9 An Interlude (1/2)
Helen took off the VIRCOF from her head while silently contemplating the aftermath of the meeting.
The solemn expression from the three elder witches triggered an alarm within her. She believed if not one, all three of the ancient witches will surely joined the investigation soon.
Helen touched the side of the smooth white-washed wall and let her magic flowed in.
A small drawer popped out. Helen retrieved the item carefully.
It's time for little Leila to grow up.
...
The door was harshly opened with a loud bang.
Leila, who was nearly asleep woke up like a frightened rabbit.
Her aunty Helen had resumed her ogrishly expression. She was aiming for Leila's left ear. ”You cheeky little girl! I remembered what you did to the password! I'm a vengeful person! So, what can you do about it?!”
”Ow..ow..ow..ouch! I'm so sorry!I'm so sorry! I won't do again.” Leila opened her eyes as wide as possible and exposed it a little to the air. In this way, it will be misted faster, garnering a sorrowful expression. She puckered her cute pink mouth and blinked until tears slowly rolled down from the corner of her eyes.
Seeing how Leila expertly conjured a 'crocodile tears' scene, Helen amusingly sigh.
”You know, you need to control your emotions a bit more. It's a no-no to show your feelings to anyone. Be steadfast and more collected. You're a grownup already. Barely, I guess.” Helen dotingly patted her head.
She didn't know when, the girl had usurped her way into Helen's heart a long time ago. She treated her like a close family member. A daughter perhaps. Since she couldn't have one herself.
”I have a gift for you.” She placed a gadget on Leila's palm. The gadget was white in color. It was an ear piece melded with a single crystal blue eye piece.
Leila brought the gadget to her face to observe bewilderingly. She still didn't know the function of the gadget given to her. Helen took it and helped Leila fixed the second generation VIRCOF on her left ear and initiate the owner recognition protocol.
”Congratulations! You're now a real Neverwinter Witch. Please make me proud.”
Leila jumped with joy and hugged Helen wholeheartedly.
This time her tears were real.
...
Seeing the witches chatting animatedly made Roland felt a bit uncomfortable. He tried to switch the subject and inquired about the second research group to Linneia.
”How about the Interstellar Gate Research Group you mention before? How far ahead had your team research on it?” Roland asked curiously.
Linneia cleared her throat and blushed. ”Currently, nil. The concept was new as I just thought about it last night after listening to your Highness' briefing.
Roland finally understood why Linneia stressed on the building of spaceships more.
He chuckled lightly and added, ”It's your boon. About a thousand years after the Battle of Divine Will, I found an interesting object in an intact ruin from one of the disappeared civilization who contended in the earliest Battle of Divine Will.
It is at the level of an ancient artifact. I think it will definitely contribute to the highest degree in the progress of the Interstellar Gate construction.”
All the witches present were surprised with Roland's explanation. They quietened down and started to listen in on Roland's and Linneia's conversation since they had never heard of this.
Roland took a few hundred years to thoroughly explore the entire region of the planet to find the remnants of the missing first civilization after the first Battle of Divine Will. It was his passion after he abdicated the throne to pass it on to his grown-up daughter and her husband to govern. Nobody knew what he was adamantly looking for, except for his beloved wife, Anna.
He got his own conjecture and wanted to confirm it.
He didn't gave up and continued searching for years until he finally found a clue regarding what he was looking for.But reality was cruel to him as he was forced to put a halt on researching it due to certain circumstances.
With all the resources he could dispensed in his hand, he still could not solve the mystery of the unknown civilization at that time. Roland had issued a gag-order on this unknown technology as he did not have the expertise to work on it at that moment after spending so much time looking for it.
Just now, while perusing on the list in the Witch Union file, he found several candidates who could potentially assisted in solving the issues pertaining the civilization's technology.
It turned out, the three biocomputer girls had the same conclusion as him. With the addition of the witches called Rossetta and Desaree, they can immediately start off with the Interstellar Gate Project.
”Where was it located, your Highness?” Linneia made an incredulous look. She could not believe they could be this lucky.
Roland smiled saintly. ”I will bring the people involved to the location of the ancient artifact directly tomorrow.”
”Alright!” Linneia acquiesced reluctantly. She was quite unhappy with the lack of information given by her ancestor but tried her hardest not to show it.