Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1372 Actually, are you unsure?
Arnor glanced at the scene from afar. Imperial soldiers were setting up a defensive line outside the Shattered Wind Canyon. He could vaguely see the dragon-hunting ballista among them. It was a weapon used by the Imperial Army to hunt large flying monsters. One of its typical representatives was the dragon. After the outbreak of the colonial war, it performed well against the Axis forces' constructs and airships. It was one of the few weapons that could pose a threat to the Western Army.

"It seems they really intend to shoot down that 'flying whale'."

Kalia's voice, like a cold stream, whispered in Yanor's ear. She had silently slipped back to his side without him noticing, her amethyst skin blending perfectly with the shadows of the rocks. "There are at least twenty people at the entrance, and two dragon-hunting crossbows. It's impossible to force our way in."

However, the Imperial Army seemed afraid of disturbing the uninvited guests in the canyon and letting the credit slip away. Therefore, they only set up a defensive line on the outer perimeter of the canyon and did not go deep inside for the time being. This meant that they only needed to avoid the sentries and sneak into the canyon silently. Perhaps they could convey the message to the outsiders who were suspected to be worshippers of the goddess before the Imperial Army's defensive line was completed.

Whether or not they were believers of the Goddess, they should at least not fall into the hands of the Imperial Army. Arnor was certain that for a warrior of the Holy War, anything that could be done against the Imperial Army was a good thing.

Having made up his mind, he turned his gaze to Edwin.

The bard knelt on the ground, his bronze hands gently pressing against the scorching sand. He closed his eyes, concentrating as if listening to the pulse of the earth. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, his voice low and deep: "The wind has told me the way... Follow me."

Like the most agile sand lizard, he led the group around to the side of the canyon, finally stopping before a seemingly unremarkable rock face. Here, jagged rocks, heavily weathered, and massive layers of shale piled up as if about to collapse at any moment. The air was thick with the dry smell of dust and the distant scraping of metal. Edwin tapped and tapped at the rock face, carefully rubbing the fragile stones with his rock flute, and miraculously discovered a low, hidden passage concealed beneath a thicket of sea buckthorn.

Years of weathering and erosion by underground currents have made the interior space dark and deep. No one knows what they will encounter when they enter it, whether it is a strange cave or a giant pit from which there is no return.

The Aksai people's experience will guide them.

"It's very narrow inside, stay close to me and keep quiet."

Edwin slipped in first, sideways. Arnor followed closely behind, and Kalia trailed like a shadow. Gordan stared at the entrance, his expression uncertain. Though he could barely squeeze in, he loathed such cramped spaces, where one couldn't even move freely. However, the werewolf girl urged him on from behind, and he gritted his teeth, crouching low as he squeezed in. The rocks scraped against his sturdy shoulder armor, making a sickening sound, like a wild boar burrowing into a hedgehog's burrow. Selena entered last, suppressing a laugh as she glanced back to make sure no one was following. Then, she carefully restored the thicket of sea buckthorn, re-concealing the passage.

The passage was pitch black inside, the air damp and cool, a stark contrast to the scorching desert outside. Soft soil and occasional sharp stones trodden beneath your feet; cold, rough rock walls surrounded you. Water droplets dripped from cracks in the rocks overhead, their rhythmic, clear patter amplified in the absolute silence.

Edwin, like a blind man, felt his way along the rock face, relying on the subtle vibrations of the wind and rocks for guidance. This underground path, existing since time immemorial, meandered and twisted, sometimes climbing upwards, sometimes plunging sharply downwards, sometimes so narrow it required holding one's breath to pass, and sometimes opening up into vast, echoing underground voids. Only the native inhabitants of this burial ground could find its traces, and only the finest flute players among the Aksai dared to walk this winding darkness, relying not on memory, but on an intuition in harmony with the wind.

In the desert, memory is the most unreliable thing. Often, after a sandstorm, old passages will be buried or new entrances will be exposed.

After wandering in the darkness for an unknown amount of time, a faint light finally appeared ahead. At the same time, the damp, earthy scent in the air grew stronger, seemingly mixed with a strange aroma. Edwin hesitated for a moment before the exit, a sudden doubt creeping into his heart. This was definitely not the familiar scent of the vast desert he knew so well—the sticky wind, the coarse sand, the dry earth…all gone. The world beyond felt foreign to the bard. Could it be that a hidden realm lay at the end of the passage?
But his companions were waiting behind him for his decision. Although Yanor didn't urge him, he cast a questioning glance his way. The poet pondered for a long time, but finally followed the instincts of a wilderness dweller—he didn't feel any threat, so it shouldn't be an imperial army trap—and stepped forward, leading his companions into the heart of this remote canyon.

The sudden brightness of the daylight caused everyone's pupils to contract slightly. It took several seconds for their eyes to adjust to the dramatic change in light and dark, allowing them to focus on their surroundings and be alert to any potential dangers. However, the sight they saw at first glance left them stunned and bewildered.

Contrary to their expectations and the desolate world they had witnessed, their gaze was no longer met with lifeless, bronze-colored rocks and withered sand. The vast interior of the canyon was covered in a lush, almost impenetrable green. Vibrant fallen leaves carpeted the valley floor, and countless plants they couldn't name thrived: towering trees rose from the ground, their canopies casting dappled shadows in the bright sunlight; low shrubs were laden with plump, juicy berries, and crystal-clear streams flowed through the forest, nourishing the vibrant life of this land. And clearly, this scene was not an illusion, nor could it be natural, for before them lay a wooden path winding towards the edge of the forest, where, atop a verdant hill, stood their destination—

A quiet, silent little church, seemingly untouched by the world.

"I...I...I...I..." Selena stammered, "Am I seeing things?"

The ever-carefree Gordan took a deep breath, feeling the clear, refreshing air cleanse the stale air that had accumulated in his lungs during his journey through the dark tunnel. He couldn't help but exclaim, "This is truly..."

Although he didn't finish speaking, everyone knew what he meant. Of course, none of these people were as surprised as Edwin, a native of the desert. This calm and collected bard almost knelt down, trembling, and grabbed a handful of soil. He stared closely at the grass, debris, humus, and even the dead insects mixed in with the dark brown soil. Although it exuded a putrid smell, it was also a smell of life, a quality that the rough, dry, reddish sand of the desert could never possess.

For over six hundred years, the Aksai people have lived and thrived in this burial ground, never ceasing their search for the legendary ancient oasis, yet always to no avail. Today, have they finally found such a miracle? Although he knew in his heart that it had absolutely nothing to do with the Aksai people's legends—after all, the Shattered Wind Canyon was a barren land just a year ago, who could transform it in a year, even changing its inherent barrenness and desolation? Yet, the bard couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

In contrast, Captain Arnor managed to maintain his composure. He gestured for the shocked Selena to quiet down, and lowered his voice: "Kalia, scout the surroundings and confirm whether any Imperial sentries have infiltrated, or... the church guards. Gordan, guard this exit; if the situation changes, we'll retreat the way we came. Selena, you cooperate with Kalia. Edwin, come with me... we'll investigate the church."

Whether it's the Imperial army outside the canyon or the anomalies within it, they are all essentially inextricably linked to that church. Let me see what kind of person this self-proclaimed believer in the goddess's teachings really is!
The ranks dispersed silently, carrying out orders. Using the forest as cover, Arnor and Edwin cautiously approached the church on the hilltop along the wooden path. But their vigilance seemed to have been misplaced; there were no walls, no guards, and no trace of Imperial soldiers, only a breathtaking tranquility and peace. Along the way, they could even see some docile small animals curiously observing these uninvited guests from the woods, their eyes showing no fear.

Finally, they stepped onto the last few stone steps leading to the church. The church doors, made of simple dark wood, were ajar. Arnor and Edwin exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.

Yanor took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and slowly pushed open the wooden door.

The door hinges creaked slightly, breaking the surrounding silence. Sunlight streamed into the church as the doors opened, illuminating the simple yet solemn space.

Pillars, candlesticks, stained-glass windows, rows of linden benches, a simple stone altar, and the statue of the goddess on it were the first things that caught their attention. Although a member of the Holy War Army and a follower of the Great Goddess, Arnor had never actually seen the goddess's statue, nor did she know in what form she appeared before the world. It was said that the seven saints who founded the Church of the Creator Goddess, who were once the goddess's offspring, lost their memories of their mother after being cast into the mortal realm, and no longer remembered her appearance or features. Therefore, they only recorded her holy words in the canon to preach to the world, rather than erecting statues for people to venerate and worship.

Therefore, in the hearts of her mortal followers, the goddess doesn't actually have a fixed image; she's more like a symbol, an emblem, or perhaps a grand ideal that unites like-minded people. But for some reason, when Arnor saw the statue of the goddess on the altar, he subconsciously assumed that the goddess should be like this—so sacred, so noble, her eyes brimming with pity and compassion for humanity…

Right in front of the altar, with his back to them, knelt on one knee.

To be precise, it was a young girl, her head slightly bowed, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her back slender yet devout. Her rare, pale pink hair, like spring primroses, cascaded down to her waist, revealing a compassionate divinity strikingly similar to that of the goddess on the altar. Before the group pushed open the church doors, she seemed to be praying softly; upon hearing the door open, her prayers gradually ceased.

She slowly stood up and turned around.

She appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate and gentle features, fair skin, and pure emerald green eyes that were crystal clear, reflecting the intruder's figure without showing any panic, only a tranquility like a clear spring. Her gaze first swept over Edwin's alien attire and the rock flute he was clutching, before finally settling on Arnor, lingering for a moment on his battle-hardened armor and the longsword at his waist.

However, her face did not show any of the reactions that Janor had expected—no panic, no hostility, and none of the enthusiasm often seen in fanatical believers.

Instead, her eyes crinkled into a reassuring smile: "I have been waiting for this for a long time. Welcome to our arrival."

"Traveler from afar."

……

In the kitchen, Sister Livia watched as Medien's small hands, hidden behind her back, kept gesturing, signaling her to hurry up and find Ling to come and save the day. She found it both amusing and somewhat helpless.

At first, seeing Medine's calm demeanor, she was quite pleased with the girl's growth, as if she had watched a naive girl grow into a capable adult.

But now it seems there might still be room for growth?

It wasn't a matter of personal growth. Having experienced the brutal war on the Gray Hills and witnessed the life and death of the world, the girl had long since shed the naive and childish parts of her personality. Now, she can calmly face tragedies that she couldn't accept in the past, and bravely shoulder responsibilities that weren't originally hers. Healing the wounded and comforting the weak are the pure and simple aspects of her nature.

But perhaps, they aren't quite confident enough yet.

Even though she could handle the situation herself, she always hoped that her brother could stay by her side, even if he didn't say a word, just standing there would be enough.

Just as fledglings, even after learning to fly, will still look back towards their nest from time to time when facing the storms of life for the first time, only feeling at ease when they see their parents, this has nothing to do with personality, environment, or upbringing. Rather, it is the instinct of a living being to seek support and place trust in others.

Sister Livia thought for a moment, then quietly left the church through the back door, heading towards the Fairy Sleep Inn.

Give me some cats