(A temporary extra chapter, added as a commemoration.)
Time: Mid-February, after the start of the second semester.
Location: Swallow Garden Academy
After class, students walked down the spacious steps of the Skylark Tower. Beyond the towering columns, the azure sky stretched out, and occasionally, birds swooped down from above, flying through the tower and over the school buildings below.
White birds darted through the gaps, their fleeting presence like a string of white pearls passing through the grand structure, adding a touch of beauty to the lush green mountain backdrop.
Thilan and Mel walked down the steps, books in hand, gazing at the brief yet beautiful scene.
"Spring is here," Mel murmured softly.
"Unfortunately, in the northern districts, only here can you see such vibrant greenery," she added, her thoughts drifting.
"Thilan, do you know much about mega-corporations?"
"I know a little. They're said to be companies with unique technologies or immense influence."
"That's true, but not many people truly understand the real power of mega-corporations," Mel shook her head, her deep purple hair tied back and draped over one shoulder.
"If we want to change the climate and toxic rain problem across the Verdant Veil, it's not entirely impossible," she suddenly brought up the long-standing pain of the northern districts.
"In the distant Northern Mystic Star Region, there lives a special type of cosmic leviathan called the Cloud-Devouring Beast. It's a Tide Sequence 8 unique creatures, said to be a descendant of the ancient Cloud-Rending Beasts. It can tear through space, traverse the heavens, and devour entire seas of clouds."
Mel paused in her steps.
"These leviathans spend their lives orbiting gas giants, feeding on the endless supply of combustible atmosphere. They often dive deep into the gas giants, making them difficult to observe or capture."
"However, even such powerful and massive creatures have been approached by humans seeking communication and cooperation."
"The Wind Whale Garden—this is not only a sanctuary for nurturing magical life but also the name of a mega-corporation."
"Our academy's predecessor, the Wind Swallow Garden, was once a branch of it, though the two have been separated for nearly 700 years."
"Riding the star-traveling Cloud-Devouring Wind Whales, the ancestors of the Wind Swallow Garden traversed several star regions in search of a place to establish their sanctuary. The life of whale herding was monotonous, and they longed for a more vibrant and lively world."
"Then they encountered the Verdant Veil planet, which was still in the midst of difficult terraforming. At that time, the Verdant Veil was a barren wasteland with a thin atmosphere, its only attraction being the stunning purple oceans that captivated passing travelers."
"In the solar spectrum, green photons carry the highest energy. After absorbing and utilizing these photons, the reflected light lacks green, giving the oceans their purple hue."
"The purple algae that filled the oceans absorbed the energy from sunlight, breaking down water to produce oxygen, which then precipitated sulfides and iron from the seawater."
"Although this process helped transform the planet's environment, the unstable planetary core led to frequent volcanic eruptions. Massive amounts of toxic substances were released into the atmosphere, overwhelming the ocean's purification capacity. Large amounts of algae began to die, and if not addressed promptly, the planet's terraforming project would have been delayed by centuries. By then, the Terraforming Committee's funds were already running low."
"So, the committee at the time turned to the wandering ancestors of the Wind Swallow Garden for help. In exchange for the promise of a vibrant, living planet, the ancestors of the Wind Swallow Garden agreed to assist."
"The Cloud-Devouring Wind Whales swam through the skies, devouring vast amounts of toxic gases, significantly reducing the damage to the ocean's algae. However, the consequence was that many of these wind whales died in the following decades."
"Eventually, the Verdant Veil planet was successfully terraformed. A thick ozone layer formed, shielding the surface, and plants began to grow. As soil-enriching plants were spread across the land, the once-barren planet began to bloom with vibrant colors and life."
"The committee fulfilled their promise, granting the ancestors of the Wind Swallow Garden a large expanse of land in the northern part of the planet to establish their new home and sanctuary, ending their century-long nomadic life."
"Thus, the true Wind Swallow Garden was established. Although they no longer had the Cloud-Devouring Wind Whales, they raised various birds skilled in flight and cultivated silver-scaled fish that could swim through the skies—magical creatures with traces of the Cloud-Devouring Wind Whales' genes."
"Striving toward a colorful and diverse world, the Wind Swallow Garden eventually nurtured the Heaven's Mandate Wind Swallow, a creature that reached Sequence 8. The fish of the sea had finally transformed into birds, marking their divergence from the Wind Whale Garden of old."
"However, the good times did not last. The Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region, as a newly terraformed planet, was found to be rich in rare minerals and abundant water resources, making it an ideal location for industrial production."
"Due to these conditions, during the war, the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region received a massive influx of resources and people. The newly established planet experienced rapid development, with countless skyscrapers rising from the ground. The newly wealthy residents, enriched by emerging industries, freely constructed grand landscapes, commemorating the era's peak."
"What happened afterward, as we all know, is that toxic rain poured down, killing much of the surface vegetation and corroding buildings. The once-thriving Wind Swallow Garden gradually declined, leaving only our small academy struggling to survive."
After finishing her story, Mel sighed and hugged the cat in her arms, nuzzling it gently.
"Actually, my ancestors are descendants of the Wind Swallow Garden, which is why I know so much about this."
"If there's a solution, why not ask the Wind Whale Garden for help?" Thilan asked, puzzled.
"We can't. It's impossible," Mel shook her head.
"First, they're too far away. The massive Cloud-Devouring Wind Whales can't travel on starships. Although they have the ability to travel faster than light, it would still take hundreds of years for them to journey from the distant Northern Mystic Star Region to here."
"Second, the split between our ancestors back then was partly due to resentment. The relationship between the two sides isn't great, and asking them to help reverse the climate of the Verdant Veil would likely require sacrificing many Cloud-Devouring Wind Whales. It's not something we can bring ourselves to ask for."
"So, sometimes it's sad to think about. If our ancestors hadn't chosen to settle on this planet, perhaps there would have been a different future. Or if the civil war hadn't broken out and the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region had developed normally, the Wind Swallow Garden might have continued to thrive. Over time, with multiple Heaven's Mandate Wind Swallows at Sequence 8, they might have been able to change the environment."
"That's how the tides of time are. Sometimes, even if you know the right answer, there's nothing you can do."
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Thilan, would you like to visit my home? It's in the Northern 1st District. My grandmother has been wanting to meet you."
"Your grandmother?" Thilan asked curiously.
"Yes, she's one of the academy's board members, so she knows about you. I've told her a lot about our time at the academy, and she seems to like you very much."
"Meeting her... I might be a bit busy recently, but after this training trip, I'll visit your home."
"Promise?" Mel extended her pinky finger.
"Promise," Thilan smiled, hooking her finger with Mel's, sealing the agreement.