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Chapter 288 - Lilian's Voice
🕑 Added 2025-04-11 07:00:15 +0000 UTCThey were not revered as a proud and independent people but treated as commodities, bred and traded like prized livestock. Their extraordinary communication skills made them invaluable, but their lack of combat prowess had doomed them to exploitation by stronger, more dominant races. For generations, they had been raised, trained, and sold solely for the purpose of serving as living communication devices. The more skilled the rabbit, the more astronomical their price.
Her own Celestial Cloud Rabbit maid, a paragon of skill and grace, had cost her a significant portion of her wealth in the past. Though the maid had been purchased as a slave, the Goddess had never treated her as one. To her, the rabbit was a trusted companion and a valued member of her household. But she knew that such kindness was a rarity. Most Celestial Cloud Rabbits were not so fortunate, their lives reduced to mere tools for their masters' convenience.
This was why she had hesitated to bring Lapin back immediately. If others discovered that she had acquired another Celestial Cloud Rabbit, it could spark unwanted attention. Investigations might follow, potentially leading to the discovery of the young galaxy where her apprentice resided. Such scrutiny could disrupt the delicate plans of the dark hand behind the curtain—a risk she dared not take. For now, it was safer to leave Lapin where he was while she devised a proper strategy to bring him into her territory.
Lapin's potential was undeniable. Although Lapin's abilities were nothing much for now, he was a Celestial Cloud Rabbit who managed to get to his current level alone in such disadvantageous circumstances. In other words, Lapin was probably a prodigy among his bloodline. The Goddess could not afford to let such talent slip through her fingers.
However, it was true that it was her territory's policy not to recruit any male so she had to come up with another way which was through marriage. Thankfully her maid who had a big round tail was exactly his type which instantly hooked him, making the recruitment easier.
"Madam, did you really recommend that goofy-looking rabbit as my husband?"
The voice, sharp and incredulous, sliced through the Goddess of Fertility's thoughts as she drifted through the void tunnel. From her glabella, a wispy, miniature celestial cloud emerged, swirling with faint iridescence. Within it, the faint outline of a beautiful female face could be seen, her expression a mix of indignation and disbelief.
The Goddess chuckled, her voice warm and teasing. "Hehehe. So you've seen him, Fluffora? Goofy, you say? I thought he was quite handsome—by Celestial Cloud Rabbit standards, at least."
"It's not his face I'm talking about!" Fluffora's voice crackled from the cloud, her tone rising in exasperation. "It's that ridiculous outfit of his! What even was that? And to think he had the audacity to dream about my tail! If he ever shows up here, I'll give him a beating he won't forget!"
The Goddess raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into an amused smile. "Is that so? I thought he looked rather dashing—like a true gentlerabbit. You're being too harsh, Fluffora."
"No, no, no! Absolutely not my taste!" Fluffora shot back, her cloud form flickering with agitation.
The Goddess sighed, her tone softening. "Fluffora, you must understand. He grew up alone, far from others of his kind. How can you expect him to have a refined sense of fashion? Give him a chance. He might surprise you."
"Hmph. Still not my taste," Fluffora muttered, though her voice had lost some of its earlier edge.
The Goddess's smile widened, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Hehe, how about this? Talk to him. Guide him. Maybe he'll change his style to suit your preferences. You've always complained about finding a suitable partner, and now that I've found a candidate for you, you're still unsatisfied. Fluffora, if you keep this up, you might just end up single forever. Don't you want a family of your own? Cute little bunnies hopping around?"
The mini celestial cloud fell silent, the iridescent swirls slowing as Fluffora seemed to consider the words. For a long moment, there was no reply—only the faint hum of the void tunnel around them.
Then, with a faint poof, the cloud dissipated, receding back into the Goddess's glabella.
"This girl…" the Goddess murmured, shaking her head with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. "She hung up on me again. What a bad habit."
With a soft sigh, she resumed her journey through the void, the faintest hint of a smile still playing on her lips. The conversation had been brief, but it had left her with a sense of quiet amusement. Fluffora's stubbornness was endearing in its own way, but the Goddess knew that beneath the irritation lay a heart that longed for connection. Perhaps, in time, Lapin would prove himself worthy of Fluffora's affection—or at the very least, her tolerance.
---
A day later, Lilian stirred from her slumber, her senses gradually awakening. She blinked her eyes open, greeted by a gentle breeze that caressed her skin and the soft, fluffy sensation of the celestial cloud beneath her. Sunlight filtered through the edges of the cloud, but its warmth didn't reach her directly—Lapin had thoughtfully reshaped the cloud to provide a shaded canopy overhead.
Huh? Where am I? Lilian thought, propping herself up on her elbows. Her eyes widened as she took in her surroundings. Eh? I'm in the sky? Is this… a cloud? She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat at the dizzying height. The ground below was a distant patchwork of greens and browns, and the cloud beneath her felt solid yet ethereal, like a dream given form.
What's happening? What happened to me? Lilian closed her eyes, trying to piece together her memories. Slowly, the events of her ordeal came flooding back—the pain, the fear, the despair. Her breath hitched as the memories sharpened, and then—
My melons! Lilian's hands flew to her chest, her fingers clutching at the familiar weight of her breasts. They're here! My melons are here! Thank goodness! Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as relief washed over her. She had never been particularly vain about her figure, but the experience of losing something so integral to her identity had changed her perspective entirely. Now, she clung to them with a newfound appreciation.
I love my melons! she thought, hugging herself tightly, her tears dampening the fabric of her clothes. After a moment, she released her grip, letting her breasts breathe again as she wiped her eyes.
That's right… who saved me? The question lingered in her mind, and as if in response, a series of images of legendary beauty saving her life emerged in her mind, followed by a series of other conversations the legendary beauty had with her, as if she were watching recordings. There were even scenes of the woman talking with the cloud afterward.
Lilian's jaw dropped as the memories played out like a recording. Those scenes… they happened while I was unconscious? The realization left her stunned. The Goddess of Fertility… My magical garden actually has a real owner? And now she's saved my life, accepted me as her apprentice? This… this can't be a dream, right? The sheer improbability of it all made her doubt her senses. Everything she had seen and heard was so far beyond her imagination that it felt surreal.
To reassure herself, Lilian decided to test the reality of her situation. There were many ways to confirm she wasn't dreaming, but one method stood out above the rest. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding with anticipation.
"Li- Lilian…" she whispered, her voice trembling but clear. It was the first time she had spoken her own name aloud, and the sound of it sent a shiver down her spine. Encouraged, she continued, her voice growing stronger with each word.
"Vi-Vivian… Leyvi… Jojori… Anda… Sayu… Tasya… Tal… Layla… Selene… Nala… Val… Hana… Fifi… Nikita… Sawi… Bana… Dorin… Ava… Bobori…"
After that, she recited the names of her family's spirit beasts and even her beloved demonic plants, her voice gaining confidence with each syllable.
After a while, she paused, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Hehehe… it's true… it's not a dream… I can talk now! I, Lilian, am not a mute girl anymore!" Her heart swelled with gratitude as she looked up at the sky, her voice ringing out with joy. "Thank you, Goddess of Fertility, for fixing my voice! I'll do my best not to disappoint you as your apprentice!"
On the sky island, Lapin was momentarily dumbfounded when Lilian's voice reached him through the celestial cloud. His ears twitched, and his eyes widened in surprise. Isn't her voice exactly the same as the Goddess of Fertility's? he thought, his mind racing. Lilian might not notice the similarity—after all, people often perceive their own voices differently—but to him, the resemblance was uncanny.
Did the Goddess deliberately fix Lilian's voice box to sound like her own?
A wry smile tugged at his lips as he considered the possibility. Was this her way of reminding me to take my bodyguard duties seriously? The thought amused him, though he couldn't deny the effectiveness of such a tactic. The Goddess's voice, rich and commanding, had left a deep impression on him, and now hearing it from Lilian was enough to snap him to attention.
Comments
Amelgar
yeah... she totally did that on purpose...
