A warm wind began to sweep across the plains. Since the rain three days earlier, the weather had grown increasingly mild, and lush vegetation had dyed the fertile land around the city green—green that people had awaited for a very, very long time.
Wickliffe bent down and quietly gazed at the patch of green amid the soil. A few seconds later, he cautiously extended a finger, using his alloy mechanical limb to gently touch the seemingly fragile blades of grass before him. At last, a faint smile appeared on his face, the fine wrinkles smoothing into graceful curves.
"...The effects of Deep Blue Magic Power have finally completely faded," he said, raising his head to look at Camilla beside him. "The ecological environment around Ancestor's Peak may fully recover to its former state within this year."
Camilla did not respond at once. The valiant woman was staring absently into the distance. In the direction she watched, towering spire-like structures and Ring Belts rose and fell along the horizon of the plain, like enormous serpents lying prone upon the earth.
Only when Wickliffe spoke again did she suddenly snap back to attention. "Huh? What did you say?"
"I said the ecological environment around here is recovering—just as the ecologists' recent analyses indicated." The Human King frowned. "Didn't you insist on dragging me out here for an inspection? Why do you keep zoning out now?"
Camilla's furry tail swung half a circle through the air, and her expression was utterly composed. "I am inspecting things too. Did you notice the sensor array ring over there? The rubywood forest the druids planted three years ago is gradually taking shape."
Wickliffe followed Camilla's gaze. He saw the already lush artificial forest, but compared to it, his attention was drawn more to the towering sensor