Although it's not a brief amount of time, 3 days flew by very quickly. On the morning of the following day, our caravan was ready to go. Even Ivy was coming with us. She believes she'll evolve into a dryad if she stays there (or she might be aiming for the d***). Elder Alamdarra also thought this was a good idea, so I had no complaints with the new addition.
Overjoyed, she left a few of her saplings in settlement and joined us. The caravan reached the glade in 10 minutes in spite there being no roads and encountering many attacking monsters. Once standing before the mist, we stopped. The dark elves marveled; the sight would be the first time they had ever seen a natural barrier like this. The only places with such barriers are the three deathly forbidden continents, and the dragon's continent.
After a few minutes, I guided the caravan through the mist. Then again, guided would be incorrect as once we entered the mist, we appeared on the other side. It had only been 4 days since I was last here. Even still, the glade had changed once again. Magoi particles became even more dense to the point, magoi is wafting in the air like streams of crystal-clear water.
All of the local fauna had finished evolving into magic beasts. While the local flora separated into either magoi infused herbs, and plant-type magic beast. Even a few magic beasts started exhibiting spiritual evolution as they showed heightened intelligence and awareness. Give the local magic beasts at least 1000 sols, and they may be similar to fairyfolk and demonkind, spirits given flesh.
Lastly, the hollow tree which acted as the shrine to uncle had grown even more than before. Previously, the tree stood at approximately 15m tall with a 23m wide base. Now, the tree stood at 45m tall with a 67m wide base.
After helping the caravan get settled in, I entered the hollow tree. Inside, I found the inside now partitioned with my ancestor's shrine in the inner most partition, leaving a wide-open space for something else. Stepping back outside, I informed the Elder and he with 2 other elves began establishing the 5 altars.
With that taken care of, I approached the lake in hopes of getting Shenlong's attention. My presence was discovered almost instantly. The guardian spirit arose from the lake gracefully, not ever causing a single ripple to appear on the water's surface as if water was not there.
When the caravanners saw the spirit, they immediately began to kneel, and pray to the Elder Spirits. Hearing their prayer, Shenlong and the lounging Cheshire panther too joined in on the celestial music in reverence to the Elder Spirits and the Creator of the world.
The hymn continued for about 15 minutes, when suddenly the world responded. The earth quaked, and the wind roared. Pillars of smoke, fire and dust ascended from the depths of the Earth and descended from the heavenly vault. The air became damp as the humidity rose until rivers of water accumulated. The phenomenon began to travel towards the hollow tree until finally condensing into 4 elemental altars. But the best was yet to come.
Similarly, to the time I was entranced by elven worship, the same event occurred here. Only, as the music went forth, the sky darkened even though the sun could still be seen. That darkness later condensed into small particles which danced in the air as they traveled to the center of the 4 shrines. Once there, a portion of the mist barrier drifted to the center of the shrines as well. Even a stream of light from the darkened sky gently fell into the center of the shrine.
When the mist, darkness particles, and rays of light met in between the 4 elemental altars, a magical scene was born. The magoi particles began to dance along with the music creating a majestic aura around the shrines. These magoi particles twirled and dove until a 5th shrine was born from the trio.
This 5th shrine was unlike the shrine in the dark elf settlement given I could see every detail. The shrine had a platinum base with a pillar of some other unknown magical ore resting on top. At the peak of the pillar sat a throne made of liquid light and darkness. Mist wrapped around the altar until it finally landed on the floor.
Truly from beginning to end, this was an enlightening sight. When humans created shrines, they hand-crafted them and then placed each altar on magic formations. The formations would manipulate the elements creating a man-made mystical feeling. The dwarves do the same from what I gathered from studying dad's notes.
However, the elves do no such thing. Each elven clan does it differently, but the results are the same. The elves evoke the Elder Spirits, or at least the elements towards them. They then have the phenomenon inhabit the places designated as shrines. Thereafter, the shrine for the Creator manifests once the 4 elemental shrines are complete.
Such a magical experience created major waves in the glade. Just as the Elder had expected, the glade expanded once again. Even more magoi flooded the glade increasing the magoi density and added a layer of radiant splendor to everything.
Small clouds of magoi started forming in the sky above the lake. From the clouds poured liquified magoi like rivers of water. As a result, depth of the lake steadily increased. Until finally, the lake's depth was 3 times its former total surface area. Whereas, the lake's current surface area more than doubled in size.
Underwater caves began forming as teams of life flooded the lake. Now the lake was home to many aquatic magic beasts native to the continent. Many diverse types of magic metals and gems could be found in the caves and all around the lake as the magoi density increased.
After 10 minutes the lake stopped expanding, but the clouds did not dissipate. Instead, they acted as a filter. As one cloud would cause water to fly into it, another would pour down rivers of liquified magoi.
The final change was the emergence of elemental spirits being born or migrating to the area. Spirits of all different shapes and sizes appeared one after the other and joined the music as they sang and danced along. This heavenly scene continued for another hour until the sky returned to its normal radiance.
The spirits settled in their new home, the altars stopped shifting, and the music came to an end. The only thing that remained were the clouds above the lake filtering and purifying the water. (That was a magnificent experience, indeed!)
Looking at Shenlong; one would see it hovering among the clouds above the lake. The dragon seemed to enjoy gliding as if dancing from one cloud to another. It's now fully corporeal body exuded the majesty of a dragon from Chinese mythology.
It's movements, somewhat inspired me in creating a new combat stance when using swords and spears. This must be a natural trait for any mythical creature in Chinese folklore. I mean, consider the "Kun" which leapt out of the sea and soared as a "Peng".
The Cheshire panther also experienced a new change. At first it was at the size of a St. Bernard. Now it's grown to the size a certain big red friendly hound from my childhood.
At this very moment the cat was white with grey, brown, and black spots and stripes. Truly what they hell happened here? As I was questioning its change, the giant cat stood in front of me on his/her/it's hind legs, only to plop down on his/her/it's belly while saying to me via telepathy,
"Hey meow… godling meowsy! I know we got off to a bad start. But let's put the past behind us, meow. How about this… give me a name, and I can rub it in the face of ol' lizy over there, meow!"
Sure, cause Shenlong really needs an annoying cat to remind him/her, he/she has a name too! Wait! What if the cat turns into a Greater spirit like Shenlong? Then I will only be missing 2 more guardian beast, making up 4 guardians deities protecting each cardinal direction. It looks like a willing "sacrifice" has offered itself up at my doorstep…hehe…hehehe…
"Sure, then I will name you Byakko. Where I come from, this tiger is the guardian of the western winds. You now look like a white tiger… of sorts… Also you made your home in the western tree area of the glade! So it only makes sense."(Its totally not because the big cat sounds like a Japanese cat with its "meow", "myao", and "nya" noises… of course…)
Elated to have a name, the Cheshire panther bowed his/her/it's head as light and dense magoi fog shrouded him/her/it. After a few minutes, what appeared before me was a woman wrapped in a white with black, brown and grey stiped kimono. Her hair was similarly black, grey and white striped. Her figure was slim but very curvy with no overly pronounced portions. Her face was youthful, and had the elegance of a mature older woman.
Many a man would find her very alluring and beautiful, not me though. All I could think of was an asshole cat, now turn into a catty "woman" who likes to prank people. Still, this catty "woman" could shapeshift in a massive white tiger and cast deadly illusions… Completely transformed, Byakko bowed again and said telepathically,
"Guardian spirit Byakko greet the young godling, nya!"
"I see you still have the habit of speaking like a cat." I remarked
"Of course, meow! It comes with the territory of being a cat meow. Nyaow, let me go rub it in the face of that ol' lizy who can't take a human form, meow!"
And like that, Byakko vanished like vaper in the air. (Dumb cat! You do know Shenlong can shapeshift too, right?) As a response, a new message box appeared,
"Congratulations you have completed the 2nd Divine name Bestowal. A new verse is read for you8 to view in your ~Divine Myth~".
The elves all witnessed a new greater spirit being born. Even more surprising, it evolved from a talking magic beast no less. Amazed by the sight they again praised the Elders Spirits.
Afterwards, they continued to set up small workshops, plots of land for crop cultivation and a few other facilities meant for training and habitation. With everything taken care of on their end, I made my way to the cabin on the island at the center of the lake. I too will need to prepare for what's to come. Hopefully, my "good" luck will last even for what's to come.
-End of Chapter