《Finding Stardust》Chapter 23 - Ibukun Valley
Advertisement
"What did you find?" Haoran asked when he saw Emma's face beam. He narrowed his eyes and reminded Emma. "Be careful when walking while checking your phone."
Right after saying that, he pulled Emma's hand, so she wouldn't trip while walking down the stairs.
"Ahh... right... Thank you," Emma replied. She started to pay attention to where she's walking. In her heart though, she grumbled. If she didn't have to hide her abilities from other people, it'd be so much easier for her to just fly. She wouldn't have to worry about tripping over something.
"Did you find anything interesting?" Haoran asked again.
Emma looked back at Haoran and thought for a moment. Should she share what she found with Haoran or not?
Finally, she handed her cellphone to him. Haoran put on his sunglasses and read the news on Emma's phone. The article quickly grabbed his attention; he even paused to read its contents.
"Wow, it really did happen. Can the news source be trusted?" Haoran asked enthusiastically. He didn't wait for Emma's answer because he scrolled up her phone and checked the name of the media who wrote the article and found it's legit. "This is a well-known media, that should mean this news was accurate. Whoa! It's great that something like this happened. It turns out there's really someone like that. The government should have given them a medal for what they did."
Emma was struck by Haoran's enthusiasm. "You think so?"
"Yeah. I'm sure there'll be many companies in the world who would want to get their inventions. Imagine how many starving people in the world would be fed if this technology was made public," Haoran said excitedly.
When she heard Haoran's words, Emma's chest suddenly felt tight. For some reason, she thought she had heard those words before. But why did her chest feel tight?
Advertisement
"Hey, are you okay?" Haoran asked again. "You look like you just saw a ghost."
Emma shook her head. "I'm okay. I feel like I've heard the same thing you just said."
"Of course, right? If there really are people who could boost farming in such a way, they'll be able to feed so many people. There'll be no more hunger in this world," Haoran said and Emma nodded. Haoran handed Emma's cellphone back to the girl. "This is very interesting. Let's walk faster. Our friends have gone far ahead of us."
Haoran and Emma refocused their minds and tried to catch up with their schoolmates. Emma stored the phone in her bag and held back the urge to check more articles. She felt that if she kept browsing, then she wouldn't be able to stop. She didn't want to be called out by Madame Delaval.
"All right, kids. We've arrived at the second garden. You may now sit on the grass and enjoy your lunch. We have such a beautiful view to accompany our meal and half an hour to finish our lunch and rest. After that, we'll enter the Palace of Versailles to see its splendor," Madame Delaval said. She waved to the students with her yellow umbrella so that they would gather in a grassy field near a beautiful fountain.
Madame Delaval's timing was great. The moment they entered the second garden, the sun wasn't too hot. The wind's cool breeze blew as the forty-four students delightfully searched for pleasant shades to sit and open their lunch bags. Haoran and Alex sat next to Emma because they walked the slowest, so they were behind everybody else.
While munching on her croissant, Emma couldn't help but think about the mysterious harvest in Limoges fifteen years ago. Indeed, with her father's ability to control plants, he should be able to eradicate famine throughout the world. She then thought about her parents time in West Africa and how they had worked together to bring rain and grow plants to make the entire desert valley green.
Advertisement
But she was stumped as to why didn't her father reveal his power to the government? The government would surely be pleased to have someone with that kind of ability. Anyone who could succeed in eradicating hunger on earth would be considered a hero. They'd be adored and praised by all humans, Emma thought to herself.
But why didn't her father do that? Did her mother and father were trying to avoid attention?
"Hey, look at this," Haoran tapped Emma's shoulder gently. Apparently, he was also thinking about the same thing when eating his lunch. Haoran had taken out his cellphone and typed in some keywords about bio-hackers and the mysterious harvest.
"What's wrong?" asked Emma, breaking out of her thoughts.
"I was searching for more articles online using the keywords bio-hacker and mysterious harvest. You know what, I've found some interesting articles a few years prior," he said to her, showing his cellphone to Emma. The girl examined Haoran's cellphone screen and skimmed its contents.
[The Ibukun[1] Valley in West Africa is a miracle phenomenon by nature. The hungry people's prayers were finally answered...]
As soon as Emma read the first sentence, her chest immediately pounded. This article must be about what her father and mother did at that time. Emma remembered when she was a little kid, they were in West Africa and Arreya Stardust brought down rain while Kaoshin Stardust grew plants on the entire desert valley.
"This is amazing!" exclaimed Haoran. "Come on, keep reading. You'll be amazed by the contents."
[On a typical hot day in 2042, an area in West Africa had experienced heavy rain after five years of drought due to global warming. When the rain stopped several hours later, the people living around the valley reported a miracle. The whole deserted valley had grown trees and food crops seemingly overnight throughout the entire valley.]
[The valley remains green to this day and has become a source of natural spring that gives life to so many people, as well as animals, around it. Now, the valley has been declared a natural reserve by West Africa's government and has been called the Ibukun Valley by the people ever since.]
"The valley is still there..." Emma murmured. "This is good."
"Right? I'll try to persuade my father to allow me to travel to Africa if you want to go there," Haoran said out of the blue.
"To Africa? Why'd you want to go there?" Emma asked in surprise.
"I said, I'll go to Africa if you want to go there,"—Haoran smiled meaningfully,—"or to Limoges. Whichever you want."
Emma looked at the young man with a surprised look. She didn't expect Haoran to say this kind of thing. Why would Haoran want to accompany her to Limoges or West Africa? Was Haoran suspecting something?
.
.
[1] Ibukun = Blessing (Yoruba)
Advertisement
- In Serial7 Chapters
[Kancolle] Diary of an Admiral
An old man, who have follow his child dream, give his life to his country, faithful to his family, enter the last stage of his life. His life was full of secrecy , but no job is perfect, and yet he enjoy it, because it was his childhood dream he wanted.But now, after he got married and his family grown up now he almost retired from the navy. He feels lonely. There is only one wish he always wanted, to meet an old navy ship that he admire.And now, fate giving him his dream, the ship calling him to meet and lead them in their new world. To give them a second chance to proof their worth and regain their pride.Is that all they need in their life ? Is that all their goal ? what is the meaning live the life for them ? how they live their lives if there are no enemies left and there is no longer a reason for living? Here where his journey begin, where he travel to many places. meets different “things” and fought a battle just for a simple survive or for different objective along the way, searching for a way to come back to earth.What the future hold for him and the shipgirls ?this is my first time.i know there will be many hole, mistake. etc. my english is bad, and not my language. i just want to write what i have in my mind for long time...hope you enjoy...
8 106 - In Serial48 Chapters
White Knight
In a world full of magic, how can someone survive with no magic!? Surrounded by talented individuals, the nefarious Seven Deadly Sins and a system of meticulous magic, Alsop Dusseldorf has become the epitome of being a knight with no magic...in a magical world. Instead equipped with a stunning set of swordsmanship and stamina, Alsop manages to make a mark in the Kingdom of Bournington through his sheer determination to become the most legendary of knights. However, terror strikes Alsop's daunting challenge when an array of evil threats come looming in the distance. Forever an ominous threat to the lands, the Seven Deadly Sins had been trumped by the might of several legendary knights. But when one such sin manages to escape their confinement, it is up to a flourishing cast of characters and Alsop to lead the charge in taking down the sin and bring forth a legendary status to his name. To come to such a triumph, Alsop must face battles involving a mysterious uprising of followers of evil, a clash of companions at a Contest of Champions, and a strange phenomenon occurring within the realms of his mundane body with no magic. With all these challenges coming his way, will Alsop manage to stop evil and become a legendary knight without the blessing of magical talent? (Volume one of the White Knight series)
8 103 - In Serial9 Chapters
Tales of The Boundless
This is a growing collection of slice-of-life short stories from the world of The Boundless, born from my Blood of The Boundless novel series. Updates are planned weekly but the exigencies of raising kids will sometimes prevent that.
8 135 - In Serial32 Chapters
The Demon King Has Been Defeated! Now What?
The Demon King has been defeated - now what?The struggle is not over yet for you, Princess.The world seems dead-set on getting in your way.The intrigues and power struggles you've gotten entangled in will follow you regardless of your wishes.The crossing fates will make you choose between an insatiable lover and an overpowered Hero who is hot on his trail, hell-bent on getting you back, righting what's wrong, and bringing forth a new age."Don't you get it, Hero? You're bothering us, so please just leave!" Can true desire stand against destiny?
8 169 - In Serial81 Chapters
Cut. Stitch. Heal. Repeat.
Poetry about some of my experiences. Started in high school until now. Like and comment if you wish.
8 303 - In Serial15 Chapters
Stoned is Angel's Grace
People believe in what they can see. They believe that all Weeping Angels are bad and they just want more years lost to feed from. Well you are correct, except there is one exception. Because Weeping Angels can think and feel. You see, I'll go back to the original statement. People believe in what they can see. They see Weeping Angels as aliens, but they're not. While they are from another dimension, they're not an alien life form. But instead they are a Heavenly one. A celestial being wrapped in stone. They are the very divine power of God who had been struck down and their Grace turned to stone in order to preserve itself.The thing is, Sam has to figure this out on his own. Or will he have help from a certain Trickster?
8 114

