"Atula?"
A squad of patrolling soldiers recognized the woman.
"Could it really be you? I thought I was mistaken."
"They all said you were dead. Forgive , I don’t know how to express my joy right now."
"Flora?" Atula was equally surprised as she stepped forward to reminisce with the young Titan girl. "I’m glad you’re okay. How have things been in the city these days?"
"How else could it be? Thousands of corpses are carried out of the prison every day, the cells are already filled with bodies. We’re only spared because of our strong bodies; the plague can’t affect us."
Flora, holding the reins, shook her head atop the robust sheep-horned horse, her expression not optimistic.
"But it’s been tough for us too, all the dirty and hard work is given to us."
"Who knows when these days will end."
"Let’s not talk about this. It’s rare to et, let’s chat about old tis. Rember the last ti..."
When they reached an interesting topic, their tall bodies leaned back and forth with laughter, the hearty laughter echoing down the empty street.
Sevia silently stood in place, watching them exchange lively conversation. Just as she planned to look around nearby, Atula called out to her.
"Let introduce you to a friend I just t, Sevia."
Atula pulled Sevia in front of Flora.
"Sevia, doesn’t sound like soone from around here." Flora appeared thoughtful.
"Ah, you don’t know, it was this lady who saved outside, otherwise, I wouldn’t have returned." Atula said.
"Is that so? I must thank you. Atula and I grew up wearing the sa pants."
As she got closer, Sevia realized how tall the sheep-horned horses they sat on really were.
She barely reached the joints of the horse’s legs. The sturdy tendons rose like a small hill; compared to a horse, it was more like a young brontosaurus, with its curved horns reflecting a bronze sheen, its long neck held high, and its nostrils snorting defiance.
The strength required to ride steadily on its back was imaginable.
"Miss Sevia, how tall are you?" Flora asked with a smile.
"One ter seventy," Sevia replied expressionlessly.
"You must be mistaken. I rember that the joints of my sheep-horned horse are less than five feet..."
This ant that perhaps, at the mont, the blue-haired girl in boots was barely over one ter sixty.
"She probably can’t even reach the stirrups."
Atula laughed to defuse the situation for Sevia. "What Flora ans is, would you like to co up and sit? You can see further from a higher position."
It was an undisputed fact that the Titan Clan was tall. Atula’s two and a half ters were below average height for the clan, with rumors that General Frieza stood nearly three ters tall, very imposing.
"With such thin arms and legs, can she manage it? These sheep-horned horses have a fierce temperant and require strength to control," Flora said, glancing at Sevia and laughing heartily.
Atula said nothing, walking toward one of the sheep-horned horses, preparing to mount. The blue-haired girl appeared silently at her side, her gaze serene as her hand gently caressed the horse’s mane.
To their astonishnt, the previously proud sheep-horned horse beca docile at the girl’s touch, lowering its head quietly.
Sevia lightly leapt onto the horse’s back, her slender legs slightly closed, letting out a soft laugh.
"It seems they aren’t just subdued by brute force."
"Speaking to them kindly, they’re willing to listen, aren’t they?"
The two were speechless, acknowledging the girl had won this round.
The trio headed toward the distant high wall, followed by the patrol soldiers. Atula led in front, guiding the horse. Along the way, they saw many people trying to escape the soldiers, only to be harshly subdued to the ground.
A man struggled off a prison carriage, accidentally stumbling under the sheep-horned horse, mistaking the girl for nobility and kneeling.
"Please, help . I really am not sick; I can’t go to prison..."
"My wife died. I have two children at ho, without care, they’ll die too. I have work, I’m about to get a considerable paynt, they can’t imprison !"
Sevia was montarily at a loss.
The approaching soldiers quickly lifted the man, saluted Sevia, and escorted the man, now appearing much older, to the prison carriage.
The man’s desolate eyes etched deeply into the girl’s own. Sevia recalled many past mories.
Only those who are utterly despairing show such eyes.
At so point, she had seen many eyes like these.
She couldn’t bear such eyes and didn’t want to see people suffering.
She had tried to save people.
If bearing all the suffering herself could rid the world of any coldness and injustice, allowing people to live forever in a beautiful Eden, she would choose self-sacrifice without hesitation.
This sacrifice didn’t stem from self-consolation.
But from her psychological flaw.
Perhaps, she wasn’t taking.
But seeking liberation.
Willingness to harm herself for the suffering of others didn’t co from her nobility but her selfishness.
If the fields were filled with bird songs and flowers.
Then, confronting her wounded self in the mirror.
Sevia would feel beautiful.
Perhaps, she was quite seriously ill.
Seeing the girl suddenly silent, Atula teased, "What, can’t stand these lousy things?"
"Yes." Sevia replied.
"Grandma Hatan often said, there’s nothing the Titan Clan can’t do," Atula suddenly sang a song from their holand.
"If there is, then our arms aren’t broad enough, our muscles aren’t strong enough!"
"As long as our power is strong enough and our will is firm, there’s nothing to fear!"
"I think this applies to you, too. Even though I don’t know where you’re from, you seem delicate yet so stubborn and resilient, always appearing unhappy. I knew your mind must be filled with other people’s troubles."
"If you can’t stand this world and think there’s too much suffering, instead of wearing a gloomy face all day, why not find a way to beco strong, strong enough to change everything!"
"Power..." Sevia lowered her gaze, looking at her hand, softly murmuring the word.
"I don’t have such grand ambitions, just thinking of saving those people." Atula said.
"Ending suffering, those grand aspirations, are left for the big figures. My biggest wish is to lead a few Farr Sheep back to my hotown, strip off all clothes, lie on the sheep’s back, and sing loudly across the plains of Tulatan!"
Sevia began to reevaluate the friend she had t in this foreign land.
"So, where are we heading now?"
"Flora just told , a group of Wizards has co to Pangard, talking about a century ago, sothing about the Parasite Miracle, claiming they can help us solve this plague and they want to see our King."
"The General has detained them. Since we have nothing better to do, I’ll take you to see the fortifications."
Hearing this, Sevia’s expression turned solemn.
" ’Parasite Miracle’..."
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