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"Excuse me, have you ever heard of something called the 'Dream Flower'?"
"The Dream Flower? Like Mondstadt's Windblume? I'm not really sure."
…
"Miss Katheryne, may I ask if you've heard of the 'Dream Flower'?"
"The Dream Flower? Hmm…" Katheryne glanced sideways at Victor Wang, who was standing behind Yoimiya and Hanachirusato and desperately signaling with his eyes, then answered, "I'm not very familiar with that, but the name 'Dream Flower' sounds like it might be related to the Aranara. You could try asking the staff at the Sumeru City branch of the 'Aranyaka Figurines' shop. They've collected many stories about the Aranara, so they might know something."
"Thank you! We finally found a useful lead!"
"You're welcome. I hope you enjoy your time in Sumeru."
…
"Boss, may I ask if you've heard of the 'Dream Flower'?"
"The Dream Flower… That name—oh, are you talking about 'Viparyas'?"
"You know it? That's great! Could you tell us how to find it?"
"Don't rush just yet. I can't be one hundred percent sure either. How about you listen to everything first, then decide for yourselves?"
The shop owner smiled and waved his hand, recalling the lines Victor Wang had briefed him on and repeating them as instructed.
"The Viparyas I'm talking about is a very mysterious kind of flower. It has no seeds, and it only comes into being in places filled with pure, innocent dreams. There's also an even more exaggerated legend that says it can only grow in a world within dreams, and that during its growth it requires the songs of the Aranara as nourishment. In short, it's tied to all kinds of things related to dreams. Although the name is different, I suspect this Viparyas is the Dream Flower you're looking for."
"No seeds… only grows in a world of dreams…" Yoimiya lowered her gaze and murmured the words a couple of times. Just as Victor Wang began to worry something might go wrong, she suddenly broke into a radiant smile. "How amazing!"
Hanachirusato didn't voice any doubt either, saying seriously, "Then Viparyas should be the Dream Flower."
Victor Wang let out a quiet sigh of relief and immediately agreed. "That's true. Dream Flower might just be another name for it… But if Viparyas grows in a dream world, wouldn't that make it even harder to find?"
The shop owner met Victor Wang's gaze, then waved his hand again. "Don't rush either. If what you're looking for is Viparyas, there's still a way. As I said earlier, Viparyas needs the songs of the Aranara as nourishment. So as long as you can find the Aranara, you'll be able to find Viparyas."
"The Aranara?" Hanachirusato asked curiously.
"The Aranara are forest spirits unique to Sumeru. Legend says only people with childlike innocence can see them. They're small and round, just like these Aranara wooden carvings in my shop—" the shop owner seized the opportunity to promote his goods, "These are all designed based on fairy-tale images passed down orally among children, and they're especially popular with them."
"These dolls are the Aranara?" Hanachirusato's eyes lit up. "I noticed them earlier. They're even cuter than the bake-danuki in Inazuma."
"Yeah! When I came to Sumeru last time, Lumine told me stories about the Aranara, but I never got to see them. Now that I do, they're really beautiful and adorable!"
The shop owner intensified his sales pitch. "I can tell from your outfits that you're from Inazuma. Since you've come all this way, buying some Aranara carvings to take back as gifts would be perfect."
"…Alright, I've decided!" Yoimiya pointed eagerly at the counter. "I want this one, this one, this one, and the two you just picked up, boss."
Hanachirusato, who had still been debating whether to buy two or three, stared wide-eyed. "Eh? You're buying that many?"
"Of course! I'll take them back and give them to the kids—they'll definitely love them. They'd also make great prizes for competitions with the Arataki Gang. And just think about it—if you line these up by the window, the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning is something this cute. Your mood would be great all day!"
Victor Wang smiled. "Then I'll sponsor a few for you too. And for you as well, Hanachirusato. May you both have good moods every day."
The grand quest to find the Dream Flower suddenly turned into a shopping spree. The three of them browsed and picked, nearly clearing out all the Aranara carvings on the counter.
Suddenly, a voice as faint as a mosquito buzz sounded from the shop entrance. "Um… um… could you let me have that Aranara…? That one is my friend…"
There were no other customers in the shop at that moment, so all three of them turned around. They saw the source of the voice: a little girl sitting in a wheelchair. The words she'd just spoken seemed to be the greatest effort she could muster, and she was looking at Victor Wang with pleading eyes, staring at the Aranara carving in his hand.
Victor Wang actually knew this girl, but Hanachirusato spoke first. "Avin?"
Victor Wang froze. "You know her…?"
This was completely unexpected. Avin had stepped onto the stage when she wasn't supposed to, far outside the script he'd imagined—and it seemed she'd been there for quite some time already.
Yoimiya explained while subtly signaling with her eyes, "When we first arrived in Sumeru City, we weren't familiar with the place and almost got lost. It was this child who gave us directions and helped us find the inn where you're staying."
"I see," Victor Wang said cooperatively, then turned his back to the shop owner and made a discreet signal to abort the operation. Holding the Aranara carving, he walked over to Avin. "Here, this is for you."
"No… I saved up my allowance."
"The two sisters behind me said you helped them find their way, right? I was originally going to give this carving to them, but now I won't! I'm giving it directly to you instead, as thanks for your help."
Avin's gaze slipped past Victor Wang. Seeing Hanachirusato and Yoimiya both nodding, she still said shyly, "I didn't really do anything…"
"If you really don't want to take it for free, then pay a price in exchange."
"A price?"
"You said this is your friend. You don't mean the carving itself—you mean the Aranara, right?"
"…Yes. This is a very important friend of mine. The Aranara aren't fairy tales. They really exist."
"We're actually looking for the Aranara too."
"Really?"
"Really. If you don't believe me, ask those two sisters behind me. You helped them find their way, remember? They definitely wouldn't lie to you."
"Then… is the price you're asking me to help you find the Aranara? I'm sorry, I can't do that. I can't see the Aranara anymore…"
"We don't need you to help us find them. Just tell us the story of you and the Aranara."
"That might disappoint you too…"
Avin sighed softly, but in the end she hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I used to love running around. I loved the feeling of running, loved the sound of the wind rushing past my ears. But later I got sick. After sitting in a wheelchair for so long, those memories started to blur. Even the feeling of what it means to 'like' something became more and more unclear.
Everyone says that once you grow up, you can no longer see the Aranara. But now, I can't even remember that friend's name or what they looked like. Still, whenever I see Aranara carvings, I remember—there was once a best friend who always ran around with me.
And this carving gives me a familiar feeling. That's why I wanted to buy it. As long as I can see it, I won't forget. Otherwise, before long… maybe even the memory of that friend running everywhere with me will disappear too."
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