"We'll be staying at the Everard Estate in Arcadia. It seems that the Everard Estate has finally been completed."
Karsus answered. Tiel thought about Illum, the Beastkin of Arcadia, and Karl Everard.
'I wonder how Karl is doing?'
When Tiel first met Karl, he was a much smaller and younger boy than Tiel.
Considering that Tiel was only seven years old at the time, Karl was truly a young boy.
But at such a young age, he found out that he was the sole heir of Everard and was burdened with the monumental task of rebuilding Arcadia...
'Karl must have had a difficult time.'
Tiel always felt sorry for Karl. He had so many responsibilities to carry at such a young age.
Thankfully, thanks to the support from Asterian and Arne, Everard had been helped in every way possible, and now Arcadia had become a much more livable land.
'But it must have been tough along the way.'
Tiel promised herself that when she saw Karl again, she would definitely tell him how much she appreciated all his hard work.
And now, she imagined what Arcadia looked like after so many changes, so different from the past.
The last time Tiel saw Arcadia, it was a breathtaking land covered with golden streams of water, flowing across the entire earth.
I wonder if it still looks like that?
Since Tiel hadn't been to Arcadia after that, she didn't know how much it had changed, but there was one thing she was sure of.
Those who only saw the current Arcadia wouldn't even be able to imagine what it was like during the "cursed land" era.
And that's probably why the temple chose Arcadia for this festival.
To celebrate the land that had wiped away the traces of the curse and was recovering the glory of its past.
The chariot blessed by Wolfgang sped ahead, swaying gently from side to side.
Tiel leaned on Ferdie's shoulder and carefully closed her eyes.
The warm sunlight lightly tickled Tiel's cheek.
***
After a week of traveling day and night, Tiel, Ferdie, Ludian, Karsus, and Alpheus finally arrived in Arcadia.
Thanks to Ferdie and Ludian keeping a close eye on Tiel's condition during the journey, Tiel was able to travel comfortably.
"Is this Arcadia?"
Tiel, getting off the carriage, looked around with wide eyes and turned to Ferdie and Ludian.
Ferdie and Ludian had already been to Arcadia once before, under Karsus's orders.
They nodded.
"Yes, this is Arcadia."
Tiel's eyes grew even wider. Arcadia was far more magnificent than Tiel had imagined.
The once-dead, blackened trees were all uprooted, and fresh young trees were growing everywhere,
While the wide grassy fields were filled with wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze.
In the distance, a clean and transparent stream of water overflowed, and the faces of the people around them were full of smiles.
Tiel felt overwhelmed by the beauty of Arcadia, which was far more beautiful than she remembered.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Ferdie and Ludian were just as shocked.
Arcadia had improved far beyond what it had been when they had visited. The transformation was even more shocking when thinking about the "land where the sun never rose."
And then, at that moment...
"Over there..."
"Could it be... him?"
"Yes, it looks like it's him!"
The Beastkin of Arcadia whispered among themselves, peeking through the ranks of the Asterian knights.
Tiel, who had been criticized by the Beastkin of Crassion recently for the "changing lengths of day and night," lowered her head slightly and quickly averted her eyes.
Then, just as she was about to get back into the carriage, she heard a voice calling her.
"Yes, yes! It's really Tiel!"
"Yes! Tiel has arrived!"
"I heard Tiel would come to the festival, but I didn't believe it until now!"
The Beastkin of Arcadia cheered and rushed towards Tiel.
The Asterian knights, surprised, quickly surrounded Tiel to protect her, but Karsus and Alpheus instructed them to stay back, allowing the crowd to approach.
Tiel was equally surprised. She blinked and stepped back a few steps.
"Y-Yes?"
"Tiel!"
"Tiel is here! Bring the best fruits right away!"
"Tiel! We don't have much, but please take this! Freshly baked bread!"
The Beastkin of Arcadia cheered and handed Tiel all sorts of things.
Tiel, buried in their kind and warm gestures, stunned and flustered, accepted the fruits and bread they offered.
"Tiel! You're our savior!"
"If it weren't for Tiel, we would never have had such a life!"
"The savior of Arcadia!"
"We, the Beastkin of Arcadia, will never forget your grace! Tiel!"
The Beastkin of Arcadia gathered around her.
Among them, there were those who had lived off the crops grown with the sunlight Tiel had brought, those who ran businesses on the land Tiel had restored, and even young Beastkin born anew in the land that had regained its morning...
Tiel was overwhelmed by their kindness and praise, her cheeks turning red.
"U-Um... thank you. I didn't do anything that great, though..."
Tiel, feeling shy and flustered, rambled, and the merchant who was standing at the front of the crowd approached and handed her a basket full of pastries.
"What are you saying! Without Tiel, we would have all died back then, more than ten years ago! If it weren't for Tiel and Karl, we wouldn't have even survived!"
His voice was full of certainty, and it made the listeners' hearts swell with emotion.
Another Beastkin of Arcadia, nodding in agreement, spoke.
"Yes, yes! Among those Tiel saved back then, my husband is one of them. If it weren't for Tiel, not only my husband, but I would have died soon after! So Tiel is our savior!"
The Beastkin of Arcadia cheered loudly.
The Asterian knights, along with Ferdie, Ludian, Karsus, and Alpheus, did not stop the Beastkin from giving Tiel food and expressing their thanks in their own ways.
Tiel needed this now.
She needed to be reminded of the great accomplishments she had made and how incredible a Beastkin «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» she truly was.
The Beastkin of Arcadia pointed in unison and gently pulled Tiel's hand.
Tiel, surrounded by them, looked up at Karsus and Alpheus as though seeking permission.
Karsus, seeing the salamander's head peeking out from Tiel's arms, nodded, signaling her to go.
Though the salamander was a little foolish and clumsy, it was still created with Karsus's abilities, so its power was undeniable.
Even if something happened, the salamander would protect Tiel without leaving any gaps.
But still, Ferdie and Ludian, unsure, followed behind, staying close to Tiel as she was pulled along by the Beastkin.
Tiel, being gently led by their hands, was drawn toward the center of the plaza.
Her hands and arms didn't hurt. The Beastkin of Arcadia were kind and gentle, ensuring that Tiel wasn't hurt as they led her through the crowd.
Perhaps it was their warm and caring hearts that made it feel so comforting...
Either way, it didn't matter. Tiel smiled brightly, feeling her heart filled with a warm light for the first time in a while.
Once they reached the center of the plaza, the Beastkin of Arcadia let go of Tiel's hand and stepped back.
And, as if they had all agreed, they pointed upwards in unison.
Tiel looked up.
And carefully let out a gasp.
"...Wow."
There, carved in stone, was a statue of Tiel as she had been when she was seven years old.
Next to her was a statue of a much younger Karl. From their hands flowed golden water, spilling over in a steady stream.
"This fountain's water flows throughout all of Arcadia," whispered a Beastkin standing next to Tiel.
Tiel stared at the fountain for a long time, mesmerized.
A faint rainbow appeared and disappeared above the flowing water.
Tiny fish leaped out of Tiel's hand, and light fragments popped out, scattering in all directions.
The water of Arcadia poured into Tiel's heart, filling the long-empty space and making her heart feel complete once more...