Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 661 Will You Still Pray to Him?

"Let's stop here for this class. You guys take a break first. I'll start teaching the goddess' teachings from where we left off last time. You must listen carefully, okay?"

Ling Ge stood outside the door and waited for a few minutes until he heard Saint Shallia's voice from inside. Then he gently knocked on the copper-plated door knocker. Then a gentle reply came from inside: "Please come in. It's time to end the get out of class now."

Her tone really sounded like a teacher, and she seemed to have gradually adapted to her new identity.

Lingge pushed open the door and walked in. As expected, the layout of the first floor was the same as that of Tianxin Church. Even the height of the bronze candlesticks on the walls on both sides was exactly the same as the position of the altar in the center - except that the latter had now become Saint Xia Liya's podium, and there was a small blackboard next to it. What was written on it was not the course content, but cute stick drawings.

Students were sitting on the same basswood benches where believers had listened to the Seven Days Service in the past, with blank notebooks and pens on their knees. This scene reminded Linger of the Sunday school run by the church, but the students here were not the poor children sponsored by the church, but some girls who still believed in love and hope. Linger even saw a few incongruous silhouettes - Mr. Rabbit from the hotel, a few pots of magic plants, and even a sinister rotten wood demon sitting quietly on a bench in the corner.

The believers of the original sect once said "knowledge is not limited to the rich or the poor", but here it is not limited to any race. It is difficult to say which side is more noble, but at least they are all making the world a better place.

Ling's arrival attracted the students' attention. Metien waved her hand happily, Ling nodded to her, and then turned his eyes to Saint Shallia on the podium. However, what caught the young people's eyes earlier than Saint Shallia was the statue of the goddess behind the altar.

There used to be a statue of a goddess in Tianxin Church. It was made by a famous sculptor in Linweier City, hired by Mr. Yang Ke. The face of the goddess was hidden under the veil, and her silent eyes revealed a compassionate and loving gaze, as if she was pitying every child she left behind in the world. The statue in front of him was not only similar in overall appearance, but also had no deviation in details, which even made Ling Ge feel that it was the original statue.

And this statue is estimated to be three meters high. How did Rorona make it from the half-human-high cauldron and then move it here? Is alchemy really that magical?
Lingge couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Actually, it was mainly for Leticia.

She didn't even ask Lingge why.

He walked through the aisle between two rows of basswood benches to the podium. Saint Charity was reviewing the content of the next class. When she saw him, her eyes suddenly curved into thin crescents: "Are you here to watch them in class, Lingge?"

This scripture was originally obtained by Saint Xia Liya from Lingge. It is a good thing that it is now returned to its original owner.

There was no way to communicate with her through normal means, but because of Nevile's commission, Linger had to stay with her at least until the next full moon night, so he had no choice but to choose this method. If it was just a class, I believe that the sensitive and suspicious little vampire girl would not have much resistance.

"what is the matter?"

As she spoke, her fingers gently stroked the scriptures on the podium. The soft and delicate touch of the paper came from her fingertips. There were many signs of turning over the paper. Some were old, relics from many years ago; while some were new, left behind in recent days.

After Lingge told her his intention, Saint Shallia was surprised at first, but soon she happily agreed: "Of course, I welcome it!"

Saint Xia Liya didn't know the inside story. To her, as long as Lingge was willing to come here to teach everyone, it was a good thing. Perhaps it meant that young people's ideas were undergoing some positive changes. She asked: "So what kind of lesson do you want to teach everyone, Lingge? Explain the teachings of the goddess?"

"Can I take classes here for a few days?"

Ling Ge nodded, but then shook his head: "I guess so. Mainly, there is something I want to discuss with you."

Although she was very resistant to attending classes, that was her own problem, not Ling's.

But Linge shook his head and said, "No, you should teach this class. I will just give them a few history lessons."

"history class?"

Saint Xia Liya's eyes were filled with doubt and realization. The former was because she didn't understand why Lingge refused so decisively. He was originally a priest of the goddess, so he was naturally more suitable than anyone else to explain this canon; the latter was because she knew Lingge's experience as a teacher at St. Lowood National School from Metien. At that time, the young man seemed to be a history teacher. Should we say that he had forgotten his old job, or returned to his old job?

The young man didn't think so complicated. He just preferred his role as a history teacher to that of a pastor. Although there were no textbooks, the knowledge he had learned in those years had already been deeply imprinted in his mind. It was more than enough to deal with a few little girls in the lower grades and a group of people who had not received systematic education.

"Okay then." Saint Xia Liya did not insist on changing Ling Ge's wishes. She nodded gently and said, "Can you wait for a while? After I finish teaching them, you can explain the history lesson to them."

"kindness."

Lingge had no objection, he found a seat and sat down, just behind his sister. Meitian was very happy and seemed to want to chat with him, but the break was over, and Mr. Rabbit rang the wind chimes hanging under the porch, and the ding-dong sound announced the start of the next class.

No noise or disturbance is allowed in class. This is common sense and a rule. The pink-haired girl would not violate it. She immediately sat down and listened to Saint Shallia's teachings of the goddess. She talked about the seventh chapter and the fifth section of the canon. The goddess warned the creatures on earth not to be crushed by despair. They should always be full of hope, because what they hope for will surely bloom with new light in the future...

In fact, Ling Ge had heard these teachings from his adoptive father, Mr. Yang Ke, when he was still a silent child. But now, when he heard Saint Xia Liya tell him, he felt a different feeling in his heart, as if there was a subtle difference between his mood at that time and his mood now. But what was the difference? The young man himself was not sure, and in the end he could only attribute it to an illusion.

He quietly observed the students' reactions and found that everyone was listening very attentively, even Leticia, who hated classes the most. She lowered her head and wrote and drew in her notebook, recording the parts of Saint Shalia's story that interested her or her thoughts and experiences.

Does she want to find out what the voice that has been lingering in her ears is?

At this time, Metien finally couldn't help it. While Saint Xia Liya was concentrating on the lecture, she secretly leaned back, then grabbed the notebook with both hands, covered her mouth, and said in a very soft voice that Lingge could hear: "How is it, Lingge, is it exactly the same as the Tianxin Church before?"

"Yeah." Ling Ge did not remind her that she should concentrate on the class, but lowered his voice and replied: "I never thought you could do this."

“Hehe.” Metien smiled shyly: “It was Sister Rolena who helped me. I just drew a few blueprints.”

"By the way, Lingge." She suddenly remembered something and asked, "Now that the church has been rebuilt, will you still hold the seven-day ceremony here in the future?"

"..."

This question made Lingge fall into silence. After a while, he shook his head imperceptibly and said, "Although the appearance is exactly the same, this is no longer Tianxin Church, Metien."

"Lingge..."

"This is a classroom, so just pay attention to the lesson."

"Oh."

Metien's muffled reply came from the front row.

The two did not talk again.

Only the voice of Saint Shalia, speaking the teachings of the Goddess, still echoed gently in the sunlight of the dome, corridors and stained glass windows.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)