A journey of Shadowverse and Honkai Impact 3rd

"Get ready, we're going to enter."

"I'm going!"

Leading the way, she walked gracefully up the short stairs, emerged from the artificial light backstage, and bathed in the vast blue sky. At a glance, Sera saw all kinds of familiar and unfamiliar audiences. Expectant thoughts were expressed on the ground, in the air, and even underground, and they gathered on the circular stage decorated with flowers and plants.

Green vines grew on the wooden boards, and bright flowers covered the vines. Occasionally, they were inlaid with finely polished crystals. The clear and moist brilliance seemed to be able to cleanse the soul. Immediately, the girl's heart calmed down.

Thoughts flow in the wind, touching the reveries of their companions. Invisibly, they become a real entity, an outstanding forest band.

jingle--

The melodious sound of the harp, along with the first notes of various instruments in the orchestra, spread throughout the venue, announcing to the audience that the performance was about to begin.

"Well, it looks okay now. Let's see if there will be any problems later."

At the sage's seat, someone told Thrandal about Sera and the others' performance. So far, there was nothing to complain about.

"After all, he is my disciple. No matter what, he won't be any worse."

Thrandal inadvertently showed off his disciple again, and his confident tone attracted angry words from others.

"Is that because you taught me well? It's obviously because he learned well. Alas, fools are just lucky."

Smiling without saying a word, Thrandal, as the victor, disdained to argue with the envious and jealous others. He just waited quietly for the first song to sound, and then waited to explain the key points of the inheritance ceremony to Sera.

In the center of the stage, where everyone is paying attention, the band's ensemble lets the first ray of clear and quiet sound spread in all directions. The dense and soft music seems to flow out from the valley, running non-stop towards the fertile fields, nourishing the flowers and plants along the way, and feeding the animals moving forward.

Its essence is a clear spring in the valley that has been revitalized. It has become a member of the harmonious nature by absorbing the sunlight from the sky and the nutrients from the earth. The melodious and harmonious tunes change harmoniously, suddenly guiding the audience's mind to immerse in the calm lake, wrapped and soaked by the gentle flowing water.

The rumbling sound of drums and the uplifting sound of flutes floated out of the bursting bubbles. The crushed silk strings hummed softly, pushing the rhythm of the music forward, and then reached the thriving woods, forging a fantastic natural chord.

From day to night, and from night to the lights of thousands of homes, finally, the soft melody ends with happiness, turning into a gentle and brilliant light that illuminates the hearts of the listeners.

The performance of the first piece slowed down. Unlike the audience who were still focused on the previous ensemble, the players' thoughts had already turned to their personal solos. Their thoughts intertwined in the wind, and then fell on Sera's hands plucking the strings with a smile.

The solo in the band does not mean the performance of only one person, but a road of mutual achievement with one person as the main player and others as the auxiliary player. When Serra began her own starry song, a distant and clear music sounded, and the dancing beautiful stars seemed to jump into the eyes of the audience.

The boundless Milky Way and the vast sky silently express the sorrow for one's own insignificance, while sometimes giving people an illusion of brightness. The hope intertwined with emptiness and holiness exists in the silent empty space, and the bright starlight is its unique color.

The violin strings are full of imaginative splendor, the harp's colorful sounds are full of poetry, and the magnificent repertoire is the voice of the heart adapted for Serra. When the song ends, the audience responds to the band's dedicated performance with a peaceful silence.

Phew, my part is over, it’s your turn.

Sera's meaning flowed in the wind. Although the other members of the band had different emotions about this sudden pride, they did not show it on their faces.

The corners of her mouth curled up in a beautiful arc, and her exceptionally light fingers brushed across the tough strings of the harp. Amid the rumbling drumbeats, Sera began to add soft piano sounds to Latika's music, giving the majestic vocal music a harmonious softness.

"I was completely mesmerized by what I heard."

Among the vast audience, Selina smiled beautifully with her eyes closed, and the comments she made were the common voice of the other listeners.

92. Prelude to the inheritance ceremony

As the last wisp of music melted into the wind and the vast audience completed their own unique spiritual journey, this musical ceremony came to an end.

From ensemble to solo, and then back to ensemble, the entire band worked together with all their strength, and won the recognition of the forest dwellers with their extraordinary tacit understanding and unspeakable efforts.

When the song ended, the lingering sound lingered in the air for days. For the first time, Sera looked at the huge crowd gathered on the vast stage because of them with a normal relaxed attitude, and with a smile on her face, she sighed to her friends.

"It's finally over. I didn't make a single mistake the entire game. I feel like I performed exceptionally well."

A clear impression of all the music still remained in her mind, but she didn't even have a clear idea of ​​how long the performance had lasted. Only now did Sera have the time and energy to think about every detail of the process.

"Yeah, and I seem to be feeling inspired now. Sera, do you want to play for a while longer?"

With happy laughter, Arisa's speech was boycotted by most of the band members as soon as it was made. Even Mistrina did not speak up for her. Her aloof and quiet appearance instantly made Arisa lose her temper.

"If it's just inspiration, you can't play it here intermittently." Lisa said gently, holding the violin elegantly and quietly.

"That's right. If it's not a complete piece of music, maybe we can finish an impromptu performance in one go. However, everyone is tired now." Kokoro echoed Lisa, and Arisa, who understood everyone's wishes, had to nod.

"Actually, I don't really want to improvise, I'm just saying it."

"Alright, let's bow to everyone before we leave. Backstage, we can listen to your inspiration, Arisa~"

The band leader gave the final word on the end of the concert. Among the seven musicians who saluted in unison, only Mr. Orange attracted attention due to his unique body shape. Under the brilliant sunlight, the vast stage entered the closing process.

The crowd rose from their seats, as if thousands of mountains had suddenly stood up. Fairies and flying insects floating in the air also flew towards the exit of the barrier. Transparent light gates opened in various places on the stage, providing obvious guidance for others to leave.

In the backstage, the completely relaxed band happily began to eat and drink. However, when faced with the rewarding food prepared by the sage, some people looked at them with fixed eyes, and a malicious meaning emerged.

"Oh, this stage will be closed soon. If we don't try it now, we may never be able to enjoy this special meal again."

The elven sage Thrandal laughed out loud with a gentle and elegant tone. His temperament was refreshing and clear, like the mountain mist blowing across the calm water. But in Sera's opinion, this particularly refreshing temperament was somewhat cunning like a fox.

"I don't believe this is a one-time special."

With a stern face and hugging her chest, although she had to look up slightly due to the height difference, Sera still expressed her attitude with an unhappy attitude. This wonderful scene was created after the sage arrived, making the other band members want to watch the show from the sidelines.

"Alright, alright, this is a common practice. We went through this before, and this time you guys performed much better than I did. It seems like Serena taught you well."

He quickly used a gentle tone to soothe his disciple's unhappy mood. Thrandal threw out his kind words as if they were free, but unfortunately they didn't work. It was not until the band's mentor arrived that the situation changed.

"Oh~"

The glorious fairy had a smile on her delicate face, and her graceful figure was like a shining forest gem, but with a softer glow.

"Hasn't the relationship between master and apprentice been handled properly? You're still the same as before, always preferring to handle problems in a young person's way."

"It's harmless, but occasionally tricking a disciple isn't the way of a young person, isn't it, Sister Serena?"

Thrandal smiled and before he could speak, Sera gave the teacher some eye drops in front of Serena, and at the same time cast an expectant look at Serena who seemed to know the truth, hoping that she could stand on her side and join in the verbal attack on the teacher.

"Haha~"

Covering her mouth and laughing softly, Selina did not comment on Sera's remarks. Instead, she started chatting with Thrandal. Her sweet voice formed a pleasant language. After a few exchanges, Sera realized that it seemed that the teacher had received support.

Damn it! The elders in the forest all know each other, and no one came to help poor and helpless me.

Realizing that she couldn't handle it alone, Sera, who had originally just wanted to vent her anger, sighed and then had to return to her friends' circle and share the so-called reward food around the round table.

The teeth tear open the soft meat fibers, causing the rich juice contained therein to explode instantly, creating a feast of taste on the tip of the tongue. Then, you gulp down the drink, letting the rich taste take over from your mouth to your stomach, dissolving the dissatisfaction in your heart.

Lisa and Kokoro looked at each other, shared some of their food and gave it to Sera, and the other sharp-eyed people followed suit. Soon, Sera had more large portions of food in front of her, so she could eat as much as she wanted.

Soon, the brief atmosphere of joy came to an end. The band members, each having gained valuable experience, made an appointment to reunite in the future, and then separated one after another at the exit of the stage. Their instruments, representing friendship, will accompany everyone for a lifetime.

"Lisa, Kokoro, Mistlina, and Latica, see you later~"

"Goodbye~ We'll get together again sometime in the future~"

After watching the other figures go away, Sera was left with only Arisa, who was going back to Yggdrasil to report, and Mr. Orange, who was having a little fun as a band member. As for the teacher and Sister Serena, they had already left while chatting and laughing, leaving behind a pendant woven from vines, which was said to be the token for the opening of the inheritance ceremony.

"It feels like these days are both long and short, Sierra, do you feel that way?"

"No, as the leader, I just felt it was fulfilling and long. Fortunately, the concert ended successfully."

Walking slowly in the forest, from time to time she would meet listeners who had not left yet. Out of enthusiasm, she had to play a few songs impromptu to get away. At this time, Sera felt that being known by others might be a trouble.

"By the way, Arisa, after you're reinstated this time, how long do you have to work before you can get a vacation?"

"Who knows? Rosalia won't let me get away with it easily anyway."

On the green grass, the harmonious and natural buildings of the Yggdrasil settlement are faintly visible. Although the journey is not as fast as flying with the help of wind, it has a unique charm of tranquility and comfort.

Arisa's pretty face gradually turned helpless from the liveliness at the beginning. As the distance got closer, she spoke less and less. In Sera's opinion, she must have suffered from holiday syndrome and needed to work for a few days to recover.

"Look, Arisa, Rosalia is here to pick you up."

The capable and heroic figure was tall and slender, with a hint of satisfaction in her emerald eyes. Rosalia praised Arisa who was slowly approaching.

"You performed well on stage, Arisa. I thought you were going to mess it up."

"How could I possibly mess this up? I'm very talented in music, Rosalia!"

After hearing the interaction between the seniors and juniors, the girl smiled and stood there for a while before saying goodbye. Because their route to the Forest Guard Headquarters was not the same as hers, she and Mr. Orange were enough on the way to Mana Hall.

"Hum hum."

Inadvertently, Sera hummed a familiar tune, which was the first song that everyone had discussed and revised together. The melodious and pleasant harmony and cadenza constituted the wonderful melody in the latter part. Although her natural and thorough innocence was not as diverse as the musical instruments, it also had its own pure beauty.

93. Forest Heritage

Yggdrasil, the well-deserved center of the forest, the birthplace of all spirits named after the Mother of Creation. In it, there is an ancient tree that towers to the sky, so old that it can be traced back to the origin of the forest.

Deep in the tree dwelling called the Mana Hall lies the forest's inheritance ceremony. It is said that it is a treasure that has stood the test of time and is the key to the forest's prosperity.

Sera didn't know much about these claims, but before the so-called inheritance ceremony, she had a teacher to rely on who was sometimes reliable and sometimes deceptive.

"So, teacher, what exactly do you mean by the inheritance ceremony?"

The vine ladder stretched upward, and the tough platform rose to the familiar area. Smelling the breath of the forest emanating from the ancient trees, Sera asked Thrandal a question in the wind.

There was only doubt in her quiet words. Obviously, she would not act unreasonably when it came to important matters.

"You'll know when you come in."

The mysterious and riddle-telling style of the riddler is annoying, but it has no effect on Sera at this time. The girl sighed lightly and climbed up the branches of the ancient tree, walking among the treetops. All she saw and heard was the upward vitality, without any sign of decline, as if it could stand until the end of time.

The door carved into nature opened in response, and the pleasant resonant sound came from the crystal surrounded by vines. The essence of the earth combined with the green life of the forest, and the new music was more majestic and magnificent. Inadvertently, one could hear a whole world from it.

"Has the Mana Hall been renovated?"

Serra asked with doubt. Although it was still the spacious layout familiar in her memory, the activity of the earth added a lot of vitality to the place.

"It's more accurate to say that the Mana Hall reflects the changes in the forest."

Thrandal, who had been using the wind-listening technique to communicate before, corrected Sera's understanding with a smile. His face was clear and his tone of voice unexpectedly had the serious tone of a sage.

The elven sage led the way, leading Sera towards the depths of the hall. The appearance that originally looked the same as the surface gradually changed. The fluctuations of time and space became particularly deep in the perception, and the surging mana was so thick that it seemed to be able to directly submerge people, and even drown them.

But this is a forest, a manifestation of indescribable grandeur and tolerance. The boundless fresh breeze only blows gently to every child of the forest who comes here, like a mother's embrace, warm and peaceful, moistening everything silently.

Sera's heart calmed down. In the face of this tenderness that permeated her heart, she was willing to trust Him wholeheartedly, even in the unknown, until the end of the journey.

Bathed in the lush green mana light, invisible elements seep into the body and mind bit by bit. Silently, the wonderful sense of fulfillment that arises overwhelms the perception of everything. Even the veins of time and space can only be inferior to it, giving way to an indescribable sense of existence.

"The rest of the journey will be up to you."

Thrandal's gentle voice sounded, and the relief and joy in it were obvious. In the shining but not dazzling light, Sera put on the pendant woven from vines, and let the firefly-like light guide her way forward.

The Dust Colossus wanted to follow, but was stopped by Thrandal. In this soft and beautiful area, Sera heard some conversations behind him.

"Here is already the limit for non-inheritors. Don't worry, as long as you stay with little Sera, the forest's grace will favor you sooner or later."

"Hmm."

There was no sound of others on the journey ahead, only Sera's own heartbeat and the leisurely chords of nature. Every step the girl took forward seemed to be wrapped in soft grass leaves, and every breath was filled with elegant fragrance.

Suddenly, Sera touched an invisible wall. Although it was invisible, it had extraordinary elasticity. After sinking slightly into it, the pendant on her neck quietly disappeared and turned into a wandering light point that opened the final door.

As she moved forward, the soft and flexible feeling she felt when she was sinking into it quickly disappeared. The further she moved forward, the smoother it became. After an unknown amount of time, Sera finally saw everything clearly in the ocean of light.

The heart of the forest is green, where everything in the forest is intertwined. It is both wisdom and strength, and the source of natural mana.

How to describe it? A great heart of tolerance.

There was no fear of the birth of a giant, nor was there any lament about her own insignificance. All the girl had was praise for nature and a remembrance of maternal love.

So this is what the inheritance ceremony is like.

(Obtained card [Natural Mana], Gold Card, Description: Mother, do you see, the mana you gave me has become so glorious now.)

The sound of obtaining a card rang in her ears, but being in the ceremony, Sera felt far more than just a simple card.

The blessing of fresh green, the abundance of evergreen, and the essence of the forest accumulated over the years flow into the girl's body and mind. A pleasant and cozy feeling instantly surges into her heart, causing her beautiful blue eyes to close gently.

"Well, from now on, keep working hard, good boy."

Warm hands embrace the awake consciousness in a loving embrace, and the sweet and gentle voice brings hope and loving advice when it passes by the ears. It is like a beautiful dream, which is still vivid in my mind when everything is over.

The outstanding blue eyes opened, and a clear and transparent world unfolded. The qualitative change in vision came from the sublimation of the soul. The indescribable spatial context and dream collection that could only be perceived by talent in the past now appeared in the eyes in an intuitive and pure manner, as bright and moving as a kaleidoscope.

"The inheritance ceremony that the sages must undergo is actually used to make up for the time accumulation problem of the young people. After all, to be able to shoulder sufficient responsibilities, corresponding abilities are also indispensable."

In the Mana Hall, Thrandal explained the significance of the inheritance ceremony with a faint smile, and when he saw Sera's unusual blue eyes, he understood some changes in his disciple.

"Over the next few days, you should experience it carefully. The ceremony may seem like a moment to you, but it actually took three days."

"The transformation of your eyes, the sublimation of your perception, and the growth of your mana are all very important things to you now."