Alice in the Land of Steam

Has Chapter 1272 been surpassed?
There was a new photo on Lingge's desk. Under the bright sunshine like spring, with the ancient and solemn teaching building as the background, everyone in the picture was vivid as if they were about to walk out of the photo: the young man surrounded in the middle of the picture with a look of despair, Princess Kaisu who was holding his arm and winking, Olvera who was pushed to the side and was very angry but had to put on a smile, Yieta who was still holding the mirror but her face was flushed because of her weak physical strength, Gloria who took a step back calmly and seemed to be disgusted with them (or maybe it was Bai Ye?), and Saint who frowned because of the open and secret struggles of his sisters. Xia Liya, the boss lady Shesta who was trying to show the deep sisterly love and Shelia who had completely given up treatment, Leticia and Shemi who were flying in the air and trying to hold up the stick figure graffiti of Metine, the Countess and Sister Livia to occupy the center of the photo, Alice who was angry and confronted the two little girls because their graffiti blocked the picture, Shino who looked a little subtle but inexplicably happy in the face of this chaotic scene, and Kyle and his companions who were the only ones who took this photo shoot seriously and smiled shyly at the camera, their eyes were clear and firm...

It is hard to imagine how such a chaotic photo was taken. Alice, who suggested taking a group photo, was so angry that she said she wanted to take another one and no one was allowed to mess up. Although it was ironic that she said this, who loved to mess up the most. In the end, there was no retake, because Lingge looked at the photo in silence for a while, and suddenly said that it was fine like this and there was no need to retake it.

Since he said so, Alice didn't insist any more. She grumbled a few words and ran away, as if she was going to trouble those guys who messed up the photo. Linger found a photo frame and framed the photo and put it on his desk. Whenever he looked up and saw the photo, a faint smile would appear on his face, perhaps even he didn't notice it.

That afternoon, Kyle and his companions said goodbye to the school and followed the supply convoy of the Ash Guerrillas, heading for the Iron City of Bad Ain. The next day, Shino also took her beloved horse Brandi and said goodbye to her companions one by one before leaving Cloud Whale Island. She would go upstream along the Nessus River to find the reinforcements of the Crusaders that currently only existed in intelligence, and she would intercept or block the enemy outside the Ash Hill by herself, building an insurmountable barrier for the rebels' resistance.

This knight of the Godafu family embarked on her own journey for the first time since leaving her hometown of Grangenia, but she probably had no expectations in her heart, only a firm belief and a little sadness for the victory.

As time passed by, an ancient and mysterious force isolated the island from the outside world. Everything related to war and harm was kept out, including the smoke, blood, and gunfire. The sound of the death pigeon flying across the sky was no longer than the sound of the school bell ringing. Therefore, the children in the spacious and bright classrooms would never know whose name was newly engraved in the cemetery that no one visited. The young saplings grew day by day, growing simultaneously in two places that symbolized life and death.

The only channel that could help them understand the outside world was text. There were battle reports from the front line, one after another, piled up half a box high, and every report was a victory. Sometimes the rebels captured a fortress that was heavily guarded by the enemy, and sometimes the rebels fought a beautiful counterattack when they were alone in deep, and the latest report mentioned that they had recaptured the "Pearl City" Bathory, which was a city with a developed economy relying on the trade of gems and precious metals. It was one of the several hubs in the Gray Hill area and the sheltering wing of the Gray Hill City Suare - the straight-line distance between the two was less than 500 miles.

As if inspired by these battle reports, the children rushed to discuss the war, begging Lingge or Xiaoxia to tell them something about the front line, and drew the attack route of the rebels on the sand according to the battle reports. Finally, they excitedly came to a conclusion: Gray Hill Eagle and his warriors would return to the Black Forest soon. They would recapture the oldest city on this land, drive out all invaders, and bring back peace and freedom!
Some people want to meet this great leader of the rebellion (although the real leader of the rebellion is General Fransander, Grayhill Eagle still has a higher reputation among the people). Some people wonder if Kyle and his team also have a part in the great achievements of the rebellion? They joined the rebellion after leaving school, so they should be able to realize their dreams now, right? Some people... want to emulate him.

Just as Ling Ge guessed, with a role model set, more and more people will leave, but he has no right to stop them.

How many more people will leave him? Since that day, Linger has been thinking about the same question: if one day he also needs to face the dilemma of victory and sacrifice, will he have the courage to make the same decision as Xinuo? Although he really wants to give a definite answer, in fact it cannot be assumed. Once the reality is in front of him, people lose the right to hesitate and choose.

His eyes slowly withdrew from the photo and fell on the cassette in his palm. Its light was so bright, and it was definitely not an illusion. As long as he placed a little more emotion in it, perhaps he could break through the limit and exert its original power. However, the young man could not take the final step, and only he knew the reason.

Somehow, my mind suddenly recalled the scene that happened here a few days ago that night.

The girl's embrace, her gentle promise, and the fleeting but unforgettable emotion, what was throbbing in my chest at that time? Sometimes it was ardent love, sometimes it was deep sadness, and sometimes it was an avalanche, as if the wildest and most turbulent force in the world was raging, swallowing up everything with an unstoppable attitude more than the torrent of time, but keeping a distance from him with a visible line, as if signing some kind of mysterious contract, without any violation of the loneliness in the world.

That's destiny.

After being in a daze for a while, the young man quietly put away the cassette, put the metal box and the game console into the drawer, and watched their light gradually disappear in his eyes, without saying a word. After a long time, a faint sigh was heard in the room.

"You will never leave me...?"

……

The Pearl City of Bathory was the latest city to be recaptured by the rebels. Its recapture was not only accompanied by a hearty victory, but also meant that the rebels, with their unremitting efforts and sincere cooperation, had finally successfully pushed the front line to a distance that was enough to threaten the Gray Hill City of Suare. With the latter as the center, this area of ​​500 miles was once known as the core area of ​​the Nasus region and was also the first area to fall in that war. As long as the city named after the Gray Hill could be successfully recaptured, it would basically declare victory in this war.

But would the Axis powers really sit idly by and allow this to happen?
Bathory Cathedral is located at the highest point in the city. It is also the largest church in the entire Anseth region. Thanks to the city's proud gem and precious metal trade, the city's wealthy merchants have generously donated money, hoping that their piety can be responded to by the gods and bestow great blessings. Therefore, on the day the church was completed, it is said that even the sun and the moon in the sky were eclipsed. Its squares and walkways are all paved with the most precious marble. The blessing bells placed on the four square towers are carved like gold. The statues enshrined in the 981 shrines are all made of silver and platinum. In the chapel, there is a huge statue over 72 meters high, with a gold base, silver sculptures, and decorated with sapphires, rubies, agates and amber. It is said that even the Cathedral of the Holy Order of Monks in the royal city cannot match this luxury.

During the prosperous times, millions of believers worshiped here. After the prosperity faded, the ceremonial path that could accommodate ten carriages driving side by side was deserted. Only the withered yellow leaves fell sadly, sweeping away the traces of the pedestrians in the past. The difference was not only that Bathory City had just experienced a fierce battle, and it was a time of devastation and panic, but also because the god worshipped in this church, which was famous for its luxury and splendor, was named Roglia, the original god of the night.

It was the god that the leader of the rebel army, the man who was called Grayhill Eagle by the Ansers with awe, once believed in. However, all devout beliefs ended in betrayal. As for who betrayed whom first, no one wanted to find out. They only knew that the city had fallen into the hands of the rebels, and that Grayhill Eagle played an important role in the rebels. It was unknown how many people were his supporters, how many people followed his ideals, and how many people regarded his ideas as a guiding principle.

Although the Grayhill Eagle never prohibited anyone from entering the Bathory Cathedral, nor did he decisively and resolutely order the destruction of all traces of the original Night God as he had betrayed God in the past, and completely expelled this cold-blooded god from this land that no longer belonged to him. He never said so, because he knew that doing so would not help. It could not help people to correctly understand their beliefs, but would only arouse the anger and resistance of believers. Despite this, people were still reluctant to approach the church, fearing that an unintentional move would anger the leader of the rebels. The wealthy merchants and nobles who were regarded as guests of honor in the past were desperately showing goodwill to the rebels, worrying about the time of reckoning; even the believers of the original Night Church could only hide in their rooms and tremble, praying to the departed god in fear, praying that he would return here and save his believers.

Therefore, faith can sometimes be very mercenary, and when there is no benefit, it will be abandoned, even the gods that represent faith itself are like this; and sometimes it can be very foolish, even when the reality is right in front of them, they still refuse to believe, are unwilling to believe, and dare not believe, just like these believers who are lucky.

At this moment, in the empty chapel, under the twelve-story curtain-like dome, two petite figures are walking among the rows of basswood benches. Surrounded by huge round stone columns, curved arches and stained glass windows that occupy an entire wall, they are as small as ants, walking in the land of giants.

"Is this the second temple of the former God of Night in the Ansers region? It feels... so strange."

The pink-haired girl stopped, raised her head and quietly gazed at the brilliant and dazzling statue on the throne. It seemed to be in stark contrast to the teachings of the original Night Church. However, believers always give gods various images according to their own preferences. Even in the East Continent where the true God came to the world, it is difficult to change this phenomenon.

"Is it strange, Metien?" Hearing this, Kadora turned her head and looked around, but she didn't find anything wrong. In her opinion, everything was normal.

"Something just isn't right."

Metien still insisted on his opinion, frowning slightly: "It feels... very different from Tianxin Church."

Kadora was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing after realizing what was going on: "That's true, but... Tianxin Church is very special, Metien. I think there shouldn't be another church like it in the world, right?"

"I hope so," said Metien seriously.

Kadora pursed his lips and said, "I hope so too. Who doesn't want it? But it must be difficult, Metien. At least I can't do it now."

“Just do it in the future.” Metien looked deeply at the girl beside him and said, “If you have the chance, are you willing to do it, Kadora?
"I……"

The girl opened her mouth, but before she could answer, she was interrupted by the pink-haired girl: "Don't rush to answer now, think about it carefully. If the answer is carefully considered, it will definitely be more in line with your mood."

She smiled at Kadora, and this smile was much more mature than before. Even Kadora, who had only known her for a short time, could see that, perhaps, during this period of time, when she and Mitch were fighting on the front line, Metien had also experienced a lot and grown a lot in the rear.

Everyone grows up and makes their own decisions, just like... Kyle and the others.

When he heard that they voluntarily left school and joined the rebels, Kadora was very angry. He was angry that they made this decision without discussing it with anyone, and he was even more angry that they had let down Mitch's kindness. They would rather give up their peaceful and stable life and go to the battlefield. Don't they know that this is a difficult road?
However, what she didn't expect was that Mitch, who should have been angrier than she was, only remained silent for a while before agreeing to their request and incorporating Kyle and the others into the Youth Army to act together. Before making this decision, he didn't even ask for the Grayhill Eagle's opinion.

Mitch at that time was calm and steady, as if he had anticipated everything and could accept everything. That kind of maturity was something Cadora had never seen and was even more difficult to imagine.

She realized something.

Whether it is Metien or Michel, perhaps their growth has surpassed themselves.

Give me some meow