Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 584 Can I only rely on you?
"So you said that to your mother. No wonder she's so angry." Galene pushed the wheelchair and walked under the corridor where they could see the courtyard garden. After listening to Rorona's description of what happened in the study, she nodded in understanding: "Don't you know how worried your mother was when you went to live in the human city? She was either worried that you would be lonely without anyone to take care of you, or that you would be discovered by the night watchman one day and fall into the clutches of those religious lunatics... She couldn't eat or sleep every day. Now you tell her that you don't want to go to the open sea and want to stay in the human city. Of course she's angry."

"But I've spent six years proving myself," Rorona said softly. "I've lived in a human city for six years without encountering any danger, and I can take good care of myself. Why can't mother trust me again?"

"You were lucky. You didn't catch up with the Night Watch's search. But the current Lotdana City is not as peaceful as it used to be. Especially after the establishment of the Investigation and Governance Committee you mentioned, the persecution of us deep-sea aliens by the combined forces of the cults will inevitably become more and more cruel. Especially as the Princess of the Sea of ​​the Mirror of the Azure Sea, your life alone is enough to attract the Night Watch and the Silver Mad Dogs. In this case, it is better to be cautious."

Galene patted her sister's shoulder and said, "Besides, there are more than just human cities like Lotdana. After Nereids City is moved to the open sea, you can find a way to sneak out. Mother is just worried that you will be in danger if you stay here, but she doesn't really want to restrict your freedom."

"Really? When did you become such a liar?" Rorona glanced at her with a half-smile in her eyes. "I heard that the destination of this migration plan is the Chaos Sea. The reason why that sea has its current name, I think everyone is not joking, right?"

"Uh!" Galene was speechless for a moment, unable to refute.

As Lorena said, in the entire vast sea area, the chaotic sea area is definitely the most complicated sea area. There are not only several routes from the western continent to the eastern continent, but also ironclad warships from the united cult and the military of various countries cruise day and night, driving away vicious sea beasts with bright lights and artillery and smashing islands and reefs that block the way; there are also dozens of city-states of deep-sea races, in addition to the particularly mysterious "Hometown of the Dead", there are also the "Abyss City" Naloriga of the Siren, the "Black Sand City" Lofidixia of the Shek Clan, and the "Far-sighted Hometown" Focoridas of the Tranquil Sea Elves, etc. Each city-state is blessed by demigods and ancient magic passed down from ancient times. They will not only form an alliance to resist the invasion of the united cult, but also prevent the powerful cult from completely conquering the chaotic sea area; they are still hostile to each other, and wars for territory, population and materials often break out.

The sea races that stood out in such a chaotic situation have honed their warlike character and tough folk customs. The army led by the strongest dares to plunder the fleets of the cult alliance and the western countries. Unless they encounter the terrifying "turbine mothership-Nidhogg", they are invincible on the ocean. With the strength of Nereids City, it is only a medium-sized city-state in the chaotic sea. It is not easy to gain a foothold. How can it let its princess leave the city and venture into the outside world?
Even if Galene really sneaked out of Nereides City and was not involved in the complicated political and military confrontations in the chaotic sea, where could she travel and realize her dream? Don't forget that the East Continent, which is closest to the chaotic sea, is currently in a state of war. The flames of war between the rebels and the colonists roar day and night, disturbing everyone's fragile nerves.

In addition, due to the ruthless suppression by the religious groups in the Western Continent, almost all local cults and secret societies have risked their lives to smuggle themselves to another continent across the sea to seek a way to survive. Add to that the existing cults, pseudo-cults, crazy and insane supernatural beings, weird and terrifying sacrifices, corrupt and declining countries, and confused people... the situation is more than a hundred times more complicated than in the Western Continent.

With this comparison, Lorena felt that it would be better for her to stay in Lotdana and the East Continent.

"Even if you say so, but--" Galene scratched her cheek, feeling a little embarrassed.

"kindness?"

"No."

"Okay, sister, don't talk about this anymore." Rolena smiled and waved her hand: "We haven't seen each other for a long time, can't we talk about some happy topics? For example, sister, how have you been these years? Where did you live after leaving the Ice Water Palace? Do you eat and sleep on time? Have you found a boyfriend... and so on."

"I haven't found a boyfriend yet."

"Oh……"

That sounds like a really sad story.

...The two sisters walked and talked, reminiscing about their childhood days, and then shared some of their life experiences and observations in recent years. The elder sister Galene was surprised that her younger sister opened a store in a human city, but not that surprised, because she felt that the alchemy magic mastered by Lorena seemed just suitable for this kind of thing; the younger sister Lorena felt sorry for her sister's career as a soldier in the city defense corps, thinking that according to Galene's strength and contribution, she could have been promoted to a higher position long ago, and that someone must have secretly suppressed her, so that my dear sister did not get a position that matched her talent...etc.

A pleasant chat always makes people forget the passage of time. When Galene sent Lorena to her room in the Night Palace, half an hour had passed. The elder sister skillfully opened the room that had not been occupied for six years with the key, and sent its owner back to the small world she had been away from for a long time. Then she pointed at the furnishings in the room and asked proudly, "How is it, Lorena? Is it exactly the same as before?"

Rorona's eyes swept over the pink curtains, the bookshelves filled with all kinds of books, the somewhat old desk, the palace four-poster bed with lavender curtains, the bed sheets printed with purple leaf patterns, and the furry caterpillar doll beside the pillow. She smiled and nodded gently, "Yes, it's exactly the same. Thank you, sister!"

In fact, it's nothing like it.

For example, she actually doesn't like pink curtains, the person she really likes is Galene; for example, her bookshelf is never filled with so many tragic love novels, because those are Galene's favorites; for example, she is actually very afraid of sea caterpillars, let alone putting its dolls by the bed, but Galene often caught these insects with her bare hands when she was a child, and although she was scolded by her mother every time, she still insisted on keeping them in the room... So, rather than saying that this is Rorona's room, it is better to say that it has become Galene's room.

But Lorena still said it was very similar, not to comfort her sister, but because she knew that her sister just wanted to share her favorite thing with her.

"Hehe." Galene rubbed her nose, a smug blush on her face: "That's good. By the way, I'll leave for a while and go find Aunt Ethel to ask her to cook a few of your favorite dishes tonight. I remember it's grilled rock trout and sea-fried squid skewers, right? Wait a minute, I'll be back soon!"

After saying that, she rushed out of the room like a gust of wind.

Aunt Ethel was the cook at the Ice Water Palace. As for the grilled rock trout and the sea-fried squid skewers, she was not wrong this time. Lorena really liked these two dishes, but Galene liked them too.

Listening to her sister's footsteps gradually fading away, and finally disappearing completely at the end of the corridor, the girl in the wheelchair quietly stared at this familiar yet unfamiliar room. After a while, she slowly lowered her head, and then echoed in the slightly cold sea water, a faint sigh and a murmur so faint that only she could hear it -

"It's really... not unexpected."

"It's up to you now, Mr. Ling, Miss Saint Xia Liya, and Miss Alice."

"If you really need me, please come to me and take me away from this city."

"I'll be waiting for you here."

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)