Verina

"If you're asking about Verina. Boy, you're in for a story," When asked about Verina, Riggs, leader of one of the Pioneer exploration teams, always begins with these words, "When she first came aboard our team, she was always by herself and didn't really talk to people. We were all worried about her, since she had lost her parents..."

"We couldn't help but feel sad for her. She was so young, but already had it rough in life. And she was such a kind girl. We loved exploring, but it's no walk in the park. But Verina never complained. She did all the hard work like mountain climbing and getting water by herself. She even went scavenging for food without being asked. She was such a big help to us, but we worried about her keeping everything bottled up inside for too long... what if something happened?"

"Until one day, something actually happened. And it was funny, to say the least. One of the lads on the team really liked mushrooms and went out to pick a few for the soup he made. Verina held on to that pot and wouldn't let it go as if her life depended on it. By the time we got over to them, they were already in a shouting match."

"The lad was bragging to Verina about his wildlife experiences. Hell, don't know what'd gotten into his head, thinkin' he could out-talk our little botanist! Verina had all the mushrooms spread out and started naming out all the rings, caps, and butts of each and every one of them. Being out exploring for so long, we all caught on that she was telling us the mushrooms were poisonous. She's got more knowledge of them than any of us, even gave us a lecture on the spot, teaching us how to tell them apart one by one. Now that was a lesson."

"After she was done, she even tapped on a piece of wood she found somewhere like an instructor, and asked if we understood it all. We looked at each other and blinked dumbly, then burst into laughs, which drove her nuts."

"W-why are you all laughing... Did I get something wrong? Eugh... Sob..." She was so panicked that she started picking out the mushrooms still in the pot and went over them again one by one, but we were already all clapping for her. And then I yelled, "Bravo! That's our little botanist, folks!"

Ever since then, Verina would still think of that day and feel super embarrassed; she'd put her head inside a mushroom pot if she could. But she'd still give her opinions carefully and patiently whenever it came to anything plant-related.

The people of Jinzhou love flowers.

During tense battles, the military often requested extra bouquets with their supplies. These orders would end up in Verina's hands, which felt strange at first.

The bouquets bloomed for only a short time. Those picked today would wilt tomorrow. A bouquet that blooms in a greenhouse may have withered petals by the time it makes it to its recipient. At this point, the flowers would have already lost most of their beauty in people's hands, so why the need for them?

Until one day, she read the wishes attached to one of the orders.

"In honor of my comrade in arms. He gave his life for the peace of Jinzhou, yet his name is not known to many. Yet I still remember his heartfelt smile when he received an Iris from a friend long ago. If one's name cannot be remembered, let the meanings of these flowers honor him forever."

That night, Verina locked herself in the greenhouse.

Flowers are adored for their intricate leaf patterns, but it's the fleeting feelings they evoke that truly captivate us. Verina carefully selected and cultivated the finest seeds, preserving those precious emotions in her garden.

She longed to preserve the stories and emotions associated with each bouquet, wishing for them to last beyond their natural lifespan. She hoped that by doing so, recipients would experience the true essence and beauty of the flowers, igniting a deeper connection to the emotions they held within.

It was at these times that Verena wished she could work a little harder and a little longer.

People always ask Verina why she loves plants so much. It's a question that Verina has answered countless times, but she knows that people will always start off the conversations with question after question, so each time she would give out her well-thought-out answer: "When I was little, my mom would place two pieces of leaves in my hand and ask me what the differences were between them.

I would reply, 'Aren't they exactly the same? They came from the same tree.'

And Mom would shake her head, 'Look closely, Verina.'

So I gave them a closer look, and then I realized that even though they looked the same on the outside, their veins spread out in varying directions. They drew completely different patterns."

This changed Verina's perspective entirely, the differences which she had never noticed nor cared about in the past were now displaying right before her eyes.

Some flowers may look similar but grow in completely different environments. Some trees or plants may grow in near identical environments but end up taking on various shapes.

Verina was captivated by the similarities and differences among plants, spurring her passion for botany. She meticulously studied their traits to help them thrive in different environments and cultivate stunning flowers. Through this, she also began to notice the unique qualities of those around her. Just as every leaf is distinct, so are people and experiences. Verina observes her friends closely, noting their preferences and sorrows with care.

"For example, some people like to eat Lemongrass and some people don't. It must feel nice to have someone remember their preferences."

With this sentiment in mind, Verina carefully and conscientiously jotted down every little thing about her friends.

Being an ordinary girl, Verina has her moments of woe, too.

Plant cultivation can be unpredictable. Often, Verina would wake up to find dried seedpods in the petri dish after a night's rest. And then after working tirelessly all day, she would realize she had skipped her lunch again. In these moments, she missed her parents dearly.

"If Mom and Dad were still around, I wouldn't have to worry about all this..." Verina thought. A hot, hearty lunch would be right there waiting for her as she walked in the door, and she would get all the help she needed in time whenever she wanted to figure something out. But all of that had long since become a memory, left in the notes that she had lost when she departed the New Federation a long time ago.

Now she would have to pull herself together and live on her own.

Sometimes, she wondered: Is there any meaning to all the work I've done? Is there any meaning in the life I'm living?

But then, she would always find the answer in her thriving plants.

Despite the struggle, the dry seedpods continued to produce new life and their growth whispered tales of perseverance and joy into her ears. As she nestled herself in this green oasis, Verina could hear the plants sharing their stories of pain and triumph, reminding her of the beauty of growth and blooming.

Perhaps this was the meaning of her endeavors. Verina thought as she stood up and put on her gardening gloves again.

Even if her parents aren't by her side, she is still determined to keep working hard and show them how much she's grown.

After a brief moment of sorrow, she picked up the spray can and carried on with her day's work.

Verina would give herself some time off from time to time.

Verina set the flower room temperature and watering schedule. As she finished, she exhaled in relief.

After days of work, she knew the importance of taking a break for both herself and her plants. She cleared her mind and grabbed her adventure notes to explore the streets of Jinzhou.

Jinzhou was a far cry from her hometown in the New Federation. No inflated flower prices or elaborate competitions here. As she strolled through the bustling alleyways, Verina was struck with a sense of genuine relief. The steam rising from vendors' stalls and the busy shoppers around her brought a comforting normalcy to this new city.

This is good, this is good. As she walked along the road, Verina thought to herself. Memories flooded her mind of studying plants with her parents, and the painful loneliness she felt after their absence. But now, standing on her own two feet, she could finally treat herself to a peaceful vacation. After what felt like an eternity of walking alone, she had grown into her own person.

And then she saw her friends waving to her: Chixia and Yangyang were walking towards her with freshly purchased Salted Milk Tea in their hands. The Midnight Rangers must be taking a little vacation as well. Verina hurriedly rummaged through her satchel, pulling out a few bouquets of tiny, star-like flowers from it.

This was the most precious gift Verina would ever give her friends. The selection had taken far, far too long, and while the Starflowers had waited for the best of times and sunshine, she had also waited for sunshine that would make her feel warm.

Now that she saw her sunshine, Verina ran toward her friends.

There was a long road ahead, and it would take some time for the flowers to bloom.

And for now, she is content to enjoy the vacation.