Chapter 462: Wouldn’t That Be Wonderful?
Eris’ popularity in the Manor and the wider city was not to be underestimated, so it made sense that when she called for help, everyone came running.
"It was quite the spectacle in the southern district, seeing so many powerful Cultivators wandering around, doing simple construction work," Christina added with amusement, taking her seat in a slightly more elegant manner than her Senior Sister, a habit probably ingrained in her from years of royal etiquette training.
"Haha, I bet," Lucas laughed, already able to imagine the usually noble and dignified Elders of the Balfour Family and Commanders of the Raging River Legion dressed in rough work clothes, carrying stacks of lumber, climbing up on rooves, and hammering nails into boards.
"I was wondering where everyone had gone," Pauline muttered, finally understanding where her younger siblings and work colleagues had disappeared to today.
Technically, it was a rest day, so most of them were free to do as they pleased, but as high-ranking members of the Balfour Family, it was fairly common for them to just be working still.
Now, it seemed, they had found something else to occupy their time with.
Pauline wasn’t mad, of course. As long as everyone kept up with their work, they could do as they pleased with their spare time.
The conversation got livelier with the addition of the two girls and one fox kit, all three of whom were quickly served a hot tray of food from the kitchen by one of the staff.
It was a fairly generic meal, meat stew with redwood-style bread, but it was hearty and filling, so none of them were complaining.
At first, Pauline was a bit hesitant to continue discussing the classified works Lucas had shown her earlier in the day, but she quickly realized that her mother’s Second and Third Disciples were already in-the-know.
If anything, Eris and Christina knew more about Lucas’ various experiments than she did, most likely because they had been around when he came up with these ideas and had participated in a number of his experiments. They weren’t normally active contributors, but spectating wasn’t an issue.
"I know, right? I was also stunned when I first saw Lucas and the others shoot that thing," Christina nodded enthusiastically, recalling the first time her Senior Brother had successfully tested Project Thor.
Eris also appreciated a good weapon and the destruction it could do, but it seemed her favourite project was actually Project Dyson.
When they asked her why, the young girl smiled joyfully and declared, "Once Lucas figures it out, everyone will have an unlimited amount of World Qi! Wouldn’t that allow everyone to cultivate as much as they want without having to worry about things like fighting or killing to snatch resources? Even the poor and the children from the orphanages would be able to cultivate freely then! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
Pauline had only met her little grandniece recently, so she was still reserving judgement about her, but hearing the girl’s innocent thoughts on this matter, she somewhat understood why Eris was so beloved amongst everyone.
She, herself, had mostly been focused on the benefits such a vast amount of World Qi could bring to the Balfour Family, while Eris’ first instinct was to think about how the world and the ordinary people would benefit from Lucas’ discovery.
It was the purest example of what each of their deepest priorities really were; what they believed and thought about at their very core, and when she unconsciously compared herself to her little niece, Pauline found that she had become far more jaded and lacking in benevolence than she realized.
Now, that was hardly surprising given the difference in their ages and experiences, but even though she understood that with her head, Pauline Balfour still couldn’t help feeling it was a pity she had become like this.
Was it a bad thing?
Probably not.
In the cruel, unforgiving world they lived in, being pragmatic was simply a necessity of survival. Considering profit and loss before right and wrong was how one stayed alive and grew strong, but just because it was the truth didn’t make it any less sad.
"Are you okay, Aunty?" Pauline suddenly felt someone grab her hand, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Looking up, Pauline was greeted by the sight of three worried faces; four, if you counted the fox kit who had also stopped her meal and was tilting her head cutely at her.
Realizing what she had done, the noble Great Elder blushed with embarrassment and chided herself internally.
How could she have let her guard down so completely that she actually showed such emotion on her face? How could she let these juniors, all of whom were less than a tenth her age, worry about her?
Wasn’t it her duty as the Senior here to guide, protect, and comfort them? Since when had those roles been reversed?
Disgraceful.
That was the only way Pauline could describe her conduct.
Rapidly pulling herself together, with all the skill she had developed over years of dealing with noble politics, Pauline smiled warmly and shook her head, "I’m fine. I was just... thinking about something."
She then swept her eyes over the trio before her, reached out, and patted each of them on the head, "I’m glad my mother chose you three as her Disciples."
Needless to say, Lucas, Eris, Christina, and even Yuki were all quite confused now, but since their dinner companion seemed to have recovered from whatever was bothering her, they didn’t pay it too much mind.
The meal carried on peacefully for another half-hour, with many others who were returning from work or outings passing through the dining hall and offering greetings to the group.
Finally, just after sunset, Lucas stood up, picked up his tray, and declared, "We should get going. We don’t want to be late."
Serious looks appeared on everyone’s face when those words were spoken, and they too stood and picked up their trays.
It was time for the final event of the day, a visit to Celestina’s private training room, the place where work on Project Ascension was taking place.