The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 182

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 182
High Priest Andres offered prayers to the Lysset God at the foot of the Hilltop in Arcadia, and the Festival seeking the return of the Balance of Day and Night to the Crasion Empire had begun.
The place where they prayed was beneath that very Hilltop where Tiel and Karl had restored light to Arcadia more than a decade ago.
They hoped that in the place where the Lysset God’s miracle had once occurred, another divine miracle would descend upon this empire.
Because Andres wished to conduct this Festival in the manner of Luminarie, representatives attending on behalf of each household stood beside him once the prayers concluded.
Clemens of Arne, Olivier of Wolfgang, Karl and Rowen of Nestian, and Ferdi of Asterian stepped forward.
Though Ferdi was no longer Asterian’s heir after Tiel inherited the position of Head of Household, he stood as Asterian’s representative.
And not long after.
“Bring Tiel here.”
At Andres’s words, a Holy Knight rushed off to fetch her.
The Citizens representing each household stood in their places and gazed up at the Hilltop.
Save for Rowen, the four others had all been present that day, and so this Hilltop held no strangeness for them.
They each remembered vividly the moment water returned to the land of water, the moment light returned to the land that had lost its light forever.
Though they each harbored different thoughts as they looked up at the Hilltop, the scenes playing in their minds were identical.
And in that moment.
“……!!!”
A faint shout rose from somewhere. Karl turned his head. Not only Karl, but Ferdi, Clemens, Olivier, and Rowen as well.
Household representatives who were no longer children but fully grown adults all turned in unison toward the source of the sound.
From far away came the cheering of Arcadia’s Citizens.
And shortly after, the Carriage carrying Tiel came into view.
A Carriage crafted by Arcadia’s Citizens themselves, studded throughout with precious Luminous Stones that sparkled brilliantly in every direction when struck by sunlight.
It looked like a small sun. Once more, they could see what Tiel meant to Arcadia’s Citizens.
Arcadia’s Citizens scattered fragrant wildflowers along the Carriage’s path.
Olivier gestured playfully with a sweep of his hand.
The flower petals scattered across where the Carriage had passed lifted on a single gust of Wind.
They became a great floral wind that swept once across Arcadia’s Citizens before escorting Tiel’s Carriage.
The Wind, laden with petals, pushed the Carriage from behind. The horse pulling the Carriage felt its back grow slightly lighter and pranced forward with ease.
Soon the Carriage arrived before them.
Holy Knights from Asterian and Eberard, who had escorted the Carriage, lined up beside it in a row.
One of them stepped forward and opened the Carriage door.
Yet contrary to everyone’s expectation that Tiel would emerge, the one who stepped out was not Tiel but Iandros, the Crown Prince of the Crasion Empire.
“Why is he here?”
Ludian muttered while furrowing his brow. But Ferdi, the only one who might have answered him, stood far away with representatives from other households, leaving no one to reply to Ludian.
Iandros, having set foot on the ground, extended his hand to help whoever remained inside the Carriage descend with ease.
Tiel took Iandros’s hand and carefully stepped down from the Carriage.
Dressed in an Opal Dress and adorned with silk ribbons, jewels, and spring flowers, Tiel was beautiful enough to justify every word Lia had spoken of her—a goddess incarnate.
All of Arcadia’s Citizens held their breath at the appearance of their savior, then erupted in jubilant cheers.
Tiel, suppressing her initial surprise, smiled back at them.
It had been a long time since she encountered those who did not blame her while invoking the balance of Day and Night, and she had not yet grown accustomed to it…….
“It’s alright.”
Iandros, noticing Tiel’s tension, steadied her hand and tilted his head to whisper softly against her ear.
“Should you wish to flee…….”
“I don’t want to flee!”
Tiel whispered back with matching playfulness. She felt Iandros’s warmth transmit through the Silk Gloves and carefully moved forward.
At the end of her steps stood High Priest Andres and the representatives of each household.
“Tiel.”
Andres spoke. Tiel bowed lightly, placing a hand at her chest.
“High Priest.”
“We have been waiting. Please, come this way.”
The High Priest extended his hand to Tiel. Iandros squeezed her hand briefly before releasing it.
Tiel passed Iandros and took the High Priest’s hand, moving forward. He led her toward the prepared Platform.
A Platform crafted beforehand for this day, carved with the shape of a Fish, the symbol of the Lysset God.
Tiel ascended the Platform and looked at Andres. Andres gazed in turn at Tiel, then at Arcadia’s Citizens and at those Citizens gathered from afar to witness this Festival, and spoke.
“This Hilltop is where you and Karl brought light to Arcadia, as I understand it.”
Andres continued speaking.
“Display your Ability once more in this place. The Light Ability that returned after centuries. The Ability the Lysset God bestowed upon us.”
At the end of Andres’s words, Ferdi used his Ability as he had been instructed beforehand.
Whoosh! Fire roared to life. Tiel watched Ferdi.
Then Olivier continued. The single gust of Wind that had cradled Tiel moments before now swept across with force!
Olivier’s dress hem whipped helplessly in the Wind.
Next came Clemens. As she used her Ability, pink blossoms bloomed abundantly in her palm.
Next was Rowen of Nestian, but…….
“Hmph.”
Rowen did not use her Ability. The priests who knew Rowen was supposed to display her Ability here dabbed cold sweat from their brows and whispered among themselves.
The Citizens of Arcadia watching this “Festival” and those Citizens who had traveled from afar to witness it murmured in confusion.
‘Why is she like that?’
‘She’s not using her Ability?’
‘Has Nestian lost its Ability?’
Andres, overhearing their murmurs, narrowed his eyes as if troubled.
He alone in this place knew the truth of the “Ability” that Rowen wielded. That Ability was…….
Andres exhaled a sigh.
‘What on earth is she plotting?’
Regardless of Andres’s thoughts, Rowen still did not use her Ability. Eventually her turn passed, and Karl used his Ability.
Though Citizens muttered ‘Why stand here at all if you won’t do this?’, Rowen ignored them as if she could not hear.
Karl used his Ability.
A massive Water droplet formed in his palm.
It was the same water that had flowed across this land long ago. The ancient Ability that Karl Eberard had summoned.
An ancient droplet of water.
Arcadia’s Citizens cheered at Karl’s Ability. Those Citizens who had traveled from afar could not hide their amazement at Eberard’s truly “revived” Ability.
All these Abilities had gathered in one place.
The Abilities of four households, save Freezing, swirled together in one space, spiraling and spinning. It resembled exactly the scene from the Luminarie Festival.
And,
‘Now…….’
Tiel, realizing it was now her turn, carefully opened and closed her hands.
‘It’s alright, I can do this. I’m not afraid.’
It’s an Ability she’d used thousands of times over. Nothing would go wrong. She and Iandros had confirmed it right before coming here.
Tiel brought both hands together before her chest.
Then she closed her eyes and opened them, carefully gathering her Ability in her palms.
Cautious, deliberate—as she had been when she first manifested her Ability at seven years old…….
To use an Ability, one must possess true intent to do so. The most crucial thing is the resolve to illuminate this land with one’s own light.
Tiel knew this truth better than anyone.
A single gust from Olivier’s Wind loosened her tension, gently tousling her white hair.
Taking that as her signal, Tiel steadied her breath and used her Ability…….

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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