"So, are we really trapped here forever?"
Jisung paced up and down, scratching his head fervently.
The trio had taken a few minutes to let the reality settle in. An impenetrable barrier that wrapped itself around the campus, creating a dome that sealed them in from all corners.
"There has to be a way to escape. No way this barrier stays in place forever. There has to be some kind of trigger to release it."
Song Jiwoo's extremely radiant glow seemed to be back, providing light and comfort at this crucial time. Her eyebrows were furrowed in determination as she started muttering to herself. She was silent in thought for a moment before she sighed.
"Well, that's something for the future. Since we can't leave, we have to secure some food. The library's food supplies are not looking very good."
Song Jiwoo gestured for the two to follow her to the greenhouses, where the flourishing nature was mocking their distress.
The greenhouse was nature encapsulated in a box, with beautiful vines draping the corners of the greenhouse. There was a mini pavilion in the corner of the greenhouse, where the wooden pillars and roof added to the cottage aesthetic of the area. The switch to the water system was tucked neatly in a corner of the greenhouse, with a matching wooden cover on it. Dodak walked towards the middle of the greenhouse where the main attraction was.
The rows of neatly aligned pomegranate plants were decorated to be on full display, with their leaves being perfectly tucked to showcase the crimson red pomegranates. The pomegranates were juicy and inviting, luring them closer like mice to cheese.
"Damn, these look good. I might have to get a bite."
Jisung's mouth watered as he rushed forward to a pomegranate, plucking it from the leaves.
"Stop. Don't you find this whole thing sketchy? The leaves of the plants are perfectly positioned, the pomegranates look too cared for and the water system is not automatic. Someone has been caring for the pomegranates, and they want us here, looking at the juicy, red pomegranates, and perhaps to eat them. Isn't that right, mysterious lady in the corner?"
From the corner of the greenhouse, a woman stepped out from the pavilion. She was dressed in a green dress with vines that encased her, with flowers snaking around her figure. Her wavy hair was red like the pomegranates, alluring and vibrant, as it led down towards her chest, highlighting her tightly bounded chest. She was wrapped in nature.
"Take a bite of the pomegranate. Doesn't it look so juicy, so tempting?"
She strutted forward to Jisung and smiled, twirling her wavy hair as she stared at him.
Jisung's face turned red like a pomegranate and he handed it back to her.
"It's fine lady. You can take it back."
"What about the two of you? Might I entice you with a pomegranate?"
Song Jiwoo merely stepped away as her face twitched ever so slightly.
"How unoriginal. Copying the exact method of Hades to trick people into serving you is distasteful."
Dodak scoffed as he flicked his hand and glared at her. The seductive lady definitely did not have pure intentions.
"You're too uptight my dear. I merely need help to take care of my plants. In exchange, you can enjoy the fruits of their labour."
There was now a sizable distance between the trio and the plant lady. She slowly approached them once again, extending her hand out.
"You most likely need food, don't you? You take care of my plants, I provide you food. What do you say?"
Song Jiwoo stepped forward, prohibiting the woman from stepping any closer. She glared at the aforementioned as they came face to face, her eyes narrowed and her yellow glow more glaring than ever.
"We need time to think."
"Sure. I'll be waiting at the pavilion. Feel free to help yourself to the fruits around the area."
She turned and left, leaving the trio amidst the crimson pomegranates.
"So, I think the obvious choice is to help her right? I mean, we need the food and all. Plus I guess you get a bit of gardening experience."
"I don't think it's that simple. Cha Haeul was always…a big advocate for issues related to nature. I fear she might have more sinister motives."
Song Jiwoo's face was twisted, her teeth grinded against each other.
"Well, it's not like we have a reliable food source. She's our only bet. Plus, we'll need something as leverage for when we return."
"What do you mean by that?"
The two were now staring intently at Dodak, their eyebrows perked as he flashed a cheeky grin.
"I gave some parting words to him. He won't be thrilled to see me back."
"My god, Hye Dodak. You can't be serious right now."
"I can solve the reputation problem easily. All we need to do is bring the gardening lady back."
"I can't deal with this right now. I need some alone time."
Song Jiwoo stomped away, her radiant glow blindingly sharp as she left the greenhouse.
"I don't get why Jiwoo is so mad? We just gotta bring Cha Haeul back to the library and it should be solved."
"Jisung, you really don't know what happened between those two?"
Jisung looked at Dodak, his head slightly tilted as he stared at the aforementioned.
"Let's just say Cha Haeul is a…showstopper, to say the least."
~~~
The duo had split up - Jisung had left the greenhouse to calm Song Jiwoo down, while Dodak had made his way to the pavilion.
"How come it's just you? Song Jiwoo left in a fit of rage?"
Cha Haeul teased as she giggled, lounging on a throne sculpted by vines and leaves.
"You knew she would be mad the moment you met her."
"I did. But that, and everything else doesn't matter anymore. What matters now are my babies."
She caressed the vines and flowers on her throne as she giggled to herself. The plants seemed to lean into her touch, stretching towards her hands.
"You're really playing into the Poison Ivy character aren't you? Do you actually really care about your leaves and flowers that much?"
Dodak's words garnered a sneer from Cha Haeul as she shrugged with a grin.
"Who knows? But I care more about them than any of you. I feel what they feel. I hear what they hear. I see what they see. And right now, I see some…new relations between your little team."
"I really did not need to know the last part."
"Oh? Hit a nerve, did I?"
Dodak walked over to a nearby chair and sat down, his eyes still intently fixed on the woman on the throne.
"Well, I don't know much about your little team, but soon I'll know everything."
"What a busybody."
The conversation had hit a stalemate, with Dodak's eyebrows furrowed as he glared at Cha Haeul while the latter was grinning mischievously. The silence that followed was loud.
"Fine, let's drop the whole rivalry act and whatever. I've been meaning to ask someone this. Someone like you."
Dodak's eyebrows were still furrowed as he waited for the woman to deliver her question.
"What did it feel like when you, you know, gained your powers? And no need to lie about having no powers. My babies saw your little stunt with the barrier."
His eyes softened into a curious gaze as he remained silent in thought.
"I don't know. It didn't feel like anything. What about you?"
She smiled towards her plants, but this time her smile was not that usual mischievous grin, but one of pure love and admiration.
"Well, you should know about my history. I've always been an advocate for nature. When the goblins came, they chased me till I ran out of breath. I ended up here. I was surrounded and helpless. I begged and begged, hoping for someone to come save me. But I knew it was futile. I was alone. Besides, even if there were people around, they definitely wouldn't risk their lives to save someone like…me."
She stood up and walked towards a wooden pillar which had even more vines entwined around it.
"But they heard my call for help. They came to my aid when no one would. Afterwards, they kept me company, they fed me, they showed me love that no one had ever shown to me before."
She slowly leaned her head against the vines, caressing them ever so carefully. She slowly pressed her lips against them, her face plastered with a warm smile.
"They acknowledged my efforts for them. They said they would repay my love tenfold. And I trust them."
She turned back to Dodak as the vines extended from the wooden pillar and wrapped themselves around her, like a hug.
Dodak stared at her and fell silent. The silence in the pavilion was peaceful. Cha Haeul seemed to have acknowledged Dodak's silence and prevented herself from provoking him further as she continued showering her vines with love, stroking them and kissing them ever so gently.
~~~
"Dude, Jiwoo's gonna stay outside for a while. To you know, cool down. But we should start helping Cha Haeul pack up."
Jisung had returned after a while to the pavilion. His usual slicked back hair was now ruffled and his eyes were dazed, as if he saw his own bright and radiant future.
"Cha Haeul, it's time to leave for the library."
"Oh? I'm pretty sure our deal was for you to take care of my plants and you get food. And my plants stay right here."
She had returned to her playful and cunning practises, the same sly smile plastered on her face.
"Knew it wasn't gonna be this easy…"
"Cha Haeul, don't make this hard. Go to the library with us."
"And what if I don't?"
She had plopped herself back on her throne, crossing her legs as she gazed up intently.
Dodak walked over to one of the pillars of the pavilion and placed a finger onto a flowered vine.
"And I was starting to be able to endure your presence. Guess it's time for the good old-fashioned method."
"You wouldn't dare."
The green gas seeped from his finger onto the vine, melting it in an instant.
Cha Haeul screeched, her hand clasping onto her arm as if it had been burned. She pointed her finger at Dodak, and a vine shot out from behind her and was directed straight at his neck. It was inches away from his neck before he caught it.
"Last warning."
"No hard feelings, Hye Dodak. I would have gladly left with you if it wasn't for your beloved friends. Ask the one beside you what he did."
Dodak stared at Jisung, his eyes narrowed. Jisung could only sheepishly scratch his head.
"We might have used her plants as a venting mechanism."
Dodak could only facepalm in annoyance and embarrassment.
"I hate you, Han Jisung…"
The two stood side by side once again, readying themselves to fight the beauty of nature - Cha Haeul.