Chapter Text
‘There exists a sister plant to the mysterious Stardrop. Known as a Moon Bloom, its pale petals curve outward from a midnight blue centre, making it appear as if six crescent moons are circling a small speck of space dust. The flowers once spread across the world, being found in all environments but have since become exceedingly rare. Years go by without a hint of the existence of one, despite efforts being made to reintroduce them back into the world.’
Malek had his own personal experience with the disease, if it could even be called that. Towards the end of his marriage, he was coughing up green carnations which ironically enough stood for good fortune and optimism. It all only spiralled from there. He made an exceedingly rare trip into Pelican town when his own methods didn’t work. Of course, he had to deal with the one thing magic didn’t seem to be able to touch. The relationship was a shell of what it used to be, so it hurt a little less to never be able to fall for the witch again. Since then, he hoped to be able to just move on and forget about flowers all together but then cases of Hanahaki started popping up. First it was Shane and roses, then Pierre and ivy and then finally Morris with orange daisies. One case was one thing but three like that was what led Rasmodius to revisit his research. Clearly it didn’t always present as flowers, but where did the line lie? Could it be any plant? Did the plant have to still be around, or could it be an extinct variation of one? As morbid as the thought might be, did that mean previously extinct plants could be reintroduced by essentially harvesting and propagating a specimen? He really wasn’t sure. Hanahaki was an interesting disease as much as it could be a devastating one.
Rasmodius continued to look through every bit of research he had. Maybe if he could figure out the pattern in each case, he could predict when the next would strike and hopefully even what was causing a sudden uptick in frequency. Cases weren’t all that common prior to Shane’s roses. Of course there was one person that would know. One person out there seemed to know everything about everything and as cryptic as they were Malek could easily get the answers he wanted. The idea was quickly dismissed as the book he had was slammed shut.
“You’re not going out there. You know how he’ll react if you start asking him for information.” Malek muttered, as if forbidding himself from doing something he knew he’d come to regret.
“Well, you’re never going to know unless you try it, are you?”
The wizard quickly spun around, summoning a quick burst of energy to his free hand in case it was a threat. To some, it was definitely a threat. Rasmodius knew the figure instantly. Tall, dressed in clothes that seemed to sparkle like a night sky and with a confident smirk he’d grown to dislike. Of course it was Mr. Qi. He always did have a habit of just popping up when it was least expected and now was no different.
“Now is not the time and I certainly do not want your assistance in all this.” He was already considering casting some sort of warping spell to get rid of him, even if there was a very small likelihood that it’d even work.
Qi moved forwards, hands folded behind his back, sharp teeth flashing in the low light of the tower room. “Oh, I know but how could I resist stopping by? It’s been a while since we last spoke, hasn’t it? How long has it been? Ten? Twenty years? You were married the last time I saw you.”
“What do you want Qi? It’s never as simple as a visit with you.”
“Hmph.” The huff was mocking. “Can I not stop by my favourite wizard’s tower to see what he’s decided to research this time?”
“No. Again, because it’s never that simple. I suspect you’re going to try and make a deal that benefits only you whilst simultaneously making it sound like you only want to help me figure things out.”
Another step forwards. Qi looked over his glasses, showing off that otherworldly glitter his eyes had, as he spotted the book Malek was holding. “You insult me, you know. I could be genuine this time and you’d never realise because you don’t trust me. I never took you as someone interested in Hanahaki after your own experience with it though. I would’ve thought you’d move on and be done with it but of course, that humdrum little town nearby has been seeing more and more of it. Correct?”
He didn’t want to confirm it. There was no point with the other’s extensive knowledge of everything. Chances were anything he said wasn’t going to be anything new. “You know it has. I’m just trying to understand why that is. So little is actually known about why this condition occurs. It’d benefit everyone if I can understand it better.”
“Which is where I come in, obviously. I could tell you everything about it. For a price of course.”
“I said no Qi. Now get out of my tower already. I don’t need your help, and I am not changing my mind on that.”
“Fine. Your loss I suppose. You know where to find me if you decide to come to your senses and admit you do need me after all. I’ll be waiting for you Malek. Don’t be a stranger.” With a final flash of that devious smirk, Qi tipped his hat and simply disappeared without a trace.
That definitely wouldn’t be the last time he saw him. Rasmodius was sure of it.