Chapter 285: Calm Down, Wait for Eva to Come Out
Stellan roughly wiped his eyes and hurried after her.
Evangeline arrived at the Mysticeti Tribe’s former encampment, which was now completely deserted.
A single, pointed tent stood out starkly in the clearing.
Before she was even close, Evangeline heard pained screams from within. She lifted the tent flap and entered, her brow furrowing at the sight of Coral Cetus’s trembling body and Buck standing by, drenched in a cold sweat.
"Step aside. Go wait outside," Evangeline said curtly, pulling Buck aside.
Hearing her voice, Coral Cetus slowly turned her head. Her beautiful pink hair was soaked through, but the moment she saw Evangeline, a faint glimmer sparked in her eyes. Her lips parted as if to speak, but she couldn’t summon the strength.
Evangeline took her hand. Her voice was calm, yet it held a power that soothed the heart. "Don’t be afraid."
Coral Cetus said nothing, but tears welled up in her eyes.
’She knew Evangeline wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs. The only reason she’d been willing to bring the Mysticeti Tribe to the Triangle Sea was for her, her friend. But her people? They had betrayed that kindness.’
’Even though she hadn’t left with them, the thought that her tribe had stolen Evangeline’s property—what was likely the only way out of the Triangle Sea—made her heart twist in agony. She felt she had wronged her friend terribly, and the repressed emotions had sent her into premature labor.’
Buck looked at Evangeline, finally gathering his thoughts. "Please, My Lady Priestess," he stammered, "save Iris..."
"Out," Evangeline said without turning her head. She poured a bottle of Spiritual Medicine into Coral Cetus’s mouth and took out some gauze and hot water.
’This isn’t a difficult birth, it’s a premature one,’ Evangeline thought. ’I’ll have to see how it goes. A natural delivery would be best, but if not, I’ll have to perform surgery.’
Buck clenched his fists. He glanced at Coral Cetus, then obeyed Evangeline and went outside.
’He knew how much Iris trusted the My Lady Priestess. Then he would trust her, too!’
The moment he left the tent, Buck saw Stellan hurrying over. The latter’s face was pale as he stared at the tent, panting heavily. His voice trembled, "Buck, how’s Iris? Is she okay? The witch has a way to help, right?"
Buck pressed his lips together and gave a slight nod. "I believe in My Lady Priestess."
Danton drew near, glanced at the darkening sky, and said, "The cub will be born safely."
During the Cold Season, when everyone felt insecure, the birth of a cub could bring a sliver of new hope to their people.
「An unknown amount of time passed.」 The sky had completely darkened, but the vast, white snow reflected the light, illuminating the surroundings as if it were day.
Stellan and Buck seemed oblivious to the cold. A thick layer of snowflakes had settled on their hair, and ice crystals clung to their eyelashes. They stared unblinking at the tent until a faint sound finally broke the silence.
"The cub!" Stellan’s eyes lit up. He was about to charge inside but was held back by Danton, who had just arrived.
He had just been settling the Mer Clan, informing them they would be crossing the Triangle Sea tomorrow and telling them to pack what they needed. He had hurried back, afraid Stellan and Buck might disturb Evangeline.
"Wait." Danton’s brow was furrowed. "Calm down," he said in a low voice. "Wait for Eva to come out."
Though their hearts were pounding with impatience, Stellan and Buck managed to restrain themselves.
A moment later, Evangeline’s voice came from inside the tent. "You can come in."
The words were like a pardon. The two men rushed inside like a gust of wind. Danton watched the snowflakes flutter off them, chuckling and shaking his head. He didn’t go in, however, choosing to wait outside for Evangeline.
Inside the tent, Evangeline was washing blood from her hands. Stellan and Buck burst in, bringing a gust of cold with them.
She glanced at the two of them. "We’re crossing the Triangle Abyss tomorrow," she said calmly. "Take good care of Coral Cetus. I’ve left some food and supplies. Don’t let her catch a chill. The cub hasn’t transformed yet, so it needs to acclimate in seawater."
Having said her piece, Evangeline turned to look at Coral Cetus, who had fainted from exhaustion.
In a wooden bucket beside the bed, a tiny manta ray swam in the seawater.
Buck stared, dumbfounded, at the cub in the bucket, then at the unconscious Coral Cetus. His eyes grew red.
Stellan looked at the baby manta ray, a faint smile touching his lips. He showed no trace of disappointment that the cub was not his.
"Alright, the rest is up to you," Evangeline said, drying her hands and heading out of the tent.
The moment she lifted the flap, her eyes met Danton’s gentle, pale blue ones. He reached out to her. "Are you tired?"
Evangeline shook her head, took his hand, and murmured, "Let’s go back."
Danton pulled her to his side, enveloping her in his large cloak. As he looked down at her, his silver-blue eyelashes cast a soft shadow beneath his eyes.
They had only taken a few steps when Stellan called out from behind them, "My Lady Priestess!"
Evangeline paused and looked back at him. "Coral Cetus is fine now."
Stellan’s lips formed a tight line. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "I know. Thank you, My Lady Priestess, for saving Coral Cetus."
At this, he paused, his voice dropping lower. "The Mysticeti Tribe stole your belongings, My Lady Priestess, and crossed the Triangle Sea ahead of us. Iris feels terribly guilty. She hopes you won’t hold what the Mysticeti Tribe did against her."
"Iris... she really treasures you as a friend."
Stellan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice barely a whisper.
Evangeline’s eyes shifted, and she raised an eyebrow. "I thought I’d already made myself clear."
Hearing this, Stellan blinked. A moment later, understanding dawned, and he let out a sigh of relief, a smile finally breaking across his face.
But his brow quickly furrowed again. He glanced at Danton, then asked, "My Lady Priestess, the airship was stolen. How are we going to cross the Triangle Sea?"
"You’ll find out tomorrow." Evangeline said no more and left with Danton.
Stellan stood in the swirling snow, watching them disappear into the distance before he turned and went back to the tent.
As soon as he entered the tent, he heard Iris’s voice. "Where’s Eva?"
Stellan’s eyes brightened. He hurried to the bedside to find Coral Cetus cradled in Buck’s arms. Her color had returned, and she’d been wiped clean of sweat. His heart swelled with even more gratitude toward Evangeline. "She just left," he said softly.
Seeing the light dim in Coral Cetus’s eyes, Buck mumbled, "My Lady Priestess told us to take good care of you. She said we’re crossing the Triangle Sea tomorrow, so she must have a lot to prepare."
Coral Cetus frowned. "Tomorrow? Is that really possible?"
’She was worried. Without the airship, how could they possibly cross the Triangle Sea?’
Stellan stroked her head. "Don’t worry," he said gently. "Trust My Lady Priestess. She doesn’t make empty promises. If she said tomorrow, then she must have a way. You just focus on getting your strength back. Don’t worry about anything else."
Buck nodded emphatically, his expression softening. "We’ll definitely make it past the Triangle Sea. We’ll see a much bigger world, with more food than we can eat."
Hearing Buck’s vision of the future, Coral Cetus let out a soft laugh. "There might not be an ocean beyond the Triangle Sea, you know."
A flicker of gloom passed through Stellan’s eyes. ’It was true. If there was no sea beyond the Triangle Sea, what would they, the Marine Beastmen, do? Would they have to survive forever on what little seawater they could find? Or would they have to return to Norfell?’
