Woo!

The steam train spewed white mist and traveled on a track suspended in the clouds, piercing the clouds all the way down to the city on the ground.

With the sound of a long whistle, the train slowly entered the station and stopped at the platform, which was made entirely of steel.

On the platform is a crowd of people who have been waiting here for a long time, who seem to be the natives of this world, and they have come to welcome the members of the Heart of Machines from the outside world on this special day.

"Your Excellency Ash."

Dressed in a white priest's robe and a clergyman's floppy hat, Horamik stepped forward and smiled as he handed Ember a badge:

"You are free to move around, you can go wherever you want. As long as you wear this emblem, no one will restrict your movements. But be sure to get back to this platform within a month, or you'll miss your return. ”

【Steam Emblem】

[The emblem bestowed on the Loved by the God of Steam and Machinery.]

When the holder displays the badge,

Followers of the Steam Church will see it as a favor of the gods. 】

"I'll take notice."

Ember took the badge from Horamik's hand, glanced at the badge's description, and bowed his head slightly.

Horamik smiled and nodded, but without further words, walked over to the natives who had come to greet them.

Ember didn't stop either, turning to leave the station.

Although he has never been to this world, with his sense of 'tinder', he can clearly perceive the core of this world.

Although the world of painting itself is different, even the physical laws within it are diametrically opposed to the outside world.

For example, the 'steam world' of the Steam Church, the gravity-defying air orbit, the huge sun hanging in the air for some reason, and the steam cities on this barren land, all of these are contrary to the physical laws of the outside world. Another example is the Aurora Society's 'Flesh World', where an endless blanket of flesh and mushrooms covers the entire world, and only a very small part of the summit of that mountain has a very small area suitable for living.

But in any case, the two worlds have exactly the same thing -

There is bound to be a 'core' in any painting world, and in this 'core' is the 'fire' that is the foundation of the painting world.

When the world of painting begins to corrupt, only by breaking the 'core' can the 'fire' burn the whole world to the ground.

Of course.

The world is far from the brink of corruption, and the embers are not hungry for flames. The purpose of his search for the core is not to break it.

Ember looked up into the distance and found himself standing on the city's 'road'—

Like the platforms, even the roads in the city are made of steel.

Even if it's just a rough estimate, the steel needed to build this city is enough to build a huge fleet of tens of thousands of ironclad ships! That's enough to replace all the fleets that exist in the entire kingdom of Rune, and there is far more than one such city in this painting world.

There is no doubt that the steel production of this painting world is a bit too rich.

"Maybe it has something to do with the path taken?"

Ember thought for a moment, the world of paintings of the Aurora Society was covered with flesh and blood mushroom blankets that covered the world.

And the sequence 6 of the 'Secret Prayer Man' path mastered by the Aurora Society is Bishop Rose, which is undoubtedly a sequence with a huge demand for 'flesh'.

The way in which the Steam Church has mastered is the 'Knowledgeable', and it is clear from the name and symbol of the Steam Church that this church has an extreme worship and fascination with machinery and steel, which is related to their beliefs.

But these differences are obviously not inherent in these painting worlds.

After all, according to what Ember knew, the world of the painting was not exclusive to the Church of Steam, but was to be shared with the Church of the Eternal Sun. Even more than 100 years ago, the world of this painting belonged to the eternal sun.

The Church of the Eternal Sun obviously doesn't have much demand for these steel cities, which have been established in the past hundred years since the Steam Church took over, which means that the world itself is extremely malleable.

This is a slight difference from Ember's previous knowledge of the world of painting, but it is not incomprehensible.

Yu suddenly had a thought in his heart, and an illusory light blue light suddenly appeared.

His figure then blurred, almost invisible.

He saw things that were indescribable, even so transparent that they didn't seem to exist, and he saw one after another different colors of clear light that contained infinite knowledge...... In that strange world above reality, Ember did not linger on it, but took steps in a certain direction.

Soon, he got out of that transparent and illusory state and returned to reality.

In front of him, a steel city was no different from the previous city.

But he knew that this was not the original city, but the 'core' he was looking for.

But this did not make Ember happy, but rather confused.

His ability to use the spirit realm teleportation meant that the world was also connected to the spirit realm.

And the existence of the spiritual world is quite wonderful, it completely overlaps with the real world, all overlaps, but does not interfere with each other, and it must rely on extraordinary power to break the gap.

In theory, the world of painting is supposed to be completely independent of the real world, which means that the world of painting itself should be insulated from the spirit world, and any extraordinary abilities that need to be used with the help of the spirit world will be invalid.

But this is clearly not the case, and the world is also connected to the spirit world. But on the other hand, the spiritual realm here seems to be cut off from the spiritual realm of the real world. Because embers cannot be teleported through the spirit realm, they can be teleported directly from the painting world to the outside.

In other words, the 'spiritual world' here may be separated from the spiritual realm of the real world.

The spiritual realms of the two worlds have the same world, but they are independent of each other, which can be called a miracle.

Ember gathered his thoughts and walked towards the city ahead.

But just as he took a step, there was an additional figure in front of him.

It was a lady in a black dress with a black veil on her face, who appeared silently on the side of the road, quietly watching the embers.

For some reason, Ember seemed to be able to see the complicated look in the woman's eyes.

Ember stopped, staring at her in the same silence.

"Long time no see."

The lady took off her veil, revealing her beautiful face under the veil, and said softly.

Ember was silent for a moment, then hesitated and asked:

"Do we know each other?"

"Huh?" The lady in the black dress was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't expect Ember to give such an answer.

The lady in the black dress became more and more complicated, and murmured in a low voice:

"Well, don't you remember me?"

"Sure enough, it's supposed to be like this, maybe as a taboo, I shouldn't be known, right?"

Ember was silent for a long time, and said softly:

"I'm sorry, I don't really remember, but I guess it shouldn't be about you."

"No, it's okay."

The lady in the black dress smiled slightly, "Actually, I'm just kidding. ”

Before Ember could react, the lady in the black dress suddenly asked:

"Do you remember the fireproof girl?"

Ember bowed his head slightly.

The lady in the black dress did not seem surprised by this, and then asked:

"So, what about other than that?"

Ember was silent for a long time, and said in a deep voice:

"Patch!"

The lady in the black dress was stunned for a moment, and Ember's answer surprised her again, and changed the subject:

"Who else?"

Ember thought for a moment and said slowly:

"Brother Soo, Brother Grayheart, Onion Knight, I remember them all."

"That's right,"

The lady in the black dress nodded thoughtfully and said to herself:

"Are these people the only ones except the fireproof woman? Even if all the female friends have been forgotten by you, can't the fireproof girl still forget? Ah, of course, how could Ember forget his fireproof girl? As for the other women? It's normal to be forgotten, after all, women will only affect the speed of your fire! ”

"So ......"

The lady in the black dress changed her tone and suddenly asked:

"Do you remember your name as a firefighter?"

Ember was stunned for a moment, confused.

He never thought about this question, it seems that in his heart, the fire girl is just a simple fire girl, why does she need a name? But even a fireproof woman is not born a fireproof girl, why doesn't she have a name?

Why, he didn't know the name of his fireproof girl?

"Is that really the case?"

Seeing Ember's reaction, the lady in the black dress smiled instead, and said softly:

"It's okay if you don't remember, I can tell you the answer, do you want to know?"

"Of course."

Ember nodded solemnly.

The lady in the black dress held up a finger and said seriously:

"Kalula."

"Your name is Calullah."

Ember looked up at the lady, her expression extremely serious, and it was hard not to be convinced by her serious appearance.

But Ember could clearly realize that there was no emotion in her words, and it was all private goods.

Darkfallen: Kalula

Ember withdrew his gaze from the top of the woman's head and said silently:

"Although I don't remember much, I don't remember the name of the firefighter girl. But is there a possibility that the fallen son of darkness can't become a fireproof girl? ”

"Eh~"

The witch named Calula blinked, but without any embarrassment of being exposed, she smiled and groaned:

"Was it discovered? But I'm not lying to you, I'm more competent than the real firefighter girl. ”

Ember didn't care about the truth of Calula's words, and asked:

"So, what's her name?"

"Irina."

The corners of Kalula's mouth rose slightly, "Your fireproof girl's name is Irina." You, who saved her from the darkness, are her only salvation. ”

That's not lying.

After all, Irina is indeed Ember's fireproof woman.

"Irina?"

Ember whispered the name, a dusty memory in his mind that seemed to touch it......

"Ahh The bugs kept biting me and tormenting me all the time. So please, please come and touch me......"

"Ah, Lord Ash, are you ready to go? Please, please come back soon. I'm so scared, I'm so scared of the darkness that afflicts me. ”

"Ahh Please, please touch me. The bugs are tormenting me again. ”

"Ah, where are you. I wasn't alone. Thank you, God......"

"Ah, Lord Ash, you're talking to me again. I'm fine. This darkness is my mission. ”

“……”

"Remember?" Kalula asked with a chuckle.

Ember put away his dusty thoughts and nodded slightly:

"I remember a few."

Although the memory is still vague, I can only recall a few words. But that timid girl is indeed his fireproof girl!

"It's okay."

Calula smiled and groaned, "I'll help you remember it all, and I'll be there for you until then." ”

After that, too.

Ember nodded silently, not refusing the lady's proposal, but suddenly asked:

"So, what about you?"

"Me?"

"How did we meet?"

"Ah, this story is a long story, what a trouble."

The corners of Kalula's mouth were slightly raised, and she said that she was troublesome, but she took the initiative to tell it very honestly:

"To put it simply, it's a hopelessly perverted Lolicon. He kept saying that he wanted to change my miserable fate, but in fact, he snatched me away from my parents and forcibly turned me into his appearance. And when I became an adult, I didn't hesitate to abandon me who was no longer the size of Lori. ”

Calula said, chuckling again and asking:

"Pretty bad, isn't it? Just like my hopelessly scumbag father. ”

“……”

Ember opened his mouth and hesitated:

"Is there a possibility that the person you're talking about isn't me?"

"Do you wish this person wasn't you?"

Calula asked rhetorically with a grin.

“……”

Ember was silent and changed the subject, "Who is your father?" ”

A complicated look appeared in Kalula's eyes, and she said softly:

"A fallen knight who betrayed his oath and the saint for the sake of a forbidden witch."

"In order to save the saint, he walked with the forbidden witch."

"For the sake of the forbidden witch, he abandoned all the ethics and ties of the world."

"What a scumbag."

"Until the last moment of his life, he still remembered the forbidden witch, and even paid the price of his life for it......"

is obviously scolding her father for being a scumbag, but Kalullah's eyes reveal undisguised envy.

It must be a very poignant love story.

Ember asked softly:

"What's your mother's name?"

With a complicated look on her face, Kalula whispered:

"Jealous Apostle, Beauty, a very bad woman."

"Apostle of Desire, Duna Xiangzhuo of Dolan Gureig.

Apostle of Wrath, Queen of Defilement, Elena of the City of the Holy Wall.

The Lonely Apostle, the Coal Bride, Nadella of the Tower of the Black Mist.

Apostle of Dread, Silent Shrine Maiden, Yarsuna of Esloyes. ”

The touching memories flashed back to his mind one by one, and Ember whispered:

"Jealous Apostle, Calullah."

"Well, I'm here." Calula replied softly by pulling a strand of hair that the wind had blown to her forehead behind her ear.

Ember had been through a lot before meeting her. Although the memory has been sealed, it can be easily touched by her, which means that the seal itself is no longer an obstacle, and if he is given some more time, he can solve all the puzzles on his own.

But she couldn't wait that long, she needed to be by his side personally, as he had done.

Ember looked at the lady in front of him, but his expression became more and more silent.

Scattered memories only disturbed his thoughts more and more.

"Oh, you're confused, aren't you?"

Calula walked up to Ember and said softly:

"As the saying goes, only those who have a way to get lost, this is proof that you are a hero. And no matter what you decide, I will always support you. So, you must be safe and sound. ”

Ember stared at the lady in front of him, and for some reason, he always felt that something was wrong.

Her personality is not right.

(End of chapter)