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Chapter 487: Lanchi's Date with Sigrid (Part 2)
Chapter 487: Lanchi's Date with Sigrid (Part 2)
On Saturday morning, Lanchi and Sigrid's date began with a visit to the aerial garden in the south of Helrom.
At lunchtime, they strolled leisurely to the Helseren Restaurant on Fourth Avenue, which struck a perfect balance between grandeur and mystery.
The Gothic architectural style intertwined with the curtain wall of magical craftsmanship. Upon entering the restaurant, one was enveloped in an atmosphere of luxury and art. Dozens of meters above, countless crystal chandeliers hung suspended, while the interior boasted a dark red and golden decor. The long tables were covered in supple satin, set with invisible cutlery that changed color upon touch, responding to the user's magic.
Helseren Restaurant was renowned for its unique fusion cuisine, blending the flavors of the Northern Continent with the distinctive tastes of Helrom.
The restaurant attracted guests from all corners of the Protoss Empire, including high-ranking government officials, famous explorers, and some enigmatic mixed-blood races.
It was the perfect place for important business discussions, culinary delights, or simply socializing.
Even the cat boss, a frequent visitor, couldn't get enough of the restaurant's unique offerings. One of its special features was the infusion of alchemical magic into some dishes, providing temporary attribute enhancements or illusory experiences—a skill the cat boss wished he could master.
In the afternoon, the couple's steps led them to the arts district in the heart of Helrom.
Beyond the bustling shopping district lay the ancient artistic charm of Protoss, with colorful street graffiti and numerous independent art galleries.
They savored afternoon tea and treats while enjoying magical performances on the spacious walking street plaza.
Before they knew it, the day had slipped by, and they found themselves stepping out of the Helrom Broadcasting Company's building after watching the Helrom Evening Show. They enjoyed a late dinner and then walked back, meandering their way to the vicinity of the Starry Sky Theater.
Here, the night sky seemed amplified by magic, with the stars hanging tantalizingly close.
"Time flies, and suddenly it's dark," Sigrid remarked, gazing up at the deep blue expanse, wondering if there was something amiss with the sky.
But she knew.
The day was coming to a close.
Yet, every wonderful day was a step forward.
Recalling the month they had spent together in the north, it felt like they had shared every day, though they hadn't realized it at the time. Only now did she recognize how extraordinarily beautiful each of those days had been.
"Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?" Lanchi asked calmly with a smile.
He was never in a hurry, always relaxed, and even more so after the conclusion of the bishop elections.
"I heard there's an old district in Helrom where people might get teleported to random places," Sigrid said thoughtfully, looking intently at Lanchi. "They say if you're unlucky, you could end up in the mana river."
"That sounds dangerous," Lanchi acknowledged, remembering the old district from his first visit to Helrom. His student, Zestila, had warned him about the oddly distorted old district and advised him against entering it alone.
In truth, its spatial structure differed from the outside world, resembling a multi-dimensional crossroads. Each step could potentially lead to any location within Helrom.
"It's not that bad, actually," Sigrid reassured him. "The teleportation distance isn't too far, and some people walk through without triggering any teleportation at all."
She paused, then added quietly, "But I heard that if two people go in holding hands, they will be teleported to the same place."
"...”
Lanchi walked on, deep in thought.
"Well?" Sigrid prodded, gently bumping Lanchi's shoulder with hers as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Lanchi stopped in his tracks.
"Then you have to hold my hand tightly and not let go," he said, offering his hand to Sigrid.
"Huh?" Sigrid was taken aback for a moment, surprised by the saint's straightforwardness.
Holding the hem of his sleeve would have been fine, too.
Just like how she had held on tightly to his sleeve on that snowy northern plain at dawn, when they had been cornered by the Saint of Oblivion.
"Shouldn't lines like that usually be said by the girl? You're so bold, Saint!" Sigrid teased, grasping Lanchi's hand firmly and leading him forward with enthusiastic strides.
Though the old district was still some distance away, Sigrid didn't let go of his hand. They made their way to the entrance of the obscure neighborhood.
The street was narrow and rugged, resembling a mountain path from a distance.
On either side stood ancient stone buildings, with streetlights casting a soft glow that flickered in the night.
Hand in hand, they explored this rarely visited attraction.
Devoid of crowds, the cluster of buildings seemed filled with a sense of loneliness.
In the dim light, the shadows of benches along the street stretched long, and their figures danced on the walls.
"Are you scared? If you are, you can hold your sister's hand tighter," Sigrid teased, turning to look at Lanchi with a playful glint in her bright purple eyes.
The vibrant purple shone clearly in the moonlight.
"I'm not scared," Lanchi replied calmly.
This district, unlike the bustling world outside, was enveloped in silence, with only their voices gently rippling through the air.
"Pfft," Sigrid huffed in disappointment, tugging him closer as she continued walking.
As she turned forward again, her hair dancing in the air, Lanchi followed, still held by her hand.
Sigrid hummed a cheerful tune, her mood seemingly elated, perhaps due to the satisfaction of the day's date finally reaching its climax.
After a while, she led Lanchi to an ancient tower surrounded by a steep and incomplete spiral staircase, a perilous sight that warned of potential falls with a single misstep.
"Let's climb up and take a look," Sigrid suggested excitedly.
She glanced at Lanchi, hoping to catch a glimpse of fear on his face.
To her disappointment, Lanchi remained as stoic as ever, devoid of any emotional response.
However, just at that moment, the scenery of the district began to subtly transform. The surrounding buildings seemed to lose their solid forms, gently warping as if enveloped by an invisible magical force.
Suddenly, everything seemed to spin out of control!
Along with a sense of weightlessness, their surroundings transformed in an instant.
The high-altitude wind brushed their faces, and their vision was filled with a night cityscape of darkness adorned with golden lights.
It was a glittering world, illuminating skyscrapers, streets, temples, and squares, all laid bare before them.
From this familiar vantage point, a thousand meters above, they had somehow reached the edge of the Starry Sky Theater in the sky!
It felt as if they could reach out and touch the moon.
But the howling wind threatened to send them tumbling down at any moment.
Before Lanchi could take in the dangerous scenery, he seemed to remember something and was about to speak to Sigrid.
However, Sigrid had already lost her balance and pulled Lanchi with her as they leaped down from the cloud-filled skies.
As he regained clarity, the roaring wind whistled past his ears, and all sense of gravity vanished. The oppressive air pressure assured him that he was indeed in free fall, grasped tightly by Sigrid.
"Are you scared?"
Sigrid, holding Lanchi's hand tightly, asked with a smile.
According to Gloria, this situation would induce the "suspension bridge effect." When a person crosses a suspension bridge, their heart will start pounding uncontrollably out of fear. If they happen to meet another person at that moment, they may mistakenly attribute the accelerated heartbeat to the other person, assuming that they are falling in love.
"I'm fine," Lanchi replied calmly.
But the problem was, Sigrid could clearly sense that his heart rate barely accelerated at all!
"Why aren't you afraid?" Sigrid asked, a hint of frustration in her voice.
Ever since earlier, she had wanted to scare him a little, but he just wouldn't budge.
"The strongest woman in the world is by my side," Lanchi answered sincerely, unfazed by their current free-falling state.
The way he looked at Sigrid conveyed that he had nothing to fear.
"Besides, you've already pulled me up to the heavens twice now." Lanchi added.
"Ugh, you! Is there anything that scares you at all?!" Sigrid complained, showing no signs of slowing their descent.
If Askassan and Morotian couldn't scare you, does it have to be a Ninth-Rank threat?!
"I was scared during the Congress Hall incident," Lanchi said after some thought.
"Oh? At what specific moment?" Sigrid's curiosity piqued, and she adjusted her posture slightly in the air, listening intently.
"When I saw you and Askassan engaged in a battle to the death, knowing that only one of you would walk out alive..." Lanchi replied.
"Hmm." Sigrid covered her chest with her hand, her heart pounding wildly amidst the howling wind.
Her purple eyes, shining through the mist of Helrom, cut a clear path. The fog rushed past her on both sides, and in the next moment, everything accelerated. The icy air rushed at them, and each breath felt like it was drawn from the depths of a freezer.
She held onto Lanchi, using a force akin to magic to protect his balance as she guided him through the air.
Soon, they arrived at the northernmost lake bordering the Protoss Royal Magic Academy.
Perhaps the chilling airflow from their aerial maneuver had calmed her down.
However, she didn't face Lanchi but instead gazed at the lake, her back turned to him as she slowly released his hand.
Without needing to say a word, both knew that their date had to end for the day.
Sigrid remained silent, wishing for the saint to do the same.
From near to far, the soft outlines of hills, trees, and the brightly lit Helrom shone dimly in the night.
Under the dancing phosphorescent starlight, the murky lake seemed to merge with the horizon.
The two stood there, soaking in the night view without uttering a word.
After what felt like an eternity...
"Sigrid, I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon," Lanchi finally spoke.
"..."
Sigrid remained silent.
"I recall saying that I wouldn't let you go. You should stay by my side and continue to serve me, and in return, I can protect you," she said, turning to face Lanchi, her demeanor shifting back to that of the Bishop of the Tyranny Sect.
At this moment, they seemed to have reverted to how they were when they first met—a cold, detached beauty who didn't seem to care about Lanchi's feelings, only concerned with getting what she wanted.
"I have to go back to the Southern Continent, and I'll be there for at least a year," Lanchi told her.
The Protoss Empire needed the Tyranny Sect. This nation had just recovered from a period of turmoil and was now back on track. Although the deep-seated hostility brewing in the north had been suppressed, it might one day resurge with renewed vigor.
As for Lanchi, he would step back into the shadows, maintaining a deterring presence, while the Tyranny Sect, now represented by Sigrid, would be the visible protector of the empire, alongside the Grand Sage Yssi.
In turn, the Southern Continent also faced potential threats that needed addressing to ensure they could support the Northern Continent whenever needed.
"I don't accept that," Sigrid said, her only stubborn insistence amidst her newfound seriousness.
"..." Lanchi looked at her helplessly and smiled.
Although she said this, she had given him plenty of opportunities to escape throughout the week.
If he had left earlier, she wouldn't have been able to catch up.
"The next time we meet, I'll be stronger than a Fifth-Rank," Lanchi assured her.
"..."
Sigrid's ears turned red upon hearing this.
"Alright, fine! Do as you wish. Before you leave tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you at our usual spot. You still owe me a painting," she said, turning her head and waving her hand dismissively. Her figure quickly disappeared into the night.
Only Lanchi remained, standing by the lake, smiling as he saw her off.
(End of Chapter)
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