Chapter 88: The Eternal Garden

Theo took in the hall with a slow frown. The officials clustered in twos and threes, muttering behind cupped hands.

’There’s something clearly... about the ingredients.’

Theo had mentioned the ingredients he hadn’t been able to source back in Meteor City: the Frost Apricot, the Hearthfire, Bloodlilies, even the Springtime Locust.

And next, the King wanted to know where he’d gotten the recipe.

’What has that got to do with anything?’

Theo wavered, unsure how much to say. But he was sharp enough to know, instantly, that something was up here, the same strangeness he’d felt over the three hundred million dollars.

He let out a breath and answered King Ordwin, keeping his tone even.

"I prefer to keep my sources private. Is there anything of these things that you can help me with... your highness."

The King seemed ready to answer, but before he could, Captain Dunn stepped forward, bowed to him, and turned to face Theo.

"The things you ask for, we can show you some of. There is one Hearthfire tree in the region of the Dead Flames, but it isn’t an expedition I would advise a new Climber like you to go for. You need to acclimatize yourself to the nature of this place. I’m sure it’s a lot different from the world you’re used to."

"Perhaps it is to your benefit that you rest here. The King can prepare a small expedition party for you, but only after you, at the very least, enter the Enhanced Realm. You may find time to cultivate here on the first floor, while also gaining experience from the available dungeons."

Theo folded his hands, considering the captain’s words. Her voice carried an elegance nothing like the exhausted, depraved thing he remembered from the Trial, and it was hard not to let that pull at his attention.

He finally let out a shallow breath.

"While that is not a bad idea, I cannot stay here for too long..."

Theo stopped himself before the rest of the sentence came out, realizing there might be people here watching him. In fact, mentioning the ingredients at all may have been a bad idea, since it might have given people an idea of what he was trying to do.

Theo almost convinced himself he was overreacting, being paranoid over nothing. But then again...

’It’s better to be paranoid than to end up being right.’

So he figured he couldn’t afford to be careless about what he said regarding Thalleria, Estea and Sesan.

"I have to go back home to meet my family, and care for them."

The King looked surprised.

"Young Champion, you can bring your family to the Tower, and they shall dwell in your estate, having their own privacy."

’Hell no, that’s dangerous!’

The world inside the Tower sure was vast, but this was where the Villainesses were most active and had grown up. Their influence had merely grown to affect the world outside the Tower. There were not many people who could prove they recognized them outside the Tower, since most people out there had probably never set foot inside it, let alone gone far.

But inside the Tower was an entirely different environment. Theo knew he couldn’t bring his villainess wives here at all.

He bowed politely to the King and responded.

"That is an amazing and kind gesture, but your highness, I must refuse. I am not sure if they’re safe enough to be here. But I will seriously consider the offer."

Disappointment flickered across King Ordwain’s face before he caught it, folding it into a warm smile.

"I will tell you this for free, young champion. There seems to be far more that meets the eye with you, so I think it is important to let you know... those ingredients you seek are of the Eternal Garden."

Theo’s gaze lifted to the King. At the same time, Captain Dunn glanced back at him too, a look of suppressed reproach in her eyes.

"Your Majesty!"

"Hessa, this is a due courtesy to someone who has solved one of our many problems. A far more dangerous one. Before I go on... I must ask a question."

Theo kept looking at him.

The King leaned forward, resting an elbow on his knee.

"In the Trial of the Gods that you conquered, was I alive, how was I?"

Theo was still for a moment, then he shook his head.

A somber look fell over the King’s face. And he retreated slowly, looking down. Then he smiled and asked again.

"What about in this court hall, was anyone here there?"

Theo answered in a low voice, but one that carried.

"More than half of the city was ruined. Walls have been built in different areas, and it seems the city had undergone some kind of evolution. What little remained of the people were led by her, cooped up at the only wall that still exists."

Captain Dunn’s breath caught as Theo spoke. The King and everyone around him wore the same dark, pitiful look.

Until the King exhaled.

"Lord Sky! Our Champion! You really have no idea how much of a great deal you have done for us!"

He glanced at Captain Dunn.

"Will you hear that, Hessa? Until the very end you were fighting! Alone too! But that doesn’t have to happen anymore because Lord Sky has taken the burden for us."

Theo was silent for a while, noticing the dark grief that consumed this place just a moment before. There were a few things he could surmise.

’It seems that is just only one of the disasters that will befall them. Or perhaps only one ways. Can I challenge the trial again? I don’t think so.’

Theo knew that once a Trial was passed, there was no going back. Someone else would have to take up the trial to save the other residual patterns of destruction still scattered across the first floor.

’However, there lower amount of Heroes willing to challenge the Tower and that number continued to reduce.’

The king smiled warmly.

"Well, thank you for answering my question. About the Evergreen Garden. It was a paradise that was created by one of the old gods. The old gods were said to exist across all floors. Back then, there was a god that loved green things and nature, and he created a garden that was inexhaustible, and gifted it to mankind. It was said that the garden could endlessly produce specific kinds of fruits, the Frost Apricot merely one of those. And unique creatures such as the Bloodlilies found a home in the heartland of this garden. But mortal... mortals ruined it."

Theo paid close attention.

"The fruits had unique strengths. They could heal severe wounds, and even quicken circulation, and some particular mixtures were even said to bring the dead back. The garden attracted only the kind of animals that were carved of jade and clouds. But mortals were insatiable. Aside from consuming endlessly, they sold the fruits and products of the garden, dominated it, warred over it. Until the garden disappeared."

"It is unknown if the garden still exists today, or if it’s all been myth, but some tribes still search for this garden to this day. The Reverhill Family, for example, comes from a tribe that were beneficiaries of the fruit. They’d know more, but they’re on the fifth floor."

Theo heard it all and inhaled.

"Thank you very much for this information, your majesty... I am deeply grateful."

The King smiled more and nodded.

While Theo sighed internally.

’Let me just return and start preparing for the next trial.’