Vita Is Getting a Second Mom

Silver Wolf teleported them into Phanes's Sky Tower, and the familiar white space came into view once more.

Vernacular Poet wasted no time. He stepped forward and addressed the figure shrouded in white light. "Goddess of Life, we found no clues."

Phanes, dressed in white, stood quietly there. Her ethereal voice echoed through the tower again. "Travelers from beyond this world, even without clues, I am grateful for your efforts."

Her voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable weariness. "With help from beyond this world, the Abyss's encroachment is progressing rapidly. Perhaps in just a few weeks, that world-shaking war will unfold once more."

Phanes slowly raised her head and looked toward the false starry sky beyond the Sky Tower. "That unknown being will be at the heart of the Abyss. It will surely lead them in another invasion of our homeland... Travelers, I ask you to find it."

Vernacular Poet nodded as he replied, "No problem!"

"My deepest gratitude."

With that, white light instantly enveloped Vernacular Poet and Windchaser.

"Huh?"

Before the two of them could even react, Phanes mercilessly teleported them away the next second.

Silver Wolf had been prepared. At some point, she had already used Aether Editing to create a chair, and now she sat nearby with her legs crossed, looking as though she were watching a show.

Phanes turned around. The figure once shrouded in white light gradually began to change.

She finally revealed her true appearance. "You should have seen it already, shouldn't you?"

"Oh?" Silver Wolf raised an eyebrow. "You figured it out long ago?"

"Of course. I sent you there to find it."

"But unfortunately, even it doesn't know where the outsider is."

Phanes smiled softly. "An outsider... A mere outsider could not have achieved this much. It has already become a Transcender."

Silver Wolf's previously indifferent expression changed slightly. "A Transcender? Does that mean it is no longer bound by your rules and abilities?"

Silver Wolf was intrigued. This was practically part of the thrill of battle, and her interest had been piqued.

Phanes looked at her, her tone remaining calm. "Only less bound. It has not reached the level you described."

"Pretty confident, aren't you..." Silver Wolf casually pulled up her communicator panel and sent a message to Sunken Crow's group.

Silver Wolf did not forget to ask Phanes, "What did Sephinia do in the War of Fantasy?"

Phanes was puzzled. She did not think Silver Wolf would care about that, but she explained nonetheless.

"She held back the Abyss."

"How heroic." Silver Wolf muttered, then fell silent for a moment. She looked up at the starry sky outside the Sky Tower. "Your world really is hanging by a thread."

Phanes looked toward the sky as well, and the silence lingered for a long time.

At last, she slowly spoke. "There was no other choice."

Silver Wolf watched her for a while, then rose from the chair and patted off dust that did not exist.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk about it." She stretched lazily. "Then I won't stay any longer."

Silver Wolf turned and walked out. "Staying here is boring me to death."

"Boring?" Phanes watched her departing back and laughed softly. "Perhaps someone else is the one who is bored."

Just like last time, Sunken Crow had not gone to the Sky Tower. He had already returned to the Elf Tribe with Vita in his arms.

Standing across from him was Elena.

Elena looked at Sunken Crow, then at Vita in his arms, and was visibly stunned.

Her gaze first landed on Sunken Crow, then slowly shifted to Vita.

Finally, she cautiously asked, "Where is she?"

"..." Sunken Crow fell silent for a while, then looked down at Vita in his arms. "On the way..."

Vita simply stared wide-eyed at Sunken Crow without saying anything, her gaze filled with innocent stupidity.

Watching this, Elena's mouth twitched slightly. She was actually rather curious about the little one.

But the atmosphere was far too awkward. The question reached her lips, but she ultimately swallowed it back down. "Then come with me. Standing outside damages our image."

"Mm."

The two entered Elena's little house one after the other.

The furnishings inside were simple, but they clearly bore the traces of an Elf's life.

Elena sat on a stool and casually placed her bow on the table.

Vita curiously looked around—the wall held an emerald longbow that gave off a faint blue glow, strange bottles and jars sat beside the bed, and several carefully preserved pictures were displayed nearby. A few of them were clearly group photos of Elena and Windchaser.

After meeting Vita's gaze, Elena finally could not suppress her curiosity any longer. "This little one is..."

"Vita."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere was still too awkward. Sunken Crow was like a robot—he answered when asked, but with only that blank expression on his face, he simply could not bring himself to speak.

Fortunately, footsteps soon sounded outside. Windchaser and Vernacular Poet had finally arrived.

Elena got up and went outside, then led the two into her little house.

The moment Vernacular Poet entered, his gaze fell on Sunken Crow, then on Vita in his arms.

He froze for a moment. The way Sunken Crow was holding Vita right now did not look like he was holding a little Elf at all.

It looked more like he was holding a huge bag of clothes that had just been delivered.

Vernacular Poet immediately blurted out, "Bro, are you even human?"

Sunken Crow's expression did not change at all. "..."

Windchaser did not notice any of that. She immediately took Elena's hand. "I'm telling you, all of this is seriously surreal!"

"Mm-hm!" Elena held her hand as well and nodded to show that she was willing to listen.

The two looked into each other's eyes, both gazes full of seriousness and focus.

Vernacular Poet watched for two seconds, then silently raised his elbow and lightly bumped Windchaser's shoulder, reminding her to choose her words carefully.

After a brief moment of thought, Windchaser said, "We found a little Elf. You know how dangerous our adventures as travelers are, and you know we're special too~"

She gave a slightly guilty smile. "I wanted you to help me take care of her."

Elena's expression slowly became complicated. Her eyes flicked toward Vita in Sunken Crow's arms before returning to Windchaser. "Chasing Wind... Are you really trying to make sure I can never get married?"

Windchaser awkwardly looked toward Vita. "It's fine, I'll have Vernacular Poet clear things up!"

Vernacular Poet silently pulled out a chair and sat down. He covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling slightly, while only one thought remained in his mind.

Clear things up? Can that really be cleared up?

"You!" Elena looked at Windchaser, then finally reached out and firmly turned her face back toward her. "It's not impossible, but! You have to tell me where she came from."

Windchaser immediately froze. Her gaze slowly drifted aside before landing on the wall behind Elena, her mind racing wildly.

At that moment, Sunken Crow handed Vita to Vernacular Poet, who caught her with a bewildered expression.

He looked down at Vita.

Then he looked up at Sunken Crow.

His eyes were filled with silent accusation.

Vita patted Vernacular Poet's hand, signaling that she did not need to be held.

Vernacular Poet did not think much of it and naturally let go.

Vita's little body floated up. She swayed through the air until she reached Windchaser's shoulder, then planted her hands on her hips, her face filled with inexplicable pride. "I'm going to be big sister's next Goddess of Life!"

"!"

"!"

"!"

"?" Elena looked at Vita with an unreadable expression.

Windchaser opened her mouth. For the first time, she felt that her brain had truly crashed. She had no idea how to explain this away.

Vernacular Poet finally raised a hand with a long sigh. "Sigh—Chasing Wind has led her astray~"

"No!" Windchaser instinctively retorted.

"No, big sister is very nice!"

Elena was relieved. Once she thought of Windchaser being responsible, it somehow became reasonable again. "I think I get it... You found her, right? Some poor child from some family."

"Uh... We don't know which family. There was only this little one."

"Then don't just... Forget it." Elena lowered her hand. "But let's make this clear first: you have to cover her living expenses until she comes of age!"

"Comes of age!?" Windchaser was instantly stunned. "Don't Elves come of age after more than four hundred years? No way!"

"You know that, and yet you expect me to raise her until then?" Elena crossed her arms resentfully and looked away. "Besides, you're travelers. What if you just pack up and leave one day? What am I supposed to do?"

Windchaser looked at her, then suddenly reached out and gently cupped Elena's cheeks, turning her gaze back. "I won't abandon my friend! But you have to keep your word too. From now on, I'll save up lots and lots of money."

"That works." Elena snorted softly. "Hmph, then remember that. You are not allowed to go back on your word, and you have to bring it here yourself."

Windchaser immediately made a gesture. "No problem!"