We made our way back home; Riding on Midnight, the wind tousling our hair and the Fenrir's majestic aura and Princess Astrid's smile added a fresh energy to me.
Princess Astrid's backstory was straight out of a fantasy tale, something you'd read in a book or see in a movie. Imagine a princess emerging from a solid rock, like some magical awakening. But here's the kicker – she had amnesia. All she knew was her name, Astrid, and she spoke a language none of us understood. It was like she was from a completely different world, lost in translation.
But hey, where there's a will, there's a way. We got creative with communication. Simple gestures, basic sign language – that became our bridge. When she was hungry, we'd mimic eating, and she got it. It was a bit like a quirky game of charades, but it worked. We built a connection through actions rather than words.
Even Elara, who's pretty sharp, and the wise Fenrir were stumped by Astrid's language. It was like an ancient tongue, something no one recognized. Cue my trusty sidekick – the HUD. It didn't know everything, but it prompts her information after the awakening "The Forgotten Princess Astrid." That tag felt oddly fitting.
Princess Astrid, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, couldn't contain her enthusiasm. She clung to me like a soulmate, hugged and snuggled me tightly as we rode on Midnight.
Albeit Mr. Fenrir and Midnight seemed to share a silent agreement as they raced towards each other, a blur of fur and grace. Their movements were a testament to the sheer power and agility that nature bestowed upon them. I found myself caught in the crossfire of their excitement, a spectator of this impromptu contest.
With my heart racing, I couldn't help but call out, "Wait, wait, Midnight! It's too fast, slow down!" My words seemed to be carried away by the wind, barely audible against the backdrop of their frenzied run.
As our journey led us to the familiar borders of our home area, I took a moment to ensure that our new comrades wouldn't face any hindrance. Using the HUD, I officially registered both Mr. Fenrir and Princess Astrid as guests.
I still remembered when things went wrong during the fallen quest. Back then, those who weren't registered couldn't get through our protective barrier. That was a mistake we didn't want to make again. So, with a few taps on my HUD's screen, I made sure Mr. Fenrir and Princess Astrid could freely be a part of our world.
But while I was fiddling with the HUD, a thought nagged me – how strong was the Aether Shield, the thing that kept our kingdom safe? I wondered if it could handle unexpected problems.
"Hey, Grandma Im, we're back," I called out with a grin. Her surprise was pretty clear when she saw me returning with the two new faces in tow. A raised eyebrow and a curious expression silently asked the question she didn't voice.
With a voice that didn't quite make it past my lips, I added, "I'll explain later." Her understanding nod was reassuring, and she went about helping us with our things.
As I turned to Neko and asked her to take Princess Astrid to my room, where she could freshen up after being in stasis for nearly 300 years. It was important to treat her with care and kindness, making her feel welcome in our world.
With a gentle nod, Neko led Princess Astrid to my room, guiding her with a reassuring touch. I could sense Astrid's hesitation. She didn't want to be separated from me, her grip tightening ever so slightly. Her golden eyes met mine, silently pleading not to leave her alone. "Don't worry, Astrid," I said softly. "I am here." Astrid's tense expression softened, and a hint of relief crossed her features.
Neko led Princess Astrid to my room, Neko spoke softly and soothingly, her voice like a balm to Astrid's soul. Astrid listened attentively, her eyes never leaving Neko's face. "You are safe now," Neko said. "You are with who will take care of you."
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Then, my attention shifted to Evan. He looked worn out, like a kid who had just returned from a summer camp adventure. His oversized t-shirt, cap, and shorts made him resemble a young scout, and I couldn't help but burst into laughter. It was quite a sight, and I teased, "Hey, Evan, did you have fun building birdhouses and roasting marshmallows?"
His tired yet amused smile told me that maybe he was feeling a bit like he'd been on a wild camping trip, albeit one filled with magical creatures and otherworldly quests.
As I was about to lead Fenrir to Java and Linux, I noticed that the two small Fenrir were already gathered around the larger Fenrir, curiously sniffing and investigating their new friend. It was an adorable sight, and I couldn't help but smile at the interaction between them. "Looks like Java and Linux are already knew you." I spoke.
As we stood there with Fenrir, Grandpa Bo approached, curious about the new addition to our group. "Amy?" he asked, his eyes widening with surprise. "Grandpa, meet Mr. Fenrir," I replied with a smile. "He's family to Java and Linux."
Fenrir respectfully bowed before Grandpa Bo and expressed his gratitude for taking care of his family. He shared the tale of how he had been tracking Java and Linux, and the events that led them to be separated.
Leaving Fenrir to catch up with Java and Linux, Elara came over and asked about the progress of the mining. I reassured her, saying, "Don't worry, Elara. I can monitor the mining progress. So far, we've mined 20 ores already." Elara looked puzzled and asked, "But where are the ores now?"
With a knowing smile, I motioned for her to follow me. As we reached the vault, I unveiled the answer, "Right in here." An unassuming building, a mere 1 meter by 1 meter in size from the outside. Its exterior offered no hint of the grandeur that lay within. As I swung open the door, a remarkable transformation greeted us. The interior space opened up into a vast chamber that defied the humble exterior, leaving us in awe of its hidden dimensions. Crafted from sturdy stone, the vault's walls were adorned with intricate rune symbols that seemed to pulse with faint, ethereal light. The play of light and shadows created an otherworldly atmosphere, as if the symbols themselves held ancient secrets.
What truly set this vault apart was its organizational brilliance. The interior space was meticulously designed, shelves and compartments neatly arranged to accommodate treasures of all kinds. It was as though the vault had a mind of its own, sorting and categorizing loot items with an uncanny intelligence.
Elara's eyes widened in astonishment as her lips formed an impressed "O" shape. "That's astonishingly convenient!" she marveled, her voice tinged with genuine surprise.
With a mischievous smile, I decided to demonstrate the vault's magical capabilities to Elara. "Watch this," I said, my voice tinged with excitement. "5 fangs of Rathefang," I declared. As the words left my lips, a soft hum filled the air. From the depths of the vault, a holo-assistant emerged, holding the requested items in its shimmering holographic form.
The holo-assistant that materialized bore a striking resemblance to the holo-meister, their facial features mirroring each other with uncanny precision. However, what set them apart was not their visage but rather their attire. The holo-assistant's appearance was tailored to the context of the vault, resembling the attire of a seasoned banker and the holo-meister, who was often seen at the training ground clad in warrior's attire.
Overhearing our conversation, Alex chimed in, "And not to mention how fast we got back here using the teleportation."
I nodded and shared, "Yep, I've set up a teleportation spot between the entrance of our kingdom and the mountain area. You can easily spot it because of the special brick stone floor."
Marcus, the quiet one in the group, finally spoke up, his surprise dripping from his words. "Honestly, I've never seen magic like that before. It's like we're practically invisible, Kin—uh, I mean, Amy."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his words, my tone playful. "Nah, I'm nowhere near the league of Evan and those top-tier folks. My magical bag of tricks has its limits," I admitted.
I sealed the vault shut and settled down on the porch, contemplating our next move. The HUD materialized before me, displaying a triumphant message: "Mining Quest Complete! 100 Ores Gathered."
As I caught sight of the white magnolia tree, standing tall at around 2 meters, it seemed to possess an extra shimmer, like a touch of enchantment. I wondered if my tiredness was playing tricks on my eyes, conjuring the unusual. However, my attention was swiftly redirected as Princess Astrid moved purposefully toward the magnolia. Curiosity piqued, I called out, "Hey, Astrid? Where are you headed?" Yet, there was no response from her end.
I observed as she reached out and touched the magnolia flower. A peculiar transformation unfolded before my eyes. The tree began a slow growth, its trunk shaking slightly, and its branches extending outward, branching out like the spokes of an umbrella. The once ordinary magnolia was morphing into a colossal entity, reminiscent of the magnificent Yggdrasil tree often seen in RPG game posters. But this was no Yggdrasil; it was a grand magnolia tree, with a trunk that could rival the towering structures of the tallest building on Earth.
Suddenly, my attention shifted back to Princess Astrid. She had grown faint, seemingly connected to this astounding display of magic. Without hesitation, I dashed to her side. That's when I saw it – a stone tablet, embedded at the base of the newly-transformed mega tree. Carved onto the stone were the words "Magnolia Kingdom," followed by my own name, "King Amy Crownswell " and another name, "Queen Astrid Royalden". Frozen in awe, I stood before the stone tablet, grappling with the astonishing revelation.
The sight of the stone table and its inscription didn't send shockwaves through me; rather, it was the sudden appearance of another interface on my HUD that caught my attention. As I stood before the magnificent magnolia tree and the stone tablet, a new quest materialized before me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Quest
Hold the Line
Defend against the impending Goblin Army
Begin in 05:59:05
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My heart raced with a mix of surprise and urgency. The tranquility of the moment shattered as the reality of the situation sunk in. The peaceful ambiance was replaced by a sense of impending danger. With a mixture of determination and concern, I muttered an exclamation, "Arghh!!!".