Chapter 256: Departing the Island One by One
As for Lalatina, her application had been submitted over two months ago. Today, Harvey granted her approval because he sensed her genuine desire to remain on Void Island. Most importantly, Harvey felt there were too few women on the island.
He couldn't quite understand why, despite the Void Sect's growing fame, so many men were seeking its power, while the number of women was disappointingly low.
Including Sonya, Leicy, Claudia, Sara, and Lalatina, plus Pepper and Peggy on Earth, there were only seven women among the over 500 Void Sect members. Naturally, Harvey felt it was time to bring in more women, not only to balance the dynamics but also to encourage them to explore diverse evolutionary paths.
A grand feast had begun on Void Island. Many members extended warm congratulations to Sara and Lalatina on being accepted into the Void Sect. Their kindness left both women feeling overwhelmed but grateful.
Even before their formal initiation, they had felt the island's welcoming atmosphere. But now, having officially joined the Void Sect, they realized that the warmth they had previously experienced had been somewhat restrained.
Now, everyone was eager to share valuable insights about the Void, explaining how many evolutions would yield certain powers and how to focus training to earn significant income.
Sara, while grateful, politely explained that she wasn't planning on changing her job. Being a record keeper suited her perfectly—it was supposed to be a twelve-hour-a-day job, but in reality, she had plenty of downtime. Moreover, she recognized that the opportunity given to her by Sonya was something she needed to treasure.
To put it in common terms, she had secured a stable position within the Void Sect, almost like a government role. As long as she didn't make any major mistakes, she could expect a steady salary for life.
Lalatina, on the other hand, wasn't immediately planning to embark on her path either. She believed that her recognition by the great Lord Kassadin was closely tied to her connection with Tony Stark. After all, Tony had once told her that many people would jump at the chance to work for him, and she could now see how true that was.
If it hadn't been for her job with Tony, she might not have dared to come to Void Island. And even if she had, she probably would have left soon after, too intimidated by the place.
The kindness she had received from the other members was largely due to her association with Tony, so continuing to work for him felt necessary. Still, hearing about all the possible evolutionary paths opened both Sara and Lalatina's eyes to the vast potential that lay ahead.
The New Year's festivities passed quickly. Lalatina knew she only had a one-day break, so the next morning, she was back to work.
Tony, on the other hand, gave himself a few days off, knowing that Lix had arranged for scientists from Mogri Star to assist him with his research after the holiday.
Sara, knowing that many members would be leaving the island after the New Year's worship, returned to work the following day as well.
When she arrived at the Record Temple, she saw the towering figure of Lix, standing at over three meters tall, waiting at the entrance.
"Good morning, Lix," Sara greeted him warmly.
"Back to work right after the holiday. You're certainly punctual," Lix replied, looking down at her. Though Sara appeared as fragile as a small bird compared to him, Lix's once-critical gaze had softened considerably.
"Well, many members will be leaving the island today, so I need to be on the job. But you're the first to check in today," she said with a smile. "Are you leaving so soon, right after the New Year's worship? Wouldn't it be nice to stay a few more days? I'm sure Kael and the others would love to spend more time with you."
Lix shook his head. "I have responsibilities on Mogri Star, and I've already promised Tony I'd send people to help with his research as soon as possible. So, there's no time to linger."
"Always so dedicated, Lix," Sara responded while recording his departure. Even though she knew he was heading to Mogri Star, it was still her job to document it.
"I've been blessed by the great Void God Kassadin. I can't afford to slack off," Lix replied with a hint of pride. "See you next year at the worship ceremony, Sara."
"See you next year!" Sara waved, smiling as she watched him stride away toward the hangar.
After Lix left, other members began trickling in throughout the day to report their departures. One by one, they told Sara where they were heading and how long they'd be gone.
By the time Sara finished logging the departures, it was three in the afternoon, and she had recorded 346 members leaving the island, all within a day of the New Year's worship.
"I guess they do live freely," Sara mused. Then, deciding it was time for a break, she wrote a notice on the door of the temple stating that she was off to the dining hall for a meal.
Just as she was about to leave, a familiar figure entered, bringing a smile to Sara's face. "Sonya! I've been accepted by Kassadin! Does this mean I can stay on the island permanently now?"
Sara ran over to Sonya, hugging her tightly.
"Congratulations, Sara! Yes, you can stay on the island from now on. It also means we can give you a well-deserved pay raise," Sonya said, smiling warmly.
Since it had been agreed from the start, Sonya had come to Sara right away to discuss her salary increase. After all, now that she was officially a member of the Void Sect, her appetite would grow considerably. Her previous salary of 1.2 million wouldn't be enough to support her living comfortably on the island.