"...This is nature's wake-up call. It is urgent to control air pollution!...According to preliminary information, this deadly haze has caused at least thousands of deaths in the Eastern District, and the plague has not stopped spreading. Detailed data are still being compiled as a matter of urgency, so please pay attention to this newspaper’s continued reporting.”
(To put it simply, casualties are halved compared to the original work.)
After reading the front-page news titled "Unprecedented Smog," Valeera sighed softly and put down the "Backlund Morning News" in her hand.
She knew the whole story of the incident very well. It was the result of a game played by many high-ranking people...the ordinary people in the newspaper were just some of the victims.
This fully confirms a Fourth Age proverb in the original work, "Believe in the power of the gods, but do not believe in their kindness."
Human nature is weak and the struggle between avenues——
For various reasons, it’s not that Valeela can’t understand it, but she still feels disgusted with the cruelty of the truth.
Mortals are like ants... If it hadn't been for that night of "travel", maybe I would have been a little ant that quietly disappeared in this incident, right?
Valeela's mood was complicated.
In addition to feeling disgusted and sad, she also had questions and doubts about herself.
She couldn't help but think about how, in order to digest the "Instigator" potion, she promoted the repeal of the "Corn Act", which would undoubtedly bring disaster to a considerable number of ordinary families... Let's see. She refused to save her, and knowing the "plot" of the original work, she also sat back and watched many tragedies happen.
So, is there any essential difference between myself who behaves like this and the gods I resent?
Valeela was confused by this.
Snapped--
She pressed the newspaper hard on the table to block her thoughts, and pulled her consciousness back from the edge of falling into a chaotic whirlpool, avoiding a recurrence of yesterday's situation.
"Miss, are you okay?"
Valeera shook her head, "Prepare the carriage, I'm going to St. Samuel's Church."
Backlund North District, Paisfield Street.
The Backlund Parish Headquarters of the "Night Goddess" Church and "St. Samuel's Church" are located on this street.
This is a standard symmetrical building with a pure black appearance and a bell tower on each side. In addition, the flocks of white pigeons rising and falling in the square in front of the door give people a sense of tranquility.
This is Valeela’s first time here.
Although she has always claimed that she is a believer in the "Goddess of the Night" and her usual speech and behavior are normal, in fact, she has not really performed a complete prayer since her "time travel" that night.
In the past, most of her prayers were done in the small prayer hall that she already had at home, and a few times she went to the branch church in the West District to do superficial prayers.
It's different now.
She had already met the "Night Goddess" who descended from the gods face to face, and received a dark holy symbol. There was no need to hide anymore... Moreover, she also felt that she needed a confession and needed to resolve the confusion in her heart. .
After getting off the carriage, Valila held on to the brim of her hat and stopped for a while to watch the pigeons flying and begging for food. When she felt calmer, she walked into the church with her maid Liya.
They walked through the quiet corridors, illuminated by high sunlight piercing the stained glass, all the way to the large prayer hall.
Here, the dim environment is full of tranquility and peace.
There were many gentlemen and ladies sitting on the rows of benches in the hall, but without exception, they all kept their heads down and listened quietly.
Valeera found a seat and sat down, took off her hat, lowered her head, clasped her hands, and began to pray seriously and quietly.
Liya sat next to her, hesitated for a moment, and closed her eyes too. .net
In the low and gentle sermon of the bishop on duty, Valeera gradually immersed herself in a very familiar state, feeling almost like a lucid dream——
She only knew before that this was the best state of praying... Now, because of the improvement in sequence and knowledge, she understood the nature of this state more clearly.
This amounts to a simplified ritual.
When praying together, the spirituality of the believers will naturally diverge slightly and be gathered bit by bit to provide power for the underground Chanis Gate seal.
At the same time, in this state, believers will also enter a state similar to "artificial sleepwalking", receive positive feedback from prayer, and deepen their faith unknowingly.
Valeera regained the familiar feeling she had lost for a long time, and even her heavy mood seemed to have improved a little.
In this way, time passed quietly.
After the bishop's sermon ended, Valeera stood up and walked to the donation box next to her. With the black-robed bishop observing from the corner of her eye, she put five 10-pound bills into it.
At this time, a small queue had formed in front of the confession room nearby.
Valeela turned and walked towards the arched altar, nodded and smiled at the bishop who had just preached, glanced at the coat of arms he wore on his chest, and said softly:
"Your Excellency, Bishop Curran? I have been feeling confused and confused recently, and I think I need a private confession."
The middle-aged Bishop Kirran observed Valeera carefully for a few seconds and nodded:
"Okay, you come with me."
Valeela turned back to signal Liya to wait, followed Bishop Kirran, walked through a short dark corridor, and came to the confessional on the other side of the large prayer hall.
Valeela closed the door and sat on the only high-backed chair in the dark room. In front of her was a small window with a curtain that connected the inner room.
"Child, what do you want to say?" The bishop asked proactively, his voice thick and gentle.
Following her past experience, Valeera adjusted her emotions slightly and said bluntly:
"I feel confused and confused about some of my actions, and I feel that I should be guilty."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, child," the bishop's voice said with a hint of guidance, "Speak slowly, you have to believe that the goddess is watching you."
Valeela took a deep breath.
"For my own benefit, I have interfered a little bit with an important policy of the kingdom that is related to people's livelihood. It has affected the lives of many people, and some people may even die because of it... Is this considered a disregard for life and wanton harm to others?"
This is her biggest confusion at the moment.
If the answer is yes, then there is no doubt that she is the same type of person she dislikes.
The bishop inside was silent for a few seconds, seeming to be thinking, and then asked:
"Is your method of interference legal?"
"Hmm... barely."
"Then how much interference did you put into it?"
"It was promulgated about a few months ahead of schedule."
"It should also have a good side, and some people will improve their lives because of it, and even escape from fatal difficulties, right?"
"Hmm... I should."
"So, have you tried to make up for the negative impact caused by your interference?" The bishop continued to ask in a gentle voice.
"Hmm..." Valeela thought for a while, "I have made up for it, but it doesn't count as hard work."
After the repeal of the Corn Act, the "Workers' Union Party" she led and founded did play a role in the early stages of policy implementation, helping many workers who were living in difficulty.
She should have some credit for this.
"Son, if this is the case, then you don't have to blame yourself too much."
The bishop's voice was still gentle:
"You have to know that everyone is selfish, and change comes with a price. This is a law that cannot be changed by human power.
"The fact that you can achieve this level is actually better than most people. The goddess will definitely forgive you for the rest."
