Chapter 1126: The Tide
Simoya was in the crowd as well, moving forward with the wave-like procession.
She heard people laughing to her left, and others laughing to her right. Women's voices drifted in conversation from every direction, while she stood at the center of the crowd.
It gave Simoya a strange feeling, as though she were floating in midair at that moment, looking down at herself—
Where am I? What am I doing?
Why am I following the crowd forward right now?
Before the answer could surface, Simoya felt her nose sting. She lowered her head and suddenly smiled, tears falling with it.
At the very front of the line, Stella was arguing with Silei—Stella wanted to get closer, but Silei refused without leaving any room for negotiation.
Rain was falling in a fine drizzle, raising a frost-like white mist above the flames.
"Fine! I won't argue with you," Stella said, turning back. "Everyone, get into position! Three rows—the people in front, kneel on one knee. The middle row, put both hands on your knees. The back row, stand straight—"
The command was quickly translated and passed along layer by layer. With demonstrations from the Quicksilver Needles and the Kashyapas, everyone soon found their places. Everyone looked toward Stella's camera, somewhat bewildered and curious.
Lightning still flashed continuously within the distant clouds, while the blaze raged behind the people. It erased every detail of those beneath the lenses, leaving only sharply defined black silhouettes, like a black paper-cut print standing on the plain.
Stella took several shots in succession, then sprinted toward the burning main house. Seeing trouble, Silei was just about to chase after her when Stella stopped again and turned around. "Everyone, look at me! Turn around! The first row, stand up. Keep the middle row the