Chapter 32: Steam Tram

"I'm home, big sister."

Mel pushed open the door.

Veronica, who was sitting in a chair, turned her head and gave her a faint smile.

"Where did you go? Why are you just getting back now?"

"I went to the cathedral."

Mel took off her shoes, then walked toward Veronica.

Hearing that Mel had gone to the cathedral, Veronica's brows suddenly furrowed slightly.

"Did you run into any problems?"

"No," Mel chuckled softly, then came to Veronica's side and took out the pendant.

"This is for you."

Mel gently placed the pendant in Veronica's palm.

The crescent-shaped silver ornament gave off a faint halo under the glow of the gas lamp.

"What is this?"

Veronica asked softly, her slender fingers gently stroking the intricate patterns on the pendant's surface.

"The church has been giving out talismans recently," Mel said gently, reaching out to put the pendant on Veronica.

"The bishop said it's a blessing from the Red Moon that can bring peace. Big sister, you're always working at the library. Knowledge and the Red Moon don't get along well.”

Mel's fingertips lightly brushed past Veronica's golden hair.

As she fastened the silver chain, a faint warmth came from the pendant.

The Red Moon's power flowed silently within it.

"Do you go to the church often?"

Veronica said thoughtfully, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the pendant on her chest.

"Mmm... pretty much. Bishop Oliver told me to go whenever I'm free," Mel said, nodding.

"He said that I was contaminated the last time."

After thinking about it, Mel decided to make up a lie to add a reason to her frequent trips to the church.

"Contaminated?!"

Veronica's eyes suddenly widened.

She turned and put her hands on Mel's shoulders.

"What happened to you, Mel?"

"Calm down, big sister. It was just a very minor contamination."

Mel reassured her, "All I have to do is regularly go to Saint Margaret's Church to listen to prayers and sermons."

"Really?"

Veronica looked at Mel uneasily.

"Do you feel unwell or anything? Maybe I should just give you the pendant?"

"No need."

Mel smiled helplessly, then reached out and showed her the mark on the back of her hand.

"Look, this is a protection Bishop asked the Red Moon for me. It's much more useful than your talisman.”

Hearing this, Veronica carefully held her sister's hand and examined the moon disc mark closely.

The crescent-shaped pattern was faintly visible under the light, giving off a mysterious aura.

"This mark... you didn't get it from a branding iron, did you?"

Veronica asked softly, a hint of worry still between her brows.

She didn't doubt the effect of the mark, but she was worried about the process of getting the mark.

"Did it hurt, Mel?"

"This wasn't branded on me."

Mel shook her head with a smile.

"It appeared naturally. It's so amazing—the Bishop said this is a blessing from the Red Moon, and it didn't hurt at all.”

"Then... why didn't you tell me you were contaminated sooner?"

Veronica's voice carried a hint of blame, but more than that was concern.

"Because I didn't want big sister to worry. Besides, I didn't even know it was contamination at first."

Mel lightly hugged Veronica and said coyly, "And I'm all better now, aren't I? Bishop Oliver said that as long as I go to prayers on time, nothing will happen.”

Hearing this, Veronica pondered for a moment, then sighed softly, reaching out to stroke Mel's cheek.

"Next time something happens, you have to tell me right away, okay?"

"I know, I know.”

Mel gently shook Veronica's hands, showing a reassuring smile.

The light from the gas lamp cast a warm halo around the two sisters.

Veronica reached out and lightly rubbed Mel's head.

"Maybe I should go to the church tomorrow too," she said softly.

"No need," Mel quickly waved her hand.

"Big sister, don't you have to go to work at the library? Besides, I'm much better now.”

She gave a forced, relaxed smile.

"Oh right, Vilnia Randell invited me to hang out with her this weekend."

Mel said, changing the subject.

"She said a new dessert shop opened up near her house, and she invited me to go try it with her.”

Veronica's attention was diverted by Mel's words.

Hearing that she was going to be going out with Vilnia Randell, Veronica immediately nodded.

It was as if a mother had heard that her child was going out with the best-performing child in the class.

"Mmm, of course you can—do you need some money?"

Veronica said, then prepared to get her wallet.

Seeing this, Mel quickly stopped her.

"No need, no need. I still have my own spending money.”

"Alright then...”

Veronica withdrew her hand.

“Don't force yourself to hold back, okay? Buy whatever you want, got it?”

"Got it."

Mel laughed.

"It's getting late. Let's go to bed, big sister—you shouldn't have to organize those books anymore today, right?"

"Not today."

Veronica said, "Then let's go to bed. Do you want to sleep together again today?"

"Mmm, today too!"

Mel smiled and snuggled into Veronica's arms.

A weekend morning.

A knock on the door, slightly cheerful and expectant, broke the morning's silence.

“Knock knock knock—”

Hearing the knock, Mel got up and walked to the door.

The girl took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, and then opened the door.

"Good morning, Mel.”

The coffee-haired girl with curly hair in front of her showed a brilliant smile.

A light gray dress accentuated her graceful figure.

"Ready to go taste some delicious desserts?"

"Good morning, Vilnia Randell,” Mel replied.

Vilnia Randell had a faint perfume on her.

It was a slightly sweet scent, like a freshly bloomed rose.

"Are you ready?"

Vilnia Randell asked softly, her gaze gently fixed on Mel.

"Mmm, wait for me.”

Mel went back inside and got her small bag.

The two of them walked to the tram station, where they waited for the steam tram to arrive.

Soon, a faint “buzzing” sound came from a distance.

A steam tram slowly drove into their sight.

This kind of tram was similar in size to a bus.

It was deep gray on the outside and moved on tracks attached to the ground.

With the development of the times, the scholars of Saint Clement's Lyceum gradually became dissatisfied with the speed and capacity of carriages.

So, they started a technological revolution.

They covered the roads of Dunke City with railways, and then created a behemoth that moved using steam and electricity.

This transportation system was currently only being experimented with in Dunke City and a few surrounding cities, but the scholars' ambitions clearly went beyond that.

They also planned to break through the ground and build a train that could travel across all of Dunke City, naming it Subway.

Once the entire transportation system was in place, the next step would be to spread it throughout the entire kingdom.

Of course, a revolution of such a massive scale would not have been possible without the Hermes Workshop, which follows Chaos, pushing it from behind.

Ivory Tower was responsible for providing the Conceptual Principles, while the Hermes Workshop was responsible for turning these concepts into reality.

And once they conquered the land, the scholars of Ivory Tower and the artisans of the Hermes Workshop would raise their heads and set their sights on the sky.

Whether it was the land, the sky, or the ocean, all would pledge their loyalty to Knowledge and Chaos.

This was an era that belonged to Knowledge and Chaos.

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