?Just an hour before sunset, they finally arrived at their destination.
Countless people were already at the venue, the sight of which made Cristopher smile.
“It seems that more people have come this year, Young Master,” Cristopher said. “Even the other Continents have started celebrating their own version of the ‘Night of the Fireflies’.”
Thirteen didn’t reply and simply looked at the wide open field beside the lake.
A stage could be seen in the distance, and it was also the place where he would be heading later.
This venue belonged to the Remington Clan. But, after Thirteen had saved Harry in the Valbarra Archipelago, his relationship with the Monarch Clan had been good.
Because of this, they allowed him to use the property for this annual event, which now held great significance to the Wanderers of Solterra, and Pangea.
“Did the other Families help with the security this year?” Thirteen inquired.
“They did,” Cristopher answered. “In fact, they reached out two weeks ago and asked if there was something they could do to help.”
“Good.” Thirteen nodded.
After parking the car in the designated area, Cristopher opened the door to allow Thirteen, who was still holding Rhia, Remi, Maple, and Cinnamon to disembark.
“Big Brother, what are we doing here?” Maple asked.
“Why are there so many people?” Cinnamon inquired. “Are they going to cook food later?”
“They won’t be cooking any food, Cinnamon,” Thirteen patiently answered. “Also, they are all here to wish their loved ones a safe journey and also pray for their safe return.”
Maple and Cinnamon, who somehow felt a little bit of sadness in Thirteen’s voice, decided to just follow behind him and stop asking questions.
The moment he climbed up on the stage, countless people glanced in his direction, for he was the one they were all waiting for.
The teenage boy had handed Rhia to Remi before he climbed the steps leading up to the stage. He stood at the center of the stage and began his speech by addressing everyone who had gathered today, as well as the people who would be participating in the same ceremony in other places throughout the continent.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” Thirteen said. “We have gathered once again to wish our loved ones a safe journey in Solterra, as well as their safe return to our side.
“Even if they are not under the same sky as us, their hearts and our hearts beat as one, for they are not alone in their journey.”
Thirteen paused and looked at the darkening sky, which was painted in shades of purple and orange.
The sun had just set, and soon, the world would be covered in darkness.
The night sky, which was once beautiful, had lost its splendor.
Hundreds of years ago, people loved to gaze at the heavens and look at the stars that were twinkling in the sky.
But now, looking at the night sky brought sadness instead of happiness.
The shooting stars which everyone wanted to see in the past had now become an omen of death.
For each shooting star that streaked across the sky in Pangea, somewhere in Solterra, a Wanderer’s Journey had come to an end.
There were even nights when dozens or even hundreds of these shooting stars painted the night sky all at once, making those who saw them feel their hearts break inside their chest.
For they didn’t know if their loved ones were among those falling stars, whom they would never see again in their life.
“Everyone, we can now begin the Night of the Fireflies,” Thirteen declared.
All the people then began to light up their paper lanterns.
Each lantern had a wish written on it, but the majority of those wishes were for their loved ones’ safe return.
Thirteen had started this event to honor not only the Wanderers who were doing their missions in Solterra but also the unnamed Wanderers who would never have the chance to see their beloved ever again.
As darkness started to set in, countless glowing lanterns illuminated the field as if they were a sea of stars.
Rhia, who had woken up from her nap not long ago, lit her own lantern and held it firmly in her hands.
The little girl, who was very happy a while ago, seemed a bit sad as she waited for her lantern to be filled with hot air, giving it the strength to fly into the sky.
Maple and Cinnamon lit the lanterns they had been given and waited for Thirteen’s signal to release them.
Just like everyone else, Thirteen, as well as Cristopher and Colbert, who were managing the venue while Thirteen was away, held a lantern in each hand.
This event was being broadcast all over the Aldebaran Continent so that those who had lit their own flying lanterns, could participate in real-time.
A few minutes later, when Thirteen deemed that the time was right, he made a declaration.
“No matter how fleeting and small the light we hold in our hands, know that we are not alone,” Thirteen stated. “To my fellow Wanderers gathered here now, those who walk the same path as I do, remember that our journey has just begun.
“So, let us lend a light to our comrades in Solterra so that they may find their way back home, where everyone is waiting for them.”
Thirteen then raised his arms holding the lantern above his head and gently released it from his hand.
His lantern slowly flew toward the sky, and soon, countless other lanterns flew alongside it.
From every corner of the Aldebaran Continent, similar scenes were happening.
The sky was gradually being filled with flying lanterns, which looked like a sea of stars from the ground.
Thirteen gazed at the heavens and closed his eyes, uttering a small prayer for all the Cannon Fodders in Solterra who were doing their best to survive.
———————————
Somewhere in Solterra…
Mikhail and Shasha, who were looking at the night sky, smiled at the same time.
Dozens of Flying Lanterns appeared, making all the Wanderers who were also with them feel something warm spread inside their chests.
The reason why the “Night of the Fireflies” suddenly became popular in Pangea was thanks to the Wanderers in Solterra who claimed that they saw flying lanterns in the sky.
This was something that never happened in Solterra before because there was no Kingdom or Empire that had this kind of tradition.
What they didn’t know was that Thirteen had especially asked Laplace Demon and The One to agree to this simple event, which he believed would grant the Wanderers who were struggling courage and motivation to do better.
For the Laplace Demon and The One, making the Wanderers complete their missions was of the utmost importance.
So they agreed to this annual event, transferring the Flying Lanterns that carried the messages of the people in Pangea to their loved ones in Solterra.
They even made it so that the Flying Lanterns would land near the person who was meant to receive it.
In short, this event was like sending a letter to Solterra, allowing the Wanderers to know that their families, friends, and loved ones were waiting for them back in Pangea.
As for the Wanderers who could no longer receive the letters, their flying lanterns would remain in Pangea.
“Rhia joined this year’s Night of the Fireflies,” Shasha said softly after seeing her little sister’s scribble that said, “I love you, Mikwhale and Shwasha”.
The two members of the Leventis Family received Thirteen’s, Remi’s, Rhia’s, Gerald’s, and Alessia’s flying lanterns, wishing for their safe return.
Soon, they heard the sounds of sobbing behind them as the other Wanderers read the message that was written on the Flying Lanterns that were meant for them.
To this day, they didn’t know how such a miraculous thing happened, but they were happy that it did.
This was also why the Night of the Fireflies had become an official holiday in the Aldebaran Continent, which was being copied by the other Wanderers in the other Continents.
Many believed that this miraculous event was just a coincidence or a passing whim by The One, who governed the two worlds.
Of course, there were others who believed that it was all thanks to Zion Leventis, who might be a special Wanderer that The One and the Laplace Demon acknowledged.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, the teenage boy had become famous all over the world, making the Central Government very happy.
They were using Zion as propaganda material to recruit Wanderers who were not affiliated with the Monarch Clans as well as the Prestigious Families.
Because of this, they had given Thirteen special treatment, which he happily used to his advantage.
Just as the flickering lights slowly disappeared in the sky, Maple and Cinnamon both looked at the corner of the stage at the same time.
“Grandpa!” Maple shouted as she and her sister ran towards their grandfather.
“Cinnamon knew you were coming, Grandpa,” Cinnamon said as she hugged the old man who was wearing an eyepatch over his left eye.
“Time to go home, Maple, Cinnamon,” the Old Man said before kissing his two mischievous granddaughters on their foreheads before looking at the teenage boy, who was looking at him with a steady gaze.
“Thank you for taking care of my grandkids,” the Old Man said. “My name is James Von Ainsworth. What is your name, young man?”
“Zion Leventis,” Thirteen replied.
“Well, then, Zion. I’ll see you around.” James winked before patting Maple’s and Cinnamon’s heads. “Say thank you to him, and say goodbye to your new friends.”
Maple and Cinnamon both nodded before looking at Thirteen and bowing their heads.
“”Thank you Big Brother for the food!””
“You’re welcome,” Thirteen replied.
After saying their thanks, the two went to hug Rhia and kiss her cheek.
“Let’s play again sometime, Rhia,” Maple said.
“Cinnamon will bring food for you next time!” Cinnamon stated.
“Un!” Rhia nodded. “Bye bye, Mwaple. Bye Bye, Cinnabon.”
Maple and Cinnamon also hugged Remi and thanked her for everything before going back to their Grandfather with smiles on their faces.
“See you around, Zion,” James said as he held the hands of his granddaughters. “If you ever see these two again, I hope that you will look after them for me. They might be mischievous, but both of them are very good girls.”
Thirteen nodded. “Maple, Cinnamon, listen to your parents, and don’t sneak out without asking for permission, okay?”
“”Yes!””
After waving goodbye, the two of them finally left with their grandfather, leaving Thirteen behind, who was looking at James’ back.
For a brief moment, Thirteen thought that he recognized the old man, but after careful consideration, he thought that he was imagining things.
After all, the old man he knew back then had met his death by being eaten by the World Wolf, Fenrir, never to be seen again.