Finding Stardust

The female passengers were increasingly jealous of Emma, ​​who had such a handsome and attentive boyfriend, explaining various things about the contents of the botanical garden to her.

They also suspect that Emma came from abroad because she didn't seem to know the things they consider as normal for Akkadian citizens.

"I want to get off at the second station and have a look and then continue on to the next station," said Emma. "Ahhh ... I want a day to have 40 hours like in Daneria so we can explore more."

"Ahh .. do you remember the valley we visited in Daneria when we just landed there?" asked Therius suddenly. "There was a valley with thousands of different colored flowers. Well, we have a section here that looks similar to that valley."

"I do. It's so beautiful there," said Emma. She always felt her chest filled with warmth when reminiscing about Planet Daneria. She, Therius, and Xion had a wonderful experience there. She still clearly remembered all their adventures together on that tiny planet.

They camped and slept under the night sky full of stars. They also hunted for animals to eat, had a race to catch fish from the river, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery around them. It was there that Emma and Therius kissed for the first time.

Therius also promised to give Daneria to Emma after they got married. Ahh .. remembering those sweet moments made Emma's heart filled with warmth. Slowly a sincere smile was curved on her beautiful face.

Therius was amazed to see his wife's smile. He was really happy to see Emma starting to smile a lot now. She was even prettier than usual when that rare beautiful smile decorated her face.

Therius often wished he could read her mind to find out what made Emma frown or smile happily. But unfortunately, the fate of a telemancer made him unable to penetrate Emma's mind because he loved her.

He could have asked Emma to let him in, but if that happened, then he had to be ready to accept the same request from his wife.

Was Therius ready to let Emma read his heart all the time? No. He knew he was guilty of keeping some secrets from Emma that he would never reveal.

Better this way. The longer they spent time together, Therius felt that he would get to know Emma inside and out and know or at least be able to guess what she was thinking.

"I really like Daneria too," Therius said quietly. His thoughts also returned to the starry night under the two moons of Daneria, when he and Emma sat together on the Salt Flat, and he managed to kiss Emma for the first time.

However, his thoughts drifted back to the fateful day when Princess Arreya died before his eyes to save Emma. At that time, Emma was threatened under a sword-point by Queen Ygrit's henchmen.

It was where Therius felt a turning point in his life. He really regretted being selfish by forcing Emma to go back with him to Akkadia and causing her to live in danger and experience sadness after sadness.

That was the moment when Therius realized that he loved her so much that he just wanted to see Emma happy, even though it means not with him. He even hoped he could go back in time to prevent himself from bringing Emma back to Akkadia.

After that turning point, whenever Therius was about to be selfish, he remembered how much he had nearly lost Emma. Then, he would take a deep breath. He would make the choice that was for Emma's best interest, not himself.

Now, although he was very tempted to take Emma back to the capital so that they won't have to endure a long-distance relationship for three years, Therius didn't follow in his own desire. He knew Emma needed to go to the academy.

The tram finally stopped at the second station and Emma got off excitedly, followed by Therius and a few other passengers. She and Therius then walked hand in hand through an area devoted to various carnivorous plants.

Most of the plants came from Akkadia, and some others came from several other planets that the research team managed to bring back home on various space exploration missions, looking for other planets that have a life like theirs.

Emma was amazed to see how Merridell Botanical Garden had such an extensive collection. On each plant they came to, there was a button on the ground that they can step on, and a hologram would appear to explain the name of the plant and various information related to it. 

"This is very informative," said Emma admiringly.

Therius just nodded with a smile. He was happy to see Emma's enthusiasm. Ahh .. his wife was very similar to Kaoshin in regards to her love of plants. Eagerly, Emma walked from plant to plant and studied the details with great interest.

There were about two hundred different types of carnivorous plants in the area. Everything had one thing in common. They were all mostly very beautiful. Their beauty would attract various unwary small animals and when they get close, they would become the prey.

"You should always be extra cautious around plants and animals that have very beautiful appearances. Usually, they protect themselves with poison or use their beauty to get prey," said Therius, casting his gaze around them.

Emma nodded in understanding. Just like snakes, she thought. The small and very beautifully colored ones usually had the deadliest venom. It was the same as the various carnivorous plants she studied while on earth.

Those plants all had beautiful flowers or exuded certain smells that attracted their potential prey to come closer. After the prey came, they would be trapped by their poison, vines, or other secret weapons that the plants use to paralyze their prey.

"The largest carnivorous plant on earth is the corpse flower," said Emma. "It can reach 3 meters in size, and it smells very bad, like a cadaver. Its Latin name is Amorphophallus titanum, or often called Titan Arum. The flowers bloom every 40 years."

Therius listened to Emma's explanation. For a moment, the man seemed deep in thought, as if remembering something. He finally nodded. "I think ... we have the plant here."

Emma was very surprised at Therius' words. She turned and looked at the man with a puzzled expression. "Eh ...? What do you mean you have the plant here? Do you have a similar one?"

Therius chuckled, "Not similar, but it is the same plant."

"How is that possible?" asked Emma again. "You must be joking."

She gave Therius a good look and realized that the man was not joking. Besides, as far as she had known Therius, this man was not used to joking.

So .. was he serious about what he said? Did they really have the corpse flower in Akkadia?

"I don't understand ..." Emma finally said.

Therius grabbed Emma's hand and walked along the path past a variety of beautiful big and small plants that were part of the carnivorous plant section.

"The team that brought General Kaoshin and Princess Arreya home fifteen years ago also brought home several types of plants typical of the earth for Merridell's collection," explained Therius. "Xion and I had seen the plant you mean when we were assigned to explore this garden and make reports."

"Oh ..." Emma finally understood. Apparently, Akkadia did have the corpse flower brought from the earth.

When their footsteps brought them before a giant plant measuring five meters high and with a gigantic flower looking like an upside-down bell, Emma was immediately stunned.

She finally saw before her own eyes, the corpse flower that she had only seen in books and TV when she was still living on earth. It was now in front of her. So hard to believe!

"Initially, it was only 3 meters tall, but then it grew to become like this," explained Therius. "Maybe it's because Akkadia has much richer oxygen and an overall better environment. So, this plant could grow bigger than the original size. Oh, by the way... according to the botanist we met at that time, this flower blooms faster and longer. Now we can see it blooming once a year, not every forty years like you said."

Emma didn't even have time to notice how disgusting the corpse flower's smell was, irritating her nose. At that moment, her heart was so moved by a deep longing for planet Earth.

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From the author:

Btw, tomorrow, November 19 is my birthday.. OMG, I feel so so so old. I am turning 40 and I'm never been this scared of getting old. I mean.. it's the big 4. And I think it has affected me this month, physically and mentally.

If, I may humbly ask, would you please share this book with your friends or on your social media IF you like it? Consider it a birthday gift for me. That will make me sooooo happy.

Thank you so much for making my turning 40 be less scary... ahahahah.

xx