Way of the Knights

Chapter 858: Little Paradise

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Everyone stared at Yelena upon hearing her requests…

They have mixed feelings about that to be honest. On one hand, they applauded the ambitions of the girl and her determination/audacity. Nobody would be able to say something like this in front of a man who could literally decide one's life or death according to his whims. 

On the other hand, they lamented for the girl. Her wish is really grand. There's little to no chance of it happening. Even at the smallest chance that it might work, she wouldn't be able to carry the burden of her wishes. 

Although they call this place a small paradise for the forlorn, they knew that the Broken Badlands doesn't have much time left. The state of this place isn't really a huge secret to anyone. Everybody knows it. Everyone also knows that they're just grasping straws here. Holding on to the tiniest bit of hope and life there is for this world. 

It'll go away soon, they just know it. And with it, probably them too. They've long since accepted this. 

Curing this world is impossible, at least that's what they think. Therefore Yelena's wish isn't really something that they have high hopes for. It's just a fancy thought, it won't happen. 

"M'Lord…this one is aware of her grand wish, but it is mine's wish at the very bottom of my heart. I-I'm willing to trade mine's life even at the smallest of chance of it happening."

Yelena looked downcast. At the depths of her mind, she knows her wish is absurd too. There's no way that this man can grant it. She only said because he asked her to be honest, that's all. Then again, what she says is true.

She's willing to trade her pathetic life at the smallest chance of her wish being granted. Even if it fails in the end, she's willing to give it a shot. 

"…restoring a star, hm." 

Raven looked pensive. Which made everyone, especially Yelena nervous. 

She casted a short look on Raven's expression and saw that he didn't look upset nor disappointed. If anything, he looks as if he's considering her request. 

The thought of that caused Yelena to become even more nervous.

Could it be…

No. There's no way right? 

This man is powerful yes, but he can't possible be 'that' powerful, right? 

Right? 

"…let's say that I do have the ability to restore how this world was once…" Raven looked at Yelena with a questioning gaze. "Do you really want to do it? Remember that this is the Outer Worlds. You may think that the spatial storms around this place is strong enough but it truly doesn't stop anyone from reaching this place?" 

"If this world was restored to it's original state, there is a high chance that some people will have bad ideas about it. They won't hesitate to claim this place as theirs for the taking out of greed."

"Knowing that…do you still want this place to be restored?" 

That…that was something Yelena didn't consider before. 

Right. She was being delusional. Of course! How can she forget where they are? This is the Outer Worlds for crying out loud! Only the strong thrives here. The weak don't have a place to breathe. 

What Raven said, slapped her back to reality. He's right. If he did restore this world. There is a chance that everyone will start having ideas about it. That's something she can't stop. Even the familiar faces here might become enemies at the very next second. 

Yelena was weak. Her parents are there, sure but they won't be enough to resist all who will try to get their hands on this place. 

Her wish is indeed to good to be true.

She knows that…she really does but…

"…this one just wants to experience what it's like to live peacefully without worrying about the mundane things and without worry about our safety, just like how it was back when I was still a child. It doesn't have to be long…I dare not think that it'll last forever. Even for a brief moment…that is all this one asks." 

Yelena sounded desperate. Yes, she really is. 

She had long since lost count on how many times she had dreamt about her peaceful childhood. It haunted her. Kept her up most nights. It is something that she yearned to feel once more, even just for the briefest of moments. 

The feeling of waking up on a bright day, feeling the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze of air. Smelling whatever her mother's cooking for breakfast. Going downstairs to see her father chopping wood or tending to their farm all sweaty. Seeing their smiles as she sits on the table to eat. 

Going out to play with her friends wherever their feet takes them. Going back home all sweaty and smelly yet still energetic. Having lunch with her family, staying idle on the afternoon all the way 'till dinner. Watching the sunsets from the window of her room, witnessing the moon rise, having her mother read her bedtime stories until she falls asleep only to wake up next day to do it all over again. 

Oh how she missed those days. What could she possibly give just to experience one week-no, even just a day, where she could experience that all over again. 

Even just one day…

Yelena was unaware that she's already crying at this point. Unaware that Raven saw what went through her head just now. Also unaware how Raven sympathizes with her wishes. 

In a sense, her dreams and similar to his. She's just unlucky. 

Somehow, she could see Vanessa's silhouette on Yelena. He felt slightly disturbed by the possibility of this happening to her and that's really all it took for Raven to make a decision. 

"Very well." 

Yelena's tear-drenched face looked up and saw a shadow of Raven's face, looking down on her with a smile. She almost swore she saw a saint just now. 

The next thing she knew, she was standing far away from plateau with Raven right next to her and the rest of the citizens behind them. 

Raven took a few steps forward and under their awed expressions, he glowed so bright that he looked divine. Then, they head his voice echoing all around over. 

"I, who represents the Divinity of Chaos, demands my orders to be heard." 

"Arise once more, O broken star. I bless thee with the breath of life, take it."

"Take it and live once more." 

A single spark of dark golden light flew from Raven's fingers. It landed on the pool where the core of the broken star was submerged. 

Everyone then saw how the Broken Badlands shook. It glowed brilliantly and released strong fluctuations that could be felt all the way to where they were. 

Under their dumbstruck gazes, they witnessed the rebirth of their small paradise. The plateau disappeared. It shifted and melded with now revived crust of the broken star. 

Slowly but surely, the world mended. The crust looked vibrant and full of life, not a single trace of the tear could be seen. The deathly aura was gone, replaced by the vibrant spring of life pulsing through every vein of this world. 

It didn't end there. 

After the world mended, clouds appeared and started a heavy downpour. The rain washed all traces of the previous decay. It filled the creaks, turning into oceans, rivers, streams and water falls. It also caused patches of flora and fauna to bloom, growing into maturity at a speed visible to the naked eyes. 

It was then that Raven raised his hand once more and two seals flew out from his fingers. One was golden, the other was silver. 

Both grew at an alarming pace, transforming into heavenly body. The golden one turned into a sun while the silver one turned into a moon. The course of the new sun and moon was already set. 

With another wave of Raven's hand, a new batch of life blossomed on the world. Animals appeared and started to habituate the world. 

They then saw the rotation of the world accelerated along with the revolution of the sun and moon. Once it stopped, their new home was ready. 

Raven turned around and looked at Yelena, who's mouth was yet to close upon seeing such a miraculous even occur right before her very eyes. 

"From now on, this world shall no longer be called the Broken Badlands. Instead, it should be named as Little Paradise of the Outer World." 

The world hummed, seemingly agreeing with Raven's words. 

"This world will be your new home. It will remain hidden for the next 100,000 years so do not worry about others finding it."

"All of you will be it's citizens." Raven stated, "How the world turns out will ultimately depend on you. Preserve it, destroy it. Up to you. I won't be here to witness whatever it is that you do anyways." 

"Do not forget that you all owe little Yelena a favor for all of this."

"Now then…." Raven then held Yelena's hand and said: "Let's take you to your new home, shall we?" 

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