Led by Leonard, the unicorns walked toward the thorn-covered fence.
"This is the entrance. Remember it well—only this spot is real. The others may look like entrances, but you won't be able to pass through them," Leonard said as he led the way ahead.
The little unicorn trotted beside him, curiously eyeing the sharp thorns.
The herd followed closely behind, studying the surroundings and memorizing the exact location of the entrance.
Before long, Leonard had guided them into the botanical garden, moving like a practiced tour guide.
He then pointed toward a patch of Bitterthorn nearby. "If anyone ever chases you, run here and go through those Bitterthorn. I'll tell them not to harm you. But remember—never go near the central area. I won't warn them about that part. If you get attacked, don't blame me."
Though unicorns seemed like orderly, intelligent creatures, Leonard still viewed them as animals—beings that could easily succumb to instinct. He had no desire to see his garden ruined by a herd of them.
The unicorns replied with soft neighs, their eyes filled with curiosity as they watched the Bitterthorn sway their spiked branches.
One unicorn, unable to resist its curiosity, stepped closer—a risky move. Leonard hadn't yet communicated with the Bitterthorn, and such closeness could easily lead to injury.
To his surprise, the Bitterthorn didn't react violently. They only nudged the unicorn gently with their thorny vines, as if trying to push it away.
But their movements were slow, and the unicorn easily dodged them before edging closer again. Realizing the unicorn meant no harm and only wanted to approach, the Bitterthorn unexpectedly responded with goodwill, even starting to play with it.
Seeing this, the other unicorns bounced forward excitedly to join in, leaving only the leader standing by Leonard's side. Though clearly tempted to join, it maintained a calm, composed posture, as if trying to appear mature.
Meanwhile, the little unicorn had already let out a cheerful whinny and slipped right into the Bitterthorn, darting around playfully.
The thorny branches looked intimidating, but their behavior struck Leonard as far too gentle.
Any ordinary animal that got this close would have been bound, injected with paralyzing venom, and tossed beneath the thorns as spare fertilizer.
Why were they treating the unicorns so tenderly?
Unless… this was another of the unicorns' innate gifts?
Leonard suddenly remembered the reward the system had granted him for rescuing the unicorns—an enhancement to his talent [Friend of Plants].
Perhaps that was why the system had led him to save them in the first place.
Watching the Bitterthorn play happily with the unicorns, Leonard rubbed his forehead helplessly.
If not for the outer layer of lifeless thorns forming the fence, the unicorns probably wouldn't have needed his help at all to move in here.
Still, he was relieved to see that the Bitterthorn, though friendly toward the unicorns, had obeyed his command not to let any animals enter the garden. They hadn't allowed the herd inside without permission.
It seemed that while unicorns had a natural affinity with plants, Leonard's authority still outweighed theirs.
After instructing the Bitterthorn to treat the unicorns as welcome guests, Leonard led the herd deeper into the inner planting area of the botanical garden.
The cultivation area had changed quite a bit. In addition to planting magical flora with offensive abilities, Leonard had also set aside a special section for medicinal plants, dedicated to growing those with healing properties.
Most of them had been transplanted from the wild, so each species only had one or two specimens, taking up little space. That left Leonard with more than enough room to house the unicorns.
"You'll stay here," Leonard said, pointing to an open patch of grass. Nearby was a small pond he had cleared himself. Since the area was part of a swamp, it naturally filled with water over time. With a simple spell to harden the ground, he had created a small artificial lake.
"This will be your drinking spot. When you need to relieve yourselves, avoid this area—but make sure to do it in one designated place," Leonard instructed.
Unicorn dung probably counted as a premium magical fertilizer. Leonard wasn't entirely sure, but he certainly didn't mind keeping some for his own plants.
Overall, the botanical garden offered a pleasant environment. Though the space was small, it was more than enough for unicorns seeking only temporary refuge.
The unicorns seemed content. The leader brushed its muzzle against Leonard's hand in gratitude before turning to the little unicorn, whispering softly into its ear.
The young one froze, glancing between its parents and Leonard, head tilted in confusion.
It didn't quite understand what it meant to stay with this strange creature from now on. What confused it even more was realizing that it had been cast out of its herd.
That thought saddened it, but when its parents assured it they would visit often, its bright nature quickly returned. It pranced in circles around its parents, then around its new "leader," Leonard.
Watching the golden-maned unicorn bounce playfully before him, Leonard felt a rare flicker of joy.
He rubbed the young unicorn's head and then remembered the time—it was getting late, and he needed to return.
"By the way," Leonard asked the lead unicorn, "have you seen any black creatures around here?"
He had long noticed the presence of some mysterious black animals, though he'd never had the chance to confront them. They had repeatedly tried to break into his botanical garden, and Leonard couldn't help but wonder what was drawing them in.
The Ancient Sprout once again extended to touch the unicorn's horn, allowing Leonard to communicate.
Unfortunately, the unicorn couldn't provide much useful information.
According to it, their herd hadn't originally lived here. They'd fled this way after sensing danger and glimpsing a chance to escape.
They had considered seeking help from the centaur tribe in the Forbidden Forest, but their instincts warned them the centaurs wouldn't be of any use.
So, they knew nothing about the black creatures nearby.