Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 377 Are You the Most Naive Person?
After the traveling fairies of the Fairy Sleep Inn arrived on the island, their quality of life improved visibly. For example, Alice no longer complained about insomnia at night, no longer complained about eating too light fruits every day, and no longer occupied Yieta's room to play games... In short, it was all good news, proving that "our Gransefa Air Cavalry is thriving," these were Alice's original words.

Cloud whales soared in the sky, flying towards the unknown distance, and time also came to March in the leisurely daily life. After the ice month at the end of winter and the rainy month when the snow began to melt, the warmer wind month followed. At this time, the temperature rose. In the coastal areas of the Kingdom of Great Britta, the humid monsoon was returning to the mainland, and the rain of the warm season gradually fell, providing sufficient water and nutrients for the plant seeds buried in the soil, nurturing a vitality that could change the natural world. Therefore, astronomers and meteorologists called it: the dormant month of vitality.

Meanwhile, the New Year in the Kingdom is approaching.

Lingge only remembered this matter after being reminded by Metien.

During this period, he had been studying magic, and had already analyzed the magic model of [Quick Thinking] and had completely mastered its power. Then, at Saint Shallia's suggestion, he chose the Anchor Path Sequence 9 Traveler's magic [Agility] from the currently available potions. As the name suggests, it can greatly improve the user's body flexibility, agility and endurance during the magic period, roughly to the level of a professional athlete. It is a very practical magic.

When he was not learning magic, he would not be idle. He would always hide in a quiet place and read the book left by Mr. Yanke. This was also the most different thing about him compared to the past. In the past, he regarded the goddess's teachings as the duty of a priest, neither resisting nor enthusiastic; but now, after experiencing Rochelle's incident, he wanted to understand what the so-called faith really meant.

Although this will be a very long and difficult process for him, because the young man is different from his adoptive father, he is too rational and may find it difficult to understand the goddess's earnest expectations and wishes hidden under each lead-colored word.

Be kind to others and don't hurt each other; be united and friendly and live in peace; face tomorrow with a positive attitude and hold high hopes for a better future; be brave to challenge and not afraid of difficulties... These words, which Alice jokingly called "chicken soup for the soul", are actually just truths that everyone knows, but few people do them.

What kind of mood did the goddess who created the world have when she left such an ordinary but difficult to achieve wish to her descendants? Was it the Creator's expectation and hope for his creation? Or was it a mother teaching her children the principles of growing up?

Lingge was thinking about this question so deeply that he forgot the passage of time. It was not until Metien came to remind him that the New Year of the kingdom's lunar calendar was approaching that he vaguely realized that another year had passed.

A confused look appeared in the pink-haired girl's eyes and she shook her head.

"Well." The young man closed the book and asked softly, "Have you thought about how to celebrate, Metien?"

When they were still in Linville, the brother and sister spent the New Year very simply. In the morning, they cleaned up the Tianxin Church after working hard for a whole year. In the afternoon, they went to the Itney Cemetery to visit their adoptive father, Mr. Yang Ke, and told him about what happened in the past year and their current situation. They just said that they were doing well, there were no problems, and they didn't need to worry too much. In the evening, they enjoyed a relatively rich dinner, which was not bought outside, but made by Lin Ge himself. After that, they rested in the yard under the White City sycamore tree planted by their father. The brother and sister chatted and went back to their room to sleep when it was late at night.

The Western Continent countries regard January 1 of the Gregorian calendar as the legal New Year, but in most cases only the official astronomical bureau will celebrate this holiday, and transnational continental organizations such as the Church Union will hold various prayer ceremonies and charity events on this day. As for the countries themselves, they still mainly celebrate the New Year of the Old Calendar before the advent of the Gregorian calendar.

It is plain and warm, yet has a moving power.

"Half a month." Metien sat next to his brother and counted on his fingers: "There's only half a month left until the Chinese New Year, Lingge."

It is March 3nd now, and there are still days until March 2th——

For example, the New Year of the Kingdom of Great Brittany is usually on March 3 of the Gregorian calendar, sometimes one or two days earlier or later depending on the waxing and waning of the month. It is said that this date is a continuation of the binary star calendar of the ancient Wollmuth dynasty. At that time, the astronomer Ethan formulated this calendar based on two stars moving relative to each other in the universe as reference points, namely the "Apocalypse Star" Comen and the "Saint Green Star" Esold. March 18 is the "Double Star Return Day" when the two stars intersect.

However, these two stars and the calendar have been lost over time, due to the division of the Wollmuth dynasty, wars and turmoil, and only various festivals have been passed down. The Great Empire of Mindreas, which has the same origin as the Great Brittany Kingdom, also celebrates this date as the Old New Year, the only difference is that they call it "Double Star Shift Day".

Unfortunately, the brother and sister who are now in a foreign country can no longer experience that feeling. They are destined to spend this New Year at an altitude of ten thousand meters far away from their hometown.

"Why don't we have a meal together?" Metien swung his feet, looked at his reflection in the clear water, and said hesitantly, "The boss lady and her family are also from Breton. Maybe they will celebrate the New Year here?"

This is a bit far-fetched. Not all people living in the Great Britta Kingdom are Brittany people. Moreover, the members of the hotel are aliens. It is probably difficult for them to have feelings for human festivals. Although thinking so, Linger nodded gently: "I will go to ask Miss Shesta."

“Yeah.” Metien pursed his lips: “Lingge, I miss Lin Weier a little.”

When I first embarked on the journey, I was full of longing and expectation. After the adventure in the Thorsen Mountains, I felt thrilled and excited, but after all, I was just a teenage girl. Therefore, in the upcoming New Year, I will still miss my hometown, that sad city that is always shrouded in gray smog and is gloomy and miserable.

Linger asked, "Do you miss it?"

The young man actually didn't miss Linville City very much, mainly because the city didn't give him a sense of home, not to mention that his adoptive father had passed away and Tianxin Church had been closed, he felt even more alienated and almost indifferent.

In contrast, Metien replied in a low voice: "Well, I miss Tianxin Church, my father, and Mrs. Maggie and the others. I wonder how everyone is doing now. I think everyone is preparing to celebrate the New Year, right?"

There was a hint of melancholy and thought in her eyes.

The city that buried countless blood and corpses may have made many people sad and cry, but those people were not Metien. This innocent little girl only remembered the gentle and beautiful side of life, and ignored its cold and indifferent side. Was it because Mr. Yanke and I protected her too well? Or was it her original character?
Lingge couldn't figure it out, so he just reached out and touched his sister's pink hair, which felt warm.

"When this journey is over, we can go back to Linville City." He said, as if talking to himself: "Continue to live in Tianxin Church, live like before, and celebrate the New Year like before. There are only four young girls left, and they will be found soon. Before that, be patient for a while, Metien."

"..."

Medien didn't say anything, but just glanced at his brother furtively and found that his expression was the same as usual, without any change, as if he really believed it in his heart.

But why did he feel that after he came into contact with the secrets of the Goddess of Creation and the Girl's Royal Power, intervened in the struggle between Animism and the Church, and gradually gained a deeper understanding of the truth about the Witch Society and the philosopher, as long as he was willing to let go of these things, his life would definitely return to normal? People are clearly carried along and pushed by the tide of the times, rather than controlling their own will. Ling Ge should be very clear about this.

Or does he know it but is unwilling to admit it?
Metien suddenly had a wonderful idea.

She knew that everyone on the island thought she was inexperienced and too naive; and Lingge always disliked Sister Alice for having an abnormal brain and thinking logic that was different from others; Xie Mi would occasionally say that Sister Xiao Xia was a little naive and always forgot many things; the proprietress and Sister Xie Liya told her that Sister Yieta was a little stupid and very sensitive, and she needed to take care of her more; then Sister Yieta whispered to her that Sister Ovira was always immersed in the unrealistic fantasies in books, out of touch with reality, and someone needed to pull her back... It seemed that everyone had received similar comments, except Lingge.

Because he is calm, rational, and very realistic, this is a character that everyone recognizes.

As the closest person to him, Metien vaguely caught a glimpse of clues from his words just now, and thus came up with a very strange idea, which would not only not be recognized by others but might even be laughed at by Alice if told to others. That is: Is there a possibility that Lingge is the most naive one among all the people on this island?

after all.

Everyone just believes in miracles, but he believes in a future that is impossible to exist.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)