[Vol. 7] Chapter 20: The Storm Set Off by a Butterfly’s Wings
Violet chose to visit Sethlin first for several important reasons.
First and foremost, as the Goddess of Life and the primary deity worshipped in Azure Sky Kingdom, Sethlin was one of the few gods that still able to freely move within the Origin Realm. While she didn’t directly rule the country, her status far exceeded that of the Feathered Emperor, Estini Kulk.
At least for now, Violet had yet to encounter another living god in this world besides Sethlin.
With her ancient divine wisdom, formidable strength, and the Azure Sky Kingdom, one of the world's most powerful countries, backing her, Sethlin undoubtedly had a deeper understanding of most matters than the average person.
For Violet, who had only recently returned home, Sethlin was the best ally she could ask for.
Simply put, if there’s a problem, go to Sethlin.
In fact, the moment Violet first crossed back into the Origin Realm through the undersea rift of the Ancient Spirit Realm, Sethlin had immediately sensed her presence and reached out using the token she had left with Violet.
She even contacted her before Violet had the chance to look for her beloved dragon.
Though Violet didn’t say it out loud, deep down, she was genuinely touched.
There were very few people in her life who could provide both warmth and care, while also standing side by side with her as equals in power.
After a long, quiet embrace, Sethlin gracefully took a step back, her movements elegant and effortless. The soft, calming fragrance around her, a blend of flowers and sacred sandalwood, made everything feel even more peaceful.
Taking Violet by the hand, she led her to sit down on a wooden chair, her gentle smile growing even warmer than when they had first met.
"What's wrong? Staring at me like that… could it be that you actually missed me, Violet?"
They had already exchanged brief updates through divine telepathy before this meeting. However, the distance between them at the time, combined with the [Ghost Sea] and [Great Whirlpool], had weakened their connection, making detailed communication costly in divine power.
Some things could only be properly discussed face-to-face, which was why Violet made meeting Sethlin her first priority after settling down.
Hearing the goddess’s teasing remark, the black-haired girl didn’t bother denying it or getting flustered.
That just wasn’t her style.
"Well, obviously, I missed you a little. I’m not some heartless person, after all. So, how have you been lately?"
Hearing that, the green-haired girl pouted and turned her head away, pretending to be upset.
Oh, please. Don't give me that coquettish look! You may have the face of a young girl, but inside you're practically an old lady!
If the devout winged priests of Sky City saw their revered goddess acting so coquettishly and playfully, their jaws would probably hit the floor.
"Good? Good?! It was awful! You disappeared without a word, do you have any idea how worried we were? Do you know how much effort we spent trying to find you? We even formed an unprecedented international alliance just because of this!"
"Uh… ahaha…"
Violet awkwardly scratched her head.
Honestly, even without Sethlin explaining, she could already guess who the members of this so-called international alliance were…
Without hesitation, the black-haired girl quickly pressed her hands together in a guilty plea, better to admit fault first and deal with the rest later.
"Sorry, sorry! But things happened too fast back then. I never expected to end up in that situation, and I had no choice but to go. I promise next time I’ll at least let you all know beforehand… Okay?"
"Next time!!!"
Hearing this half-hearted apology, Sethlin immediately shot Violet a glare.
Though, considering that the Goddess of Life had an ethereal beauty filled with warmth and divinity, it was hard to associate her with anything "fierce", but she was definitely trying to show how angry she was.
Violet was a little surprised to see Sethlin this emotional, but true to her nature, the goddess didn’t let the frustration drag on.
Noticing how Violet looked completely lost on how to respond, Sethlin quickly sighed and changed the topic.
"Forget it… The important thing is that you’re back safely. That’s all that matters. So… do you need me to check your condition?"
"Ah, yes! Yes!"
The black-haired girl nodded eagerly, as if she had just received a royal pardon. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly added:
"That’s one thing, but also, have there been any major events in the Origin Realm recently? And do you know anything about Xiao Guang and my former companions? How are they doing, especially Xiao Guang?"
"Hmm, come here."
Sethlin gestured for Violet to approach. Without hesitation, the girl offered her wrist, allowing the goddess to gently infuse it with soft green light. The divine energy began to flow through her body, as if scanning every inch of her condition.
With the Goddess of Life’s mastery over the power of life and her vast divine consciousness, checking Violet's condition didn’t require her full attention. While guiding the flow of life energy through Violet's body, she also carefully answered her questions.
"Theresa, those two little angels, and the little demon you saved are still in the capital of the Holy Empire. Because of your disappearance, the divine tree planting project was temporarily put on hold. The little demon is currently studying in the Holy Empire’s Capital, while the others are living with her as her guardians."
"If you're worried, you can go see them directly later. They're still living in your estate in the Holy Empire’s Capital. Or, if you'd rather deal with the situation at sea first, you can visit them when you have time."
"As for your little dragon companion, I have been keeping an eye on her. Not long after you disappeared, she suddenly left the Holy Empire without discussing it with anyone, and headed east on her own. It seemed like she sensed your general direction and was trying to find you."
"But later, after crossing the war-torn border regions of two major nations, she entered the Austre Empire. There, something seemed to catch her attention, and she stopped moving forward."
"I'm not entirely sure what it is, but that region is known for its extreme reverence for dragons, almost to the point of worship. It might be some kind of ancient dragon-related ruins."
Sethlin paused for a moment, noticing that Violet was quietly listening, showing no immediate reaction. So, she summarized the situation.
"In short, she stayed in that area for a while. For some reason, she eventually gave up on heading further east to search for you and instead remained there, accepting the worship of the dragon followers. As far as I know, she still hasn't left."
"Dragon followers… worshipers… huh."
Violet carefully processed the information, cross-referencing it with her own vague sense of her dragon’s condition. After a moment, she nodded thoughtfully, finally feeling a weight lifted off her heart.
She could only nod to the goddess in front of her. And with that relief, a deeper sense of gratitude washed over her.
Sethlin made it sound casual, but Violet knew exactly what kind of person Xiao Guang was. Tracking a Level 100 being with no clear lead was no easy task, even for a god.
After all, the Sky Island where Sethlin resides was thousands of miles away from where Xiao Guang had traveled.
For Sethlin to so precisely recount Xiao Guang’s movements since the moment Violet disappeared, it meant that from the very beginning, she had been watching over and protecting the companions Violet left behind.
She had likely invested considerable effort and resources into it as well.
This quiet, gentle way of offering help, without asking for anything in return, was exactly what made the Goddess so captivating.
"Thank you... I really couldn't have done this without you."
Hearing Violet's sincere gratitude, the goddess simply gave her a gentle smile.
"It was nothing. Compared to everything you've done for me, this is just a small favor. No need to be so formal between us. It feels a bit distant, don’t you think?"
"You're right, I'm overthinking it... Haha, sorry about that."
Feeling the gentle flow of life energy inside her, which was not only examining her body but also nourishing it, Violet let out a helpless chuckle before continuing.
"Sethlin, when you get the chance, could you give me as precise a location as possible? Even if Xiao Guang is safe for now, I still need to go and check on her once I’ve finished dealing with everything here."
The goddess nodded slightly.
"Of course. In the meantime, I'll have my people keep a close watch on that area."
After a brief pause, noticing that Violet had nothing else to add, Sethlin’s smile brightened as she smoothly moved the conversation forward.
"As for major events... I doubt anything could top a certain someone drawing her sword and slaying the Avatar of the Demon Lord of Slaughter, rewriting the history of the Holy Empire in the process~."
"Because you changed that country’s entire power structure, a lot has shifted over the past six months. The Goddess Church has softened its approach and lost its faith-based magic, one of its most powerful weapons. As a result, several hidden factions, including traces of activity from dark cults and even evil gods, have begun to emerge..."
"The global situation has become much more complicated compared to when you left. In fact, it's escalated to the level of national conflicts. For now, things are still being handled diplomatically, but... how long can that last? Even I can’t say for sure."
At this point, Sethlin's expression grew serious.
"Do you remember the 'Grand Alliance' I mentioned before? Initially, it was formed to search for you. But with everything that’s happening in the world, it’s evolving into a true multinational coalition. At this point, all that’s left is an official declaration."
"Violet, the Origin Realm is slowly dividing into two massive opposing factions."