Boom! Boom!
Inside the building at 17 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough, the mistress of the house, Staline Summer, and the maids, frightened by the distant explosions, huddled in a corner of the room, feeling the ground tremble slightly under their feet.
After the continuous terrible sounds grew distant, Staline straightened up, looked around nervously, and said: "What exactly is happening?"
The two maids shook their heads at the same time, both confused and scared.
Staline left the corner, instinctively wanting to go out and talk to the neighbors to find out what had happened, but worried that another attack might come, she just paced in the living room.
After a few minutes, she suddenly heard the sound of the door opening. She turned and saw that it was her husband, Luke Summer, returning with the manservant.
"Aren't you at work?" Staline asked subconsciously.
The burly Luke replied seriously: "I happened to be nearby and came straight back. Quick, put on your coat. We're going to the church now!"
"What, what's happened?" Staline asked again.
Luke stepped forward and said:
"Feysac's airships are bombing
"How, how can that be?" Staline's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This isn't the time to discuss that. Anyway, it's already happened, and we have to go to the church immediately!" Luke hugged his wife. "Don't worry too much. I saw those airships didn't come this way."
"All right, all right!" Staline replied, still a bit flustered.
While putting on the coat the maid brought, she instinctively worried: "What about the children?"
"They're at the church school. They'll organize them to take cover. We can't get there right now," Luke said quite calmly.
"Okay." Staline made a prayer gesture, hoping her deity would protect them.
The two of them, along with the manservant and the maids, quickly left the house and walked toward the other end of the street.
Passing house number 58, Staline glanced at it and murmured: "I used to mock Lawyer Jürgen, saying he moved south for Mrs. Doris's illness, giving up so many opportunities in Backlund. Now I'm a bit envious of him..."
Luke glanced over as well and said: "Don't worry too much. It'll be fine."
Staline quickened her pace and couldn't help asking: "Luke, should we flee Backlund?"
"No, no need!" Luke Summer replied firmly. "This is just an accident."
Seeing that his wife clearly didn't understand, he added: "Backlund is the capital of the kingdom. It must be the most heavily defended area. This time everyone was just caught off guard—there was a lapse in vigilance, that's why this happened. The Feysac people won't have another chance! The kingdom is the most powerful nation militarily on both the Northern and Southern Continents. The Feysac will be taught a lesson; they won't be able to invade Backlund again. After this, Backlund will actually be the safest place!"
"I see..." Staline felt her husband's reasoning was sound and was willing to believe him.
After explaining, Luke was silent for a few seconds and then said: "Still, we need to make some preparations. As soon as the church announces that we can move freely, we'll go pick up the children right away and buy more food—as much as we can!"
………
Backlund Bridge District, at the public school.
Due to the great distance,
Still, a teacher came to their classroom and organized them to line up and go to the nearest church.
This immediately brought back memories of last year's Great Smog of Backlund for Daisy. At that time, they had also been told to take refuge in the church next to the school.
Another, another disaster like that was happening... The shadow in her heart made Daisy's body tremble slightly, and strong sadness and anger surged within her.
As she passed the doorway, she couldn't help turning to the teacher in charge and asked: "Is it another disaster?"
"Maybe..." The teacher didn't know the specifics; she was just following the telegram's instructions.
"Is there a disaster like this every year—or even more than once?" Daisy asked in a slightly ethereal voice, with a hint of innocence.
The teacher looked at her with pity, shook her head, and said: "All difficulties will pass. God will bless everyone."
Daisy didn't waste anyone else's time. She followed the order and, somewhat numbly, followed the crowd to the nearest church.