Chapter 845

Chapter 845: The Hall of Stars

In the palace of Solande.

Lolan Hill looked up at the towering and pristine structure, its overall design resembling a fluctuating crown, higher in the middle and gradually sloping down on both sides.

Originally, this was the King’s Hall of the West Wind, later converted into the highest council hall of Clancia. Although the internal architectural structure remained largely unchanged, there were quite a few modifications to the exterior.

The five giant elliptical crystal blocks originally embedded like a crown were removed and replaced with carvings that matched the wall color. The main gate was about ten meters high, with ears of wheat carved around it. At the top center was a floating star sculpture, depicting a winged maiden with closed eyes, her hands naturally spread out. One hand held a bottle from which water flowed, while the other held a flipping book.

Below her, above the gate, were continuous mountain ranges, rivers, forests, and lakes. The water droplets from the sky in the air fell onto the world, and pages from the book occasionally fluttered down, turning into faint shadows merging with the tiny figures standing below.

Water symbolized life, and the book symbolized wisdom, serving as a reminder of the importance of these two elements.

Indeed, looking at the lifelike carvings, Lolan Hill could not help but realize that this depicted her. She did not want to ask any questions and pretended not to notice, lowering her head with her ears slightly flushed as she entered the magnificent and spacious building. Night Ling, feeling something amiss, said she would not enter and waved goodbye with a smile.

Passing through the grand hall with the large map wall, they entered a brightly lit corridor. Tall guards stood on either side, standing at attention and saluting as they watched the two walk over the long red carpet.

Approaching the doors of the hall, two guards in white-gold armor stood on either side. Seeing Palinsa leading the group, they bowed and then pushed open the tightly closed mahogany doors. Inside, it was eerily quiet, with government officials dressed in white robes sitting in their seats, waiting quietly.

Looking at the scene inside the door, Lolan Hill’s steps became slower and slower.

Something felt off; what step had gone wrong to lead to this situation? Her fingers tightened and relaxed uneasily.

She just wanted to see home again, why did it feel like she was returning as a conquering hero ready to ascend the throne. She struggled internally but, seeing everyone’s expectant expressions, she couldn’t escape now.

Sighing, she decided to go along with it.

She patted her cheek, restoring her hair to its usual silver color and changing her eyes to the clear light blue seen in the mural. Slowly entering the vast hall filled with anticipation, she stepped into the quiet interior.

Under dimmed lights, thousands of high-ranking officials from Clancia sat together. They watched the single glowing aisle in front, and suddenly, a silver-haired girl entered, slowly walking toward the central podium that resembled a morning star.

Like a dreamy silver star gradually appearing in the dark night, her breathtaking beauty, her unchanging figure, her slightly fluttering hair, all sharply captured everyone’s attention. It was as if a comet striking the earth, stirring immense waves in everyone’s hearts.

Yes, it was her, the most ethereal existence, the fallen angel, the embodiment of countless winds, the weaver of starlight, the great sage of Clancia, the supreme Lolan Hill!

When the most fervent fans see their lifelong idol, the cheers that shake the hall seem to rattle the entire world, spreading far and wide.

Watching the adults cheer like children, Lolan Hill was at a loss. After a few seconds, when the cheers began to subside, she regained her composure.

What should I say? Looking at those pairs of expectant eyes, Lolan Hill felt immense pressure. What if she messed up and disappointed everyone? Would it shatter their dreams? She couldn’t help but worry.

After a brief pause, as the venue quieted down again, Lolan Hill spoke slowly.

“Thank you for your welcome.”

Her ethereal and clear voice echoed through the venue via alchemical amplifiers. Under the pale golden glow of the podium, she bowed slightly, then straightened up, her silver hair shimmering in the light, revealing her transparent and dreamlike eyes.

Under the gaze of these eyes, everything in the mundane world seemed to peel away, her body and soul entering a tranquil world. The words in her ears were like heavenly music, soothing breezes flowing through the heart, washing away worries and sorrows, making everything clearer and more serene.

“After many years away, I returned here, seeing many delightful scenes,” Lolan Hill softly recounted her journey.

“Now, Clancia has reached this point today, not due to my efforts, but rather the collective creation of us all.”

“I want to commend and praise everyone.”

“The hard work and sacrifices of many years have not been wasted. You have nurtured your own fruits, proving the correctness of your path, and many good things have arrived as expected.”

The girl spoke simple and sincere words, without stirring slogans or exaggerated rhetoric. While speaking, she made people naturally calm down.

Finally, in the quiet gratitude of the girl, the short speech came to an end. The audience in the venue rose together, clapping warmly and enthusiastically.

Facing the pairs of bright eyes, Lolan Hill nodded occasionally, slowly descending the stage and letting out a sigh of relief.

But before she could fully relax, Pulman slowly walked up to the stage, standing under the gaze of the multitude.

Today, he wore a sharp military uniform, adorned with several shining medals. Looking down at the familiar faces below and the nearby Lolan Hill, the leader of Clancia smiled modestly.

“Thank you very much for Lolan Hill’s speech. I believe everyone still wants to hear more, but it wouldn’t be right to rush her return. So, allow me to briefly share some memories,” Pulman said, feeling a glare from the girl below him, reminiscent of the stern look she gave him in the past.

“Cough, I won’t repeat the usual grandiose words today. This time, let me share a short personal memory,” he paused, clearing his throat.

“The story began in a small village at the foot of a mountain, in a remote corner of Nide County. Many maps don’t even show it,” Pulman’s lingering words brought back memories of a plain yet distant past.

“This poor village had no crops. Many relied on selling currants each year for extra income, and that year happened to be the season for collecting currants,” Pulman slowly recounted his past, the ordinary life of a village boy.

“In that accident, I lost my sister and family. Regret gnawed at me like a burning saw,” he continued.

“I swore to repay them, but hated my own weakness. So, I ventured again into the treacherous mountains full of beasts and danger,” he said.

“Perhaps I was lucky that day, or perhaps the Lady noticed my arrival.”

“In that sparse sunlight, she appeared like an angel descending to earth, walking towards me. This is the most unforgettable scene of my life,” Pulman was immersed in his memories, unaware that the girl below was almost fuming.

I wish I could knock this guy off the stage. If I hadn’t saved him back then, there wouldn’t be so many problems now, Lolan Hill thought, grinding her teeth.

Unfortunately, although Lolan Hill felt embarrassed, the audience in the hall regarded it as a treasure. Their focused gazes seemed to miss nothing, watching the man recount his past, imagining the beautiful scenes of the past.

After a while, Pulman finally finished recounting that part of his past, especially when Lolan Hill gifted him three items. Many people in the hall envied him, their intense gazes almost scorching him.

“So, my recollection ends here. Now, please welcome Lolan Hill to speak again,” Pulman gestured, drawing everyone’s attention back to the girl.

Faced with such expectations, Lolan Hill reluctantly returned to the podium.

“This,” she hesitated slightly before continuing into the microphone.

“Actually, there’s no need to elevate me so much, as it can be dangerous.”

“I hope to provide some help and advice, but I don’t want to see you lose your own judgment.”

“Many things in the world are constantly changing, and it’s hard to find universal truths beyond time and environment. Therefore, think from a simple and honest perspective, based on your own circumstances and needs.”

Lolan Hill finally tried to curb this trend, hoping to prevent idol worship, as “fan power” governance isn’t beneficial.

However, she didn’t know that this action further deepened everyone’s impression of her.

Although people listened to Lolan Hill’s stories and words, they hadn’t interacted much with the real person, always feeling somewhat distant and unreal. Perhaps it was because the girl left such a perfect impression on everyone.

Today, Lolan Hill stood in front of everyone, narrating calmly. Without the fantastical effects and lighting of myths, her clear and pure words gradually brought her image closer to reality. This firsthand experience was more touching and memorable than any story.

Finally, as Lolan Hill concluded her speech, the hall erupted into thunderous applause. The reddened palms and slight pain conveyed to her brain that everything was so real.

Such a dreamy and noble existence actually exists. She was like a flawless flower blooming in the darkness, illuminating the world.

—

After finishing her speech, Lolan Hill finally escaped from the crowd, leaving the Star Council Hall that had made her uneasy.

Palinsa covered her mouth and smiled, then led Lolan Hill toward a quiet part of the palace.

“The Red Jujube Palace where Your Highness once lived is still preserved. Do you want to rest there for a while?”

“Yes,” Lolan Hill nodded gratefully, feeling that this maid secretary understood her better.

“Haha, please follow me,” Palinsa said.

“Alright. By the way, where is the girl who came with me?” The girl was naturally referring to Night Ling.

“You mean the girl with dragon horns?” Palinsa recalled.

“Yes.”

“She is currently sparring with someone else,” Palinsa replied.

“Sparring?” Lolan Hill blinked, puzzled. Did Night Ling encounter some opponent? But why did she suddenly have the idea to fight? This guy usually enjoyed bullying weaker opponents.

“Yes, come with me, it’s just around here,” Palinsa led Lolan Hill to a corner of the palace.

After walking through several corridors, a special palace appeared before them. On a high white stone platform, four lantern columns formed a square curtain, creating a large isolated barrier.

Inside, two dragons were aiding each other in a chase battle. One dragon had a greenish-red body with scales like gradient maple leaves, while the other was jet black with smooth and reflective hard scales.

The two dragons were of different sizes, the black dragon being larger and the red dragon smaller. They were spitting flames at each other, but this move wasn’t effective against the heat-resistant pair, only warming them up.

Soon, they resorted to physical combat: claw strikes, tail sweeps, wing flaps, bites, etc. In this close-quarters battle, Night Ling’s lack of experience as a homebody dragon quickly showed, falling into a disadvantage and being easily taught by the black dragon, often being knocked down.

“Wah, stop! Stop bullying me!” Night Ling reappeared in human form, covering her head and crouching on the ground, her twin tails drooping beside her.

“Ah, did you give up so soon?” The black dragon also landed, transforming into a tall black-haired girl with light red eyes. She wore a black-blue elegant dress, her long slender legs wrapped in pure black stockings.

“Can’t beat Senryu-senpai, it’s all my fault,” Night Ling said dejectedly, then looked aside. Seeing Lolan Hill, her eyes lit up, and she ran over quickly, like a bullied sister seeking comfort from her big sister.

“Lolan, I couldn’t beat Senryu-senpai and lost you, sniffle,” she rubbed against Lolan Hill.

“Ah, how did I lose you?” The girl was puzzled. At this moment, Senryu also walked over smiling.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Actually, I just wanted to meet the Princess,” she explained.

Earlier, while waiting outside, Night Ling met Senryu by chance. As the ‘two dragons’ of Emanas Academy across two generations, students often compared Night Ling and Aloy to Senryu and Parin. Some said Senryu and Parin were strong, while others argued that Night Ling and Aloy were the strongest of their generation.

As both pursued the ultimate freedom through the dragon sequence, they were curious about each other, but hadn’t met much due to graduation issues until today when Night Ling saw Senryu again.

“I won’t let you take Lolan-senpai away,” Night Ling declared, crossing her arms when she heard Senryu was looking for Lolan Hill, indicating she wanted to compete with Senryu. This led to the subsequent scene.

“Wah, I wanted to impress everyone, but lost instead, it’s so embarrassing,” Night Ling pouted in Lolan Hill’s arms, sharing her thoughts, which caused a round of laughter.

“Alright, let’s leave it at that,” Lolan Hill stroked Night Ling’s hair and then looked up at Senryu.

She might already know about the fake identity she used in school.

Thinking this, Lolan Hill nodded slightly.

“Long time no see, Senryu-senpai.”

“It should be me thanking you, Princess Lolan Hill,” the perfect and graceful black dragon girl knelt in a bow.

(End of Chapter)