Chapter 243

Chapter 243: My Best Friend

Who could have imagined that a chance journey, an unexpected invitation, and a unique performance would create a miraculous and dreamlike scene.

The glowing flowers in full bloom, the fruits hanging from the branches, seemed to step out of a dream into reality, coming closer to them, making everything feel so unreal that they wanted to touch and look at them repeatedly to confirm their perception.

For the residents of the grasslands, fruits were rare commodities because transportation and preservation were inconvenient. Fruits from the southern region were very expensive and rarely eaten, with quite a few people not even having tasted such sweet delicacies.

The oily and bland taste of the past was replaced by the slightly sour yet sweet flesh of the fruit, a different kind of beauty was perceived by the people, and the venue for the night was filled with cheers.

“Eranie!”

A peculiar call came through, a burly man with a loud voice shouted this.

“Eranie!”

Others nearby began to shout as well, raising their hands high, their expressions agitated.

“Eranie!”

“Eranie!”

“Eranie!”

More and more people joined in, shouting her name until the entire venue was immersed in this wave of cheers, echoing loudly in the dark wilderness, spreading in all directions.

Eranie, the daughter of flames, the girl who healed Kedar in ancient legends with her song.

She wore a crown of green branches, a white dress, barefoot, emerging from the fire, healing Kedar’s arrow wound with her song, then letting him rest for three days to recover his strength. Afterward, Kedar, full of energy, defeated the Wolf King and took him under his command. This story is recorded in “The Poem of Fire” and is one of the origins of the Crimson Songstress.

The world-famous Blue Songstress and Crimson Songstress have always been the highest honors given to a songstress.

Lolan Hill opened her eyes, looking at this fervent ocean of cheers, feeling somewhat at a loss.

At first, she just wanted to bring out the natural magic for the performance effect, but for some reason, as she was swept up in the melody and emotions, these magical lights formed into butterflies, stimulating the plants around to grow.

The lack of nutrients in the past was replenished and promoted by magic power. By the time the young girl came back to her senses from the song, these small saplings had grown into dense trees, bearing thick fruits.

Nia looked at the white-robed girl sitting among the branches atop the carriage, as if seeing her roommate for the first time. So this is the real Lolan? So dreamy, beautiful, and distant.

The wandering poet and other travelers next to the carriage were equally stunned by the sight of the young girl with green hair, wanting to ask or say something, but unable to find words to describe it. All the words they had learned before seemed to pale in comparison, making it hard to express.

The crowd below cheered for Eranie’s praise, slowly moving forward, but when they neared the carriage where the young girl sat, they couldn’t help but want to stop. Her clear and beautiful eyes and face were so beautiful, making them reluctant to desecrate this flawless purity.

“Everyone, please quiet down.”

After a long silence, the Great Shaman finally spoke, shaking the copper bell on his wooden staff to gradually calm everyone down.

The crowded people parted like a tide, the old shaman wearing a colorful headdress walking in the middle, followed by several other shamans. They came from several large tribes, representing most of the forces on the grasslands.

Currently, there are over forty tribes on Gufiya Grassland, only five of which have populations exceeding two million: Wolf Ear, Lion Mane, Leopard Ear, Bull Head, Deer Horn. These large tribes have many sub-tribes under them; for example, Cave Lion is one of the sub-tribes of Lion Mane, while White Wolf and Black Wolf are sub-tribes of Wolf Ear.

The current Great Shaman comes from the sub-tribe of Deer Horn, the Cold Deer clan. The forked horns on his head bore unknown symbols and inscriptions, with small bronze plaques and jade pendants hanging from them, clinking as he walked.

The Great Shaman walked to the front of the carriage and stopped slowly. At this moment, Lolan Hill felt that sitting on the top of the carriage was somewhat impolite and jumped down, lightly touching the ground with her toes before standing steadily.

“Hello, unfamiliar guest, new legend songstress,” the old shaman praised, his long, thick brown beard swaying.

“Greetings, I apologize for disrupting the gathering,” Lolan Hill nodded slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had extinguished almost all the fire pillars during the bonfire evening.

“There’s nothing to worry about, as long as the fire in the altar doesn’t go out,” the Great Shaman said indifferently, continuing, “And you brought us a rare joy in a century.”

“It has been a long time since we heard such wonderful songs. Perhaps even the Dusk Travelers back then couldn’t match this level.”

The old shaman sighed slightly and then invited, “Can we talk? Not just me, but many here are eager to hear more about the beautiful world you depicted with your song.”

“I’m interested too,”

“There’s no problem, but I need to bring my friend,”

Lolan Hill nodded and raised her moon-like pale wrist to point at the ordinary girl sitting in the corner.

The Great Shaman looked at the slightly shorter ordinary girl and seemed to recall something, then said, “Is that ordinary girl your friend?”

“Yes, she has always been one of my closest friends,” the girl replied softly, everything feeling so natural.

Nia looked around at the layers of gazes, filled with envy, jealousy, enthusiasm, and various other expressions. Her heart, once restless, finally settled, as if a stone that had been falling had finally touched the solid and soft ground, giving her a sense of certainty and reassurance.

Even though I am as insignificant as a firefly, can I stand beside that bright moon?

Can such an ordinary existence also be seen by the world?

I am not just a blade of grass by the roadside, easily forgotten. Even such an unremarkable me can be remembered and acknowledged by ‘her.’

A warm current flowed through her heart, warming her humble and weak inner self.

Even if she doesn’t achieve anything in the Flame Festival this time, and even if she cannot graduate smoothly from Emanas, it doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore.

The world is ever-changing and unpredictable, like clouds in the sky, but in such a tumultuous life, she has found companions to walk with.

Good friends are treasures that are hard to come by.

At this moment, the horned girl with the appearance of holding a treasure stood up from the crowd, slowly walking out, standing next to her friend and greeting the Great Shaman.

“Hello, Elder Unuk, I am Nia from the Horned Tribe.”

The short-haired horned girl with brown hair bowed slightly, then lifted her head. Under the moonlight, her face reminded the shaman of that night of wild fires, that strong yet fragile face.

“Indeed, it’s you.”

Thank you, Xiatian, Ye Ling OwO, Shangshanruoshui, ???? ?, Cangluo Night, Lunchbox 216, Reader 20170726104641032, Illusionary Dream Saint, Qidian.

Additional thanks to Xiatian for the generous donation.

(End of Chapter)