Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 329. A Song That Echoes Through Eternity.

Tempestria approached with caution. At first, when she saw the girl’s face, she had felt her heart jump due to her beauty. She knew that she would be gorgeous based on the World Tree’s face, but when humanized, it easily surpassed expectations. 

Once by Cinderielle’s side, her face froze, and she blurted. “Um… Why is she naked?”

Cinderielle looked at her and raised her eyebrow. “Did you expect her to come with clothes or something? The <Avatar> was literally born two days ago.” 

Harmonixia arrived as well, together with Verdantia not long after. Verdantia had recovered from her overexcitment, but her face continued to be extremely red. Liu Shu gazed at Tempestria, Harmonixia, and Verdantia and hummed, grabbing the attention of the Sylvans. Cinderielle asked, curious. “What’s wrong, Tiantian?”

“Why are you all so tall?”

While they had different body types, their height was quite similar, all of them being more than a head taller compared to her. For Liu Shu, who was accustomed to being the tallest, this was quite a blow. 

The girls looked at each other and smiled wryly. Harmonixia crouched by Cinderielle and Liu Shu’s side and smiled. “Well, we are all relatively tall. However, Lian’er, you are quite short in comparison to other people.”

“Eh?” Liu Shu’s beautiful face gained a shocked expression as if she had received a blow from which she would have a hard time recovering. “Impossible! How can I be short!? Look at my body!”

The Sylvans lowered their gaze and gulped. Although she was short, she really did not lack anything. Liu Shu felt their gazes, and a strange feeling of shyness overcame her. Harrumphing to steal their attention, she clarified. “I am not speaking about this one! I am speaking about my real body!”

The Sylvans blinked a few times before it clicked. Once it did, embarrassment filled them for a few moments. Harmonixia coughed and shrugged. “I don’t know why this happened. However, I find you adorable. You are totally my type~.” The Sylvan gazed at Cinderielle and smiled. “Say, can I hug her like you are as well? I am feeling quite jealous of seeing her delici-, ahem, delicate and pretty body plastered against yours.”

Cinderielle raised her eyebrow smugly. “Only if she wants to.”

“Okay!”

The smug expression cracked, making Cinderielle look down in disbelief. “Why?”

Liu Shu titled her head, confused. “Why not? She wants to hug me, so I think it is fine! Hugging is so pleasant and nice.”

“C-Can I do it later!?”

Verdantia’s shrill and stuttering voice almost made Liu Shu’s ears ring. Looking over to the Life Sylvan, she saw a reddish face filled with anticipation and hope. Goosebumps rose on her skin unknowingly, almost forcing her to blurt no at her demand. However, she felt that if she denied it, this woman might wilt like a dead eggplant. So, clearing her throat, she commented. “You can all get turns if you want! I don’t mind.”

Verdantia pumped her fist, making the other four give her a weird expression. And so, Cinderielle stopped hugging Liu Shu, revealing everything she had been covering with her long coat in the process. Harmonixia got a mental hit much harsher than she actually expected, but she still opened her arms to receive the clumsy little girl. 

Once her arms closed around Liu Shu, a sense of peace and stability suddenly swallowed her being. ‘Ah… What is this? How can a body be so soft, nice-smelling, and comfortable to hug? It’s like she was made for being pampered~.’

Looking down, she saw the girl looking up with her pair of big and expressive amethyst-colored eyes. A sweet smile appeared on her face, and she giggled. “Your hug also feels really nice.”

Harmonixia almost felt her heart stop. ‘T-Too cute!’

For the rest of the day, the Sylvans and Liu Shu shared some intimacy. Liu Shu was passed around like a body-hugging pillow, of course, never against her will. The girl was clingy by nature, searching for their love and attention. 

While she was in Verdantia’s comfortable and soft embrace, Liu Shu raised her head to look at her face. Now that she was as calm as the current situation could really make her, Verdantia had started speaking with the others and bringing out her usual gentle but elegant demeanor. Of all the Sylvans, Liu Shu felt the closest to Cinderielle. Still, the other three held a special place in her heart that no one could substitute. 

As she looked at Verdantia’s face, the Life Sylvan could sense the scorching gaze, prompting her to look down and lower it. “Liu’er? What’s wro-”

Liu Shu leaned upward and kissed her lips once, very gently and swiftly. She didn’t really understand how kissing worked yet, after all. The other day, Cinderielle just kissed her lips all the time, making her happy. So, to show appreciation and her growing feelings, Liu Shu decided to do the same toward Verdantia. 

After the small kiss, Liu Shu saw Verdantia’s frozen face and tilted her head, raising one finger to poke her cheeks. “Verdantia? Are you okay?”

The other three Sylvans had their lips twitching. ‘Poor Verdantia, she probably has shortcircuited.’

To their surprise, though, she reacted rather quickly. “Ah… what happened? I think I was in the Paradise Garden for a few moments.”

Tempestria said with a hint of jealousy and amusement. “She kissed you, you stupid girl.”

“Kiss…?” Verdantia blinked a few times. “Ah. Tempestria, hold Liu Shu.”

Tempestria confusedly grabbed Liu Shu, and then Verdantia rushed out. They waited for a second before an echoing scream reached them. “YES! FUCK YES! AHHHHH!!!!!” 

Verdantia returned through the door and cleared her throat, regaining her usual demeanor. Then, as if nothing had happened, she sat down with the others and smiled. “I am back.”

“...” 

“...” 

“...” 

“...” 

Four speechless people glanced at the smiling Sylvan, not knowing how to react. Tempestria sighed and looked down at Liu Shu. She asked with a pout. “Can I have a kiss too, Shu’er?”

A serious person like Tempestria putting on that face was a serious hit for Liu Shu’s soft heart. Her face flushed slightly, not knowing really why, but she felt compelled by her actions, leaning upward and giving Tempestria a gentle kiss. After separating, there was a strange feeling in her stomach. ‘Ugh… What is this? I feel excited but also shy… I can’t raise my head, and my face is burning! Why is it like this each time I kiss them?’

Her gaze turned toward Harmonixia, and the music woman straightened, looking straight at Liu Shu. “I am ready! Come!”

Liu Shu blinked twice and actually crawled over. Her figure wearing her birthday suit didn’t stop the pair of large and soft breasts from dangling as she crawled over, turning the Sylvans into stone again. Not knowing the destructive power of her moves, Liu Shu arrived in front of Harmonixia and crawled up, leaning in and kissing Harmonixia’s lips. ‘Oh… The feeling is not that exaggerated, but it feels really nice.’

If she were asked for who her feelings were comparatively most superficial, she would answer Harmonixia. She knew her the least amount of time, but of course, that didn’t mean that she didn’t have affection for the Sylvan in her heart. On the contrary, she had spent a lot of time listening and asking Harmonixia to play her different songs. 

There were days when Harmonixia would soar to Liu Shu’s canopy and stay there all day, playing her gorgeous and beautiful music. The instruments she used were always cord instruments, like pianos, harps, zithers, and other similar ones.

Settling down on Harmonixia’s lap, which was the softest and most comfortable in Liu Shu’s honest opinion, she raised her head and smiled. “I want to hear music.”

Harmonixia snapped out of the pure happiness state she had achieved and smiled widely, showing a gorgeous expression. “Of course. For you, I can play all day long, Lian’er.”

Cinderielle asked, curious. “You didn’t carry your instruments, right?”

Harmonixia smiled faintly. “Well, I don’t need it to play music. I have my voice.”

Tempestria smiled faintly, relaxing while leaning back on her hands. “What song will you sing?”

Harmonixia hummed and then looked at Liu Shu with a smile. “How about <Heavenly Willow Tree>?”

The girls paused and raised their eyebrows. Tianlian Liu Shu, as a name, meant something along the lines of “Heaven-Linking Willow Tree,” very close to the song’s name. Liu Shu’s eyes shone with eagerness, and she nodded a few times. “I want to hear it!”

Harmonixia chuckled and gave her a peck on the lips. “Okay. This song is one that actually came to me in a dream. I dreamt of a very strange situation… Well, it doesn’t matter much. It goes like this.”

She stayed silent for a few moments, adjusting, before Harmonixia started harmonizing with her voice, creating a gorgeous melody. 

“You are the end and the beginning,

Roots that cross eternity,

Celestia, your light is fading,

And with it, life will cease to be~” 

When they listened, Cinderielle, Verdantia, and Tempestria felt a strange resonance. Harmonixia’s voice was gorgeous. She raised the tone and continued.

“How dare you leave us all behind?

If you perish, the world unwinds,

But I swear, though you may be gone,

I’ll find you in the endless time.

A small pause happened, and Harmonixia raised her tone. Her gorgeous voice spread clearly and harmoniously. 

If life thrives again in the future,

I swear I’ll find you from the start,

I’ll teach you how to grow again,

For you will always have my heart….

Harmonixia’s eyes became entranced, and her song gained a slight touch of melancholy yet filled with underlying strength and determination. It felt like someone else was singing through her. 

I, Stellar Devastation,

Who shatters all, yet brings rebirth,

Promise I will guard your spirit,

Until the day you claim the earth.

Whether you’re seed or mighty tree,

My heart will always beat for thee,

Though you may be just stardust now,

My love will reach you, faithfully.

Harmonixia then repeated the chorus of the song, her tone reaching the peak as she sang her soul out. Unyielding as she promised, as she sang, as she loved. 

If life thrives again in the future,

I swear I’ll find you from the start,

I’ll teach you how to grow again,

For you will always have my heart.

“That I, Stellar Devastation,@@novelbin@@

Can support you,” I declare.

“That I, Celestial Slaughter,

Will remain with you, always there.

And even as a tiny seed,

My heart will only beat for thee~.”

"I’ll be waiting, as always," you whispered,

As you faded into the void.

Then, Harmonixia’s voice softened as she whispered the next section, her tone full of sadness but with a hint of hope. Liu Shu listened with rapt attention, yet in her heart, it felt somewhat stuffy, as if the words Harmonixia was singing were about to make her heart split in half.

If life thrives again in the future,

I swear I’ll find you from the start,

I’ll teach you how to grow again,

For you will always have my heart….

Then, her voice came to a stop together with her song, and Harmonixia’s eyes regained clarity. Her gaze when looking at Liu Shu became even more profound, and her thoughts could not be seen by our World Tree. As Liu Shu pondered, the other three Sylvans looked at the girl, and they all approached. They hugged Liu Shu in the middle, tightly, securely, with no other feeling other than a deep and pure love.

Liu Shu didn’t move. She could sense that something strange but meaningful was happening. And, even though she didn’t understand, she allowed the Sylvans to squeeze her between them.

After a few minutes of silence, they separated, leaving Liu Shu in Harmonixia’s embrace. Liu Shu looked up at her and smiled. “I love all of you.”

The Sylvans felt their hearts swelling, and tears of happiness pooled in their eyes. Their feelings were one, as if they came from a single source. “We love you too, Tianlian Liu Shu.”