CHAPTER 116: CHAPTER 116: VISITING THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S GARDEN

"No, I should be the one apologizing!" Zerra hurriedly crouched down to help the man stand up.

He almost stumbled again. His hands reached up to fix the glasses that almost fell off his nose. After he stood up, he sheepishly turned to Zerra. He said guiltily, "It was my fault, Miss. I didn’t see where I was going."

She shook her head, pointing at the broken pot on the ground. "I will pay for the damage."

If this man was just another worker paid by the Research Institute to take care of the plants, he might suffer.

"Oh, that plant?" He turned to the broken pot and waved his hand. "It’s actually fine. I have a few more such plants."

She blinked. Oh, if her fox ears hadn’t misheard, he said the plant was actually his? Despite its lush appearance, the plant was actually weird-looking.

Each of the leaves seemed to have small, sharp needles. They were long and linear with a narrow shape.

"This is yours...?" She asked in a deliberate tone.

"Yes," he muttered before turning to a nearby worker who was sweeping the ground of falling leaves. "Can you take care of the broken pot?"

The person immediately ran toward him. "Of course, Sir. Leave it to me."

"Don’t touch the leaves, only the stem. Use gloves too to protect your skin. Don’t allow the needles on its leaves to pierce you." He explained the safety process.

He continued. "You are free to cut the plant to make the cleaning easier. Its roots have been exposed to the air, so most likely it won’t survive."

The worker listened to him attentively. Zerra thought that his clothes were quite simple — a breathable work shirt and the combination of cargo pants and sturdy boots. So, she hadn’t guessed he might be a scientist here.

However, she forgot that this was the Research Institute’s garden. His attire should also suit the place and occasion.

The worker went to find his cleaning tools, leaving the two of them standing outside the garden.

"You... are you really fine? The leaves sound dangerous, so you might have gotten pricked by the needles." She asked in a concerned tone. He had fallen to the ground earlier while holding the potted plant.

He fixed his glasses and sent Zerra a kind smile. "It’s fine, Miss. Actually, the leaves aren’t that dangerous. It’s just that they have needles on them. That’s all. As long as one is careful, they won’t get pricked by it."

His light brown hair gave off a soft feeling compared to his scholarly appearance, which made him seem like a strict teacher when he wasn’t smiling.

"By the way, Miss. I haven’t seen you around. Are you new here?" He asked in puzzlement.

"Uh," she pressed her lips together. "I am actually visiting someone."

"Visiting a friend? Why don’t you come inside?" He offered, flashing her another smile.

The worker earlier had gone back, bringing his dustbin and broom to sweep the broken pot clean. Zerra couldn’t help but feel a little bad when she thought she had broken someone else’s potted plant.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Derek Ashford, a botanical scientist here," he said.

Since the other party introduced himself first, it would be impolite not to introduce herself too, so she told him. "I am Zerra Sylvaris."

"What’s the name of your friend, Miss?" He opened the gate toward the garden and led her inside. Zerra couldn’t help but look around.

"I am here to visit Isryn."

No matter how many times she had visited this place, she was still surprised. There were a wide range of plants, small and big. It was so surprising that most of them hadn’t become mutated plants yet.

Trees were less prone to mutation because of their size, but smaller plants... most of them either wither or live tenaciously more than ever, mutating. Not all mutated plants were dangerous. Some just appeared more vibrant and weird.

"Those plants do not mutate?" She couldn’t help but ask Derek with curiosity.

Derek tilted his head, following her line of sight at the rows of potted plants ahead. Indeed, they were relatively normal and ordinary. Like any plants before the apocalypse.

She had asked this question to Isryn before, but since she was new, Isryn also hadn’t known much about it. Now, there was an expert beside her.

"Before the last fog hit us, some of those plants were placed in the greenhouses, so they were less exposed to the fog and didn’t undergo any mutation." Derek explained, his tone light and even a little excited.

"We are lucky to have preserved some plants that retained their original characteristics before the apocalypse hit. We can compare their properties and the change caused by the fog," He continued.

Talking about plants must have been his favorite topic. He even gave Zerra some knowledge she wasn’t aware of.

"Some vegetables become poisonous after they are exposed to the fog. From outside, they look normal. Only there is a slight change like the color of the leaves, becoming much darker or even lighter. But underneath, its roots might have rotted. Yet, the plant still survives."

The weird mutation involved fruit. The plants that couldn’t bear fruit before, magically grew them. With such oddity, some fruit plants might lose their ability to bear fruit too in the future, but that would need to be observed further.

"We have arrived, Miss Zerra." Derek smiled and gestured toward Isryn, who was tending some fruit plants in the ground.

This area was relatively safe, with familiar plants. However, the Research Institute’s garden did have an area filled with dangerous mutated plants.

They only allowed experienced scientists to enter, and the criteria were also stringent; they should possess high-level awakened power or be accompanied by such an ability user.

"Thank you, Mr. Derek."

Before he could go, she stopped him. "How about I compensate for the earlier incident, Mr. Derek? The plant and broken pot."

He looked like he was about to conduct an experiment with it. Judging from how well it was grown, it must have taken him a while too. After all, plants do not grow overnight.

"That’s really fine." He chuckled. "I am a wood ability user. I can afford to grow one myself quickly."

With that, he left the scene.

Zerra approached Isryn, who had moved to a vegetable field. It seemed they had uprooted the lawn and flowers, leaving a few for research and turning most of the land into a crop farm.

She could see that some plants here looked edible. The contamination level should be low too.

"Oh, Zee, you are here!" Isryn showed her the cabbage she had grown. Its roots were normal, not rotted like Derek had described, so it should be safe to eat.

She helped Isryn tend the vegetable garden, much calmer than ever. Preparing the soil, checking the water, and she even got to observe how Isryn grew the plants with her own eyes.

It was fascinating.

Isryn learned how to use her power from the Research Institute people too.

"The water here is also magical," Isryn mumbled.

Zerra tried the water and was stunned when she noticed the thin spiritual energy in it. It was like Cassias’ spring water, but less effective.

She spent the whole day in the Research Institute’s garden. When she returned, it was nearly dark.

When she cleaned herself, Zerra hissed, feeling the stabbing pain in her upper arms. She inspected her skin, finding silver needle-like threads embedded in her skin.

Eh? This should be the needles from Derek’s plant?

He said that it was alright even if one got pricked by it, but... after dinner, Zerra noticed red spots in the area where she had pulled the needles from.

Blood seeped from the spots, dripping onto the bedsheets. Then, she felt herself growing hot. Dizziness hit her. In the end, she became unconscious.

A white bundle of fur emerged in her place.