Faris woke up before dawn broke and he saw Fiore coming back into the cave with a boar carcass, the image scared him briefly but he settled down when he realized it was her. "How'd you sleep", he asked as he groggily sat up". Fiore smiled, "Better than usual, but I felt like I was sinking so, early start". The duo sat to eat, but Faris noticed the copious amount that she readily consumed. She had caught a wild boar and prepared it using the spices she brought. She offered Faris and he took a piece, but he was still astounded at how quickly the boar was picked apart. "I didn't know you were such a big eater, do you like boar", Faris asked intrigued. Fiore blushed, wiping her mouth, "I like everything to be honest, but I have to eat like this once in a while and it has to be something that I didn't grow". 

     "Is it bad to eat something you grew?". 

     "Hmm think of it this way, it would be like eating your skin. Of course it won't kill you but it won't fill you up". 

     "Hmm, so even though you can grow massive amounts of crops, you can't fill up?". 

     "Yup, Of course, I can eat it If I help it grow a little, but if I sprout it suddenly, it does me more harm than good. But most of my intake can be done with the mana I consume from the natural world around me. It's all about balance so to speak". 

     "That's amazing, but complicated to follow, I'm glad I just need to eat", he said as he handed her water. Fiore smiled brightly as she looked out the cave, she had never talked to someone about herself like this, it felt nice.

     The duo departed from the cave and took in the sights, the trees grew higher than on the plane and she could feel the difference in the soil as well, yet the colors were nothing compared to her home. As they walked on the main road, Fiore felt the ground shake, she placed her hand on Faris's shoulder and led him to the side of the road. She pulled her cloak over her face, and on queue, a wagon sped across. A burly man with a full beard saw the young duo at the side of the road, his nose picked up a sweet smell as he got closer, thus slowing down his wagon. As he stopped in front of them he saw a healthy young man about 16 or 17, his hair was dark brown and his eyes were a peculiar color, like amber. He then turned to the person hiding behind him, but couldn't see if it was a woman or a man, all he knew was that he was drawn to this person. 

     He tried to interact, "You two, it's dangerous to travel on foot in these parts, why not hop on the wagon I can take you to a village nearby. Faris gave an unassuming expression and rejected his offer, "Thank you for the kind offer, but we live around here and on our way home. No need to trouble yourself", as he talked, he backed away into the woods with Fiore trying to end the conversation. t The bearded man tried again, "Oh no need to be wary I-", Faris cut him off, "We can't be a bother to someone who looks so busy, please don't mind us", and with that, they were gone. The bearded man saw them disappear into the thick shrubbery and with them went the sweet scent. He shook his head asking why he was acting so out of character and went on. 

     Faris saw as the wagon sped away and sighed in relief. "Good thinkin ahead Fi, still I wonder why people are affected even if your face is covered". Fiore shrugged, "I've investigated, but I don't have a full picture yet. My father was never affected by my mother, and you also don't get hypnotized by me. Also, you can let go of my hand, it's getting sweaty". Faris snickered nervously as he separated himself.

     They continued and through the ground, Fiore felt running water nearby. Faris felt it too, but it was through sound and he knew what they came across. He urged Fiore to follow him and soon enough they came across a massive waterfall hidden in the woods. It was so loud that Fiore felt disoriented being near it, but the glittering rainbow was a sight to behold and the light touched the surface of the water. "Hey Fi look over here, lotus flowers", Faris scooped one up and showed Fiore, but before gifting it to her, he resubmerged it in water, air bubled came out, and as he brought it back up, it fully bloomed. The pastel colors shined with the water droplets as he handed it to Fiore, but he laughed nervously as he saw what he was doing, "Oh, I guess it's pretty silly fiving a Celestial of nature a flower". Fiore took the flower, blushing as she looked at it, "No, I never knew that could be done. Thank you". She wore it behind her ear and asked, "How do I look?". His expression relaxed as he stared and commented, "Beautiful".

     The duo spent their time near the waterfall collecting any medicinal plants they could and Fiore collected and ate the plants she could not find back home. Faris saw this and immediately screamed, "FIORE NO! YOU CAN'T EAT WATER LETTUCE IT'S POISONOUS ". Fiore laughed, "Did you already forget?". He stopped to think, "Oh yeah. Never mind carry on". As Fiore kept eating she asked, "Do many mistakenly eat this?".

     "Funnily enough, they do. It looks similar to a cabbage".

     "Do you know if it's good for anything".

     " Hmmm....some say it's good for hemorrhoids if prepared correctly", he said as he snickered.

     "Well...I guess I won't get hemorrhoids", she laughed as she continued to collect.

     Months went on like this as Faris introduced new things to Fiore and Fiore interacted with the world around her, finally, they were halfway to the Empire of Time, but the flora was beginning to change, and the forest they were about to enter was bizarre. Normal forest with no end, but this spot stood out like a sore thumb. It was a pitch-dark circular entrance, but Fiore could feel the soil becoming more fertile, almost as if it had healing qualities. The plants Faris was looking for were at the entrance, but as he carefully plucked some, he wondered what was beyond the threshold. He was apprehensive, but as he saw Fiore hold out her hand, all the doubt went away. As they walked hand in hand Faris walked blindly through the darkness as Fiore led the way, the ground feeling softer and softer . 

     Faris felt like they had walked for at least 30 minutes, then a light came to greet them. Massive pines taller than the horizon illuminated by millions of fireflies. Faris looked around in delight, he never imagined they came in so many different colors as they flew past, almost avoiding him. He then turned to Fiore and saw that she was surrounded by the rainbow of fireflies trying to carry her away, "I wonder where they are trying to take me, let's go and see", Fiore coiled some branches onto their legs and slowly lifted herself and Faris. She followed the fireflies to the very top of the trees and beheld a magnificent sight. As they sat atop the trees they were met with a vast horizon with an assortment of pastel colors melding together, the breeze gently caressing her. Fiore wondered if this was how true freedom felt. 

     However, the moment was short-lived as she felt a bite on her skin, she went to look at her hand, and there was a bit of blood seeping out. She began to look at the tree tops discreetly and almost hidden from sight she saw skeletons neatly tucked in among the pines. As she realized what was happening she slowly turned her head to Faris, "Faris... when I yell, I need you to grab hold of me and hold on as your entire life depends on it", she said slowly, trying to not make any fast movements. Faris then looked at what caught her eyes and saw the fireflies coming to him. He saw Fiore's arm start to bleed, he held his breath and nodded.

     Fiore slowly made her way to Faris, and with a scream loud enough to split the air, she yelled, NOW!". Faris quickly clung to Fiore, sinking his nails into her back. She jumped from the highest point, and fell back fist, shielding Faris from the branches below. Faris kept his eyes closed but could hear her fast-beating heart. Fiore tried to maneuver herself, but she still hit many braches before finally hitting the ground at full force. 

     She felt like the wind was knocked out of her lungs, her vision disoriented but quickly lifted herself with Faris's help. He led her out as swiftly as he could, the darkness eating them up but the swift flitting of wings came closer. Fiore then felt something eating at her leg, and without thinking she grabbed Faris and threw him out. Her legs gave out, bringing her to her knees, but in the process, she noticed that the fireflies never followed Faris. She smiled as she sunk into the soil. 

     Faris hit the ground, his face horrified as he tried to run back in but he was rooted in place thanks to Fiore. He grabbed a nearby rock in a panic and tried to break the roots clinging to him but to no avail. Desperation was clawing at him and the thought of cutting his ankle passed through his mind, but a single word snapped him back, "Faris!". He turned back and relief overcame him, Fiore was alive and well, covered in a thin layer of dirt. 

       Faris let out a groan of exhaustion as he fell to his knees, the ground no longer rooting him down. "Fiore don't do that to me", he panted out his words. Fiore felt embarrassed about the ordeal, she led him inside and he trusted her, a somber look overtook her as she knelt with Faris, "I'm sorry, I put you in danger". Faris calmed himself as he noticed her demeanor, he placed his hand on hers, "This happens more than you think, so don't fret too much about it. I've been on my fair share of deadly trails", he took her hand and helped her up, but saw fresh blood on her leg, as well as on her back," Let me treat you, you bleeding". Fiore smirked, "I'm already healed, just a bit dirty". Faris sighed, "I feel like you jump into danger fairly quickly".

     "I've been told", she said embarrassed.

     "That's not a good thing Fiore, regardless if you're able to heal in an instance, I'm still going to worry".

     "I've been trying to break the habit, but in this situation, I saw no other way, but when I saw the fireflies ignore you....", she trailed off as she thought about it, "Why did they ignore you?". Fiore saw that most of their luggage was damaged, but one thing still intact was Faris's bag of plants and herbs. She began to sniff herself as she caught a whiff in the air, she stepped closer to Faris, a minty yet spicy scent coming from him. Faris kept trying to avoid her nose as he danced about, "Cut it out that's embarrassing, I know I probably smell. I'm all sweaty".

     "Don't you smell that?".

     "Smell what?".

     "The plant you picked up in the entrance, it's all over you, I think that's why they didn't attack you".

     "You think so?".

     "I know so, look, smell me".

     Faris looked apprehensive to do this, but Fiore reassured him, "It's okay, it's not weird, just wanted to show you". But Faris shook his head, "No, I believe you, I just can't smell anything". Fiore looked perplexed, "Do you mean at all, or in this instance,". Faris nodded, "At all, ".

     Fiore thought about it for a moment and realized something else, her eyes glittering, "My father is the same way". As it clicked, for Faris, they imitated each other's expression and they began to laugh. It was so simple and in front of their face that it just didn't click for them, "So people are attracted to you're pheromones?", Faris joked. Fiore shed tears as she replied, "I guess so".

     The duo set up camp again, Faris slept by the small fire and Fiore lay away on the other side. A messenger bird dropped off a letter from Zarvan earlier and she finally decided to read it. It had the standard heading of his, but this letter was just as odd as the last three, stating nothing about himself and just requesting, "Please don't write to anyone else but me, my Fiore". Everything else felt inauthentic as if he was having someone else write for him and he just added that one nauseating line. She had asked if he was busy she would decrease the letters but that was the only letter with a reply that sounded angry and written by him. As of now she only resorted to Asking if he was well and adding an herb or flower from where she was, his letters in return were bland with that one possessive line. Fiore felt like her heart was being squeezed like he was hiding something from her. She couldn't stand the distance that was being built, she didn't want to lose him like this. She felt the next time they met, she would have to redefine how they saw each other.