Mystery: Good Witch

Chapter 1415 Sudden Change in Attitude
Christina entered the second-floor reception room and was immediately captivated by the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view was superb, offering a panoramic view of the labyrinthine garden below and the bustling crowds on the street. The clock face and hands of the four-story "Church of Fools" on another street were clearly visible, like a clock belonging exclusively to the Benson family.

"This reception room feels bigger than all the rooms at No. 6 Narcissus Street combined..." Tina remarked as she visited Benson's new home for the first time.

Her sister Dorothy also looked around, her gaze sweeping over the oil paintings and sculptures that she couldn't tell were genuine or replicas, and touched the Mirror of Arrodes hidden in her pocket, her expression somewhat complicated.

"You guys take a rest, I'll go get Zanni to come and keep you company."

Lily ruffled Tina and Dorothy's hair again, smiled with satisfaction, and then looked at the middle-aged woman waiting to the side:
"Trome, have the maids prepare some tea and snacks, and instruct the chef to make some of their favorite dishes."

Tea, and lunch... Tina withdrew her gaze from the Church of the Fools, and suddenly felt her stomach cramp. The taste buds and appetite that had been awakened by the sweet iced tea were now stirring again.

She looked at the housekeeper, Tromi, and noticed that the maid who had previously served the Benson family had been promoted and was now in charge of all the affairs of the building.

And we don't even have a maid, even though my parents' combined income isn't low... After today, everything will be different. I'm going to wish that their income will be £1000 a year, no, £10000, and then we'll move into a detached house in Backlund... Queens seems nice, but wouldn't that be too ostentatious? Maybe a street in Hillston would be good, and then we could buy a manor with a wine cellar in the suburbs, with our own butler and winemakers. We could use the remaining money to open a factory in the East End, so we wouldn't just sit around doing nothing... Tina was completely immersed in imagining the wonderful life she would live after wishing to the "genie," and she didn't even know when Aunt Lily had left.

Soon, several plates of exquisite pastries and sweetened black tea were served. Accompanying the maid was a beautiful young woman with blonde hair, brown eyes, and a delicate face, dressed in a white dress.

She looked a little older than Tina and Dorothy, but her face resembled the two sisters by about 70 or 80 percent, or rather, she combined Tina's flamboyant beauty with Dorothy's reserved personality, and even looked somewhat delicate.

This is Zane Moretti, the fifteen-year-old daughter of Benson and Lily, and the sisters' cousin.

"Zani!"

Tina cried out in surprise, jumping up from the soft, comfortable armchair and rushing towards the girl who was two years older but shorter than her. The latter's smiling expression froze for a moment, as if she had remembered something bad, but in the end, she did not back down. Instead, she reached out and hugged Tina back.

This delicate feeling stemmed from a conflict three years ago. When Tina was a guest at the Bensons' house, she grabbed Zane's hair and pinned her down while fighting over a picture book, making her gentle cousin cry. In the end, it was only thanks to Dorothy's persuasion that the situation was prevented from escalating further.

When Angel found out about this, he lost his temper with Tina for the first time, grabbing her by the ear and locking her in the basement until sunset. Unlike Dorothy, Tina was terrified of dark, damp basements when she was little. This punishment made her never again dare to use her height and strength to bully anyone, especially her cousin Zane.

Fortunately, three years have passed, and it seems that no one has mentioned this matter again. In the end, Tina saved up her allowance for half a year and bought several picture books by the great illustrator Anderson to give to Zanni as an apology. Watching her younger sister and cousin hugging each other, Dorothy smiled, picked up her teacup and took a sip, preparing to take a short break during this brief quiet time and save her empty stomach for a hearty lunch.

Unfortunately, Tina soon found her with Zanni and said to her:

"Dorothy has the best grades in her class, and she will be attending Ivory School in Tingen next year, aiming to study history at Backlund University."

"I hope we can be classmates in three years."

Zane said with a smile that made Dorothy think of a smaller, younger Aunt Lily.

She always felt that this quiet demeanor was difficult to deal with, and gave Tina a slightly annoyed look, saying:

"I hope you'll focus your energy on Uncle Bensen and try to get him to stop sending you back to Tingen, or just tell your mother what happened today and lock you in the basement to reflect on your actions for a day."

Tina's smile froze on her face.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Lunch was a family affair, without much formality. The servants simply served dishes such as roasted chicken, pan-fried foie gras, and baked corn with cream cheese, as well as lamb stew with peas, a dish that Tina and Dorothy always enjoyed when they visited the Benson family. Afterward, they left the dining room, leaving the Moretti family with some privacy.

"...Actually, I'm not used to having servants to take care of me either. Before, we only hired Tromi, and there was also a handywoman who came to our door three times a week... However, with the development of factories in the East, South and St. George districts, more young people who could only accept being hired as servants will find better jobs. Most people will soon find that it is better to do things themselves than to spend money to hire a servant who does all the work. The life of a middle-class family with four or five servants will become a thing of the past."

After taking a sip of low-alcohol sparkling wine and swallowing the foie gras in his mouth, Benson couldn't help but start commenting on the prospects of Backlund's employees again.

Tina muttered to herself, “I always felt that my father’s habit of lecturing during meals was something he learned from his brother…” She scooped up a large spoonful of mutton covered in thick broth and soft peas, carefully putting it into her mouth while pondering how to start the conversation and persuade Benson not to send her and Dorothy back to Tingen that afternoon.

Just then, Melissa, who had rushed over just before lunch, suddenly asked:
"Has Angel's cooking improved recently compared to before? How does it compare to this stewed lamb?"

Here we go again, the annual interrogation of Mom about "how well the cooking is..." Tina glanced at Dorothy, who was busy wrestling with the creamy corn kernels on her plate, and had no choice but to speak up herself:

"It's already at seven or eight tenths of Dad's level."

Actually, no. We all prefer Dad's cooking, but as soon as Mom glares at us, everyone says her cooking is better, and Dad claps the most enthusiastically... she added in her mind.

But how can you talk about this in public?
Fortunately, Melissa seemed to have only asked casually and did not delve into it. Dorothy then promptly shifted the topic to her aunt's recent research on "fixed-wing aircraft," filling the restaurant with an academic atmosphere, so much so that even Benson could not get a word in edgewise.

Only after the meal was over did he find an opportunity to speak, despite not displaying such an imposing manner in public as the Vice Minister of Finance.

"Next week is Angel's birthday, and we plan to go to Tingen then, hoping to enjoy her best dishes."

"By the way, have you prepared a birthday present for her?"

"Of course!"

Tina answered immediately.

She painstakingly sends the "genie" out to various designated locations, isn't it all so that she can fulfill the other person's wish first, and then make her own wish?

“Really? Then I’m looking forward to it,” Benson nodded with a smile. “I mean, she’ll be really looking forward to it.”

……

After the meal, Tina approached Benson and mentioned that she didn't want to return to Tingen so soon, but unexpectedly, she received a pleasant surprise.

“I was originally planning to send you back immediately, but Melissa said that since you’re all here, you can take this opportunity to visit her lab. It would be a good way to relax over the weekend, and also give you a sneak peek at some of the latest scientific findings…”

Benson pointed to Melissa standing by the door.

Tina was delighted to be able to visit the laboratory.

This was not only something she had been hoping for, but also a chance to get rid of Benson. If she could persuade Melissa to send them to the steam train station instead of sending them directly back to Tingen like Benson had done, then there would still be room for maneuver!
Whether to buy a ticket back to Tingen or a ticket to Pulitzer will be decided by the "genie".

Compared to the overjoyed Tina, Dorothy felt a sense of unease. She felt that her uncle, who had been so resolute in the morning, had suddenly become more agreeable, as if he had changed his mind after being persuaded by someone.

Who could it be...? She resisted the urge to take out Arodes and ask him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After passing through the school gate, which was filled with an entire abandoned steam locomotive, Melissa, along with Dorothy and Tina, who had once again picked up the bag containing the "genie," entered the campus of Backlund Technical University.

Eighteen years ago, this place was transformed from a technical college into an industrial and technical university. Melissa happened to be admitted to the university that year, becoming the second college student in the Moretti family. She met Lily Granger and eventually brought her and her brother Benson together.

It wasn't until years later that she learned that Klein and Angel, who had supposedly sacrificed themselves in Tingen, were not dead, but had secretly gotten married, making their two families even closer and truly one big family.

As a result, the youngest of them all, because she was first busy with her studies and then with her work, had little opportunity to date after coming into contact with the extraordinary world and becoming an extraordinary person herself. She is still single to this day. In occasional casual conversations, Lily jokingly said that if her missing brother were still alive, he might be able to recommend him to Melissa, allowing the six members of the two families to form a closer relationship.

Melissa knew the other party was just joking. Cole Granger had been missing for nearly twenty years, was on the kingdom's wanted list, and had the blood of many innocent people on his hands. Even if he appeared now, he would only end up in prison.

Over the years, Lily had tried to find Cole by performing divination and seeking help from others, but to no avail. Klein and Angel also kept quiet about the matter, as if they had some concerns they didn't want them to know.

In Melissa's view, Cole, who likely strayed into the supernatural world and fell into crime under the influence of the potion and his own desires, probably died in some unknown corner and has long since become a god. The two of them are unwilling to mention this matter, probably just to avoid upsetting Lily.

Collecting her thoughts, Melissa watched her two nieces walking briskly ahead, setting aside her doubts and savoring the brief time she had with them, and...

...pondering how to complete the script assigned to him.

Thinking of this, she pointed to the train engine where many passersby had stopped to watch and said:

"This is an iconic landmark that existed before the Technical University was reorganized. It is the power unit of the first generation of steam trains in Rune. When the world war broke out, the North District was bombed and was almost destroyed by Fussack's airship. Fortunately, the 'Angel of Calamity' from the Church of Eternal Darkness protected the school and protected me and Lily at that time."

"The angel of peril from the Church of Eternal Darkness?" Dorothy repeated doubtfully, listening intently. "Isn't He the angel from the Church of the Fools? I just saw a mural featuring Him in the church today."

"Could it be a case of the same name?"

“Of course it’s not a coincidence of names. The ‘Angel of Calamity’ is an extremely rare existence in history, recognized by different churches and written into their scriptures. It’s not just ‘Eternal Darkness’ and ‘The Fool’, but it’s also recorded in the ‘End Times’ scriptures. There’s even a church of His in the depths of the sea.” Melissa answered in a solemn tone. “This angel did more than just prevent the war from harming civilians; he saved countless lives.”

"So impressive..." Tina, who was admiring the university campus, suddenly had a guess in her mind.

Could the "Endless Church" believer who saved the East District and stopped the spread of the smog be this angel?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Stepping into Professor Melissa Moretti's private laboratory, Tina's imagined scene of noise, steam, roaring pipes, and spinning gears did not materialize. Instead, she found a clean floor, rows of art-like pieces of equipment, and a machine connected to bundles of wires, covered with knobs, constantly spitting out punched paper tape.

The books are all lies... She looked around with slight disappointment and found a man in a white robe and rubber gloves already waiting in the laboratory.

"This is my assistant, you can call him Tony. Tony, these are my two nieces, whom I've mentioned to you before. They've come to visit the lab."

Melissa introduced the two parties.

Compared to Tina and Dorothy, who greeted him directly, Tony, who looked to be in his early 30s, slightly overweight, and wearing glasses, appeared somewhat shy, as if he was unaccustomed to facing strangers.

But upon hearing that the other party was there for a visit, he became quite excited and began to point to the various pieces of equipment and start introducing them:
"This is the latest dual-contact electroscope, capable of withstanding 5000 volts of high voltage, accurately detecting the presence of charge and polarity... Next to it are an interferometer and a spectrometer. The silver-plated glass plate produces multi-beam interference, capable of resolving the fine structure of spectral lines and measuring wavelengths. They are all powered by a dedicated AC generator, so there's no need to worry about problems caused by faulty or unstable urban power systems..."

“Alright Tony, stop using such technical jargon. Show them the latest gadgets,” Melissa interrupted him with a smile, then turned to Tina and Dorothy, who looked bewildered. “Don’t let his appearance fool you. He has actually offered many useful research suggestions, and his ideas are more advanced than almost all university professors. I’m going to recommend him to study at the best technical university in the Western Continent on a government scholarship.”

The Western Continent… Dorothy was even more interested in this matter. She knew that many people from the Western Continent had recently come to countries like Rune and Intis to study, and that the technology there was even more advanced than that of the Northern Continent.

As exchanges between the two sides became more frequent and trade in goods began, not only academic exchanges, but also religious and cultural integration was slowly taking place.

Of course, ordinary people don't feel this deeply. Dorothy has only seen some articles in the newspapers, which mostly mention the conflicts and jokes caused by the differences between the two cultures. Only the occasional monks and Taoists on the street, as well as the strangely dressed Westerners who do not conform to local customs, can arouse the curiosity of the people.

Seeing Tony's face flushed slightly after Melissa interrupted his explanation, she took the initiative to ask:
"Are you really going to the Western Continent?"

"Of course, their research on electromagnetism has far surpassed ours, but we still have some advantages in internal combustion engines and navigation technology..."

Tony became excited again and smiled at Dorothy.

Tina looked around curiously and soon spotted a door placed in the corner.

It wasn't an exit on the wall leading to another room, but a wooden door installed separately on a platform, consisting only of the frame, the main body, and a rotary lock. On both sides of the door frame, countless wires of different colors and thicknesses were wrapped around, connecting to a large number of instruments she couldn't recognize. The various knobs, indicator lights, and pointers dazzled Tina.

"what is this?"

She turned around and saw Melissa fiddling with something in front of a device, so she asked Tony.

“This is the latest experimental product. Its full name is ‘Prototype Machine Based on the Theory of Electromagnetic Force Activation of Spirit Realm Channel for Matter Transmission,’ but I prefer to call it, well, the Anywhere Door.” Tony waved his gloved hands as he answered, “If the theory is correct, it can send objects that pass through the door to any designated location instantly, without the need for steam trains, passenger ships, airships, or even airplanes!”

The spirit world...instant teleportation...based on what theory? Tina's mind was filled with knowledge instilled by the "genie" that included descriptions of this, but those were effects achievable only by extraordinary powers. Could an electrified door really do that?
With a sense of doubt, she curiously reached out and touched the doorknob, which seemed to have some kind of inexplicable attraction.

"Wait, wait a minute..."

Tony exclaimed and tried to rush over to stop Tina, but he tripped over the chair next to him and his clumsy body twisted into a knot.

Seeing this, Dorothy, who was closer to Tina, grabbed her sister's shoulder and tried to pull her back.

But it was too late. Tina's hand was on the doorknob, and she turned it downwards, opening the wooden door a crack.

The next second, amidst the flashing lightning, the figures of the two girls were enveloped in rich colors and then vanished.

"...that one that was used in the mouse experiment..."

Tony's second half of his sentence drifted over slowly. He stared at the "Anywhere Door" that had closed again and the two sisters who had disappeared from the spot, barely daring to turn around and look at the professor's expression.

A few seconds later, Melissa's words, tinged with emotion, came from behind him:
“Well done. I was still thinking about how to trick them into using this door, but before I could come up with a good idea, they went there on their own.”

Ah… Tony turned around blankly and looked at Melissa, who was smiling, as if he were looking at a murderer who had premeditatedly murdered his niece and made it all look like an accident.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Before Christina's eyes, various rich blocks of color flashed one after another, the clear light hanging high in the sky was like a lighthouse, and all around were countless illusory figures whose shapes were indistinct.

These figures seemed relatively friendly; some hurriedly moved away, some appeared to bow in greeting, and some even raised their hands in a gesture of hello.

Hello... Tina's mind was a mess. She wanted to reach out and greet them, but suddenly she felt dizzy and lightheaded. The weightlessness disappeared, and the downward gravity returned. Then her feet touched the soft ground.

No, that's not land, it's a beach.

The rich colors that had layered before her eyes faded back to a pale hue, and the deep blue sea and the boundless sky came into view, while the sand beneath her feet exuded a scorching heat.

Dorothy appeared beside her immediately, and the two sisters silently watched everything unfold before them.

Just seconds ago they were in a university laboratory in Backlund, but now they found themselves on a vast beach.

Where is this? Is it still in China?
(End of this chapter)