Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 398: Can we be friends after knowing each other for only one minute?
“Waaaaaaaahhh, you you you, who are you!?”

Metien was startled by the pair of crimson eyes and took several steps back. His heel stepped on a small stone in the pile of fallen leaves and he almost fell to the ground.

It’s no wonder that she reacted so violently. After all, not everyone can remain calm when seeing a strange little girl suddenly appear in front of them.

That's right, little girl.

A little girl with delicate features, who looked like a doll, but wearing leather armor, shorts and riding boots, a crimson cloak like a rose, and a crimson hood, dressed like an experienced hunter in the jungle, with a star-shaped crystal dagger and a silver crossbow with ornate patterns on her waist. She clasped her hands in front of her chest, and a dangerous cold light could be vaguely seen under the deep cuffs.

Judging from her appearance, she was about the same age as Metien, and even her height was very similar. The short silver hair that showed from under her hood looked a little messy, as if it had not been taken care of for a long time, but it still had a smooth and soft texture, like flowing cold moonlight; her crimson vertical pupils were like gems and flames, and she was looking at the panicked Metien with a calm, distant and slightly curious look, just like a cat in the old streets squatting on the wall, looking at the strangers passing by.

Unlike those cats, she didn't squat on the wall, but hooked a branch with her legs, hanging upside down on the tree like a little bat. Coincidentally, there was indeed a pair of gray bat wings flapping subconsciously behind her, and they were not on her back, but behind her waist (by the way, although she was hanging upside down, the cloak and hood were tightly attached to her body and head in a posture that violated the laws of mechanics, and did not fall down. Even if the bat wings behind her waist were thrown away, the visual effect was still very impactful).

"S-Vampire!?"

Metien became even more panicked when he saw the pair of gray bat wings. He suddenly recalled Miss Fialli from Linville City. Although she was not a real vampire, her crazy behavior still left a very unfriendly memory to the pink-haired little girl at that time.

However, even without this memory, Metien would not have a good impression of vampires. After all, many well-known folk legends or rural ghost stories have always liked to describe vampires as evil and cruel monsters who like to eat human blood. Although this image is only conjecture, it may be possible to find some commonalities with real vampires.

She didn't seem to have any intention of attacking.

"Well, I'm a vampire." The little girl hanging on the tree blinked: "So, you are human?"

As she spoke, she turned her head and looked through the various plants growing luxuriantly in the valley. She saw the huge island hidden deep in the branches and leaves and asked, "Did you raise that whale?"

Metien stopped retreating without realizing it, hesitated, and then nodded slightly.

“It’s really rare.”

Perhaps, not all vampires are evil, cruel monsters?

"Uh."

This question was very complicated. Metien didn't know how to answer it accurately. She thought about it for a while and finally whispered: "In fact, it's just an island, not a real whale."

“Oh.” The little girl looked away: “Sorry, I have never seen a real whale, so I don’t know.”

The little girl in the tree said, and although it was something that was obviously surprising, her calm tone did not sound at all surprising, but more like a simple statement: "I haven't seen humans near the Great Swamp for a long time."

"No need to apologize."

This apology made Metien believe that she was indeed not an evil vampire, but a little girl of similar age to herself. So the fear she felt completely disappeared, and she greeted her in a friendly manner: "Hello, my name is Metien, can you tell me your name?"

Her expectant yet anxious look made the other party silent for a moment. Just when Metien was reflecting on whether her change of attitude was too abrupt, she heard a low but clear voice: "Letitia." "My name is--" she said seriously: "Letitia V. Garcia Wrenhild."

Metien opened his mouth wide: "Wow, wow...what a great name!"

It sounded like an ambiguous exclamation. After all, the name alone didn't reveal anything special about it, so the pink-haired girl wanted to say "What a long name" at first, but considering that it wasn't very polite to say that, she changed her words abruptly.

The little vampire girl in the tree seemed to take it seriously and nodded calmly, accepting her compliment: "Thank you."

"Uh, hahaha, no, you're welcome." Metien laughed dryly and quickly changed the subject to hide his embarrassment: "Leticia, why are you here? Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the people of the Balance of Order?"

Vampires are cunning and patient creatures, and they are the main targets of the Silver Rabid Dogs.

"I have experience, so I'm not afraid." Leticia replied, her eyes sweeping over Shemi and Little Sun who were still arguing not far away. Their argument had gradually evolved from "who stole whose bow" to "who disturbed whose nap", and it didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. She frowned her crescent-shaped eyebrows slightly, "It's dangerous for you here too."

"It's okay." Metien said, "This place is not far from Sky Island. If I find someone from the Balance of Order, I will run back immediately and won't be caught by them."

She could even cover Shemi and Little Sun's retreat. After all, she was a human being and had never learned magic. The people of the Balance of Order had no reason to attack her.

Leticia shook her head. "I'm not talking about the Balance of Order. I'm talking about this place - the Great Swamp. It's dangerous. There are many aliens who are full of hatred for humans. Don't get close to them."

This should be a kind reminder, right? But she said it as if it was a matter of course, which made Metien feel complicated, as if she was not talking to a new friend she just met, but to Lingge. She smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, Xie Mi is with me."

Xie Mi is a traveling fairy who is naturally good at gaining the favor of animals, plants and other alien creatures. With her around, there is basically no need to worry about conflicts with the indigenous inhabitants of this swamp - although she is currently in a fierce conflict with Little Sun.

Leticia didn't know who Shemi was, but she could hear the sincere trust in Metien's tone, so she didn't try to persuade him. She looked up and saw the sunlight refracting brilliantly in the fresh water vapor after the rain, dyeing the blue sky with a circle of blurred halo. On a leaf of the Canggu tree, transparent water drops were slowly sliding down the veins of the leaf. When it dripped to the ground and merged silently into the soil, the girl suddenly said, "I should go."

"Eh?" Metien was surprised and asked subconsciously, "Where are we going?"

"Looking for my grandma, I want to remind her of something." Leticia glanced at Metien under the tree and said, "Recently, some very strange guys have come to the Great Swamp and are trying to unite the aliens. They are very dangerous, you have to be careful, and remind your companions to be careful."

"Ah? Oh, oh!" Metien agreed in a daze.

Leticia said no more, raised her hand gently, and lifted the crimson cloak. Metien's eyes blurred and she could not see anything clearly. When she reacted, the girl on the tree had disappeared. She looked up quickly, and through the canopy of the ash tree, she saw a petite figure flapping its bat wings and flying away, gradually disappearing from the azure sky. After about half a minute, it disappeared completely.

A friend whom I just met not long ago just left like that?
Although this encounter came unexpectedly, Medien still cherished her friends, so she felt a little lost at the moment. She clearly had many things she wanted to ask, but in the end she only knew her name.

It was not until Xie Mi and Xiao Yang, who were tired of arguing and took a temporary break, came over and asked her what was wrong that the pink-haired girl finally came to her senses. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head and said it was nothing.

It’s not that he was deliberately concealing it, but Metian felt that it would be better to discuss this matter after Lingge came back. Maybe he could be of help.
What Leticia said before she left was indeed very concerning.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)