"Is this where Tilan used to live?"
Standing at the entrance on the ground of Payin City, Efnie and Deloris looked around with a touch of novelty.
The wind blew sand over the ground, passing through erected tal partitions, and a red giant well appeared before their eyes. Transport ships occasionally rose from it, while goods were delivered from the well's adjacent industrial elevator, loaded onto waiting heavy trucks.
"Yes," Tilan, standing on the pathway at the edge of the giant well, led the two down the stairs.
The three of them stepped on the anti-slip tal floor that resembled rivets, walking and stopping intermittently, as Tilan explained the purpose and history of the surrounding buildings.
"A passageway like this one could be sealed off layer by layer at any ti during the war. Even if a nuclear bomb were deployed, it could effectively defend against it."
"The city's main body is deep underground, and we'll have to take an elevator to get there."
Listening to Tilan's explanation, Deloris carefully descended the steps, holding up the hem of her black dress. Her heels were slightly high today, which, although stylish, made navigating the larger steps inconvenient. Adding to that her curvaceous figure, she also had to press a hand to her chest to keep the movent from being too pronounced.
Such a place seed indeed not quite suitable for the usually graceful and proper lady.
As for Efnie, she fared much better. Though she also lifted her skirt hem, it was rely a habitual gesture. Even without looking at the ground, she could easily maintain her balance, descending the stairs with a dance-like grace.
Tilan in front of them was wearing a common academy-styled coat and skirt today: a white fitted jacket with a simple black silk ribbon tied around the collar and a knee-length skirt. However, to avoid attracting attention, she maintained her gray hair status and wore a hat.
"Here is the elevator," Tilan said, leading the two to the front of the industrial elevator's doors.
Accompanied by the sound of turning gears and the booming of iron locks, the heavy elevator cage rose from the ground, finally slowing down and slamming against the catch at the top, stopping with a burst of steam, and the elevator doors opened, letting out dozens of passengers, among whom there was a hover car and two containers for the elevator.
The three stood aside, waiting for the elevator to be emptied of people and goods before entering.
Stepping on the tal grating floor, the crisp echoes rang out inside the elevator. Deloris gently covered her nose, not wanting the dust to dirty her cheeks, but her wide-open eyes surveyed the surroundings, and her beautiful hairstyle and attire showcased the lady's extraordinary status, strikingly out of place with the environnt.
Since the three entered the elevator, many passengers had focused their attention on them. This was not surprising; the trio's appearance was exceptionally distinct, particularly rare in such a small city.
"Hmph."
Efnie snorted softly, and within her orange-red eyes, a hint of golden fla seed to swirl. Anyone who caught her glance felt a burning illusion, and they quickly averted their eyes. It was a world with transcendent powers, and soon people understood that this golden-haired, red-eyed lady was not to be trifled with.
Since entering the fourth year, Efnie's personality had gradually returned to its forr confidence, like a proud, blooming Hong Lian. But compared to before, she was now sowhat less aggressive. If it had been her from four years ago, she probably would have summoned a few fireballs on the spot to ensure that those around her dared not co close or peek.
During the elevator ride, Tilan went on to tell them about the past of Payin City and why the elevator they were riding was so large and roughly styled.
"Everything was prepared for the sake of war. Payin City is a product of that era, and still retains traces of that ti."
The elevator was made this large to accommodate tanks and transport soldiers and goods; the city was built deep underground to avoid space orbital bombings.
Deloris and Efnie had learned about these historical facts in class before, but seeing and experiencing them firsthand today was quite another matter.
The three talked until the elevator descended into the depths.
After stepping out of the elevator at underground level 42, they saw the vast underground space of Payin City, with a high do projecting life-like starry sky images, so that those underground wouldn't feel too claustrophobic. Hover cars zipped between the undulating buildings, all bathed in the neon light, like a city in perpetual night.
"Let's not rush to my place. I'll take you around the comrcial district first."
Though playing hostess to her two friends, Tilan herself wasn't all that familiar with Payin City's comrcial district. She had never been one for shopping; most of her outings were invitations from Lina. After starting school, she had spent even less ti exploring Payin City's shops.
So stores she rembered were still there, others had changed.
The brightly lit spiral streets remained bustling, with people coming and going. One characteristic of small cities is their concentration: only one good hospital, a single busy comrcial street, just one top school, unlike larger cities where things are scattered all over with many places hard to rank.
Compared to four years ago, there were now more stores selling musical instrunts and audio-visual products. Previously, there were only one or two such shops, but now there were five or six, with lifesize standees of Hexia Tilan placed in front of the stores, selling albums and holographic performance images of the songstress.
"I don't rember there being so many before," the young girl blinked, trying to explain to her companions that she had not intended to take them to such shops.
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