Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1355 Is she still the older sister after all?
A decision hasn't been made yet, but one will eventually be made, because it's an inescapable fate.

However, Tentis was still slightly surprised.

"Bai Long is one thing, but is Lian Fei also hesitating?" The witch leaned back on the bench, gazing at the sunset on the horizon. A blood-red twilight was painting the sea with magnificent colors, and beneath the tide surged undercurrents invisible to the naked eye. "I thought she would be the most resolute one." A sea breeze blew by, and a few strands of her black hair clung to her slightly pale cheeks.

She stood firmly on the side that benefited humanity, and was determined to make humanity the master of the Mirror Star world by any means necessary, because that was the ideal her teacher had pursued all his life.

Although later events only proved that even saints can make mistakes, this one thing was certain: Fei was absolutely right. This was precisely why she was willing to abandon her animistic beliefs to join the Witch's Society. The taciturn girl, who firmly believed that actions speak louder than words and was thus affectionately known as the "Silent Saint," finally attempted to transcend the framework of animism after experiencing the triple catastrophes of calamity, divine upheaval, and celestial upheaval. She calmly examined her teacher's merits and faults, concluding that his chosen path was doomed and that she must find another way.

This path was pursued by Cenos, the Ring King, one of the Twelve Saints, but the failure of his plan to create a new monarchy nearly brought his ideals to an end, leaving behind only a maxim about the "Ring of Humanity" and the legacy of the True Spirit School; Abraham, the ruthless god of calamity, also pursued it, but his willingness to eat humans to survive made him seem more like a madman than a god; Vaanos, the Eye of Death, who was not pursuing truth but was obsessed with a past relationship, also pursued it, trying to unravel the mystery between life and death, but to no avail, and still to this day he remains trapped in a labyrinth with no exit, suffering in agony; in the end, it was Fie, who was inconspicuous, not powerful, and had no glorious deeds among the Twelve Saints, who achieved a fairly satisfactory result: combining her teacher's research on human spirituality, she successfully separated supernatural abilities from the human body, creating a completely new magical system, and successfully promoting it throughout the civilized world.

As for what happened afterward, the magic system was phased out, and those who followed in her footsteps created new magical systems to replace it. Fie wasn't angry, nor was she surprised. The progress of civilization is essentially a process of elimination; unwanted theories should naturally be buried deep in the dust, especially since those who overthrew it were all so outstanding: Perron, Richter, Agricola, Otto… they represented the future of human civilization.

Constantly moving forward, constantly retreating, constantly creating, constantly eliminating... one day, will we reach that ideal new world?

Now, it's time to create a new system and discard the old one. Barring unforeseen circumstances, she should consistently stand on the side of creation and oppose the side about to be eliminated. In the current situation, this means siding with the moderates, internally exploring humanity's magical potential, because that aligns with the needs of the times and the development of civilization; and firmly opposing Tentis's Eden Project and Reality Project, because they are no longer meaningful.

It should be so.

“Perhaps,” Perec guessed, her interlaced fingers unconsciously rubbing the back of her hand, “she’s also waiting for your answer, isn’t she, Tentis?”

Tentis turned to look at the white-haired girl, a slight smile playing on his lips, a smile that held an enigmatic quality: "That's the only reason that doesn't hold water, Perec, because you don't know that person well enough."

Even among idealists, the Silent Saint Fie was the most naive, and her naiveté gave meaning to her unwavering beliefs. Therefore, Tientis never doubted her honesty, nor did he doubt her decisiveness; when it was time to make a decision, she would never hesitate.

Pere remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She genuinely didn't know much about Fie; more accurately, she knew very little about most of the members of the Witches' Guild. The only ones she was truly familiar with were her lieutenant, Nightingale, and Sister Teresa, the Grand Master of the Hospitallers. This was because she had no interest in the Guild's affairs and always listened attentively without uttering a word at routine meetings. In contrast, this young woman, revered by the public as the "Emerald Hermit," preferred to focus her energy on her passions: promoting charitable medical services and building new healthcare systems. Just as Timmes preferred reading and writing, Lilith was simply an optimistic and carefree person, more enthusiastic about leisure than work.

Of the seven witches in the Witch Society, only Carabosse, Fafrena, and Fier are fully committed to the Eden Project and the Reality Project, and their beliefs and goals are the most steadfast. Eve can barely be considered half of them, because she is a follower; she tries her best to meet her sisters' expectations and has no opinions of her own.

As for Perec, Timmes, and Lilith, they simply used the resources of the Witch Society to do what they liked. They never really cared about the Eden Plan or the Reality Plan, always pushing the responsibility onto Tentis and the other sisters—a clear act of escapism. Although the latter never said anything, nor did she accuse or complain, she silently pushed forward the plan, taking all the sins of killing and destruction upon herself. Every now and then, she would hide her blood-stained hands behind her back, smilingly comforting her reluctant sisters: "It's alright, it will end soon. Then, everyone's ideals will be realized, and the world will have a much better ending..."

If their hands, hidden behind their backs, hadn't trembled slightly when they said those words, if their tone hadn't been deliberately feigned indifference, and if their expressions hadn't betrayed their weariness and unease, Pereike might have believed them. But now, she only felt guilt, self-reproach, and an overwhelming sadness.

If it weren't for this feeling, she probably wouldn't have searched everywhere for Tientis the moment she heard the news of Caraboss's death. Even while others were still reeling from the devastating news and struggling to accept reality, Perec arrived in Moson. She might not know the other members of the Society, but she knew her sisters well, knowing where Tientis would be and what she would be doing at a time like this. What was the basis of that certainty? Where did that hesitation come from? She knew it all, but simply refused to face it.

"Forget it."

Tennys suddenly let out a long sigh, saying with a hint of relief, "Whatever she's thinking, the final outcome won't change. That's the only thing I'm certain of, and that's all that matters. How are the others, Perec?"

Lost in her complex thoughts, Perez took a moment to react, letting out a soft "Ah." She knew Tentis wasn't one for idle chatter; since she'd already inquired about the Society, this question naturally had to be directed at others she cared about: "Everyone's alright... Timmes and Eve are very sad, but I comforted them before I came; Lilith is nowhere to be found, as usual, I don't know where she's gone; and as for Fierce, she seems very busy, rushing to arrange various affairs within the Holy See's trial. I don't know if she's using work to numb herself, or..."

The girl with pale hair paused slightly, seemingly hesitant to voice her question. Tentis listened silently, giving her ample time to think. Finally, the girl made up her mind. Unable to contain her emotions, a complex, bittersweet, and incomprehensible feeling compelled her to ask, "Tentis, can you tell me? Is Fei Er... going to do the same thing as Caraboss?" The world seemed to fall silent at that moment. A few seabirds returned to their nests in the distance, no longer uttering their hurried cries. The sea breeze held its breath. Only the dull thud of barges striking the stone walls at the old dock echoed in the silence.

Tentis finally shifted his gaze from the molten gold-like, burning horizon to the girl beside him, her lips pressed tightly together, awaiting judgment. The last rays of the setting sun outlined Perec's pale profile, her emerald eyes filled with unspeakable worry and confusion.

“Perec,” Tentis’s voice was soft yet clear, like a small pebble rippling across water, “this is something we decided long ago.”

The white-haired girl's body trembled almost imperceptibly, her hands, clasped on her knees, clenched tightly, her knuckles turning bluish-white in the dim light.

Yes, this scene is not actually the present for them, but a future they foresaw long ago, from the moment Tantis met the witches who were still wandering in the mortal world, from the moment they decided to change the world with their own hands, from the moment they began to carry out the Eden Plan and the Reality Plan with trembling or firm feelings... A wheel rolls forward, unable to stop.

Therefore, asking such a question now seems a bit too late to say it's regrettable, and it seems a bit self-deceptive to say it's forgotten.

Pere's lips trembled, her cold lips pressing together, as she squeezed out one last question: "It will... succeed, won't it?"

"of course."

Dusk completely swallowed the horizon, and the deep blue night began to envelop the harbor, leaving only a pale, dark red on the western sky. Tientis's face became blurred in the rapidly deepening shadows; only his eyes reflected the faint lights flickering on the distant breakwater—the navigation lights of returning fishing boats, their glow swaying uncertainly in the darkness like candles in the wind. "Perhaps you haven't realized it yet," he said, "but I was once the ruler of Old Eden, the observer and guide of all magic in the mortal world. When I fulfilled my mission, the whole world became transparent to me; there were no secrets. Sometimes it was a net, sometimes the sea, but more often it was a cold, rigid machine. No matter how slight the changes in this mortal world, they cannot escape the laws of the machine. So I can tell you very clearly, Perec, the change we have been waiting for is happening. That soul is becoming whole; it is about to awaken, because it realizes that this world needs its awakening."

"Darkness descends, destiny returns, and from this moment on, the balance between light and darkness in the universe is lost. An endless confrontation between rampant light and chaotic darkness will unfold, stretching from one corner of the world to the very edge of the universe. The web of destiny remains unobserved; the dim stars can no longer illuminate the path for mortals. The more those who have lost their destiny struggle, the more they disrupt the crumbling balance. Then, fear will sweep across the land, awakening the instincts within. When reason crumbles, no knowledge from books or wisdom inherited from past lives can guide mortals… Awakening, fighting, sacrifice, and then returning—this already fragile world will gradually crumble, and the soul we long for will slowly recall its mission, until finally becoming a key to unlocking the source of the universe, or a pen to rewrite the ending of the story. Which one does she aspire to be? We do not know, but at least the possibility is fair to everyone."

She turned and gave her sister, who was speechless with confusion, a calm smile: "The tide is going out, Pereira."

A surge of magic.

It flows through the human world, sometimes rising, sometimes falling, neither increasing nor decreasing. Mortals always regard it as a blessing from the universe, recklessly vying for and possessing it, but never realizing that all the magic in the mortal world, whether it is free or aggregated, external or internal, small or large... actually has the same master.

Tentis reached out and gently placed her hand on Perec's cold, clenched hand. Her palm held a faint warmth, but it couldn't dispel the chill that accompanied the falling night. "Go back, Perec," she said, her voice softer than before, perhaps the only remaining emotion in her life. "Go back to Timmes and Eve; they need you. And find Lilithie, tell her to stop being so naughty, to stay put for a while, and soon, very soon, the world she longs for will become a reality..."

"Do not."

Perec grabbed her hand instead, her face still pale, but her eyes sparkling with heavenly light: "If that's the case, if it has to be done that way, if it can't be successful without doing it that way... then let me go first, Tentis."

"after all--"

She smiled, her expression gentle yet firm: "I am, after all, their older sister."

Give me some cats