The Witch and the Doll Swear

When I saw the blue waves of Nile Clay again, the budding March had already sunk into the horizon with the constellation Ram, and the empty throne rose high from the eastern horizon, announcing the arrival of Kanna Moon.

The summer wind and sunshine have become hotter. Even if the sand boat has the insulation magic set by Liliana, the daily travel time will inevitably be reduced, avoiding Amon Ra's most brilliant time.

When the sun rose high into the sky, the entire desert seemed to be boiling, and the steaming heat penetrated everywhere.

Having to disembark to go to the toilet at such a temperature, both Ai and Tina had the bad experience of almost suffering from heat stroke and being burned. Now, green appears in the unchanging golden color, and the flowing water waves and waves can be seen again at the end of the sand dune. The swaying reeds and the refreshing river breeze brought relief to Tina and Ai, who were born on the seaside and in a snow-covered city.

This journey, which was scheduled for more than twenty days but actually only took seventeen days to reach the destination, was about to come to an end.

"...We have passed through the provinces of Maritis West and Kem, and went down Nerocle. Letopolesta is between the river and the sea of ​​sand."

At dawn the next day after the witch said this, the shadow of the city appeared on the horizon.

During the trip, you can occasionally see Sinai villages. If there are oases and mineral deposits in the desert, they will form small settlements. However, during this trip to Sinai, this is the third village that Tina and Ai have seen. Vast settlements called cities.

A city that was once buried and now is being unearthed.

When the sun rose, the "Lightseeker" had arrived at the edge of the city.

Looking at the outermost ruins, it is hard to imagine how long it has spent under the vast desert. These mud-brick houses are full of ancient traces, and drought-resistant shrubs grow among them. Among these relics The sand in between seems to be the road of this city, undulating along the dunes. Occasionally, walls and adobe platforms suddenly appear in the middle of the road. Rather than saying it is a road, it is better to say that this is just a desert in this city. Another kind of extension.

"Those should be the roofs or the edges of the second floor that haven't been dug out yet."

"Eh?"

On the deck, Ai pointed to the houses further away and suddenly said this. Tina, who was still lamenting that the roads here were too difficult to walk, couldn't help but touch her head after comparing the "walls" and "flat land" with the roofs and fences of the houses a little further away.

"It's really...a hidden city."

Thanks to this, the sand boat sailed directly into the city along the sand-covered streets.

After approaching the center of the city, shirtless dark men can be seen everywhere. Their hair and beards are cleanly shaved, and their dark skin has strong muscle lines. When they see the sand boat approaching, they all stop what they are doing. Work, shouting this way.

The children who only wore a circle of cloth around their waists were even more excited than they were. The sparkling solar sail soon attracted the attention of these children who were not yet able to work in the sun. They chased after the sand boat, Yelling.

In the center of the city, there were more complete houses, and there were fewer people digging out sand with shovels and baskets. Liliana slowed down her sand boat, and the temple gate could be seen from outside the city. He drove past the towering walls and standing black statues, and slowly stopped at the river bank near the temple.

Not far away is Nerokle's dock. Two obelisks stand on the sand on the river bank. A large ship is moored, and people drive donkeys to transport food and cloth from it.

Behind the city, on the horizon, the towering pyramids are majestic and solemn in the morning light.

"Outsiders, have you brought anything you can sell?"

The city guards on horseback approached from the temple gate and shouted at Tina and Ai on the deck from a distance.

"What are you selling! What are you selling! Do you have any delicious candies!"

"Is there any delicious meat?"

"Do you have any good material to make pants pockets for naked Herm?"

The children were also laughing and cheering, not seeing the outsiders' restraint or worry at all.

"Miss Liliana, they seem to think of us as businessmen."

"When I bought this sand boat, I told you that it was a type commonly used by merchants in the desert. There's nothing I can do about it being mistaken for a merchant."

"Miss Liliana, what should I do?"

"... Then sell some, maybe it will be beneficial."

After turning off the magic furnace of the sand boat, the witch walked out of the cockpit and had already put on a dark gauze dress.

"Sell some? But what to sell..."

"Potions, ointments, if you want to say, these are the duties of a witch. Didn't Lily do a few sets during the trip to maintain the texture? And the results of alchemy learned by Ai during the trip can also be sold, but I don't know Do you need to go through any formalities?"

Tina certainly knows what those potions and ointments Alice mentioned.

Traveling in the sand sea is not always fun, and the "Lightseeker" does not travel day and night, especially in the second half of the journey, when it has to stop to rest due to excessively high temperatures, the witch is In addition to teaching Ai magic, he also taught her and Tina some alchemy knowledge.

"Master Liliana, can I also sell the potions I made?"

"...Although the techniques and techniques still need to be improved, the finished product is already quite good and can be sold."

"Because, it's natural because it was taught by Master Liliana."

Ai looked at the witch who came between her and Tingna with some surprise. After getting an affirmative answer, the girl tightly held the hem of her skirt, although she seemed to want to hide her happy appearance.

"...Because Ai is a fast learner."

After Liliana said this and touched her head, the girl still couldn't help puffing out her chest like a proud kitten.

A look of triumph after being recognized.

Of course, seeing Tina looking at her with kind eyes, Ai still hummed and stared at her, and patted Tina's hand that was stretched out to touch her head...Of course, he couldn't take it off.

Well, this is also the cuteness of this child.

"...Those potions, can people here really afford them..."

But Tina was worried about something else.

She remembered that when preparing these potions and ointments, Liliana and Ai used a lot of extremely expensive materials that she had only seen in illustration books when she was preparing for the alchemist exam in Salt Sand City, although there was no special meaning...but People in this city really don't look like they can afford it.

... As a result, it sold very well.

Skin care lotion that cools the skin when applied on the skin is sold out by women, and daily necessities and medicines that exude the fragrance of mint and fig are very popular among them. The children unwrapped the candies wrapped in oiled paper and put them in their mouths, clamoring for their mother to buy more. Mint and honey flavors are the most popular, followed by vanilla and apple. Even sour plum candy was bought by many children who tasted this flavor for the first time with a few pocket money of a few copper coins.

The potions that the girl was worried about were also very popular, and the city guards of Leportoresta boldly bought all the potions, and after a while Liliana came back with a small bag of heavy gold and silver coins.

At this time, the city guard who was riding a horse before got off his sandy brown horse and came to the girls.

"Aren't there few merchants here?"

All the things made during the trip were sold out, Tingna wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked him.

"If you are talking about the present, you are right, lady, the immigrant solicitation order has only been issued for less than a week, and you are the third batch of businessmen who have come to this city. Although the pier has been cleared out very early, but Ni Rockley's ships were mainly carrying excavation supplies, and the first settlers had only arrived from the nearest oasis a few days ago. The city is rejuvenating, and anyone can be a new Letopolesta. Residents, we also give away houses that are thousands of years old for free—you just have to dig them out yourself.”

The tall man cleared his throat and saluted Tingna politely.

"Welcome to New Lietopolesta. I am the chief of the City Guards and the security chief of the excavation team, Abohfa. According to the decree of His Majesty the Pharaoh, the first ten merchants who come here during the excavation and reconstruction of the city can One year of tax exemption, if you are willing to settle down, this tax exemption can be extended to the next five years."

"It's really a good condition. The kingdom plans to dig this city out of the desert and reopen it? Or is it just to cover the excavation costs?"

Ai stood beside Tingna, and after listening to Apohefa's words, she looked around at a considerable part of the houses that were still buried under the yellow sand, as if she had thought of something.

"This little lady seems to know the little calculations of the nobles and priests very well, so the ladies of the alchemists, are you willing to stay in this city?"

"We will stay in this city, but not as businessmen, nor forever, Mr. Abohfa, do you know where Mr. Hefcanan is?"

"If you are talking about Hefu Canaan of Baishazhou, that old scholar with a beard, he should be in the camp next to the temple now, you are..."

"The witch, the witch's secretary and apprentice, from Alexandria."

The girl looked up at the city guard officers who were almost as tall as two of hers, and gracefully raised her long black hair.

The eldest lady was full of aura, and the nobleman's elegance engraved in his bones by the tedious and strict etiquette education made this tall man who obviously had frequent dealings with nobles look serious.

"So, beautiful lady, what can I do for the two... and this noble witch?"

Facts have proved that Ai's negotiation is much more effective than Tingna's in occasions that require etiquette and aura.

Although he had such a childhood, the mother who gave her life for her daughter did not lose the education she deserved in the underground without seeing the sun. In a few words, Ai expressed his intention to the chief of the city guard army, and even the Without even taking out a letter of recommendation, he followed Abohfa into the temple protected by soldiers.

Here is the focus of the current excavation.

Almost a few days after they drove the "Light Seeker" out of Alexandria, the archaeological team dug up the city's former structural model in the desert. The magnitude has shrunk.

The remaining urban areas are not meant to be left alone. Originally, Letopolesta was located on the coast of Nirokle, and it was the capital of an ancient dynasty in Sinai. It stood together with several pharaohs' tombs on the sand, and the opposite bank was a fertile river beach. The ruins are a bit too wasteful.

After such a report was quickly sent to Alexandria through magic, the orders of the pharaoh and the priests were also quickly sent to the conference table of the excavation team.

"In addition to conducting historical investigations, we also set out to restore the original appearance of the city, and restore the great city that once received the grace of God to its former glory..."

"...It has nothing to do with us, we are just here to participate in archaeology."

"That's right, settling somewhere is like where the tumbleweed takes root, but it's not suitable for Alice and Lily at all."

Passing through the iconic high wall in front of the Sinai Temple, the white powder and the ancient murals painted on it have long since faded and damaged due to time and wind and sand. Inside the wall, the yellow sand hills still cover most of the temple area. Only the broken beams and stone pillars were uncovered under the excavation of the workers.

And following Apohefa around the front of the temple, to the corridor by the river, outside the other wall, it is another scene.

The pool is connected with the blue waves of Nerocle, and pieces of dark green lotus leaves are floating on the water surface, and the flower beds close to the wall are covered with soil, and various flowers and plants live in the shade under the summer sun, exuding a faint fragrance. Some young men wearing leopard skins were sitting by the pier of the temple, looking at the other side of Nero Klei, enjoying the fruits with water droplets.

The yellow sand here has been cleaned up, and the buildings attached to the temple have also been repaired. There are tents with red cloth and golden curtains on both sides of the slightly damp stone road, and next to the wooden table, wearing a scholar's robe that reveals one side of his chest and shoulders People are holding papyrus rolls and books to discuss something.

Here, the girls met the bearded Hef Canaan.

After taking the letter with the wax seal from Tingna and reading it carefully, this rare man who did not follow the tradition and shaved his beard and hair cleanly looked at Lily who was dressed in black. Yana.

"That old stubborn will let go one day?"

"Although he is stubborn, he is not unreasonable."

"This is really Amon Ra is about to rise from the west."

After feeling like this for a while, the scholar put down the letter and looked at the three girls and dolls with scrutiny.

"I can trust that old stubborn character. If you don't have the corresponding ability, even if he is wrong, he will not write such a letter in his own name and ask you to bring it to me. However, as the person in charge appointed by several temples , or do you need to know what kind of abilities you have that can help you unearth the ancient past?"

"..."

Miss Witch thought for a while, and handed a badge and some papers to him.

"Oh, the bachelor's badge of the Cetirin Institute of Ancient Languages ​​in the City of Thousand Towers, that well-known institute for studying ancient language magic empires, is this lady a scholar there?"

...No, it is actually the founder and real master of that institute.

Seeing Liliana nodding expressionlessly, Tingna couldn't help but complain in her heart.

However, the girl still has some doubts - when she was in Alexandria, the witch said that it is best for them to join as adventurers, so that it is not easy to be involved in the intrigue between the temple and the royal family, and they can show greater strength The space, most importantly, allows for less contact with the Temple of Isis.

But Liliana took the initiative to reveal her identity as the City of Thousand Towers?

After Hefcanan solemnly returned the badge to Liliana, he flipped through the papers. Soon, he raised his head and handed the papers back to the witch.

"Then, you are welcome to join, Ms. Liliana, so, where are these two ladies?"

"I'm Liliana's apprentice. Although I'm just an apprentice, I should still be able to help in identification."

When talking about his Liliana's apprentice, Ai made no secret of his pride. She took out the junior appraiser certificate she obtained and the examination results of the Dragon Academy of the City of Thousand Towers. The academy located in the sky city and named after the eldest son of the world is also quite famous in the desert in the far west of the mainland. Even several other scholars who were immersed in research raised their heads and looked at the school that had skipped several levels in a row. I am amazed by the beautiful report card.

"Is your field of expertise identification? We are happy to share our experience with outstanding young people like you."

Even the scholars in other tents were startled, and a middle-aged man wearing a wig and a fake beard who was in charge of identification at the excavation site immediately said this to Ai.

"And what about this lady?"

Finally, it was Tina's turn.

"That... I..."

Ke Tingna didn't know what she could show, the lowest alchemist certificate? Or candy made by yourself? She knew nothing about archeology and excavation.

Or show off your proficiency in controlling the alchemy ring?

It doesn't feel right.

"Miss Tingna is Lily's secretary, responsible for Lily and Ai's daily affairs. After all, as a scholar, I can't spend too much time on daily trivial matters."

At this time, Alice spoke.

Miss Doll's sudden utterance startled people who didn't recognize her as a living doll, but fortunately, in this land, such mysterious things are not taboo.

"Then, I think Ms. Liliana and Ms. Ai are more used to Miss Tina's care, then, let me extend my welcome to you again, welcome to Lieportoresta, and join us in excavating this The secret of the Sunken City."

"...it's our pleasure."

"I will pass on the news of the arrival of the two of you, and let them prepare the work positions for you. Today, I will invite a few of you to visit the city first and get familiar with the terrain. There will be a new tent here soon. ……oh."

As he spoke, Hef Canaan stroked his beard.

"It's somewhat inappropriate for ladies to live with us men who are so busy studying and forgetting to take a shower... Abohfa."

"At your service, Master Hefcanan."

"Call some lads and choose a nice house for the three ladies."

"...Don't bother the soldiers, we came here on a sand boat, and we plan to live in the sand boat during our stay here."

Needless to say, Miss Witch also planned in the same way.

Along the way, very few women were seen in the excavation site. Even if Miss Witch doesn't have to worry about safety here, there is no reason to live near a tent full of men.

"Ah, the sand boat is much more comfortable than these tents. It's also good, and you don't have to argue with those stingy priests in the temple."

Hef Canaan nodded to express his understanding. At this point, he had finished what he needed to say and explain. After he finished speaking, he lowered his head again and concentrated on studying the ancient characters printed on papyrus with charcoal rubbings.

Liliana, Alice, Tina, and Ai went around the entire excavation site under the leadership of Abohofa. After that, the security captain and city guard commander left the temple because of work. Tina stood on the sand dune, looking at the majestic pyramid in the distance.

How far is it from this city? Ten kilometers, or twenty kilometers? The building made of huge stones looks like it was made of gold in the sea of ​​sand. Even with such a long distance, it doesn't make it look small at all.

"That was the period when Letopolesta was still standing prosperously on the banks of the Nerocle River as the capital of the kingdom. The mausoleum of a pharaoh could build such a majestic building. It is also conceivable that Letopolesta How prosperous it used to be, but now only a small part has been excavated. It may take more than ten years to completely dig out the entire city and restore it to use. The reason why such a king is buried in the desert , It’s enough for all scholars to have a headache.”

"It's really... Spectacular, whether it's this city or that pyramid..."

"Yes……"

I don't know which book it was in, but Tingna remembered that she had read that the desert of Sinai was engulfing human settlements all the time.

Whether it is a village, a small town, or a city, a place with fertile water and grass may be buried under the yellow sand after a few years. A jewel-like oasis will become a new place in a sandstorm that blocks the sky and the sun. dunes.

Although it is a literary exaggeration, as long as you look at this city beside Nile, you will understand that this is not the author's imagination. The ocean is never gentle, no matter whether it is water or sand that makes up its waves.

Tingna couldn't help but imagine how the people in the city faced thousands of years ago when the yellow sand was about to engulf the city. They may have made a lot of efforts to prevent their hometown from being engulfed by the sea of ​​sand, or Just lamented leaving home for other parts of the vast land.

It was undoubtedly a catastrophe.

Tingna turned her eyes to the majestic building standing on the horizon, and then turned to the witch beside her.

Liliana didn't look at the pyramid in the distance, her deep black pupils were always staring at the city and temple under the sand dunes.

It was that disaster that left the witch, the doll, and their last hope of exploration.

"Speaking of which, why did Miss Liliana directly report that she is from the City of Thousand Towers?"

Thinking of this, the question that I was wondering before naturally blurted out.

"..."

However, the witch didn't seem to hear it until the little puppet in her arms coughed softly.

"Lily, no matter what, neither this ruin nor the pyramid will run away."

"...um...ah...Miss Tina, did you just say something?"

"I'm asking why Lily reported her identity as the City of Thousand Towers as soon as she came up."

It was as if the witch who had recovered from some kind of trance was first startled, then looked at Ting Na, and spoke in the same tone as before.

"...Because I didn't expect to meet the same kind."

When speaking of the same word, the witch's voice also became low.

"similar?"

"...Well, witch."

"Eh?"

For a moment, a certain feeling of being peeped sent a chill down the girl's spine.

It was as if someone was looking behind him without any hesitation.

"!!"

Ting Na turned her head sharply, but there was only a vast sand dune behind her, and there was only one part of the earth wall protruding from the yellow sand.

"Sneaky stuff."

Immediately, the Hammer of the Atmosphere passed Tina's side, and the moment it hit the earth wall, the constricted air flow was released, and in the sand blown up by the wind, a small insect with the same color as the yellow sand and soil appeared. He was blown away by the air current, landed on the sand, turned up after struggling for a while, and disappeared behind the raised sand pile.

a scorpion.

This is a creature that is hard to be liked by people, and Tina immediately thought of a magic of Liliana.

"Eye of the Beast"

"...It's not "Eye of Birds and Beasts", it's a witch art that shares vision with monsters and oneself. "

"Let's hide somewhere and watch from a distance. Young people these days are becoming more and more impolite."

Alice snorted coldly. To the proud little queen, this secret but unscrupulous prying was undoubtedly an unpleasant offense. She raised her hand and let the black shadow snake coil around her. own hands.

But Liliana held down Alice's raised hand, causing the ominous black snake to dissipate.

"...The witch who entered the temple has a very high status in Sinai, so if you deal with it casually, it will cause trouble."

While speaking, Liliana raised her head and looked at the top of the temple. The tent that was built on the top when the temple was excavated was still there.

The sky is blue, covering the city that is mostly buried in the desert, and the wind and sand are noisy.

When Ting Na and Ai looked up, the black shadow beside the tent at the top of the temple had disappeared.

"... Occasionally, there will be a weak reaction among witches, which can confirm the existence of the same family. For the Temple of Isis, witches are the most important targets for recruiting. In order to avoid being entangled, we can only report their affiliation."

Even a witch can't predict everything, just like Alexandria's airship incident, like the tricks of the unknown phantom thief in the big library.

This time too, the number of witches is not so many that they can be seen everywhere, even in the temple of Isis. They are called the daughters of Isis and have a high status. Generally speaking, excavating ruins in the desert They will not participate in strenuous activities.

But I happened to meet one here.

"Although this may encounter some other troubles...but there is no way."

Alice also sighed.

"...It doesn't matter, if she abides by her duty, then she won't come to trouble us, no matter what, the excavation is still dominated by the royal power, and if she doesn't abide by her duty..."

"What if you don't abide by your duty?"

As soon as the words fell, Ai couldn't help shivering.

Liliana was laughing.

It was as if icy starlight flashed across the pair of dark and endless night skies, outlining a cold and stern arc that Ai and Tingna had never seen before.

"...As a senior, I will also teach her how to be polite."

fleeting.

"...Let's go shopping around."

In the blink of an eye, the witch returned to her usual expression as if nothing could change her expression. She put Alice on her shoulder and took Ai Yutingna's hand.

………………………………………………………………………………

Postscript of a certain day:

"where have you been?!"

"It's nothing, I went up to bask in the sun, and took a look at the young witch by the way."

"...How about it, can you deal with it? She is from the City of Thousand Towers, and she is undoubtedly a member of the Magicians Association. Could it be..."

"I haven't actually fought, who knows."

"Can't you stop being so casual? I'm your elder, so be serious!"

"Yes—I know what to do."

"It's not about knowing how to do it! It's about you best doing it well! Let those floating in the sky know who is the real master of this land!"

"Yes Yes--"