Sophia walked for a while before pushing open a door.
Inside, Li Andy and Yuquan Youxi sat side-by-side at a small table, poring over the documents Mrs. Harveys had sent.
"Andy, what exactly are you looking for?"
Sophia kicked off her shoes, flopped onto the bed, and rolled over to look at them.
Her gaze swept over the thick stack of documents on the table, and she immediately felt a headache coming on.
She still couldn't even write properly; how could she be expected to pore over brick-like documents? She'd rather not.
"History, the history of the land where the academy area is located," Li Andy said without turning his head.
"Why look for its history?" Sophia rolled over again, propping her chin on her hand as she asked.
At this moment, she suddenly noticed that Youxi's cheeks were slightly flushed, as if she had just exercised. Especially her lips, they were moist and looked very appealing.
Youxi noticed her gaze, pursed her lips into a smile, and explained:
"Anna said that the form of a 'Domain' isn't static. It changes according to the residual spirituality of the land.
"It's like a dream, layer upon layer, interwoven with the past and what once was.
"Am I right, Brother?"
Li Andy nodded, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his temples.
Youxi was right; a Domain changed according to spirituality.
And spirituality was related to life consciousness.
The more intelligent the life, the richer the spirituality.
Therefore, a 'Domain' born on land with rich human history would also be larger and more complex, even capable of forming a false world.
If one were to accidentally enter it, it would feel like a thousand years had passed.
This made Li Andy think of the loess soil of his homeland.
Those legendary stories, such as the Legend of Lan Ke Mountain, A Peach Blossom Spring, and the Eighteen Layers of Hell Journey... perhaps they were experiences of people who had accidentally entered a 'Domain'.
After all, in terms of the depth of human history, there weren't many places in the entire world that could compare to that loess land.
It made sense that most of the dungeons in the later stages of the game were concentrated there.
"Is the history of that noble academy very special?" Sophia asked, propping her chin and wiggling her feet.
Li Andy presented the information he had extracted, explaining:
"Current records can be traced back to the early colonial period.
"At that time, the owner of the land where the academy is located was a backward indigenous tribe. They seemed to worship Druidism.
"During the Gold Rush era, an exploration team occupied this place and established New Continent's thirteenth gold mine here.
"However, this mineral vein was not rich in resources; it only took ten years from initial exploration to mine closure, after which it was abandoned for a long time.
"Later, when the colonial area was established, it was sold to a mechanic who built a steel manufacturing factory here, but the factory later closed due to poor management.
"After several resales and about ten years, someone finally re-leased this land and established a mechanical academy.
"But initially, this academy was not a noble academy; the noble title was only acquired in the last ten years.
"The current owner of the academy..."
Li Andy suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong with the owner?" Sophia stopped wiggling her feet.
Li Andy immediately replied:
"The owner's name is 'Dryden Hall,' and the surname Hall... is the same as that of the mechanic."
"Is there a blood relation between them?"
Youxi blinked, her small head instinctively leaning closer.
Soft strands of hair fell from beside her ear, tickling Li Andy's neck.
"Perhaps there's a connection, but it could also be a coincidence." Li Andy reached out and brushed it back for her.
The small gesture was met with his sister's sweet smile.
Sophia rubbed her head, unable to grasp the main points, feeling as if she hadn't heard anything and had forgotten it all in an instant.
Watching the intimate interaction between the two, she felt a sense of being unable to speak, of having nothing to do.
Sophia bit her lower lip, feeling inexplicably anxious.
"I... I'm going to warm up with Sister Emi!"
With that, she got out of bed, put on her shoes, and scurried out of the room.
"..."
Li Andy looked over there strangely, Sophia's retreating figure shrinking smaller and smaller.
"Brother, are you putting a lot of pressure on Sophia?" His sister Youxi asked, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Am I?"
Li Andy frowned.
"Isn't pressure self-imposed?"
Although he said that, he thought back.
His various actions had indeed indirectly compressed their development and learning time.
The two heroines, who were originally supposed to emerge after two and a half years, were going to undertake their first commission tonight.
And it was a commission involving a 'Domain'.
Putting himself in their shoes, living under the same roof, with a hardworking roommate, they would inevitably be influenced to some extent.
"Alright..."
Li Andy scratched his head,
"I'll find some time to talk to her. Some things really can't be rushed."
Youxi paused slightly at his words, then lowered her head:
"I'm sorry, Brother..."
Li Andy was startled, then, realizing, he pinched her cheek and said:
"What's past is past. I respect your choice.
"But in the future, I hope you can let me know, at least so I can be mentally prepared.
"Whether it's to give you some trivial advice or silent support from behind.
"After all, we're family, right?"
Youxi froze for a moment, then threw herself into his embrace, her small forearms tightly wrapped around him:
"Mmm!"
Li Andy held the girl, gently stroking her back.
The latter gradually became unsatisfied with just an embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck and slowly leaning in.
Passively feeling his sister's warmth, Li Andy's heart, however, held a faint, hidden worry.
During his night stroll yesterday, he saw Youxi suddenly awaken in the middle of the night.
She sat quietly on the bed, staring straight ahead.
Her eyes... were hollow and terrifyingly cold.
As if they contained a soul on the verge of collapse at any moment.
In this twisted and bizarre world, rationality was the wall against madness.
In the game, the two girls never borrowed from 'non-objects'; even if they had some minor psychological issues, it was harmless, as long as they rested with Sophia for a while, their sanity would fully recover.
But in reality, a slight abnormal fluctuation could trigger a different tide.
Youxi's current behavior seemed like a release of her body's instincts.
Just like sailors who had been at sea for a long time would drink and find women upon returning to shore to release their stress.
'Tsk...'
'My anchor point's positioning... why does it feel strange?'
'Pressure relief valve? Or a haven for the soul?'
'Tsk, this era has no internet, and ordinary people don't have many forms of entertainment...'
'But in the postmodern era, would people's mental state be better?'
'Doesn't seem like it necessarily...'
After a long period of contemplation, Li Andy decided to relax his mind and actively entwined himself with Youxi.
The tense nerves caused by lack of sleep also relaxed.
He himself... seemed to need a stable method to restore his sanity.
The air in the room was languid, slightly lazy...
...
On the other side.
The church, backyard.
Sophia was practicing alone with a sandbag.
Sweeping kicks, punches... attacks continuously landed on the leather, venting the frustration in her heart.
"Oh! So you're here!"
Sister Amy appeared in the backyard, dressed in simple shorts and a top,
"Didn't you say you were going out tonight? Getting so tired from practice isn't good for the mission."
Sophia finally stopped, biting her lower lip lightly, sweat trickling down her cheek and dripping from her chin:
"I know..."
"You look like you're in a bad mood. Did you two argue?"
"No." Sophia denied.
Amy scratched her head, unable to understand the minds of these young people.
But she was simple-minded; if she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't think about it.
She excitedly grabbed Sophia and walked towards the building:
"Come on, I'll take you to get some good stuff!"
Sophia blinked, a little curious.
The two came to an underground storeroom, and with a snap of Amy's fingers, flames lit up on the wall.
Rows of weapons and equipment were arranged within, reflecting a cold light.