Chapter 37: A Bright Future
While the entire Lost Star River was undergoing tremendous changes due to the actions of Mycroft Civilization, time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 14th of November, Year 841 of the Falling Stars Era.
In Moldavia, Southern District Residential Area, Priest stood at his doorstep, watching as Su Er gently adjusted Brandi's collar and then helped her put on her backpack, which had a dandelion puffball doll hanging from it. Though his expression was serious, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl into a slight smile.
"Brandi, have you brought your Psychic Terminal and textbooks?" Priest noticed a large Mana Vehicle slowly approaching from the street corner, with the emblem of Winterfell Elementary School on its front. He knew this was the school bus coming to pick up his sister, so he couldn't help but remind her: "Remember, at lunchtime, just show your Psychic Terminal at the cafeteria. I've loaded money onto it. Don't end up like last time, coming back home crying on an empty stomach."
"I won't!" Hearing this, the girl who had been obediently letting Su Er arrange her clothes and hair immediately flushed bright red, flailing her hands in panic: "That time, that time was my first day at school! I was too nervous and forgot! This time, I definitely won't!"
"Alright, stop teasing her." Confirming that the Psychic Terminal necklace hanging around Brandi's chest was functioning normally, Su Er, in her ghostly form, canceled the magic that allowed her to interfere with the material world and became ethereal. She turned around and said with a smile to Priest: "You'll be leaving soon too, right?"
"...Yes."
Hearing this, Priest, who had been in a good mood from teasing his sister and struggling to hold back his laughter, immediately calmed down. He raised his hand and rubbed his chin, where some stubble remained unshaven, and said calmly: "The teacher specifically requested—to be precise, he requested the entire Elite Squad to go together. Not just us, but also Ivan and their First Squad next door, and Lisa, Syndicate, and their group... Since the teacher is personally leading this expedition, we, as his disciples and students, naturally have to go along."
Noticing that both Su Er and Brandi had suddenly fallen silent, Priest scratched his head in some distress: "Don't worry about me. It's not like we're going to a dangerous place like the Extreme Dark Abyss. We're just heading to another World Star River. Nothing to be afraid of."
"...That's not what I'm afraid of."
The ghostly form of the Elven girl let out a faint sigh: "After all, both Brandi and I are used to you going out all the time. In the past, I could follow you on your missions, but now, to take care of Brandi, I have to stay behind... Anyway, even if you're away on a mission for a long time, we can still keep in touch. But what we're worried about is whether Lord Radcliffe can control himself."
Although the general public wasn't fully aware, people close to Priest and Su Er knew about Joshua's current condition.
Compared to the dangers of the expedition fleet's journey, those who understood the Lord's true strength knew where the real concern lay.
To this, Priest sighed and said: "It's been manageable these past few months. The benefits from the booming operations in the Continent of Strife have been obvious, haven't they? The teacher's condition has improved quite a bit. He said it's fine, so we have to trust him."
At that moment, the school bus arrived at their doorstep. Priest shook his head, stepped forward, lifted Brandi up, spun her around in the air, and before his sister could get annoyed, he pulled her back and held her in his arms.
The young warrior smiled and said: "Don't worry. Even though we might not be able to meet in person for a long time, the expedition fleet will set up communication terminals along the way. We can still see each other through the Psychic Terminal."
"As always, you keep your word, so I have no reason to hold you back..."
Held in her brother's arms, though still young, Brandi was already quite mature. She muttered reluctantly: "Don't break your promise this time, okay? Come back safely. I'll definitely become the top student in elementary school and show off to you!"
"Of course."
A brief answer proved a firm resolve. Priest set Brandi down and watched as she quietly boarded the school bus, guided by an Elven teacher to her seat. He watched the bus slowly start moving, his sister waving goodbye to him from the window, and he raised his hand, waving back at the bus along with Su Er.
The school bus disappeared around the corner. The man and the ghost lowered their hands. Priest fell silent, but Su Er laughed and lightly smacked the back of his head.
"What's wrong? Aren't you the one who loves adventure the most? This is a great expedition to another World Star River, so why are you so serious?"
The Elven girl's ghostly hand passed through Priest's head, bringing a cold sensation. She said nonchalantly: "You idiot, you promised to take me to see broader horizons, but instead, you called me here to be little Brandi's babysitter while you go off on an adventure alone. I haven't even gotten angry yet, so why are you making that sour face?"
"...I'm just a bit emotional."
After being scolded by Su Er's speech—whether it was encouragement or a reprimand—Priest rubbed his face, finally loosening his stiff expression a little. He looked up and sighed: "You know, Su Er, over these past few years, I feel like I've been dreaming... Coming to Moldavia, entering Winterfell Academy, becoming that Lord's student, meeting you—it all feels as beautiful and surreal as a dream."
"Ten years ago, I was still in the southern border of the Empire, living in constant fear of the Black Tide's arrival. The Dragon Calamity destroyed my hometown, killed my parents. My sister and I were displaced, gritting our teeth and struggling to survive... It was painful and impoverished, but it felt incredibly real."
"Now, I'm a student of a Legendary expert. I've been told I'm something of a genius. I've reached the Gold Rank, have an interesting and enviable job, and even recently received a massive reward that an ordinary person couldn't spend in a lifetime of luxury... Really, I never used to believe in fate, but now I feel like I can clearly see where fate made a huge turn in my life. Everything now, compared to four years ago, feels like a dream."
Priest's expression wasn't sad; he was even smiling, but the smile somehow seemed hollow. He said softly: "'Expedition to another World Star River'—by the Seven Gods, if I hadn't actually joined the fleet, I couldn't even have imagined such a thing ten years ago."
Clearly, Priest wasn't afraid or confused. He was simply genuinely moved, astonished by his own life and destiny. Ever since he chose to come to Moldavia and try to join Winterfell Academy, the young warrior's future seemed to have been twisted by some immensely powerful force, becoming the dazzling spectacle it was today. He had even joined the great fleet bound for an alien World Star River, becoming a member of a fleet destined to be recorded in history.
Too beautiful and dreamlike, it made Priest, who had endured so much hardship in the past, feel deeply unreal.
"Is dreaming a bad thing?"
After quietly listening to Priest's words, the ghostly girl showed a faint, ethereal smile. Like a good buddy, she raised her hand and placed it on Priest's shoulder. Su Er revealed the same sunny, cheerful smile she had when she first met Priest: "Just an expedition to another World Star River, and you're this shocked? You know, I only recently learned that our entire hometown was living on the back of an Evil God! Ten years ago, I hadn't even crossed the mountains of my homeland, enduring the pain of Chaos erosion every day. And now... if we're talking about contrasts, about shock, can you compare to me?"
"Trust me, as long as we keep following that Lord, as long as we keep moving forward, there will be even broader horizons, even more dreamlike things waiting for us. The road is still long, so don't start reminiscing now."
With a hearty laugh, Su Er turned around, left a light remark, and drifted toward the house.
"And don't just stand outside like an idiot. We still need to pack your luggage for the fleet report!"
The door closed.
Priest stood outside alone for a while.
He thought about many things.
The fleet, his sister, Su Er, adventure, the expedition, the alien World Star River, the current Mycroft World, the ever-advancing Mana technology... He really thought about a lot.
But in the end, he took a deep breath, pushed aside all superfluous emotions, and before Su Er's second call came, Priest turned around, his expression calm, and walked toward his house.
Su Er was absolutely right. He wasn't even thirty yet, wasn't married, and had no children. He was still young. Starting to dwell on past hardships and present sweetness was far too early.
The road was still long. The future was bound to be an even brighter future.
And similar scenes played out in almost every home of those selected to join the Star River Joint Expedition Fleet.