"Venna, have you ever beheld the sky of the Soutnds?"


    "Do not disturb me with such meaningless inquiries at this time, Ansel."


    Ravenna, embracing her knees, gazed up at the star-studded night sky, her face devoid of expression.


    After Ansel discovered her "fondness" for stargazing, she was asionallypelled to join him for a leisurely stroll.


    Although she initially resisted, after a few instances, Ravenna ceased to protest.


    Ansel, too, was looking up at the sky, undeterred by Ravenna''s words, he continued the conversation with enthusiasm, "The sky of the Soutnds is not as blue as that of the Eastern Port, but it is very clean, extremely clean, always so clean that it brings a sense of relief to one''s mind and body. Living under such a sky is a blissful thing."


    Ravenna merely rested her chin on her hand, continuing to ignore Ansel.


    The youthful Hydral raised his eyebrows slightly, expressing his displeasure, "If you continue to be so self-centered, I will leave first, and you can watch alone."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than he stood up, ready to leave.


    However, a slender, fair hand immediately grasped Ansel''s wrist.


    "Since you brought me here," Ravenna looked up at Ansel, her face expressionless, "you must waste time with me. You are not allowed to do anything else, except watching the sky."


    "Why don''t you chat with me then? Don''t you find it boring sitting alone and doing nothing?"


    "... I really can''t understand why someone like you understands me so well."


    Ravenna let out a silent sigh, "So, what do you want to say?"


    "The sky."


    "Yes, I know the sky of the Soutnds is beautiful. I will visit when I have the chance." Ravenna''s tone was steady, and she spoke with an attitude of mere perfunctory.


    Ansel didn''t seem to mind, it appeared that as long as Ravenna spoke to him, he was quite pleased.


    The ever-lonely Ravenna''s constantpanion, he chuckled, "But do you know, Venna. Although the Soutnds are beautiful and prosperous now, a long, long time ago, it was a wastnd, a barrennd."


    "The sky there was gray."


    "Gray..."


    Ravenna murmured this word, fell silent for a moment, then whispered, "I hate gray."


    "Hmm, devoid of luster, not at all vibrant,pared to the purity of white, the depth of ck, it''s a dull and lifeless color." Ansel shrugged, "I don''t like gray either."


    "Your preferences are somewhat too simr to mine." Ravenna nced at Ansel.


    "Is that not good?"


    "... No, it''s very good."


    Ansel smiled contentedly, "Let''s get back to the Soutnds. After the Sky Conquering Dynasty was destroyed, before the Empire was established, it was affected by the destruction of the dynasty. The polluted ether gave birth to countless monsters. They fought and devoured each other on thatnd, giving birth to the strong, and the strong were killed...


    In the long cycle of repetition, the entire Soutnds were tainted by the chaos and distortion of the abyss."


    "This is quite a significant event." The blond boy eximed in astonishment, "The abstract concept is truly manifested in the world, and it has such a wide-ranging impact... It''s terrifying, isn''t it?"


    "If it''s about this, I have some recollection."


    Ravenna mused, "Thend closest to the abyss... Are you referring to the Soutnds of the past?"


    "Fortunately, our great Emperor Nond Caesar cleaned up the distortion and chaos on thatnd when he established the Empire."


    Ansel, supporting himself on the stone, spoke with a sense of nostalgia, "After a thousand years of transformation and reproduction, the Soutnds of today have be the most fertilend in the Empire."


    "You''re telling me all this..." Ravenna''s slender eyebrows twitched slightly, "Just to enlighten me on historical knowledge?"


    "Just casual conversation." Ansel said as if it were a matter of course, "Or should I analyze the reasons for the Soutnds'' transformation from polluted soil to the Empire''s paradise?"


    "Because your attitude just now was not casual conversation."


    Ravenna spoke calmly, "You consciously brought up the sky of the Soutnds, not simply for the purpose of conversation."


    "..."


    Ansel was slightly taken aback, he looked at Ravenna, who was also looking at him.


    The two stared at each other for a long time, and in the end, it was Ansel who couldn''t help butugh, speaking in a relieved and peaceful tone:


    "You really do understand me, Venna."


    "Is that strange?" Ravenna countered, "If you understand me, but I don''t understand you, how could we possibly be friends."


    "I don''t know how to analyze feelings."


    The woman tilted her head slightly, staring into Ansel''s eyes... Rather than staring, it was more like trying to reflect her own gaze into Ansel''s eyes.


    "If it is to be clearly dissected and expressed in words. I believe that friendship should be... understanding and support."


    "You understand me, I understand you; you support me, I support you. Just like our rtionship now, in my eyes, this is friendship."


    "You really are..." Anselughed helplessly, "The first time you''ve spoken such a long speech."


    Before Ravenna could frown, Ansel had already cheerfully said, "But, you''re right, this is friendship."


    Only then did Ravenna return to her usual indifferent demeanor, nodding slightly, "So, what exactly do you want to say?"


    "What I want to say... I didn''t really want to tell you, it was just a sudden sentiment. But since you''ve said so much, Venna..."


    The youthful Hydral looked back at the sky, his tone bing somewhat distant, and also carrying a bit of... maturity that Ravenna couldn''t understand?


    "Venna, do you know the name of that pce?" He pointed to the highest building in the Imperial City.


    "Anthicheg, meaning the ce where the ancient mes are nurtured."


    "That pce, a thousand years ago, even earlier, looked just like this."


    Ravenna heard the slightly immature voice sighed.


    "A thousand years, even the sky can change color, the earth can rejuvenate... mountains and seas change, but the appearance of a pce cannot be changed."


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