Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System

Chapter 393: Chapter 85: Morning Star Shines Anew, a New Chapter Begins

The last of the outside world’s sounds were shut out, leaving only the crackling of firewood in the hearth and the comforting presence of her family.

She noticed that only Kaiden and Alina were in the room.

"Where are Father and Mother?" she asked.

"In the study." Kaiden pointed upstairs. "Mother said she had some accounts to finalize, and Father is with her. We were planning to have some tea together once they were finished. You’re back just in time."

Alina had already walked over to a small side table, poured a cup of warm honey tea, and placed it in Eleanor’s hands.

"Warm your hands. You’ve brought the outside chill with you."

Eleanor took the cup, the warmth of the porcelain seeping through her thin leather gloves.

Cradling the cup, she sat down in the armchair opposite Kaiden.

The room was arranged just as it always was.

The mantelpiece was adorned with small family keepsakes. On the wall hung a landscape painted by Aurora in her youth, and in the corner, a pot of Snowball Flowers preserved by Magic thrived in the warm room.

Everything was the same as when she had left.

’But she knew that outside, everything was different.’

"The celebration was a great success," Kaiden said, breaking the brief silence. "This year’s harvest was even better than last year’s, and the people’s spirits are high. You should have seen them dancing around the bonfire. Even Old Peter got up to dance, though he nearly fell over after just three steps."

Alina laughed. "Grandma Edith took my hand and told me that in all her years, she’d never imagined she could see days like these."

Eleanor listened quietly, taking small sips of her honey tea.

The warm liquid slid down her throat, chasing away the last of the chill from her body.

She thought back to the scenes from her journey: the sealed city gates, the burned-out villages, the hollow eyes of the refugees blocking the road... Those images and the festive scene Kaiden was describing seemed to split apart in her mind, like two entirely different paintings.

"On your trip this time," Alina began, her voice softening as she keenly observed Eleanor’s silence, "did you... see a lot?"

Eleanor looked up, meeting Alina’s concerned gaze.

She paused before finally just nodding. "Yes. Many places are... unsettled."

She didn’t elaborate.

There was no need to elaborate.

Kaiden and Alina managed the territory’s affairs. The reports they received and the news brought by traveling merchants were enough for them to understand the situation outside.

’Some of the crueler details didn’t need to be repeated on a festival night, in this warm living room.’

Kaiden’s expression grew more serious. He set down his cup and leaned forward slightly. "We’ve received some news as well. The southern trade routes are unsafe, and there are reports of famine in several territories to the east. Father has had us strengthen the border patrols and increase our reserves."

"But all is well within the Monte Territory," Alina added. "We have enough food, and the people are calm. When we were distributing festival supplies today, no one fought over them. Everyone lined up on their own and was courteous to one another."

Listening, Eleanor asked softly, "Father and Mother... are they all right today?"

"Father made an appearance at the celebration," Kaiden said. "It wasn’t for long, but the people were thrilled to see him. He said a few words—the usual, giving all the credit to everyone else and saying he’s just a man in a wheelchair."

Alina smiled. "Mother was with him the whole time, pushing his wheelchair in and then wheeling him away. That feeling they have when they’re together... you know, it’s as if all the noise around them can’t touch them."

Eleanor nodded.

Just then, the familiar sound of a wheelchair rolling across the floor came from outside the door, growing closer until it stopped at the entrance to the small living room.

The door was pushed open, and Aurora appeared, pushing Murphy in his wheelchair.

"We heard voices and guessed you were back," Aurora said with a smile, her golden chignon glowing softly in the light.

Murphy sat in his wheelchair, a deep red velvet blanket covering his lap.

"Father, Mother." Eleanor stood up.

"Sit down, Eleanor," Murphy’s voice was calm. "You’re back late. I’m just glad you didn’t run into any trouble on the way."

A simple greeting, with no further questions.

But Eleanor could feel her father’s gaze linger on her face for a moment, his deep eyes seeming to see right through to the weight she had carried on her journey.

Aurora pushed the wheelchair to the warmest spot by the hearth, then sat down in a nearby chair herself.

Kaiden stood up to pour hot tea for his parents as well. The family sat around the fireplace, forming a warm circle.

"The celebration was very lively," Aurora said to Eleanor as she accepted her cup of tea. "It’s a shame you missed the most exciting part. But don’t worry, the kitchen has saved plenty of good food for you. I’ll have someone bring it out shortly."

"Alright," Eleanor replied softly.

The firewood in the hearth crackled, and the firelight danced on everyone’s faces.

Kaiden began recounting a few more amusing stories from the celebration.

There was the blacksmith’s apprentice who drank too much and insisted on climbing onto the bonfire to sing, only to be laughingly pulled down by everyone.

A few children nearly got into a fight over the last piece of crispy skin from the roast suckling pig, but a servant fairly divided it into five pieces for them.

Grandma Aila actually sprained her ankle while dancing, but she laughed and said it was the happiest injury she’d had in seventy years.

Alina would occasionally laugh and add details, and a gentle smile bloomed in Aurora’s eyes as she listened.

Murphy, for the most part, just listened quietly, occasionally raising his teacup for a sip as his gaze moved slowly from one family member’s face to another.

Eleanor leaned back in her chair, cradling the warm teacup.