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While having dinner, we talked about many things, but mostly Aquarina's journey to Araburn, the Continent of Wilderness, where Anima reign supreme above all other races. It is a very little-known continent that has only been barely touched by the Gallatea Continent's Kingdoms, the Atlanta Continent Nations do have some connections with them, but the humans none at all.
There are Humans and Elves living there though, but their cultures are much different than those of other continents, perhaps similar to the Amazonian Tribe or the Wood Elves my mother sometimes talk me about, who are nomadic, tribal elves that live in the farther Jade Woods, who reject magic technology and prefer to live in complete harmony with nature.
"We're still over halfway through the year, but at the end of the year, I think we'll get going." Nepheline sighed. "I might also bring my husband with us too, yeah. He'll be lonely if we leave him behind, right? It's gonna be fun! A family trip, just the three of us!"
"Hm…" Aquarina nodded, still feeling down, but having already started to accept it. "Y-Yeah, I guess…"
"The Inheritance of the Mountain Hero, wasn't he part of the first ever group of Heroes to exist after the Original Hero?" My father wondered. "I've heard from tales that he was so strong he could lift entire mountains, and he alone shaped the Araburn continent with his bare hands to make it more hospitable for the people living there."
"Wow…" Zack was amazed. "Man, you're so lucky, Aquarina! I wish I could get to have such a cool inheritance… But who was the Original Hero though?"
"Oh, the Original Hero was the first Hero to have been created." My mother explained. "Unlike us, he was not chosen as a mortal, he was molded and shaped by the Gods' very flesh and soul. It was said he was akin to a Demigod, with his powerful Legendary Divine Sword, Durandal, he slain the First Demon King."
"Wow, that's crazy." Said Mist. "So much mythology we didn't knew about… I wonder if this Hero is still alive? Is this tale even real?"
"Well, if gods exist, then perhaps it is real." My mother giggled. "But we've never meet him, nor we know what happened to him in any other tale I've read. Some speculated he camouflaged as a human, others said he's the high archbishop of the Church of the Gods back in the Gallatea Continent, another few people speculate he died in that battle… I don't remember well, some tales say both the hero and the demon king felled each other, some say he survived. He might be dead for all we know."
"Hmmm, oh well." I shrugged. "Anyways, if there's still half a year until then, we should make sure to enjoy every day with Aquarina, right guys?"
"Yeah! YOU'RE RIGHT!" Zack was pumped up. "Let's have a lot of fun! Maybe we should go on another adventure or something?"
"Let's make a lot of memories together, Aquarina!" Mist smiled gently.
"We have to make sure you don't forget about us in those two years!" Lara nodded. "Even if we've meet for little time, you're a precious friend of mine now, Aquarina!"
"That's right! You saved our lives; we owe you everything." Luck nodded. "Especially your powers, which were crucial to get back Lara before that Arachne were to snack on her…"
"Yep!" Celica nodded. "Aquarina's like my big sis!"
"L-Likewise… Aquarina's my sis now that she's engaged to big sis, right?" Zephy asked. "I-I'll also miss you…"
"Yeah, yeah, as they said." Celeste smiled, crossing her arms.
"Everyone…" Aquarina realized she didn't just had me to miss, but all these friends that loved her so much. "Y-You're right… I'll miss you all so much! Sniff… Ugh… Let's have a lot of fun until then!"
"Yeaaah!" We celebrated.
"Well, now that you're here, might as well spend the next few days enjoying the sea and the port." My mother smiled. "Let's make sure to make these days unforgettable, everyone."
"Well said." My father nodded, crossing his arms.
"Fufu, such a beautiful family." Auntie smiled. "I hope one day my little girl can be accepted in your group of friends…"
"O-Of course, but she has to hang around more with us." I nodded. "Susanna, what do you say?"
"I want to! I wanna be frens with everyone!" Susanna was very excited. "I don't have friends here…"
It seemed that Susanna's life as a sheltered noble girl have given her very little chance to meet other kids her age, making her grow up mostly by the company of servants and her parents, which is not bad but… I bet she would love to have friends her age.
"If it's fine by you, we could bring her along to Agartha every now and then too." My mother said. "So she can get along with the kids better and spend more time with them too. I'm sure it would help her develop more socially too."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it. I might send her with her father too, and I might come myself whenever my workload is not too much." Aina smiled. "Sylphy, I hope you can take good care of my little angel." Auntie caressed her beautiful daughter's blonde hair.
"Sure!" I smiled. "Gladly, Susanna is a lovely girl. It is nice that she doesn't discriminate either… Some other elven kids would not be fine with our group being composed of so many tribes…"
"Huh? What does that means?" Susanna was completely clueless.
"We've never taught her to discriminate anybody that looked different than hers. In this port, racism is usually not allowed, and we've begun to slowly accept people of other tribes if some ever show up. Recently, a few demon refugees have moved to our city, honest people." Aina smiled.
I guess Agartha is not the only place where things are beginning to change. It might be slow, but one step at a time, we can slowly change the world and make it a better place for everyone.
"Lady Aina! Lady Faylen! T-There's a letter! It just came from the airship that arrived an hour ago!" A maidservant ran into the dinning room, giving the letter to Auntie Aina.
"A letter for the two of us?" My mother asked. "Who could it- Eh?!"
"Wait, what?!" Aina also responded the same way, as both her and mom glanced at the letter's beautiful, golden lining, and its regal appearance.
"T-This is a letter from the royal family! From father or mother?!" My mom asked in shock. "W-What do they want now?"
"I-I don't know, but its better if we check what's going on." Aina sighed, slowly opening the letter, and reading it. "Huh? No, this isn't bad at all! This is… Amazing!"
"What is it?" I wondered, sipping some tea.
"Some special letter?" Aquarina wondered, munching on a big cheeseburger at my side.
"It is a royal call from the King himself, our father." Aina said. "It is… This is a special Party to celebrate that all of you defeated Arachne and Lolth… You're being recognized as National Heroes by the King himself! E-Even you guys! Not just the heroes, everyone!"
"Even us demons?!" Celeste was shocked.
"Y-Yes…" Aina nodded, swallowing saliva. "This… means a lot!"
Things were about to change much more than we ever imagined…
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