Chapter 448: Paradise Day
Clad in a red gown, Elder Inara walked into the council hall with elegant yet wide strides that stretched the fabric of her attire.
John and Orion stood before their chairs, about to sit, only to be interrupted by her arrival.
"Did you see what sits in Meinstrel District?" Inara’s light voice echoed in the hall as she got to the table, placed her ten fingers on it, and leaned down.
"I couldn’t believe my eyes." Orion’s thick voice boomed.
Inara faced John. "A mini oasis formed out of thin air in the middle of Meinstrel District? A strictly residential area where a lot of those high-class summoners, who are quite stuck-up because of their fairies and elven summons...."
She paused, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"... Yet there was not one complaint. I mean, I couldn’t believe it until I saw what had happened with my own eyes. Isn’t that the mother of the young man whose summon isn’t alive?"
She sat down.
"It is. Being exceptional runs in the family." Orion replied.
"They say there’s a seemingly endless brook of water able to restore lost limbs and even heal those near death." John’s deep, calm voice rang.
"From what I’ve also heard, that might not be far from the truth. She does have the best summon in the healing category, here in Paradise. Not even fairies or elven healers can match her summon’s skill. But on a scale this large, it seems impossible."
"You’ve not dug deep enough then. I heard it only works if you take permission from the Deer God."
Inara and John raised an eyebrow. "The Deer God?" they chorused.
"Valentina’s summon. It’s a male deer. With its permission, the water you collect retains its potency. Without it, it’s just water." Orion replied.
"You have quite good in-depth knowledge. Didn’t this just happen last night? It seems you’ve already been there." Inara probed.
John glanced at Orion and exhaled softly. "We shall verify this news but, if it happens to be as we have heard, what shall we do about it?"
"What do you have in mind?" Inara leaned back, staring at John.
"I say we increase the number of Elders governing Paradise. Valentina fits all criteria, even better than us when we started. Her hill sanctuary can heal almost any physical injury. With her permission, that water can be bottled and taken around, mainly for raids. She also has a talented son who is slowly drifting away from Paradise and a husband who, in the few times he revealed his strength, has proven to be a demigod."
John crossed his arms. "This is a powerful and influential family that should be tied to the system. Paradise is bound to benefit immensely."
He took a light breath. "Do you agree with this notion?"
"I don’t see the problem with it. I don’t see how it clashes with my objectives, ideals, or gains. In fact, it opens and fills a new spot that none of us can fill." Inara responded.
Orion nodded, then caressed his beard. "But her husband and her son have good futures in this new age. It would mean Valentina’s power as an Elder would be immense. The hill sanctuary alone has made her no less than a messiah to the Sentinels, which are the most powerful force in Paradise."
"Your concerns are not unfounded. But the pros outweigh the cons and, should they arise, we have the Watchman to balance the scales. For now, we benefit, the people benefit, and in the future, we might be a deciding factor in the world."
John looked at Inara and Orion.
"We agree." Both of them said.
"We shall inform her. I also believe her appointment should be set on a new day, which should be dedicated to her. What should we call it?"
Inara pursed her lips while slowly tapping her sharp chin.
"We’ve never really had a day dedicated to the formation of Paradise. How about we use what she has done as a means to activate a day we would call Paradise Day? It would be to celebrate the day Paradise came into being and the hill sanctuary perfecting it."
***
On the hill, Godfrey squatted close to the cliff. The peace this scenery brought to him acted like a soothing balm to a wound in his heart. Peace returned to him, and his mind opened up.
Right now, Godfrey knew all that was left was to wait for Isolde. She was the only piece left, and even if he tried explaining, no one could really feel how much he missed her.
He wanted to hold her, to embrace her, but he knew Godfrey before today didn’t have that capacity. His mentality, however, had toughened up.
White sat right next to him while Brown lay down, half moaning, half growling. Godfrey couldn’t tell if it was hungry or if this was just a habit.
Eventually, he got tired of squatting and sat on the ground, leaning on White.
"Godfrey!"
A sweet, high-pitched voice made him tilt his head to the slope where he sighted Percival and Isaac behind Lucy.
Her twin ponytails dangled as she walked.
Godfrey smiled. Although they met two days ago, it felt like this was when they were officially meeting once again.
"You look much better now." Lucy beamed when they came close.
Godfrey blinked. "I saw what you did." He tilted his head toward Percival, then his eyes went back to her. "How did that come about?"
Lucy glanced at Percival, whose hands were inside his pockets.
"Cain gave her a summon." Isaac ranted out.
"Isaac!" Lucy glared at him, avoided Godfrey’s eyes, and tugged Percival’s sleeve, forcing him to speak up.
Percival sat on the ground beside White. "Gabriel might have discovered we know something about him. He gave Lucy an Obsidian, which nearly drove her crazy, but we met a demigod that gave her another summon before sacrificing himself."
"They. Are. A. Thing. Now." Isaac placed both hands beside his mouth as he silently threw out these words to Godfrey.
Unfortunately, Godfrey wasn’t having any of that after what he just heard. "I’m sorry, Lucy."
She pursed her lips. "I had someone from the group. That was more than enough care."
Godfrey nodded. "You’re a dual summoner now. That’s excellent news, but I will be watchful about this summon Cain created. Now, that aside, what exactly does Gabriel think we know?"
Percival and Lucy shook their heads. "We’re uncertain."
"Uncertain about what?" Space ripped open, and Gabriel stepped out.
He wore a soft smile, and his eyes settled on Lucy first, but when she didn’t even flinch and instead radiated unshakeable confidence, his eyes slowly narrowed.
’Fascinating. The world truly is vast. I definitely did not see this outcome, neither did I predict White having this kind of ability. Well, there will be things I can’t predict, that’s for sure, but my, oh my, these two are surprising.’
***
A/N: I’m sorry for the inconsistency, I’ve not been feeling that good mentally. Writing is tougher when my mind is just down.
