Chapter 1259: Chapter 1259: Farewell of Promised Bonds
Butterflies flew from the sky, landing on the empty seats around the round table, each transforming into a beautiful girl wearing a long dress in the colors of butterfly wings. Behind the girls were wings, and after appearing in the light, some smiled and saluted the deity, while others shyly observed the four of them.
Mr. Lyman was stunned and nervously straightened his hair, while Sister Perry and Mrs. Blanchett remained quite composed.
"Your wishes are but simple matters to me. Since you’ve risked your lives to come here and hold this feast, naturally, I am willing to fulfill your desires."
Now, besides Shard, who had six petals at hand, the other three all had four petals, which means everyone was actually a winner.
"I want to confirm one last time."
The deity looked at Shard:
"You have gained the most petals. If you wish, I can grant you any desire, even the power you seek. So, do you truly want to give up and let the mortals have their wishes?"
Mrs. Blanchett, Sister Perry, and Mr. Lyman looked at Shard somewhat nervously. Shard merely blinked, having already decided:
"Your wish would undoubtedly be precious to me, but I have made a promise — no matter who gets the most petals in the end, I cannot be considered the winner. Since I once said this, I certainly can’t go back on my word now."
The golden Miracle Aura bloomed on Sister Perry and Mrs. Blanchett, and the Twelfth Rank witch officially advanced to the Thirteenth Rank, while Sister Perry’s appearance noticeably became at least ten years younger. The witch’s ladder appeared behind her, although it was just a short step, representing the transcendental path unfurling before her.
At the same time, presumably due to the power of the Old God, the Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly stemming from the Ancient God Earth Mother Goddess, both ladies appeared with the power Shard was very familiar with as the Power of the Earth.
The power on Sister Perry was undoubtedly the Power of the Earth: Abundant Field, which was passed down through her hand bone to Luviya a thousand years later. The power on Mrs. Blanchett, Shard couldn’t directly identify, but the ecstatic witch didn’t mind sharing her new ability with him:
"Power of the Earth: Memory of the Land. Listen to the whispers of the earth, gaining strength from those buried within it. Simultaneously, when encountering abnormal land, consume the memories of land previously drawn upon to reverse the abnormal condition."
This sounds very useful, but although it can reverse the Crazy Earth, it’s not a specialized power like Shard’s Healing Aura, so Shard wasn’t sure about its specifics either.
Moreover, considering this middle-aged witch was from the Fifth Era, Shard wasn’t certain if this power still existed in the Cult of the Forgotten... he thought of asking Miss Lathis about it after returning.
With this in mind, he raised his wine glass in front of him. Meanwhile, the deity looked toward Mr. Lyman, whose excitement, coupled with the deity’s gaze, left him trembling. He knew whether his dream would be realized depended on what happened next.
"Mortal, if you wish to win my familiars’ favor, this depends on yourself. I will not go against the butterflies’ wishes, so I give you a chance. Sitting at the table are my familiars, and this feast will last for three days and nights. Before leaving, you can try to win the heart of one of them... if you have enough charm to bring more than one, I won’t stop you."
The girls’ laughter formed a chorus, their clear tones more melodious than even music played in the high heavens. The gentleman, aged around thirty, with particularly spirited brown eyes and pronounced, slightly bushy eyebrows, blushed, hurriedly raising his glass to down a drink, then choking into a coughing fit.
The scene before them was so beautiful it seemed hardly like part of the Tree Father’s quest. Shard was somewhat suspicious that this was all an illusion created by the Old God, but he also understood that everything before him was real.
Witch Blanchett surreptitiously handed him a parchment roll, detailing information about the Ritual: Contact the Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly. Shard only glanced at it, memorized the contents, and returned the parchment to her—carrying such an item around carelessly could lead to significant problems if lost.
"I’ve heard that you are not fond of humans."
The remaining time wasn’t much, but Shard could still chat with people for a while. He voiced his question, and the beautiful deity answered Shard with a smile:
"I do not love humans, so I do not care for you, neither would I make plans or conspiracies against you. My relation with you is insignificant, and whether or not I grant your wishes has nothing to do with yourselves."
"I see..."
Shard nodded, knowing that this task differed from any previous ones. But what remained the same was that he had to face another farewell.
Mr. Lyman, Mrs. Blanchett, and Sister Perry would see Shard for the last time. If nothing unexpected happened, this would also be the last time Shard would see them.
Though Mr. Lyman hadn’t yet won the favor of any of the girls, Shard knew his task was complete. The white fog could appear behind him at any moment, and this terrifying underground bug lair experience was perhaps the warmest among all his space-time adventures.
The six pink-white petals beside him floated up, forming a blooming flower, drifting into Shard’s palm. Shard looked at the deity in surprise, and the deity continued:
"I can’t let the Tree Father’s followers leave empty-handed; this is an ordinary flower, but... who knows, it might serve an unexpected purpose one day."
A green stem "grew" from beneath the blossom, and Shard, holding the flower, thanked the Butterfly God. It was a keepsake from this journey, not particularly valuable, but a gift from his three friends and the deity.
Suddenly, he looked at the three others attending the feast, and Mrs. Blanchett and the group glanced at Shard:
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
"Not coming back?"
Sister Perry also asked.
"Yes."
"We cannot express our gratitude towards you."
Mr. Lyman concluded.
Shard shook his head:
"Just as the deity said — my help to you has nothing to do with you."
"So, you are..."
Mr. Lyman expressed slight surprise, a bit eager for an answer. But before Shard could respond, he shook his head again:
"No, you don’t have to tell us who you are. But do you truly not wish to receive anything from us?"
Shard thought for a moment, then said to Miss Lathis:
"If you remember me after leaving here, and remember this place, please pass on the Power of the Earth to the Cult of the Forgotten."
"No problem, the Earth remembers everything."
The witch said.
Shard spoke to Sister Perry:
"Nun, you don’t have to do anything for me. Just... thank you for everything you’ve done."
The slightly younger middle-aged nun nodded thoughtfully.
Shard finally said to Mr. Lyman:
"Maybe far, far in the future, I will search for your descendants. Your family may spread for a long time, longer than you can imagine. Perhaps you can leave some marks for your family to inherit. Of course, do what you can without too much trouble. We must trust the pull of fate. If we’re lucky enough, maybe I’ve already encountered your descendants without knowing."
"I understand, sir. I will take the butterfly as the new emblem of the family."
Mr. Lyman said seriously:
"Just as you fulfilled your promise. And this is my promise, which I will surely fulfill, and the earth will witness it all."
"Oh, no need to be so serious. My friend, you just need to do what you can do."
After speaking, Shard stood up:
"Deity, please allow me to make a proposal."
He spoke to the god, and after the beautiful deity nodded slightly, he raised his glass high, with butterflies dancing around his arms, the music playing in tandem with the tide of fluttering butterflies:
"Being able to gather here, offering our own songs and poetry under the witness of the deity, is a bond fate has granted us. Perhaps after leaving here, we may not have another encounter, but this does not hinder our enjoyment of this moment at the banquet. Friends, please raise your glasses together, to commemorate this grand and important banquet, which no one may know, at this moment in autumn of the Fifth Era 4791."
Mrs. Blanchett, Sister Perry, and Mr. Lyman also raised their glasses:
"Celebrate this meeting, a toast to each other."
The four of them gently clinked their glasses in the air, and then drank the red wine in one go.
[Outlander, you felt a ’miracle.’]
[Flowers and butterflies are the offspring of the earth, and the colorful light and bizarre illusions are the remnants of bygone whispers. When the Butterfly God looks down on the earth, perhaps what she sees is nothing but a dreamland left by the earth.]
[Your sorcery ’Power of the Earth: Healing Aura’ has been enhanced. New spellcasting material added: petals. When casting with both soil and petals, the spellcasting cost is reduced, and the casting effect is improved.]
"I am the only ordinary person among us, but I will definitely try to remember this adventure, imprinting this experience into my soul. To everyone!"
Mr. Lyman was a bit exhilarated, yet somewhat melancholic. When he put down the wine glass with a flushed face, he clearly saw the Butterfly Girl sitting diagonally across from him, winking at him curiously and shyly.
White mist appeared behind Shard, signaling the completion of his task and that he should leave.
Shard steadily placed the cup on the table, formally taking his leave of the deity:
"Will they be able to return safely to their hometowns?"
"Yes."
"Please allow me to express my gratitude once again. This banquet was truly wonderful. I’ve participated in the Blood Feast twice, and once contended with a vampiric duke at a wine party, but those banquets do not compare to yours."
He spoke sincerely, and the Butterfly God said with a smile:
"Perhaps you can save your words of praise for those two beautiful red butterflies imprisoned in your hand. Guest favored by the Tree Father, I can give you one last warning for the next banquet you will host."
If nothing goes wrong, this should refer to the Chosen One Ceremony "Feast of the Earth Mother Goddess."
"Please tell me."
"A dangerous entity is trying to use that banquet to come to the Material World. You should be prepared for this..."
Shard blinked his eyes:
"Yes, I understand."
He bowed once more, then bid farewell to his newfound friends before turning and walking towards the white mist.
Once Shard had completely disappeared, the deity sighed lightly, somewhat bored:
"Interesting stories are always scarce, and before this Era ends, such opportunities may only come once. It is truly wonderful, under the light of Silvermoon..."
A butterfly swarm appeared with a silver flute beside Sister Perry’s hand:
"Take this to your grave, and he will receive this gift."
"Yes."
The nun said solemnly, holding the silver flute tightly:
"This is my promise."
Witch Blanchett also said softly:
"I will also remember my promise."
Mr. Lyman pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, then gathered the courage to ask the deity:
"I am willing to pay a price, just to keep this memory after leaving here, to leave clues for that gentleman about his descendants."
"Pay a price to retain memory? For what?"
The god asked the man.
"Promise."
Mr. Lyman endured the instinctive fear tremors from being gazed at by the deity:
"Although I am just an ordinary person, incomparable to the witch or that gentleman, a promise must be kept. I am human just like them, this is... a human promise."
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