“Okay. Let’s do this. You’re here, I’m here.”

Aventine wiggled her fingers around the glowing orb of light.

“Let’s. Resonate."

It didn't respond.

She wiggled her fingers faster as she peered down into the brightness.

It didn't respond.

A full minute passed with no difference so she changed positions. She moved to a different angle.

It didn't respond.

"Oh, come on! I'm trying!"

She was exhausted, exasperated. Her feet hurt. She'd been walking for like seven hours and regretted not packing a pair of running shoes to swap into. Her Wonder was a beautiful monument, built atop a high hill with a beautiful view of the river below. Pink flowers, almost like roses but growing plentifully from vines that hung from many walls, covered much of her Wonder, and she identified the fragrance immediately as the perfume in her weapon.

Which, she was a little sick of right now, but only because she'd spilled so much of it in the past week that she really needed a break.

And yet, here on her Wonder, everything seemed so fresh. If it had wifi, she could have lived there. There was no shortage of luxury, of opulence, at Aventine. Everywhere she looked there was something beautiful. Even without her constant care or efforts to restore it, it seemed to be in good condition.

As promised, she'd been able to find her Code easily. It was like a pretty golden thread had guided her through her Wonder, to the inner walls. The Code was held cradled gently in the hands of a beautiful, marble woman in the center of an indoor garden. The circular room housed roses--red, pink, orange, and white, in harmonious shades. They grew in above ground planters with decorate stone facade that lined the walls of the garden, and in a circular planter of similar design in the middle of the room. The flowers encircled the statue, climbing up her legs and tapering off around her torso.

Though the rose bushes had grown fiercely over the years and were in great need of some extensive pruning, it was still beautiful.

Aventine had climbed up on the stone slab that lined the planters, gently moving thorny vines out of the way so she didn't snag herself on any of them or trip and fall. She'd been standing there for nearly ten minutes now trying to resonate with the Code piece.

Finally, she gave up. She scooped it from its resting place on the statue and held it to her chest before she sat down on the stone wall keeping the flowers at bay.

"I just want to do this right," she said to it. It was strange to hold a ball of light that had no form. It was weightless but she could feel it. "I know I've been a bad Knight. I know I should have found you sooner. But can you please cut me a break? I'll do better. I'll learn how to use some garden shears. I'll clean this place up."

She looked at the foggy windows around the room, where sunlight poorly filtered in. The roses had wilted some, and others were discolored. She could help them. They were resilient, and obviously had access to some water. "I'll clean the windows, sweep. Maybe open this place up again so you can get some fresh air. Please?"

The Code did not respond, but she knew it might not have a voice.

It didn't matter. She was persistent.

For a long moment, nothing happened--and then it grew a little brighter. It perked up. So, she did too.

"Oh," she said, suddenly encouraged. "Would you like that? I could clean the sunroof, too. If the glass won't break when I go up there. I could scrub the walls, the floor...?"

It brightened again.

Aventine kept talking. She didn't really know what she was saying, she was trying to bribe it--and it seemed to be working.

Her mouth was open to make more promises when suddenly she had the distinct sensation that she didn't have to. Something clicked. She felt a peace that she hadn't before, a calm. The sickly little orb she'd found had almost doubled in size, and there was a warmth in her chest.

For a moment she held it, just to admire, but it didn't even really feel like it was her body moving when she stood again. "You're ready to go home? ...I should, too. It's late. But I want to come back, okay? I need to learn how to do this right. I don't want to butcher your garden."

The Code was not deterred. It didn't respond, but it didn't reject her, didn't say no. She had to stand on her tiptoes to return the Code, but she did so with a little kiss. It didn't need it but it felt right.

...She had a lot to make up for and most of tonight felt like a dream. She was exhausted, she wanted to be home in bed.

She wanted to figure out how to tend to a rose garden so she could complete her promise.

Aventine hated cleaning, but she'd made a promise--and honestly, it was well past time for her to give to her Wonder like it gave to her.