Heiress Unmasked: Shaking the World With Geomancy novel Chapter 1965

It did… smell nice though?

It wasn't a typical fragrance but a pleasant smell that one would love to lean in for another sniff.

Shannon explained, "That the scent of burning wayfarer's grace branches."

Wayfarer's grace was a mythical tree said to grow on Mount Lodestone. Its flowers glowed faintly, and carrying its branches was said to prevent one from getting lost.

Aside from that, ancient texts mentioned that burning its branches would release fragrant smoke. Following the direction the smoke drifted would lead one to the path the heart desired.

Just like the century-old stench, Shannon had purchased the branch from Rhodes. She'd intended to use it to make guiding talismans.

Later, she discovered that its scent attracted small animals. Since then, she occasionally used it for that purpose too.

Sure enough, as the smoke drifted through the air, several stray kittens came scampering from the side of the road. They weren't intimidated by humans and meowed as they circled Shannon's feet.

Shannon casually petted a couple of them and pulled out Albany's snacks from her mystic chest. Then, she started feeding them, and a chorus of high-pitched meows erupted.

She turned to Hector and asked, "Can you understand them?"

Hector hadn't realized animals could be summoned this way. After listening carefully, he said, "They're not speaking clearly like before, but I can sense the emotions and intentions behind the sounds they make."

The kittens were obviously saying, "Hungry! Feed us!"

Shannon wasn't surprised. This was the difference between enlightened creatures and ordinary animals.

Like how Steen had approached Button, demons could communicate with unenlightened animals, but not like talking to humans. The animals couldn't articulate their needs in actual words.

Once a creature was enlightened, they were like children just beginning to babble and ready for basic communication.

The group decided to stay at the hotel Hector had arranged. The next morning, they headed straight to the panda base.

Thanks to Hector contacting the base manager in advance, they received a private tour through a special entrance.

Raiden and Cornelius didn't understand the hype about staying overnight just to check out some pandas. "They're just pandas. What's the big deal?"

Steen, a giant panda, bumbled around them all day. They'd seen enough and were clearly unimpressed.

That was how they felt until a keeper unexpectedly plopped a baby panda into each of their arms. Even through the protective gloves, they could feel the soft, warm weight of the fluffballs in their hands.

Raiden and Cornelius froze, followed by an immediate change of heart.

Steen was no panda; these soft, fluffy baby pandas were the real pandas!