Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1037: Is fate determined by destiny?

Carabos and Saint Shalia looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other's eyes. Magic is the mystery of God, and magic power is the treasure bestowed by the mother to mortals. All living things are affected by magic power, and they get its essence and use it to develop a brilliant civilization. This is the cognition of the young royal power. But humans can't perceive magic power, nor can they use magic. This is simply against the truth and incredible.

However, since even they couldn't answer the question, Tumi didn't know the answer either. He carefully considered his tone and expressed a guess that had been brewing in his mind for a long time: "Perhaps the goddess was careless when she created the world, and she only forgot about us humans?"

"impossible."

Before Saint Shalia could speak, Carabosse's face darkened. He was very dissatisfied with this groundless speculation: "Do you think that mother would be so careless?"

Tumi didn't say anything, but just pursed his lips slightly. His resolute face looked even more gloomy because of the light behind him. Caraboss was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that this sentence was not appropriate. If Her Majesty the Goddess was not careless, doesn't this mean that He actually did it on purpose when He created the world? This possibility is probably even more difficult for humans who are in a difficult situation now to accept.

Carabosse didn't speak, and the other girls also fell silent for various complicated reasons. The atmosphere was a little stagnant for a moment, until Saint Shalia spoke softly to the dusty man in front of her: "We already know your purpose, but this matter is of great importance. Can you give us some more time to think carefully before giving you an answer?"

Tumi looked at her deeply, then nodded slowly.

Saint Xia Liya breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "You look very tired, do you need to rest?"

"Thank you for your kindness, but my people are still suffering on earth, and I am the only one enjoying comfort in this holy land outside the sky. I really feel unworthy of it." Tumi declined Saint Shallia's suggestion, then turned back. The girls made way for him and silently watched him walk out of the shadows into the strong sunlight, sitting cross-legged beside a half-collapsed low wall with his eyes closed in meditation, like a real ascetic.

He had always been like this on the long journey from Mirror Star to the Holy Temple of Heaven. In order to find a way out for his people, he was willing to endure the wind and snow, the eclipses of the sun and the moon, and even the vast silence and endless loneliness in the boundless universe could not stop him. Now that he was only one step away from hope, how much of a test would it be to endure a little bit of scorching heat and sunshine for this?

Looking at that perseverant, determined and enlightened figure, Saint Shallia had no doubt that if they put forward a test at the cost of his life, the man would accept it without hesitation. The weaker the race, the more difficult the situation, the more humble the body trampled in the dust, the more likely it is to breed the noblest and most selfless personality in the world.

She sighed silently, then looked away, signaling the other girls to follow. A minute later, the fourteen girls gathered in the headquarters building of the Game Command Company, forming a circle as before, and began to discuss an event that could change the universe. For them, this was perhaps the first change in their dull lives, which came unexpectedly and was so real that it left them speechless.

Can a single word or action determine the fate of a race?
This was the first time that the young royals realized in such an intuitive way how arduous the mission they were shouldering was.

……

At first, no one spoke.

There was an unbearable silence in the air.

Saint Shalia was lost in thought, Carabosse had a calm face, Peleche was silently gazing at her fair palms, as if every winding line on them contained the secret of endless years; Lorena was playing with her shell bracelet, Lilisti was absent-minded, and Yieta looked around as if she wanted to say something, but because the atmosphere was too solemn, she swallowed her words back in fear... In such a weird atmosphere, Xino finally couldn't help it.

She has always been straightforward, and this time was no exception. She asked directly: "Xiao Xia, Karabosse, what do you think about this matter?"

Carabosse pursed her lips, and Saint Chariah came back to her senses. She looked around and found that her sisters' eyes were all focused on her. She immediately understood their concerns. She said softly, "I want to hear your opinions first. What do you think, Xino?"

"I think that if what Mr. Tumi said is true, then we may have an obligation to help him and help humans." Xino said seriously: "There are constant conflicts on the earth, and mortal races are fighting each other. This is definitely not what Mother wants to see; and humans are the only race that cannot use magic, which has led to their difficult situation. I don't want to slander Mother, but when He created the world, He worked hard and it is inevitable that He was negligent. Isn't it the responsibility of us daughters to make up for His mistakes?"

She admitted that the tragedy of mankind actually stemmed from the mistake made by the goddess when she created the world, because no matter how you look at it, this was better than the goddess doing it on purpose; and she also admitted that she wanted to help mankind. In addition to making up for her mother's mistakes, she also hoped that after mankind gained the support of the girl's royal power, they would be able to set an example and stop the disputes and fighting, so that all life on that distant planet would return to freedom and all civilizations would be harmonious again.

A beautiful and brilliant world, a free and vibrant life, a prosperous and flourishing civilization... these are the original intentions of Mother when she created the world, and are also the ideals that the young royal families have always pursued.

In the past, their knowledge of Mirror Star existed only from the introduction in books and their own imagination, so it was natural for them to have all kinds of beautiful fantasies about it; now that they have learned about its true appearance, can they remain indifferent, still indulge in fantasy and dare not face reality?
"We should get the world back on track." Shino said word by word. When she said this, her face showed a sense of justice and mission that was hard to look at. "We must not allow chaos and war to destroy the hard work of our mother. That's what I think. What about you?"

She asked for everyone's opinion.

"I agree with Sister Shino's proposal."

The first person who agreed was surprisingly Favrona, who had the most unfriendly attitude towards Tumi at the beginning. At this moment, the fiery-haired girl, the warm and flamboyant golden red in her eyes, had been completely restrained into a deep thought, which seemed particularly strange compared to her usual self: "What humans seek is nothing but strength, and the control of strength lies in one's heart. What a truly strong person relies on is neither indestructible armor nor overbearing brute force, but restraining one's heart and using one's strength carefully. I think if it were that man, he might be able to do it."

After all, he is a man who is willing to sacrifice his life for his race. His perseverance and determination need no proof.

"I don't think so."

If the first person who agreed was surprising, then the first person who opposed was even more unexpected. It was Fei'er. She and Favrona usually quarreled, but they always had a good relationship. Sometimes they even cooperated in some pranks and showed a tacit understanding. Only in this matter, she couldn't agree against her will: "Although that man has perseverance and willpower, and can carefully control the power we give, I am afraid that not all humans can do this. Now, humans are the oppressed party and have long accumulated resentment. After they gain power, won't they retaliate against their former enemies and live in harmony? I don't think so." "In that case, I have an idea." Rolena raised her hand with a smile: "Wouldn't it be better to just add restrictions to the power? Although humans are strong, if they can't defeat other races, a balance will naturally be formed, right?"

Pereille, who was always quiet and didn't like to talk, shook her head slowly and pointed out the difficulty of this matter directly: "It is also possible that it will backfire and lead to a more intense struggle. Besides, before Mother fell asleep, she asked us not to interfere in the affairs of mortals. If we help, wouldn't that be going against Her wishes?"

Avella said in a conflicted tone, "But, Mother didn't know about this before she fell asleep. If She knew, maybe She would have a different opinion."

Ieta was sandwiched between Pereke and Olvera. After looking around for a few times, she shrank her head a little and expressed her opinion weakly, which was also the simplest opinion: "Humans are so pitiful. We should help them..."

Leticia agreed seriously, "Just like the dwarfs helped Snow White, good people will be rewarded!"

Timis, who was standing next to her, reached out and gently stroked her head, with a helpless smile on her face: "This is not a fairy tale after all, Leticia."

Upon hearing this, the latter pursed his lips and stopped talking.

……

After arguing for a long time, no conclusion was reached. Those who agreed had their reasons, and those who opposed naturally had their concerns. At this time, Lilisti, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said something surprising: "If, if everyone's opinions are not consistent, should we vote to decide?"

Everyone looked at her. The girl with pink twin ponytails seemed to have come out of her initial frustration. Her face was flushed, and her fists were tightening and loosening. She was sweating from nervousness, and her eyes showed some trepidation and determination. "I, I think that the mortal civilization that mother wants to see will never be like it is now! It should be like what is described in the books, peaceful, beautiful, prosperous and full of vitality! Those wars and chaos completely destroyed its hope, so, so! We should let everything return to its original state! I agree with Sister Xino's proposal!"

As the proposer of the vote, she was the first to make her choice. Although others had not agreed to use this method as the final judgment standard before, there seemed to be no more suitable method besides voting. Therefore, after a short silence, the young queens expressed their opinions and made their own choices.

"I agree."

"I object."

"Agree."

"This is inappropriate."

……

In the end, those who agreed were Xino, Feier, Olvera, Yieta, Lilisti and Leticia, while those who opposed were Favrona, Pereke, Timeis, Gloria, and most surprisingly, Lorena. In addition, Eve chose to abstain. As the youngest and most dependent child, she had a good relationship with each of her sisters, so she didn't know whose opinion to agree with. Although everyone asked her to make her own decision, it seemed more difficult for her, because in the past, such matters were decided by the eldest sister Saint Shalia and the second sister Carabosse, and she only needed to follow the two sisters. There had never been a time like now when everyone needed to make a decision together.

The girl was at a loss and finally chose to abstain - or in other words, she just went with the flow. She would support whichever side had more people.

Because of her abstention, there is no need to worry about the possibility of a tie in the vote.

The two votes that decided the outcome fell on Saint Shalia and Carabosse. Needless to say, Carabosse was originally a strict and meticulous person. Although she was gentle in nature, this gentleness was only shown in front of her sisters and had nothing to do with mortals on a distant planet. She cared more about her own mission and the teachings left by her mother before she fell asleep. She would never go beyond even a little bit. If it weren't for others' persuasion, she would not even give Tumi the opportunity to enter the Holy Temple of Heaven. In addition, Tumi indirectly revealed a hint of disrespect for the goddess. Perhaps that was not his original intention, but the inevitable result of the suffering that the human race had endured for many years, but it was enough to make Carabosse unhappy, so it was reasonable for her to cast a vote against it in the end.

In this way, excluding Eve who abstained from voting, there were six votes in favor and six votes against.

The vote that has not yet been cast will determine the final result.

Everyone's eyes naturally focused on Saint Shallia, who had not yet voted. A heavy pressure suddenly pressed down like a stone. The wind stopped flowing, the air was almost silent, and even the breathing gradually weakened. Everyone was waiting for their eldest sister to make a choice, waiting for her to put an end to this matter with a light word of approval or disapproval. Will the result be in line with their wishes? It is not known yet, but perhaps each of them has their own expectations: Xino's determination, Carabosse's depth, Lilisti's uneasiness, Leticia's confusion, and even Eve's bewilderment...

Outside the Holy Temple, under the blazing summer sun, the man who had been meditating with his eyes closed suddenly opened his eyes and looked up at the building in the distance, the only intact building in the city. He didn't know what the goddess's sanctuary had gone through to present such a desolate scene, nor did he know what decision the fourteen young girls' royal powers were about to make in that lofty building. He could only see a dazzling light, countless glass reflecting a thousand-foot brilliance under the sunlight, magnificent and sacred.

This situation and scene suddenly makes people feel a sense of solemnity and dignity as if it were destined.

Will the young girl who holds destiny in her hands decide the fate of mankind?

However, at this moment, Saint Shalia had only one thought in her mind -

If it was Themis from heaven, what would she do?
Give me some meow