[Qiaxike, a small iron mining town at the Northern Continent Border, known for producing knives.]
[Before the Empress ascended the throne, this town was ravaged by the fires of war, and countless people suffered the devastation of this conflict.]
"Quick, get out of the way!"
A roar echoed beside her ears.
More violent than the voice was the roar of artillery shells, as a broad figure barred all view before the wall collapsed.
Sothing was crashing over.
It was a big object.
Even tens of ters away, one could hear the whistling sound.
And then—
"Boom."
Flas and heat waves shattered the walls, and the man, with arms wide open, was engulfed by countless rays of light.
The boundless light tore through the night, stirring up countless storms.
Swallowing the girl.
"Huff!"
The Dream shattered as a slender figure sat up abruptly.
The girl’s coarse cloth shirt was soaked with sweat.
All around was silent, with only the wind and snow faintly whispering outside the window; there were no artillery shells or fires of war. This was no longer Qiaxike; she had fled that nightmare of a town, yet no matter how she escaped, she could not outrun the war that swept through the Northern Continent.
"Xiao Qiu... you awake?"
The girl’s abrupt movent startled the lightly sleeping woman beside her.
"Aunt Ai..."
The girl murmured, "I dread again..."
Aunt Ai also sat up, gently cradling the young girl’s head in her arms, her voice as warm as sunshine: "Xiao Qiu, the war is about to end. The legion marching against the Red Emperor has reached Central City, and the Lin Family is about to achieve victory."
The girl’s eyes were bewildered.
She felt the warmth of the embrace, looking out the window where the cold wind howled, faint beams of light spilling from the dense clouds above but the dawn was yet to arrive, and the entire earth remained shrouded in darkness.
"The Lin Family is about to achieve victory."
This statent had circulated in the Northern Continent Border for many years.
The war had lasted six years.
From the first year, the Northern Continent people had heard this "good news"... except the Red Emperor’s legion continued to retreat inland yet defended the fortress; the Lin Family had the upper hand but fought arduously.
"Aunt Ai..."
The girl’s vision blurred, and she softly said, "I saw my dad... is he still in Qiaxike..."
The two embraced.
Yet could not find rest.
Much later, Aunt Ai gently humd.
"The three great legions of the Lin Family have besieged the inland; the war is in its final stage... Qiaxike has now been ’liberated’."
She softly patted the girl’s back, her movents slow and gentle, "We’re going back now."
The girl nervously asked, "But when we go back... will we still be able to see him?"
"Hard to say."
Aunt Ai laughed, "Rember, your father said that after liberation he would be a ’traveler,’ so he might have already left Qiaxike... well, by daylight we’re on the road again, heading south from Deep Scale, it’s half a month’s journey, you need to rest well."
The girl obediently lay down.
Aunt Ai continued gently patting her back, humming a soft tune until she fell back asleep.
She turned and got up, covered the girl with a thin quilt, then tidied her clothes and cautiously pushed open the wooden door.
Their resting place was just outside an old church, long in disrepair.
Not far among the snowy trees perched one after another of Crows, as the long night would soon be over, they hid in the deepest parts of the darkness, observing the ’Gospel’ church with its Holy Cross atop.
The war between the Lin Family and the Red Emperor continued for six years.
In these six years, only a few places inland Northern Continent were safe... one being the "Holy Church" adhering to the Light doctrine, and neither the Red Emperor nor the Lin Family would risk offending Light City of the West Continent.
Being able to reside in the church was considered a great fortune.
"Lord Virgil."
Aunt Ai donned a black cloak and found the kind priest reading in the attic, Virgil, who was a Central Continent person, and being from Central Continent was the second protective Token in this war.
Virgil said he was born into a noble family in the Central Continent Upper City, who upon hearing the gospel of Light, decided to join the church, and finally traveled afar to preach in the Northern Continent where not long after arriving, he encountered war. He could have left back to Light City or Upper City; both were good options but, in the end, he chose to stay to witness the historical changes of this continent.
Candlelight flickered, reflecting a solemn face devoid of desires.
Virgil closed the book, slowly raising his head.
"I’m here to bid you farewell." Aunt Ai said sincerely: "Thank you for taking care of us these days and being willing to take Xiao Qiu and in. On , there’s nothing of value... I’d like to give ’this’ as thanks, I hope you don’t mind."
From within the cloak, she took out an item.
A golden necklace, of average quality, one that the wealthy would not wear.
Virgil took just a glance before withdrawing his gaze, pushing the necklace away, asking gently: "Are you leaving already? Why so suddenly?"
"It is rather sudden."
Aunt Ai’s eyes showed a smile.
She shared excitent with the courteous, kind priest, "I heard the Rust Bone General defeated the ’Red Emperor’s’ southern line defense, completely liberating the southern border... so I thought to take Xiao Qiu back to Qiaxike to have a look."
"Qiaxike?"
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