It had been a few days since the move, and Gio had left earlier that morning, heading back to his duties. Juniper missed him already, but he understood. Gio had responsibilities to attend to, and Juniper was glad they'd had the chance to spend time together during his rest days. Now, it was Juniper's turn to focus on making the house feel like home.
"Okay, team," Juniper began, clapping his hands together, "let's turn this yard into the most beautiful garden anyone's ever seen!"
Flora wiggled her leaves enthusiastically, while Fauna extended a vine to playfully tap Juniper's arm, earning a soft laugh from him. "Alright, alright! I'll take that as a yes!"
With his plant abilities and the Verdona beasts' unique powers, the transformation of the yard began. Juniper knelt in the soil, his hands glowing faintly green as he focused his energy. Flora and Fauna followed his lead, their vines extending to till the soil, plant seeds, and water the ground all at once. The three of them worked in perfect harmony.
"Flora, could you move those stones to make a border? And Fauna, maybe you could start loosening the soil over there for the vegetables?" Juniper directed gently, pointing toward the designated areas.
Both beasts swayed their vines in understanding. Flora carefully lifted stones and placed them in a neat line, while Fauna energetically dug through the earth, occasionally flicking bits of dirt toward Juniper.
"Hey!" Juniper protested, laughing as he wiped the dirt off his face. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Fauna responded with a mischievous wiggle of its vines.
As the day went on, flowers began to bloom in vibrant colors along the borders of the yard. Juniper planted sunflowers, daisies, and lilies with ease, watching as their buds burst into life almost instantly. Meanwhile, Flora and Fauna worked on excavating an area for vegetables. Juniper marveled at how quickly they made progress—what would have taken him days on his own was accomplished in just hours.
"You two are amazing," Juniper said, patting Flora and Fauna's vines. Both beasts responded with happy rustling, clearly pleased with the praise.
By the time the sun hung high in the sky, the vegetable plot was ready. Juniper planted tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and more, using his abilities to accelerate their growth just enough to ensure strong, healthy plants. The Verdona beasts helped by tending to the saplings with gentle care, their vines moving delicately as though they understood the importance of each leaf and stem.
Juniper leaned back on his heels, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I don't think I've ever had this much fun gardening," he admitted with a grin. Flora and Fauna responded by curling their vines around his arms in a gesture that felt almost like a hug.
as Juniper was admiring their work, the sound of footsteps on the path caught his attention. He turned to see Yong-Jin approaching, a travel bag slung over his shoulder. His sharp features softened with a smile when he saw Juniper, who practically lit up at the sight of him.
"Yong-Jin!" Juniper called out, running up to him. "You're back!"
Yong-Jin set his bag down and opened his arms just in time for Juniper to hug him. "I couldn't let the rest of my stuff stay boxed up forever," he said with a hint of warmth in his otherwise calm tone. "And I wanted to see how you're settling in."
As the two walked toward the backyard, Demetrius stepped out from the kitchen, holding a mug of coffee. "You're just in time," Demetrius said to Yong-Jin, his deep voice carrying easily over the distance. He offered a small smile to Juniper. "Juni's been busy all morning."
Juniper waved a hand modestly. "It's nothing, really. Flora and Fauna did most of the work."
"Flora and Fauna?" Yong-Jin echoed, raising an eyebrow.
Juniper grinned and gestured toward the Verdona plant beasts, who were now playfully weaving their vines around the newly planted sunflowers. "My new companions. They're plant beasts, and they've been a huge help with the garden."
Yong-Jin studied the beasts with quiet curiosity. "Interesting," he murmured. "I've never seen plant beasts before. They're... unique."
Juniper beamed. "Aren't they? They're so helpful, too! I was thinking, with their abilities and mine combined, we could grow so much produce. Maybe even enough to sell some of it. What do you think?"
Yong-Jin considered this for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "It's a good idea," he said finally. "But it would require some careful planning. Large-scale production could attract attention—both good and bad."
Demetrius nodded in agreement. "He's right," he said, setting his mug down on the patio table. "If other people find out about the potential of plant beasts, it could lead to... complications. Diplomatic issues, for one. And there's always the risk of exploitation."
Juniper's smile faltered slightly. "You mean, people might try to enslave them?"
"It's a possibility," Demetrius said, his tone serious but not unkind. "We'd need to ensure that any use of plant beasts is ethical and sustainable."
Yong-Jin crossed his arms, his gaze shifting to Flora and Fauna, who were now playfully nudging each other with their vines. "The question is whether it's worth the risk.''