章 511: Chapter 510 Question 2
Luke affirmed, "The Island of God, Upper Yard, is indeed a part of Jaya Island. When Norland visited Jaya, he was drawn by the resonant sounds of its bells. At that time, the Shandians were grappling with a devastating illness known as tree fever, a disease unknown to them but treatable in Norland's homeland. Desperate, they resorted to sacrifices, hoping to appease their gods for a cure. The chosen sacrifice was none other than the daughter of Kalgara, the valiant Shandian warrior."
Norland intervened, halting the archaic and misguided sacrificial rituals of the Shandians by slaying their so-called god, a colossal python. He then treated the ailing Shandians, earning him the gratitude and friendship of the mighty warrior Kalgara. In thanks, Kalgara offered Norland gold from the legendary Golden City of Shandora, a gesture of generosity, as gold held little more value than stones to the Shandians, except that Norland cherished it.
However, the Shandians' admiration for Norland soon soured. Norland, unaware of its significance, had cut down the sacred woods, believed by the Shandians to house the souls of their ancestors—akin to desecrating their ancestral graves.
Though they were indebted to him for curing their plague, the Shandians could not overlook this affront. They awaited his departure, their once warm reception cooling significantly.
Confused by their changed demeanor, Norland remained oblivious until Kalgara's daughter confronted him. Only then did he grasp the gravity of his actions. Although the trees were the source of the tree fever, Norland maintained that their removal was necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, potentially saving the entire island from ecological disaster.
Before leaving, wracked with guilt for having possibly offended the Shandian ancestors, Norland left behind all the gold he had gathered and departed Jaya Island empty-handed.
Kalgara, upon learning the reason behind Norland's actions from his daughter, rushed to the shore to reconcile and apologize, but found only a mound of gold; Norland's ship had already sailed away. At that moment, the sound of the golden bell rang out as the Shandians frantically struck it to catch Norland's attention.
Norland looked back to see Kalgara on the shore, shouting, "Norland, you must return! I will always wait here for you! I will continue to ring this bell to guide you, so you won't lose your way at sea! It will help you find the island even through the fiercest storm! This bell will greet you! We must meet again, my friend!"
With the tolling of the golden bell, their pact was sealed.
After Norland returned to his country, the king, having heard tales of the Golden City, commanded him to lead an expedition back. But tragically, as history records, the city had vanished; the golden bell did not sound for him, and without proof of the city's existence, Norland was executed as a liar, his thoughts lingering on Kalgara and his people's welfare.
Unbeknownst to him, a year before his return, a mighty ocean current had lifted a portion of Jaya Island—along with Shandora and its inhabitants—high into the skies to Sky Island. This miraculous event led the god of Angel Island to declare the land a sacred place, exclusively his own, driving the Shandians into desperate but futile resistance.
Thus, Kalgara's promise remained unfulfilled, the golden bell of Shandora silenced, its lights extinguished. Over the centuries, the Shandians' desire to reclaim Shandora and vindicate Norland grew, fueled by tales of the 'great liar' passed down by seafaring pirates.
They yearned to ring the golden bell once more, to prove Norland's honesty and restore his tarnished name. The depth of the Shandians' loyalty and their commitment to honor an age-old bond impressed all who learned of it. It painted the Shandians as a people of profound gratitude and integrity, deserving of great respect.
Everyone now fervently hoped that the Shandians would soon fulfill their long-held wish, reclaim their homeland, and honor a pact made four centuries ago.
As for Norland, this broadcast was clearing his name. His decision to leave his gold behind exemplified his noble character, committed to justice and righteousness, distinguishing him as a hero worthy of admiration, especially among the Dwarves of Dressrosa.
In Jaya, Norland's descendant, Cricket, who had been tirelessly seeking the Golden City to redeem his ancestor's reputation, was moved to tears by this revelation. The stigma that had clouded his family's name was finally lifting.
Norland had not lied. The Golden City was real!
Cricket gazed skyward, imagining the golden bell high above through the thick clouds. "Ancestors, are you watching? It wasn't that Kalgara failed to keep his promise; the Shandians have never forgotten! The golden bell will surely ring again!"
Meanwhile, on Sky Island, the Shandians felt a surge of excitement. Though they had yet to retake their homeland and ring the golden bell themselves, Luke's acknowledgment had achieved what they had longed to do for years—clear Norland's name and redeem his legacy.
Their centuries-old mission was fulfilled by Luke's words, bringing closure to their ancestors' last wishes. The Shandians looked at Luke with profound gratitude.
Now, their focus was to reclaim their homeland, let the golden bell ring out, and guide the lost souls home. The obligation to guard the Poneglyph, which detailed the whereabouts of the ancient weapon Poseidon, had also concluded, revealed during the live Q&A. With the secrets of Poseidon now public knowledge, the significance of their vigil over the Poneglyph had diminished.
Their primary obstacle was Enel, who watched the broadcast with disdain, uninterested in the historical grievances of the Shandians or their past with Norland. To him, such mortal concerns were beneath notice.
As the Q&A session continued, Ganfall looked apologetically at Wyper and the others. If only the Sky Islanders had not ousted the Shandians, perhaps Norland's return might have been met with the ringing of the golden bell, confirming his friend's presence and possibly sparing him from execution.
This realization strengthened Ganfall's resolve to confront Enel and foster peace with the Shandians. The gods' past decisions to claim Upper Yard as a divine sanctuary had brought nothing but strife. It was time for change.
"Now for the second question," Luke announced, signaling a shift back to the present. "Who is the god of Sky Island now after Ganfall? You have one minute. Start the timer."
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