"And it's precisely because of our success," Trianne concluded, a note of little pride in her tone, "that this tradition has been preserved."
"Since then, every Golden Descendant, upon becoming a demigod, makes a unique wish according to their own heart or the needs of the era. It's a very important opportunity!"
Stelle rubbed her chin, her mind always working with its own brand of cleverness. "So... has no one ever tried to make two wishes at once? Like, wishing for both great power and endless money or something?"
Our little Galaxy Raccoon's thinking is always so bold and unconventional.
Cyrene, listening nearby, couldn't help but facepalm, feeling both amused and exasperated by this line of thought. She cleared her throat softly and explained on Stelle's behalf:
"Generally speaking, gods... usually favor subjects who find contentment in what they have. Having one wish fulfilled is already a great blessing. What if, due to greed, making two wishes resulted in neither coming true? Wouldn't that be an even greater regret?"
"Cyrie is right! Now, we go! Let Trianne show you the holy city!" Trianne chirped, happily taking Stelle's hand and pulling her forward like a cheerful little bird.
Welt and Dan Heng exchanged a glance, then set off at a steady pace, following the girls.
...
"This is the Marmoreal Market! Also the busiest place in Okhema!" Trianne spread her arms as if embracing the entire marketplace, her voice brimming with pride.
The market was indeed bustling.
A dazzling array of shops lined the winding streets. The calls of vendors, the haggling of customers, and exotic music from somewhere unknown intertwined into a lively symphony of daily life.
However, Stelle's attention was completely captured by an inconspicuous little stall in a corner of the market. "What's that place selling?"
She squinted, pointing in that direction. "Why are so many people in line, yet no one is actually getting close to the stall? Everyone seems to be deliberately keeping their distance."
Trianne looked where Stelle was pointing, a puzzled expression appearing. "Huh? When did this little stall appear here? Trianne didn't know!" She nimbly rose on her tiptoes, trying to see better.
"Standing here guessing is boring. Why not just go take a look?" With that, she pulled Stelle's hand and moved towards the crowd.
As they neared, a voice as gentle as the scent of flowers whispered near Stelle's ear: "Are you also here to ask for my autograph? Even so, it's better not to get too close to me."
Along with this soft warning, a force carrying a slight chill yet also immense gentleness lightly held Stelle back.
The force was like a stream during the first thaw of spring—cool but not piercing.
Yet, the moment she felt that power, Stelle's body instinctively staggered back several steps because she clearly sensed the aura contained within—it was Death.
"Cassie? What are you doing here?" Trianne stood on her tiptoes, raising her small hand high so the girl in the stall, Castorice, would notice her.
Castorice had initially assumed they were strangers and was about to tell them to leave. But hearing the familiar voice, she looked around. Seeing it was someone she knew, her originally pale, cool cheeks instantly flushed with a faint pink:
"Uh, Teacher Trianne? I'm... I'm..." She stammered, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, looking very flustered.
"We're waiting for Miss Castorice to sign! We're all fans of Miss Castorice!" someone in the crowd answered for Castorice.
At the same time, he held up a beautifully covered book. The book's cover bore an exquisite illustration that shimmered with a subtle luster in the sunlight.
This shout was like lighting a fuse, instantly igniting the crowd. "Please sign our favorite books, Miss Castorice!" people chorused, raising their books, their eyes filled with fervent admiration.
"P-Please, everyone, don't be so enthusiastic..." Castorice, already nervous, spoke even softer in front of an acquaintance, her delicate fingers fidgeting anxiously. "If you hang them on the line one by one and slide them over, I'll sign them all."
"That's too troublesome? Trianne will help! Watch Trianne!" With a wave of her small hand, Trianne conjured two shimmering, miniature Infinity Gates that precisely connected Castorice with the queuing crowd.
Now, people only needed to place the books to be signed at a designated spot far away. Castorice could retrieve a book through one Infinity Gate.
After signing it, she would send the book back via the other gate. The whole process was smooth and efficient, maintaining a safe distance while speeding things up.
"That's a huge help, Teacher Trianne!" Castorice said gratefully, her voice tinged with relieved lightness. "I'll bring some newly baked cakes to thank you later!"
"Hehe, no need to thank me, Cassie." Trianne waved her hand dismissively, puffing out her small chest proudly. "Then Trianne wishes you success with your fan autograph session!"
With that, she turned to leave, though Stelle's gaze lingered for a long time on the girl who radiated an aura of death.
"The aura on that girl just now..." Welt adjusted his glasses, his tone grave.
Trianne hopped back to their side and explained: "That's Castorice, a candidate for the Demigod of Death. The ones you've already met—Phainon, Cyrene, and Mydei—are also all candidates for demigods."
"Candidates for demigods?" Welt keenly grasped this unfamiliar concept, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Of course," Trianne said with an "it's only natural" expression. "After all, a Titan's Coreflame isn't something you can just take. Some Titans are too powerful, some are missing, and some have never been affected by the Black Tide, standing firmly by humanity's side all along. For those Titans, of course we can't just hunt and kill them to take their Coreflames."
"Oh, right, Stelle." Dan Heng suddenly spoke up, interrupting the topic of demigods. "Remember March's request? Photos." He reminded her, his voice as calm as ever.
Stelle smacked her own forehead. "Right! I almost forgot." Immediately, she looked around for a suitable photo spot.
"You want to take photos? Come with Trianne, Trianne knows a great photo spot!" Trianne became lively again, leading them up to a nearby rooftop.
The view from here was indeed excellent.
The flat roof served as a natural viewing platform, offering a panoramic view of more than half the holy city.
The most striking feature was the towering Dawn Device reaching into the clouds, emitting a soft, steady light that bathed the entire holy city.
In the distance, buildings presented staggered outlines within the halo of light. Ancient stone walls and various murals blended together in a wondrous fusion.