《The Flower Shop》


 CHAPTER 1: Give up

    Jack slouched against the reception counter, the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. A deep sigh escaped him as he looked around the flower shop¡ªa place that had been a constant in his life ever since his grandmother passed. It felt like his last connection to her, and now, it was slipping through his fingers. His gaze lingered on the wooden swing hanging from the ancient tree out front, the one his grandmother had placed there when he was a child. A small smile tugged at his lips, memories of summer afternoons spent swinging under the shade.


    That moment of solace was broken when a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the cobblestone path. The man was practically oozing entitlement. He waddled up to the shop, his suit tight against his protruding belly, buttons straining like they were holding back a tidal wave. Jack couldn¡¯t help but think, That¡¯s some seriously strong fabric.


    A hiss cut through the air as Clover, the shop¡¯s black cat, leapt onto the counter, her hackles raised and her tail flicking irritably. Jack scratched the back of her ears, hoping to calm her.


    ¡°I know, Clover. I know,¡± Jack muttered under his breath, feeling the tension rise in his own chest.


    The jingle of the bell above the door signaled the arrival of the unwelcome guest. Jack straightened up and forced a smile, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Clover darted behind the counter, clearly not a fan of the new arrival.


    ¡°Good evening, Sir Walderberg. How can I help you?¡± Jack¡¯s voice was tight with polite restraint.


    The balding man sneered, giving Jack a once-over that was more of an insult than an appraisal. Jack fought the urge to return the look with a scowl. Walderberg was the landlord here¡ªhis family owned nearly everything in the area, and unfortunately, Jack¡¯s shop sat right on the edge of his property.


    ¡°What I want, boy, is the rent that¡¯s due,¡± Walderberg said, his voice dripping with disdain. ¡°You¡¯ve got a week, you know. What¡¯s it gonna be? You have it, or should I start planning to evict you?¡±


    ¡°Sir, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I already know the answer,¡± Walderberg interrupted, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°You¡¯re just like the rest. You¡¯re out of time. Make sure you¡¯re packed and ready by the end of the week.¡± With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the shop, his arrogant gait punctuated by his booming footsteps on the cobblestone.


    Jack watched him go, frustration bubbling up in his chest. There was nothing he could do. Walderberg had made it clear: the rent was impossible to pay, and any loyal customers had long since been driven away by the man¡¯s greed. The business was slowly draining him dry, and it was only a matter of time before he was forced to shut the doors for good.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°Mew,¡± Clover¡¯s soft meow brought Jack back to the present. She rubbed up against his legs, offering what little comfort she could.


    Jack bent down and stroked her fur, a sad smile creeping onto his face. ¡°Thanks, girl,¡± he said, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°But I think it¡¯s time to call it quits. We¡¯ll find somewhere small to stay, and I¡¯ll save up for our own place one day, okay?¡±


    He pushed open the door and stepped outside, the cool evening air hitting him with a gust of reality. The shop would soon be gone, replaced by whatever Walderberg had planned for the land. Jack sank into the swing, Clover hopping onto his lap as he stared at the horizon, lost in thought. The weight of the decision he knew he had to make¡ªthe end of an era¡ªpressed down on him.


    For a while, they sat there, the silence thick between them. He didn¡¯t know where they¡¯d go after the week was over. He had few friends left, and none of them were nearby. He couldn¡¯t afford to leave town, anyway.


    The sun began to dip below the horizon, and the breeze picked up, snapping Jack from his reverie. He glanced down to see Clover curled up in his lap, fast asleep. With a sigh, he stood up carefully, cradling her in his arms as he made his way back inside.


    Once upstairs, he placed Clover gently on the bed and stared around at the room that had been his refuge for so long. It was small, but it was his. And it would soon be nothing more than a memory. He climbed into bed, trying to push the heavy thoughts out of his mind. Tomorrow, he¡¯d start packing. Tomorrow, everything would change.


    ¡ª


    Jack was jolted awake by the sound of Clover¡¯s frantic meows. He sprang from the bed and raced downstairs, his heart pounding in his chest. He found her in the back garden, her eyes wide with distress, her cries echoing in the quiet night.


    ¡°What is it, girl?¡± Jack whispered, looking around. It wasn¡¯t long before he spotted the strange glow coming from between a patch of hyacinths¡ªhis grandmother¡¯s favorite flower.


    The glow was faint at first, but it pulsed, drawing him closer. Jack crouched down, being careful not to crush the delicate flowers, and saw what had caught Clover¡¯s attention: a single hyacinth that seemed to glow from within. His breath hitched. Flowers didn¡¯t glow.


    He pinched himself, half-expecting this to be some kind of dream. When the sharp sting confirmed he was awake, he moved closer to the glowing flower, carefully plucking it from the ground.


    The moment his fingers touched it, the flower blazed with light, nearly blinding him. Jack stumbled back, watching in awe as it transformed into an intricate jewel¡ªshaped like a hyacinth, with blue gems that shimmered in the moonlight.


    He held it up, the jewel glinting in the dim light. His grandmother had always said the blue hyacinth symbolized sincerity and care. Was this some sort of sign? His mind raced, trying to make sense of the impossible.


    Without wasting another moment, Jack hurried inside, the jewel clutched tightly in his hand. He stood before the door, staring at the small groove in the knob. He slid the jewel into place, holding his breath. It fit perfectly. But nothing happened.


    Jack frowned, his heart sinking. He had hoped for some grand revelation, but the only thing that had changed was the odd, quiet hum of the jewel. Disappointed, he sighed and made his way upstairs.


    He didn¡¯t notice the faint sparkles that danced off the jewel, nor the glint of knowing in Clover¡¯s eyes as she watched him go to bed. She knew something he didn¡¯t. Something had just begun, and Jack had no idea what was coming.

 CHAPTER 2: First Customer

    By the time the first light of morning seeped through the windows, Jack was already up, clipboard in hand, ready to face reality. He methodically listed what he could pack, sell, or¡ªreluctantly¡ªleave behind. His heart tightened every time he scribbled an item into the ¡°sell¡± column, but he knew he had no choice.


    As he sorted through his wardrobe, the bell at the front of the shop jingled. He sighed, bracing himself. It¡¯s probably Walderberg, he thought bitterly. The man seemed to have a sixth sense for when Jack was at his lowest, always showing up to twist the knife.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be down in a minute!¡± Jack called out, hastily shoving the clipboard onto his desk. He jogged down the stairs, hoping to avoid yet another scolding for not answering quickly enough. But when he reached the bottom, he stopped short.


    Standing in the middle of the shop was a girl, barely five feet tall, with sunlight catching her short blonde hair. There wasn¡¯t anything particularly strange about her appearance¡ªuntil Jack noticed her outfit. She wore a cropped black top with an armored shoulder pad that looked straight out of a fantasy video game. Her shorts were lined with utility belts holding tiny bottles of colorful liquids, and strapped to her thigh was a dagger in a sleek, well-worn sheath. The enormous backpack slung over her shoulders was a chaotic jumble of odds and ends, like it belonged to someone who¡¯d packed in a hurry¡ªand for every possible scenario.


    Jack blinked, realizing he¡¯d been staring when she cleared her throat pointedly.


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Jack said, hurrying behind the counter as if the movement would cover his awkwardness. ¡°I just... wasn¡¯t expecting anyone. Welcome. I¡¯m Jack. How can I help you? If it¡¯s flowers you¡¯re after, you¡¯ve come to the right place.¡±


    The girl smiled, setting her oversized pack on the floor with a thud. ¡°I¡¯m Ellen. Nice to meet you, Jack. I was hoping you had any Begulias in stock? My sister¡¯s been asking for them, but every shop I¡¯ve visited is sold out. Apparently, weender pests are making a mess of crops this season.¡±


    Jack stared at her, trying to make sense of the words that had just come out of her mouth. Begulias? Weender pests? What kind of flowers¡ªor creatures¡ªwere those?


    When in doubt, Jack fell back on customer service. ¡°Let me check out back,¡± he said with practiced ease, though his mind was racing. ¡°Feel free to look around while you wait. I also sell flower-based products¡ªlotions, teas, oils... whatever catches your eye.¡±


    Ellen nodded and wandered off, her boots clunking softly on the shop¡¯s wooden floor. Jack grabbed the old garden journal his grandmother had kept and ducked into the back garden, flipping the book open.


    The familiar pages began shifting before his eyes. Words rearranged themselves, and the entries morphed into something unrecognizable. Jack froze, staring as the once-ordinary descriptions of marigolds and daisies transformed into illustrations of strange and otherworldly plants.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He fumbled to the section for flowers starting with ¡°B¡± and found it: Begulia. A detailed sketch showed a yellow blossom, its petals rounded and vibrant, almost glowing in their brightness. In the middle of the flower was a thin stem protruding upwards, capped with a peculiar berry-like growth that appeared waxy and slightly translucent. Beneath the drawing, notes read: Useful for keeping pests away. Grind into powder and sprinkle on soil. Particularly effective against weender pests, which poison plants and crops, causing extreme rot to spread rapidly.


    ¡°What in the world...¡± Jack murmured.


    But the surprises didn¡¯t stop there. He glanced up¡ªand his jaw dropped. His back garden, which had once been filled with familiar roses and tulips, was now a surreal jungle of glowing, alien-like plants. Stalks twisted unnaturally, and blossoms pulsed with soft light. Some flowers even emitted faint hums, as though alive in ways beyond his comprehension.


    ¡°This has to be a dream,¡± Jack whispered, his legs moving automatically as he searched for the Begulias.


    After some searching, he spotted a cluster of yellow flowers that matched the illustration in the book. Their rounded, luminous petals were unmistakable, and each bloom had a delicate stem protruding from the center, topped with a berry-like orb that glistened in the light.


    Jack wasn¡¯t sure how many to get since he forgot to ask his customer, so he plucked three blooms, cradling them in his hands like fragile treasures, and returned to the shop.


    Ellen was seated on the lounge sofa, scratching behind Clover¡¯s ears. The cat was sprawled across her lap, purring so loudly it filled the room. Jack couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow¡ªClover wasn¡¯t usually so friendly with strangers.


    ¡°Sorry for the wait,¡± Jack said, placing the flowers on the counter. ¡°These are what you¡¯re looking for, right? Want me to pack them for you?¡±


    Ellen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, these are perfect! No need to pack them¡ªI¡¯ve got a special storage box.¡±


    She pulled out a small box etched with glowing runes. Jack watched in awe as she carefully placed the flowers inside. The box sealed itself with a soft hum, the engravings shining briefly before fading to a dull glow.


    ¡°How much do I owe you?¡± Ellen asked, digging into a pouch at her hip.


    Jack hesitated, pulling out his grandmother¡¯s pricing book. To his relief, the text had shifted just like the garden journal, and he found the entry for Begulias. ¡°Two shills each,¡± he said, trying to sound confident.


    ¡°Only two?¡± Ellen exclaimed, dropping a silver coin onto the counter. ¡°Keep the change¡ªyou¡¯ve been a lifesaver.¡±


    Jack pocketed the coin, watching as she slung her pack over her shoulder. ¡°Thank you for stopping by,¡± he said. ¡°And... feel free to come back anytime.¡±


    Ellen paused at the door, grinning. ¡°I will. I¡¯ll tell others about your shop, too. It¡¯s a bit out of the way, though. I didn¡¯t even know there was a shop in this part of the forest.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Jack said, his heart skipping. ¡°Forest?¡±


    But Ellen was already out the door, leaving Jack standing in stunned silence.


    ¡°Did she say forest?¡± he muttered, glancing around.

 CHAPTER 3: Fyn and Syl

    Jack ran the silver coin he received through his fingers, his mind heavy with everything that had happened today. This morning, he¡¯d been preparing to pack up and leave the shop for good. Now, he had a magical jewel on his doorknob, a shop that seemed to straddle two worlds, and a newfound way to earn more money than he¡¯d ever imagined. It felt like his life had flipped upside down in less than 24 hours.


    His shop was, in fact, situated in the middle of a forest, just like Ellen, the peculiar girl with the blond hair, had said earlier. But it wasn¡¯t always this way. Jack quickly discovered that the jewel he¡¯d placed on the doorknob was responsible. When he removed the jewel, everything returned to normal¡ªhis shop stood on the corner of the street he¡¯d known all his life. But when he put the jewel back and opened the door, he found himself in the midst of a lush, otherworldly forest.


    Strangely enough, the shop was still connected to its original spot even when the jewel was in place. Walderberg¡¯s earlier visit had proven that much. Jack figured the jewel allowed him to connect to this new world while maintaining his ties to the old one. The idea fascinated him¡ªbut it also unsettled him. As much as he wanted to explore the forest, the sight of Ellen earlier with her backpack full of strange tools, weapons, and supplies was enough to make him think twice. The forest might look peaceful, but he wasn¡¯t about to take any chances.


    Jack flipped to the last page of his grandmother¡¯s pricing book, the same one that now listed unfamiliar flowers alongside their prices in shill. On the back, his grandmother had left a table that converted this world¡¯s currency into his own: 1 shill equaled 20 dollars, 5 shill made a seft, and 10 seft added up to a shing. The silver coin Ellen had given him earlier was a seft¡ªequivalent to 100 dollars. That one transaction had brought in more money than his shop had earned in weeks. If only he could get more customers like her in the coming days, he might just be able to save the shop and finally buy the land it stood on.


    For the first time in weeks, hope flickered in Jack¡¯s chest. He turned his attention to the small compartment built into the reception desk. It had always been locked, and his grandmother had once told him that ¡°the right time¡± would come for him to open it. At the time, he hadn¡¯t understood what she meant¡ªbut now, he thought he did.


    ¡°I guess this is the time, right, Gran?¡± he murmured as he tapped the silver coin onto the drawer. Just as the pricing book had described, glowing runes etched themselves onto the wood, and the drawer slid open on its own. Inside was a small, empty chamber. Jack placed the coin inside, shut the drawer, and opened it again. This time, instead of a coin, there were crisp dollar bills¡ªexactly 100 of them.


    ¡°This is quite convenient, isn¡¯t it, Clover?¡± Jack said with a chuckle, glancing at the black cat perched on the counter.


    Clover responded with a soft meow as she stretched her back.


    Before Jack could begin planning how to attract more customers to the shop, he heard murmurs outside the door. Frowning, he moved to the window and peeked out. Two figures stood at the edge of the forest path, their tall, slender forms and flowing white robes immediately striking. Their most distinct feature, though, was the sharp points of their ears that peeked out from their silken hair¡ªunmistakably elven. Jack blinked. He¡¯d read about elves in books and played as them in fantasy games, but seeing them in real life was an entirely different experience.


    Jack hesitated. He didn¡¯t want to seem rude, but he also had no idea what elves were like in this world. For all he knew, they could be friendly¡ªor they could be dangerous. But if there was one thing he¡¯d learned today, it was that curiosity often outweighed caution.


    He opened the door, stepping out with a friendly smile. ¡°Welcome! I couldn¡¯t help but notice you outside. Are you here to buy flowers? Or perhaps one of the other products we make here? My name¡¯s Jack.¡±


    The taller elf, who had sharp features and a commanding presence, turned to him with a raised brow. ¡°Greetings, Jack. I am Fynral, and this is my companion, Sylvian. We are here to investigate. Your shop is¡­ unusual. It was not here before.¡±


    Sylvian, who had a gentler expression and a slightly mischievous glint in his eyes, chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s quite the curiosity. We¡¯ve never seen a structure like this in Eterna Forest. Do you have a permit from her majesty?¡±


    ¡°A permit?¡± Jack repeated, feeling a sudden pang of unease. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure. You see, this shop belongs to my family, and I¡¯ve only recently discovered its connection to this forest. I can check through my grandmother¡¯s things to see if she had a permit.¡±


    Fynral¡¯s piercing gaze narrowed. ¡°Unlicensed establishments are strictly prohibited in Eterna Forest. You are fortunate that Sylvian senses no malice here. Were it not for his assessment, this would be grounds for immediate removal.¡±


    Sylvian rolled his eyes. ¡°Come now, Fyn. Let¡¯s not scare the poor man. The spirits around this shop seem content, and that¡¯s good enough for me.¡±


    Fynral gave Sylvian a sharp look before turning back to Jack. ¡°Regardless, you will need to obtain a permit directly from her majesty. As this situation appears to be unintentional, I am willing to escort you to her tomorrow morning at first light.¡±


    Jack swallowed hard, knowing he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. ¡°Of course. I appreciate your understanding. Would you mind if I prepared tonight and looked through my grandmother¡¯s belongings for any documentation? I¡¯ll be ready by morning.¡±


    Fynral nodded curtly. ¡°Very well. We will return at dawn.¡±


    The two elves turned and disappeared into the trees, their movements impossibly graceful. Jack shut the door, leaning back against it with a long exhale.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°At least they¡¯re more polite than Walderberg,¡± he muttered, glancing at Clover.


    The cat brushed against his leg, purring in agreement. Tomorrow promised to be another strange and eventful day¡ªbut for the first time, Jack felt more excitement than dread.


    ¡ª


    Early in the morning, Jack stood outside his shop, a backpack strapped to his shoulders, waiting for Fynral and Sylvian¡ªthe two elves he had met yesterday. As he rocked on his heels, he couldn¡¯t help but reflect on how different the two were. Fynral was stern and brooding, while Sylvian was easy-going and bubbly. Of the two, Jack felt he¡¯d get along better with Sylvian; his cheerful demeanor reminded Jack of his grandmother. Fynral¡¯s seriousness, on the other hand, brought to mind Walderberg. But unlike the balding, stout man who had made Jack¡¯s life miserable, Fynral at least treated him with respect. That alone made all the difference.


    Nearby, Clover was batting at a stray leaf, her tail flicking with concentration. Jack smiled as he watched her. Compared to the critters he occasionally saw by the edge of the forest, Clover seemed so normal. The animals here were strange, with fantastical features and vibrant colors that looked straight out of a fantasy story. Though curious, Jack knew better than to let his fascination get the better of him. He wasn¡¯t about to let curiosity¡ªor anything else¡ªget him killed.


    Clover finally caught the leaf and was triumphantly pawing at it when Jack noticed movement at the forest¡¯s edge. His eyes widened as Fynral and Sylvian emerged, their graceful steps making it seem like they were gliding rather than walking. Their movements were so elegant it was hard to look away. That¡¯s elves for you, Jack thought.


    He greeted them with a smile to hide his nervousness. ¡°Good morning!¡±


    ¡°And to you, Jack,¡± Fynral replied, his sharp eyes scanning the backpack Jack carried.


    ¡°Oh, this? Just things I thought I¡¯d need for the journey. Well, mostly snacks for Clover. I can¡¯t leave her in the shop all alone. I hope that¡¯s okay.¡± Jack grinned sheepishly. Clover meowed as if to back him up, finally catching the elves¡¯ attention.


    ¡°Not at¡ª¡±


    ¡°Aaaaawwwww~!¡± Sylvian¡¯s excited outburst cut Fynral off. ¡°That is one of the most adorable creatures I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± He crouched down and extended a hand toward Clover. She immediately darted behind Jack, hissing.


    ¡°Uh¡­ she¡¯s a cat. A tuxedo cat,¡± Jack said, tilting his head in confusion. Did they not have cats in this world? ¡°She doesn¡¯t take kindly to strangers, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    Sylvian, undeterred, clapped his hands together and grinned. ¡°No worries! I¡¯m great with animals. One of the perks of being able to sense spirits.¡± He moved to try and pet Clover again, but Fynral cleared his throat.


    ¡°We really should get going,¡± Fynral said, his tone firm.


    Sylvian sulked but complied, though Jack noticed he kept glancing at Clover with what could only be described as determination. Scooping up his feline companion, Jack let Clover settle on his shoulders, where her weight rested comfortably against his backpack.


    The group began their journey, and Jack found the forest surprisingly serene. The path felt like any other hiking trail, except for the occasional glimpses of fantastical creatures that lived among the trees. Though some looked strange or even intimidating, none seemed interested in the group. Slowly, Jack began to relax, allowing himself to enjoy the forest¡¯s ambiance.


    That peace was shattered when Fynral abruptly stopped. Jack, not paying attention, bumped into his back.


    ¡°Sorry¡ª¡± Jack started but froze as his eyes landed on a snarling wolf just ahead. Its matted fur and glowing eyes made it look anything but natural.


    ¡°Malice, Fyn,¡± Sylvian said, stepping up beside his companion. His eyes glimmered as if he could see something Jack couldn¡¯t. ¡°A particularly nasty one.¡±


    Fynral nodded. ¡°Step back, Jack. Leave this to us.¡±


    Before Jack could protest, Sylvian summoned a staff seemingly out of thin air, while Fynral¡¯s hand produced a thin, gleaming sword. They moved into position, Sylvian at the back and Fynral at the front.


    The wolf growled and lunged. Sylvian raised his staff and shouted something in a language Jack didn¡¯t recognize. A stone barrier erupted from the ground, stopping the wolf¡¯s advance. The creature recoiled, but it was too late¡ªFynral blurred into motion, moving at an inhuman speed. In a single, precise strike, he severed the wolf¡¯s head.


    The entire encounter was over in less than a minute. Jack stared, equal parts awed and horrified. Good thing I didn¡¯t try exploring the forest on my own, he thought.


    Fynral calmly wiped his blade before making it vanish. Sylvian did the same with his staff, and the two turned back to Jack as if nothing had happened.


    Jack fumbled with his backpack, pulling out two water bottles. ¡°Here, have some water,¡± he said, handing them over.


    The elves exchanged curious glances before accepting. They inspected the bottles but drank eagerly, chugging the water down like it was the most refreshing thing they¡¯d ever tasted.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Sylvian exclaimed. ¡°This is some of the freshest water I¡¯ve had. You must have water-purifying plants in that shop of yours.¡±


    Fynral nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed. Thank you for sharing.¡±


    Jack gave an awkward laugh in response and with that, they resumed their journey. Thankfully, the rest of the trip was uneventful, save for a mischievous critter that tried to steal bread from Jack¡¯s bag. After about half an hour, they reached a massive tree whose roots seemed to pulse rhythmically, almost as if it were alive. Glowing orbs hung from its branches, casting a soft, magical light.


    ¡°This is one of the entrances to the kingdom,¡± Fynral explained. ¡°Normally, one cannot approach without an elf¡¯s guidance. That is why we escorted you.¡±


    He placed a hand on the tree¡¯s trunk, chanting softly in the same unfamiliar language. The orbs above began to swirl and gather, forming a glowing portal in the bark.


    ¡°Right this way,¡± Fynral said, gesturing for Jack to step through.


    Jack took a deep breath and complied. Stepping into the portal, he emerged on the other side and froze. Before him was a breathtaking sight: towering trees with houses nestled in their branches, connected by elegant bridges. On the ground, more homes and bustling shops lined the streets, and in the distance stood a majestic castle that looked as though it had been sculpted from the forest itself.


    ¡°Welcome to the Elven Kingdom,¡± Fynral and Sylvian said in unison.


    Jack could only stare in awe.