Anara sat on a chair with Grace settled on her thighs.
Nadia sat on a chair across the table opposite them.
As Nadia stared at Anara and Grace with a mixed expression of astonishnt, shock, and confusion, she asked, "You are her mother?... Her biological mother?" Her voice cracked with disbelief as she pointed a trembling finger at them. "And she's your daughter? Your biological daughter?"
Anara nodded, a smile erging on her lips. She understood Nadia's reaction, as motherhood for a nymph was sowhat unnatural. So, she waited patiently for Nadia to process the information.
Nadia realized she couldn't fully grasp what she had just heard.
Was it possible for a nymph to beco pregnant? No, it wasn't! However, such an assumption seed entirely wrong now because she had just encountered a nymph who had given birth to a child!
According to what she knew, tree nymphs raised their young by selecting the best Kalna fruit and concentrating their life force on it for several months before dropping the fruit to the ground.
The overseer would then help nourish the fruit with the help of the Divine Essence Lake, using a thod passed down from the oldest living tree nymphs to the next generation. This process was not easy for the tree nymph, as it consud a portion of their lifespan, though they could slowly regain it over ti.
The process could also be done without the Divine Essence Lake, but the duration until complete germination would be a bit longer.
Despite this, when a tree nymph erged, she was not seen as a child but as a sister nurtured by the entire grove. Of course, a certain reverence was given to the tree nymph who used her life essence to birth her existence.
The ice nymphs, also called water nymphs, used their life essence to create a pearl seed from a drop of water, which they would nourish either by themselves or with the help of several other nymphs, regardless of their traits. With the aid of a Divine Essence Lake, a new water nymph would be born when the pearl finally opens up.
The rock nymphs followed a similar process, creating a soul stone they nurtured until a new rock nymph was born. Each process required the assistance of several others to lighten the burden on the initial nymph, allowing the grove to work together and fostering a sense of
oneness.
This also helped them prevent others from capturing and enslaving them. Due to their inability to reproduce naturally, they compensated for it with their unique birth thods and a strong sense of community.
Nonetheless, the dium used in birthing a new nymph, whether a Kalna fruit, a pearl seed, or a soul stone, was a highly coveted resource in alchemical formulas and other fields. Many were willing to risk attacking entire communities to obtain these precious items.
Now, in a world like this, their lives were even more threatened, and it was simply a miracle that the tree nymphs had lived in Paradise, surviving in comfort until this very mont.
Nadia had also heard stories about one of their sister kin, the fire nymphs. However, she wasn't sure if they were real or just myths, as she had never t one. After eting Anara, though, Nadia held a small hope that the fire nymphs did exist and that so were still out there, waiting for their reunion.
After taking several deep breaths to calm her emotions and thoughts, Nadia focused on Anara and asked, "Who's her father?" Her tone was laced with curiosity.
Nadia suspected that a man must be responsible if Anara had gotten pregnant. Nadia couldn't help but wonder what kind of man he was, considering he was possibly responsible for the irregularity she had just witnessed.
Before Anara could respond, Grace said, "My father is Orion, the Supre Leader of Paradise and one of the youngest and strongest warriors in Paradise."
Nadia's mind imdiately short-circuited, her body frozen in place.
"What did you say?" Nadia asked, her eyes now locked on Grace.
Feeling her intense gaze, Grace shrunk back and clutched Anara's dress tightly.
Realizing she was frightening the little girl, Nadia softened her expression and apologized. "I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize. Your reaction was natural. From your expression, I can tell you've been through a lot," Anara said, shaking her head. "Grace will snap out of it after a while and find the courage to approach you again, so don't worry."
She wrapped her arms around Grace and gently combed her golden hair with her fingers. "As for what she said, it's true. Orion is Grace's father and my husband," Anara confird. "You're married?" Nadia asked again, her expression and voice tinged with indescribable shock.
Anara nodded in response, holding back a chuckle as she took in Nadia's shocked expression. She was enjoying the conversation; it wasn't every day that she could share such incredible news with a new sister.
Nadia wasn't just shocked to learn that Orion was Anara's husband and Grace's father, but also because she had unknowingly t the Supre Leader of Paradise. She recalled the foolish plans she had initially considered and couldn't help but shiver in fear.
If she had acted on those plans, she would have not only incurred the wrath of Paradise but also lost the chance to reunite with her long-lost sisters. It would have been a disastrous encounter with tragic consequences. She realized just how lucky she was.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the house, followed by the door opening.
"He's here," Anara said. She had instructed one of the nymphs to inform Orion of Nadia's
awakening.
Nadia nodded in understanding and quickly tried to regain her composure.
Soon, Orion stepped into the dining area, and Seth followed close behind him.
"Daddy!" Grace exclaid, jumping down from Anara's arms and running into Orion's
embrace.
Orion caught her effortlessly and gently rubbed her back as he approached the table, his gaze fixed on Nadia.
Seth followed behind, eyeing Nadia with a curious expression. Just from observing the nymph the Supre Leader had spoken about, he beca intrigued by the other nymphs and the remaining Bastions within the pocket dinsion.
"How are you feeling now, Miss Nadia?" Orion asked, taking a seat.
"I'm fine," Nadia nodded. "Great warrior Orion, are you really the Supre Leader of Paradise?" she asked, seeking confirmation.
While she believed Anara's words, she wanted to hear them from Orion.
"Yes, I am," Orion replied. "I couldn't reveal this earlier because I knew it would have made our eting tense. Besides, I doubt you would have co if I had told you beforehand."
Nadia sighed, realizing he was right.
"Allow to officially introduce you," Orion said, gesturing towards Seth, who sat beside him. "This is Stronghold Leader Seth, one of the key leaders commanding most of Paradise's military forces and one of its strongest warriors."
They shook hands and nodded at each other.
Nadia studied Seth curiously, wondering if his strength was greater or lesser than Orion's.
"I don't an to interrupt your conversation," Orion continued, his tone serious, "but it's ti for us to leave and return to the Bastion of the Wailing Gnarled. The longer you are away, the more problematic it might beco. Also, you must inform your sisters about what you have learned here and see if they can co here."
Nadia nodded in understanding. She had wanted to stay for another hour, but considering how she had left the Bastion of the Wailing Gnarled for a while, it wouldn't be good if soone discovered her disappearance and found only Fifi in her place, which might lead to
reckless actions.
"Let's go. I can't wait to inform my sisters about all the new information I've learned regarding Paradise," Nadia said firmly.
She then turned to Anara. "I'll be leaving now, sister, but I promise I'll return as soon as
possible."
Anara nodded with a warm smile and responded. "I understand. Do everything you can to bring our remaining sisters to Paradise so the others and I can care for them. That way, they
won't feel troubled anymore."
"I will," Nadia replied with an equally bright smile.
They stood up and headed for the door. Orion returned Grace to Anara and prepared to take off
into the sky with Nadia.
"Goodbye, Aunt Nadia!" Grace called out, waving with a small smile as she finally had the
courage to face Nadia again.
Nadia's expression softened, and her eyes were filled with tears as she waved back with an
emotional smile.
If anyone from the pocket dinsion had seen Nadia's expression at that mont, they would have mistaken her for a completely different person. In just a few hours, her deanour had shifted so dramatically that even Nadia would have trouble recognizing herself if she looked into a mirror.
Nadia realized that this was what she had been missing all her life. After so many years of suffering in that dreaded ocean, her hardships were finally nearing an end.
Reviews
All reviews (0)