Chapter 440 - A Bee-utiful Dungeon

After a bit of tea, Lord Aratodel took Belissar on a tour of his dungeon. As Belissar had already experienced, the entrance was a garden with a big mansion dominating its center. There were paths through the gardens leading to different branches of his dungeon, much like Tarwantrad’s own entrance room. Lord Aratodel placed the entrance to the defence branch right next to his dungeon’s main exit, such that the Hunger would not disturb the garden or the mansion in the event of an emergency purification.

Lord Aratodel led Belissar past the mansion, though, where several more entrances waited. Lord Aratodel waved at each of these in turn, starting with an entrance that had horse-drawn wagons coming in and out of it.

“That entrance leads to the estates.”

Belissar tilted his head.

“The estates?”

Lord Aratodel motioned to the wagons. Belissar took a look and saw crates and barrels full of produce.

“My Farms, Orchards, and Vineyards. I take great pride in having become the foremost provider of victuals for Calwaskon City and a major supplier for much of the rest of the Land of the Fair.”

Belissar’s eyes lit up.

“Ah! So that was how you provided food for the former Tower Guards. Thank you again for that, by the way.”

Lord Aratodel shook his head.

“It was but a trifle compared to the discourtesy I showed you prior, think nothing of it. Besides, you have more than paid me back with access to your captives. Their experiences in dungeon utilization were enlightening. Speaking of which, allow me to show you the challenges I have prepared for the God of Flowers’ glory.”

Lord Aratodel led Belissar to another of the entrances, one decorated with an archway covered in thorny rose vines. Inside, Belissar found a preparation room remarkably similar to Tarwantrad’s. Lord Aratodel also had a cafeteria, an infirmary, and a watch tower filled with clairvoyance wards as she did…though his buildings were far more intricate in their design and decoration. He also had amenities that Tarwantrad did not, such as a stable for horses and carriages…and a teahouse, which he assured Belissar was essential.

Lord Aratodel then led Belissar into his watchtower so that they could observe challenges in progress. In the wards, Belissar was treated to the sight of rows upon rows of hedges covered in flowers. The rows were not straight, but constantly curved and turned, forming a maze no less intricate than his Dirt Tunnels’ labyrinths…and likely more so.

Lord Aratodel waved across the wards.

“As you can see, my challenges are intentionally designed and immaculately prepared, far more so than whatever haphazard mess I’m sure Lady Tarwantrad displayed. The challengers must navigate a large hedge garden, immersing themselves in the beauty of cultivated flowers as they battle in the God of Flowers’ name.”

Belissar watched a group of silver elves battling remnants amidst the hedges.

“Got it, do your challenges have to watch out for dangerous flowers too?”

Lord Aratodel took a step back and covered his mouth.

“Goodness no! Is that what Lady Tarwantrad does? How…barbaric.”

He shook his head and clicked his tongue.

“No, Honored Signatory Belissar, I would be absolutely ashamed were any of my guests to be harmed by my flowers! Properly cultivated flowers in a properly tended garden should be of no threat to esteemed company! My gardens are intended to enlighten challengers as to the beauty of flowers, and to the power such beauty holds. There are indeed traps to be wary of, but never should my flowers lead them to harm. My flowers will, instead, lead the way forward.”

Lord Aratodel waved a hand towards another ward. Belissar took a look and found a gate made of thorny vines blocking the path of another challenger group. Before the gate were two beds of flower bushes, each of which had a large and empty vase in its center. The challengers were currently placing flowers into the two vases, some of the decorations on each vase lit up with mana as flowers filled them.

Belissar’s eyes widened.

“Are those Witch’s Bouquet Vases?”

Lord Aratodel blinked.

“You know of Flower magic?”

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Belissar shook his head.

“I recently had Witch’s Bouquet Vases in a reward choice, though I didn’t end up picking them up. Come to think of it, I meant to ask you about that, Finnakynne mentioned you knew something about that.”

Lord Aratodel face cramped.

“While I am uncertain of what the Pixie Princess has told you and would advise you not to trust the half of it, I indeed know much of the art of Flowers and am pleased she acknowledged as much. The language of flowers is no less than the language of beauty itself and contains great power. I require that my challenges learn the language of beauty, only then may they receive such power.”

Lord Aratodel glanced at the ward and clicked his tongue. The challengers placed a flower that had mostly white petals with red along their edges in one of the vases that was nearly fully lit…and the vase immediately stopped glowing. A blast of mana flew out from the gate, knocking all the challengers back a step.

“See! These muscle-brained soldiers brought a striped carnation! They were supposed to finish that bouquet with a white carnation to represent the purity of their intent! Instead, they placed a striped carnation for an abject refusal! Have they learned nothing, those oafs?!”

Belissar, meanwhile, was staring at the vase that had just managed to attack via flower arrangement.

“Would you be willing to teach the bees that sort of thing? Frelis, a monster bee gardener blessed by the God of Flowers, was interested in learning more Flower magic.”

Lord Aratodel didn’t answer, so Belissar turned to see what was the matter. He found Lord Aratodel gaping with his mouth open, the elf lord only barely remembering to cover his mouth.

“I’m sorry, Honored Signatory Belissar, but I must ask…did you say monster bee gardener? I must inquire, does that monster do what its name would indicate?”

Belissar nodded.

“Yeah, they talk to flowers and take care of them so that the workers can get good nectar.”

Lord Aratodel’s eyes opened wide.

“My word. And…one of them has been blessed by the God of Flowers herself?”

Belissar nodded again. Lord Aratodel took a deep breath…then smiled.

“It would be my honor to converse with such bees and to teach them all I know of flowers. If the pollinators themselves can become gardeners…we could build self-tending gardens! We could grow wild flower fields that are properly cultivated from the start! We could turn entire forests into gardens!”

Lord Aratodel then bowed low to Belissar.

“Honored Signatory Belissar! Forgive me for this most presumptuous request, but please allow me to share my knowledge with your gardener bees! If possible, please share your gardener bees with me! Name your price and I shall pay it, but for the sake of flowers and beauty itself, we must train your bees to be the finest gardeners this world has ever seen!”

Belissar was a bit taken aback at first, but soon after he smiled.

“Of course, we’ve already agreed to share bees and flowers, right? I’ll make sure the hive of hives sends some gardeners along when we share a queen with you.”

Lord Aratodel bowed even lower.

“You have my utmost gratitude, Honored Signatory! I assure you, I will share with you only the finest flowers I can raise!”

Lord Aratodel finally raised his head, then paused. He began rubbing his chin. Belissar tilted his head, but waited for Lord Aratodel do finish whatever he was thinking about. The dungeon master then nodded his head and made eye contact with Belissar.

“Honored Signatory Belissar, if it would please you, allow me to show you my masterpiece. It is not ready yet, not even close, and I’ve not seen fit to let anyone look upon it. I believe, though, that you deserve as much…and, though it is presumptuous of me, I may even ask the assistance of your bees in seeing it done. Would you come with me and see my work?”

Belissar paused at the serious look in Lord Aratodel, but eventually nodded. Lord Aratodel led Belissar out of the watchtower and back to the entrance mansion. He took Belissar up to the top, to his very own office, and to a bookshelf within it. Lord Aratodel placed several flowers in a small vase on the bookshelf and then the entire thing swung open, revealing…a blank wall. But Lord Aratodel waved his hand and a shortcut became visible to Belissar.

“Please, this way…”

Belissar followed Lord Aratodel inside and stepped out into another garden…one absolutely brimming with mana. Niobee perked up on his head and began glancing about while Belissar felt his mana start to buzz. All around them were rose bushes shaped into sculptures…or so Belissar thought, until he noticed some of the vines and branches were moving.

“Are these Flower monsters?”

Lord Aratodel nodded.

“I tend to my monsters with as much care as I would any flower. In particular, I have been researching if it is possible to improve their capabilities through careful tending, trimming, and pruning. I have learned how to do so without harming the monsters and so I have managed to shape them into intentional designs.”

A bush in the shape of a bear rose and loomed over Belissar…or would have, if it had been facing the right way…and if it wasn’t sideways. Lord Aratodel grimaced.

“Unfortunately, they’ve not developed capabilities that match their new forms. I’ve been working on teaching them to use their new bodies as their inspirations would in hopes that they might evolve accordingly, but I’ve not managed it yet. Once I do…this is what I intend…”

Lord Aratodel led Belissar to a clearing at the center of the garden. There, flower bushes grew in the shape of a dragon, curled up beneath the sun…though this one didn’t move.

“It is only a model for now, but I hope to grow an ultimate fusion of beauty and function. A flying garden that will become the Land of the Fair’s most elegant defender, animated by the very beauty and power of flowers.”

He then sighed and shook his head.

“It is but a dream for now. But…perhaps your Tower has what I lack. It is true that flowers do not exist without pollinators and that I have been wholly focused on tending for the flowers myself. Perhaps, with the aid of your bees, I can determine what I need to do to bring this dream to life. If you would aid me, then I promise you I will share my success.”

Belissar smiled and just pointed up to his head, where Niobee was dancing about and observing all the flowers.

“I think the bees would be happy to help and so would I.”

Lord Aratodel smiled and held out his hand. Belissar took it and the two dungeon masters shook.

“You have my deepest gratitude, Honored Signatory Belissar. May our partnership be as fruitful as the God of Flowers hopes.”