A group of people with nothing better to do immediately followed behind, believing that if their suspicions were correct, missing this would be regrettable for a long time.
Who would want to miss the chance to witness a deity, especially a god closely linked to their place of life?
Even catching a glimpse would be an experience envied by neighboring towns.
"Hurry, hurry!"
"Quickly, to Blue Lake! Something big is happening!"
"Boss, I have a stomachache..."
"Stop calling out, your boss has already left."
"..."
By the time Gauss reached the water’s edge, a crowd had unknowingly gathered by the lakeside behind him.
The lake’s edge had a thin layer of ice but hadn’t frozen the entirety of Blue Lake.
Gauss noticed that upon reaching the lakeside, there was still no reaction around him.
Guessing that perhaps the Lake God was "sleeping too deeply," he had no choice but to draw the Water Sword and thrust it through the thin ice into the lake.
Instantly, the lake surface around the Water Sword began emitting a beautiful fluorescent blue glow.
The sword seemed to be communicating with this vast lake.
It released a breath of energy that quickly seeped into the water, heading towards the depths of the lake’s center.
...
"Mira, don’t rush..."
"Hurry, Rohde, all of this just waiting for you, and the rest of you youngsters George and others."
Mira, the female archer acquainted with Gauss, continuously urged her companions and the noisy kids following.
She certainly didn’t want to miss this rare opportunity.
Arriving swiftly at the lakeside, many people were already standing on the edge.
She squeezed in with her group through a gap.
After managing to stand firm, she immediately cast her gaze upon the lake.
She arrived at just the right moment.
After a period of communication.
The will sleeping deep within the lake gradually awoke.
"Crack, crack, crack—"
The ice surface quickly cracked.
The next moment, it transformed into countless icy mist and dissipated, revealing the familiar vast blue lake surface to everyone.
Even the harsh winter cold was momentarily swept away.
Everyone knew, thanks to Gauss’s presence, the Lake God had awoken once again.
Above the lake surface in front of Gauss, a mass of mist gradually gathered, ultimately forming a beautiful figure.
This figure was exquisitely gentle, like the essence of all water in the world.
Composed of flowing water, draped in pale blue mist, with a long waterfall-like hair behind, appearing holy and beautiful.
The incarnation of the Lake God Metera descended.
The townspeople by the lake, including Mira and her companions, witnessed the divine appearance for the first time. The transcendent beauty that directly struck their souls brought a sacred serenity, leaving them almost forgetting themselves and their surroundings, filled only with pure awe and reverence.
Metera’s attention immediately focused on Gauss.
[Adventurer Gauss, I sense a familiar power within you. It seems your northward journey has brought you to encounter the Snow Mountain Spirit.]
Perhaps due to preconceived notions, Gauss felt a hint of just-awoken laziness in Metera’s voice, though her features, visible only to him, were gentle like spring water, yet also exuded a majestic divine aura.
Previously, he hadn’t felt this way, but after meeting Snow Mountain Spirit Aisweir, he thought maybe his deity wasn’t that imposing.
"Honored to fulfill my duty, Lady Metera."
Of course, this thought passed quickly in Gauss’s mind.
Regardless, accepting the Lake God Metera’s grace was undeniable.
"I have reached the source Isthem of the Tarner River and met your sister, the Snow Mountain Spirit Lady Aisweir, there."
Gauss proceeded to relay the information he learned from the Snow Mountain Spirit to the Lake God Metera.
[Oh...I understand now...]
After listening to his account, the water around Metera rippled slightly, as if absorbing the information.
A moment later, she sighed gently, and her ethereal voice resonated once more.
[Aisweir...her burden has grown so heavy...hostility from the depths?]
Her gaze seemed to penetrate Gauss, directing toward the distant snow mountains.
After a while, she refocused on Gauss.
[Thank you, Gauss. The information you provided is crucial.]
[Therefore, come forward and receive the baptism I promised you earlier.]
Metera displayed a gentle smile.
Under the watchful eyes of others, Gauss was enveloped in the water below, gradually carried toward the center of the lake.
Soon the clear water completely enveloped him, and the lake goddess’s apparition emerged from the water, gently embracing him and submerging him into the lake.
"He’s gone!"
Others besides Gauss could not comprehend the content of the conversation between him and the Lake God Metera.
However, the scene where the lake goddess lightly embraced Gauss and took him beneath the water was witnessed by all.
After a long while, Gauss showed no signs of resurfacing.
"Won’t he drown?"
"With the goddess’s protection he should be safe."
"..."
The discussions among the lakeside townspeople mirrored Aaliyah and the others’ concerns.
Seeing that Gauss was not returning anytime soon.
After waiting a while without results, they could only temporarily leave the lakeside.
They could only comfort themselves with the belief that things would likely turn out fine.
As the source of the Tarner River, Snow Mountain Spirit Aisweir is so powerful that even an adult Giant Dragon must heed Her commands. Though the lake goddess may not match Her strength, surely she wouldn’t plot to harm Gauss, considering the commotion involved.
Under the lake surface.
Gauss felt enveloped in a mother’s warmth, a comforting power shrouded him.