Chapter 19 Chapter Eighteen
We reached Jessair shortly after sunset.Under the gray rainstorm clouds, the glow of the sunset dyed the sky red, making the snowy peaks of the Eckard Mountains seem to be soaked in blood.This is not a good sign.My companions evidently noticed the sight too.
"Of all the cities in Simharon, Jessair was the most damaged when the Well of Life was destroyed," Mosiah told us. "Jessair's buildings once reached to the sky, with countless floors. People here also dug tunnels deep underground to expand living space. When the magic disappeared and terrible earthquakes occurred, tall buildings toppled, tunnels collapsed, thousands People were thrown to death, crushed to death, or buried alive under the rubble."
The speed of the flying car slowed down.Jessair used to have an invisible magical wall to protect the city from outsiders, much like what we would call a force field on Earth.The wall should have been destroyed.
Maybe ruined, maybe not.
We don't know that.We can no longer think that Simharon's magic is really gone after the kiyevine.I still remember what those technologists called "residual magic".
Now the only thing that can be seen in the city is the dense forest.That used to be part of Jessair's famous Great Zoo.Strangely, if the city walls disappeared, the forest should have extended to the meadows outside the city, but this did not happen.
"Is there anyone in Jessair who survived the earthquake?" Alisa asked with a nervous tone.Mosiah did not blame Joram.But as the daughter of Simharon's Terminator, Alisa must be in a bad mood.
"Yes," replied Mosiah, "and they were the unluckiest of all. When the magic waned, the animals of the Great Menagerie escaped and took revenge on those who had imprisoned them."
Alisa looked at the city that once raised a large number of lives.Now there is nothing but death behind the walls.She knew her father's past, what he did and why he did it.Joram is honest, brutally honest.I don't believe he would hide this from his daughter.Most likely, he judged himself more harshly than those who maligned him.
But Alisa has been living safely in the closed holy mountain, ignorant of the outside world, and has never been in direct contact with what her father has done to the world and its residents.Father Saryon and I made her see another world and broke her tranquility.The techies have ruined her happy life, the innocent joy of her home and her family.And the most terrible and painful shock, Mosiah's words and Jessair's collapsed walls, had shaken her faith in her father.
The speeder slowed, and Sheila landed it on the grass-covered high ground around the city.The shadows of the mountains make us feel dusk, but the sky behind them is still bright.Sheila didn't turn on the lights.
She and Mosiah began discussing what to do.They debated whether they should drive into Jessair or go on foot.
"The technologists know we're here," Mosiah said. "Maybe they've been tracking us with their sensing devices since we left the holy mountain."
"Yes, but they don't know how many of us there are, and whether we carry the Dark Sword," Sheila retorted.
"We're here, aren't we?" Mosiah didn't back down, "What else can we come here for?"
Sheila conceded that Mosiah was right, but insisted that she should sneak into Jessair instead of driving right up to the gate. "At least, we shouldn't hand over the Dark Sword until we confirm the safety of the hostages."
Mosiah shook his head.
I did not participate in the discussion.The four of us were up against an army of Technicians, and it didn't seem to me that it would make a difference no matter what we did.I took out the electronic notebook and started to look up some previously included introduction materials about Jessair. I wanted to show Alisa the notes I made.
After finding those materials, I was about to show them to her, but I stopped.
In order not to be noticed by others, Alisa has been hiding in the shadows of the evening.She bent down and reached out with one hand to pull down the blanket that covered the Darksword.In the darkness, the pure black sword was clearly discernible.
Her father forged the first Darksword.Father Saryon gave life to that sword.The blood of thousands of people was sacrificed to that sword.Now that there is another such sword, will the blood also flow on its edge?
Alisa's face is honest and open, and her emotions are fully revealed on her face, like the surface of quiet water, just a little breeze can cause ripples.I can guess what she's thinking.Her soft self-talk confirmed my guess.
"Why did he forge another sword? Why did this sword come back into the world? What shall I do with it now?"
She sighed and leaned back in her seat, looking sad and troubled.
But what choice does she have?
I don't know, I can't help her, let alone forcefully interfere with her private pain.I re-read the records of this unknown adventurer at Simharon.He himself had followed Prince Garrod to Earth.
Jess Aire is a densely populated city.Her biggest feature is that she is surrounded by the most amazing zoo in Simharlan. This zoo attracts countless travelers from other cities and greatly increases Jessair's income.
History: Jessair, a Fehannixu druid of the Fannan tribe, was born around 352 YL.He bought a wife from his fellow tribe, named Tara, who had been taken captive from the Chuantar tribe in a raid.She is a genius Zeldalar.Although the two fought each other at first, they gradually fell in love with each other.Jessair gives up his wandering life and promises to settle down with his beloved.
So Jessair took his wife Tara and family up the La River until Tara asked to stop.She dismounted and examined the water, the woods, and the land carefully.If the legend is true, here she sits and declares it her home.
So the city was built around her.
Jessair believed the land was sacred and... swore to Emin that he would never allow the city to expand beyond her original limits.
This is why, while the population is growing here, the city can only expand upwards and downwards, but never takes a step outward.
I glanced up from my notepad, and the speeder was gliding forward through the lush green grass.The blades of grass brushed against the car body, making a harsh "rustle" sound.At first, we could still see the zoo's forest on this green sea, but the night quickly obscured our vision.In that dark place, it must have been brightly lit in the past.
We left the hilly area, came to the East Avenue, and approached the gate of the East Road.Countless long-distance traders used to walk here.To this day, the grass still cannot completely cover their footprints and ruts.In the afterglow of the last sunset, we can still see the avenue stretching forward.At this time the sky has turned purple.
The stars came out, and I looked at them, but I couldn't help but wonder which of those shining points of light might be the Conifer cruisers approaching us.This reminds me of the urgency of time.We still have tonight, tomorrow and tomorrow night.After that, the window of safety time limit will be completely closed.
The moon shone as usual, silvering the variously shaped storm clouds in the distance.The moon is now about three-quarters full and not quite as bright yet, but it still lights up our way at night.When I think about it, I feel comforted, though I don't know why.
Sheila stopped the car suddenly.The Dongdao Gate is located in a small concave area on the west side of the outer city wall, so the name Dongfang Avenue seems inappropriate. In fact, Dongfang Avenue really means "the avenue from the holy mountain to the east".Simharon's directions are all based on the Holy Mountain, which is the center of the world.
There are two walls surrounding the city.Outer and inner walls.The inner city walls are located on the city's boundaries established by the founders of Jessair, and represent the end of Jessair and the beginning of the zoo.The zoo is surrounded by outer walls that are completely invisible, allowing the zoo to be a sight to behold, but preventing the animals from escaping.The narrowest point of the menagerie, that is, the narrowest point of the inner and outer walls, was four miles apart.
There are a total of four gates on the two walls for travelers to enter and exit, and these gates are one-way.You walk through the open door, only to find it has closed behind you.The gates to enter the city are on the east and west sides, and the gates to leave are on the north and south sides.It is said that Lord Jessair can protect the city from attack by closing all the doors through the inner wall with a single word.
These gates have another very surprising function.After entering the outer city walls, it is necessary to pass through the large zoo before reaching the city.In order to avoid disturbing the interest of those who visit the zoo because they see humans passing through the zoo, these gates will temporarily change the appearance of people entering the city into that of animals.
We might all be turned into Teddy, I thought.
Sheila turned off the engine of the flying car, and the flying car landed on the road.We sat silently in the dark, watching the city gate.
In fact, there is nothing to see there.
"They're waiting for us to show up," Mosiah said.His stern voice was too loud in the silence. "Let's go!"
He put on his hood and reached out to the car door.Sheila grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"You shouldn't go there. The Technician has no reason to hurt the three of us, but you..." She approached Mosiah and said softly, "We are very close to the border. Hide in the car and go back to the outpost after the Technician is gone. .and then return to Earth from there to report to Prince Jarod and General Polis. They must know that Technicians will soon possess the Darksword. They need to plan for it."
Mosiah watched Sheila silently for a long time, I could even hear his breathing.Likewise, I could hear Sheila, Alisa, and myself breathing.I can still hear my own heartbeat.
"I wish I could know," Mosiah finally said, "are you just trying to get rid of me, or do you really care about..." He paused, and then said in a slightly unsmooth voice: "Do you care about Prince Jarod and Dark Sword."
Sheila smiled.I can see her face with the light of the stars and the moon and the last rays of the setting sun.Like the moonlight, the smile in her eyes inspired me.
"I care," she said, squeezing Mosiah's arm tighter.
"I mean, the people of Earth," said Mosiah gruffly.
"I care about them too." Sheila's smile became brighter.
Mosiah frowned, looking at Sheila in bewilderment.He probably felt that Sheila was teasing him, but this was definitely not the time for a joke.
"Well, Mosiah, it seems that I misunderstood you from the beginning." Sheila said and shrugged. "You're not your standard lawman, maybe you weren't meant to be. And, like I said, you're much prettier than those pictures in the files. Go back to Earth, you're here to do everything No, you will only put yourself in danger, and maybe even implicate us."
"Okay," Mosiah thought for a moment and agreed. "I will stay in the car. But leave the Dark Sword first, at least you must first confirm that the hostage is still alive. If the technologists want to take the Dark Sword, they will find that I am guarding it, which is Things they wouldn't think of."
"An excellent guard." Sheila said in a mocking tone: "You have neither vitality nor weapons."
Mosiah smiled.This is the first time I've seen him smile like this since I met him. "Technologists don't know."
Sheila froze for a moment, and then let out a "giggle" laugh. "You are really smart, Mosiah. If Alisha agrees with your plan, then I agree."
Alisa didn't answer.I'm not even sure she heard Sheila.But she finally nodded slowly.
"Emin is with you," Mosiah said.
"Also with you." Sheila patted Mosiah's shoulder excitedly. "Ready?" Looking at her cheerful appearance, she seemed to be going to a carnival.
Alisa's face was pale in the darkness, as if the person sitting next to me was just a ghost.She held out her hand, wanting to pat Sheila or Mosiah.But she hesitated, and finally just put her hand on the back of the seat in front of her.
"Is what my father did right?" she asked.The distress in her voice made my heart ache. "All those people who died... I never thought... I need to know."
Mosiah turned his face away and looked out the front window of the car, looking at the city that had become a tomb.
Sheila's smile disappeared and her expression became solemn.She put her hand on Alisa's.She who was so unscrupulous just now suddenly became gentle.
"Some things are unpredictable, Alisa. Throw a pebble into the lake, and there will be ripples far away from the pebble, and there will be aftermath long after the pebble falls. What we have made Every action, from the smallest to the largest, has consequences that we cannot foresee. We can only make choices that we believe are best at the moment. That's what your father did, Alisa. In those circumstances Here, he made the best choice, maybe the only choice he could have made."
Alisa wasn't just referring to her father; she was asking the question for herself as well.Is it right to give the Dark Sword to Technicians?Will the ripples from this action eventually disappear in the calm lake, or will they create devastating waves?
Alisa took a deep breath.She has made a decision.
"I'm ready," she said, covering the Darksword with a blanket.
We opened the car door and got out.Only Mosiah remained in the car, sitting cross-legged in the front seat.We still leave the Darksaber on the floor in the back of the car. Sheila carried a pair of infrared binoculars with her, and she used them to search the strange forest—the forest that was believed to be a boundary that no longer existed, but still firmly bound.In front of us is the gate of the East Road.At least assuming so, an invisible door in an invisible wall is not easy to find. "Nobody." Sheila lowered her binoculars. "I feel like someone is watching us." Although Night Breeze was still warm, Alisa kept trembling. "Yes," Sheila agreed, "I feel the same way." She was still staring straight ahead, carefully searching for any changes. "What should we do?" Alisa asked, her voice hoarse.The nervousness was rapidly draining her energy. "Why is there no one here?" "Be patient," Sheila said. "This is a game they set up. We must play according to their rules. Remember, we must see that the hostage is alive and safe. Look inside the city gate, have you seen?" what?" I remembered the records I had read.In the past, anyone who entered the city gates was immediately transformed into various animals in the large zoo.It's not that fun, and if Ken Hana, the gatekeeper, finds out that your pass is incorrect, you might end up a part of the big zoo forever. Of course, turning into an animal is totally necessary.It would be a disappointment if a fat trader suddenly appeared in the hunting grounds of the fierce centaurs, not to mention that the centaurs (not illusions, but completely real centaurs) might take that trade business as food.Traders who become centaurs can pass through the zoo safely and quickly. Of course, those elite magicians can directly enter and leave the city through the teleportation corridor, without having to go through the city gate and go through the process of confirming their identity.This process is only for farmers, apprentices, salesmen, serf mages and low-level catalyst saints. "I looked through the door and couldn't see anything," said Alisa. "There was nothing. It was strange, as if there was a big hole going through the forest." I nodded, indicating that I felt the same way. "The magic here should have disappeared." Sheila murmured. "According to your theory, the magic doesn't disappear," I sign. I don't know if she understands what I mean.It was difficult to read sign language in such darkness. "Should we...should we meet them there?" Alisa asked.It was indeed frustrating to think of walking into that monster-like mouth. "No," Sheila reassured her. "They said they would meet outside the host gate. If the Technicians have been entrenched in Jessair, I guess they must have found a way to get into it without going through the big zoo." I believe that technologists must not be willing to enter that kind of place.Standing here is like standing in front of a huge cave, the cold wind is blowing from deep underground, touching your skin with wet and sticky fingers.A strange smell emanates from the big zoo, which occasionally gets into the nostrils and disappears immediately.Those were the smells of dung and rotting food mixed with greenery and soil.And covered under this, is a rotten smell. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the uneasiness in our hearts gradually increased.If the technologists were going to tire us out this way, they succeeded.At least for Alisa and me.I'm not sure what upsets Sheila, who stands beside us with her arms folded and a smile on her lips. Alisa began to shiver again.I wanted to go back to the car and get her some blankets, but Sheila stopped me. "Look!" she whispered, pointing forward. A figure moves towards us.The figure should be on the same side of the city wall as us, not walking over, but sliding across the ground.There was only this one figure, and judging by her attire, it was a woman.Alisa took a sharp breath and clasped her hands together tightly. "Mom!" she whispered. That figure was Gwendoline, and she floated toward us.Then I remembered that she was one of the elite mages, and floating was a breeze for her.But it also occurred to me that I had never seen Gwendolin use magic.Maybe that's out of respect for Joram. Ge Wen floated towards us, her eyes were only on her beloved daughter. "Mom?" Alisa's voice was full of confusion, hope, and fear. Gwendolin landed gracefully on the ground, arms outstretched. "Son," she said choked out, "you must be terrified!" Alisa stepped back, "Mom, why are you here? Have you escaped? Where is Dad?" Gwendelyn took a step towards her daughter. "Honey, are you okay?" She took Alisa's hand. Alisa flinched, but she melted completely at the sight of her mother's worried, loving face. "I'm fine, Mom. Just worried about you and Dad! I hear he's hurt. How is he doing?" "Alisa, did you bring the Dark Sword?" Gwendelin asked while stroking her daughter's curly black hair. "Yes," said Alisa, "but Papa! Is he all right? Father Saryon? Is he all right?" "Of course, child. Otherwise I wouldn't have come to see you." Gwendelyn smiled reassuringly. "Your father is very angry that you took the dark sword, but if you give it back to him, he will forgive you." "Mommy, I'm worried about Daddy. I see blood on the ground! They killed the sheep. All the sheep are dead, Mommy!" "You know how bad-tempered Dad is." Ge Wen sighed. "The Technicians broke in without his permission. But their leader has admitted that they acted recklessly and apologized to us. Your father suffered minor injuries, but nothing serious. You hurt him the most, love Lisa. He thinks you betrayed him!" "I didn't betray him." Alisa's voice was trembling. "I thought if I gave them the Dark Sword, they'd let us go and leave, and we'd be happy again! I just wanted that." "I understand, daughter. Your father will understand too. Come, tell him yourself, my beloved daughter!" Gwendelyn held out her hand. "Our time is running out! Give me the Dark Sword and our family will be reunited." I looked at Sheila, wondering if she would remind Alisa to remember to make sure the hostages were safe.It's not that I don't trust Gwendoline, but I suspect she may have been forced to do so. Alisa sighed deeply, as if she had finally lifted a heavy burden. "Okay, Mom, I will give you the Dark Sword." She turned and walked towards the flying car.Gwendelyn was still standing by the city wall, her loving eyes never leaving her daughter. I thought Sheila would object, but she remained silent.After all, it was Alisa's decision. Alisa walked to the car, opened the rear door, bent down and took out the Dark Sword.I thought Mosiah would argue with her.But even if they had a conversation, it must have been very brief.Alisa slammed the car door angrily and started walking towards us.She held the Dark Sword in both hands, the blade hanging down to the ground. Mosiah stepped out of the speeding car and followed behind Alisa, her steps were swift and soundless. Alisa turned her back to Mosiah and looked at her mother, apparently unaware that Mosiah was following behind.Gwendelin just looked at her daughter.Mosiah's black robes made him one with the night, and I could see him because I expected him to move.I do not doubt that he will deceive us and take the Dark Sword by force.Sheila saw him too, but she just stood there watching, the same smile on her lips. Yes, she had admitted long ago, Mosiah was attractive to her.But what about her vow to Alisa?I can't trust either of them.Maybe they've formed an alliance. Now it's up to me. If I could speak, I would definitely warn Alisha loudly to watch her back.But I can't, I can only make some vague noises and point hard at Mosiah. Hearing my strange cry, Alisa looked at me in surprise and alertness. I pointed and pointed desperately. When Alisa turned to look, Mosiah had just stepped up behind her and reached out to grab the Dark Sword. Alisa, who was attacked by surprise, tried her best to get back the Dark Sword, but Mosiah was stronger than her and took the sword easily.Then, to my great bewilderment, Mosiah threw the Dark Sword with all his might, right into the gate. The Dark Sword disappeared, as if it had become part of the darkness. Gwendelyn reached out and grabbed Alisa. Mosiah charged at the woman, knocking her hard to the ground. Alisa screamed, but her shouts stopped abruptly. Gwendolin disappeared.The man entangled with Mosiah wears a white tunic, white boots, white gloves, and a smiling skull mask under a white hood. "Interrogator!" Sheila gasped. "Run!" Mosiah pressed the white-robed man to the ground and shouted loudly, "More people will come soon!" In fact, we could already see Di Candale's silvery light bursting out of the haystack towards us. "Where are you going?" Sheila asked. Di Candale stood between us and the speeder. They approached us quickly.Mosiah slammed the interrogator's head on the ground, and the skull mask cocked to the side and fell silent.Mosiah jumped to his feet and staggered toward us. "Run to the city gate!" He gasped and shouted, "Run there!" Di Candale surrounded us in a semicircle, which was gradually shrinking.But their speed is not very fast, as if they are driving us into the city gate in a leisurely manner.It's our only way out now. Alisa stood there dumbfounded, staring at the hideous creature pretending to be her mother.I grabbed her hand and dragged her aside, nearly pulling her to the ground.Fortunately, Sheila supported her from the other side. "Your Majesty, we must avoid these villains." Sheila said firmly, "This way! Go into the city gate!" Alisa nodded and started to run, but the dress caught her legs.Sheila and I helped her to her feet and helped her run towards the city gate.Mosiah has come to us.We were still a step or two away from the city gate, and when we were about to rush in, Mosiah suddenly roared and stretched out his arms to block us.Pointing to a silver coin-like thing on the ground, he said, "Be careful! This is a stasis mine! Go around! Don't step on it!" I glanced back, and Di Candale was picking up speed.They thought the stasis mines would stop us, but seeing that it failed, they sped up.But we have come to the city gate. Although we have entered the city gate, can we safely avoid those pursuers?They will definitely catch up.Our best hope is to shake them off in the dark forest.But they are so close to us, it seems that this hope is also in vain. Now that I know what is drawing me forward, I can only be thankful that I didn't realize it in the first place.I've never believed in such a thing, and now I don't have the chance to believe it or not.I entered the host gate, into the city of Jessair, and I knew immediately that Sheila's theory was right. Magic is still alive and well in Simharon.
We opened the car door and got out.Only Mosiah remained in the car, sitting cross-legged in the front seat.We still leave the Darksaber on the floor in the back of the car. Sheila carried a pair of infrared binoculars with her, and she used them to search the strange forest—the forest that was believed to be a boundary that no longer existed, but still firmly bound.In front of us is the gate of the East Road.At least assuming so, an invisible door in an invisible wall is not easy to find. "Nobody." Sheila lowered her binoculars. "I feel like someone is watching us." Although Night Breeze was still warm, Alisa kept trembling. "Yes," Sheila agreed, "I feel the same way." She was still staring straight ahead, carefully searching for any changes. "What should we do?" Alisa asked, her voice hoarse.The nervousness was rapidly draining her energy. "Why is there no one here?" "Be patient," Sheila said. "This is a game they set up. We must play according to their rules. Remember, we must see that the hostage is alive and safe. Look inside the city gate, have you seen?" what?" I remembered the records I had read.In the past, anyone who entered the city gates was immediately transformed into various animals in the large zoo.It's not that fun, and if Ken Hana, the gatekeeper, finds out that your pass is incorrect, you might end up a part of the big zoo forever. Of course, turning into an animal is totally necessary.It would be a disappointment if a fat trader suddenly appeared in the hunting grounds of the fierce centaurs, not to mention that the centaurs (not illusions, but completely real centaurs) might take that trade business as food.Traders who become centaurs can pass through the zoo safely and quickly. Of course, those elite magicians can directly enter and leave the city through the teleportation corridor, without having to go through the city gate and go through the process of confirming their identity.This process is only for farmers, apprentices, salesmen, serf mages and low-level catalyst saints. "I looked through the door and couldn't see anything," said Alisa. "There was nothing. It was strange, as if there was a big hole going through the forest." I nodded, indicating that I felt the same way. "The magic here should have disappeared." Sheila murmured. "According to your theory, the magic doesn't disappear," I sign. I don't know if she understands what I mean.It was difficult to read sign language in such darkness. "Should we...should we meet them there?" Alisa asked.It was indeed frustrating to think of walking into that monster-like mouth. "No," Sheila reassured her. "They said they would meet outside the host gate. If the Technicians have been entrenched in Jessair, I guess they must have found a way to get into it without going through the big zoo." I believe that technologists must not be willing to enter that kind of place.Standing here is like standing in front of a huge cave, the cold wind is blowing from deep underground, touching your skin with wet and sticky fingers.A strange smell emanates from the big zoo, which occasionally gets into the nostrils and disappears immediately.Those were the smells of dung and rotting food mixed with greenery and soil.And covered under this, is a rotten smell. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the uneasiness in our hearts gradually increased.If the technologists were going to tire us out this way, they succeeded.At least for Alisa and me.I'm not sure what upsets Sheila, who stands beside us with her arms folded and a smile on her lips. Alisa began to shiver again.I wanted to go back to the car and get her some blankets, but Sheila stopped me. "Look!" she whispered, pointing forward. A figure moves towards us.The figure should be on the same side of the city wall as us, not walking over, but sliding across the ground.There was only this one figure, and judging by her attire, it was a woman.Alisa took a sharp breath and clasped her hands together tightly. "Mom!" she whispered. That figure was Gwendoline, and she floated toward us.Then I remembered that she was one of the elite mages, and floating was a breeze for her.But it also occurred to me that I had never seen Gwendolin use magic.Maybe that's out of respect for Joram. Ge Wen floated towards us, her eyes were only on her beloved daughter. "Mom?" Alisa's voice was full of confusion, hope, and fear. Gwendolin landed gracefully on the ground, arms outstretched. "Son," she said choked out, "you must be terrified!" Alisa stepped back, "Mom, why are you here? Have you escaped? Where is Dad?" Gwendelyn took a step towards her daughter. "Honey, are you okay?" She took Alisa's hand. Alisa flinched, but she melted completely at the sight of her mother's worried, loving face. "I'm fine, Mom. Just worried about you and Dad! I hear he's hurt. How is he doing?" "Alisa, did you bring the Dark Sword?" Gwendelin asked while stroking her daughter's curly black hair. "Yes," said Alisa, "but Papa! Is he all right? Father Saryon? Is he all right?" "Of course, child. Otherwise I wouldn't have come to see you." Gwendelyn smiled reassuringly. "Your father is very angry that you took the dark sword, but if you give it back to him, he will forgive you." "Mommy, I'm worried about Daddy. I see blood on the ground! They killed the sheep. All the sheep are dead, Mommy!" "You know how bad-tempered Dad is." Ge Wen sighed. "The Technicians broke in without his permission. But their leader has admitted that they acted recklessly and apologized to us. Your father suffered minor injuries, but nothing serious. You hurt him the most, love Lisa. He thinks you betrayed him!" "I didn't betray him." Alisa's voice was trembling. "I thought if I gave them the Dark Sword, they'd let us go and leave, and we'd be happy again! I just wanted that." "I understand, daughter. Your father will understand too. Come, tell him yourself, my beloved daughter!" Gwendelyn held out her hand. "Our time is running out! Give me the Dark Sword and our family will be reunited." I looked at Sheila, wondering if she would remind Alisa to remember to make sure the hostages were safe.It's not that I don't trust Gwendoline, but I suspect she may have been forced to do so. Alisa sighed deeply, as if she had finally lifted a heavy burden. "Okay, Mom, I will give you the Dark Sword." She turned and walked towards the flying car.Gwendelyn was still standing by the city wall, her loving eyes never leaving her daughter. I thought Sheila would object, but she remained silent.After all, it was Alisa's decision. Alisa walked to the car, opened the rear door, bent down and took out the Dark Sword.I thought Mosiah would argue with her.But even if they had a conversation, it must have been very brief.Alisa slammed the car door angrily and started walking towards us.She held the Dark Sword in both hands, the blade hanging down to the ground. Mosiah stepped out of the speeding car and followed behind Alisa, her steps were swift and soundless. Alisa turned her back to Mosiah and looked at her mother, apparently unaware that Mosiah was following behind.Gwendelin just looked at her daughter.Mosiah's black robes made him one with the night, and I could see him because I expected him to move.I do not doubt that he will deceive us and take the Dark Sword by force.Sheila saw him too, but she just stood there watching, the same smile on her lips. Yes, she had admitted long ago, Mosiah was attractive to her.But what about her vow to Alisa?I can't trust either of them.Maybe they've formed an alliance. Now it's up to me. If I could speak, I would definitely warn Alisha loudly to watch her back.But I can't, I can only make some vague noises and point hard at Mosiah. Hearing my strange cry, Alisa looked at me in surprise and alertness. I pointed and pointed desperately. When Alisa turned to look, Mosiah had just stepped up behind her and reached out to grab the Dark Sword. Alisa, who was attacked by surprise, tried her best to get back the Dark Sword, but Mosiah was stronger than her and took the sword easily.Then, to my great bewilderment, Mosiah threw the Dark Sword with all his might, right into the gate. The Dark Sword disappeared, as if it had become part of the darkness. Gwendelyn reached out and grabbed Alisa. Mosiah charged at the woman, knocking her hard to the ground. Alisa screamed, but her shouts stopped abruptly. Gwendolin disappeared.The man entangled with Mosiah wears a white tunic, white boots, white gloves, and a smiling skull mask under a white hood. "Interrogator!" Sheila gasped. "Run!" Mosiah pressed the white-robed man to the ground and shouted loudly, "More people will come soon!" In fact, we could already see Di Candale's silvery light bursting out of the haystack towards us. "Where are you going?" Sheila asked. Di Candale stood between us and the speeder. They approached us quickly.Mosiah slammed the interrogator's head on the ground, and the skull mask cocked to the side and fell silent.Mosiah jumped to his feet and staggered toward us. "Run to the city gate!" He gasped and shouted, "Run there!" Di Candale surrounded us in a semicircle, which was gradually shrinking.But their speed is not very fast, as if they are driving us into the city gate in a leisurely manner.It's our only way out now. Alisa stood there dumbfounded, staring at the hideous creature pretending to be her mother.I grabbed her hand and dragged her aside, nearly pulling her to the ground.Fortunately, Sheila supported her from the other side. "Your Majesty, we must avoid these villains." Sheila said firmly, "This way! Go into the city gate!" Alisa nodded and started to run, but the dress caught her legs.Sheila and I helped her to her feet and helped her run towards the city gate.Mosiah has come to us.We were still a step or two away from the city gate, and when we were about to rush in, Mosiah suddenly roared and stretched out his arms to block us.Pointing to a silver coin-like thing on the ground, he said, "Be careful! This is a stasis mine! Go around! Don't step on it!" I glanced back, and Di Candale was picking up speed.They thought the stasis mines would stop us, but seeing that it failed, they sped up.But we have come to the city gate. Although we have entered the city gate, can we safely avoid those pursuers?They will definitely catch up.Our best hope is to shake them off in the dark forest.But they are so close to us, it seems that this hope is also in vain. Now that I know what is drawing me forward, I can only be thankful that I didn't realize it in the first place.I've never believed in such a thing, and now I don't have the chance to believe it or not.I entered the host gate, into the city of Jessair, and I knew immediately that Sheila's theory was right. Magic is still alive and well in Simharon.