OBS Chapter 3512 Talk by the Fireplace
Chapter 3512 Talk by the Fireplace
Chapter 3512 Conversation by the Fireplace
The "dance floor" setup wasn't finished yet. Amidst the crashing sound of the sea, a circular wooden platform rose from the seabed on the right side of the Radiant Messenger. Mermaid girls, who had transformed their fish tails into human legs, sat on the flat wooden platform in the form of an orchestra, holding musical instruments.
Then, hundreds of mermaid maidens sang mermaid songs together in the ocean to the accompaniment of music. Sylvie watched this scene with satisfaction, and Claire had to admit:
"That's a really big investment. It's good to have people working for you."
So Sylvie extended an invitation to Shad:
"Shad, would you like to dance the first dance with me?"
"It's okay that this invitation is usually extended by men to women; of course I'd be happy to accept."
He took Sylvie's hand and jumped off the deck. The Great Witch of Light's black evening gown unfurled in the air like a butterfly. After landing on the sea with her in his arms, Shad reached out and manipulated the starlight and moonlight, ultimately causing the silver moon to shine like a spotlight onto the luminous area on the sea.
Everyone had a great time that night. Besides taking turns dancing with Shad, Emilia even shyly took the initiative to kiss Shad while dancing, something that even witches had never done.
The pointy-eared elf girl was the kind of person who loved adventure and challenges.
However, Emilia still needed to return to the academy, so the group headed back towards the town at 10:30. Miss Elizabeth, who was dancing with Shad last, steered the ship, while the others remained on deck enjoying the sea breeze.
"Shad, how did you address Stella just now?"
Claire suddenly asked a question, and Sylvie immediately laughed. Shad, who was discussing mermaid habits with Emilia, blinked and turned to look at her:
"We called her by her first name directly. We only started calling each other that after we went to the city to see my friend that afternoon."
Claire looked at her apprentice with some displeasure. The white-haired girl was a little embarrassed, but didn't offer any further explanation.
But when they returned to town, and Shad intended to take Emilia home first, Miss Swift suggested that they leave together:
“I now live in the Ice Castle with my mother-in-law’s other followers, and I’ll go back from Miss Sylvia’s tower.”
So instead of throwing the glass slipper home, Shad transformed into a silver moon dragon and carried the two girls into the sky.
He first sent Emilia back to St. Byrons, but when he returned from St. Byrons, he was surprised to find that Miss Swift was still there, and had not returned to the castle through the portal.
She stood alone on the steps before the tower, gazing at the starry sky and the moon. Snowflakes fell gently, indicating the bullet's effects had worn off—shorter than Shad had anticipated. This was the third highest peak of the snow-capped mountains, "White Dragon's Spine," where the temperature was extremely low. Miss Swift's shoulders were already stained white. Shad, who had come up from the bottom of the steps, asked with some concern:
"Why aren't you going back yet? Do you need a coat? I have plenty of clothes here."
The girl with flaxen hair looked at him, pursed her lips slightly, and then said softly:
"Shad, how long have we known each other?"
“From the autumn of 1853 when I went to Myburg, to the beginning of 1855, a year and a half has passed.”
"But you still call me Miss Swift."
Her eyes were fixed on Shad, her gaze unusually resolute:
Even though you've already kissed me.
Xia De then understood why the girl was so troubled, so he went over and hugged her.
"Alright—Rita, I'll call you that from now on. Time really flies. I went to Myburg to find the missing Priest Augustus, and it's been almost two years already. When I first met you, yellow leaves were falling. I never imagined so many stories would follow."
The girl, her face slightly flushed, softly hummed in agreement. She didn't say anything more, but simply closed her eyes to enjoy this moment of warmth.
The two stood in front of the tower for a full half hour before Shad escorted Rita back to the Ice Castle. After chatting with the maid Winnie for a few more minutes, he returned to the Snow Mountain Hall.
The reason he wasn't home so late wasn't because no one was home tonight, but because he had promised Elder Harald that he would attend the most important ceremony at midnight.
It was already 11 p.m. when they returned to the town. The banquet had lasted all night, and most people were too tired to continue the festivities. When Shad returned to the banquet hall, it was no longer as lively as when he left. He even saw that many people had fallen asleep at the tables.
However, none of the elders were asleep. When Shad found them by the fireplace at the end of the banquet hall, all five elders and Claire were there, and Elder Harald looked worried:
"It's already snowing outside, and it's heavy snow. I'm afraid the young people this year won't be able to walk well on the mountain roads."
If that relic bullet had triggered its negative properties, its effects would have lasted for a very, very long time, but Shad's luck wasn't that bad. Thick clouds now blanketed the island, and even experienced elders, who couldn't divine, could tell that a heavy snowfall was likely in the coming days.
"Has there never been heavy snow during All Souls' Day in previous years?"
“We’ve encountered this before, but in the past All Souls’ Day usually lasted about a week, and we could choose the time with the best weather to send the young people of the tribe off. This year, time is tight, and we can only set off tonight. It seems we need to prepare more warm clothes and food for them.”
The old folks discussed the matter with great concern, while Shad quietly asked Claire:
"I've been too embarrassed to ask before, but what if, I mean, what if none of the people who set off reach the summit before the deadline? Would All Souls' Day be considered a failure?"
Claire shook her head; she was also somewhat worried.
"As long as someone eventually reaches the summit, it's not considered a failure even if the time limit is exceeded. It's just that the All Souls' Day will be less effective in regulating the island's climate and stabilizing the spiritual tides. But don't worry, we've encountered situations before where heavy snow blocked the mountain, but someone still had to bring fire into the mountain. The tribe has contingency plans for all kinds of unexpected events."
The young men who went into the mountains were all selected from the villages. They were either physically exceptional or had outstanding mental strength. The fire they carried into the mountains was to be burned in the bonfire on the first day of All Souls' Day and in the fireplace in the banquet hall on the second day of All Souls' Day.
This flame was brought back from the sacred mountain by the elders before All Souls' Day. Shad had observed the flame yesterday; it was just an ordinary fire. However, after being continuously exposed to the unusual elements on the snow mountain during All Souls' Day, the flame now possesses some unusual characteristics.
Do you really think they're using the Primordial Flame?
Suddenly, the "she" in his ear asked, "Shad had originally hoped for this, but it seems that finding that spark is not so simple."
With only half an hour left until midnight, Miss Larson looked quite sleepy. Claire, on the other hand, was in good spirits, standing by the fireplace talking to Shad about her childhood experiences at All Souls' Day feasts:
"The adults wouldn't let us drink alcohol, not even fruit wine, but the kids could always get some butterbeer or other drinks from the kitchen."
A faint smile always appeared on her face when she recalled the past, while Xia De reminded her from the side:
"I remember that butterbeer is non-alcoholic."
Claire nodded:
"Yes, I only found out when I grew up."
Elder Harald chuckled to himself, but he didn't interrupt Shad and Claire's conversation.
Not all Fatu people can attend the All Souls' Day feast in the Snow Mountain Hall. Although the banquet hall is large, it is impossible for everyone on the island to attend. Generally, the number of people attending the All Souls' Day feast is allocated according to the population ratio of each village, and then the villagers decide the specific number of people to attend.
Priests, village chiefs, and other important figures participating in the All Souls' Day mountain climbing activities are certain to attend, while other spots will be allocated through methods such as drawing lots or lottery. As for Claire, the granddaughter of the Grand Elder, a girl born with extraordinary signs, she never missed a single All Souls' Day feast from the age of three until she left the island to study at eighteen.
“When I was a child, I looked forward to All Souls’ Day even more than the year-end festival. There was delicious food everywhere, and many friends I didn’t usually see would come from all over the island. Most importantly, my parents wouldn’t make me go to bed early on All Souls’ Day.”
Looking around the banquet hall, she recalled things from when she was a little girl:
"So when I was young, I really wanted to become an elder like my grandfather so that I could attend the All Souls' Day dinner every year."
Shad noticed that Elder Harald, who was discussing with Elder Uller whether to let the departing "warriors" carry an eagle, glanced over subtly. Shad understood the elder's meaning:
"Haven't your dreams come true now?"
"I only temporarily took over my grandfather's duties this year because he was injured. I would rather he hadn't been injured; this is not a dream come true."
She said this, and although Elder Harald was very moved, he still urged Shad with his eyes not to waste this opportunity.
Having noticed Elder Harald's hint, Shad asked Claire:
So what are your plans for the future?
Claire looked at him with some surprise, and a blush crept onto her face, as if she had thought of something.
"After we finish things on the island, Stella and I will first take care of some miscellaneous matters at the mining exploration company, and then we will visit you in Topske. Actually, we have also been invited to explore for minerals in De la Rion, so we'll take this opportunity to go and take a look."
Xia De then laughed and said:
"I certainly welcome your visit, but that's not what I wanted to ask. I mean, should we continue to participate in All Souls' Day in this way in the future?"