Follow Your Dreams

Gwen kept on running as they explored the entire kingdom for what it had to offer. Neighboring citizens go about their day as they either set up stalls to sell their wares and goods. Other citizens were just walking around, talking to their friends as they joked around with themselves. There were also a few guards that patrolled the surroundings while helping out from time to time to settle disputes.

Compared to her impression of how dark and brutal the world was, which was solidified with her experience in the Aria Estate, Jiana Kingdom was much more light-hearted and caring. There weren't any major issues with the people's personality, no greed, no desire, no lust, no corruption. It seemed as if no one was tainted by The Corruption, similar to her.

Despite this observation, she knew. She fully understood what the world truly had to offer her.

'As much as it looks clean and noble. I'm the only person who has true immunity from The Corruption. The novel made it clear… too clear. In the future, Jiana Kingdom will be reduced to ashes, the culprit? The citizens themselves. Blood filled the streets, children stabbing their own parents, farmers consuming the flesh of nobility, and even the Mascre family mowed down hordes of people to run away. Sora Mascre… your little happy bubble will burst in the end. Even if I wanted to help you, it'll change how Felix grows in the future so I can't. After all, it'll happen four years from now, just a while after Pia finds her foothold in society. If anything deviates from what I know, the consequences would be too much for me to handle.'

"Are you alright? Take deep breaths." Felix's worried voice immediately knocked Gwen out of her self-monologue.

"I-I'm fine. Just a little winded, is all." Gwen calmed herself down, the task before her was a monumental one after all, despite knowing information about the future, she still needed to tread very carefully for now, slowly growing her strength and force to handle that one major event that changes the tide of the entire world.

"That's good. Are you sure you aren't weary after using the Second Sword? It's extremely taxing on your body since you're not even a Swordsman."

"I said I'm fine. God, it's like you don't even listen. Humph." Gwen smacked Felix at the back of his head yet he didn't feel anything. He slightly smiled now that Gwen was acting herself again, he then took her hand this time and slowly guided her to the Fairy Garden.

Gwen's fake annoyed expression slowly faded away as soon as she started to see the beauty of the Fairy Garden. Numerous plants that she had never seen before started blooming as soon as she laid her eyes on them. Different species of butterflies started fluttering all around her as she raised her hand, seeming to have followed her actions. Even the pavement was filled with exotic-looking flowers that made one feel conscious about where they stepped on.

Gwen saw a butterfly with purple wings suddenly drift down from the skies and land on her palm. Her wide glazing eyes were incomparable to the pearly white smile she was showing, this was the first time that this occurred to her. Immediately right after, the butterfly seemed to have settled down and took its rest on Gwen's palms.

'Don't tell me. Score!'

"Felix, Felix! Oh my… do you see this?" Gwen's high-pitched tone and curious gaze showed just how happy she was right now. She had an inkling of what this meant.

Without missing a beat, "Gwen, it seems like it's dead. Oh no-"

And without missing the next beat, Gwen smacked Felix on the back of his head with her remaining free hand. "I'm being serious! Look at it! It's so adorable." The butterfly in Gwen's hand flapped its wings for a little bit, as if saying yes to Gwen.

"Ah, I'm going to name you-"

"Don't name it!" Felix immediately tried to stop Gwen.

"Benjamin. Ok, little Benjamin, you'll be our tour guide today. Hehe, fly on." Gwen saw Benjamin flutter its wings once more and flew up to the skies. When it reached a certain distance, it looked back at Gwen and turned around, moving slower.

Gwen happily followed right behind Benjamin while dragging Felix all along. Benjamin was taking its time flying through the sky as Gwen slowly made her way through numerous visitors to try and follow up right behind Benjamin.

"Gwen, you can't be serious, right? It's just a butterfly."

"Hey, I'm having fun here. Don't spoil my mood."

"Hah… fine. We're going deeper in the garden so it might get harder to see your little friend."

"Nice! Come on, we're lagging right behind him!" Gwen immediately made her way past a couple of visitors who seemed to be admiring the decorations by the side. Completely contrasting Gwen's lackluster attitude to admire the flowers and trees.

Felix was a little confused at why Gwen was looking at the same purple butterfly the entire time yet once he saw her genuine smile, he decided to let it go. Besides, they were here to have fun, what's wrong with being silly for a little while?

Felix joined in on the hunt as Benjamin started luring them to a much more secluded area where there weren't too many visitors. On the contrary, there were a few more guards standing around here which made Felix question just how secluded they were.

He wanted to ask if they were even allowed to be here but Gwen ignored everything around her, passing by numerous plants that were vying for her attention in favor of Benjamin. She didn't question anything at all since she knew what was happening. To be lured by a figure such as this was nothing less than ideal.

After getting deeper in, the decorations seemed to have been cared for even more as there was even a gardener that was snipping away at the overgrown vines by the side. This old woman saw Gwen and Felix running directly right behind a familiar butterfly, so she just shook her head while smiling.

Armed soldiers started showing up yet for some reason they were letting Gwen and Felix pass by through without any kind of resistance. At this point, Felix definitely noticed something wrong but when he was about to stop Gwen, an oddly calming voice spoke right behind them.

"Young lady, may I ask why you're here?" His short brown hair and clear amber eyes made it seem as if he was a commoner, yet his attire was clearly enchanted with extremely powerful defensive spells as two clearly powerful bodyguards were standing right behind him. Benjamin, the purple butterfly that they had been following, landed on Zack's finger.

Without anyone noticing, Gwen started activating the same spell she used yesterday on Murell, the vendor. Within her black runed irises, another magic spell covered it. Taking another glance at the young brown-haired boy in front of him, she couldn't help but smile in joy. The little boy in front of her had extremely dense special fluctuations that were extremely suitable for her recommendations.

Felix immediately understood who the young boy in front of him was, "Prince Zack, it was our-"

And as expected, Gwen completely ruined everything, "Zack, you're talented enough. Do you want to see the world tremble beneath your feet? If you follow me then it won't be a pipe dream!"

Felix almost lost his mind, "Gwen? You can't be doing that here!"

"I can't? Well, oops!" Gwen slightly showed an embarrassed face. "Well, the offer still stands though, you in?"

Felix facepalmed.