Chapter 271: Hope

Chapter 271: Hope

Several adult Fairies had appeared around the Ancient Tree at some point, and they began to dance gracefully accompanied by their singing. The dance was a praise, and also a ritual.

Bran watched all of this, and surprisingly felt a powerful force from the Fairies’ small bodies. That force was ancient and profoundly difficult to understand.

Above, the ink-black torrent of water rushed endlessly, pinning Bran down so he could not move at all. Was this considered digging his own grave? With a bitter smile, Bran closed off his perception of the outside world and began to focus on communicating with the Ancient Tree beneath him. Since things had already come to this, then let nature take its course. He would rediscover this world together with the Ancient Tree and completely finish his own process of renewal.

The Old Fairy Mikkel originally wanted to join and lead the ritual, but Huahua swooped down from the air and caught him in her mouth. With his scolding and shouting, Huahua placed him on the ground. The moment Mikkel tried to leave, Huahua reached out a paw and pulled him back. In her slightly narrowed eyes, the threat was clear.

Mikkel angrily shouted, “Stupid cat! Would I harm Bran?”

Huahua flicked her tail, opened her mouth in a big yawn, and acted as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. After a moment of anxious stomping, Mikkel finally surrendered to fate. He let out a sigh and leaned against Huahua’s side.

“Listen to me, this is very important for you.” The Old Fairy patted Huahua’s big leg. “What is happening now is not bad for Bran, and I never intended to deceive you all. Bran has entered the Sea of Magic, drawing out the most primitive and purest Mana. But their benefit to this Continent is limited, as is their benefit to the creatures here, while the Ancient Tree can not only transform them, but also bind them here.

Once, there were many such flowers, plants, and trees on this Continent. Their varieties were numerous and countless, but now only the Ancient Tree remains. The time is too distant, some things have long become ancient legends. Fortunately, they ultimately managed to be passed down. We Fairies still retain the most ancient Priest methods, but we mostly treat them as dances during festivals, a kind of celebratory activity without much meaning.

It has been too long since we have seen a creature capable of touching the Sea of Magic. We do not know if the Ancient Tree still possesses those most ancient instincts, nor do we know if you and the Ancient Tree can be compatible. We do not even know if these ancient rituals can work, if they can help you.

We dared not explain in advance, because it might have influenced you. So we hoped to let things take their natural course, observing secretly. If it succeeds, that’s good; if it fails, no one would know. You could still live your own carefree lives, even fly far away with the Little Fairies.

I know you understand. If you were truly a stupid cat, you could not have touched the Sea of Magic. I hope you know, when you also reach this step sometime in the future—do not resist.”

Huahua purred, pulled the Old Fairy into her embrace, and rubbed her head against him hard.

…

The Fairies’ song, accompanied by a spiritual tremor, entered Bran’s consciousness. Even though he had closed off his perception, it could not block it.

The song was repetitive and monotonous, telling an ancient story. It displayed the rising sun and setting moon, the cycle of the four seasons like a simple record. The stars of the night seemed eternal and unchanging, yet Bran was experiencing the vast changes of time.

But all this was still far from enough, because the story’s perspective was too monotonous; it forever looked up at the sky. Bran had seen more. He knew that hidden behind the Starry Sky were even vaster, more magnificent rivers of stars. At the same time, Bran had also looked down upon the earth, which was far less vast than it believed itself to be.

So, he could inherit and learn from this ruined Continent, but he would never copy it exactly. Even if it was wrong, even if he paid the price of failure.

Bran opened his embrace, letting the Mana flow through his various past experiences, letting it pass through his previous life and this present one. He hoped it could understand what it meant to be reborn as a human, and understand what he once had, and what he had lost.

I am Bran, yet I am not Bran. I am in this World, yet I do not belong to this World. My thoughts, my consciousness, are not compatible with this World. Because Sister is the darling of this World, and I am nothing, even though we both touched the Sea of Magic, even though the Fairies sing and dance around me.

The Key began to turn, and the Mist gathered and coalesced, gradually rising above Bran’s head, blocking the pouring Torrent. Gray tendrils like silk floss extended from the Mist, sketching out a human-shaped object full of holes. Then the silk floss began to split, twine, and interweave. Finally, Bran returned once again in human form.

He sat there quietly, watching the Fairies joyfully sing and dance, telling an ancient and heavy story with the most cheerful voices.

The Mist above his head had already dispersed. The Torrent of Mana struck his head, causing water to splash everywhere. Bran raised his face, feeling the oncoming tide of Mana, savoring everything about it in detail.

Seeing Bran restored, the Old Fairy could not help but let out a sigh of relief. If Bran was fine, then the Ancient Tree should also not have any major problems.

Bran did not get up for a long time because of the Ancient Tree beneath him. He did not want to interrupt the Ancient Tree’s process, even though he now had many questions that needed answers from that annoying Old Fairy not far away.

The progress on Bran’s side had been reported by Mikkel, so Lily, who was in an idle state, suddenly became highly sought after. That Ancient Tree who was planning to settle in Twinwing City but had been delayed in arriving suddenly erupted with amazing potential. On a dark and windy night, he broke into Twinwing City. After entering the city, he went straight under the tower, pointed to his crown, and invited Lily for a talk.

He was very thoughtful. He specifically wove a large bed in his crown and covered it with thick leaves.