Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

On the main floor of the dungeon Laplace

Cecilia who was inside one of the large halls of the white palace, looked at her clan members who were sleeping soundly. After going through soo much suffering and countless sleepless nights, they finally let all their burdens down and slept peacefully.

She caressed Maya's hair who sleeping near her and wiped the tears staining the corners of her eyes. She knew Maya very well as they were the best of friends and always played back in their village. She was like an older sister to all of the children present here always scolding and tutoring them whenever they made any mischief.

However, Cecilia knew that Maya adored all of the children and that was why she was strict with all of them. Seeing that strong Maya like that, Ceilia felt a heartbreaking pain in her chest. Those carefree and free-spirited days were now all gone, they can no longer go back to their village again.

Reminiscing about the warm smiles of her parents, relatives and clansmen, a small smile bloomed on her face. However, it disappeared soon after because whenever she recalled her village, scenes of those adventurers cruelly subjugating and massacring them would always flash in her memories.

She tightly hugged her knees and her delicate body trembled as those scenes like a nightmare continuously plagued her.

"Huff'¦ huff" just when fear was about to grip hold of her entire body, she recalled her meeting with Simon and Irene. How she was brought here and how Simon was so adamant about saving her clansmen.

Even while knowing that their race held such precious treasure within them, not even a tinge of greed could be seen in his eyes. And even while fully knowing that harbouring them would only bring disaster and trouble to himself, he still resolutely took them in.

One by one those nightmarish scenes were shattered and a warmth spread to her whole body which was trembling non-stop a few moments ago.

"Hmm'¦ let's see from now you can call me big brother"

"As your big brother; of course, I'm duty-bound to protect my little sister"

She recalled the words that Simon had once said to her and a small light in her endlessly dark world suddenly popped up lighting the entire place. Her trembling and so was her cowering. She would no longer be a coward and run away from everything as Simon had shown her the meaning of courage and bravery.

Steeling her mind, she got up from her seat and walked out of the palace. Looking all around the place and feeling the density of mana, she was amazed... "So this is a dungeon!".

Ever since coming inside the dungeon, it was her first time exploring it. Tilting her head, she saw a pond at the backside of the palace and became dazed. The scenery was just like her house which also had a small pond in the backside.

Curious, she lightly walked towards the pond which was releasing a calm and serene aura. The pond was the Pond of Serenity that Simon had installed which had a calming effect on the mind and helped in the growth of trees and plants surrounding it.

Coming near the shore of the pond, Cecilia quietly sat on a small rock and looked at her reflection. Emerald green hair, two pairs of ceratin wings that shined with seven-coloured lights and the mysterious orbs of light that always surrounded her.

She could tell that she was quite different from the members of her clan. Her mother once told her that she was special even amongst their Forest Spring Spirit race in that she was a royalty. A Forest Spring Royal Spirit was born by the essence of heavens and earth, carrying the blessing of nature and unimaginable abilities.

When her mother told her all this, she was too small to make any heads or tails of it. At that time she only wanted the lectures of her mother to end quickly so that she can go out and play. But now looking back on it, she wanted her abilities to quickly blossom so that she can help her big brother who believed so much in her.

Unknowingly to her, minute changes started occurring inside her and the mysterious orbs as if answering her prayers, glowed profoundly. The changes were so small that Cecilia failed to notice; however, the changes did occur.

Mystical energy from the surrounding flowed through the earth and into the pond of serenity. Like veins, they transferred the energy into the pond and nourished it continuously.

The Pond of Serenity assimilated with the vast energy that was being continuously deposited into it and incredulous changes started occurring at the bottom of the pond. Mysterious plants and tiny gems and stones that were releasing a powerful light started forming inside it.

Unbeknownst to her, Cecilia started influencing the area around her. It was not only the pond but also the saplings of the trees of mana that have been planted by Simon surrounding the pond also got affected. Though they were still called saplings, the trees of manas were already more than fifty meters tall and ten meters wide.

Feeling the rush of vast energy through the veins inside the earth, they swayed in delight and danced their branches and leaves to generate a gentle breeze that blew towards Cecilia, rustling her hair.

Cecilia furrowed her brows suddenly, she felt as if someone or something was saying their thanks. But it was just a fleeting feeling and it soon disappeared as if it was never there.

"Strange'¦ what was that feeling? It was as if something was showing its appreciation towards me" Cecilia tilted her small head and pondered. There was no one here other than her, so there was no way she could hear someone.

Thinking that it was just her delusion she stopped pondering about it any further and instead focused on feeling the abilities that her mother and Irene told her that she possessed.

Time flowed constantly while Cecilia was focused on sensing her abilities by the pond side. An azure light suddenly shined before the alluring figure of Irene came into view. She was fond of the pond of serenity that was behind the palace and it was also the spot where she liked to spend most of her time.

Turning around she saw Cecilia quietly sitting by the pond with her eyes closed. Irene immediately understood that Cecelia was in a focused state and shouldn't be disturbed. She too quietly found a spot and sat on it looking at the pond in a daze, nobody knew what she was thinking.

Suddenly she furrowed her delicate eyebrows as she attentively studied the pond and felt the changes happening underneath. Irene couldn't help the shock that was revealed in her eyes after she finished examining the pond.

Massive changes were occurring underneath the pond at this moment as large volumes of mystical energy like crisscrossing rivers were flowing inside. The pond was being purified at a rapid speed as its content was being altered.

Why were these changes taking place all of a sudden and at this speed? Now that she looked around, it was not only the pond but the surrounding trees of manas were also being affected as the rate of their growth was being bolstered at a rapid speed.

The mystical energy through the pond flowed inside the trees through their roots, altering their structure altogether.

Irene could sense the trees continuously purifying and gathering the surrounding manas, while at the same time bringing some unusual changes onto it.

Why these changes were occurring? There was only one reason and that was it was being influenced by Cecilia. Irene was well aware of the heaven-defying abilities that a Forest Spring Royal Spirit possessed and right now that little girl was unlocking a small part of it.

Lightly smiling to herself, she marvelled at the changes that were occurring all around her.

"Her abilities have already started to fester, it wouldn't be long in the future when she would be able to utilise all of the power granted by her race and display abilities that would shock any onlookers

Suddenly a thought occurred to Irene 'What would that man think after he sees all these changes?' A rarely seen curious smile bloomed on her lovely face when she thought about it.

Cecilia who was in a state of focus suddenly felt a presence not far from her and she slowly opened her eyes. Seven coloured lights of varying depth flashed across her eyes before mysteriously disappearing