Sword of Dawn

After a flash of light, Daniel also left the hall. In the huge indoor space, only Selina Gerfen, who was standing quietly, and a cloud of deep purple and silvery white spots floating above the round table were left. , a starlight aggregate whose surrounding contours fluctuate.

After a long silence, a long sigh suddenly came from the starlight aggregate: "Selena, today's situation reminds me of 700 years ago."

"The situation is really bad, Your Majesty the Pope," Selina said softly, "even...worse than 700 years ago."

"The druids have failed, and the people of the deep sea have lost themselves in the deep sea. The road we stick to seems to be facing a desperate situation," the voice of Pope Megaul III sounded quietly, "Perhaps in the end we will have to Completely abandoning the entire spiritual network, and even costing the lives of hundreds of compatriots...But compared to these losses, what I regret most is that our 700 years of hard work seem to..."

"Your Majesty, it's too early to say these things," Selina suddenly interrupted Megal III, "we haven't reached the point where we have to make a decision, the things in the No. [-] sandbox... at least for now They are still being held tightly by us.”

"But it is already consciously trying to escape, it has realized where the boundaries of the cage are, and next, it will try to break through the boundaries at all costs. If it leaves the No. [-] sandbox, it can enter the mind network, and With the help of the psychic network, it can pass through those compatriots living in the real world and rule over reality. At that time, I am afraid that we will really call it 'He'."

Selena remained silent, but recalled her experience in Phantom Town in her heart, and recalled the "extra person" who almost returned to the City of Dreams with the exploration team.

Although Phantom Town is just an "overflow projection" and not the body of the No. [-] sandbox, when the pollution has gradually spread, if the things in the projection want to enter the spiritual network, they are the "things" in the No. [-] sandbox. One of the attempts to break out of the cage.

She couldn't help clenching her fists a little bit hard, and couldn't help but think of the darkest and most desperate days 700 years ago.

The pollution from the gods took thousands of minds away, and the most steadfast priests and believers fell into frenzy overnight. The "Lord" who was once deeply revered became an indescribable monster, and the church inhabited was torn apart. My compatriots lost and fallen in the frenzy...

Those who stayed awake paid an unimaginable price to rebuild the order, and it took hundreds of years for the surviving compatriots to recover step by step, just because of that little hope that was almost self-deceiving, these wandering in the rational Survivors of Borderlands and Madness paranoidly made plans to get to where they are today.

Then, all roads were cut off in just two or three years, and 700 years of persistence and that faint hope were finally proved to be nothing but the delusions of mortals' blind arrogance.

All efforts are just paving the way for the gods.

But... Is the matter of "trying to survive" really just a delusion?

Selena raised her head, looked at the slowly wriggling starlight aggregate in midair, and said calmly: "Maybe our path is wrong, but it doesn't mean that the right path doesn't exist. In the final analysis, we also Only tried three paths."

The voice of Megal III came: "What you said...reminds me of Franken's last message to me before merging with the body of the false god."

"Your Excellency the Grand Master..." Selena blinked, "What did he say?"

"He said, 'There are many roads, I'll try one of them, and if it's not right, don't give up'," Megaul III's voice was calm and indifferent, but Selina could hear a trace of emotion from it, "Now Think about it, he may have been vaguely aware of hidden dangers in our three roads at that time, but it was too late for him to remind us, and it was difficult for us to try other directions."

"The druids try to create a 'controlled god' with humanity, we try to cut off the chains from the depths of the soul, the people of the sea try to upgrade the elements, and merge with the wreckage of the Lord of Storms..." Sai Lina said one by one, "It seems that we may have been too arrogant when we initially discussed these three paths."

Megaul III was silent for a long time before he opened his mouth and said: "Anyway, since we chose and opened the road of cutting off the chains, then we must face everything about it, including preparing to bury this road, That's ... the responsibility of the Blazers."

"Yes, as you said."

"Rest, I have to think about the future of the order."

Selina lowered her head, and in her perception, the consciousness of Megaul III gradually moved away from this place.

She kept this posture for a long time, and it was not until a few minutes later that her voice sounded softly in the empty chamber: "...A pioneer..."

……

After the meeting ended, Hetty returned to her office in the Government Affairs Hall alone without communicating with anyone.

The entire third floor of the government affairs hall is very quiet. On the rest day of Zhou Shi, most of the non-urgent matters will be left to be dealt with next week, and the office of the Grand Consul will also be rare and quiet.

The heater made a slight humming sound, warm air was blowing from the ventilation pipe in the corner of the room, the magic spar lamp on the roof had already been lit, and the bright radiance dispelled the gloom at dusk outside the window, and the sight through the wide Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see the lights on both sides of the street opposite the square. Citizens who have enjoyed the leisure time on the rest day are returning home under the lights, or going to the pubs, cafes, and chess and card rooms in the streets and alleys for a small gathering.

Looking at the citizens coming and going, looking at the imperial capital far away from the darkness amid the artificial lights, Heti suddenly thought of the words he heard in the previous meeting——

Gods did not create humans, humans created gods.

"Is the same for the Goddess of Magic..."

Hetty couldn't help talking to herself, and gently outlined the four basic runes of wind, water, fire, and earth with her fingers in the air. Then she clenched her hands into fists, put her fists against her forehead, and chanted magic softly The honorable name of the goddess Mirmina.

This is the standard procedure for mages who believe in the goddess of magic to perform simple prayers.

As a somewhat special god, Mirmina, the goddess of magic, does not have a formal church and priest system. Mages who are in charge of extraordinary power and lack awe of the gods mostly regard the goddess of magic as a kind of psychological sustenance or worthwhile. Worshiping the awe-inspiring "origin of knowledge", but this does not mean that the "divine nature" of the goddess of magic has been shaken and weakened in this world.

Gods are real, even mages who are keen to explore the truth of the world and believe that knowledge and wisdom can explain the operation of all things, also recognize this, so they undoubtedly believe that the goddess of magic is a real god.

It's just that their feelings for this god may be more "reasonable" and "peaceful" than other believers' feelings for the gods they believe in.

The mages are all shallow believers of the goddess of magic, Mirmina, but they have almost never heard of fanatics of the goddess of magic among the mages.

And Heidi... can be regarded as one of the more pious mages who believe in the goddess of magic.

This point, even if she knew about the rebellious plan, even if she participated in and promoted many "theocratic secularization" projects of her ancestors, it has not changed.

Because in her concept, these things are not detrimental to the brilliance of the goddess of magic itself-the gods have existed like that, since ancient times, they have existed forever, they are as natural as the stars in the sky, and they are not affected by mortals. Behavior changes, regardless of "theocratic secularization" or "theocratic monarchy", are nothing more than correcting wrong behaviors in the process of mortal belief. An attempt by the influence of the gods to step out of one's own path.

It's all mortals' own business, and has nothing to do with gods—this may be the way of thinking of most mages.

However, what she heard at the meeting today shook the foundation of the gods.

The result of praying to the Goddess of Magic was the same as before. Hetty could feel a mysterious and inexplicable power surging in a very distant dimension, but she could not hear any oracle from Mirmina, nor could she feel the arrival of divine magic. .

Mirmina is the only god who almost never sends oracles, or even shows miracles and magic spells. If it weren't for the most basic feedback from her prayers, the mages might not even be sure about her. The gods still exist.

"Goddess...you should be able to hear it?" In the short silence of receiving feedback after praying, Hetty whispered in a tone that seemed to be talking to herself, "Maybe you don't have time to respond to every voice, but You should be able to hear it too...

"Are you really created by the collective thoughts of mortals... Are you an existence like a group of stars, or are you a collective illusion of us mortals..."

Mirmina, the goddess of magic, did not respond. Only the indescribable feeling of detachment, holiness, and tranquility still floated in Hetty's heart, but soon, this feeling of peace caused by the feedback of prayers suddenly disappeared.

Hetty heard the sound of knocking on the door panel behind him: "Hetty, didn't I disturb you?"

Hetty turned around quickly and saw Gao Wen standing at the door, she hurriedly saluted: "Ancestor——do you need something from me?"

"It's nothing, I just saw that your door is open and there are still lights inside, so come and have a look." Gawain walked into Hetty's office and glanced at the latter casually, "I saw you as if you were praying just now?"

"I..." Hetty opened her mouth, but nodded slightly after a little hesitation, "I am praying to the goddess of magic, Mirmina."

"Ah, I remember you are a follower of Mirmina," Gawain said without surprise, "Looking at you, you're feeling a little restless, right?"

"I made you worry," Hetty lowered her head, "Actually, I'm fine."

"It's a pity that I'm not a believer in any god, and it's hard to empathize with you at this time," Gao Wen patted Heidi's shoulder lightly, "But I know that the concept that has accompanied me for decades is suddenly challenged. It’s an uncomfortable thing for humans.”

Hetty looked at Gawain, and suddenly asked boldly: "In your time, how many people did not believe in any gods like you?"

"...much more than you can imagine," Gawain said slowly after a moment of silence, "but people who don't believe in gods are not necessarily people without faith."

Hetty tilted her head slightly, thinking and feeling a little bit: "A lot of what you say is always full of philosophy."

"Sometimes it's just the experience summed up by the predecessors." Gawain shook his head with a smile, then looked into Heidi's eyes, "Can you come out by yourself?"

"can."

"That's good, but if you really encounter difficulties or confusion that you can't get out of, you can come to me at any time-we are family."

Hetty looked at Gawain and suddenly laughed: "Of course, ancestor."

"Today is a rest day, let's go back early," Gao Wen hummed, glanced at the sky outside, and said with a smile, "On the last day of this year, don't work overtime in the government affairs office. I will give you extra permission tomorrow." Take a day off and have a good rest——I will help you arrange the things here."

This time, Hetty laughed from the bottom of her heart: "Yes, ancestor!"

The two left the room. In the huge office, the light of the magic spar lamp was silently extinguished. As the darkness surged in, the light from the street lamps from the square and street outside also dimly shone into the room, outlining all the furnishings in the office. shadowy.

In the silence, a little light suddenly appeared.

At the position where Hetty once outlined the four basic runes and prayed to the goddess of magic, a group of translucent glow suddenly condensed, and after a few seconds, it broke silently. It flew across the room like a firefly, and was gradually absorbed by the printers, magic net units, and magic net terminals installed in the room, without any trace remaining.

Chapter 0769

In a blink of an eye, winter is already halfway through, and the turbulent and eventful Ansu 738 (the first year of Cecil) came to an end in a snowstorm in the deep winter, and the time has come to the beginning of the year.

In the past year, too many things have happened in this ancient and young country. The former kingship came to an end, the once-divided country was reunited, it was like a natural disaster, large-scale reconstruction, the reshuffle of the old aristocratic system, The dawn of a new era...

In the dark, it seems that a god in charge of destiny suddenly overturned his desk this year, turning the entire kingdom upside down. When the dust settled, people realized after a while: ,changed.

In the south of Panshi City, a brand new magic train is quietly parked beside the platform, waiting for the order to depart.

The cold wind raged and fluttered outside the platform, rolling up loose snowflakes and lighter dead branches and leaves into the air, but a hazy, translucent shield shrouded the edge of the platform, blocking the wind that rolled into the station. cold wind.On the rectangular platform with two long rows of seats, some passengers are sitting on the chairs waiting for the train to arrive, while other passengers are boarding the next train under the guidance of the guide.

Most of these passengers were wearing jackets with closed pockets and straight trousers that have become popular in the southern region in the past two years. They wore thick soft hats or felt hats on their heads. Most of them wear "simple long skirts" that combine practicality and beauty, and wear cotton clothes with good thermal insulation inside the long skirts, and a few women wear jackets and trousers specially designed for women when traveling by car .

This is an unbelievable sight for those who are new to this place—before Ansu 736, even in the southern border, few civilian women would go out wearing "outrageous" clothing like trousers, because the blood Mainstream sects such as God of God, God of War, and God of Holy Light, as well as nobles from all over the world, often have strict regulations on this:

Only noble ladies and ladies with higher status have the right to wear breeches, fencing trousers and other clothing to participate in hunting and martial arts performances, or to wear various dresses, long skirts, court skirts and other clothing to participate in banquets. "Decent" clothes that conform to the content of noble life, while civilian women are not allowed to wear "illegal" trousers, shorts, and "colorful dresses" other than black, white, brown, and gray under any circumstances (unless They have been registered as prostitutes), otherwise they will be fined by the church or nobles, and those who are serious will be punished or even enslaved in the name of "offending the doctrine" and "breaking the rules".

It wasn't until the Frost Moon of 736 in Ansu that the white knights led the people to smash open the cathedral in Lu'an City, and a decree from the Supreme Government Office disarmed all churches in the territory from the private armed forces and religious trial rights, and the restrictions in this area were gradually loosened. After more than two years of changing customs, some bold and general-educated civilian women finally began to wear trousers to go out.

In places outside the southern border, general education has only just started, and customs change has just started. Even if the government affairs department encourages the people to accept the new social order, basically no one will challenge the old customs that have not completely receded.

In the second half of the train, in a special compartment, the cold and noble Victoria Wilde with long silver hair and wearing a court dress looked away from the window. Nodded: "Earl Bahrain, what do you think?"

The Grand Consul of the Northern Territory has recently completed her phased affairs in San Sunil. Due to some work needs, she will go to the imperial capital to report on her duties. For this reason, she also brought several officials from the San Sunil Administration Office and The Earl of Balin who assisted her in the affairs of Saint-Sunil.

The Earl of Bahrain, who was slightly fat, looked at the platform outside with a slightly complicated expression: "...A lot of things are really only seen in my life. I once felt that although I am not very knowledgeable, I am still well-informed, but here, I can’t even think of a few suitable adjectives.”

While speaking, the royal nobleman couldn't help but shook his head: "Anyway, this place is indeed as rumored, a place to 'challenge concepts'. I can't even tell which of the people outside is a poor man. Which one is a citizen and which one is an aristocrat... Oh, the aristocrats can still tell, the man who was accompanied by his attendants just now and walked with his head held high should be a minor aristocrat, but it's really hard to judge the others."

Victoria was noncommittal to Earl Bahrain's words, but glanced out of the window again, and whispered as if talking to herself: "It is richer and more dynamic than anywhere in the north."

"It's true that commoners wear finer clothes, and women who wear men's clothes... Ah, I shouldn't judge women so vulgarly, but this is the first time I have seen anything other than women's breeches and women's fencing trousers Other than that..." Earl Bahrain seemed to be at a loss for words when he spoke, so he could only shrug his shoulders in embarrassment, "And look at those skirts, they are so colorful, and each one seems to be brand new."

"The trade with the Typhon Empire has brought cheap textiles, plus our own textile and garment factories, 'clothes' are no longer a luxury for ordinary people," Victoria said lightly, "It's just that in the south , what is broken is not only the 'price' of clothes, but also the 'customs' that are entangled in these daily necessities..."

The Earl of Bahrain was quite emotional: "The 'customs and regulations' in the southern border seem to be extremely loose. I can't imagine that so many churches and nobles have accepted the new decree formulated by the Government Affairs Department so quickly, and accepted various changes in etiquette and regulations... here In a way, they seem to be much smarter than those stubborn churches and nobles in the north."

"'Smart'?" Victoria's eyes that seemed to contain ice and snow quietly glanced at Earl Bahrain, "Earl Bahrain, the priests and nobles in the south suddenly became more intelligent after the shelling of Crushed Stone Ridge and the Great Trial of Luan City. Enlightened, the logic here is the same as that of the northern barbarians who suddenly changed from being brave and good at fighting to being good at singing and dancing after the formation of the Mountain Corps."

Amid the Earl of Bahrain's sudden expression of not knowing how to react, the corners of the "Ice Duke" in the north seemed to be slightly raised, and he said to himself: "The things I saw here may have given me a hint... ..."

The Earl of Bahrain suddenly felt a little cold, but it is very common to feel the cold beside the Duchess Victoria. He quickly adapted, then twisted his neck, looked around, and looked not far away carriage entrance.

The accompanying attendants, guards, maids, and officials are all the passengers in this carriage. Behind this carriage, there are two special carriages with rest rooms, which have also been booked by the Grand Consul and his party—but Bahrain The count knew that besides this, there were many other "ordinary" passengers on this train, and even the few carriages they occupied belonged to them only during the journey. These carriages will also welcome new travelers.

Because it all belongs to the "public".

This made Mr. Earl, who was used to his family's carriage and private griffin, a little uncomfortable.

"Your Excellency, Duchess, why did you choose to take the 'train'?" He couldn't help asking, "Private magic vehicles or griffins are more suitable for your status..."

"Have you experienced the 'train'?" Victoria glanced at Earl Bahrain and asked indifferently.

"I...not." The Earl of Balin shook his head, "You know, there is no such thing in the north."

"I don't have either, so I want to experience it," Victoria said indifferently. "Every time I come here, there are many things worth...experience."

While talking, she turned her head sideways, looking at the scenery on the platform outside through the transparent crystal glass next to the train carriage.

A huge mechanical clock stood in the middle of the platform. On the mechanical clock, the long iron black hands were jumping one by one.

The Earl of Bahrain couldn't help being curious when he saw Victoria's actions: "What are you looking at?"

On the platform, some passengers waiting for the next train and a few staff members have arrived near the mechanical clock at some time. These people all looked up at the jumping pointer, and at the bottom of the dial, behind the transparent glass pane, it was rotating gear, with a hint of anticipation and pleasure on his face.

"Something that is about to be extended to the entire empire."

The second hand of the mechanical clock is advancing towards the top one by one. On both sides of the platform, the holographic projections representing the stop of boarding have risen, and there are faint tremors coming from the bottom of the train carriage.

"Things that are extended to the entire empire?" Earl Bahrain was a little confused. "Clocks? They are also available in the north and west—although most of them are only in churches and noble homes at present..."

Before Mr. Earl finished speaking, the long pointer had already coincided with the top of the dial, and almost at the same time, a melodious and loud flute sound suddenly came from the top of the carriage, resounding through the entire platform, and made everyone in the carriage The Earl of Balin was taken aback.

The repulsion mechanism on both sides of the whole train turned synchronously, and the runes lit up one by one. With a loud roar, this huge steel machine began to accelerate slowly and began to drive towards the wilderness.

"It's punctuality, Earl of Bahrain," Victoria retracted her gaze from the window, "and the pursuit of 'punctuality'. This is part of the new order."

On the platform that was gradually going away, the passengers and staff who were staring at the mechanical clock and waiting for the train to depart had already applauded happily, and some even cheered a little.

This is a little pastime when you are bored, and it is also a "Southern feature" on train platforms in various places. It is a "waiting entertainment" that has gradually become popular among train passengers and station staff in the recent period.

Trains were not always on time, and the word "delay" was a frequent occurrence in the railway system, but even so, His Majesty the Emperor ordered that a mechanical clock with a uniform time be set at every station and on every train, and passed through The magic network communication in the southern border is uniformly calibrated, and at the same time, the process of vehicle dispatching in various places is optimized and adjusted again and again.

Since the factories in Cecil City began to operate, the Supreme Government Office has been working hard to introduce the "concept of time" into people's lives, and these mechanical clocks on the station are obviously part of this effort.

Efforts will eventually bear fruit—at least, people are pursuing punctuality, and trains that leave on time are something to be proud of in the eyes of people in the southern border.

……

Grand Consul Victoria Wilde from the north will come to the south to report on his duties in the near future.

Cecil City, Mage District, in a house in the southern block, Fendil Wilder, with short silver hair and a tall figure, was standing in front of the window facing the street, holding the newspaper he just bought this morning in his hand, looking at Landed on a headline on the front page of a newspaper.

The newspaper is heavy, the headlines are heavy, and the heart is also heavy.

There was a sudden knock on the door, and Fendil raised his heavy head, adjusted his expression, and said politely, "Please come in."

The door opened, and Eleven Franklin appeared outside the door. The heir to the West was also holding a newspaper in his hand, and waved it as soon as he entered the room: "Fendil, it seems that Duchess Victoria is coming to the South soon. !"

Fendil weakly raised the newspaper in his hand: "I already know."

"Oh...yes, you also have the habit of reading newspapers." Eleven nodded suddenly, and then looked at Fendil's face curiously, "What's the matter, my friend, you don't seem to be in a good mood?"

Fendil couldn't help but glared at the other party: "It's probably equivalent to your mood when you suddenly learned that your father is coming to see you tomorrow."