Further away, on the second floor of the manor house, one of the owners of the manor, Hillis, and the black-haired maid had already arrived at the second-floor terrace, looking at the two people playing on the swing in the snow from afar.
Sirius pouted slightly, but she didn't feel any negative emotions because of it. Tifa still had her usual smile on her face:
"Speaking of which, Miss Lathers, why did you place a swing here when you first moved into the manor?"
"It was Vanessa's suggestion. She said the scenery in the courtyard was too monotonous and it would look better with a swing... Well, in fact, every summer, when the flowers in the flowerbed are in full bloom, she always likes to sit there in the afternoon."
The blonde girl said, and the maid nodded. The smile on her lips made the lip lines on her lipstick-coated lips more obvious:
"I don't know what Miss Benanis would think when she sees this."
She said softly, and Sirius thought about it, showing a strange expression, and then pretended not to care and said:
"Look, they look really good together."
Tifa turned her head and looked at her. The teasing look in her black eyes made Sirius feel like she was seen through.
"If you really think so, then you just admit defeat."
The maid reminded her, and the blonde blushed immediately, not daring to continue talking to prevent herself from being seen through. Tifa maintained her maid's elegance, smiling as she watched the scene in the manor courtyard, looking forward to what new stories would happen after returning to Tobesk City.
Shade and Luvia didn't stay in the snow for too long. The snow in early spring got heavier and heavier, and they returned to the house in time.
At the lunch table at noon that day, except Yin Luna who was busy in the church, all the witches and witch apprentices including Margaret appeared.
Fortunately, the manor originally prepared a long dining table for banquets, so so many people could sit at the table. Miss Benannis originally planned to let Shade sit at the main seat, but Shade refused, and finally he sat on the right hand side of Miss Benannis.
There was no sensitive matter discussed at the table, but the ladies talked about their recent plans after finishing their business in Randall Valley.
Miss Carina, Tifa, and Miss Rita Swift, who do not belong to this city, will return to Tobesk City and Midhill Castle City respectively through Miss Sylvia's portal early next week. In fact, if Shade had not been unconscious for a day and a night, they should have returned immediately.
Miss Sylvia came here as a tourist, so she planned to return to the southern capital of Willendel with Margaret. They would return later next week, because the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the shipyard, which was originally scheduled for this weekend, was postponed to next week due to the disaster in the Randall River Valley.
Margaret had originally planned to invite Shade to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony next week. But seeing Shade's current condition, she could only temporarily put this idea aside. After all, there was still a lot of time in the future. When she officially went through the ceremony of becoming a witch apprentice next week, she would have many opportunities to meet Shade.
As for Miss Aurora and her niece Haley, they came to Randall Valley under the pretext of family business. Because they were important guests at the shipyard's ribbon-cutting ceremony next week, they would stay in the local area for about a week, which was also the original plan.
As for Luvia, she came to this place because of the "Word of Ascension", and it has been nearly three months since then. Now that the matter in the Randall Valley is over, she is finally going home.
"I miss that bed in your bedroom."
This is what the purple-eyed girl said to Xia De quietly with a blushing face before dinner.
"By the way, Luvia, how are you going to get back to Tobesk? By steam train?"
At the lunch table, Shade asked curiously, thinking of Dr. Schneider who was temporarily staying at the Fertile Land Inn. The doctor had finally come to the Randall River Valley and wanted to stay here for a few days to see the scenery.
Although the doctor came here through the "Magician's Escape Box", he could only go back by train because of the characteristics of the relic and could not use it continuously. So maybe Luvia could go back with the doctor and they could take care of each other on the way.
"I forgot to tell you that Miss Danister delivered the letter yesterday at noon."
Luvia looked worried again, as if she had just remembered something, and the other ladies at the table all looked at Shade.
"She said that when they return to the academy, they can give me a ride and take me directly to Tobesk. The letter also said that... she will be very busy in the next few days, but she will definitely be able to make time tonight. Then, she plans to meet with you. I was worried that you would not wake up tonight."
"Shad asked me to take him to find the thirteen-ring sorceress in the early hours of Saturday morning. After all, there must be a reason for this."
Miss Sylvia, who was deeply involved in this matter, said, and Miss Aurora also looked at Xia De with some concern:
"There is an essential difference between the thirteenth ring and the twelfth ring. The difference is not just the complete third sublimation word. Even I can't beat your teacher... Why don't we go together and attack her by surprise? I think it will be no problem to at least subdue her."
"Ahem..."
Margaret, who was sitting at the far end of the table, coughed a few times accidentally.
"No, no, Miss Danister and I have no grudges. It's just some things that haven't been made clear. I can explain them clearly."
Xia De was not worried about this. Seeing him say this, Luvia teased:
"You always have a way with sorceresses."
Laughter rang out around the table. Tifa, who was behind Shad, bent down to help him change the plate, which made it convenient for Shad to lower his head to hide his embarrassed expression:
"Anyway, the matter of the Chosen Ones of the Earth has finally officially come to an end."
He picked up his glass:
"We had originally planned to hold a party to celebrate after this was over, but now it seems that the church and the academy's investigation teams will soon come here to investigate the appearance of the three gods, so there is no time to hold a party. Why not raise a toast to celebrate now? I think we will have time to get together again in the future."
The ladies at the table all smiled and everyone raised their glasses, even Tifa took a glass from the dining cart.
Seeing that they were all looking at him, Xia De took the initiative to say:
"The story of the search for the chosen one will continue. After the fifth one, the sixth one will come. Although we have no intention of changing the world, we are the protectors of the world. We respect the earth, the gods, and ourselves."
Outside the window was a snowy early spring courtyard, and inside the warm room, a long table was covered with delicious food. The beautiful ladies toasted with Shade, and even Mia stood on Shade's shoulder with her eyes sparkling.
Glasses filled with red wine as red as blood were held high and sparkled under the crystal chandelier. Sometimes, especially in such happy moments, the stranger would doubt whether everything he experienced was real. But every time he saw them, every time he heard "her" laughter, he would understand that they were the best gift that fate gave to the lonely stranger, rather than him being the smile of fate on them.
The witch apprentices did not personally experience the banquet before Saturday morning, which is now planned to be included in religious texts and passed down as a myth, so they do not know what Shade did, and the relevant content cannot be discussed at the dinner table.
So after lunch, the four witches went to discuss some things with Xia De.
The young girls were driven away to other places, and even Luvia did not participate in the subsequent conversation. Of course, it was not because the witches did not allow it, but because Luvia had to rush to the Prophet Association, which had been very busy these days.
Before leaving, she gave Shad a look of encouragement, and then watched Shad holding the sleepy Mia, being pulled into the room by Miss Aurora, Miss Carina, Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia.
Considering Shade's physical condition, the conversation took place in Shade's resting room, but he didn't lie on the bed. Tifa and the other maids of the manor brought tea and snacks, and then left. When the door was closed, the five of them sat in a circle on the sofa. The other witches all turned their eyes to Miss Aurora, the lady with beautiful wavy brown hair, who actually didn't know how to start:
"so... ... "
She tried to choose her words, as if she was facing a mental patient who might go crazy at any time. Of course, Shade knew what they wanted to ask, so he didn't let Miss Aurora continue:
"Okay, I admit I lied before."
He blinked and looked at the witches around him:
"Now I can tell you: Shad Sullen Hamilton, the man in front of you holding a cat, is indeed the one generally defined as the 'God-Caller' by the church and the ring wizards in this world. Of course, I want to make it clear that I am not the Thirteenth Ring, nor am I one of those weird characters with strange characteristics in the divination of the church and the Prophet's Association."
"Meow~"
Mia, who was lying on Shad's knees and being stroked on the back by him, squinted her eyes and cried out, which showed that the cat was enjoying this moment.
After the words fell, no one else spoke. The witches looked at each other's expressions and urged others to speak. Finally, Miss Carina, who had the closest relationship with Shade, spoke. Her right thumb and index finger unconsciously played with the red hair hanging by her ear:
"You are a Godcaller. In fact, we guessed it last year when we were in Midhill Castle. After the Pantanal War, there was basically no doubt."
The Grand Duchess of the Northern Kingdom said hesitantly:
"In fact, this is not what we want to know. It is not important that you can exert nearly demigod power. What is important is that you...really called upon the gods?"