A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing-Chapter 643 - - Entrance
"Ready…?" Runa asked, smiling gently at her son.
"Sure," Erik answered calmly, a carefree smirk on his lips, still wearing the elegant, but martial silver and amber suit. He turned to his side and raised an eyebrow. "What about you…?"
Alice pouted. She was sitting on his outstretched arm in wereverine form, with her short, furry arms wrapped around his neck. She was eleven years old, going on twelve, but since wereverines had naturally diminutive bodies, she could still sit comfortably like this. And, of course, she weighed nothing to Erik's third-rank power.
"I think I'm too old to be sitting like this…" she grumbled, despite clinging tightly to her adoptive father.
"I can let you down if you like," Erik suggested, his tone amused.
But Alice glanced nervously at the stairs before them, and then tightened her grip on him. "N— No!"
Having expected that, Erik chuckled and nodded. "Alright then. I'm sorry you have to sit through this, Alice. I just think it's important for the people to meet you, too. You are my daughter, after all."
Slowly, a shy, happy smile appeared on Alice's face, obliterating her pout… for about a second. She quickly caught herself and started pouting again, before nodding to acknowledge his words.
Not minding it, Erik continued gently. "Just remember: I'll have to let you go when your moms arrive, alright?" he reminded her gently. "But you can watch the ceremony together with your grandmother."
Next to them, Runa sighed wryly. "Gods, it still sounds weird when you say that. I'm barely in my forties, and I've already got an eleven-year-old granddaughter."
Instantly, an aggrieved Alice narrowed her eyes. While Erik started walking up the stairs, Alice glared past his body at Runa on his other side.
Following her son, Runa noticed Alice's look and immediately raised her hands in panicked surrender. "Weird good! Weird good!" she exclaimed with a wry smirk. "You know I love you, Alice!"
"Hehehe," Leila immediately started chuckling on Runa's other side. In the few months she'd been friends with Runa, she could count on one hand the times she'd seen her on the back foot, and each time it involved Alice.
Alice snorted with gleeful satisfaction before gracefully accepting Runa's capitulation with a nod. Erik smiled at their interaction. He did love having a big family that got along with each other.
Suddenly, Alice seemed to think of something as they rapidly approached the rays of light ahead. She turned her head towards Erik with hesitant curiosity. "Father… After you marry this princess, should I call her mother, as well?"
"That's up to you, as well as her," Erik answered gently. "I know you haven't talked with her much because you've been focusing on training, but I'm sure you'll get along. Just talk to her later, alright? I've no doubt she'll love you, and you two can decide for yourselves what you want to be to each other."
Alice seemed satisfied with that answer. She nodded in understanding, and they continued walking up the stairs. With every step, the cheering they heard became louder and louder.
"I'm glad everyone's in a festive mood…" Erik commented in a strange tone. He knew very little about exactly what Nora and Anne were up to out there, but they'd promised him they wouldn't let anyone interfere today, and he trusted them.
"It seems Ankhur's ability to give a good speech was unaffected by his broken heart," he continued, a little amused. He put thoughts of Nora and Anne out of his head for now.
Runa rolled her eyes. "You're exaggerating. Ankhur's a big boy; he'll get over it." She chuckled smugly. "Besides, I offered him a spot in my harem, so…" Instantly, Leila burst out laughing, and Erik shook his head with a sigh.
Finally, they reached the top of the stairs and walked out of the dark tunnel to be met by soft evening light, as well as ear-drum-breaking noise.
As soon as they appeared, the people started cheering harder.
Many of them, mostly soldiers or those wearing strange necklaces, loudly exclaimed their gratitude for saving them from the hunters. Yet, for many others, this was the first time they had seen Erik, and it stunned them for a moment.
Not because of his appearance, which was aggressively just-okay, but due to his aura. Despite being a third-ranker just like Ankhur, the feeling he gave them was completely different. His amber eyes seemed like beacons against the slowly darkening sky, and his skin appeared to vibrate with power.
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At the same time, he exuded a wave of awe-inspiring feelings that he'd somehow ended up with since his conversation with Ymir. Neither he nor Elora had any idea where it came from or why Ymir had said nothing of this, but it was subtle enough that only those already aware of it actually noticed anything.
For this crowd, it was just the push they needed to truly light a flame under their appreciation. After the initial wave of stunned faces, even those who were previously skeptical started cheering for him.
Of course, had Nora's shadowy group not taken care of the worst elements among them, things would not have gone this smoothly. Now, whatever insignificant number of people they'd missed and were not convinced of Erik's rule yet, were simply completely drowned out by the overwhelming support.
Smiling, Erik felt himself basking in their veneration. Truly, he never thought he'd enjoy this so much. Certainly, his younger self would have already retreated back into the safety of the internal tunnel they'd just left, rather than face this crowd.
He joined Ankhur on the slightly raised altar in the middle of the top platform and raised his arm to wave at the people below. On his arm, Alice looked at the immense mass of people with wide eyes. This was the first time she'd seen a crowd this size.
Although she'd participated in the battle against the hunters, which involved no fewer number of people, she'd never had the opportunity to watch it from up high.
She seemed nervous and clung a little tighter to her father.
"Don't be nervous, Alice," Erik told her gently. "These are our people now, and you are the daughter of their emperor. One day, you will be one of the great leaders in my empire, so greet them with pride! Show them you deserve to be followed and obeyed!"
Alice gulped as her social awkwardness tried to rear its head. But, not wanting to disappoint Erik, she steeled her heart and righted herself. Still sitting on Erik's arm and shoulder, she, too, started waving at the people below her. Yet, there was still some shyness in her movements, and she instantly won the hearts of many…
