I, the slave boy, awaken with the most potent seed!!

As they stepped into the garden, Zafron was immediately struck by the breathtaking beauty surrounding them. The flowers here were not only stunning but also noticeably larger than those he had seen back in Astoria with Matilda.

His eyes widened in awe as he took in the vibrant colors and lush foliage. The sweet fragrance of countless blooms filled the air, creating an almost intoxicating atmosphere. 'This is..... incredible,' he thought. 'The gardens here in Drakoria are on a whole different level.'

As Zafron's gaze darted from one plant to another, his attention was suddenly caught by a familiar-looking flower. It reminded him of one Matilda had shown him back at Astoria, but something about it seemed different.

Intrigued, he approached the plant for a closer look.

Before he could say anything, Cassandra's voice chimed in. "Ah, that's a Celestial Starbloom," she said, naming the flower he was examining.

"You know, I could've sworn this was a Silver Moonblossom, but it's... different somehow." Zafron replied almost immediately.

She stepped up beside him, her interest piqued. "Actually, it's a Celestial Starbloom. They're closely related to Moonblossoms, but adapted to Drakoria's climate."

"Ah, that explains it," Zafron nodded, realization dawning on his face. "The ones Matilda showed me back in Astoria were smaller, with paler petals. These are much more vibrant."

"Matilda?" Cassandra inquired, her tone curious.

"Yes, she's the older of the two women you met the other day, have you forgotten?. Loves just everything about plants," Zafron explained, a fond smile tugging at his lips.

Cassandra's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd love to hear more about what she's taught you."

"It isn't so much to begin with," Zafron started, "I never thought I'd be so interested in flowers growing up as a fisherman's son, but Matilda has a way of making even the smallest bloom seem like the most intriguing thing in the world."

Cassandra laughed softly, "I know exactly what you mean. It's amazing how much there is to learn about something most people just walk past without a second glance."

Her eyes lit up as she spotted another flower. She gently touched its delicate petals and turned to Zafron. "How about this one? Do you recognize it?"

Zafron studied the flower, his brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment, he shook his head. "I'm afraid not. It's beautiful, but I don't think I've seen anything like it in Astoria."

Lucien, who had been hovering nearby, suddenly interjected. "Oh, that's clearly a Sunburst Dahlia," he said with unearned confidence.

Cassandra turned to him, a polite but slightly strained smile on her face. "I'm afraid that's not correct, Lucien."

His earlier boast about his supposed garden in Lumina rang in her ears. She couldn't help but question it. "I thought you said you had an extensive garden in Lumina?"

Lucien's face reddened slightly. "Well, yes, but... perhaps it's a different variety. You know how these things can be."

Cassandra's mind raced, knowing full well that there were no other varieties of this particular flower. However, not wanting to create tension, she decided to move on.

"This is actually a Twilight Whisper," she explained, addressing both Zafron and Lucien. "It's native to Drakoria and quite rare. The nectar has mild sedative properties, and it's sometimes used in sleep aids."

As they continued walking, Cassandra elaborated on the flower's characteristics. "It only blooms at dusk, and the petals close again by midnight. Some people believe it can induce prophetic dreams if placed under your pillow, but that's just an old wives' tale."

Zafron listened intently, fascinated by the new information. "That's incredible. The more I learn about Drakorian flora, the more I realize how much I don't know."

Cassandra smiled genuinely at his enthusiasm. "There's always more to learn. That's what makes it so exciting."

As Cassandra and Zafron continued their discussion about the garden's flora, Lucien's thoughts churned with growing anxiety and frustration.

'Cassandra seems to know so much about these plants. I need to be more careful about what I say, or she'll realize I've been lying this whole time,' he thought, his earlier confidence wavering.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the easy rapport between Cassandra and Zafron. 'And why is she so friendly with her guard? This isn't right. Guards aren't supposed to be this familiar with their masters.'

Every shared smile and conversation between Cassandra and Zafron seemed to grate on Lucien's nerves. 'He's really getting in the way,' Lucien fumed. 'I need to get rid of him if I want my plan to succeed.'

His mind raced with potential schemes. 'I'll have to speak with her uncle about this. If Zafron remains in the picture, everything we've worked for could fall apart.'

Lost in his scheming, Lucien was startled when Cassandra's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Zafron," she called out, a hint of excitement in her tone, "there's something I want to show you on the other side of the garden."

Lucien watched as Zafron's face lit up with interest, mirroring Cassandra's enthusiasm. The sight only deepened his scowl. 'I hate this Zafron.'

His jaw clenched as he watched them walk away, their heads bent close in conversation. 'I need to act fast,' he thought. 'This situation is spiraling out of control.'

As Cassandra and Zafron rounded a corner in the garden path not minding if Lucien was following or not, they came upon a cluster of unusual flowers. Their petals were a deep, rich red, and each bloom sported a wide, trumpet-like opening.

"Oh, there they are," Cassandra said, her eyes lighting up. "These are Whispering Flowers. They're quite special."

Zafron leaned in, intrigued. "Whispering Flowers? That's an interesting name."

Cassandra grinned mischievously. "Legend has it they whisper secrets of the garden. Though personally, I think they mostly gossip about which bees are the best pollinators."

Zafron admired her as she spoke. 'I'm impressed by how much she knows. I could bet she spends entire nights reading every book she can find because she seems to know everything.'

Outwardly, he chuckled at her joke. "Well, now I'm curious. How do we hear these whispers?"

"Like this," Cassandra demonstrated, gently placing the flower's opening near her ear. Zafron followed suit, carefully lifting another bloom to his own ear.

"Do you hear anything?" Cassandra asked, her voice hushed.

Zafron nodded, his expression one of wonder. "I do! It's faint, but there's definitely something there."

As Cassandra began to share more facts about the flower, Zafron's brow suddenly furrowed. He tilted his head, as if straining to hear something.

"Cassandra," he interrupted, "do you hear that?"

"The flower's whisper? Yes, it's quite-"

"No, not that," Zafron said, lowering the flower from his ear. "It sounds like... shouting?"

Cassandra listened, but heard nothing unusual. "I don't-"

Suddenly, Zafron's eyes widened in recognition. He dropped the flower, his body tensing. "It's Lucien. He's shouting for help!"

As the realization dawned, they could both now hear Lucien's distant cries growing clearer. "Help! Someone, please! Help!"

Zafron's guard instincts kicked in immediately. "We need to go. Now!"

In a split second, Zafron rushed to Lucien's aid, following the sound of the screams. He quickly reached Lucien, who was on the ground, his face filled with fear as he frantically pointed in the opposite direction.

Zafron's head snapped in that direction to see what Lucien was pointing at. As his eyes turned, his mind raced, 'Huh? What is that supposed to be?'