Andesa returned to the bed, and her father was sitting beside her.
Everything seemed like a dream—even the pain caused by pulling on the wound just now could not convince Andesa of the reality of it all. She felt like her head was getting dizzy again, and that debilitating and unbalanced dizziness came over her. Is this a sign that she was about to wake up from her dream?
She raised her head and looked at her father's face, confirming all the details again and again, as if she wanted to thoroughly engrave every wrinkle, every hair, and every subtle change in his expression. into her mind, and then compared it carefully with the memory of more than ten years ago. She didn't know what the meaning of this was - but she had to find something for herself to do in order to calm down her mood little by little. .
Her father was completely different from what she remembered. Except for those eyes, Andesa could hardly find many details from his face that matched her memory... This was simply because of more than ten years of Has time caused you to forget the details of your childhood? Or is it because these years of life experience can really make such a huge change in a person?
"You are completely different from what I remember," she couldn't help but say, "I remember you had a very high forehead...and a wider nose bridge than you have now..."< /p>
Bud reached out and touched his face.
Yes, this face must have indeed changed a lot. It is a change that is difficult to explain with the passage of time. There is a price to pay for embracing darkness and depravity. He can no longer remember what he has been exposed to. There are so many taboo and dangerous powers that I can’t remember how much I have sacrificed for those powers... flesh and blood transformation, divine factor testing, mutations, toxins, this face has transformed between human and non-human again and again, and has been reshaped again and again. Once again, although I have been trying to maintain the original human appearance as much as possible, this face has finally become unrecognizable.
I am afraid there are not many people in this world who can still recognize themselves.
"This is the price of living to this day," Bud tugged at the corners of his lips and said with some self-deprecation, "Fortunately, everything is over and I live a good life here."
Andesa was silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help but ask the question she had wanted to ask from just now: "So you have always been with Cecil... Ansu? You didn't die at all, you were just installed Su caught it and became one of theirs?"
Her words were questioning, but somewhat lacking in confidence - because now she was just a prisoner of war who had chosen to surrender. , doesn’t seem to have much qualifications to question his father.
But she was obviously still a little angry, even almost annoyed - that was the emotion caused by the impact on her long-standing outlook on life. She stared at her father, as if she was not just looking for someone. The answer is to hope that the other party can have a complete set of arguments that can convince him, so that this "betrayal" will not be so shameful.
Bud had already expected that this problem would be waiting for him, and he did soIt took a long time to prepare, but when the moment actually came, he remained silent for a long time before gathering up the courage to speak: "Andesa, I...have experienced a lot of things. In the past few years, I have done some ...something scarier than you imagine"
...
Margarita came to a tower on the west wall of Solin Castle, although "outside". The world was already in the cold winter, but the wind blowing over the tower was still as warm and comfortable as spring. She brushed away a strand of hair blown by the wind from her forehead, looked up at the direction of the trunk of the giant tree, and gently Exhaled.
This is the highest place in the entire Solin Castle, but even here, the magnificent crown of the Solin Giant Tree is still far away from Margarita. She looked up at the layers of The green "dome" dotted between the domes is dotted with countless luminous vines and mycelium hanging like gauze, glowing with charming light like the night sky - if you didn't know the secret behind it, who would have thought of such a dreamlike Is the wonder actually rooted in the flesh-and-blood abyss of a dark cult?
There was a rustling sound nearby, and some flower vines originally clinging to the outside of the tower squirmed and came behind Margarita. Bertila slowly walked out from the crowd of flower vines: "Good day, Margarita." General Greta."
Margarita did not look back: "Is the reunion between the 'eldest lady' and her father going well?"
"The atmosphere is pretty good... ...Although it is a little worse now, I think they will be successful in the end," Bertila said, and then she paused, "Actually, I don't think Bard will spend more than ten years in the Church of the End of All Things. The experience tells his daughter that it is a good choice - especially when the latter is still injured, but he doesn't seem to think so."
"...They haven't seen each other for too long. , perhaps Mr. Bud can't find a better topic than this, and in my opinion, Miss Andesa Wendell does not seem to be someone who would lose control of her impulses on such a matter."
"Maybe," Bertila was silent for a moment, and then said softly, "I haven't had family or friends for too long, and I don't quite understand this aspect... The experiences and memories of hundreds of years ago , it probably doesn’t apply to today’s generation.”
Margarita took a deep look at this ancient druid who was no longer a human being, and said seemingly casually: "You should also have received the news - the Thorin area will send a mixed support force including combat, construction and medical personnel to the front line of Winter Wolf Castle to deal with the increasingly powerful counterattack of the Typhons there. "
"Ah, of course I received it. After all, I am responsible for a lot of work here," Bertila said very calmly. "This is normal. A considerable number of the personnel of the Production and Construction Corps in the Solin area came from last year. Recruited from the East, they understand the situation in the Changfeng-Winter Wolf confrontation area." "...Don't you have any thoughts?" Margarita couldn't help but ask.
BellTila asked her back: "What do you want to say?"
"You were once a Typhon, although that was a long time ago." Margarita looked at the other party seriously, "Strictly Come on...you are even one of the ancestors of Rosetta Augustus, the royal family of Typhon. Now that Typhon is suffering from a divine disaster, and Cecil is at war with them, I thought you would be interested. "This is extra attention."
"You also said that it was a long time ago," Bertila suddenly smiled, although the smile was a bit stiff, "I left Typhon much longer than that." The separation between Bard and his daughter lasted even longer, so long that I have forgotten what those faces of the Augustus family looked like. Now there is no one I know there, no city or street I know, not even in my memory. Orlandale has sunk into the depths of the earth two hundred years ago... Now it is a strange place to me, and I feel that I have nothing to express."
Margarita was stunned. After a moment, he slowly showed a smile: "That's true."
A gust of wind blew from the far north, and the crown of the giant Thorin tree made a large and long-lasting rustling sound in the wind. The branches stretched out for kilometers, and Bertila's gaze extended among the branches, looking towards the distant east. However, outside the sensing area of the giant tree, all she could see as a plant was endless. dark.
......
Fog, endless fog, covering the entire Aldernan fog.
In this month of every year, long-lasting fog always covers this city standing on the plains. The people of Aldernan have become accustomed to this season of thick fog, and are used to it. Living under the chaotic sky for several months, in the eyes of poetic people, the fog floating between the buildings and the shadowy roofs and towers in the fog are even a kind of intoxicating. Beautiful scenery - the poem about the imperial capital in the fog, can be seen everywhere and at any time for two centuries.
However, in the foggy month of Cecil 2 (Typhon 739), the citizens of Aldernan felt the most nervousness from this familiar fog.
An atmosphere of panic spreads in the city along with various rumors. Those are the Church of the God of War that is constantly making strange noises and is said to be occupied by evil spirits, those frequently mobilized troops, those The news coming from the front lines all aroused the nervousness of the Typhon people, and on the last day of the first week of the Brumaire, another truly major event happened.
Compared with the vague and anxious rumors before, at least this thing is clear: with the unanimous vote of all members of the Imperial Parliament, His Majesty the Emperor temporarily closed the Parliament.
No one knows what the future holds for the city — or the country.
But for the civilians living at the bottom of the city, they have not yet reached a level where they can worry about such "big things". The factory is still running,There is still a need for a large number of employees at exchanges, stations and docks. Even due to the outbreak of this inexplicable war, the machines in the factory are running a little more cheerfully than before, and those who work in the factory... they have to It takes more effort to keep up with the bearings and gears that spin faster and faster.
Bonn wrapped his already very old coat tightly and walked hurriedly on the way to the Magic Train Station. He had walked this road many times, and almost every day he walked from Starting from here, go to the station or the warehouse next to the station to move things, load and unload the truck, and then wait until the sun sets before setting off on your way home. From here, you will return to the shabby apartment on Lower Cross Street. And he was not the only one walking on this road, there were many people who also went to the station to work and took the same route as him - they walked fast or slowly in the mist, silent to each other, only their footsteps The sound was like those gears and chains in a factory that also couldn't speak.
The ringing of a two-wheeled bicycle came from nearby. Bonn glanced to the side and saw a young postman riding a bicycle through the fog, with a large black bag on the back seat of the vehicle. It was already very wet from the fog.
When the postman passed between these workers, he looked high-spirited and even had a proud attitude. Obviously, he thought his job was more dignified than these coolies who could only carry goods.
Bonn shook his head, thinking nothing, and just continued on his way.
But there was a burst of sound, breaking the calm in the fog: it came from mid-air, as if some sharp resonance sounded across the entire city in an instant, followed by a short The high-spirited music sounded from the air, it was so sudden and loud, even the lingering fog in Aldernan seemed to be shaken by the sound, flowing in the winter sunshine.
Bonn was stunned for a moment, and soon realized what it was - it was the sound emitted by magic towers set up all over the city, and these magic towers were directly connected to the Obsidian Palace. Connected, the citizens of Aldernan know very well what the sound of these "powerful things controlled by the wizard" means - obviously, a big man who is qualified to speak over the whole city is about to speak, and everyone in the city is Listen.
The following voice will even appear in recent newspapers and be sent to various places across the country.
Bonn shrank his neck subconsciously, and then he heard a majestic, deep male voice suddenly sounded. The voice startled him——
" ...Greetings to my industrious and loyal subjects, your protector and loyal servant of the Empire, Rosetta Augustus...
"...The Royal Family has taken notice There is tension in the city, but please relax, the situation has been effectively controlled, recently...
"...The empire has entered a state of wartime emergency, and the royal family will spare no effort in this difficult period. To protect the rights and interests of every citizen, I am personally announcing the following bill:
“...The rights and interests of workers in the factory will be protected, and the income of all positions will not be lower than...For workers who work extended working hours and overtime production and actively contribute to the empire, special rewards will be formulated...< /p>
"About wartime food supply and medical supplies..."
...
Magic broadcasts echoed over the city, in any corner of Alder South
"Crazy...crazy...crazy!" ! ”
A short and stocky man walked angrily in the hall covered with dark red carpets. His expensive and exquisite leather boots sank into the thick carpet, making only a small sound. He The expensive dress on his body was wrinkled by his rough movements, and even one button on the collar fell off - it was pulled off by him in an angry display.
Several high-level battle mages in black short robes were standing near him. These battle mages were looking at this man with indifferent eyes, with neither pity nor ridicule on their faces.
"He can't do this! Listen, he can't do this - even if he's the Emperor! "The short and stocky man blushed and shouted loudly to the black-robed mages, "He has no right to deprive me of any honors and titles. These titles were awarded to my family by his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather. ! What did I do? I didn't do anything! I'm just trying to maintain our glorious tradition! You go and reply to the person who lives in the Obsidian Palace. He has no right at all..."
"Sir Jules, there is still one last minute left for you to arrange your family affairs," said a black-robed mage. Suddenly he spoke in a calm tone, interrupting the man's angry shouting, "If you are sure that you have made the arrangements, please come with us - in addition to fulfilling the formalities, you have to explain many things to Prince Hadilon . "
"Explain what? I have nothing to explain! "
"For example, the three illegal manors in your name, or the extra gold letters in your vault-" the black-robed mage said quietly, "or the ones that disappeared in your family castle. people? "
The stocky man suddenly blushed even more and looked at the wanderer mage in front of him angrily: "Listen, I don't know where these groundless accusations come from - and even if they Existence, what does this mean to a nobleman like me? Do you want to take me away from here based on these accusations alone? ? "
"Unfortunately, you really have only one choice - to go to the Obsidian Palace with us. This can at least prove that you are loyal to the empire and to His Majesty the Emperor himself. "
The short and stocky man stared, and then he suddenly seemed to calm down again. He took a half step back, tugged on his coat hard, and said word by word: "Let that wet boy Hadilon Augustus come to me personally, or have his father come! "
The battle mages looked at each other.
"Okay, YuleJazz, then this is the second plan. "
A mage took a step forward as he spoke.
"You are not loyal. ”
(Book recommendation time! "The people on earth are too ferocious" from Woniu Zhenren, science fiction category. I guess Wanniu doesn't need any more introduction, right? I know it from the old book "Forty Thousand Years of Cultivation" There should be quite a few. The quality and updates are guaranteed, so it’s worth a look.)