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Chapter 126 End
The two groups climbed the vines and stopped ten steps away from the Golden Bell. No one dared to speak first, as the powerful force that had just been able to tear everything apart was still etched into the bones of everyone.
If it weren't for the strongman from Qinghai holding back, Sky Island would probably be a scorched earth by now. They were the ones who started the war and swung their swords first, but were stopped by the other side, and at the same time, not many people were hurt. This disparity made the proud Shandian warriors and the Sky Islanders who considered themselves children of the gods unable to lift their heads.
The first to break the silence was Weber. He shook off the arm that was supporting him, and stood up straight with difficulty. His right hand, covered in scars, was pressed against the totem on his left chest. He bowed deeply to Bai Yu, his voice still hoarse but extremely solemn: "Strong warrior from Qinghai, we were blinded by four hundred years of hatred and attacked you indiscriminately, almost breaking the promise of our ancestors and nearly tarnishing the glory of Shandora once again... We apologize to you for our recklessness and prejudice."
As soon as the words were spoken, all the Shandians bowed in unison, tapping their canes on the ground. The elder leader said, "Thank you, sir, for fulfilling the agreement between us Shandians and Noland!"
The Sky Island priest stepped forward, bowing respectfully as well, his white wings drooping at his sides. His tone was full of sincerity: "The people of the Island of God have been blinded by false history for too long, regarding the masters of their homeland as enemies. Four hundred years of war have all been caused by ignorance. The power you just displayed was both an awakening and a redemption. We have decided to set aside our past grievances with the Shandians and jointly protect this land. We have come here today, firstly to apologize for the unwarranted war we waged, and secondly... to earnestly request that you stay and witness the reconciliation between our two sides."
"witness?"
Bai Yu also knew that this witnessing ceremony was the end of four hundred years of hatred, and the beginning of the true integration of the Shandians and Sky Islanders of Shandora.
He paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, his tone still calm: "Okay."
The simple words brought a sense of relief to everyone present. Waver and the Skypiea leader straightened up at the same time, their eyes meeting. The murderous intent and hatred that had filled their eyes were now replaced by relief and peace.
The bells on the giant vines rang out, and the tense backs of the Shandians and Sky Islanders relaxed simultaneously. The resentment that had been building up for four hundred years was completely dissolved in peace at this moment.
Weber touched the shell in his hand, and with the chief's permission, he and Ganful turned around side by side and, surrounded by the crowd, led Bai Yu and his group toward the tribe hidden deep in the cloud sea and dense forest of Shandia.
The giant trees in the forests of the Shandian tribes have intertwined roots, and ancient Shandora totems are carved on the trunks and rock walls. The forest, which was once filled with the sounds of clashing weapons and shouts of battle, is now only filled with the sounds of footsteps and the gentle wind.
The children of Shandia peeked out from behind tree trunks, curiously watching the Sky Islanders beside them who had folded their wings and no longer looked fierce. The wariness in their eyes gradually turned into confusion.
The angel girl from the Sky Island gently stroked the rattan cane in the old woman's hand, looking at the Shandora pattern etched with the marks of time. Her prejudice against the invaders had long since vanished with the truth.
The council square of Shandia is built against a giant tree, and in the center stands a stone tablet engraved with the silhouettes of Calgra and Noland, which is an ancestral relic worshipped by the tribe for generations.
On both sides of the square, Shandian warriors stood in neat rows, their weapons laid horizontally on the ground as a sign of non-aggression.
Ganford led the priests and the Angel Island guards, removing all their shell weapons and folding their white wings, facing the true masters of this land with the utmost humility.
Weber stepped onto the high platform in the plaza, took a smooth stone knife, and gently pricked his fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall into the stone vessel before the monument. His voice was powerful and resonant, echoing throughout the plaza: "Shandia people, generation after generation, have guarded Shandora. Four hundred years of war, for our homeland, for our ancestors, for our immortal civilization. Today, the Golden Bell tolls, the covenant is fulfilled, hatred is over, and grudges are dissolved! From this day forward, the Shandians and the people of Angel Island will jointly guard the Island of God, jointly protect the Golden Bell, and jointly inherit the history of Shandora and the Sky Islands. There will be no more war, no more strife. Heaven and earth bear witness, our ancestors are our witness!"
As soon as the words were spoken, all the Shandians shouted in unison, their roars echoing through the forest. It was no longer a war cry filled with hatred, but a feeling of relief and exhilaration at regaining their homeland and welcoming peace.
Ganful then stepped forward, dripping blood from his fingertip into a dish. As the god of the Sky Island and the leader of its inhabitants, his tone was one of remorse and solemnity: "I am Ganful, the god of the Sky Island. I have led the people of the Sky Island for many years, yet I have been deceived by false history, causing my people to regard their homeland's inhabitants as enemies, igniting four hundred years of war and committing boundless slaughter. My faults are undeniable. From this day forward, the Sky Island will be renamed Shandora Sky Island. The Shandians are the true ancestors of this land. The people of Angel Island and the Shandians are both islanders, sharing the fertile land of the Cloud Sea, jointly protecting the true history, and jointly upholding the Bell of Promise. If this oath is broken, may we be abandoned by heaven and earth, and forever lose divine protection!"
Several priests stepped forward one by one to swear an oath by dripping their blood, and the Sky Island warriors knelt on one knee, bowing to the stone tablet and the Shandian people, thus completing an apology that spanned four hundred years.
After both sides finished swearing their oaths, Weber and Ganford turned around at the same time and walked towards Bai Yu, who was standing in the center of the square.
Bai Yu, dressed in a plain white robe, her sleeves fluttering in the wind of the sea of clouds, became the most significant witness to this century-long reconciliation.
Waver held up a short blade inlaid with Shandora gold, while Ganful held up a badge crafted from the finest seashell. Together, they presented it to Bai Yu. Waver said in a deep voice, "Thanks to you, sir, for stopping the war with your supreme martial prowess and for keeping your promise with the resounding bell, fulfilling the aspirations of the Shandora people and facilitating the reconciliation between our two races. This blade carries the spirit of four hundred years of Shandian warriors, and this badge represents the highest respect of the Sky Island. We earnestly request that you accept it as a testament to the reconciliation between our two races and as a token of your eternal honor as a guest of Shandora Sky Island. In the future, if you ever visit the Sky Island again, whether in Shandora or Angel Island, you will be treated with the highest courtesy. Above the clouds, there will always be a place reserved for you."
Bai Yu raised his hand and took the short blade and badge, his fingertips lightly touching the cool gem and the warm cloud shell. His tone remained calm: "The bell tolls as a sign, blood ties as an alliance. Today we reconcile, a promise etched in our hearts. May our two races live in harmony for generations to come, and may the glory of Shandora forever shine upon the sea of clouds."
After saying this, Bai Yu placed the short blade and the badge together on the stone tablet, keeping them as a permanent token of witness.
In an instant, thunderous cheers erupted in the square. An elder from Shandia struck an ancient wooden drum, while a musician from the Sky Island played a cloud-shell flute, the joyful melody mingling with the chimes of bells in the clouds. Children held hands and danced around the stone monument, warriors embraced and laughed. Former enemies, once sworn enemies, now stood side by side, sharing a ladle of clear spring water from the sea of clouds. Four hundred years of estrangement and hatred vanished completely in the midst of laughter and joy.