Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 84: Bath Talk

Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 84: Bath Talk

Everyone stared at the elderly man, who looked like a simple frail old man. No one underestimated this elder who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Celestina tensed up and stood straight, looking at the elder with caution. She couldn't feel a single thing from Elder Saul.

"I requested Oscar to bring back the heart of the Thousand Serpent, a beast that resides in the Floating Islands of Edin. This is to repay a favor, but I've decided to give out good rewards to each of you."

Elder Saul took out five vials of bright moon liquid, the Grade Two Ein Burst Elixir. Oscar, Emily, Phillip, and George showed great desire. Celestina did not react because, as an Elite Exalt, she was entitled to this elixir.

"Now, these elixirs aren't enough compensation. I will also give the five of you a chance to select any spell of your choosing from the Neptune Archives."

Celestina's face twitched. This was a great reward. A free spell without spending contribution points would be a great advantage.

Philip smiled. He had been saving all his contribution points to purchase a great weapon in the future, only using his family's techniques. This was a great chance.

Naturally, Oscar and the others were ecstatic.

"The third and final reward for completion will be all the serpent's parts. You can sell them as you wish. Just bring back the heart."

"The Thousand Serpent resides on the third island. You must go through the first two islands to get there. Typically, you would have to make several stops before reaching Edin. But I've arranged for an airship to take you straight there. Look for the black sails."

Elder Saul turned around and departed with his final parting words, "Stay alive."

The room was silent as everyone thought about the mission's rewards and high risks.

Oscar cleared his throat and spoke in a humoring tone, "Well, I guess it is worth going on this mission."

"Indeed, the rewards are great, but who is this Elder Saul? To have the authority to decide something like this...." Celestina crossed her arms.

"I don't know. I only know he's been here for a while, and he maintains the gardens and fields of the Outer Hall." Oscar chided in.

"Hold on, Hold on! Putting aside the Elder for a moment, how the hell do you know the princess?" George exclaimed.

Oscar and Celestina were met with stares from everyone. Just what was the nature of the relationship between these two?

Gossip and hot topics were particularly popular among young students. Emily, George, and Phillip could not contain their curiosity and continued to eye the pair.V/\IssịT n0(v)eL/b(i)(n).co/m for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce

"We met in the Neptune Archives and began sharing our fondness for books. Why? Is there something wrong with being friends with Oscar?" Celestina tilted her head with a smile.

"Nothing is wrong. Anyone can be friends. It's just surprising. In my wildest imagination, I would never have thought the person Oscar talked about was the princess." Emily smiled back. It was great to have another girl in the group.

George was intent on pushing for more details, but Oscar quickly interrupted and said, "We should move to the airship first. The journey will likely take a few days, so we have time later to talk."

What Oscar said was logical to everyone's agreement. They got their things together and headed for the exit.

"Wait! I forgot to do something." Celestina paused everyone for a moment. She retrieved a vial of green liquid and drank its contents with a grimace from its bad taste.

Her silver hair changed into a clean black color while her emerald eyes became blue. She doubled checked herself in a hand mirror with a smile.

"Perfect disguise. Now let's go!" The potion she drank was a simple appearance-changing elixir that lasted a few hours. As a princess and a public figure, she had to be careful whenever she went out. There was no telling what unscrupulous types may be out there.

"Let me use it as well." Phillip also drank his elixir, changed his eyes and hair brown, and ruffled his hair to mask some of his handsomeness. "Ready."

Phillip observed the warped flesh on the stomach and the missing left ear. He could feel the remnants of desperation emanating from them. "I'm still lacking compared to you."

"How the hell are you lacking?" Oscar said irritatingly.

"I haven't truly made myself fight with my life on the line. Maybe this upcoming trip will allow me the chance." Phillip looked like a sharp sword, ready to unsheathe.

"What is this? The two of you are already here, chatting it up without me." George entered the bathroom. His Sapphire Hedgehog was on his skinny shoulder.

The hedgehog let out a 'kyun' noise, voicing the delight it felt from the bath.

After relishing in the comfortable feeling of the hot water, George asked Oscar the most important question. "Oscar, how the hell are you so close to the princess?"

"Celestina already told you. We met in the Archives and talked about books." Oscar was too relaxed that he made a mistake and lost his breath, realizing his error.

"You called the princess by name?" George was stunned.

"Calm down. I'm sure the princess gave permission." Phillip said calmly, but his eyes were full of shock. Not anyone could call the princess casually by name; even his father had to be respectful.

Oscar knew he messed up, but there was no taking it back now. "She said to call her by name. I tried to refuse, but she was very adamant." He scratched his head, looking tired. On the one hand, she was royalty, but on the other hand, she was royalty. What happens when a princess commands you to do something not respectful to royalty?

While the boys were getting more acquainted, Emily and Celestina also enjoyed their time together in the bath.

"I'm glad to have another girl on a mission." Emily sighed in delight from both the bathwater and the prospect of a girl partner.

"I'm glad to go on a mission without everyone speaking respectfully to me and fawning over me." Celestina had asked Emily to speak casually without the usual honorifics. Although Emily had some doubts, she wasn't as attuned to the rankings of society since she had grown up isolated in a hunter family. It was an easy transition.

The scene of the two beautiful girls cheerfully talking in the bath would make any man drool. Emily washed her orange hair.

"Your orange hair is so pretty. Can I touch it?" Celestina asked.

"Of course."

The two girls had a great time together.

.......

The journey continued for a few days. The Severance made no issues flying through the various kinds of rain and fierce winds.

The group talked, ate, and bathed, growing close along the way. To have good harmony in the group was best for their future endeavor.

Eventually, the captain shouted and announced to everyone on board, "Look alive, we're coming up to the Floating Islands of Edin."

Oscar came out onto the deck and took in the grand view.

There were massive floating mountains of land that stayed like a monolith in the air, unmoving and unchanged. These floating pieces of land were a considerable distance from each other.

It was an otherworldly sight to behold as the light of the two suns went through the floating mountains. The sunbeams shot out, outlining the islands, similar to clouds, with borders of light making the lands seem holy and majestic.

The Floating Islands of Edin.