Chapter 701: The End of Lanqi and Talia's Journey to the Flower City

The golden afterglow dissipated and sank into the dark streets.

One lamp was lit, then two, three... Finally, countless lights flickered, like stars swaying on the river.

The warm sky lanterns rise lightly and dance towards the night sky like fireflies.

"This is the festival of Pariel, the city of flowers."

Lanqi and Talia walked on the hillside steps of the Montmare Plateau, overlooking the entire city.

“It’s so beautiful.”

Talia seemed to be talking to herself or sighing as she looked at the flower city of Pariah which had suddenly become lively.

The beauty before them took their breath away. Lights illuminated the stone houses and people were dressed in festive costumes, their faces filled with joy.

Some citizens did not go out, but simply lit bamboo lanterns by their windowsills, let go of their hands, and let them rise with the wind and drift towards the starry sky.

"In a little while, when it's completely dark, the fireworks will start."

Lanqi said to Talia.

He had already read the introduction to the fireworks festival in the Flower City of Parière.

Now they are still at the border of Area 3 on the north shore of Pariel. By walking down the stairs to the high ground, they can directly reach the adjacent Area 1 and head to the final destination of the night, the Temple of Love.

However, the view from the high ground is very good, and you can see buildings several kilometers away.

The best place to watch the fireworks is undoubtedly the riverside square behind the Temple of Love, where there are terraces built.

You can see the incomparable and dazzling fireworks blooming in the sky up close.

"In fact, I can watch the fireworks every day in the card making room..."

Talia was about to say something.

The crisp ringing sound broke the silence of the night, spreading like ripples and attracting the attention of both people.

It was sacred music played to purify the land.

The crowd gathered in the square in the distance and sat around the altar.

At some point, a bonfire had been lit in the center of the square.

A priestess in a white dress walked over slowly. She was the chief priest serving the god of love and will.

"The morning breeze blows gently, and the petals scatter."

The priestess waved her staff, leaving behind a silver trail and the sound of crisp bells every time, chanting prayers and dancing her limbs.

"Your voice gently cleanses the world."

This is a sacred dance dedicated to God and imitating God.

The sound of prayers passed through the square and reached the top of Montmartre Plateau.

"People pray to the gods for blessings, hoping to become luckier."

Talia spoke about the human thoughts that she had understood over the years.

But having said that.

If you only look at the surface, you would feel that a grand festival is in full swing.

Today is not as harmonious as it seems.

Along the way, the two of them occasionally heard some conversations among passers-by.

Due to the turmoil that had just been experienced, the flower city of Pariel suffered heavy casualties and losses that night. Humans and demons were wary of each other, and there were even demonstrations and conflicts during the day today.

"Sky lanterns are used to guide the souls of the dead."

Lanqi murmured, with a hint of regret in his tone.

"Under your care, emotions continue to grow."

The priestess in the distance chanted loudly, her blessing -

"May love be like a stream that converges into a long-lasting ocean."

The bonfire went out, the crowd dispersed, and new tourists came.

Only the lone lamp in the night sky still faithfully illuminates the earth.

It was unknown who took the first step, but Lanqi and Talia continued to walk down the high ground and walked on the square leading to the temple.

"I didn't expect that in the end, the relationship between humans and demons in the Flower City Pariel would deteriorate."

Talia looked at the illuminated city below her.

In the eyes of ordinary citizens, the instigator was the ambitious demon Perlman, and the ones attacking the Flower City were the frenzied demons.

Overnight, the peaceful urban area turned into a brutal battlefield, and everyone would feel a little fear of the demons.

"That can't be said completely. Since Huadu has chosen this way of coexistence, then perhaps this is the only way forward. The process of mutual understanding will always be accompanied by conflict."

Lanqi nodded and said to Talia.

Walking on the mountain path that is sometimes rugged and sometimes flat, various stalls gradually appear on both sides, displaying a wide variety of goods.

There are masks hanging on many stalls, including both artistic Bosen-style masks and demon-style masks.

These masks would have sold well tonight.

Because a masquerade ball is being held in the Temple of Love.

The original intention of the dance was to allow the residents of Person and the demons to put aside their prejudices and live in harmony.

Under the mask, you may be a human or a demon.

We are all the same.

"Flora Palieu is actually a miracle in my opinion."

Talia answered as she listened to Lanci's words and walked with him through the Pariah Festival Night Market.

A hundred years ago, she had never imagined that she would actually be able to see a city where humans and demons lived together.

This trip to Person can be said to have opened the eyes of this demon princess in history.

"So Perlman is a difficult person to evaluate. His mistakes are irreparable, but his contributions still have a far-reaching impact."

Among Lanqi's three most impressive enemies.

The only thing I feel more sorry for is Pearlman, because Pearlman used to be kind, so he was able to teach Nigel.

Nigel is like Pearlman in his youth, except that Nigel is also different from Pearlman in nature. He has a heart of real steel.

In other words, what Nigel firmly believes in is not anyone or anything, but himself who stands firm in his beliefs.

"But didn't Perlman finally break his own ideals and go to the other extreme?"

Talia had to admit that the demons were indeed like that, prone to excessive emotionality.

The more she got used to and accepted life in human society, the more she felt that her former compatriots were becoming aliens.

“Maybe he discovered when he was about to succeed that ninety-nine steps are one step at a time, and one step at a time.”

Lanqi looked at the dimly lit street ahead and said,

"If he finds out that the final push is a goal that can never be achieved, the more painful it will be. After all, as a pioneer and practitioner, he knows better than anyone whether his ideal can be truly successful or is just an illusion."

Lanqi felt that if it were him in the past, he would have confidently thought that if he could have met Perlman earlier, he might have been able to resolve his worries and prevent the tragedy in the Flower City from happening.

But now that he thought about it carefully, perhaps what Professor Bolaio told him before he set out was more correct -

It is not the case that the greater your ability, the greater your responsibility. Sometimes, the greater your ability, the greater the consequences that may arise from a single thought. When your ability is great enough, you need to learn to be an observer.

If the situation is not so dire that you have to take action, you should consider what changes your intervention will bring.

Lanqi only remembered Professor Bolao's words at the time, but now when he thinks back on them, he really feels touched.

Inoan's death made him think more instead of being overconfident.

“So Pearlman was wrong from the beginning?”

Talia lowered her eyes and asked softly.

She also always had doubts about the coexistence of demons and humans.

She did not think that she and Antanas were truly coexisting with humans, because they were still disguising themselves in order to live a peaceful life in Ikerite.

This is not coexistence.

Hyperion, who lived in Ikerit without any deception, suffered from grievances and prejudices since childhood even though she was the daughter of a duke. She was not happy and even dreamed that the people of Ikerit would not treat her as a demon.

If demons and humans were together, it would be a mistake. She didn't know why, but she felt empty inside.

“I don’t think I can give an answer.”

Lanci looked at Talia and replied.

The great wizard Parroni caused a disaster and left the seeds of hatred because of his hatred for the demons. The greed of successive elders made it take root and sprout, until it indirectly killed Perlman's daughter and passed the hatred to Perlman, causing his ideals to collapse, which triggered a new round of revenge.

Perhaps the turmoil caused by Perlman will make the families of the victims on the human side remember the hatred, and it will erupt again one day.

It's hard to say what the final outcome will be.

This is the cycle of cause and effect.

“Is that so?”

Talia was not moved by Lanqi's answer.

Or maybe she seemed to have guessed the answer and was already prepared to hide her disappointment.

"But if you ask me, one party has to believe first, even if they may be betrayed. Otherwise, if no one takes the first step, they will never be able to achieve a better ideal."

Lanci continued.

His tone was more confident, and the look he gave Talia was filled with his usual friendly smile.

“…”

Talia tilted her head to stare at his profile.

Those cold and noble pupils could not hide a bit of confusion and emotion.

It's like wanting to keep him at a distance but at the same time wanting to explore him a little bit more.

Lanqi also noticed her gaze and the two looked at each other.

"What's wrong Tata?"

Lanci asked, tilting his head.

"Look, the mask."

Talia simply said this in a flat tone, naturally moving her gaze to the stall behind Lanci.

Colorful masks hung all over the wall, sparkling under the light of the magic lamp.

They are either happy or sad, either ferocious or gentle.

"The masks from the Person Kingdom are really interesting. They are a level of craftsmanship I have never seen before."

Lanqi looked at the masks with interest.

"Young man, young lady, these new handmade masks this year are definitely different from last year's. My family's craftsmanship is quite good in this street!"

The stall owner noticed the two people's gazes and immediately spoke to them enthusiastically.

According to previous years, they would definitely sell out quickly, but this year the festival is not as lively, so the stall owners are actively trying to attract business.

“…”

Talia was lost in thought. She reached out and gently touched a purple-black mask with pointed horns, her fingertips running across the uneven surface.

It seems like I miss this style very much.

"That's it. I want it."

Lanqi, who was standing by, had already started taking out his wallet and said to the boss.

"You are really amazing, little brother. You can tell what your girlfriend wants at a glance."

The boss said with a smile.

He liked the fact that these two customers were very quick to buy things.

Especially since the demon masks are hard to sell tonight, it’s great that they are willing to buy them.

"We're not in that relationship."

They both immediately denied it at the same time.

"So they are husband and wife."

The boss suddenly realized.

“…”

Both seemed tired, having been mistaken one too many times today.

The argument will only make things more confusing.

Talia was silent for a moment, and finally took off the purple-black demon mask.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!

"Brother, why don't you buy one too? Buying a pair of masks from my store is absolutely worth it. I'll give you a 10% discount."

The boss immediately started selling.

Lanqi smiled helplessly.

He looked around the stalls and shops, and his eyes fell on a human mask with a white background and gold patterns.

The mask has soft lines, a serene expression, and a compassionate look between its eyebrows.

He picked up the mask without hesitation.

He usually chooses things very quickly. He only needs to have a feel for what he wants and then he will find the one that he likes the most.

After paying the money, the two put on masks and blended into the bustling crowd.

At this moment, no one cares about the true identity behind the mask.

Just strolling in the night, surrounded by all kinds of humans and demons, no one can tell who is who.

In this lively center of the celebration, they passed many tourists, some of whom were talking enthusiastically, while others were concentrating on the lottery tickets in their hands.

Many people had expectant looks on their faces, obviously hoping to win the grand prize.

"Go and try it?"

Talia didn't ask for much.

She and Lanci had three special lottery tickets for the fireworks festival, and Talia only wanted the third prize voucher for a late-night supper.

"certainly."

There was a hint of excitement in Lanqi's voice. He really liked winning prizes.

They came to a beautifully decorated lottery center and handed the lottery tickets to the smiling staff.

“Good luck to you!”

The man said sincerely.

Lanci and Talia looked at each other, and held their breath at the same time, watching the display on the screen in front of them.

What caught their eyes was not the third prize they wanted, but the participation prize, a small bag of colorful candies.

The results were the same three times.

"reality."

Lanqi let out a sigh, feeling somewhat relieved.

“That’s good.”

Talia put the candy in her pocket.

After thinking for a moment, she secretly stuffed another packet into Lanqi's pocket.

Then he opened a bag, lifted some masks, put them into his mouth, and from time to time he took out another one and put it near Lanqi's mouth.

Lanqi accepted it with pleasure.

Talia now shares her food with him, something he would have never thought possible a year ago.

Climbing up the stairs, the Temple of Love - or the Church of Our Lady of Paire soon appeared before their eyes.

It is said that the entire church has a construction area of ​​6,000 square meters.

The most eye-catching thing is the two towering bell towers on the west facade.

They stand on both sides of the church, like two loyal guards guarding this sacred temple.

This was not the first time they had come here. When Lanqi and Talia stepped into the temple, they still found the church incredibly large.

In addition to the five longitudinal cabins arranged in sequence, the middle cabin in the center and the narrow wing cabins on both sides are hosting activities.

Walking around are people of all kinds wearing masks.

It was not until they walked into the main hall that the interior seemed a little dim due to the height of the building, as if it was isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Looking up, your line of sight extends along the arch all the way up until it approaches the dome, where a huge rose window is quietly inlaid, like a gorgeous eye gazing at the countless creatures below.

And below, music suddenly started.

Masks of all shapes and sizes appeared and disappeared in the light and shadow, and faces were intertwined under the lights, making it impossible to tell the real from the fake.

Everyone wears a mask, so identity, status, and race become blurred and irrelevant at this moment.

But you will find that most masks are still human.

It seems that few demons came to the temple to participate in the ceremony today.

Lanci and Talia simply bypassed the center of the main hall and walked along the marble floor at the edge towards the statue, hoping to gain benefits through prayer, then end their outing for the day and go back to practice collaborative card making.

Suddenly, the priest seemed to notice them and walked up to them and called them.

"You two, now is not the time for traditional prayers. It will be easier to receive the gods' blessings if you pray in a more sincere way."

The priest bowed to the two and explained.

He raised one arm and pointed toward the center of the main hall.

And he believed that the two of them would definitely understand what was the more sincere way to pray to the god of love during special events.

"That being said..."

Lanqi and Talia looked at each other, their voices a little embarrassed, and they couldn't see each other's expressions under the masks.

The blessing of God is there if you believe in it, and there is nothing if you don’t.

"And if you participate in the masquerade and dance to the full extent, you can win a lottery ticket for the fireworks festival."

The priest grinned, took out the lottery ticket from his sleeve and shook it.

Talia's eyes were visibly beating.

She wanted to have one more shot.

She was disappointed that she didn't win the coupon for the special festival meal.

Although I may not win the prize even if I draw again, I always feel that the ticket given by the priest has a good chance of winning.

Or maybe it's just that he's addicted to smoking.

But she quickly restrained her expression.

After all, Lanqi probably wouldn't be willing to cooperate with her.

"Let's go dance, just practice our tacit understanding."

Lanci laughed.

It was like he could see Talia's mood.

He extended his hand to Talia, inviting her to dance.

“…”

Talia looked at him with a hint of confusion.

finally.

"Although I'm a princess, I haven't danced for a long time. The last time was with my sister."

Talia said as she placed her hand on his palm.

"It's okay. I haven't danced with an 800-year-old princess."

Lanci replied.

Talia still managed to hold back and throw him over her shoulder.

The two of them stepped onto the dance floor together, their figures blending into the crowd and soon becoming hard to distinguish.

The music got better and better, and the crowd got more excited.

Laughter, conversation, and whispers intertwined into a noisy cacophony.

The rose window above changes color as time goes by with the refraction of lights in the hall, sometimes warm and unrestrained, sometimes cold and deep.

And a figure like Talia wearing a demon mask is particularly conspicuous and attracts more attention from time to time.

"...They were frantic a few days ago, so how come there are still demons participating in the festival today as if nothing happened?"

"Demons are like this. Killing a few people is nothing to them."

"Most of the people wearing demon masks today are human, right? Who would be crazy enough to want to live with demons?"

There is such a voice in my ear.

Or maybe Talia could read something similar.

Her pace is often a beat slower.

Gradually, she didn't want to step on Lanqi's feet anymore.

If I had chosen a human mask earlier, I could have continued disguising myself as I usually do in Ikerite and everyone would have been happy.

She had been competing with Lanqi all day and had never let go of his hand. Only at this moment did she want to pull her hand back.

But Lanci wouldn't let go.

"Tata, don't regret the choice you made."

Lanqi seemed to understand her thoughts and stared into her beautiful golden eyes. "Whether you are wearing a demon mask or a human mask, in my eyes you are Tata."

Lanqi held Talia's hand tightly, making her look extremely stunned. She could only stare at the man in front of her.

“…”

Talia didn't answer him, and the corners of her mouth gradually curled up under the mask.

He can't see it, so it doesn't matter if he just smiles.

The dance continues.

Although their movements seemed uncoordinated.

It seems that the dance steps are from different times, one is ancient, and the other is even older.

Just like the humans and demons in the Person Kingdom, there are still difficulties in getting them to fit in.

But amidst the stumbling, the two were not afraid.

Their figures, one man and one demon, gradually attracted attention.

This harmony called "contradiction" is full of strange possibilities.

You can see they are very happy.

Support each other and take the next step bravely.

(End of this chapter)