Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 210: One hundred and fifty-six: Ignition (1)

Chapter 210: One hundred and fifty-six: Ignition (1)

If someone had asked Malin before his rebirth what was the most important thing to him, he would have said that he had already lost the most important thing in his life, and there were many things that were second in importance.

For instance, the lovely memories from his youth when he sat on the old headmaster’s knees in the orphanage, listening to stories with his companions.

As he grew older, he met the most important person in his life, held her hand, grew up together, only to suffer the helplessness of losing each other in life and death.

Getting a bit older, he became a soldier, spent time in the military, and still remembered his instructor, an interesting middle-aged man, serious, earnest, responsible. Back then, he seemed more reliable than the always-idle company commander. Now it seems it might have been just a double act between the company commander and the instructor, much like in a play where there always needs to be both a hero and a villain.

Years later, he chose to leave the military and returned to his hometown, faced with an orphanage that had become unfamiliar. The old headmaster had passed away, his companions had left, and even the aunts from before had aged.

The once feeble young cub had now grown into an adult with the ability to survive in the world.

Living on his own, as long as he wasn’t hungry, he wouldn’t let his family go hungry either. With this thought, Malin struggled to survive in the world alone until fate made a middle-aged man make a choice.

Then there was a wonderful adventure, and he gained a whole new life. The events of the past would not be cast aside by him; they would become his most precious memories. What was more important was... Maya, Faye, Jessica, Lillim, and Clovis. These five girls might have different thoughts, but under the guidance of fate, they ended up together, acknowledging each other, snuggling, and helping each other struggle for survival in this harsh world.

That’s why Malin had to witness the ceremony of his sister’s awakening to Spiritual Energy.

Maya always said that as long as her brother was there, she could feel at ease.

So, he had to be here. It was his duty and obligation as an older brother.

..........

At the ceremony, Malin was not the only one present to witness the event. Besides the members of the Church, Malin saw the Divine Master... Before the first time Malin saw her, he imagined this lady would be good-looking, with a robust figure, able to carry a log hoisted by a platoon of soldiers on her shoulders.

This would fit the image of a Divine Master of The Great Forest Land. Any Divine Master who couldn’t stand stall like a horse was a heretic.

But in reality, the Divine Master Malin had in mind was just over 1.3 meters tall, half a head shorter than Malin himself—who had grown several centimeters in the past half year and was heading towards 1.4 meters. To any giant, Malin looked like a gnome sufferer.

But, in Malin’s view, considering his paternal lineage, he could only use ’My goodness, you are tall’ to explain everything.

That said, although Lady Ollie seemed petite, she had adult circlets on her head and carried a Pastoral Staff that represented her clerical status—which looked about 1.5 meters tall, made of solid wood, apparently light, but when Maya tried it, she said it was as heavy as iron.

It must be the fabled ironwood, very precious timber indeed.

"Mr. Malin, we meet again." Ollie greeted Malin, and this time, apart from her, there was also a group of large guardians, Panthera as well, who, in terms of physique, had the muscles a Divine Master should have. Lady Ollie opened a small box she held: "This is your sister’s potion."

Without waiting for Malin to ask, the little Panthera made her way to the center of the ceremony, followed by Maya. The little Panthera smiled at Malin and then obediently continued on.

Malin looked at his sister... even taller than that Ollie.

It was hard to imagine that there were adult Panthera girls so short in this world, and they came with bulletproof armor... He really couldn’t reconcile her with the image he had in his mind; it was a day for fantasy to shatter.

Another Panthera lady approached, this one a taller figure at 1.7 meters, with a chest defying the laws of gravity: "Mr. Malin Gaiate, correct?"

"Yes, Your Excellency, and you are?" Malin asked, curious.

"Mina, also a Divine Master. I was supposed to welcome your sister... Your sister has the talent to become a Shaman." The Panthera lady who also claimed to be a Divine Master of the Goddess of Nature got straight to the point with Malin: "If possible, I want to take her to the Great Forest Land of Panthera to study. Her talent shouldn’t be wasted in the human world."

"My father entrusted my sister to me, not to hand her over to strangers." Malin noticed the look from Maya that contained doubt and fear, but no concern about her brother.

So, Malin smiled at the auntie and shook his head, "I disagree, your Excellency."

There was neither the anticipated thunderous anger nor the expected questioning. The great Divine Master of the Goddess of Nature just smiled and shook her head, "Half-blood, you do not have the right to decide the fate of a Panthera."

The big cat guards behind her paused in unison with their weapons.

"Then you can decide the fate of a stranger, your Excellency?" Malin looked at the tall Panthera guards standing behind her and countered without being servile or overbearing.

On this matter, he had no room to retreat; any step back would be a betrayal of his vows as a man.

Gaiate entrusted her daughter to his foster son, and Maya put her fate in the hands of her brother; Malin was both obligated and determined to protect her.

"I am a Noble of the Panthera, the great Divine Master of the Goddess of Nature whom the Panthera worship. If I do not qualify, then do you?" The lady smiled and pushed the question back to Malin.

And when the large cat behind her took a step, Divine Master Ollie quietly raised her pastoral staff and then put it down.

So the big cat withdrew his somewhat presumptuous step.

Malin took a deep breath and then nodded in response, "Maya and I, as Gaiate’s foster son and daughter, I am her brother; I have the right to stop anyone from arbitrarily altering her life trajectory. Lady Mina, I respect you and Lady Ollie, but such respect won’t come at the price of betraying my sister’s and my dignity. It’s not that you don’t have the qualifications, but I do not have the power to do so. Under any circumstances, I will not betray my vows and creeds."

"So, you just arbitrarily chose a path for her that might not be fortunate for her," the great Divine Master approached Malin, her eyes full of reproach, "After all, you are nothing but a half-wit monkey."

Malin turned his head to glance at his sister, smiled, and then faced the great Divine Master, "If she agrees, I won’t oppose, but I believe she won’t agree because this is her home. Panthera belong to The Great Forest Land, but she has lived in Carterburg since childhood, never setting foot in The Great Forest Land, not knowing the face of the Goddess of Nature, much less what it means to be a Shaman. And I..." Malin extended his hand, and the formidable weapon formed by Blood Roar and Fio leapt into its master’s grasp: "I never mind making my enemies bleed to uphold my beliefs, Lady Mina, would you like to try?"

"Ignorance is not a sin, it stems from not understanding, but fear is the root of disaster, simply because of fear... I came here today not to make us bleed. After all, today’s protagonist is Maya; she needs a perfect spiritual energy awakening." Looking at Malin before her, the great Divine Master shook her head and eventually retreated, "Malin, remember your choice, do not forget the oaths you made today. With Blood Roar in your hand, I would not be foolish enough to clash with the wielder of the Holy Artifact, but if you betray your creed and forget your vows, if your actions harm Maya, make her grieve, make her fall... If I find out, I will surely come to kill you. Panthera swear revenge."

Since the great Divine Master chose to withdraw, Malin also relaxed his grip, and so Fio, with Blood Roar in tow, scuttled back to the weapon rack.

Colin watched the axe with little vine-like legs running swiftly and turned a somewhat incredulous eye roll. He walked over and said beside Malin, "I really find it hard to accept. This is the Holy Artifact?"

"Believe me, it’s just grown some legs," Malin joked, while looking at the smile on his sister’s face, feeling very happy.

"Maya, really don’t want to give it a thought? You have the talent to become a Shaman; your sister Mina isn’t wrong, you are a Panthera, and your homeland is in The Great Forest Land." Ollie smiled as she said, "If you decide to follow us back now, I promise, you will receive better teachings and have a better life trajectory, all starting from making the right choice."

"No, Lady Ollie, I have made a vow to help my brother complete the smallest yet greatest task in his heart; and speaking of homeland, Carterburg is my home, from when I could remember, this city brought by the winds and the smell of the sea is my home."

Divine Master Ollie smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, "You have made a choice, and I am gratified because you are just like the first time I saw you, not swayed by certain perks to choose a completely new path... Remember, child, just as your brother said, everyone pays a price for their choices."

"Yes, Divine Master, we all pay and gain from our choices."

Malin was even happier at these words because his sister had grown up, no longer the child who would bite her tail and not let go at the first sign of trouble. She had learned to speak with a smile and convey her feelings with her brows.

This time, she didn’t even grasp her tail but made her choice relying solely on the courage in her heart.

"Becoming a Shaman and embarking on the transcendent path would make you as powerful as your brother," the great Divine Master wasn’t disheartened or displeased, but instead took Maya’s hand in hers. She turned to Malin, "I can feel your heart’s wish, to become powerful, to help others, this is the path you’ve always longed for... So, Maya, are you confident in igniting your spiritual energy?"

"Yes, I’ve been working hard, and I will keep working hard," Maya replied to the Divine Master holding her hand, her attention fixed on Malin.

Malin smiled and mouthed ’good luck’ to her.

Maya said nothing, but her crescent-moon-like beautiful eyes had already given the answer for their owner.