawers.

She picked her umbrella that she placed near the door earlier and before she went out of the shop, she turned to me, flipping her wavy brown hair at her back and gave a sweet smile.

"Thank you for assisting me today. The scent of the flowers in your shop is so sweet that I would love to come back here the next time I have an opportunity. See you!" she said while waving her left hand before going out. The bell rang sweetly as the door slammed and seconds later - silence.

My mind was still busy wondering who the beautiful lady was. Judging from the way she dressed and the servants who tagged along with her, one may say that she was from the nobility. Her eyes were one of the most beautiful that I've seen before. They resembled emeralds that sparkle under the light. But where have I seen such eyes before? Why did it feel so familiar? I closed my eyes to see if I can remember and at the back of my mind, I saw a silhouette of a boy standing under the moonlight and -

Cling! Cling! I got startled at the sound of the bell near the door ringing again. And there, right in front of me was Lady Paula. Today, she's wearing a blue dress that matches the color of her eyes, and her hair tied neatly at her back. She's already in her seventies but she still had the energy to walk around the busy streets.

"Good morning, Lady Paula", I curtsied. "What brought you here?", I asked since she rarely visits the shop.

"I just came to see how you're doing", she answered. "You've grown into a pretty young lady, Zenna. I won't be surprised if sooner or later, a man will be here to take you back to his home", she continued, looking amused with her own statements.

Lady Paula was always there to help me in times of need. Ever since I left the orphanage, she had acted as my guardian, taught me how to take good care of plants, and even helped me start the shop that I run now. I owe her the comforts of my life and I have considered her as my own grandmother. Though strict, I could always sense the kindness within her.

"I am glad to see you in full spirits. It's been six months since you last visited", I added as I guided her to take a seat on one of the chairs I have in the shop. Looking at her closely, I noticed that her face got more wrinkles and her hair - all white. I can't imagine how one can age quickly in just a span of months. She scanned the room with her eyes, up, down, and all sides. She looked at the flowers in the pot. She also gazed at the tiny succulents in one of the shelves. And then, she set her eyes back to me.

"Did you visit them?", she finally asked. She was talking about my family who were now in their graves, resting in peace for all eternity. When I was at the orphanage, the nuns explained to me that my family got involved in an accident while traveling from Sagitta to Mensa. It was said that the carriage we were all in fell in a cliff wherein everyone, my mom, dad, and two sisters, died. They all said it was a miracle that I survived the fall and that I was immediately saved by another group of travelers who happened to pass by the area after their initial route was blocked by a huge boulder. Lady Paula was one of them. They immediately rushed me to the nearest hospital and when I fully recovered, handed me to the orphanage. I can't remember much of what had happened, not even the faces of my own family. I was just eight years old. There were times when I remember moments with them, but vague. All I know was that there were times we were together and that they call me by my nickname - Zen.

"Yes, I did", I answered. "I went to their graves early this morning and offered flowers and prayers to them before coming back here", I added while holding her hand. She gave a smile and reached her hand out to caress my face.

"I am happy with what you have become now. You have established a name for yourself as one of the best plant growers here in Sagitta. I have heard that word has spread about your talent to the capital, Pyxis! If you have the chance, move to the capital so you can lead a better life", she explained.

"Sagitta is where I belong, Lady Paula. I was born and raised here and I have no dreams of living a life in Pyxis. I'm already happy here", I responded.

Lady Paula just gave off a sigh, knowing the stubbornness in me. She stood from the chair and took a few steps towards the door before looking back again. "Live happily. That's all I wish for you", she said. I responded with a smile and gave a curtsy as a sign of respect before she exited.

I was just about to go back to the counter when the door opened again. "Did you forget something?", I said, thinking that it was Lady Paula. But what stood in front of me was a tall man with chiseled features that were evident in his face, paired with breath-taking eyes that resembled emeralds - the same as those of the lady who first entered the shop. I stood in awe of the beauty I just witnessed and I couldn't bring myself to avert from his gaze that could melt any women's heart.

"Ahem, excuse me", he suddenly said. I awkwardly gave a curtsy after I broke off from what seemed to be a spell and kept my head lowered so I won't get into trance again from looking at his face - or so I thought. Avoiding his face just did not help now that my eyes were fixed at the features of his chest and abs that were perfectly traced by his white long sleeves. "Zenna, snap out of it!", I whispered to myself.

"How can I help you, sir?", I asked him directly.

"I wonder if you saw a lady in pink dress and umbrella around this area along with some of her servants", he inquired with his manly voice.

I immediately lifted my face and looked at him. "You mean the one with the same eyes as yours?", I asked.

"Exactly! I was actually with her earlier but with the crowd out there, we eventually got separated. Do you mind if I ask which way she went?"

"Sure. I can help you with that. As far as I can remember, they turned at the corner and headed south."

"I see. Thanks for the help young lady. Been looking for her for an hour now under the sun", he added as he tried to cool himself down by tugging the collar of his shirt. His physique manifests strength and his voice expresses masculinity at its finest.

"It is my pleasure to be of help", I responded while giving another curtsy.

He turned his back and went out the door, making the bell ring again. I still have not moved on from his presence and while I was pacing around the shop, I sensed the smell of his perfume still lingering around.

"Who could that person be?", I said to myself out of curiosity. "Is he the lady's husband? Fiancé?", I continued. "Well, they have the same eye color although their hair is of different shades. They must be blood-related".

I continued pacing around the shop and was about to open the window near the door to improve the ventilation inside when I stepped on something hard on the floor. It was a piece of metal. I bent down to pick it up. As I studied the feature of the oval piece, I saw a flower engraved right at the very center. I have taken care of plants of different types in my life and I cannot be wrong with the flower design in the crest - It's a camellia. There were no words or other hints engraved in the crest for me to know to whom it belongs but I'm taking a hunch that it's from the gentleman a while ago.

"He can't be that far away yet," I said to myself as I sprang across the door and left the shop.

The crowd in the street was thicker than when I got here earlier. Men and women of different social status could be seen everywhere. I turned to the corner and went south as this was the instruction I gave him minutes ago but finding him was still difficult. I kept looking all over the place and tried to predict which way he went and in the middle of the search, I accidentally bumped into a group of ladies gathering in a corner.

"Can't you watch your steps?!", the girl exclaimed. There were six of them whispering to each others' ears as if talking about someone before altering all of their attention to me.

"I'm so sorry", I answered sincerely.

"Eeew, who is this girl? She looks like a rat", one of the girls said before laughing so loud with her peers. It wasn't just their personalities that were horrible to me as their faces also look pathetic with all their thick makeup slowly melting because of the summer heat. 

I just shrugged their statements off knowing that nothing good will ever come from trying to fight with people like them. I decided to continue my search but after taking two steps from my last position, I suddenly fell hard on the ground. The girls, of course, immediately laughed at my state while some of the people around started staring at me.

"Those bitches", I said to myself as I got the hint that one of them blocked my foot. I struggled standing up again as my knees hurt a bit from the fall. I was trying to support my body with my right hand to get up when a pair of leather boots came to my very sight. I lifted my face to see who the person was and to my surprise, it's the man I have been looking for!

"Are you alright?", he asked as he offered his hand. 

I was once again lost in a trance with the sight of his face. Noticing that I did not grab his hand, he just took a grip of my arm while his right hand was stretched across my back to grab the other and pulled me up. For a moment, I felt a shiver down my spine as I have never been this close to any men. I was so close that I could strongly sense his perfume. I awkwardly brushed the dust off my skirt and tried to fix my hair to take a little bit of the embarrassment off me. 

"Try not to fall that hard again", he said while turning his back to leave.

"Wait!", I exclaimed. He once again turned to me and gave me a confusing look. The people around were still staring, spectating on what happens next - or they probably were just amazed at the beautiful man right in front of me. Though I was no longer facing them, I sensed evil glare from the direction where those ugly bitches were standing.

"Thanks for helping me out.", I finally said. "Uhmm..by the way, I was actually looking for you", I added.

"Looking for me?", he asked with a more confusing look. I reached my hand in the depths of my pocket and brought out the crest I found earlier.

"I assume this is yours", I explained while showing him the piece of metal in my hand. "You dropped it in my shop". His eyes widened at the sight of the crest and his hands automatically scanned his body as if searching for something.

"Oh! It definitely is!" he exclaimed after realizing that he no longer had his crest in his pocket. "It's so kind of you to chase me and return this. You don't know how important this crest is to me.", he added with huge relief, and happiness spelled all over his face. 

"It is an honor to be of help", I smiled and then curtsied. "Now that I have returned what's yours, I'm heading back to the shop."

"Wait!", he suddenly exclaimed. "Let me at least know your name."

I blushed upon hearing his words and a sudden nice warmth was spreading all over my chest - a feeling that was so new to me.

"Zenna. Zenna Springdale, sir.", I answered shyly.

"Andre Crimson. You're free ta call me by my first name", he replied with a grin. 

I smiled back at him while fixing some of my hair, pushing it at the back of my ear. 

At that moment, a sudden gush of powerful wind blew from behind that it took me all my might to stay standing. What followed was an eerie silence; the type that gives a warning. I looked around thinking I could figure out what's going on but the crowd was just as puzzled as I was. I gave off a sigh to shake off the unusual feeling that I was sensing but just when I thought there's nothing to worry about, a deafening explosion transpired.

Everything happened fast that I lost my balance. Andre was quick to catch me from falling but the force was too much that we ended up on the ground. I opened my eyes the moment the impact was gone and quickly pulled myself up after realizing that I am on top of him.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to -", I stopped as I looked at him. His eyes reflected trepidation as they were focused on the scene right behind me. I turned my head to take a look. And there, the town that I have always known, in just a few seconds, turned into a sea of FLAMES.