"After everything is dealt with cleanly on the Empire’s end, find an opportunity to take a trip to the Divine World," Shane made such a decision.
Complicated as it sounds, in fact, all these thoughts merely flickered through Shane’s mind in a matter of seconds.
Thus, the time it took Shane to decide all this was just a few short seconds.
When he came back to his senses, the grand doors of the Temple behind him had slowly closed.
And in front, Elf Queen Sophie’s party of three approached.
"How did it go?" Sophie asked Shane cautiously, "Has the audience concluded?"
Leiya and Nia also looked at Shane, as if trying to discern something from his face.
"Yes, the conversation has concluded," Shane nodded at Sophie and said, "Thank you for your troubles, Queen."
"There is no need for such formalities; everything we do follows the will of the Goddess we most believe in," Sophie shook her head and finally asked, "But why have you come out alone?"
Sophie had asked the question that she cared about most.
Not just Sophie, Leiya, and Nia were equally concerned.
Why had only Shane come out, and not Merica?
Could it be that something really happened to Merica?
Sophie’s group of three slightly furrowed their brows.
Seeing this, Shane spoke.
"Don’t worry, Merica is fine," said Shane, "She has just gone back to the Divine World with the Nature Goddess."
Shane said this in a very casual manner, but it unsettled Sophie and her companions.
"Merica and the Nuadra Goddess...!?"
"Gone back to the Divine World...!?"
Leiya and Nia exclaimed in shock.
Sophie, too, was at a loss.
Shane smiled wryly at the reaction of the three legendary Elf mages.
Merica had indeed returned to the Divine World with Nadura.
Time rewound to about ten minutes earlier.
After the conversation had concluded, Nadura made a suggestion to Merica.
"Would you like to become my Blessing?"
Nadura extended this sincere invitation to Merica right in front of Shane.
This invitation, to Merica, was like a bolt from the blue.
"Become... become the Blessing of the Nature Goddess...!?"
Merica’s eyes widened in complete astonishment.
Her reaction was even more intense than when she learned that Shane carried the "Supreme God’s Blessing."
It couldn’t be helped.
For Merica, an Elf who held the Nature Goddess as the highest belief, Nadura’s proposal was too astonishing.
In any case, at that moment, Merica was flustered.
"Me, me, me... What virtues or abilities do I have...!?"
Merica was utterly panicked.
Not just Merica, even Shane hadn’t expected Nadura to suddenly propose such a thing.
However, the two of them didn’t know that Nadura had been planning this for a while.
"I told you, I’ve been observing the Hero by your side for a long time, and naturally, I’ve been observing you for a long time, too, Merica," Nadura said to Merica with a kind smile, gently continuing, "You’re a well-behaved good child; though you lack a bit of experience, you have a kind and pure heart, and you’re willing to strive hard, to continuously push yourself forward. Even if you feel nervous, scared along the way, in the end, you always overcome the fear in your heart and bravely take steps that belong to you."
"You, now in possession of magic power that rivals the Royal Family, are fully qualified to become my Blessing, to walk the Human Realm in my name."
Nadura said this very earnestly.
"Therefore, I extend an invitation to you, wishing for you to become my Blessing. Would you be willing?"
Nuadra’s polite words threw Merica into a panic on the spot.
"Please... please don’t say that, Nuadra Goddess!" Merica stammered in a fluster, "I... I’m just an insignificant member of the Elf Clan, with no exceptional talent. There are many in the clan far more formidable and skilled than I am. How could someone of my caliber possibly become the Blessing of the Lady Goddess!?"
Merica had already crossed the threshold from panic into terror.
Clearly, Nuadra’s invitation had given Merica a considerable shock.
After all, this was the Blessing of the Nature Goddess!
The highest belief of the Elf Clan, a glory everyone dreams of!
Even the current Elf Queen had not received such an honor. Who was she, a mere ordinary member of the Elf Clan, to deserve such glory?
Thus, it was no surprise that Merica became extraordinarily nervous and flustered.
But Nuadra was watching Merica the whole time, her gaze never wavering.
"I know that suddenly becoming my Blessing might be somewhat abrupt and overwhelming," Nuadra spoke very seriously, "but I am sincere, my child. I have always been watching over you, so I can affirm that you are indeed worthy."
As Nuadra gazed intently at her, although Merica was still somewhat incredulous and uneasy, she was no longer as panicked as before.
At this moment, Merica remembered what had happened the last time she encountered the young master of the Lucica Family.
At that time, Shane had told her that he managed to arrive in time to rescue her because the Nature Goddess Nudura had sent down a revelation.
This proved that Nudura was not lying.
She, indeed, had always been watching her.
"You may think little of yourself, but please trust my judgment," Nudura smiled and continued, "After all, I am a Goddess. I have seen countless members of the Human Race to date and have guided several Heroes. I am very clear on who is qualified to be my Blessing and who is not."
Here, Nuadra’s tone became somewhat somber.
"Actually, the current Elf Queen Sophie is also qualified to be my Blessing, but she has had bad luck, born at an unfortunate time, and encountered such tragedy, eventually leading to her receiving a mediocre Blessing."
"She must feel very concerned about it, right?"
"I find it very heart-wrenching, but there is nothing I can do. After such an event, I am no longer able to bless her, and can only bestow my Blessing onto another member of the Elf Clan."
Under such circumstances, Merica was chosen.
Merica suddenly found herself at a loss for words, unsure of what to do, and cast a pleading look toward Shane.
By now, Shane had recovered from the astonishing news inadvertently revealed by Nuadra.
Seeing Merica’s pleading gaze, Shane shrugged his shoulders.
"Isn’t it quite good?" Shane said, "I think it’s great."
Shane expressed his approval of the situation.
It was to be expected, wasn’t it?
"Haven’t you always felt inferior to others, afraid that you couldn’t catch up to your childhood friend?" Shane tapped Merica’s forehead and said, "Now there’s a chance in front of you to transform completely. Are you really considering refusing it?"
Of course, Merica didn’t want to refuse.
To become the Blessing of the Nature Goddess was an honor that no Elf could reject.
Even Merica felt the same.
"Do I really have such a qualification?"
Merica was extremely doubtful of her own abilities.
"Believe in me, and believe in yourself too, Merica," Nuadra patted Merica’s head with a gentle voice, "You have already transformed. You’ve forged a bond with the Hero, and thanks to the Mother Goddess’s Blessing, you’ve undergone metamorphosis. You are no longer the same as you were before, and you will continue to become stronger."
Given the relationship between Shane and Merica, in the future, it was certain they would show deep affection for each other.
And once they do, Merica’s Magic Power will grow ever stronger because of Shane’s Blessing.
In such a case, if she were to also receive the Blessing of the Nature Goddess, gaining the protection of Nature, the benefits for her would multiply even further.
This is a path with endless prospects, too precious not to traverse.
"Don’t you want to become stronger?" the Nuadra Goddess looked straight at Merica and asked, "Don’t you wish to improve yourself, to become someone worthy of staying by the side of the one you love?"
Those words caused Merica’s breath to catch.