After receiving the God of Luck's Divine Grace and testing its effects, the elders of Whistling Town grew noticeably warmer. They welcomed Abner and Shatas into the town.
Josie Charlotte, a young Elf standing in the square before the gate, saw the elders escorting two unfamiliar Elves in. Curious, she rose onto her toes for a better look.
But when she finally saw Shatas's face, she cried out in shock.
Her cry carried across the square. Grand Elder Emily and Abner, who had just entered Whistling Town, both looked over.
Karat, beside Josie, quickly pulled her behind him.
Abner paid her no mind at first. But after casually glancing at the young Elf's River of Fate, he murmured, "Huh?" and stopped.
"Lord Oracle?" Grand Elder Emily followed his gaze, then explained, "That child doesn't know any better. Please forgive her..."
Do I look like the sort of person who'd hold a grudge against a child? Besides, by physical age, she's actually older than me... Abner grumbled inwardly. Outwardly, he merely gave the young Elf a long look, then turned away and followed Grand Elder Emily toward the temple.
Only after they had disappeared from the square did Karat, an Elf dressed like a middle-aged human man, sternly scold Josie beside him:
"You're always making a fuss over nothing. How can I feel comfortable taking you to a human city again?"
Josie blinked miserably and lowered her head to admit her mistake, but she still muttered, "But that lady looks so much like someone in a portrait Grandpa Tyro left behind..."
Meanwhile, three fleets under the King of the Black Throne, Barros Hopkins, had joined forces and were sailing toward the waters around Whistling Town.
The combined fleet's temporary commander was Bright Isidor, a Sequence 5 Ocean Songster known at