He found Elara kneeling by the vine, watching the tight, pale green bud.
Elara was the guardian of the Selenicereus , a legendary flower that bloomed only once a year, for only a single hour, beneath the light of the full moon. While the rest of the world was obsessed with gold and daylight, Elara cherished the shadows.
Kael watched, transfixed. He realized the flower wasn’t meant to be picked, or sold, or even used for a potion. Its purpose was simply to exist—to bring intense beauty to the dark.