Now that I've communicated with Mandrake, I can repatriate him once to the spirit world.
They wanted to greet the plants in the garden as their new friends, so I decided to take them with me.

For all intents and purposes, they're two small children ...... and if they don't have flowers and leaves on their heads, people won't recognize them when they say they're spirits, will they?

　Presha-san is walking hand in hand with Alraune. Mandrake was, as it happens, held by His Highness - 'It's only natural, since the warlord has more power,' says His Highness, but for me, I'm afraid.

...... And about 'Leslie'. Should I still keep my mouth shut?
'I'd like to reveal it eventually, though. Leslie has a situation, and if possible, I'd like her to stay in the fortress as a different person.

　I knew very well that it was difficult to keep acting all the time. Even though I was conscious of Kamiki, I called her 'Leslie' in front of Presha-san, who came later - and Leslie also forgot to change her voice.

'...... I'm sorry for deceiving you all,'
No, I don't mind that much. You came along because you're worried about Mr. Glass.　I understand that, since you're sending them off to war. When I decided to become a knight, my best friends stopped me from doing so too.

　Presha-san gives me a somewhat distant look, as if she remembers those days. The keystone of the knight's group, the stiff and brave attack captain - but she's also the same age as us. There are times when she feels lonely and has a melancholy look on her face.

'But she's got some nerve. You're not going to be in a room with Dr. Glass ...... oh ...... also doing something you can't say in front of these kids, are you?
'......?　What is it that you can't say in front of us?
Lune is just a kid and he doesn't understand.
'Even Ray is a child, and though his leaves are fine, he hadn't yet put down good roots.
'I'm mature enough already. I wouldn't look like this if I took it seriously.

　Alraune is childlike to the core, but Mandrake is more mature than he looks. I wonder if that's what he looks like, partly because of the way he speaks so matter-of-factly.　

　And - can we assume that Alraune is 'Lune' and Mandrake is 'Ray', which is a common name?

'Lune and Ray? There's no way to abbreviate me, so just call me Glass.
"Yes, my summoner.

　The responses come back as well as they were supposed to. Everyone laughs, and the atmosphere of the place eases - although they are in a hurry, I can tell that everyone is at ease or soothed by the presence of the two little people.

　Presha, in particular, seems to be quite fond of children, for what it's worth. She holds Alraune's little hand firmly in hers and walks her with a matching stride.

'Well, feel free to call it what you want ...... and both of you, what about the plants in the garden?　I haven't heard much of it yet, but ......
'I'm thanking the Summoners for their help. 'Thank you for saving Lady Euselisis.'
...... And the flowers over there say they won't attack anymore. They have been attacked, but the seeds are still there, so they can bloom again. They want us to re-plant them in the fence if possible.

　Yes - the plants that would have originally been planted with the landscape in mind have flourished everywhere. I can't really do anything about it now, but I can work with the plant spirits and tell them what I have in mind for the restored garden to be the easiest to grow and improve the landscape.

'I will tell the plant spirits the image of my mind. Remember what you ought to be.'

　--In the middle of the chanting, I already felt different than before.

　Until now, I had only been allowed to use the magic power that Your Highness had unconsciously flooded me with. But now it's different - I can see that His Highness is donating his magic power to me of his own volition.

''...... awesome ...... When the 'maidens' and 'mages' are together, they can do this ......?'''

　I can see why Leslie marvels at this. The grasses that had been growing in disorder, and the flowers that had been blooming out of the road, had died down once, returned to the soil, and sprouted again from elsewhere.

'Is this another one of those Dr. Glass ......?'
'The Summoner was originally very fond of trees and plants and flowers. But there is a limit to what one person's magical power can do ...... now, it's different. When you use the power of the princess, all the plants and flowers as far as the eye can see will respond.
'No ...... I didn't think I could do this much either. Plants are ...... the power of life, really ......

　I've never told anyone for a long time because I had the feeling that it was a beautiful thing. I didn't realize that plants are alive and that all life is equivalent and wonderful without division.

...... The earth, once dead, is now breathing life back into it. Glass ...... please. I'm sure you can do it now .......
'Yes. For once, the plants will have to do their best ...... to take care of this garden and the land so that it can return to its original state as the seasons pass.

　Restore the landscape of the garden to what it used to be - or make it more beautiful than it was.

　And it's not just in the garden. As I leave the stone pillars of the dilapidated gate, I see a wasteland that was originally farmland, though it has returned to its original earth color.

　I put my hands on the ground - and called out to the crops that must have once been spread out as far as the eye could see, with everyone watching over me, the same as before.

'...... glass, the divine tree and the plants of the garden also share in the spirit. All of this is available to you .......

　Looking behind her, His Highness Astina lowers her lei to the ground and puts her hands together in prayer.

　-- at that moment, as she says, a tremendous amount of power flows in, along with the gratitude of the plants in the garden.

'O grain, spread across this plain! Sprout once more from the land of abundance and become a golden ocean ......!

　The grey soil that would have made those who farmed in this vicinity despair is gone.

　The withered crops are essentially irreversible and must be restored over time - but only now. The season of harvest that was supposed to come is revived at this time.

　-- the spirit seeps into the earth and spreads out -- green buds appear and spread like waves, and the landscape changes, as if time had been hastened.

'...... Dr. Glass, ...... teacher, is really .......'

　Not that it was ready to be harvested immediately. But the crops that the farmers had lost were not dead - they were still alive, even though they were dying.

　From afar, a voice could be heard - it was a voice of joy. Farmers who had been trying to flee are now running in a hurry. They are running toward the sea of wheat, where the harvest will soon be upon them.