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墨書 Inktalez
Mom's eyes swept back and forth between Alan and Dad, the obvious and unspoken tension in the air becoming a barrier that made it hard to breathe. She coughed, breaking the suffocating silence.
"Alright, both of you, stop talking," Mom said in a tone that brooked no dissent. "Today is Four Symbols Creation Day, and this family should be together, celebrating properly."
She picked up the delicate porcelain bowl from the table and carefully scooped up a spoonful of rich meat porridge, slowly raising it to eye level. Her originally calm expression turned serious, showing respect for this ritual: "To the Four Symbols!"
Dad and Alan exchanged a glance, in that instant, their eyes met, and they could both sense the indescribable complex emotions within each other. But Mom's gaze was like an invisible sword, piercing through their hearts, making them understand that this was definitely not the time to continue arguing and questioning.
"Respect Four Symbols!" Dad and Alan responded in unison, each scooping up a mouthful of thick meat porridge with their spoons and solemnly repeating Mom's sacred oath.
In that instant, the tension and oppression in the family seemed to be temporarily dispelled, replaced by the rich aroma of meat porridge and the warmth of home. However, for Alan, his doubts and dissatisfaction with the heavenly gods and The Sacred Church seemed to grow even stronger. He couldn't help but wonder, are these deities really worthy of their devout reverence?
However, in the face of his mother's loving and determined gaze, all these questions and doubts seemed to become less important. At least on this special day, he should respect the family and honor his mother's wishes.
Therefore, Alan suppressed all the questions and unease in his heart, obediently filled the spoon with porridge, and brought it to his mouth, eating the meat porridge bite by bite.
Alan sat at the wooden dining table, his eyes following the flickering firelight on the floor. His mood was still chaotic, unable to shake off the conversation just now. However, when he heard his parents start discussing the relationship with The Saridoro Wilderness tribe, he involuntarily listened in.
His mother cleared her throat first, apparently wanting to change the atmosphere. "How have the settlements been talking with the tribes of The Saridoro Wilderness recently?" she asked.
Dad put down the spoon in his hand, shrugged, scooped up a mouthful of meat porridge, and said, "Hmm, things seem to be developing in a more positive direction. You know, they are also people marginalized by the big cities and nobles. Recently, a few caravans are even willing to engage in some small-scale trade with us."
Mom nodded, her face showing a slight satisfaction and anticipation, "That's great. If we can establish a stable business relationship with Saridoro, we won't have to rely on those unstable jobs in the cities all the time. I heard that the quality of herbs and game over there is very good, which is definitely good news for us."
Raising both hands, she moved her lips gently and said, "Thanks to the Four Symbols, we can continue to live." Eilena looked at her father, seemingly moved by his devotion. She imitated her father's actions, clasping her small hands together, closing her eyes, and softly reciting a few unknown prayers.
Mom was no exception. She put down the spoon in her hand, clasped her hands together, and silently followed Dad and Eilena's prayer, as if seeking the blessing and guidance of the divine.
However, Alan's movements seemed somewhat stiff. He also raised his hands, as if imitating the actions of his family, but he couldn't make the prayer gesture as sincerely as they did. Countless doubts and dissatisfaction arose in his heart about the existence of these so-called "gods" and whether they truly deserved such devout faith.
Alan Although he raised his hands with his family, his heart felt as heavy and uneasy as if it were being pressed down by a heavy stone. He closed his eyes and moved his lips, but it seemed more like a formal compliance rather than a sincere prayer.
At that moment, the forgotten questions and doubts surged in his heart once again. He knew that these issues wouldn't disappear with just one or two prayers. The unease and dissatisfaction hidden in his heart were like hidden embers, ready to ignite at any moment due to some triggering point.
At that moment, the prayers of Alan's family brought a sacred atmosphere to the space. The candlelight flickered weakly in the tent, painting a harmonious picture of the family with the father's deep and affectionate voice. Mother and sister Eilena also held hands tightly, following their father's prayer with all their hearts. Alan's own hands were a bit stiff, perhaps because he was not used to this kind of religious ritual, but he still made an effort to fold his hands together and listen silently.
But in this quiet moment, a sudden burst of noisy sounds came from outside the tent, as if someone was arguing loudly, mixed with the sound of unidentified objects colliding. This sound seemed like a cold hand, ruthlessly shattering the sacred atmosphere created during the family prayer.
Father's brow furrowed instantly, as if he could sense the impending trouble lurking behind. He hurriedly finished his prayer, his eyes scanning Alan and the other family members' faces, seemingly assessing various possible scenarios in an instant.
"Stay here, don't go out," he said sternly to Alan and the family, with no room for negotiation in his tone. With that, he carefully lifted a corner of the tent and walked out cautiously, closing the tent door tightly behind him.
At this moment, a strong sense of unease surged in Alan's heart. The voices coming from outside were unlike any he had heard in the village before. There was an urgency and a sense of danger that made him involuntarily clench his fists. He turned to look at his mother and sister, and saw that their faces were also filled with worry.
His mother held Eilena tightly, as if it could bring her some sense of security. Eilena, on the other hand, clung tightly to her mother's clothes. Being young, she might not fully understand what was happening, but she could sense that a crisis was imminent.
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