Soon, Alka emerged from the square space again.
The man in the space took a long time to open his eyes, his expression revealing excitement.
He looked at Alka with a hint of joy and said,
"Now, it's my turn to fulfill my promise."
He stared at Alka, then shook his head and fixed his gaze on Sofia, who was standing beside Alka.
"Just your little girl, make a wish."
Hearing this, Sofia was surprised, then confused. She didn't understand what this had to do with her.
She looked at him, bewildered and puzzled, then at Alka.
Alka was also puzzled by this situation.
"Don't be confused. Just make a wish based on the reward I just mentioned."
Although Alka didn't know why he wouldn't let her make a wish, she still turned to look at Sofia. She nodded at Sofia.
"Do you have any wishes?" Sofia asked.
"No, just say whatever you want. Of course, you can't wish for me to fix your world. That doesn't meet the requirements, and it's not something you can make.
Even if you make such a wish, I might not necessarily be willing to fulfill it."
Hearing this, Sofia's face showed a look of regret, indicating that she had just thought about it.
Then she could only honestly wish, "I hope to obtain the method to perfectly repair the world I am in."
After her wish was made...
Outside, in the sky...
A shooting star streaked across the darkness.
The man before him smiled. "Your wish has come true."
After doing this, he looked at Alka and said, "Goodbye, friend. I hope you can achieve your goal and leave this world.
We'll meet again in our trueour world."
He smiled as he spoke.
He waved to Alka and vanished into starlight. The square space also dissipated, while the surrounding palace remained intact.
At this moment, only Sofia was left, sweating profusely and frowning.
It seemed as if the influx of knowledge was too much for her to handle.
For this reason, everyone could only wait quietly.
After a long moment, Sofia's expression finally relaxed, and she opened her eyes.
She looked at Alka and nodded, "I do know a solution."
Hearing this, Alka smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Jason and the others beside Alka couldn't help but nod as well.
Alka looked at the orb in his hand, which the man had just tossed to him when he left.
"Let's go up first, or rather, we'll talk about it when we get back."
Everyone nodded, and then they all left the underground space together. They passed through the hole they had just dug and reached the upper level.
Without pausing for long, this time Aka directly constructed a mirror.
A dream spiral appeared on the mirror, and everyone, along with the doll girl, passed through it.
They appeared in the City of Return.
They quickly returned to their residence and found seats in the hall.
The hall was unusually quiet, as everyone pondered and reminisced.
Judging from the expressions on everyone's faces, they seemed to want to ask Alka and Sofia something, but didn't know how.
Because they didn't know if such information could be obtained.
Without waiting for them to ask, Alka said, "The man just now is a being from another world, on par with the Holy Mother.
This is all I can tell you."
Hearing this, everyone had a vague idea and nodded without further questioning.
It was too far away; understanding was merely satisfying curiosity.
Then they turned to Sofia.
The knowledge Sofia had gained was of paramount importance.
Sofia had been sorting out her thoughts the entire time. She met everyone's gazes and replied, "The knowledge that powerful being just now imparted wasn't, or rather, it couldn't be called knowledge. He simply gave me a detailed plan for repairing the world we currently in.
And this plan...is simply beyond our capabilities. We might need the assistance of the Four Gods."
Without waiting for anyone to ask, she delved into the details.
"First, the major cracks and scars in this world, most importantly the scar in our current world. We need to drive the demons back completely and seal this most important wound.
I don't know why, but the plan states that this scar is crucial, the largest.
In addition, there are several cracks scattered throughout the world that need repairing.
Once these are repaired, we need to gradually strengthen everyone. The strength of life in this world will drive the entire world forward, allowing it to grow.
The growth process also allows for some repairs.
Finally, we must repair the flaws in this world, or at least most of them."
After hearing Sofia's words, everyone frowned. Some of Sofia's words made sense to them, but others seemed completely incomprehensible.
Thinking of this, Alka stood up and said.
"Come with me to see the Holy Mother."
"Huh?" Sofiai was visibly stunned by Alka's words. "Meet the Virgin?" Her voice trembled almost audibly.
The knowledge she had just acquired was cast to the back of her mind.
They were different from Alka.
They were true believers.
Alka nodded. "I believe this information is necessary for the Virgin. And you said it's not something we can do, right?"
"Can I? Can I?"
"Of course you can. You were once a candidate for the Virgin. Being so timid now isn't your nature."
Alka said, holding her hand.
Hearing Alka's words, Sofia couldn't help but squeeze his hand tightly. Then, taking a deep breath, she nodded.
"No problem, I'm ready." How could she miss such an opportunity out of fear and timidity? She would regret it for the rest of her life.
"Okay, then, pray with me now."
With that, Alka sat down next to Sofia and led them both in prayer, crossing their hands.
Seeing this, the others didn't interrupt. Instead, they sat down, pondering the information Sofia had just shared.
Soon, Alka sensed a shift in his surroundings and opened his eyes.
He looked to his side.
Sofia, whose hand he was holding, was standing next to him.
"You can open your eyes now."
Hearing this, Sofia trembled as he opened his eyes and took in the surrounding area.
He saw an endless expanse of golden wheat fields.
And a sight he had never seen before.
The sun hung low in the sky, not perpetually overhead. The light it shed was an orange-yellow, like a blaze of fire.
Very warm...very cozy.
Dusk.
This was a time period not seen in over a decade.
I'd only ever seen it in the Home Sea.
"Dusk, I almost forgot," Alka said, gazing at the sky nearby.
"Dusk," Sofia smiled and muttered.
Alka watched the glint in her eyes.
"I promise, one day we'll be able to see a view like this outside."
Hearing this, Sofia turned to look at him: "Yes, let's go together."
The two of them stood there, inexplicably, in the wheat field.
Standing in the Holy Mother's holy realm.
Inexplicably, they had abandoned their surroundings, lost in their own emotions.
The atmosphere around them was incompatible with the surroundings.
"Ha!"
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the side.
Sofia visibly trembled, clearly startled.
"Haha, did that scare you?"
The two turned to look. A small girl suddenly rushed out of the wheat field, laughing at Sofia.
Alka looked at her and patted her head.
"Hey!" The girl slapped Alka's hand away.
"How could you do that to me? That's so rude!" She said, and ran off.
"Sister?" Sofia turned to look at Alka in confusion.
Her eyes seemed to be saying something.
As if to say,
You really are...
Alka rolled her eyes. "I don't know what to say, but we should go see the Virgin Mary first."
She said, pulling Sofia forward.
Hearing this, Sofia's thoughts quickly shifted, and she became nervous again.
Soon,Sofia spotted the small farm in the center of the wheat field ahead.
She saw the tall woman standing at the farm gate.
Her long, tight-fitting, wheat-yellow dress fluttered gently in the breeze, and a straw hat rested on her head.
Sofia couldn't help but slow down her pace, her eyes fixed on the figure.
She felt like a puppet being led by Alcala to the Virgin Mary.
The Virgin Mary turned around.
She looked at Sofia, who was staring at her.
She couldn't help but lower her head slightly to look at her.
The Virgin Mary was over two meters tall, much taller than Xiada.
Seeing this, Sofia immediately lowered her head.
Then, Sofia felt a gentle hand touch her face.
Her palm slid against her face, then she applied a slight pressure.
"Let me see you."
Following the power from her palm, Sofia lifted her head, her eyes gleaming as she gazed upon the Virgin Mary's face.
She seemed to see motherhood, herself, a mother she hadn't seen in a long time, buried deep in her memories.
The Virgin Mary also lifted her other hand and placed it on Sofia's other cheek, cradling her face in both hands and examining it closely.
"Lovely child," the Virgin Mary praised with a smile.
Then she raised her right hand again, touched Sofia's head, and played with a few silver strands.
"Your hair color is beautiful, too."
A visible red spread across Sofia's face, and then her entire skin turned a visibly red.
The Virgin Mary's praise overwhelmed Sofia with emotion.
Seeing this, the Virgin smiled gently. Then, she reached out and took Shadeti, pulling her into her arms and holding her close.
Arka could see that Shadeti's body was as stiff as a block of iron.
But then, she softened and leaned against the Virgin's arms.
Arka waited, smiling.
The children who had been playing around gathered around Alka, their eyes fixed on Shadeti, held by the Virgin.
At that moment, Alka felt his trouser leg being pulled.
Looking down, he saw the little girl who always claimed to be his sister.
She opened her arms, as if asking for a hug.
Seeing this, Alka smiled, squatted down, and picked her up.
Before he could get up, another boy jumped over, keeping Alka's other hand busy.
Alka stood up again, holding the two children in each hand.
Alka looked at the little girl. "Don't you call yourself my sister? Why do you still want me to hold you?"
"Hmph."
The little girl snorted softly, not wanting to answer, but she also had no intention of jumping off.
"Alka, you're growing up so fast," the little boy in Alka's right hand said, staring at him intently.
"You'll grow up so fast too."
"Really?"
"Of course."
As they chatted idly, the two children unexpectedly fell asleep leaning against Alka.
Alka had no choice but to sit down and lean back on a nearby chair.
As he leaned back, the children gathered around him.
After a while, they fell asleep, leaning against each other.
Alka also felt inexplicably sleepy and fell asleep.
Suddenly...
He woke with a start.
The children who had been leaning against him had already dispersed, running and playing in the wheat fields.
And the Virgin Mary and Sofia seemed to be discussing something.
He actually fell asleep?
Alka was a little incredulous. How could he fall asleep in a place like this?
And next to the Virgin Mary.
It was ridiculous.
He stood up involuntarily and walked towards the Virgin Mary.
"This is what I know."
Just as he reached her, he heard Sofia seem to have finished speaking.
The Virgin Mary nodded.
Seeing Alka approach, the two turned to look at her and smiled.
The Mother also stood up and said, "I already know the general process."
"So is there anything we can do to help?" Alka asked.
The Mother smiled at him and said, "Don't worry. You can continue to do your work and improve your strength.
After all, without strength, you can't do anything, right? And I'll need to consult with others during this period.
Rest assured, I won't be stingy when I need you."
Hearing the Mother's words, the two nodded.
Then the Mother looked at them and said, "When your strength reaches the seventh stage, leave the World Scar.
At that stage, these demons will have no power over you."
Hearing this, Alka and the others nodded.
The Mother then smiled at Sofia before her, cupped her head, and gently kissed her forehead.
This was a blessing. "Leave now."
After that, the two of them saw nothing, and they returned to the hall.
The moment they regained consciousness, everyone's gaze turned towards them.
Jason and Lucelia couldn't help but ask, "What does the Virgin Mary look like?"
Hearing this, Alka said, somewhat surprised, "Didn't I tell you before?"
He remembered answering this question after his first meeting with the Virgin Mary.
The two shook their heads, "Your words are of no use."
The others nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean by 'my words are of no use'?"
"Don't I have eyes?" Alka said, somewhat speechlessly.
"And I think I expressed myself well."
But facing their questions, Sofia was still reminiscing about his experiences in the Holy Mother's kingdom.
"The Holy Mother is even more approachable than the image in the scriptures. She's like... like a mother.
Kind, gentle, beautiful..."
As he spoke, Sofia began to recount his experiences and feelings.
This left Alka beside him stunned.
Is it that outrageous?
Why didn't he think so?
It seemed Sofia couldn't help but put on a fanboy filter.
After he finished speaking, Sofia turned his head and looked at Alka with a strange expression, asking, "You actually fell asleep there?" "
There were few words to describe the sight of Alka sleeping there, leaning against her side.
The Virgin Mary simply smiled, telling her not to disturb them. She even pulled her aside for a quiet conversation.
Hearing this,
Everyone around stared at Alka in shock.
They couldn't imagine what that scene was like; it was beyond their comprehension, even beyond their knowledge.
It nearly shook their worldview.
"You mean Alka fell asleep in the Virgin Mary's kingdom? Beside her?"
"Yes, he was holding... those children from the kingdom.
Um... those children held by the hands of the Virgin Mary's portraits and statues."
Hearing this, everyone was stunned at first, then, as if imagining something, nodded involuntarily.
As if confirming their own thoughts.
"So, what are you imagining?" "It was just so comfortable. I don't know why I fell asleep," Alka explained.
He hadn't even considered falling asleep at the time.
In return, everyone nodded, their expressions indicating they understood.