Illustration by K. Ryan Even when Shichi had been running, there was quite a distance from the village to the nearby creek. He had made the trip to fetch water dozens of times, paying no mind to the ache in…

Illustration by K. Ryan “Pedicel — a stem holding a flower cluster,” Shichi said, reciting from memory as he followed Sagiri through the trees. “Taproot — the main root, growing straight into the ground.” “Is there a reason you’re adding…