Evangeline returned to her room and sat by the window. She took out the Moonlight Flower, dripped a few drops of blood onto it, and let it unfurl toward the moon.
She rested her chin in her hand, quietly gazing at the high moon. The Commander's Fortress was some distance from the battlefield, so she couldn't hear any commotion. Suddenly, a thorny leaf curled around her fingertip, bringing a faint, sharp sting.
Evangeline looked back at the Moonlight Flower, a faint smile gracing her lips. "What's wrong?"
The Moonlight Flower swayed its leaves and branches gently, deep purple veins appearing on the surface of its bud.
It keenly sensed Evangeline's low spirits. Its leaves began to tremble uneasily. Suddenly, the tightly layered bud slowly unfurled. A multi-petaled purple flower the size of a teacup cast its shadow in the moonlight, and a subtle fragrance drifted out, instantly filling the room.
