NOVEL NEXT Chapter 158: The Guide
In his hands, the mass of energy began to take shape. First, it was a flash, then a silhouette, and finally… a tiny fairy.
It was small, no bigger than the palm of his hand, with sparkling wings and a face that seemed made of pure innocence. Its huge eyes shone like two gems, and its voice was high-pitched and playful.
"Hello~! What serious faces you all have!"
The fairy twirled in the air, leaving a trail of golden sparks. "Relax, I won't bite… well, not much."
The girls stared at it in awe. Karely put a hand over her mouth.
"That… little thing came out of you, my lord?"
Jax smiled.
"Yes. It's a fragment of my soul, shaped into a guide. I've given it all my knowledge, and it can pass it on to you. No matter how many come, there will always be someone to guide them."
Suddenly, the fairy duplicated, then split again and again, until a copy rested on each girl's shoulder. All the versions waved, joked, and scattered little playful sparks.
"I'm yours now!" said one, perching on Anya's head.
"What a cute face, I'm going to live here!" shouted another from Zyra's shoulder, while she tried to swat it away in vain.
"Ugh, talks too much…" murmured Zela, though she looked secretly amused.
Jax raised his voice, drawing their attention back.
"Listen. Each fairy will take you to your own territory. There, you'll be free to decorate it however you want. You can choose any theme: forests, castles, seas, deserts… whatever you imagine."
The girls glanced at each other, whispering in excitement.
"But there's one condition," Jax continued. "The missions you create must match the theme you choose. I don't want senseless chaos. I want order. I want purpose. I want that when others arrive, they have a path, a reason to stay, and a way to strengthen this realm."
The fairy on Jayde's shoulder spun around like a little bell and shouted:
"Come on, come on! Time to decide what world you want to build!"
The girls, still in disbelief, couldn't hide their excitement at having a piece of Jax's world all to themselves.
Manaia followed her fairy to a place where there was nothing, just a completely white void filled with mist, like an infinite blank canvas for her to shape however she wished. She exhaled and smiled as the little fairy landed on her shoulder, humming cheerfully.
"Hello, hello! Welcome! Don't be shy, I'll help you make this place yours!" it said, twirling in the air and leaving a trail of golden sparks.
Manaia laughed softly, brushing her hair back. "Alright… let's see what I can do here."
She focused, letting her intent shape the empty world. Streams of hot water began to rise from the ground, forming gentle thermal springs. Around them, the earth turned fertile, and medicinal plants and herbs began to grow. The scent of lavender and chamomile filled the air, calming her and awakening a strong sense of purpose.
The fairy flew around her, offering advice. "Make it interactive! Create guardians, give them life! Make citizens too! Your garden doesn't have to be empty: it can be a living, breathing place!"
Manaia's eyes shone. "Guardians… I like that." She extended her hands, shaping ethereal figures from the golden energy, forming protectors to watch over her garden. Each one took humanoid form, with soft glowing armor and friendly expressions.
"Now… make more like them. Maybe stronger, maybe faster. And… people too. Citizens who live, work, and enjoy the sanctuary," suggested the fairy, floating in front of her.
Manaia focused, letting her will flow. Small houses began to rise among the trees, with paths connecting each home, and tiny villagers appeared: herbalists, farmers, and healers, each fulfilling their tasks in the garden.
"They need to interact with the guardians… make it dynamic," the fairy chirped, spinning in the air.
Manaia nodded, feeling an excitement she hadn't expected. "Alright… guardians, protect the city. Citizens, tend the plants, explore… live your lives."
Light danced over the hot springs as the fairy flew around, sprinkling golden dust over the plants, making the flowers bloom instantly and the streams shimmer. Manaia floated above the garden, shaping fountains and bridges, adding herbs with magical properties that could heal or energize anyone who entered.
"This is… perfect," she whispered, stepping back to admire her creation. The garden was alive, a mix of calm and serenity with movement and life, all under her watchful control. Her guardian fairy perched nearby, smiling.
"Remember, you can keep expanding. Make more cities, more interactions, more missions for future visitors. You are the guide here, just as Jax said. Your world… your rules," said the fairy.
Manaia's smile widened. "Then let's make it the best sanctuary anyone could find."
Manaia walked along the paths of her garden, touching the leaves of medicinal plants, feeling how her energy flowed from them into the guardians and the citizens.
She paused in front of a thermal spring, watching the villagers interact with the guardians. Some gathered herbs, others trained with the protectors, and all seemed to live in harmony under her gaze. Manaia smiled, satisfied: her world was not just beautiful, but useful, alive.
The fairy flitted above her head, laughing. "Look at how everything flourishes because of you! Your citizens are happy, your guardians are strong, your garden is alive! This is just the beginning, but it's already amazing."
Manaia gently lay down on the grass, taking in the trees and streams that meandered between the houses. She breathed deeply, letting the sense of accomplishment and power fill her. Every corner of her sanctuary reflected her essence, and the tranquility of the place made her feel complete.
"This… this is mine," she murmured with a serene smile. "My garden, my city, my sanctuary. And I can keep growing, expanding, improving every corner."
She stood up, walking across a bridge over a stream that glowed with golden light, touching the petals of the flowers, listening to the murmur of the water. Every step filled her with satisfaction. Her world was alive, and she was the guide who cared for it.
With one last look at the panoramic view of her garden and city, Manaia laughed softly, letting the imaginary wind brush her face. She knew this was just the beginning, and that every day she could shape her realm as she wished.