flower

Growing flowers in the Garden and growing vegetables in plots are very unalike. We're not trying to plant bulk monocultures in a finite space here, please understand that.

Um, ohh... got it...

We can't plant flowers in this soil now. Let's just use it for the farm's base layer when the time comes.

The farm?

Mmm, we're amending our refurbishment plans a little, since I'd like to raise some of Beanstalk's little Metal Crabs. We can go over it in more detail once we head back.

If you don't need me, I'll just be headin' home now...

Mhmm, that's fine. Drive the tractor away first.

Got it...

After all, we haven't even started today, so we won't need it.

Store the mixed soil at your place, since for now we don't have anywhere to dump it.

Alright...

Once you're done, come drop by my dormitory room. There's still plenty I'll need to trouble you with.

Oh...

Eh?

What's wrong?

Can I still, y'know, help out?

You're not cross with me?

I am cross. Of course I'm cross.

But even if I'm cross, we still have to get things done.

Or are you saying you're not ready to help us?

Course I am!

Awww, bless you, Nena, you're a sweetheart!

If you wouldn't mind, please call me Lena...

I think Nena sounds a little cuter, though.

We've still got plenty of work to do today, so let's head back for now, Podenco.

Alright.

And move fast, Bagpipe. There's still a good deal of that work I need to entrust you with.

Don't try and dodge the subject.

I see how it is, alright! I'll be right there!

Rhodes Island Dormitories

Perfumer's Dormitory

I'll leave planning the refurbished area to you. We might have more room to grow our plants, but we'll still want to save as much space as we can.

We'll hand this section over to Beanstalk for farm use. I'll leave regularly picking those symbiotic flowers of theirs up to you too.

And the section along the side—that'll be my new residence, then.

The leftover materials from building the greenhouse will be enough for me. There'll be no need to procure anything special.

That's the rough state of things.

Alright.

Nena, I'm here!

Come in...

I've got everythin' all prepared already. Tell me just what you need me for!

I'd like to leave all the definitive build details tasked to you.

Gettin' your big shed set up? I'm no stranger to that.

I'll also need you to help get in touch with Rhodes Island's construction team.

Even less of a problem. I know all the Operators in charge of repair works up by the agriculture area.

Just leave it all to us, Miss Lena!

(If I could actually leave it all up to you two, that'd be marvelous...)

The Convalescent Garden will be closed while refurbishment is ongoing. I'll be responsible for growing and daily care of the plants in the original Garden, and providing continued aromatherapy to Operators who depend on it like Miss Pasbelletti.

Construction time is limited to a month. I think we should be able to complete refurbishments in around twenty-five days.

Podenco, could I ask you to repeat what tasks I just allocated to you?

Right, Miss. I need to plan out the refurbished area, and make some room for your new dormitory and Beanstalk's farm.

Mhmm, and then?

Then?

What material sheets to use, how to partition the plants, how to harvest Beanstalk's little Metal Crab flowers.

Have you considered any of those yet?

Hmm...

(It seems like she still hasn't decided.)

(I can't just toss her all alone into her work. I'll still need to give her some directions.)

(Our deadline's very tight this go round. We don't have any time for her to take things slowly.)

(A holiday... that'll have to wait after all.)

Don't worry. Just in case, I was asking.

I'll be in the Garden all throughout refurbishment, so if there's anything here or there you don't understand, you can come and ask me.

I'll be moving my things over bit by bit from this dormitory, so it all works out.

That should be more or less it. Do any of you have any questions?

I always thought you only knew flowers, Nena, but you've got your head wrapped around so much.

It takes doing these things yourself, before you understand how they should be done.

So, you mean, way back then, everythin' in the Garden was all your work?

Mhmm.

There's always some things other people can't help with, things you can only really sort out yourself.

I thought you would be the type to order other people to work, Miss.

How would I order anyone without having personally done it before...

Our every drop of sweat now is the experience we'll direct others with in the future. Do your best.

I hope you'll learn successfully enough, and set up your own independent work.

Ideally, even take on an apprentice.

Miss, there's no way I could...

When we have new Operators assigned to the Garden in future, you'll be their senior, and come that time, it'll be your responsibility to teach them.

Then I'll truly be able to leave the work to you, and I can sit back and give orders~

Miss Lena~~

For now, just answer those few questions for me, okay?

Ahh—

Er, um, just let me think a little more...

Miss~

Some problems you just need to figure out yourself, you know.

Aww...

Don't worry, take it slowly. The day's still long.

(Learn well, Podenco. I know you can do this.)

I'm sorry, Father, Mother. I've been infected with Oripathy. Your line of work would never let an Infected take over, so now, I'm free to do what I want to do, aren't I?

I know I can't stay in our home any longer. I'll move out as soon as I can. Don't worry about me, I'm completely able to care for myself now, and I don't need to trouble my family for anything.

But if it's alright, could you leave my flower garden where it is? They're just plants. Oripathy won't mar their purity.

Please, let me say goodbye.

Winter.

The aroma of sawdust from the firewood 'pon the altar.

Relics.

The nose of clay and moss within the temple.

Nightfall.

The scent of the thickets' dew in Helia's Mountains.

Sunset.

The taste of honey.

Of honey?

During my time in the Hall of the Twelve Heroes, I always made it each evening's custom to watch the sun set as I imbibed a glass of mead. The dusk through the glass was golden as honey was.

Oh... the flavor of a scene such as that. How greatly I yearn, so greatly.