NOVEL NEXT Volume 2, 14: Basil will try their best.
Volume 2, Chapter 14: Basil will try their best.
… Master…
Basil restlessly flew in circles around the pale, sleeping Risa.
Their only master, Risa, had been so troubled recently she couldn’t even sleep at night.
Even though Basil had been right by her side, they could not understand her troubles. The structure of human society and relationships were too contrived for a spirit like Basil to understand even with much thought.
The “doctor” type of person had dropped in to say she was bedridden with fatigue, lack of sleep and stress, and that she would get better on her own if she ate nutritious meals and slept properly.
Basil wanted to help. She wracked her brain blessed with botanic knowledge from the Goddess for some kind of food that would be nutritious for Risa.
Oh, I’ve got it! That one will definitely help Master get better!
A certain plant popped up in Basil’s mind, who decided to leave right away to forage it even though it would be a bit lonely to leave Risa’s side for a while.
“Master, please wait for me.”
Basil clung to Risa’s cheek, not wanting to leave. They finally tore themselves away and flew out the window without looking back.
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Basil left in the evening and flew through the night, finally reaching their destination when the sun finally rose from the mountains. Basil was at the forest where they were born and raised—where they met Risa.
Basil had covered a day’s worth of distance by carriage in half a day. Even though they did use the power of the wind, they had still flown a long way.
In the depths of the forest where not even beasts dared to tread was the sacred tree. The ancient tree where Basil had been borne from. Although they could barely feel any energy from it, it had once been the center of the forest. It gave the energy it had saved up for so long to the plants around it and simply wanted the sweet embrace of slumber now. The plants flourished as evidence of that.
Actually, Basil could make the plant they wanted to forage today with their own power. However, plants created by spirits were always of lower quality than naturally grown ones, which had the power of time on their side.
The plants here were at a tier even higher than those, as they absorbed the energy given to them by the ancient tree. They grew bigger and stronger than any other plants in the forest.
Where is it…
Basil pushed past the plants that grew many times taller than them.
“There! Rubell!”
A plant quietly grew, hidden in the shadow of some giant leaves. It was what Basil was looking for.
Rubell loved the shade, so they often grew under larger plants. However, they required a lot of nutrients to grow, and often all of their nutrients would be stolen by the larger plant next to them, resulting in a wilted rubell plant. They were called the Mythic Plant because of this.
Basil took a cutting of rubell. If Risa ate this cutting, filled with nutrition, she was bound to get better. Basil rested on the ancient tree before standing up again, and hugging the cutting close with both hands, they flew back the way they came.
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Because they had used up much of their strength on the way to the forest and they were also carrying a cutting larger than them, Basil took almost a full day to return. It was the second morning since Risa had collapsed.
Basil passed through the Claude mansion gate and flew towards the window of Risa’s room. They wondered whether Risa would be happy when they looked at the rubell in their hands and noticed their mistake.
What should I do? She can’t eat it if it isn’t cooked!
Basil stopped in midair, just a few steps away from Risa. They thought about it for a bit and remembered someone who might be able to help. Before they went to that person’s place, though, Basil peeked into the window to see how Risa was doing.
Ah, Master can get up now… Phew!
Basil sighed in relief upon seeing Risa upright on the bed talking to Anastasia.
Master, please wait just a little more!
Praying in their heart, Basil pushed themselves into the air again.