TGS - Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Setting Off
In the biting cold wind of early winter, two golden eagles with wingspans exceeding two meters glided back, their flight paths crossing in the air.
They powerfully beat their wings. One landed lightly on the princess’s forearm, shaking its wings to maintain balance and stand firm. The other, flying a bit slower, found its landing spot already occupied by its sister and had to land on a nearby leather-wrapped perch, letting out a dissatisfied cry.
Alyuin picked up the fresh meat she had prepared and expertly fed them a few pieces each in turn before letting them eat on their own.
The golden eagles grew quickly. In just a few months, the two sisters were already the size of their parents. They were practicing their flying and hunting skills, sometimes even catching prey like wild rabbits to proudly show the young princess—though the prey usually ended up in their own stomachs.
They flew out every day, looking quite impressive. Only their white tail feathers indicated they were still sub-adults and needed more practice.
Seeing that the two eagles had finished their meal, Alyuin gestured for them to go out and continue their training.
But unexpectedly, after gliding just a short distance, the sisters circled back and began to orbit Lotus. Their fluffy, powerful legs stamped on the ground as if they were wearing thick, downy trousers. Their light brown eyes stared pleadingly at Lotus, refusing to leave.
Seeing this, Alyuin’s face darkened. She strode forward and made a shooing gesture. “Go play by yourselves. Quickly.”
Only then did the eagle sisters take flight, circling a few times above their heads before soaring high into the sky, soon becoming two blurry black dots.
Lotus said gently, “It’s getting late. You’re still playing around with them. You should go change your clothes.”
Alyuin said nothing, simply standing before Lotus, straightening her neck and bowing her head slightly.
“I didn’t touch them just now,” Lotus said innocently, raising her hands to show her innocence.
The young princess’s tone was flat, yet it seemed to carry a hint of accusation. “If I hadn’t come over, your hand would have been on them already.”
“…” Lotus couldn’t argue. So she stroked the young princess’s head. Her black hair was soft, cool, and smooth, resting obediently in her palm.
Alyuin was satisfied. “I’ll go change.”
Watching the young princess’s back as she walked back to her room with a light step, Lotus couldn’t help but shake her head gently, a smile appearing in her eyes.
Over the past few months, the young princess had handled most of the feeding and training of the two golden eagles. But perhaps due to some animal instinct, they often liked to hover around Lotus, who had done almost nothing.
She would always subconsciously raise a hand to smooth their feathers. The neck feathers of the growing eagles were sleek, their wings glossy, and the down on their bellies was fluffy. It felt nice to the touch.
The young princess had caught her doing this once. She hadn’t said anything at the time, just turned and walked away dejectedly. That night, however, she had curled up beside Lotus and nuzzled her head against her palm.
“You raised us all. You can’t just favor them.”
Alyuin had been perfectly self-righteous.
From then on, Lotus never “favored” them again.
In the past, she might have been more mindful of her status as a goddess and tried to avoid such intimate gestures, but now there was no need to consider it.
After more than three years of companionship, even sleeping nestled together at night, their relationship seemed closer to that of family than a deity and a believer. At least, that was how Lotus felt.
A moment later, Alyuin emerged from her room, having changed her clothes. She wore a relatively formal, long robe-like dress, its simple design adorned with solemn gold jewelry that sparkled at her head, neck, hands, and feet.
Today was the young princess’s thirteenth birthday. According to the customs of the ancient Solancians, she was to undergo a baptism ceremony at the temple.
The people of Solancia had only four baptisms in their lives: one month after birth, at age thirteen, at the coming of age at eighteen, and a final one at their funeral after death. This showed the great significance of one’s thirteenth birthday.
Lotus adjusted the young princess’s hair ornament. Thinking of what she had looked like when they first met, she felt a wave of emotion.
Alyuin was right about one thing. She truly was a child she had raised.
“Let’s go. Muya is waiting for you.”
The two went to the sacrificial chamber, where the priestess stood before the divine statue, murmuring something under her breath.
Hearing the sound behind her, she turned and bowed respectfully, first nodding to Lotus before speaking to Alyuin. “Your Highness, everything is ready. The ceremony can begin.”
Time seemed to overlap with three years ago.
Back then, the young princess had just arrived at the temple. Amidst the fragrance of burning ritual candles and under the devout gaze of the priestess, she had sworn her eternal loyalty to the statue of the river goddess, her heart filled with uncertain hope.
But at that time, only the young princess and the priestess were in the chamber. The spirit-form Lotus, floating in mid-air, didn’t count.
Now, the priestess and her daughter, Rhea, stood to one side. Several cavalrymen from the Royal Guard stood watch by the door, while the temple scribes and other priests waited on the stone steps outside, observing the princess’s thirteenth birthday baptism.
Alyuin knelt on one knee in the same spot, but she did not look up at the marble statue. Instead, she secretly cast her gaze toward Lotus, who was closest to her.
The black-haired scribe noticed her gaze and returned it with a serene smile.
No one knew that the incarnation of the goddess was right here, except for Alyuin and Lotus themselves.
A secret joy filled the young princess’s heart, and she almost got carried away.
As the priestess approached her holding a small vial filled with water from the Yilu River, Alyuin suddenly spoke up. “May I request that Lorja perform my baptism?”
Lorja was the name Lotus used in her identity as a scribe.
Looks of surprise flashed across the faces of the Royal Guard members. The priests and scribes outside the door were even more stunned. The baptism ceremony had strict procedures, especially this part. Given the princess’s status, the only one here qualified to baptize her was the priestess. How could…
The priestess froze for a moment. She paused briefly, thinking that there was indeed no one more suitable than the goddess’s messenger. She immediately handed the vial to Lotus and said earnestly, “Please—you should be the one to complete it.”
Lotus chuckled and accepted the vial without hesitation. She walked before the young princess under everyone’s watchful eyes, her gaze conveying a single word: Mischievous.
The young princess wore an expression that said, I’m being mischievous, but I’m right. She blinked lightly and, counting on the fact that no one else could see, mouthed the words: Only you can.
Lotus dipped her fingertip into the pure water of the Yilu River and touched it to Alyuin’s brow.
Brow, tip of the nose, chin.
“May the Yilu River forever protect you, and may the glory of the Goddess Lotus be upon you.”
Reciting the standard blessing, the goddess herself smiled and added silently in her heart:
Happy birthday, Alyu.
If word got out that the princess’s baptism had been performed by a common scribe, it would likely provoke outrage from many, who would assume the princess was being deliberately slighted by the temple staff. Others would treat it as fodder for gossip, something to chat about in their idle time.
However, the observers of the ceremony were all confidants of the priestess, and the Royal Guard answered only to Alyuin. This news was destined to remain unknown to outsiders.
The end of the baptism ceremony symbolized Alyuin’s entry into adolescence. She would no longer be seen as a child who knew nothing.
After staying at the temple for a few more days, she led the Royal Guard and set off for the largest nearby city—Digebia.
Digebia was Kadera’s main city.
Before Solancia was unified into a vast kingdom, the land was dotted with city-states of various sizes. The first King of Solancia had conquered them one by one to unify the kingdom, but most of these city-states were preserved, becoming cities.
The smaller cities surrounding a few powerful ones were called secondary cities, while the powerful cities they surrounded were naturally the main cities.
Though they were all cities, the gap between a main city and a secondary city was enormous. The lords of secondary cities were not qualified to travel to Akhet. To present tribute to the royal city, they had to go through their main city. Theirs was a complete vassal relationship.
Before setting out, Lotus was very calm.
She had, in fact, already been to Digebia.
A year ago, to test how far she could travel from the temple, Lotus had floated all the way to Digebia in her spirit form. But that was far from her limit.
Lotus had a feeling that she could go anywhere she wanted now. Perhaps the root of this was the complete awakening of her divine authority. In other words, she didn’t actually need to keep following the young princess.
She could continue to drift as a spirit, or she could wander the lands of Solancia in human form. She might even find some clues as to why she had come to ancient Solancia, or even—
Lotus didn’t let the thought continue.
After all, she was just thinking. It would be too irresponsible to Alyuin to just leave because she could move freely.
…She had to at least wait until the young princess reclaimed the position that rightfully belonged to her.
As for what came after, she would think about it then.
At this moment, the carriage was traveling along a mountain road. The magnificent silhouette of Digebia had already appeared ahead.
“What are you thinking about?” Alyuin asked, leaning over.
Lotus naturally stroked the top of her head. “Nothing. Are you hungry?”
It was afternoon. The winter sun was bright but held little warmth, slanting through the carriage window and casting small patches of light on Alyuin’s face.
“I think so,” the young princess said, looking a little embarrassed.
At noon, she had been so focused on discussing their plans for entering the city with Motis and the others that her mind hadn’t been on lunch at all. She had only eaten some dried meat absentmindedly.
Lotus sighed helplessly and found some rations to give to the young princess.
She wouldn’t say much in a situation like this. Otherwise, a divine incarnation would seem too naggy. The young princess was entering her teenage years now; what if she rebelled and found it annoying?
“…” Alyuin sullenly accepted the rations.
Lotus didn’t say anything caring today. I’m not happy.
Just then, the captain of the guard knocked on the carriage window from outside.
Alyuin put down the rations and asked cautiously, “What is it, Motis?”
Motis frowned and said, “Your Highness, someone is approaching. They say they wish to see you.”
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