Blue Lake, City A
Pedestrians coming and going, their expressions hurried. Yet many still cast their gazes toward the shore of the lake where a faintly breathing girl lay unconscious.
The girl wore a white dress, stained with dust and blood. Her disheveled hair concealed her face. If it weren't for the faint rise and fall of her chest, anyone would have thought she was dead.
Finally, a passerby couldn't bear it any longer. He approached cautiously and called out, 'Miss, are you okay?'
Seeing no response from the girl, the passerby hesitated for a moment and then dialed the ambulance. Ambulance fees were expensive, and if this girl couldn't pay, the responsibility might fall on him. But he couldn't bear to ignore her, especially when she still had a breath of life left in her.
"I'll pay for it," he thought, clenching his teeth. "I can always take on some extra temporary work if necessary."
With that in mind, he took off his coat and covered the girl. Though her dress wasn't particularly short, lying on the ground like this made her look vulnerable. Moreover, winter had just passed, and there was a chill in the air. In comparison, her white dress seemed even more insufficient.
The passerby was tall, and his oversized coat almost enveloped the entire girl, providing warmth and comfort. She finally moved slightly.
Seeing this, the passerby was relieved and called out again, 'Miss, are you awake?'
'Who... who's calling me?'
Aria's drowsy consciousness gradually returned. She struggled to open her eyes, and the darkness before her was dispersed, revealing the bright midday sun.
Aria furrowed her brows. Wasn't she supposed to be dead?
She distinctly remembered the day of her death, the day she had fallen into eternal slumber. How could she still be in the mortal world?
Before she could make sense of it all, the sharp pain all over her body diverted her thoughts.
Her bones and flesh throbbed with pain, as if every movement tore at her wounds. She furrowed her brows again, a trace of anger flashed in her eyes. As a mage, the thing she hates most is pain. Since becoming the High Priestess, she had never experienced physical pain again.
Slowly pushing herself up, Aria surveyed her surroundings. She caught the concerned gaze of the passerby and was momentarily stunned.
Where was this? Who were these people? Why were their appearances so different from what she knew?
But the passerby's inquiry interrupted her thoughts.
'Miss, you've finally awakened! Please hold on; the ambulance will be here soon!'
Ambulance? Aria was even more puzzled.
'I don't need an ambulance,' she blurted out, then suddenly stopped herself. She realized that the man's words weren't in her language, and the language she had just used wasn't hers either.
What on earth was happening?
Aria struggled to stand up, and the oversized coat draped over her slipped off. She watched it fall to the ground, trying to say something but finally gives up. She lifted her leg, ready to leave.
'But...' the passerby spoke up again. Aria turned her head, her disheveled hair falling with the motion. She saw the surprise in the man's eyes and heard the uncontrollable gasps from the surrounding crowd.
However, the man's surprise lasted only a moment, and he composed himself, patiently advising, 'You look seriously injured. It might be a good idea to go to the hospital with the ambulance.'
Aria lowered her gaze, wanting to ignore him. But as she turned away, she heard the man mutter under his breath, '"How much money is it going to cost? At least don't waste it.'
Aria halted in her tracks, contemplating. This ambulance... required payment?
She glanced at the man's concealed concern for money. and looked again at the oversized, tattered coat on the ground, with sleeves torn and all. Something flickered in her eyes
She walked up to the man and asked,
'Do you have paper and pen?'
Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't spoken in days and her throat hadn't been moistened with water.
The passerby was momentarily surprised but managed a nod. He began searching his pockets and, after a while, pulled out a rough black pencil and a crumpled name card.
He smiled apologetically, handing them to Aria, 'Can you use these? It's something I had from my previous job, a bit old.'
Aria lowered her gaze and accepted the paper and pen. She slowly unfolded the name card.
'Xavier Storm, Founder & CEO of Holy Moon Real Estate.'
Her pupils constrict. Holy Moon….the same name with where she comes from. Just a coincidence?
She glanced over the text on the name card, remembered the information and, on the back, wrote a few words.
'Aria... Shadow?' the man slowly read, surprisingly and curiously.
Aria handed the name card back to him. Her voice is indifferent, 'When you are in danger, call my name with a tone of aria. I will come to your aid.'
The man took the card, his mind wondering if the girl had injured her brain. However, when he looked into those clear and strangely composed, resolute eyes, he couldn't help but put the card away, keeping it close to him. He felt an unexplainable sense of reliance and reassurance.
Aria saw him put the name card away and nodded slightly. Her drooping fingers lifted gently, and a small whirlwind with green starlight gently flew toward the man, dissolving into his body.
Aria was really leaving this time. She turned away from the man, her voice soft, 'Next, do as you wish. You will have good fortune.'
When a person becomes one with nature, the world's operations become their own, and the world's fortunes become their fortunes. Even though ordinary people can't achieve this, she infused natural elements into his body, enhancing his affinity with nature. As a result, the world's fortune would favor him, and his future endeavors would be more fortunate.
In her era, this was called,
God's Blessing.