Endless Silver Machine

Ling once again witnessed that heart-wrenching scene in her dream.

Nia suddenly woke up from her sleep for some reason, probably because she vaguely heard the painful moans coming from around her.

With the dim light coming in from the window, she saw the unnoticeable tears hanging from the corners of Ling's eyes, who was sleeping next to her.

The slender body curled up alone, trembling from time to time with intermittent moans.

Nia gently pushed aside Ling's messy bangs, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers, and then helped her lay her curled-up body up to sleep.

Luoluo was also woken up by the rustling sounds around him. When she saw Ling's face, she knew that Ling had started to have nightmares again.

She had noticed this kind of scene when she and Ling were sleeping together in the tent. Although I don’t know what exactly Ling dreamed about, it is definitely a change that is difficult to accept in reality.

Aika once said in front of Ling that she must have many things that she has not told everyone, and Ling did not deny it, but promised to tell them all at the right time.

So now Luoluo can only believe in Ling's promise and pray that the things she conceals will not easily change the current smooth daily life.

She held Ling's hand and said nothing more.

Although she was still a little worried about Ling's condition, she knew that she could never force Ling to spit out all the pain hidden in her heart now. Only when she calms down and decides to tell everyone her unspeakable secret can we truly get in touch with the depths of her heart.

…………

The crisp sound of wind chimes sounded in the tavern in the early morning. Most of the guests who come at this time are not here to drink.

Nia returns to the bar from backstage. A girl with long chestnut-colored hair was standing at the door of the tavern. The round-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose gave her an intellectual beauty. Next to her was a girl who looked to be only about twelve or thirteen years old.

The girl was wearing cute clothes that matched her age, but the wide-brimmed straw hat on her head was a little out of proportion with her little head. From Nia's point of view, her face hidden by the straw hat could not be seen at all.

She was also holding a bulging paper bag in both hands.

"Excuse me, is there a boy here with black hair, about the same height as me, wearing a black windbreaker?"

The girl with long chestnut hair made a gesture with her hand, but it made no sense.

"I don't have much of an impression. There are so many guests here every day, how can I possibly remember everyone. Do you have anything to do with that boy?"

Nia didn't know why the girl wanted to inquire about Aika, but it was a basic rule not to reveal other people's personal information casually. What's more, now that Aika is an employee of this tavern, it is even more impossible to hand him over easily.

Therefore, Nia did not tell her that Aika was in this tavern now.

"Really..." The girl was silent for a moment, "Then if you see that boy, give the child to him. If possible, it is best to take her in. Because there is no place for the child to go, just throw it away. He might have died if he was outside."

The chestnut-haired girl pushed the girl who was standing timidly behind her forward. She timidly took off the wide-brimmed straw hat she wore on her head. The beautiful, snow-white knee-length hair hidden in the straw hat poured down. What was covered by the straw hat was the childish face that would arouse the desire to protect both men and women.

But Nia couldn't care less about admiring the girl's appearance that would turn heads every time she walked on the street. The overly conspicuous features immediately reminded her of the rumor that had been circulating among the guests recently.

"It is said that the Holy See is looking for a girl with white hair. Could it be her..."

"Maybe," the chestnut-haired girl said in a relaxed tone, "Anyway, just give her to that boy. He won't refuse after meeting the two girls around him."

The chestnut-haired girl's attitude as if she had anticipated everything made Nia wary.

"Who are you?"

It can be heard from the words of the chestnut-haired girl that she knows that Aika is here at this time, and she also knows about Luoluo and Ling.

"Big sister who has just known Aika for a few days? This kind of thing is not that important. By the way, the paper bag contains the clothes I prepared for her. There will be nothing wrong with me next."

The chestnut-haired girl simply turned around, waved her hand, and walked out of the tavern alone.

The crisp sound of wind chimes rang again, leaving a stunned Nia and the girl standing alone.

…………

Since the other party has already left, it is naturally impossible to catch up and return the person to her. Nia could only focus on the girl with hidden eyes.

"So, can you tell me your name first?"

Since the chestnut-haired girl was so sure that she knew Aika, she could decide whether to stay or go with the girl after listening to Aika's opinion. As far as Nia and Gerry know, Aika should have nothing to do with the Holy See.

It's time to learn as much as possible about this "dangerous" girl. If she is really wanted by the Holy See, as long as she is here, she will become a time bomb, which may detonate the troublesome things following her.

The white-haired girl covered most of her face with the brim of her straw hat, which seemed to make her feel more at ease.

"Wei Xi..."

Although it was not as quiet as a mosquito, it was just enough for Nia to barely hear it clearly.

Such a timid girl should not be wanted by the Holy See for doing anything harmful. Perhaps it is because of some more special reasons, such as identity and background that are difficult for outsiders to know.

After staying in a crowded tavern for a long time, Nia heard a lot about things she should know and things she shouldn't know.

"Wei Xi...why are you wanted by the Holy See? If it's convenient, can you tell your sister?"

When asked this question, the girl who called herself Wei Xi seemed to recall bad memories and let out a whimper like a small animal whining.

And this intermittent sob immediately turned into a continuous low sob as the tears appeared.

"Hey, can't you ask this question?" Nia, who made Wei Xi cry, panicked for a moment, "Wait, wait, wait, what should I do, what should I do, I don't know how to coax a child!"

In order to calm Wei Xi's sobs, Nia even overspent her energy on tomorrow's work. Until the end, Nia still didn't know the specific reason why Wei Xi was wanted by the Holy See. She only knew that she escaped from the Holy See's imprisonment.

"Escape...from the Holy See?"

The Holy See is located in the Holy Land in the center of the Bisi Empire. From there to the town of Pfa, there are dozens of towns. The chestnut-haired girl had just said not long ago that she would die if she was left alone, so how on earth did she cross dozens of towns to get here...

Thinking about that kind of problem now would only give her a headache, so Nia put aside all the irrelevant details for the time being.

"Who is the sister who brought you here?"

"I don't know...she let me stay in her room and gave me new clothes..."

"Does that mean you didn't know her before you were taken in by her?"

"know……"

"Do you know me or not..."

Nia was at least certain that the relationship between these two people was definitely more than just a simple relationship between helper and person being helped. As for why Wei Xi was hesitant about the identity of the chestnut-haired girl, it was probably because of the chestnut-haired girl's request to her.

"That sister said there are people here who can take me in, and there are people I might know... She also said there is nothing to hide from the people here..."

Wei Xi quietly raised her drooped head and stared at Nia in front of her with her big watery eyes.

——Are you the one who can take me in... Her clear eyes, still full of tears, seemed to be begging Nia.

Nia was immediately attracted by Wei Xi's innocent eyes. She seemed to have forgotten all her previous worries and hugged Wei Xi into her arms.

"How cute! Those guys from the Vatican, who use tax money to eat, don't even let such a cute child go!"

Suddenly being hugged tightly by Nia, Wei Xi struggled in her arms in a panic, but soon realized that doing so had no effect and became docile.

Nia enjoyed the soft and comfortable touch like marshmallow in her arms for a while, and then let go of Wei Xi, who had become a little dazed.

"Come upstairs with me first. There are two girls there too. You should be able to become good friends."

At this point, Nia didn't care to think about when the troublesome thing following Wei Xi would be detonated, and could only let her, Aika and the three of them meet.

…………

Asking Luo Luo, who had already woken up, to take care of Wei Xi for the time being, Nia called over Aika and Geli, who had already roughly heard about the current situation. When I arrived on the second floor, I saw Luo Luo and Wei Xi talking in the corridor.

Aika noticed that Ling, who Nia mentioned just now, seemed to have a nightmare, was not present, so she asked Luoluo.

"Ling hasn't woken up yet?"

Luoluo made a "shh" gesture and then gestured into the room. Ling was still asleep in the room, but her sleeping face was much calmer than before.

"There is one thing I want you to know...I hope you can hear the end..."

Wei Xi spoke quietly from the side, her expression seemed a little painful.

Aika had heard Nia say in advance that Wei Xi was the white-haired girl wanted by the Holy See, and Ling might be another person wanted. If this is the case, the relationship between the two of them may not be as simple as "knowing each other".

Wei Xi must have seen Ling sleeping when Nia left. What she wants to tell everyone may be Ling's hidden secret that has not yet been revealed.

"Want to go downstairs?"

Aika didn't know what the relationship between Wei Xi and Ling was, and he didn't know if they could meet, so he simply asked Wei Xi what she thought.

"No, it's right here... She may wake up at any time, and she will definitely feel uneasy without anyone around..."

Wei Xi shook her head. It seemed that she was really related to Ling, but she didn't seem to show the joy of being reunited after meeting Ling.

"A week ago, our Holy See organized a mission called 'Inventory of Lost Objects'. The lost object was the magic weapon 'Light Flame Sword' that disappeared a long time ago... There are very few records about the 'Light Flame Sword' , it is obviously a magic outfit named after 'Mechanical Alchemy'... I only know that it does not have a fixed form of appearance, and it has other forms besides the original long sword form..."

After hearing Wei Xi's description, Aika, who didn't know much about this type of weapon, immediately thought of the golden long knife she used.

"Could it be Ling's..."

Aika remembered that when fighting the fire wolves, the long knife used by Ling could be converted into two small dachi swords and golden particles.

"Yes. Miss Ling is the last member of the 'Heinz' family and the current owner of the 'Light Flame Sword'."

"The last person?" Gurley muttered in confusion, and then glanced at Ling, who was still lying in the room. "Your Holy See has found out the information about the 'Heinz' family. This family has disappeared soon." A hundred years ago.”

"Is that 'Heinz' family also given a noble surname?"

This familiar way of calling Gurli just told Aika its meaning two days ago.

"The 'Heinz' family was one of the most powerful families in the 'Cross-border War' a hundred years ago. After the war, it and the 'Chinese' family were known as the 'Beas Twin Towers', which means they are the most resilient family in the Beas Empire. The two pillars of the world. Didn't your parents mention it? When we were children, we often listened to our parents telling their stories, but we don't know whether those stories were beautified or not. Because just a few years after the cross-border war ended, those two The Fu family disappeared from the scene at the same time. The 'Heinz' family probably chose to live in seclusion, and the 'Qianze' family may have been the same. Historical records about the two Fu families have also been erased. Sorry to interrupt you for so long, please continue."

Wei Xi, who was waiting obediently for Gurley to finish his explanation, nodded. Geli probably noticed that Wei Xi always spoke slowly. If he needed to explain such common sense background to Aika and Luoluo, no amount of time would be enough, so he finished it for her in one breath.

"I am an orphan, and the Holy See adopted me... After the magic level assessed there, it seemed to be a little above the standard, so I started learning magic... All of them are enchantment magic, and most of them are a little bit good. ...So I later became a knight of the Holy See, and I was a little proud at that time..."

"At that time"...that is to say, what happened later to make her disappointed?

"'Searching for lost objects' was the first mission I received after becoming a knight of the Holy See. Dad... Pope Sethis asked me to serve as rear support and cooperate with others... But later I found out that the mission The purpose is to find the magic weapon 'Light Flame Sword', but it's not really like that..."

"Could it be that the disappeared village... has anything to do with that mission?"

Aika remembered the gossip that Gurli told her a few days ago. The disappeared village he once mentioned, Aika once thought it was his hometown. But recalling what Ling once told him and the location described by Gurli...

——I came here from a place a little further away, closer to the seaside, and I also passed your village on the way.

——The village that disappeared out of thin air is farther than where you said it is, and is already close to the coastline.

"Well..." Wei Xi endured the heavy atmosphere and nodded, her long white hair swaying slightly, "After the mission, Pope Sethis destroyed that village... I will never forget it... At that time..." Wei Xi said, and finally couldn't help sobbing in a choked tone, "Everything would have turned out like that because I was there... If it weren't for me..."

Nia gently hugged Wei Xi and touched her head gently, hoping that this would calm her heart.

This time Wei Xi was not thinking about escaping from Nia, but just suppressed her crying in her arms.

Aika seems to have been vaguely aware of the relationship between Wei Xi and Ling. The relationship between them may not be the kind of relationship that Nia thought, where they could become friends.

Maybe the two of them shouldn't meet here.

…………