The carriage didn't rely on horses for propulsion. Instead, it operated through an intricate magical core embedded within its chassis, with complex arcane patterns etched elegantly across the polished exterior. The design was exquisite, clearly the product of master craftsmanship, and naturally, the price tag matched its luxury. Something this sophisticated could only be found in major metropolitan centers.
Alto admired the beautifully crafted vehicle and wondered idly whether he should purchase one himself. Previously, he'd been far too consumed with making money to actually enjoy spending it, but perhaps that should change. The carriage obviously wasn't Harvey's personal property. It must have been specially allocated by the temple for official business.
Harvey stepped forward professionally and opened the rear door. Alto grabbed Helena's arm and prepared to climb inside.
Unexpectedly, Helena hesitated and awkwardly pulled herself free from his grip, her usual confidence completely absent.
"Um, boss... can I maybe not go?" she asked quietly, avoiding his eyes.
Alto looked at her with genuine confusion. What was happening here? Why was she suddenly acting so uncharacteristically shy and reluctant? This wasn't like her at all.
"Why not?"
"Well, I still have tons of work to finish back at the shop..." she tried weakly.
"It's fine. Sophia can handle the store perfectly well. Everything else can wait until we return," Alto said dismissively. Bringing an assistant to important meetings was completely normal protocol. That was how it always worked in every story he'd ever read or watched, wasn't it?
Helena's expression grew even more conflicted and embarrassed, like she was wrestling with some internal crisis.
Alto didn't give her time to overthink it. He simply grabbed her wrist again and pulled her directly into the carriage with gentle but firm insistence.
"Ah!" Helena gasped as her body sank into the impossibly soft cushioned seats, far more comfortable than anything she'd expected. The interior was downright luxurious.
The carriage began moving with supernatural smoothness, like Cinderella's enchanted pumpkin carriage gliding along cobblestones. The ride was so stable that Alto barely felt any motion at all. Before long, they arrived at a magnificent architectural complex that radiated a divine authority.
Following Harvey's respectful guidance, Alto entered a formal reception room within the temple. Three distinguished figures approached from the opposite side, their presence immediately commanding attention.
One face was familiar. Alto recognized Christer, one of the judges from the Flower Dance Festival competition months ago. The other two elders were new to him. One possessed a magnificent full white beard that flowed down his chest like a waterfall, resembling Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. The other appeared thin and scholarly, with intelligent eyes behind elegant academic-style glasses.
"Alto, we meet again," Christer said warmly, his smile genuine and welcoming. He'd believed from the start that this young man possessed exceptional talent far beyond his years.
"Hello, Elder Christer," Alto replied respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Haha, let me introduce you to my colleagues," Christer said with grandfatherly warmth. He gestured toward the thin, bespectacled elder first. "This is Elder Kane."
Then he turned to introduce the white-bearded figure. "And this is Elder Gorin."
Alto didn't dare show any carelessness or disrespect. These were genuine heavyweights within the temple hierarchy, individuals with real power and influence. He nodded politely to each in turn, maintaining proper decorum.
So this thin, scholarly elder was Kane himself, the veteran master designer whose work had directly competed against Stardew Valley. Good grief, this was awkward. Alto couldn't help wondering if the old man harbored any lingering resentment about being so thoroughly outperformed by a rookie.
After the formal introductions concluded, Christer's gaze shifted with mild puzzlement toward Helena, who had been deliberately hiding behind Alto's back like a child avoiding a scolding since they'd entered.
"And this young lady is...?" Christer inquired politely.
Helena was practically glued to Alto's back, her head lowered so deeply her chin nearly touched her chest. Her mind raced frantically.
'It's over. Completely over. The thing I least wanted to happen has finally happened!' she thought in barely controlled panic. She nudged Alto's back repeatedly with her forehead in desperate, silent communication.
Alto was utterly baffled by her bizarre behavior. What on earth was going on? It felt like his usually confident assistant had transformed into an entirely different person. Why was she suddenly this painfully shy? This bore absolutely no resemblance to her normal personality.
Growing concerned, he gently pulled Helena forward from her hiding spot. "This is my personal assistant, Helena," he introduced simply.
"Helena?!" Elder Gorin's voice suddenly thundered across the room.
The white-bearded elder stared at the girl before him, his eyes widening dramatically in shocked recognition. He hadn't paid much attention when they'd first entered, his focus entirely on Alto, but now that he looked closely... wasn't this his own granddaughter?
"What's going on here? Helena, why are you here?" Gorin demanded, his voice a mixture of surprise and rising concern.
"Well... um... Grandpa! What a coincidence! Fancy meeting you here..." Helena stammered weakly, fidgeting nervously and poking her index fingers together in a gesture of childish guilt.
"Grandpa?!" The revelation shocked everyone present simultaneously.
Elder Gorin had deliberately kept an extremely low public profile over the past several decades, so even Christer had no idea he had a granddaughter. Otherwise, he certainly would have recognized her during the competition months ago.
Of course, the person most utterly shocked was Alto himself. He had somehow randomly hired an assistant who turned out to be the beloved granddaughter of a temple elder. How was he supposed to explain this incredibly awkward situation?
No wonder Helena had been acting so strangely on the journey here, completely unlike her usual carefree, confident self. She'd known exactly what was coming.
At this moment, Elder Gorin looked ready to explode with righteous grandfatherly fury.
He had come to this meeting specifically because he'd heard reports of an exceptionally talented young designer emerging from obscurity. After personally experiencing both Stardew Valley and Plants vs. Zombies himself, he couldn't stop praising their revolutionary design. That was precisely why he'd wanted to meet this prodigious young man in person.
His granddaughter, on the other hand, was usually like a mischievous little demon at home. He cherished her completely, treating her like the most precious treasure in existence. Some time ago, she'd suddenly declared her desire for independence and to forge her own path in the world, then moved out without hesitation despite his protests.
He had never, in his wildest imagination, expected to encounter her again under these specific circumstances.
His gaze toward Alto, which had initially been filled with warm appreciation and respect, now carried distinct undertones of protective scrutiny and suspicion.
"So this is Elder Gorin's granddaughter! Haha, what a truly remarkable coincidence indeed," Christer interjected smoothly, diplomatically attempting to defuse the suddenly tense atmosphere.
"Hehehe, Helena! I didn't expect you to have grown up so much since I last saw you. You've become even more lovely," Kane added kindly. He still remembered the last time he'd seen her, when she was barely half-grown and causing chaos at a temple function.
"Hello, Grandpa Kane," Helena replied meekly, her usual fire completely extinguished by embarrassment.
"This child has always been somewhat unruly and headstrong," Gorin said with forced calmness, though his eyes betrayed his concern. "Please forgive any inappropriate behavior. Helena, come with me. We need to talk. Now."
"Oh..." Helena followed obediently, looking utterly defeated.
After this unexpected interruption and family reunion, the group wasted no more time on pleasantries. Christer professionally guided Alto into the formal council chamber, leaving the grandfather and granddaughter to their private conversation.
Inside the chamber, ornately carved wooden chairs were arranged in a precise triangular formation, clearly designed for important discussions. The atmosphere was solemn and official.
Alto finally understood the true purpose behind the temple's mysterious invitation.
"An oracle from the Moon Goddess?" he repeated carefully, making sure he'd heard correctly.
"That's right," Christer confirmed gravely.
With the release of Plants vs. Zombies followed by Stardew Valley, the impact they'd caused was far greater than Alto had ever imagined possible. The Dreamscape, which had remained stagnant and unchanging for countless millennia, seemed to have been infused with fresh, vibrant vitality. This subtle but profound shift was something ordinary citizens might not consciously notice. They would simply feel that these games were exceptionally fun and fundamentally different from past Dreamscape experiences.
But as temple elders, devoted apostles of the Night Goddess, and administrators possessing certain authority over the Dreamscape's infrastructure, they could perceive the change with crystal clarity.
Several days ago, the long-silent Moon Goddess had bestowed a divine oracle upon her faithful servants after centuries of silence. This miraculous event had absolutely delighted all the temple elders, filling them with renewed purpose and hope.
"So, Alto," Elder Kane began slowly and deliberately, his scholarly demeanor absolutely serious, "our temple collectively hopes you will accept the position of Honorary Advisor to the Council of Elders."
This was the result of extensive discussion and careful deliberation among the leadership. In fact, they had originally intended to grant him full elder status directly, but that proposal had met fierce opposition from conservative factions. The main objection was simply that Alto was far too young and inexperienced for such immediate elevation, regardless of his obvious talents.
Alto's eyes widened in genuine surprise. Just like that, without any warning or preparation, they were offering him an official position within the temple hierarchy? From a junior designer nobody, straight to an honorary advisor in a matter of months?
Even though he still had absolutely no idea what specific responsibilities or authority this position actually entailed, his mind was already racing ahead. What truly mattered were the practical benefits this role would grant him.
Would it provide him with additional administrative permissions within the Dreamscape's main network infrastructure? If so, many revolutionary ideas he'd been forced to shelve could suddenly become achievable reality, and far faster than he'd ever imagined.
For example, he could leverage official Dreamscape channels to construct a massive communication platform connecting every user simultaneously, something critically important for his long-term vision. To be completely honest, he'd been profoundly dissatisfied with this world's primitive remote communication systems for months now.
The empire's foundational magical technology was genuinely impressive and highly advanced in theory, but its practically applied technology and implementation could only be described as absolutely terrible and wasteful.
Hey guys, for up to 20 advanced chapters, feel free to check out my profile^^
(I'm also gonna increase the amount of advanced chapters over the next two weeks, because I had the feeling that it was too few)