vendla

It is hard for Magdelene to explain where her love of flowers stems from.

Maybe it was the praise she received when bringing flowers to school, or maybe it was the warmth of her parents' hands holding hers as they taught her how to prune, or maybe it was the joy she felt as she browsed the seed market with her grandfather while eating ice cream...

Or maybe it came after. Maybe it was the beautiful things she saw as she sat in the greenhouse, watching children naively giving their mothers flowers, young men bashfully buying them for their lovers, brides dreaming about their new homes with them...

All these warm and tender feelings she loved, all tangled up with flowers... She once believed this was what life should look like.

<p=1>Mid-reconstruction Brentwood, Victoria</><p=2>1099</>

Magdelene... Are you free now? Here, brought you some fresh pumpkin pie.

You really didn't have to, Bailey. Has something come up with your father?

Yeah... Look, I'm really sorry for asking you to come to our place so much lately. Please, just take it.

His head's gotten even more muddled these days. To be honest, I'm starting to get scared of him.

Does he still not want to leave the house?

It's only been getting worse. At first, he just didn't want to open the windows, but now, he'll start raving at you just for opening the door to get in.

When I was heading in this morning, I was nearly greeted with a hoe to the face... Thankfully, he recognized me at the last moment.

That's horrifying... How's his health?

You know how stubborn he can be. He'd never admit he's in pain. But lately, the skin on the right side of his stomach feels hard. I'm scared that the crystallization's spreading. I was hoping you could come by and have a look...

But no matter how much I complain, he's still my dad... If he hadn't lived through all that, he wouldn't have gotten like this.

Alright... Give me a moment to gather my things, then we'll be off right away.

Okay. Let's go, Bailey.

Oh, Magdelene, those flowers... No, I couldn't ask you for those.

Your greenhouse was all smashed up, but you still let us use it as a consultation room. You worked so hard to grow those, so how could we ever ask you to part with them?

I know they're as important to you as my dad's fields are to him. You both poured your hearts and souls into them... A pity he can't even stand looking outside at the field now.

Just take them and give them to your father. I've been so busy with consultations lately that I haven't had the time to take care of them. You can think of it as taking them off my hands.

He used to...

Magdelene considered saying that he always used to come by her greenhouse on his walks, but decided to drop the subject.

He would always come along with his wife, hand in hand. But now, there is no greenhouse, and no wife.

She heard that his wife was murdered in those very fields outside his door. After witnessing that tragedy, his mind was shattered. Even though the Sarkaz have been gone for months now, he still has not recovered.

Just treat it as visiting a friend. Allow me to bring along this one flowerpot.

There was once a piece of pristine farmland outside Bailey's door. Farming was her dad's livelihood, and his pride. He never let anyone trample on his fields.

But now, all Magdelene sees is a field full of weeds. No repairs have been started on the damage the Sarkaz left on the house, not even on the half-collapsed roof.

(Quietly) Bailey, over here. Baked you a cake.

(Quietly) Oh, you came. Sorry, Patel, I asked Magdelene to come give my dad a checkup, so I can't spend time with you today. You should head home.

(Quietly) Magdelene.

(Hesitantly lowering her voice) Hel...lo? Why are we whispering? Is your father asleep?

(Quietly) It's not that. Dad and Patel have a bit of a... misunderstanding.

Just a little one. Just imagine: regular meeting with your own fiancée, but with all the excitement of a love affair. How thrilling—

Patel!

Who's there?!

(Raises her voice) It's me, Dad! I invited Magdelene over, we're coming in now!

Who else? Who else is there?!

Nobody, Dad, it's just the two of us.

(Quietly) What's going on, Bailey? Didn't you and Patel plan to get married long ago before <i>they</i> came? I could've sworn your dad really liked him.

True. At the time, my future father-in-law hadn't yet started seeing me as an invader, a war criminal, a psychopathic killer—

(Quietly) Patel! Just go home already, seriously. My dad's in really bad shape today, and I'm starting to get a headache too. I don't want to have an argument right now.

That, well... Alright, fine. I was never here.

...Let's head in, Magdelene. All this stuff... I'd really rather not talk about it.

(Quickly closing the door) We're here, Dad. It's just me and Magdelene, no need to be scared.

How've you been lately, Harry? Any pain in your body?

The doors and windows are all shut tight, leaving the air stuffy. The old man who was just yelling earlier now stares blankly, curled up in his rocking chair.

He is engrossed in rummaging through an open wooden box, searching for something.

I'm going to draw some blood now, Harry. Would you mind if I put this box aside for a moment?

Now you want to take even <i>this</i> away from me? Damned devil! Let go! I'll never hand it over, not even from my cold dead hand!

Ah!

I'm sorry... I only wanted to draw some blood.

Are you alright, Magdelene? Did you fall on anything?

Dad! How could you just push someone like that?! Snap out of it, she's Magdelene! She's here to help you with your Oripathy!

Bailey... I'm fine, Bailey. Let's calm him down first. Try not to yell at him.

It's been like this every day... I'm already... Alright. He doesn't recognize you anymore, so I'll hold his arm steady.

Don't touch me! One of them's gone, gone! GONE! Those devils took it all!

(Shakes head) Don't force it. If I try to draw blood like this, he's likely to get hurt.

(Gently) You can hold onto your box, Harry, just don't move, okay? I'm going to use an alcohol swab to wipe your arm. It'll be a bit chilly, but don't worry.

(Sterilizes his arm) Yes, calm down, and don't look at the needle. Can you tell me about what's in your box?

There's... my old thimble... Bailey's mum's lapis necklace... a handkerchief I borrowed from the Laurens... and something missing... something new.

(Inserts needle into his vein) Ah, the four things you were getting ready for Bailey's wedding? Could you tell me what happened to the something new? Where did it go?

It... The devils took it.

...The devils are already gone, Harry. They took a lot of things from us, but it's all over now.

Look, do you see what I brought you? You used to love irises. They can be the something new, can't they?

Harry stares at the bright flowers. Magdelene continues talking to him, but there is no further response.

Thanks for going to all that trouble. How is he?

Won't know for sure until the report's ready. But I'm afraid what you felt on his stomach really was the crystallization spreading. At this rate...

It sounds like he's been looking forward to your wedding the entire time... Even though you and Patel...

How much longer do you think he has?

Let's talk about it outside.

Whoa...! I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, I swear!

Damn devil... Daring to show your face at my house again! Where's my hoe... I'll kill you, you devil!

Let's get out of here, Magdelene. Close the door behind you!

Patel! What're you doing outside?! Didn't I tell you to go home?!

I... I didn't think you'd suddenly open the door like that!

Bailey! Get in here!

Stop shouting! How many times do I have to tell you, not everyone with horns is a devil! He's Patel, your future son-in-law!

Don't even think of taking my daughter too!!!

(Breaks into tears) I can't do this anymore...

Bailey... Come, sit down. Here, handkerchief.

It's okay, don't blame Patel. He put a lot of effort into baking that cake, so he just wanted to leave it by the door for you. Isn't that right, Patel?

...I'm sorry for my tone earlier.

Your father's reaction to him... Is this why you postponed the wedding?

(Sobs) I know it's not his fault, or my dad's... Is it mine, then?

Of course it's not.

My dad... really liked Patel. But then...

Dad was the only one home the day Mum died. Her blood's still here, in the field Dad loved so much...

I don't know what exactly he saw that day, but the devils' horns must have left a deep impression on him.

Ever since his mental breakdown, he'd start screaming up a storm the moment he saw anyone with horns. And later, he hasn't dared step out the door, even keeping all the windows shut tight.

He's scared of remembering that day... but the more scared he gets, the more he reminds himself of what happened, over and over... He's trapped himself in that day.

I know you brought up our wedding to let me know he's not got much time left. But can we really hold it in front of him? What do you think?

Magdelene... It's me again. That day... Thanks. Here, have some cookies Patel baked.

(Shakes head) You really didn't have to. Your father's medical report is ready. Here. If there's anything else I can help with, please, just say the word.

Actually... there is. You remember that pot of irises you insisted on bringing over last time? You said it could be treated as the 'something new' at my wedding. My dad, he... he loves them maybe a little too much.

He's always staring at them, which does mean he's calmed down compared to before. But...

They've wilted?

(Nods awkwardly) He's been shouting more than ever now... I... really don't want to ask you for your flowers.

Flowers are just flowers, Bailey. What's most important are the people who like them.

Seeing the smiles on people's faces when they receive my flowers has always been my greatest joy.