System's POV

Chapter 1269: The Pearl Of The City Of Lyra [Part 1]

Carina Avior had always felt blessed about being born in such a prominent family.

Despite only turning sixteen this year, she was already showing great promise that she’d grow up to be a beautiful woman in the future.

Her mother was Rana Avior, the Celestial who ruled the second most prosperous city in Artem. She was well-respected by all its citizens, as well as her peers.

Both her brothers, Izar and Alnair, also cared for her deeply.

Everything she wished to have, she had gotten.

If anything caught her fancy, it would be handed to her.

There was nearly nothing in the world she couldn’t get as long as she put her mind to it.

This was also why she often took strolls around the city whenever she had free time. She believed it was one of the best ways to see if something was worth getting.

For this purpose, her favorite place was the Lyra Bazaar.

Located at the center of the city, its streets were lined with various stalls, which sold trinkets from all over the world.

It was a very popular place not only among the locals but also with the foreigners who came from other lands.

Today in particular, Carina visited the Bazaar without her brothers since the two of them had to train their swordsmanship.

Of course, she hadn’t come alone and came escorted by a High Archon, her Uncle Zen, and two other Archons who came as backup.

They were regulars in the bazaar, and many merchants always looked forward to the visit of the children of the Celestial, itching to impress them with their wares.

Carina took a stroll in the Bazaar, paying close attention to anything that might catch her fancy. Many good things were up for sale today, and she had already bought a few of them.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of laughter and giggling, which made her turn in that direction.

Several children, no older than six years old, were busy jumping around and running after bubbles that were currently flying around in the streets of the bazaar.

Her gaze then landed on the source of these bubbles and saw a butterfly the size of an adult person’s hand.

The color of the butterfly’s wings changed in different intervals, and it also left a trail of bubbles in its wake.

With the sun setting, the purple color of the sky was reflected on the bubbles the butterfly was making.

Its glowing wings were also more noticeable now, making it a sight to behold.

Without any warning, the butterfly then did something unexpected. It started to fly in a circular path, leaving countless bubbles behind.

But there was one difference. As the bubbles flew away, the butterfly wings released a trail of glittering colors that made them glow in the darkness.

Soon, countless glittering bubbles lit up the streets, drawing amazed looks from the children and even the adults.

“Wow!” a little girl shouted. “More bubbles, please, Big Brother!”

“Okay,” a young man with short black hair and green eyes smiled and waved his hand.

A second butterfly joined the first one that was entertaining the crowd, creating more bubbles that glowed in different colors.

Carina shifted her attention to the young man, who seemed to be manipulating the two butterflies with the movements of his hands.

In her eyes, the young man was like one of those musical conductors whom she had seen in the past.

The more the children laughed, the wider the smile on the young man’s face.

Around him, children jumped and danced. The butterflies also joined them, showering the kids with glittering lights and bubbles, making the scene look completely magical.

“Wow,” Carina muttered as this was the first time she had seen something like this in her life.

All ladies were weak to eye candy and beautiful things. Of course, Carina wasn’t an exception to this rule.

In fact, as someone who always sought out the most unique things in the world, she naturally wanted to acquire those two butterflies no matter what.

“How much is this butterfly of yours, young man?” asked a lady who seemed to be the mother of one of the children happily dancing under the lights of the butterfly.

“Two hundred Mira, Ma’am,” the young man replied.

“It’s a bit expensive, but I think it’s a fair price.” The mother nodded and handed two hundred Lyra for a butterfly.

Thirteen then gave the woman a bracelet, which would be used to manipulate the butterfly that she had bought.

After teaching her how to use it, the woman made the butterfly she had purchased fly, making her daughter jump and clap happily.

Soon, there were now three butterflies flying around the children, bathing them with glittering lights.

“I want one too!”

“Me too!”

“I’ll buy all of your stock!”

Several adults who wanted to purchase a butterfly for their own kids also lined up to buy one.

At that moment, Carina snapped out of her daze and walked hurriedly toward the young man.

When everyone saw the clothes she was wearing, they immediately made way and bowed to Carina, showing her their due respect.

The young man who was selling the butterflies was no exception, and he also paid tribute to the young lady who held a very high position in society.

“Please give me one of those butterflies,” Carina said calmly, but deep inside, she was itching to get the beautiful butterfly that she had seen earlier.

“I’m sorry, My Lady,” the young man replied. “I am currently sold out. I only brought five of them with me today since I didn’t think they would be so popular. As you can see, I didn’t rent any stalls, and I’m just peddling my wares on the go.”

Carina looked extremely disappointed, prompting her Uncle to approach the mother who had bought the butterfly earlier.

“Ma’am, please sell me that,” Zen said with a smile. “I will pay you a thousand Mira for it.”

The woman shuddered and looked helplessly at her daughter. Perhaps the little girl realized that her new toy was going to be taken away, so she teared up and started crying on the spot.

The little girl’s pitiful cries made everyone look at the mother and daughter pair with pity, knowing that there was nothing they could do about it.

In the face of the High Archon, none of them dared to resist.

“Uncle, it’s okay,” Carina placed her hand on her uncle’s arm, not wanting to make the little girl cry any longer. “Ma’am, forget what my uncle said. Please take it back and play with your daughter, okay?”

The young lady took the butterfly from her Uncle’s hand and handed it back to the mother and daughter pair, who were both happy and terrified by this development.

“Thank you, My Lady,” the mother teared up. “I will not forget your kindness and generosity.”

Carina smiled and patted the crying girl’s head. She even took out a candy from her pocket and handed it to her.

“Don’t cry,” Carina coaxed the little girl. “I will not take your butterfly from you. Here, take this as a gift as well.”

“Thank you, Big Sister,” the little girl replied through her tears. “You are very kind, and beautiful like a fairy!”

“Thank you.” Carina smiled sweetly and bid the little girl goodbye.

The others who had purchased their own butterflies also left the scene in haste, afraid that they would be the next targets of the young lady’s uncle.

Carina made sure that her Uncle wouldn’t make things difficult for the people, making the older man sigh.

A minute later, she then faced the young man who had sold the butterflies and asked for his name.

“My name is Carina, what’s yours?” Carina asked.

“My name is Zion,” Thirteen replied. “I am very impressed with your kindness, My Lady. If you are to return here tomorrow at this time, I promise to reserve two butterflies for your sake.”

“Really?” Carina immediately brightened up after hearing the young man’s words.

“Really.” Thirteen nodded.

“It’s a promise then, okay?!”

“Good. It’s a promise.”

Thirteen then bowed respectfully before walking away to return to his inn.

Zen eyed the young man with a calm expression on his face, but deep inside, he felt suspicious of him.

He then glanced at one of his subordinates, who nodded in understanding.

After Zen escorted the young lady away from the bazaar, the Archon trailed Zion, who had asked Carina to return tomorrow.

Thirteen noticed him but didn’t make any move to shrug him off as he made his way to the inn.

The first contact had already been initiated, and as long as he played his cards right, he would get an opportunity to form a closer relationship with the young lady, who was also called the Pearl of the City of Lyra.