CHAPTER 755: 137. HOLY MARRIAGE (HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE)

"Dong~ Dong~ Dong~"

After the simplified proceedings earlier, Fisher carried Valentina, dressed in her long, ceremonial robes, back to the wall built by the Troll Species for them. Numerous female Trolls were still looking around outside, their gazes fixed on the handsome Fisher, but they barely got a few seconds of looking before Dalilulu and Cocolia yelled at them to back off.

"Everyone, clear the Holy Marriage site and keep quiet!"

After saying this, Dalilulu pointed Fisher and Valentina towards a gate in the wall, signaling them to enter. Fisher entered the enclosure with Valentina, the ground was full of lit candles. It was a tradition of the Holy Marriage not to sweep the frost snow from the ground. In the culture of the Northern Realm, frost snow symbolizes purity; thus, the lit flames seemed to float on a soft white surface.

The flames formed a path leading to the tent. Fisher gathered Valentina’s long, trailing garments to prevent them from catching fire from the nearby candles. Meanwhile, two Trolls picked up huge rocks to fill in the last gap in the wall.

"Fisher, the Wutong Tree..."

Valentina, nestled in Fisher’s arms, pointed to the large tree-shaped sculpture above the tent. The flames cast the shadow of the tent on the Wutong Tree, reminding Fisher of the Holy Marriage procedure Dalilulu had mentioned. After all, he didn’t know the purpose of the legacy left by the Moon Princess; these races with foresight always spoke in riddles. If there was a specific purpose that he failed to fulfill, it could be disastrous.

So, he stopped walking, knelt on one knee in front of the Wutong Tree to symbolically represent both families, and announced their relationship to the other members of their races,

"Dad, Mom, Heidlin, though you’re not here, I hope you can see this. Now, I want to entrust everything to the person before me under your witness. This is my own decision, and I need your blessings to grant me the courage to go on..."

Valentina softly chanting sincerely, even Fisher was moved by the atmosphere; he didn’t speak, but closed his eyes towards the Wutong Tree. In the darkness, he seemed to see again the blonde lady in the thick black nun’s robe, turning away from him, absorbed in reading the Creation Scripture. As a child, when he and a group of orphans went to sleep at night, she would watch over them.

Under the dim candlelight, Fisher couldn’t see her expression, only occasionally hearing the sound of pages turning as he drifted to sleep. This left a deep impression of Sister Theresa.

"Sister Theresa, may the Mother Goddess bless you and me."

In the darkness, he said nothing until Valentina’s voice beside his ear had already stopped for a while, then he seemingly muttered the words perfunctorily.

Then, Fisher opened his eyes and exchanged a glance with the slightly smiling Valentina, stood up, and walked into the large tent before them.

The tent was constructed simply, a warm stove kept the room nicely heated, a small table held some food, water, and two bowls of medicine emitting a faint purple glow. Behind that small table, there was a huge bed, its pillows and blankets folded neatly in a corner, seemingly the last item to be needed...

Valentina blushed slightly upon seeing the purple medicine, Fisher first placed her on the bed, then turned to glance at the food on the table and commented,

"They even prepared food, so we won’t be hungry tonight... Hmm, what’s this purple liquid?"

"Ah... that..."

Valentina, blushing, propped herself up with one hand, seemingly wanting to explain something to Fisher but struggled to clearly articulate what it was,

"It’s... Cocolia gave it to us because she’s worried about my health... This medicine temporarily enhances Constitution; the male Trolls drink it during their weddings..."

Fisher opened his mouth, recalling the female Troll standing four meters tall and then the male Trolls of about two and a half meters. Suddenly, he figured out what the purpose of the concoction was.

He glanced at the delicate Valentina, turned his head, picked up the bowl of purple liquid, and poured it into his mouth. Then, under the panic-stricken gaze of Valentina, he sealed her soft lips with his, deepening the kiss gradually, and the cloudy purple medicine also transferred into Valentina’s mouth.

Whether it was Fisher’s kiss or the purple medicine that caused it, Valentina felt her body becoming increasingly hot. Her every breath seemed to take form, slowly brushing Fisher’s face in the warm tent.

Her body went limp, and the arm that had been supporting her suddenly let go, letting her collapse onto the bed, Fisher moved to continue, but she weakly blocked him with one hand.

In her slightly disheveled white hair, only one eye, teary and clear, was visible,

"Wait... There’s still a ritual... Don’t... don’t rush..."

"...Eulogy?"

Fisher gently placed her resisting hand to his lips, the contact feeling like an electric shock making Valentina’s fair skin gradually flush with enticing pink.