Rhein Calendar 1237, Order Bureau, Sublimation Furnace Core.
The heavy gate slowly opens with the mechanical turning, and the patterns engraved on the gate shatter along with it. A dry and scorching atmosphere floods from the split gate, as if behind it lies a subterranean group of volcanoes.
The girl wears heavy protective clothing, her platinum blonde hair braided into a bun at the back of her head. Her eyes shimmer, filled with anticipation as she looks at the parted gate.
"You know the meaning of these patterns, don’t you, Alice?" Teda stands beside the girl, wearing the same heavy protective clothing.
"It’s said that humans initially lived in a paradise on the ground, but under the serpent’s instigation, they stole and ate the fruit representing wisdom, thus were banished by the gods..." Alice softly said.
Each time she tells this story and its connection to the pattern, a hint of doubt rises in Alice’s heart, not understanding why the emblem representing absolute reason and the pursuit of knowledge originates from this enigmatic mythological belief.
At this moment, Teda reached out and gently patted Alice’s shoulder, a smile appearing on her face as she spoke.
"That’s right, we alchemists are like that greedy serpent, attempting to steal the knowledge of the gods, the truth of the gods."
The gate completely opened, waves of heat rushing in, Teda picked up the helmet, which also bore the same pattern—a serpent entwined around fruit, its mouth wide open, attempting to bite into the fruit of wisdom.
"Put on your helmet, inside is not as gentle as outside."
Alice nodded, taking the helmet from Teda’s hand and firmly securing it on her head. The sound of mechanical locking echoed, fully integrating it with the protective clothing.
"Let’s go. Once you implant the alchemy matrix, this will be your workplace."
Listening to Teda’s words, Alice walked into the torrential heat waves, enormous black silhouettes emerging from the rising heat. Large swaths of red light were cast, ear-piercing noise continued, pipes like masses of serpents crawling over every inch of visible space.
The vision gradually cleared up, behind the gate, many people like Alice wearing protective clothing were walking about. Broadcast sounds echoed within the vast space, small trucks slowly drove by, transporting heavy cargo, elevators rose and fell along the edges. Looking through them, one would find suspended walkways spanning overhead.
The most striking was the reactor at the center. Like an elevated mound, through the mechanical gaps, one could see the brilliant flames within, as if it imprisoned a raging sun as an energy source, continuously transmitting fire through power pipes.
Alice gazed at all this, her eyes carrying an emotional excitement, after waiting for so many years, she finally arrived here, becoming a part of this, to explore the end of the "Secret Source."
"Welcome to the Sublimation Furnace Core."
Someone approached Alice, nodding at Teda, also welcoming Alice.
"Alice, these two are Belli and Balder, both my students. You’ll be considered my student too in the future."
Teda introduced Alice, regrettably both were wearing heavy protective clothing, Alice couldn’t see their appearance. Inside the Sublimation Furnace Core, everyone’s appearance was hidden under helmets, with identification mainly relying on the nameplate on their chest.
"I’ve often heard my father mention you, the most studious student and the most talented student."
Alice’s gaze flashed over both of them, the most studious was Balder, the most talented was Belli.
She introduced herself, bowing to the two, restricted by the protective clothing, her movements appeared somewhat clumsy, like a swaying penguin.
"So cute, is this the junior sister?"
Belli rushed over, she was considerably taller than Alice, directly pulling Alice into her embrace. Through the helmets, the two heads rubbed together.
For Belli’s enthusiasm, Alice accepted it calmly. She often heard Teda say Belli was an overly lively child, while Balder was the opposite, silent and steady.
"I heard from the teacher before that you are a child even more talented than me, and more studious than Balder, is that true?"
Words could no longer express Belli’s joyful feelings, she directly started feeling Alice through the protective clothing, but all she touched was simply the protective clothing. Alice felt like a short tree with a happy monkey hanging on it.
"Indeed, perhaps my skills in the end will need Alice to inherit, so you’d better work hard."
Teda laughed, pulling Belli away, then continued.
"It’s her first day at the Sublimation Furnace Core, control yourself. You’ll have plenty of time to interact later."
Belli reluctantly released Alice. In this place full of machinery and flames, aside from research, few things piqued Belli’s interest. Now looking at Alice, her gaze seemed to have found a new toy.
Balder as usual maintained his silence at the side. Only when Teda asked did he respond.
"Is the implantation ceremony ready?" Teda asked.
"It’s ready. After all, it’s for the junior sister to use, we have thoroughly checked it." Belli guaranteed.
Alice followed them, looking around as they walked.
As Teda’s daughter, Alice was exposed to a significant amount of extraordinary knowledge from a young age, showing remarkable talent. Because of this, Teda early on began cultivating Alice as an alchemist. Under the education of the Sublimation Furnace Core’s head, Alice made rapid progress. By the age of ten, she could independently refine the "Mang Silver Soul" and process it.