45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA2NHwzBQuCHAPTER 21
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA1P6PGmHh
CHRISTMAS EVE
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsniFG0Ja9
The six‑point main hall tent glows like a warm star in the winter dark. Lanterns hang from every beam—amber, gold, and soft white—casting gentle halos over pine hangings, red ribbons, and hand‑carved ornaments the maidens made earlier that week. Snow taps lightly against the canvas roof, but inside the air is warm, fragrant with stew, pine, and the faint sweetness of baked apples.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHMuvWrEkH
Families sit in semicircles. Children lean against their parents. The men sit quietly for once. The maidens bustle around the edges, laughing softly as they settle the last of the little ones.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLtHWfMWA8
Paul sits cross‑legged with two kids climbing his arms like he’s a living jungle gym. He pretends to lose balance, sending them into giggles. The maidens watch, amused, while others braid the girls’ hair or pass out small wooden toys.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW8gOzGMp8
Then—
The mother of the maidens rises.
She clicks her wand once.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkRAWWIGZ7
The tent hushes instantly.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfiTOyw6cG
The maidens step forward and begin a hymn—
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHPC36fhvg
“His voice as the sound of the dulcimer sweet
Is heard through the shadows of death…”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP7KjoNJlW
Their harmonies float like warm breath in cold air, filling the hall with a sacred, glowing stillness. When the final note fades, the silence is soft, reverent, holy.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9uQqBse0e
Archeus stands from his desk—his makeshift pulpit—adjusting his glasses.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLafzfNNvM
Archeus:
“Welcome, everyone, to our first Christmas Eve Main Hall event. Surely not the last. Without further ado… Kyle, The Strawhat would like to sing us a number.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeFmErUUzj
Everyone turns.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc5gushPny
Rose keeps her head on Metro’s shoulder.
Metro smiles, warm and proud.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkzIVeFso7
Kyle steps onto a small stool to look taller. He clears his throat and sings an old folk hymn about the Lord.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0ogKNmdYi
It’s raw.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h31ZHvU23
It’s scratchy.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnwLrIQsVo
It’s imperfect.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Gp72cvFf
But it’s real—so real that hearts melt by holy waves.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hlWuVGeEw
Even the children sit reverently.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV50N9rkwPd
Silence follows.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0NRgIYmLM
A crisp, magical silence.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TEDFsXkzJ
Archeus rises again, smiling towards Kyle as he returns to his seat.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzy4p8DvN5
Archeus:
“Thank you, Kyle… for that lovely rendition. We all felt something special there. Now then—a word from our master healer, the reason we’re all still kicking and complaining… Ana.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt1IjVPTzr
He gestures dramatically, like presenting a prize.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWBz16bRCa
Ana steps forward—graceful, shy, but glowing with quiet confidence.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp4AIlT3Y8
Ana:
“Through our journey up to this point, I have seen many things—good things… and hard things.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjPFXgrTiE
She scans the room, her gaze warm enough to thaw stone.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSdQ0pQykt
“We’ve all been through the ringer—twisted, dried, stretched past our limits. We’ve lost people we loved dearly.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ugbNH4o00
Her voice dips into sorrow… then rises again.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90gAeGhYIW
“But through our determination to live our best lives—for ourselves and for those less fortunate—we discover the meaning of life. And we secure the future for our generation.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQmtFVkAjv
She turns to Metro.
Her glow intensifies.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I10xIQ3X1
“I’ve been fortunate enough to raise Metro since he was a baby…”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3amFjytV0
Metro’s eyes drop.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUHokMqEF8
His breath trembles.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gwpdKBgDD
Rose clings tighter.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFQuK5CGj2
“Metro was the best child I ever raised. Even without a present father… and with a mother who was imperfect but perfect in her pure loving nature… I've noticed, that he was always a good boy for those he was with.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBC6kv5BoW
Metro breaks.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RciQlSyvk
His head drops.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjygoP4X1r
He can’t contain himself.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t925UM4lt
Rose rubs his back gently.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkMKHAN4T3
“When I’m gone,” Ana continues softly, “I know you will effect the whole world for generations…
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkWy7Xam06
‘…It’s your destiny. I’ve seen it. Remember your divine heritage. Believe in yourself…”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKReTx4VQ5e
She clasps her hands, glowing.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcZD8cPD3F
“…and remember—your Ani loves you. Always.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05jpoUN47o
Metro stands abruptly, tears falling freely.
He walks forward and embraces her.
Ana rises on her toes to hold his neck.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrhmcAGcAm
Archeus steps in front of them, hands raised.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKmLPY1Qhp
Archeus:
“I believe Master Metro has something he’d like to say.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsI7jMvgXF
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzIV5VAkKW
and then Add to home screen.