'I heard that you are a wise spirit who knows very much about the world in its entirety. Can you answer a question from me? After that, we will go.' Elysia didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the main reason why she came there.
'I might answer your question if you made an offering to the lake. Something of value and that is a solid object.' The water spirit thought for a moment and offered a deal.
'I will give the offering after you answer my question.' Elysia bargained as she didn't want to join the other party's game.
'Fine, I know almost everything after living thousands of years in the waters of this continent before settling in peace in this lake. Water has a memory. I doubt there is anything I don't know when it comes to the affairs of this mortal world.' The water spirit snorted and folded his arms. She waited for the question inside the lake as she didn't want to reveal herself.
'My question is, how many gods are there in this world? Do any of them have the power to teleport someone between worlds and bestow that person with a divinity?' Elysia grasped her hand and asked straight to the point.
'Huh-uh?' The water spirit was stupefied. She didn't think this mortal human girl would ask her such a question. That was not what mortal needed to know, and it was not a question!
'I'm not a divine, how could I know about it, human girl… I only know about the Water God, the ruler of the ocean in the east. Now, make your offering.' The water spirit shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
'...' Elysia just sighed and threw a small green energy core into the middle of the lake. 'Thank you for answering my question honestly.'
'No worries. You have a pure soul and heart. That's why I'm only talking to you. However, I didn't want to be bothered. Please go because I will not accompany you.' The water spirit received that energy core and swam to the bottom of the lake.
"Ely, why did you throw a crystal in the middle of the lake?" Sylvia asked with some curiosity. She looked around the lake as if waiting for a wise spirit to come out.
"The water spirit asked for an offering and I gave it to her." Elysia answered bluntly.
"Offerings, and the wise spirit just asked you that? Hmm, is this like the lake fairy reference? Then, we just need to say the spell and the wise spirit will emerge from the middle of the lake. She might share her wisdom or ask did we just drop something in the lake!?" Sylvia widened her eyes with a realization.
She then crouched down and made a few small splashes of water. After that, she clasped her hands together. "O the wise spirit of the lake, what is your wisdom?"
"..." Elysia shook her head at Elena.
"Well, we're just expecting too much from her." Elena replied with a tender smile and gave Elysia a head pat.
"I already told you, didn't I? The wise spirit wouldn't welcome guests if it wasn't during the festival in late autumn." Ashera heaved a subtle sigh and shook his head.
Elysia was aware that Ashera had misinterpreted something, but she had no intention of correcting anything. She patted Sylvia's shoulder. "Let's go back. The water spirit won't accompany us because she has some business."
"Eh, mm, okay. That wise spirit turned out to be arrogant and unfriendly. She asked for an offering but didn't give anything in return. This pond of enlightement is such a scam. That wise spirit probably is a grumpy, loner scammer." Sylvia stood up and grumbled about that water spirit.
Everyone then flew away back to Forest City, leaving behind a water spirit who was annoyed at hearing such insults.
That night, Ashera prepared several rooms for her distinguished guests to rest. However, most of them just entered the most spacious room.
"..." Yralissa also decided to spend the night there since Celes was still asleep in the Goddess of Life's palms.
She glanced at that leafy green-haired lady with some thought in mind. She assumed that lady was an avatar of the Tree of Life for some reason.
The odds were high, but she just didn't want to ask. She became convinced because there were so many supporting factors, and she concluded it unilaterally without needing to confirm anything. It was good news that the Tree of Life was still around, no matter where it was.
"It only has a double bed here. Why don't you all take another room?" Ashera closed the door in much astonishment. She also decided to spend the night here for a personal reason.
"This room can accommodate at least twenty people without a hitch. You don't have to worry. We have rollaway beds and futons." Vanessa took out a few futons from her master's Space Bag and then went before her master.
She sat on the floor and rested her head on her master's lap, right beside Yuuki. She also wanted to hear a story.
At that time, Elysia complied with Yuuki's request to tell a fairy tale. It was about a water spirit from another world.
"Did someone say a fairy tale? Count me in!" Sylvia flew up and sat on the sofa's handrest, where Elysia was seated.
Evelyn and Ella see each other and join the fairy tale group. They sat politely on the floor, right behind Elysia's 'pets'.
"Oh my, everyone is interested in fairy tales about water spirits from other worlds? I'm also curious as to what kind of spirit stories are. It's a shame that you two were asleep, hmm~" Lifa sat on the sofa opposite Elysia and caressed the two sleeping fluffy balls in her hand.
Elena just smiled and sat on the bed. She had no place around Elysia at the moment. However, Rhea went next to her with Nell.
"Water spirits from another world?" Asher felt somewhat curious. She folded her arms as if to listen.
"..." Yralissa stared at the sleeping little earth dragon in the corner of the room. That ultra massive dragon was now only as big as a ball and looked vulnerable. She simply shrugged her shoulders and went near the Goddess of Life.
"Fufu, please don't have your expectations too high because this story might disappoint." Elysia chuckled awkwardly. She initially only agreed to tell a story to Yuuki, but that actually got everyone interested.
Therefore, she started telling a fairy tale to make everyone happy for the next few minutes.
After that, she yawned and asked everyone to sleep because they needed to rest for tomorrow.
"O Ely of the bed, what is your wisdom?" Sylvia asked playfully.
"Hmm?" Elysia opened her eyes and thought for a bit. This devil girl was still not satisfied because of the previous water spirit issue.
"Once you hear this from me, your breath will switch to manual mode. It will probably return to automatic mode when you wake up tomorrow. So, please go to sleep and be a good girl. Good night~" Elysia closed her eyes with a smile and wrapped herself up with a blanket.
"Eh, no way... My breath has really become manual mode now." Sylvia widened her eyes in shock. She looked left and right, but it seemed that she wasn't the only one experiencing the same thing as they must have heard Elysia's words as well.
"Fine, I'm going to sleep right away." Sylvia decided to go straight to bed so that her breath would return to automatic mode tomorrow. However, she was a bit worried if she couldn't breathe while sleeping because she was still breathing manually now.
At that thought, Sylvia and everyone finally went to sleep.
That night, Rhea was the only one who didn't sleep. She closed her eyes but kept an eye on everyone to ensure no one was doing anything silly. Two individuals outside her group insisted on spending the night in the same room as them, after all.
When morning came, Elysia opened her eyes and found a bundle of white fluffy things on her tummy. Upon closer look, it was actually a white cat, and a seven-tailed snow fox huddled together.
She could hear the melodious chirping of birds and the touch of the morning sun that seeped into the room. After tiring days of exterminating accursed creatures, she really appreciated a peaceful time like this.
Elysia got up from her futon silently. She could see the morning dew on the fresh plants. It rained in the middle of the night until morning came, and it made the air cool here.
Compared to Earth, it was as if she was somewhat reluctant to breathe the polluted air on her homeworld.
"A bit too cold..." Elysia trembled slightly and sat on the sofa with her blanket. She put Vanessa and Yuuki on her lap because they didn't look like they would wake up soon.
Elysia accidentally saw Rhea was still awake. She waved her hand to invite Rhea to come closer and sit next to her.
'Good morning, Master Elysia. Did you have a good night last night?' Rhea went next to Elysia.
'Mm, I get enough rest. However, what about you, Rhea? You do not sleep?' Elysia shared her blanket with Rhea.
'I have to make sure everyone gets a good night's sleep. Ah, Master Elena decided to return to the Elysian Realm last night.' Rhea leaned against Elysia a bit.
'I see, she also needs a quality rest.' Elysia peeked into her Soul Realm and found Elena lying peacefully on the bed.
'Today will probably be better than yesterday. I want to give that Coward God some beatings this afternoon.' Rhea clenched her fists and hit the empty air.
'Hehe, it's the Beast God, hmm... We'll see him again later.' Elysia just chuckled lightly and brewed a cup of warm tea for herself and Rhea.