Meila looked up at the towering rock walls on both sides. This was the entrance to the Valley of the Valley of the Wind, and also the narrowest part of the entire valley.
However, because the canyon runs east-west, the midday sun can still pour down from the top of the canyon.
She turned around and looked at her compatriots behind her, who were helping each other down the mountain path to the bottom of the valley.
A sense of unreality suddenly welled up inside me.
Meila secretly pinched the web of her hand; it hurt, but the surreal feeling still lingered in her heart.
They escaped from the bandits, begged for reinforcements, returned to defeat the bandits, and finally led their people here.
Looking back on the whole process, it felt like a dream.
She was afraid that if she opened her eyes the next moment, she would find herself still curled up in the cold desert, and that all of this was just her last fantasy before she died.
"Line up!"
A short, forceful command came from ahead, bringing Meila back to her senses.
The gates of the Valley of the Wind had been opened, and a squad of militiamen carrying long spears jogged out.
Then, Nausicaä appeared.
The seven Blessed Warrior escorting the refugees quickly stepped forward and lined up in front of her.
Kamlin, who was leading the group, stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Your Highness, all 173 refugees have been safely escorted to the Valley of the Wind; none have fallen behind."
Nausicaä nodded and said:
"You've worked hard. Back to the team."
"Yes!"
Only then did she turn her gaze to the fearful and anxious refugees standing at the bottom of the valley.
"Welcome everyone to the Valley of the Wind." The infectious voice echoed through the crowd.
"Please consider this your new home. In the Valley of the Wind, everyone can earn dignity through their own hard work."
"There are no slaves, no nobles, and no rules requiring one to kneel before anyone. Everyone who works will receive a corresponding reward."
"Everyone has the opportunity to live a stable and prosperous life."
As soon as he finished speaking, a slight commotion arose in the crowd.
People exchanged glances; some instinctively clutched their bundles tighter, while others hid their children behind their backs.
They had heard these words before.
The Council of Elders and the Explorers' Association also proclaimed "Everyone has a chance" and "Strive to change your destiny."
And the result?
Ordinary people risk their lives to enter the edge of the Sea of Corruption, braving the dangers of being corroded by poisonous gas and attacked by giant insects to collect materials, only to face extremely low prices and barely make ends meet.
Opportunity is not for those who are prepared, but for those who are qualified to prepare.
Those famous expeditions were all funded by wealthy businessmen, or even supported by other countries.
They have better equipment, stronger manpower, and can even travel in aircraft for exploration, making it impossible for ordinary people to compete with them.
The so-called "opportunity" is nothing but pretty empty talk.
But soon, they had no time to continue to doubt.
The large pot seized from the bandits has been set up again; it's lunchtime now.
It's important to understand that most refugees didn't begin starving after being captured by bandits.
Hunger was a constant companion in Pejite City, even when it was in turmoil and supplies were cut off.
In some ways, that chaotic period was even more difficult than the later life of prisoners in the desert.
In the hands of the bandits, at least they knew who was committing the evil deeds and who had killed their compatriots.
In the chaotic world of Pejite, they didn't even know who to hate.
The militiamen of the Valley of the Wind quickly distributed the wooden bowls.
The porridge was very hot, and some people couldn't wait to bend down and drink it, even though they were scalded and kept gasping for breath, they still wouldn't stop.
For a moment, the only sounds at the bottom of the valley were the slurping of porridge and the soft clinking of bowls and spoons.
The refugees' reactions were not unexpected for Mu En, who was observing everything through Nausicaä's eyes.
The physiological need for food will always be the top priority.
After eating and drinking their fill, people sat on the ground to rest, a brief look of satisfaction on their faces.
But soon, this satisfaction was replaced by unease and confusion.
What's next? Will the Valley of the Wind take them in? Will they return their stolen belongings? Should they still proceed with their original plan to go to Pejite?
This is when the key person in charge should step in.
Meila approached the crowd, followed by another person.
While the refugees were eating, she had already talked a lot with the person behind her.
She never imagined she would have the chance to meet him face-to-face, and she never imagined that, apart from his beauty, he would be so... ordinary.
She was almost indistinguishable from her adoptive mother and the wife of the eldest brother in the expedition group.
Meila stopped and cleared her throat.
"Everyone!" she raised her voice, silencing the murmurs, "I have something to announce!"
"I can guarantee with my life that Princess Nausicaä's words are true."
"As long as you're willing to work with your own hands, I guarantee that everyone will have enough to eat, warm clothes, and a place to sleep that shelters them from the wind and rain."
" The Valley of the Wind has enough food, enough land, and enough jobs to ensure all of this."
Meila's words calmed the refugees down a little.
They still trusted the brave girl who had sought help.
Then, Meila stepped back half a step, making way for the woman who had been silent behind her.
"I hope everyone can stay here, and that is also what Her Highness Eliana wishes."
She was a woman dressed in a simple light green cloth dress, with a gentle face and her blonde hair neatly tied back.
Eliana raised her head, meeting the more than one hundred suddenly focused gazes.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?!"
"Queen Eliana isn't dead? Didn't the rebels say the entire royal family...?"
"Doesn't that mean she abandoned us and ran away?"
"No! Don't you understand? It must have been those bandits who kidnapped the Queen!"
Eliana had always been well-liked by the people of Pejite —beautiful, gentle, always with a polite smile, and she had even pushed through several decrees to aid the poor.
Eliana remained silent, waiting quietly for the noise to subside.
Then, she did something that terrified all the Dorok People.
She bent down deeply and bowed deeply to her fellow countrymen in their tattered clothes.
The posture was standard and solemn, lasting for a full ten seconds.
The Queen... bowed to the commoners?
All the Dorok People's expressions changed drastically, and they were at a loss.
Commoners had to bow to nobles and kneel before members of the royal family.
A lack of proper etiquette could result in imprisonment or even execution; this was common sense ingrained in them from childhood.
Eliana straightened up, her gaze calmly sweeping over the complex faces.
"Please do not be alarmed, I am no longer the Queen of Pejite."
"Like you, I am a refugee who lost my home and was taken in by the Valley of the Wind."
"As a member of the royal family, I bear responsibility for the disaster in Pejite. I failed in my duty to protect my people... This bow is my apology to everyone."
A few sobs rang out from the crowd, and someone raised their hand to cover their face.
It has always been commoners who kneel before the queen; when has a queen ever bowed to a commoner?
Eliana's sincere apology touched the hearts of these suffering people from Pejite.
"But today, I stand here not just to apologize."
"I want to tell everyone why our country collapsed and why we were displaced."
Eliana turned and looked towards the city walls.
"Princess Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind will hold a public trial atop the city walls."
"The one being judged is Ohara, the leader of the ' Insect Claw ' bandit gang who humiliated and enslaved us, whose hands are stained with the blood of our compatriots, and who participated in the conspiracy to overthrow our country!"