Whispering Poems

Chapter 3863 The Summoner's Social Duties (Seeking Votes)
Claire's platinum blonde hair was also styled in a bun tonight, with gold and gemstone earrings dangling from her ears. She hesitated for a moment and then shook her head.
“I don’t need to ask my grandfather and the others, and I know they won’t agree. The academy’s educational level is indeed very high, but only priests who grow up at the foot of the snow mountain are true Fatu priests.”

Shad wasn't surprised at all by this answer, and Bella smiled and suggested:
"Although they can't study at the academy for an extended period, the elders should be able to allow young people to study at academies like St. Byron's for six months to a year, right?"

Claire raised an eyebrow:

"That should be fine. My maternal grandfather and the others are here too. I'll go talk to them in a bit."

Flora then laughed and said:
"Claire, it seems you won't be leaving Fatummister Island anytime soon, right?"

Claire didn't show any displeasure, she just nodded wistfully:

“When I received my grandfather’s letter after the year-end festival and returned to my hometown, I originally only planned to go back after All Souls’ Day. Now the island has become like this, all the villages need to be rebuilt, the roads and bridges in the snow mountain need to be repaired, the snow mountain map needs to be redrawn, the secret realms that have appeared in the mountains need to be explored, and the ruins on the mountaintop need to be dealt with. I really can’t leave immediately.”

After saying that, she glanced at Shad again:
“But that’s fine too. I can stay on the island for now, and when Shad comes to deal with things again, I can lend a hand. Besides, didn’t Ms. White say that there are many hidden treasures in the snow mountain used to seal Mr. Snake? I can help Shad find them.”

Bella and Flora both laughed; they understood what Claire meant, and Shad certainly did too.
“Even after the story of fate ends, I will still come here often. Winnie said that the castle cannot leave this island, and Silvia’s tower is also on the snow mountain. In the future, Fatummister Island will become my most frequently visited base outside of Topesk, just like 'Vestal Grove-Moon Sanctuary' and 'Green Lake Island'.”

Claire nodded in satisfaction.

"The Speaker also mentioned this to me before he left. Although the War of Destiny has ended, this island can still produce precious 'Star Ore' and 'Destiny Arc'. These two resources are also very important to the Council. Therefore, the Speaker's intention is to establish the Witch Council's base here."

After all, the Church already knows that I, this witch, am from the Fatu tribe, so there's no need for me to conceal my identity too much. Furthermore, with my mother acting as the card player, connected to Stella, I think the Church should already have a clue who I am. Therefore, I will serve as the nominal liaison between the Council and the Church of the Five Gods.”

Shad nodded, then looked at Stella behind Claire:
"Would it be convenient for us to speak privately for a few minutes?"

The white-haired girl was taken aback, and Claire then pulled her two colleagues aside:
“Then we’ll make room for them. Belle, Matilda, you two go too.”

Soon only Shad and Stella remained at the table. Although the latter was a little embarrassed, she was no longer the person she had been when she first arrived on the island.
"How did I perform in this battle of destiny?"

She asked him in a natural and generous manner.

"Thank you for joining the choir and saving me from falling. Luvia said that if you hadn't given up your candidacy and left the temple, they would have had a hard time gathering thirteen people."

Shad picked up the glass Claire had given him before leaving and clinked it against Stella's. The white-haired girl was also dressed up carefully today; although she wasn't as glamorous as her teacher, she wasn't as ordinary as usual either.

"As for your performance in this battle of destiny, to be honest, if it weren't for Ellie, you would have been the one who most deserved to be in the spotlight. Following your teacher to an unfamiliar island, and after a series of adventures, you resolved your inner conflicts, reconciled with your past self, and also reconciled with your homeland. This is the treatment a protagonist in a traditional chivalric novel should receive."

The white-haired girl had a faint smile on her face:
"Unfortunately, the god of fate didn't want to see a story that everyone could imagine. However, I'm not disappointed."

She looked into Shad's eyes:
"The experience itself was enough for me. And then there was meeting you."

Shad then extended an invitation:
"Can we dance together later?"

The white-haired girl blinked again:

"But weren't you going to dance with the Elf Queen?"

"Yes, but that's the first dance. I'll dance the second with Sylvie. There's a reason for that. For the third dance, I'll invite you. The battle of destiny ends this morning, and I want to use this dance to mark the end of your adventure on Fatummont Island."

The story begins with a letter from a distant island and ends with a dance at a grand banquet and gazes exchanged under the lights. How traditional is that?

"of course."

Stella Larson nodded slightly with great restraint, and as Shad smiled, she whispered:
"And, thank you."

"Thank you for what?"

She said seriously:
"Thank you for everything you've done for me."

Considering that he probably wouldn't have time to do anything else once the ball started, Shad then went to meet with Miss Eden and other church representatives, as well as the elven elders led by Sister Kisara. He even spoke a few words with the thirteen-ring silver dragon "Scroll Wings," who talked to Shad about Mr. Albert.

It's a pity Sister Daphne doesn't participate in such events, otherwise Shad would love to know what she would do at this grand banquet.

During her conversation with the gentlemen and ladies of the church, Miss Eden asked Shad a very important question:
"Your Excellency, Summoner, please forgive our intrusion, but perhaps only you can answer this question—the descent of the God of Misfortune during the War of Destiny."

She hesitated, as even thirteen-ring sorcerers dared not directly ask questions about deities. However, the only answer to this question could be obtained from Shad. Every divine descent from the material world had to be recorded. Back in Midhill Fortress, when the Vampire God descended, they couldn't find Shad to ask questions, but now, having cooperated, they were somewhat acquainted.

Shad then produced the answer he had already prepared:

"I suppose you've already heard from Elder Zarathustra about the Order of Doom being tricked by the snake, haven't you?"

Miss Eden nodded. Although this sorceress had been famous for as long as Danest, she looked only twenty-four or twenty-five years old. Tonight, with her long hair tied up and dressed in an evening gown, she looked like a noble lady from a prominent family attending a banquet in Tobesk or Willendale.

"Yes, the Prophet's Association shared this news."

"The gods would normally ignore the deception of mortal believers, but this time it involved a test left by the ancient god of fate. That's why that old god descended, but He wouldn't directly attack Mr. Snake, so He came to me instead."

No, I'm not saying He thinks I'm in cahoots with Mr. Serpent. Mr. Misfortune wanted to briefly suppress the forces of doom through a battle with me—I mean, with the god I invoked—and then, after the great one I invoked triumphed, Mr. Misfortune rewarded me with the ability to defeat the serpent.

Although Shad's explanation was somewhat convoluted, Miss Eden understood:
"Is the evil god using the opposition to the god you invoked to achieve its purpose of helping you in a practical sense? Okay, I will compile these things into a report."

She was actually skeptical of this claim, but since the caller of the gods said so, she wrote it down. After all, the matter was over, and dwelling on the details would only make things unpleasant for both sides. Shad knew that although his answer was logically sound, and even the cultists themselves might think so, there was only one truth: the gods descended only to make him relive his "fall."

Miss Eden wanted to talk to Shad about angels again, but soon Chairman Le Norman and Mr. Zarathustra arrived, so Miss Eden left for the time being.

The prophets also came to thank Shad. Chairman Le Norman remarked on the difficulty of this battle of destiny and finally asked Shad a question:
"Your Excellency the Summoner, only four of the Chosen Ones remain to appear—Creation, Chaos, the Moon, and the Sun—and this time, our adversary has shown us what the apocalypse truly is. So, what are your thoughts on the 'ultimate finality'?"

Xia De realized that the association wanted to discuss the "doomsday" with him. After the battle of destiny, the association was well aware that the Summoners probably had the most knowledge about the "doomsday" in the material world.

Shad understood that he couldn't fight the apocalypse alone, and the snake had provided a great opportunity. However, he couldn't casually reveal information about the apocalypse, otherwise it would hasten its arrival.
"Everything must eventually perish. Even the ancient gods could only postpone the end of the world. There is not much we mortals can actually do."

He looked at the two prophets:
Do you know about the Hermitage of Light?

“I know, the association has had some contact with them, though not very frequently. I’ve heard that in recent years they’ve been trying their best to prepare for the end of the world. Although they’ve always done this, their actions in recent years have been much more significant.”

Shad nodded:
"This is one of the ways mortals cope with the end of the world; the Association's Rhodes Card is also a way."

Chairman Le Norman was not surprised that Shad knew this:
"But the means by which weave the web of enlightenment and civilization can only serve to delay."

Xia De laughed:

"Isn't the method of the ancient gods also a form of delaying tactics?"

Is there no way to completely avert the apocalypse?

"No, even if I can still stand here and attend the banquet after invoking the gods, I am still just a mortal."

　P.S.: Requesting votes at the end of the month!!! Today is the last day of November!!!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)