In the huge hall of the matrix, the humming sound of the ancient equipment resonated between the silver-white metal columns. These sounds overlapped with each other and sometimes sounded like the melodious sound of wind chimes. Ophelia vaguely remembered that a long, long time ago, before the underground facility was closed, someone had visited her and described her as a "wind chime" when she was thinking.
But that was a long time ago, so long ago that even the tireless machines would store the corresponding information at the bottom of the database. Now, no living person would knock on the ancient door. In the huge underground facility, only the soulless iron men and the cold magic gears accompanied the sleepless ancient ghost.
The resonance between the square columns gradually slowed down, and the holographic projections that clearly showed the outside of the wasteland were extinguished one by one. The Ophelia Matrix ended her short rest and transferred the active terminal named "Veronica" outside the wall to the backup thread. Then, the metal columns in the hall began to quickly adjust their height and angle of orientation. The matrix nodes completed their self-check and went online to take over the information links of the laboratories and factory facilities in the base.
At the same time, a metal platform in the center of the hall rose to the ground with a slight hissing sound. The cover above the platform silently slid to both sides, revealing a delicate container placed on top of the platform. It was an ellipsoidal protective chamber made of crystal. Countless pipes and cables were connected to the metal structure at the base, but more than half of the runes on the base were extinguished. Inside the ellipsoidal chamber, a slightly petite and slender figure floated quietly in the thin, pale golden solution.
It was a young woman. Her light gray hair mixed with a metallic texture draped over her back like a waterfall. She was wearing a classic dress that did not belong to this era. The exquisite decoration on the dress and the woman's extraordinary appearance showed that this "Sleeper" was special. But despite her beautiful appearance, the woman floating in the pale golden solution was lifeless. She was like a delicate doll floating in a coffin that had been closed for hundreds of years.
The matrix watched the figure floating in the container and completed the routine monitoring record for the day.
"XX year, XX month, XX day, 266455 days after Ophelia Norton's brain death. The matrix continues to operate. The internal situation of the base is normal. No higher-level command has been received. Continuing to perform the initial system mission …"
…
In the valley surrounded by a decaying wasteland, the giant plant structure had grown into a dense and solid wooden dome. This dome blocked the foul wind in the wasteland and also blocked the dry sand and ashes that were carried by the wind. Inside the dome, the environment in the valley had completely stabilized.
The luminous plants embedded in the dome and the surrounding rock walls provided sufficient illumination for the entire settlement. The vines deep in the rock formations and underground provided the valley with filtered clean water. The plants needed to grow from the decaying soil that was full of magic residue. A large number of dormant "treants" were clinging to the rugged rocks and slopes. In the open space between the treants, there were a lot of twisted but lush plants on both sides of the path.
If one ignored the terrible twisted thorns on the dome and the truth behind the valley, the environment here could be described as "full of life". If an outsider came here, they would not have thought that such a lush place was located in the deepest part of the Gondor wasteland.
A soft rustling sound came from the forest. A pair of elven sisters stepped out of the woods. Their light green robes brushed against the low shrubs beside the path. The light from the dome illuminated their delicate faces. Firna stopped and looked up at the dome that was completely closed. She then turned to look at the "sisters" beside her. She suddenly smiled and said, "Did the scene just now remind you of the residual images in your mind? In the forest in the south, beautiful elves bathed in the sun and breathed in the morning breeze that smelled slightly damp and earthy … "
Rayna immediately shook her head. "The residual images in my mind have long been shattered. And I don't think the scene you described can be used in a forest that was catalyzed by the twisted forces of nature … Think about the state of those lush plants before they became what they are now. In the eyes of mortals, it's really disgusting."
"In the eyes of mortals …" Firna said softly with a faint smile on her face. She then put away her expression and looked at the surrounding forest. "But I have to admit that these believers have indeed achieved something unexpected. They have reshaped a suitable ecological environment for themselves in a small area. In a sense, they have 'cured' this wasteland …"
At this moment, a hoarse and low voice suddenly came from not far away, interrupting the latter half of Pherna's sentence. "Unfortunately, 'healing' the wasteland is only a by-product of the plan. What we pursue is to return the entire world to the correct path."
The elven twins turned to the direction of the voice at the same time and nodded gently at the leader of the treants who was wriggling its roots. "Look who's here. Our Grand Hierarch, His Excellency Borken."
"Sometimes I'm curious, are you two or one of you?" Borken did not care about Firna and her sister's provocative attitude. He just glanced at the two elves with his tawny eyes. "If it's the former, using one soul to play two roles and talking to yourself … Isn't it tiring?"
"On the contrary, it's a lot of fun," the elven sisters said in unison. Both of them had a faint smile on their faces. Then, Feyerna spoke alone. "Your Excellency, why do you have time to care about how we get along with each other today? Could it be that you have finally given up on your unrealistic plan and are going to find a sunny place to do some photosynthesis like a normal plant? "
Rayna quickly followed. "Or maybe the erosion of the Deep Blue Net has finally alerted the ghost in the center of the wasteland. An army of ironmen has located this little hideout, and the hierarchs are already packing up and running …"
"… Sooner or later, I'll let your poisonous tongues learn how to get along with your allies." Borken glared at the two elves in front of him. His tawny eyes briefly showed undisguised malice and anger, but he quickly suppressed these emotions and his tone became cheerful and relaxed. "You can say whatever you want. My subordinates have achieved great success in the Deep Blue Net. The control runestones have been buried, and several veins running through the entire planet are gradually falling into our control. I'm here to tell you that my plan is one step closer to success."
"Ah, thank you so much for your kindness and honesty, Grand Hierarch. You still remember to inform insignificant allies like us of the progress of your plan …" Firna and Rayna deliberately said in an exaggerated tone. Then, Rayna looked into Borken's eyes. "But we guess you're not just here to tell us good news, right?"
"Of course not, you better not play dumb," Borken immediately said. His twisted canopy made a series of rustling sounds. "Don't forget what you promised before. We have to throw the node runestones into a few rifts outside the wasteland to get enough 'control system'. To do this, the Great Wall of the Wasteland is an obstacle that must be solved."
"Ah, of course, of course," the elven sisters deliberately dragged their voices. Firna even looked up at the direction blocked by the rock wall and the dome as if she wanted to see through the obstacles and the distance to see the magnificent towers on the edge of the Gondor wasteland. "The Sentinel Towers … We are really capable people. We have to provide you with the knowledge of the Deep Blue Network, help you to infiltrate the external energy supply system of the Ironmen and the Ophelia Matrix, and now help you to solve the Sentinels on the edge of the wasteland … Grand Hierarch, working with you is really not easy at all."
"This is part of the contract, both of you," Borken said in a low voice. All the 'anger' and 'irritation' in his tone had turned into an unusually serious and solemn one. "I know you have your own little plans and things that you want to do in private, but I have never really looked into it. Because in the big picture, we have the same goal. This world needs real and long-term security, not any compromise to survive in the world. We want to completely end the threat of the demonic tide and the gods to this world. For this, the world has to make some sacrifices.
"Now, our long-term efforts have finally reached the most critical moment. The Deep Blue Network that runs through the entire planet is about to fall into our hands. So at least before the plan is completed, let us show some sincerity … Even if there is a day when we really have to part ways, I hope that it will be after the plan is successful."
"… Wonderful speech, Mr. Grand Hierarch. I am touched," Firna said after Borken's voice trailed off. Her unfathomable eyes covered all her true feelings. She held out her index finger and thumb and made a small gesture in front of Borken. "Of course, I am just a little touched."
"Even so, we will still abide by the contract," Rayna said. "Those Sentry Towers, we will find a way to deal with them. You can trust us. After all, we have successfully infiltrated the Sentry Towers a few years ago …"
Borken's tawny eyes scanned the elven twins a few times. Then, the leader of the dark Druil, who had transformed into a twisted treant, shook his canopy slightly. His old and low voice came from the rubbing of branches and leaves. "Very well, then I look forward to your results."
"You can look forward to it. Of course, don't expect it too early," Rayna said faintly. "After all, it is not easy to crack the Sentry Towers. Even we have to prepare for a long time."
"Of course, I can wait," Borken said in a low voice. "After all, I have been waiting for many years …"
Accompanied by the rustling sound of the wriggling wooden structure, the old twisted treant wriggled its roots and left the forest path. Its figure gradually disappeared from the sight of the elven twins. Rayna and Firna looked at the direction where the Druil leader disappeared. There was an unfathomable intention in their deep eyes.
Then, they looked up and quietly looked in the direction blocked by the wooden dome and rock formations. Their eyes seemed to penetrate these airtight barriers and the distance in the wasteland. They looked at the Sentry Towers that stood at the end of the wasteland and propped up a magnificent barrier.
Firna's lips moved. Suddenly, she softly sang a folk song that had been passed down since ancient times in the Silver Empire.
"The wind blows in the deep forest, the sound of the wind is empty … The lonely Sentry Tower stands in the wind, the sentry can't see the familiar bird flying across the sky …"
Rayna's voice softly continued.
"The wind blows in the empty cave for how long, the ancient trees in the forest can't remember … The bird never flew across the sky again … A sentry went crazy …"
"The bird never flew across the sky again, a sentry went crazy …"
"A sentry went crazy …"
…
"The bird never flew across the sky again, a sentry went crazy …"
Bersetia sat on a bench by the garden path and looked at the starry night sky. The Silver Queen softly sang a tune that lingered in the quiet courtyard and finally dissipated in the cold night wind.
"I have heard this tune before, and it seems to be you who sang it." Gwen looked curiously at the Silver Queen sitting next to him. At the same time, he was a little confused. "But I remember hearing the words' The bird never flew across the sky again, because the sentry stewed a bowl of pigeon porridge '…"
"… I changed it myself, Uncle Gawain." Bersetia's mouth twitched a little awkwardly. "After all, I was still young back then … Please forget about it. What I just sang was the 'original' version."
"Well, I knew you made it up." Gawain sighed helplessly, then stroked his chin thoughtfully. "But the lyrics of the original version sound weird … Or rather, the whole song sounds weird. What's the origin of this song? Some kind of sacrificial song? "
"Sacrificial song? Of course not. "Bersetia was taken aback and immediately waved her hand." This is just a rural song sung by the Silver Elves. Children sing it more often. When I was young, I liked to run out of the Elven Palace, so I learned how to sing it from my friends in the countryside outside the city … "
"A child's song …" Gawain was stunned, and his expression became a little strange. "How should I put it? You are indeed Silver Elves. The world's evaluation of your artistic cells is not just for show. The lyrics of a rural nursery rhyme have been made so deep, complicated, and mysterious by you."
(End of Chapter)
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