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"Mr. Xian, that is past and still not proved to be true. We can't vouch for that monk," the assistant of UNFCCC's Head Climatologist mouthed and Hana continued tapping the bamboo pen on my table, vexed up and bummed out. Had her job not being dependent on the people around her, she doesn't mind stabbing the Head Climatologist and his trust-worthy monk.

It's ridiculous how the scientist who mastered meteorology and climatic sustainability and whose research is considered as one of the world's remarkable indagations take a monk's words as gospel. When Hana was informed that the discussion would entail the potential methods to overcome the current predicament, she didn't think it would be rat shit of a conference. 

 "The Golden Flower once solved the issues of the earth. We could be fortunate if it works out this time as well," Mr. Xian further supported his proclamation and everyone in the room sighed. Neither could they profess another overnight solution nor could they rebel against the Head of the World's Most Influential Climate Organisation.

"The Lady in the past spread awareness about the need to conserve climate and Earth. But that's the only fact stated in the records, sir. There is no proof that she saved the world by reaching out to The Golden Flower. I am not trying to defy your point but scientifically, a flower can't save the whole world," Hana's senior stated, standing in his place with his arms crossed. 

"The Mayans," Mr. Xian enunciated and glanced at the members in the room with an unsettlingly calm gaze.

"I hope everyone has heard of them and their predictions. 2012 is the year that they have foreseen to be the end of the world but nothing happened in that year, ebbing away all the fears in humans. But if you closely examine their calendar, 2012 is the year 2020, apparently", he presented all the observation on the screen and tilted his head, giving a quick glance to Hana's senior. 

The screen displayed his research on how the forecasted dates matched the current dates and their range of eschatological beliefs that cataclysmic or transformative events would occur during the end of time which were pretty similar to the present scenario.

"But sir, a prediction could be laid out without a theory or scientific reason behind it. Every problem on Earth has a solution and if we analyze it well, we could come out with something viable," Hana raised her point, unable to stay calm despite her senior holding her hand underneath the table. The Life could perish because of the happenings around and here, the Head was blabbering insensible stuff.

"Well Well! Miss Hana, I was waiting for you to stand and voice out your opinion and I am glad you did. But before I acknowledge your viewpoint, I'd like to complete my notion. I hope you don't mind", Mr. Xian replied to Hana and she bowed in response.

"According to Hindu Mythology, the world would end in the last era, namely Kali Yug which we are currently living in. I know Apocalypticism is a religious belief but what could happen in the future is nowhere far from Apocalypse," he expressed his fear and moved the slides, each one detailing his points.

"Astrology and mythical beliefs may not always be right but at times, science and astrology agree to a point which none of us can deny. And coming to your point, Miss Hana, I understand that this whole thing might seem certainly dumb to be focused on with the board of the best Climatologists but it is also important that we can't bring out a viable solution in the eleventh hour to save the life," he reminded the reality and Hana pursued her lips.

"Are you implying that the monk knows the solution which none of us, the experienced climatologists couldn't derive?" Hana questioned, resting her palms on the table and Mr. Xian furrowed his brows.

"I have never stated that the monk has a solution. The Golden Flower is a possibility which I don't want to ignore, at least when we don't have a short-term solution in our hands. I hope you understand the need of the hour, Miss Hana," he asserted his words monotonously and Hana's next words muffled inside her mouth.

"The Lady who saved the world a hundred years back reached out to The Golden Flower and we will do the same now. Call it ridiculous or jejune, I don't care but we are opting for this as the major solution to the current scenario. One of us will be called to reach out to The Golden Flower and will be notified in few hours," he declared in an authoritative tone and everyone in the room complied.

"Remember, all of this must be kept confidential for the smooth functioning of the procedure," he alerted the people in the room and they nodded their heads in agreement. The world would definitely revolt against the UNFCCC for taking up an impractical course of action.

"Sir, may we know The Lady's name, and do we have the particulars on how to reach out to the Golden Flower?" the KEI's Director posed the question lingering in Hana's mind and Mr. Xian smiled.

"We have everything ready, Mr. Han. You don't have to worry about that. I think we can wind up this meeting now," Mr. Xian mouthed and everyone got up from their seats. He was about to walk away from the conference hall but halted his steps at the doorstep.

"By the way, her name is," he paused and took a breath.

"Lizette"

──  *.☽ .* ──

"Ugh! If The Golden Flower holds such importance for the welfare of the earth, why didn't they preserve it for the first time they discovered it? Why does Mr. Xian believe the monk when the world never came across the existence of the so-called Golden Flower," Hana groaned in frustration as she plopped on her couch, sipping hot espresso to relieve her headache.

"The monk is believed to have lived for 120 years till today. He is the head of China's renowned monastery, Shaolin. Mr. Xian entrusts him with his whole heart and many Chinese consider him next to God. They say he was alive when the Lady reached out to the Golden Flower," Hana's senior explained, and Hana let out an exasperated grunt in response. 

"You can call her Lizette, Sunbae. She is no Goddess and I don't believe in that bullshit. Yes, I agree that she initiated the movement to discuss the need to conserve climate when the whole world was busy thinking of ways to exploit nature. But it's absurd to believe that she used the Golden Flower and rescued the life," Hana chuckled at the end of her sentence.

As she finished sipping the last drop of her espresso, she pressed her temples while going through the points and proofs that Mr. Xian presented at the conference. Some of the predictions matched and some set of beliefs turned out to be true but she is not ready to discard the possibility of them being a mere coincidence.

"Lizette is a young woman with magnificent eyes, puissant tongue, and an eloquent demeanor. When there was a massive turn of apocalyptic events during the 1920s, she appeared like an angel in disguise and retrieved the calmness to the life," Hana's senior read out his phone's message loudly and Hana raised her hands, gesturing him to stop. She has heard enough of Lizzete today.

"Birthplace unknown, surname unknown, she doesn't even have her identity recorded. What is said to be in the records are purely the words from a few people's mouths and all of them belong to monasteries and shrines. Holy crap!" Hana stated as she examined the report she has drawn out.

"I have heard that the story of Lizette is not told to the world to preserve that sacred flower. The monk only revealed it when Mr. Xian begged on his knees and it could also be the very reason for the high confidentiality of this program. Not more than six people including us were present in the meeting which implies that the monk's words are taken very seriously," Hana's senior conveyed his thoughts and Hana nodded.

"Moreover, the location of the Golden Flower is quite peculiar. It's found on an island in the center of the Bermuda Triangle, one of the earth's strongest energy points. Ugh! Everything seems so ludicrous,", she groaned holding her hair, controlling her urge to pull out all the strands in frustration.

"Wait! How do you know where it is located?" her senior asked, confused on hearing her words.

"The location coordinates. They have mailed us just now", she uttered as she showed her mobile screen to him while he scrolled his phone to check if there came one to his mail.

"Hana, I didn't get any such mail," he revealed, making Hana's eyes glint in fear. She knew the probability of any one of them being chosen to reach out to the Golden Flower is high but she didn't want it to be her. Anything could happen at any moment and she wanted to be with Sana till the last moment.

"Does that mean...," Hana's senior stopped his words when Hana closed her eyes and huffed out a deep breath.

"Eonnie, Mr. Xian is requesting your presence in the Chief's cabin," Hana's assistant barged into the lab and Hana nodded, anticipating what's ahead. Glancing at her senior for a second, she stormed out of the lab. The assistant raised her brows questioningly at Hana's senior while he just shrugged away. Nothing should be spilled, that's the protocol.

──  *.☽ .* ──

"There she is," The KEI's Director exclaimed as soon as Hana entered the cabin while Mr. Xian gazed at her indecisively.

"Why is the mail directed only me? Or did you forget to send the mail to Mr. Yoo?" Hana inquired and Mr. Xian pressed his lips into a thin line. The Director parted his lips to speak but Mr. Xian took the lead.

"We chose you to reach out to the Golden Flower," he revealed and Hana held the sides of her coat tightly. 

"Why me?", she asked as everyone in the Research Institute knows that she is not that of a brave being. Mr. Xian's lips curved slightly as he strode his steps towards the furious young girl. 

"You are determined and known for not giving up things in the midway. Despite being in this field, many don't think of nature's good like you. Mr. Han told me how you use bamboo pens and jute bags instead of plastic and leather and inspired the others to do the same", he mouthed and Hana took a glimpse of Mr. Han's uneasy face. 

"That could not be a potential reason to come down in favor of me. Is there anything else?" Hana asked with a piercing gaze and Mr. Xian's lips twitched on hearing her voice go an octave higher.

"The monk picked you out after going through your profile. That's partly the reason," he disclosed and she sighed in disbelief. She knew it's not just partly but majorly and her blood boiled at how the man in front of her left everything in the hands of the monk.

"I know you might find this insane but we are going with this for world peace and I believe you are a dutiful and responsible climatologist," he uttered and Hana sneered at his words.

"What if the task is given to you, sir?", she asked and Mr. Xian stayed silent for around five seconds, contemplating to voice out his next words. He aim was to convince her to take up the task without causing much fuss and hence, must be careful with his choice of words.

"I would be dutiful to my job and responsible to the life out there. Had the monk chosen me, I would not think twice to go against it," he stated and Hana snickered internally.

"Regardless of what the monk says, if you are responsible to protect the life on Earth, I think you can do this job perfectly rather than me", Hana advised with her face stiffened, controlling herself from letting out a smirk.

"No, no, Miss Hana. The monk was alive when the Lady went to the Golden Flower and he must have a reason to choose you over others. We are not going against his words," he stuttered between his words, clearly displaying panic.

"Hypocrite", she muttered under her breath.

"What if I don't want to?" Hana asked with a possibility but then, she knows that she has to oblige to whatever they say. Before joining the institute, everyone must abide by their rules and regulations which include giving our best to conserve the climate. It's a promise made to heart and marked on paper and she is not the one to run away.  

"I guess this is my limit, Miss Hana. You are supposed to reach out to the Golden Flower or else, a case will be filed against you for your negligence towards the Institute. Or we could just accuse you of plagiarized paperwork," he threatened and Hana's pupils dilated. She never expected him to be so ruthless. Her research paper was the result of her blood, sweat, and tears, and using it as bait to coerce her infuriated her bones.

"That's barbaric," she scoffed at him, tears threatening to stream out of her eyes while Mr. Han held Mr. Xian's arms and pulled him back.

"Miss Hana, we won't do that. Your research paper will be safe. But please think about it," Mr. Han, the Korean Chief walked towards Hana after calming down Mr. Xian. He bobbed his head at Mr. Xian and took her incensed self out of the cabin. 

"He is cruel," Hana cried as she sat down on the bench in the hallway. She is not sure what could happen if she does the job or how much risk it holds but the only that's concerning her was going far from Sana. She wants to be with her sister as she knew the world will be no good in the upcoming days.

"I am sorry. I don't know he would go to an extent of blackmailing. I will make sure that he does nothing to your research paper but then, think twice about your final decision," he pressed her hands gently before leaving the place. 

Clenching her fists tightly, she raised her head to swallow the imminent hiccups. Growing without support was much easier than giving someone support. Once committed, it is arduous for any human to leave it hanging. Hana knew the forthcoming events wouldn't let her breathe in peace.

Standing on her feet, she paced her steps to Mr. Xian's cabin. She verily despises the man in front of her but she is not doing it for him. If this could save the world, then history would repeat.

"I will reach out to the Golden Flower"

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A/N: Well! I have written more but the word count will be crossing 3.5K which could make the chapter boring so I cut it short. The draft for the next one is partly ready and might be updated earlier than expected. But then, not sure......

Hope you like the chapter and do comment your views on it.

In case you forgot, KEI - Korean Environmental Institute