Chapter 475: Time to Go
The day for Benjamin to depart Verdant Spire for a two weeks stay at Goliathen has finally come. The morning sun rose over the palace, casting golden light across the sprawling gardens and towering tree structures, painting everything in warm hues of amber and rose.
The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and fresh earth, a perfect day for travel, one might say.
Servants bustled about, carrying bags and provisions, while the women of the palace gathered at the entrance to bid their farewells.
There was a palpable tension in the air, a mixture of excitement and melancholy that seemed to affect everyone present.
As discussed and agreed in the last Interracial meeting, Benjamin has been asked to spend two weeks in all the remaining seven kingdoms of the alliance, so he can grow his harem—! I mean, so he can explore and know the world of Elyndor, as he is an unbelievable asset that should not be hoarded by a single nation in the alliance.
The decision had been made with great deliberation, each kingdom arguing for their fair share of time with the enigmatic god-touched who had captured so many hearts.
His power, his charm, and his presence was considered too valuable to be confined to one territory, and so the tour had been arranged.
A heavy debate, unbeknownst to Benjamin, between his lovers occurred the day before now—one of which will be revealed at a later date—where it was suggested that Benjamin goes to Goliathens with a bodyguard and secretary.
The discussion had been fierce, voices raised, accusations thrown, alliances formed and broken in the span of a single day.
Each woman had her own reasons for wanting to accompany him, her own desires and hopes.
Of course, this was clearly a means for one or two women to exclusively be the center of attention in this novel, and everyone (including the queens—I mean, especially the queens) were gunning for one of the spots.
The competition was intense, with arguments ranging from practical necessity to emotional attachment.
Some claimed they were the most qualified to protect him. Others insisted they were the most knowledgeable about Goliathen customs.
A few simply refused to be separated from him for two whole weeks.
At the end of the long and heated argument, they all came to a conclusion.
The details remained a secret, known only to those who had participated in the debate, but the decision had been made and would be revealed in due time.
But for now, Benjamin will be escorted and tagged along by Heka.
This information was given to Benjamin yesterday, but he also dropped a shocking opinion as well:
When the arrangements had been explained to him, he had listened patiently, nodding along, and then asked a question that had thrown everyone off balance.
"Why don’t I use the opportunity to see some parts of the Whispering Wilds?" He had asked them, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I realized that the continent was pretty big and some villages and small nations are dotted around. Just that they never get close to here, Verdant Spire. It seems a waste to simply fly over them, or teleporting without stopping to explore."
Correct, he was.
The Whispering Wilds did not only consist of Verdant Spire, but a wide variety of cultures, nation, villages, towns and tribes.
The continent was vast, stretching for thousands of miles in every direction, home to countless peoples and traditions that had evolved in silence.
Some were peaceful, some warlike, some strange and mysterious. All were part of the rich tapestry of Elyndor’s diverse population.
The power cramming in Verdant Spire and the dangerous monsters who call the surrounding area home marks it as one of the most dangerous places for normal mortals to live, thus, only superhumans such as Amazons can survive out there.
The concentration of magical energy in the region was so dense that it warped the very fabric of reality, creating pockets of instability that could swallow the unwary whole.
It was a land of extremes, of incredible beauty and terrible danger, and only the apexes could call it home.
"If we travel on foot to Goliathens," Heka clarified, her vibrant brown eyes and blonde lashes blinking from mild surprise over the matter, her voice carrying a note of careful calculation, "it will take us many days, possibly a week or two depending on unforeseen circumstances, before we reach our destination."
Benjamin still wanted to take the journey like a normal human, instead of flying there on the back of the magical Griffin, Auralis, or teleporting there.
He insisted on experiencing the world at ground level, on seeing the sights and meeting the people and understanding the land in a way that could only be achieved through patient travel.
His enthusiasm was infectious, and eventually, his request had been granted.
It was decided, and he had been eagerly preparing for the sightseeing trip.
The past few days had been filled with preparations, packing, and planning, and now the day had finally arrived.
Titania the fairy queen said her thanks to Benjamin and Elara for allowing her to slack off in the land of the Amazons for more than a week.
The tiny queen’s butterfly wings fluttered with delight as she expressed her gratitude, her voice sounding with its usual mix of childishness and ancient wisdom.
She had thoroughly enjoyed her time in Verdant Spire, feasting on the food, basking in the attention, and she was almost reluctant to leave.
Note: Vaelora had left her to take over as deputy before the queen returned. The fairy kingdom had been in capable hands during Titania’s absence, ensuring that the realm continued to function smoothly even without its sovereign present.
Some fairies appeared out of the space that spread like opened curtains, shimmering at the bent edges, all looking like preteens or 16-year-olds.
They emerged from a portal that rippled and glowed, their small forms silhouetted against the magical light, their wings catching the morning sun.
They arranged themselves in formation around their queen, ready to escort her home.
Titania waved once more, asking Benjamin to visit Fairylynch when he has the time again, then vanished into the portal.
The shimmering curtain closed behind her, and the space was empty once more.
Immediately after that, Sakura was next: unlike a certain tsundere’s dream, Sakura did not return in the back of the giant fiery bird spirit.
The Beast Queen had other plans for her departure, plans that did not involve the magnificent creature that had borne her to Verdant Spire.
Dark smoke filled a small part of the atmosphere, thick and swirling, and a figure walked out.