บท 11: Ceremony
Adeu and Arthur rode through the bustling city in a grand carriage, enjoying the sights and sounds of the vibrant streets. Adeu was well-known and loved by many.
His friendly nature had made him popular, and he had captured the hearts of numerous young women. However, Adeu didn't have time for distractions; his curiosity pushed him forward, eager to witness the famous Blessing Ceremony.
As they approached the Academy, a grand white castle-like building, they passed smaller houses, gardens, and training grounds where students practiced combat and strength. The Academy resembled a lively town, full of activity.
Just as they reached the Academy's entrance, a burst of energy startled Adeu as someone jumped onto him from behind.
It was a girl with golden hair and mesmerizing blue eyes. She hugged him tightly, exclaiming, "Adeuuuu! You made it! I'm so proud of you!"
Adeu chuckled, "Hello, Lisa. It's good to see you too," he replied warmly.
Lisa blushed slightly and said, "I must admit, I'm scared.
Aren't you scared? I never wanted to come here,but im still curious. What if humans pose a threat? What if they become monsters and wreak havoc on the city? Adeu, you'll protect me, won't you?"
Arthur watched with a mix of amusement and embarrassment, covering his face and sighing.
"Why worry about humans? Do you think they could ever match the strength of our true gods? Why would they worship us if humans were so strong? Sometimes, Lisa, you should use that little brain of yours."
Arthur chuckled at Adeu's response, while Lisa blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"You never know," she persisted. "Remember Zet? He defied all odds. He fought the gods alone."
Adeu fell silent, unable to dispute Lisa's claim. Zet had indeed done the unimaginable by challenging the gods single-handedly.
As an awkward silence settled among them, a familiar voice broke the stillness.
"Adeuu!" called out a voice.
Arthur, Adeu, and Lisa turned to see who it was. Adeu's face lit up with a smile, while Lisa wore a disappointed expression.
"Here comes this idiot," Lisa sighed.
Standing before them was a tall and handsome young man with jet-black hair and golden eyes.
His name was Echo, and in the Academy, he was second only to Adeu. Though they were fierce rivals, Adeu always emerged victorious in their battles. Despite this, Echo and Adeu shared a strong friendship.
Echo approached them, bowing respectfully to Arthur before playfully slapping Adeu's head. "You somehow surpassed me. You lucky bastard," he teased.
"Hey, that hurts!"
"So, are you guys excited to see the ceremony? My father told me it will be the best this year. It seems some incredibly strong individuals have been chosen!"
Echo's father, living in Circle One, had access to valuable information.
"I can't wait any longer. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Haha, I've heard that humans sometimes struggle against ordinary animals. Can you imagine that? It sounds so silly. Also, it seems humans come in all shapes and sizes, but I didn't quite understand what my dad meant by different."
Lisa asked, "What do you mean by different?"
Arthur interjected, "We gods are considered perfect. Humans, on the other hand, are flawed and have many variations. Differences in families, lands, and races.
They live in different times, and each of the five continents is advanced differently. People from different continents usually don't meet, which is why they have so many differences.
Some humans are stronger than others, and they have a wide range of eye and hair colors. Some are born weak, destined to die early.
They are all different, yet there is something that connects them all. Do you know what it is, kids?"
Echo playfully blurted out, "The eyes? No, maybe brains? Powers?"
The disappointment on everyone's faces was clear, except for Adeu, who burst into laughter. "Dummy," he chuckled.
Lisa thought for a moment and suggested, "Is it the heart?"
Arthur shook his head. "No, it's not the heart," he replied.
Adeu, after some contemplation, guessed, "The soul."
Arthur smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is the soul. Every human has a soul, something we gods cannot understand. We are devoid of souls.
This is why we cannot ascend to Heaven and experience our dreamlike existence. Only humans can reach that realm through the power of their souls.
But what exactly is the soul or Heaven? That remains a mystery to us."
The children wore expressions of surprise, fascinated by the concept of the soul. "Soul? How intriguing," they thought.
After taking their Blessing Ceremony invitation shards from the Academy, Arthur took Lisa, Adeu, and Echo to their transport.
It wasn't a machine or a horse, but a giant creature. It was a 50-meter-tall white animal with a tiger-like face, a long tail, and wings. The kids looked at it with wide eyes and surprise.
"We will go to Circle Zero with this?" Lisa asked in disbelief. Arthur nodded.
Echo ran first, "I'm taking the front seat, heh!"
Adeu chased after Echo, not willing to let him take the lead. Lisa joined them, and they all ran together and sat on the massive creature.
Arthur floated into the air and sat on the creature's neck, ready to guide it to Circle Zero.
As they flew into the sky, surrounded by giant clouds and a warm atmosphere, big smiles appeared on their faces.
They marveled at the breathtaking view. Suddenly, Lisa turned to Adeu and pulled something out from her small bag, which was a magical artifact that could store many things despite its size.
She pulled out a cake with "Happy Birthday Adeu" written on it.
"It's December 25, Adeu. Happy birthday," she said.
Adeu's heart warmed at the gesture. Lisa hadn't forgotten his birthday, and he felt grateful for her thoughtfulness.
Echo, feeling a bit embarrassed, started talking nonsense to cover up his forgetfulness. "Uh, uh, birthday? Why didn't you tell me, Adeu? I didn't bring anything."
Adeu and Lisa laughed, understanding Echo's playful nature.
"You two being here is enough for me."
Echo looked away, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude, while Lisa blushed at Adeu's words. Echo then pulled out a beautiful golden sword and handed it to Adeu.
Adeu pushed the sword back. "Are you crazy? Didn't your father give you this sword? What about you?"
"My father can make a new one for me anytime. Unlike your butler, he is good at making swords and many other cool weapons."
Arthur, hearing this, made an angry face, silently expressing his disapproval of Echo's comment.
The trio laughed together, and Adeu took Echo's sword, admiring its beauty. Echo showed a proud smile, "It's beautiful, right? Be grateful."
Lisa chimed in, "Adeu, it's your time to make a wish."
Adeu looked at his two friends and, after thinking for a minute, said, "I want to visit the human world."
His friends looked at him puzzled.
Echo shouted, "What kind of wish is that? Are you stupid?"
Lisa had a similar reaction. But Adeu just smiled.
"Well, you see, I really want to see how the world is down there. I want to meet humans, experience new things. Maybe there's something I've been missing out on. Who knows?"
His friends looked at him with thoughtful faces, understanding his curiosity and desire for new experiences.
The wind blew through their hair as they approached a giant castle, their excitement growing.
Echo spoke up, determined to follow Adeu's lead, "Then I will follow you there. Whatever happens, I will beat you there too. I will probably regret it if some random human defeats you before me."
Adeu laughed, appreciating his friend's competitive spirit.
"I'm coming too! Don't leave me out. You two are too stupid to do anything on your own," Lisa hesitantly said.
Trio laughed together, The wind blew through their hair as they approached a giant castle, their excitement growing more and more.
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