The Walled City Academy, the Wind Bell Tree Forest.
On the other side of the blue lake, between the rolling hills, on the mountain face close to the south, there is a lush area of Jacaranda trees, and now is the season when their flowers are in full bloom.
The golden corolla is symmetrical and drooping, like a wind chime, with wrinkled edges, emitting a sweet floral fragrance. Some bees fly among them, collecting nectar.
Under the shade of yellow flowers, two students followed a guide and slowly walked through this sparsely populated forest.
"Are we almost there? It looks beautiful here." said one of the blonde girls.
The leader in front, wearing a jet-black robe with a dark purple lining, was somewhat displeased when he heard the question and replied coldly, "Not yet. Don't ask nonsense questions."
"What? Such a bad attitude." The girl also got angry. Before coming to school, she was the most favored one in her family and among the people around her. When had she ever been looked down upon like this?
"Okay, just bear with it a little longer, it will probably be over soon." Another girl advised.
In this way, the blonde girl muttered as she walked behind. They turned several corners and finally walked into a hidden valley.
Because of the dense shade of the trees, it seems a bit cold and damp here. The fallen leaves on the ground also have a distinct sense of decay. A lot of dark green moss can be seen between the tree roots and the gaps between the dead leaves.
As they walked deeper and deeper, they could barely see the sun in the sky, only the white mist in the forest and the occasional strange bird calls. At this point, the two girls also began to feel a little scared.
"Why don't we go back?" the blonde girl said in a low voice.
"This isn't a good idea. I'm a little scared, but since I'm here, and it doesn't count as leaving school, it should... be fine." Another person whispered.
The leader in front heard the conversation between the two, sneered, and ignored the two frightened people, continuing to walk forward.
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Beneath a large tree covered with vines and moss, a dilapidated wooden house is hidden. Some of the wood of the house has rotted, and some are slightly broken. It seems that it was built a long time ago.
There was a small open space in front of the wooden house. There was a bonfire burning in the middle of a pile of firewood. On the fire was a large pot, in which something unknown was being brewed. The air was filled with green smoke from wet firewood and a strange medicinal smell from the pot. Surrounding the open space was a group of people in black robes. They appeared to be both men and women, about 30 people in total.
Jenna and her former classmates were also standing there in black robes, listening to a man in a black robe at the top talking about the rules and requirements of the club.
"First, everything our community does is for the ultimate goal of making humanity great again."
“Secondly, to do this we need to trust and help each other and share something together.”
"Third, all content of the club is confidential to the outside world and cannot be disclosed to other classmates, teachers, relatives, etc. at will."
....
"Everything is done to restore the glory of Aekkar, the great wonder of the twilight age."
Jenna slowly savored and pondered the meaning of this. Was this organization related to the Twilight Age? But wasn't that unofficial history and legend, something that wasn't even mentioned in the textbooks?
The Twilight Age and the Age of Giants and Dragons had almost no connection between the two, and it was unknown how long they separated, perhaps thousands or tens of thousands of years. But it was now generally accepted that the current world evolved from the war between giants and dragons.
The main forces of giants are in the western continent, and dragons are in the eastern continent. Now that giants are extinct, dragons are rare and hidden. After the other races have flourished, humans will eventually unify the world.
How can such history be said to be great again? Were the ancients ever more "greater" than we are now?
While Jenna was puzzled, a man in black robes led two students who were obviously new students and walked towards them through the swamps and dense forests in the valley.
One of the old members came out immediately, first pulled the two aside to give some explanations, then helped them change into black robes and brought them over, just like he had done before.
Afterwards, those mysterious rules and words were still repeated, as if that was all the club was about.
As the sky gradually darkened, the sun slowly set in the west. Although it had not yet set, this part of the valley was already extremely dark.
The forest was pitch black and silent, making people slowly feel an indescribable fear, and only the fire in the center of the clearing made people feel warm.
The black-robed men slowly gathered around the bonfire, and the smell of medicine from the cauldron became more pronounced. But as the cold grew and hunger settled in, the contents of the cauldron became less offensive.
Finally, the sky became completely dark. In the starless and moonless forest, there was no other light except the flame in the clearing. The faces were so obvious in the yellow flames, the brightness and shadows were so obvious that it looked very different from daytime.
At this time, the door of the dilapidated wooden house finally opened, and a girl with a black lace veil walked out, followed by four men in black robes.
"Night is coming."
Her voice was sweet and charming, attracting everyone's attention as soon as she opened her mouth.
"The fire of humanity left over from the twilight age may seem thriving, but in reality it is already in danger."
"Faced with this endless black tide, we have no choice but to dance with it, transforming ourselves into fish swimming within it. Only in this way can we adapt to this hopeless world."
"I am the star in the evening sky, the lantern bearer in the darkness of the end times, the witness across time, and now I will lead you forward."
"Now, let us join hands and perform this initial ceremony."
After she finished speaking, she spread out her hands and poured a mysterious liquid from a bottle into the pot. A cloud of smoke rose, and then a strange and charming fragrance began to spread. Everyone was intoxicated by it and began to sing hymns together.
Two men in black robes brought out tableware, distributed a bowl and a spoon to each person, and then began to serve the medicinal food in the pot one by one.
Jenna took the wooden bowl. The cooked food in it had become like porridge and its original appearance could not be recognized. She was still hesitating with the spoon in her hand, but the people around her could not wait to start eating.
Will this really not be a problem?
She hesitated, but those who had finished eating began to turn their gazes one by one, greedily looking at the bowl of food in her hand, their eyes revealing an incomprehensible desire.
"Eat it while it's hot. It won't be good if it's cold." The purple-haired girl with a veil bent down and spoke kindly in her ear. Her voice was sweet and addictive.
"Um."
After that, Jenna also ate a few bites and stood up with everyone else, while the mysterious girl walked in front holding an orange lamp.
"Then let us begin the Night Lantern Ceremony."
Standing in the dark forest, the girl said this. Her black robe, snow-white skin, and seductive words, everything was so moving and beautiful.
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