Yarin’s POV:

As expected, under our search, another fairy quickly appeared. It wasn’t even sleeping, just hiding among the flowers, weaving something with a ribbon. Concealed by layers of leaves, it looked like a resting butterfly.

When it saw us, it was startled and almost flew away. Thirussis flew over to comfort it, saying, "Don’t be afraid, Rica, they are my friends."

So, this fairy named Rica shyly hid behind a leaf and greeted us in a soft voice, "Hello, friends of Thirussis, I’m Rica."

Rica was a camellia fairy who also sought refuge in the botanical garden due to hibernation. It was shyer than Thirussis and seemed reluctant to speak to us.

"Rica lives in the garden of an old lady who’s a werewolf," Thirussis said. "Just this winter, the old lady passed away, her house was sold by the family, and the garden is going to be cleared. Rica is waiting for a warmer spring to plant her flowers elsewhere."

Rica whispered, "It’s nice here, I think I can blend into the nearby camellia field."

However, the plants in the garden were always at risk of being harvested for sale or used in agricultural research. It wouldn’t be good if Rica’s flowers were accidentally damaged.

So, I suggested, "Maybe you could grow in a small plot of land on your own? That way, you won’t be mistaken for harvest, and I can mark off a piece of land for you."

Rica was happy and bashful, saying, "Really? Thank you, you’re a good person, Your Highness."

Apart from Rica, there were no other fairies in the flower field.

"Spring has come, and everyone has returned to their own flowers," Rica said.

Finally, I asked the person in charge of the Botanical Garden for a small plot of land in the corner of the flower field to plant Rica’s flowers. I made sure not to harm it and told it that it could grow freely without needing fertilization or pruning.

Rica blushed with happiness, her transparent wings emitting a gentle glow. She vowed, "I’ll pay rent — I think that’s what it’s called? I’ll work hard to make these flowers grow healthier and more beautiful. I won’t let any disease threaten them."

That ’ribbon’ was actually woven from collected flower petals by Rica. She wanted to make a camellia flower to place at the old lady’s grave.

"She was kind to me, watering me, catching bugs for me. I was very happy there. I have nothing to repay her, so I can only decorate her grave with a camellia. This way, it will be clear that she was a good person, and her resting place will surely be covered in beautiful flowers, just like when she was alive."

She was truly a fairy full of loyalty and sentiment.

Were all fairies as kind and adorable as Rica and Thirussis? No wonder they always appeared in children’s fairy tales.

We often invited Thirussis and Rica to play, and sometimes we went to see them. Soon, we became close friends. No one could remain untouched by the innocence and sincerity of fairies. They shone like stars in the night sky in this complex, ever-changing world.

One afternoon at the end of the month, Cynthia invited the fairies to weave flower baskets. During the process, Rica seemed a bit absent-minded.

We asked what happened, and she answered, "I encountered something strange. I sensed the presence of a fellow fairy in someone, but he doesn’t look anything like me. The feeling of kinship he gives me is also elusive, really odd."

"Could he also have fairy friends?" Thirussis hypothesized. "Like Yarin’s group, spending time with us attracts natural attention. Maybe that’s why he gives you the illusion of being an fairy."

But Rica said, "I understand, but the feeling he gives me is different. Oh, how should I put it? It’s like... it’s like he’s half-fairy, half-not."

Half-fairy, half-not?

I speculated, "Could that person be a mixed-blood? Maybe his ancestors had intermarried with fairies, so his descendants carry fairy blood."

Rica said, "Perhaps, it’s certainly possible. But fairies intermarrying with outsiders is really rare. Speaking of which, compared to us flower fairies who look completely different from humans in appearance, form, and way of life, tree fairies are more likely... Ah, no wonder I sensed such strong tree-elemental vibes from him. That’s probably why." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

We treated this as a little incident, not thinking too much about it.

In April, the weather warmed up completely. The green belt’s flowers, plants, and trees blossomed with new green shoots, bringing endless vitality to the Lycan Pack.

I wasn’t sure if the fairies influenced it, but I felt a stronger affinity with plants. I unconsciously appreciated the new buds, looking forward to the moment when they would grow into strong branches and leaves.

What kind of activities would the school hold in spring? Of course, spring outings! Out of curiosity, Rica and Thirussis also wanted to join, so I brought them along.