"Now it's time to go?" Merka took two bottles of water from her backpack on the ground and handed one to Turing.

"Well." Turing took the water and took a sip.

Watching the glistening sweat beads on Merka's collarbone fall, and seeing Turing drink silently with her head tilted back, Turing suddenly smiled.

"It will be over soon."

"If you come out quickly, we can have a meal together."

"Wait for me." Turing took the art kit handed over by Merka and gently hugged her.

A terrifying and arrogant magic burst out from Turing's back, resembling hands and feet, tentacles, and wings like tree trunks grew out from Turing's back, covering the sky.

Within a moment, the violent hurricane that Turing raised blew her up into the sky.

[Will I lose?]

[I don't know why, but I can't imagine myself losing at all right now.]

[I don't feel at all that I will lose.]

[Confidence fills every part of my body.]

Excited, Turing flew up and down in the sky, curling layer after layer of white cloud steeds.

The vibrant cloud waves were as turbulent as Turing's mood.

Turing gazed into the blue sky, and in the distance, several sanctuaries symbolizing art stood in different directions of Lachésis City.

They were ancient but not outdated, giving people a feeling of eternally existing.

——————————————————————————

These sanctuaries, shaped like flames, symbolize the gods of Acadia's origin. They are also the main venues for this competition.

After eliminating many participants who were just there for show through recommendation, there are still more than ten thousand participants, including men and women, in this competition.

They will receive painting themes from examiners at different venues and then submit their own works.

The art elites and giants from the whole country will also gather in Lachésis City for grading and evaluation.

The rankings behind may have some discrepancies due to the varying levels of the evaluators, but the works ranked first, second, and even the top ten are all artworks that can withstand the scrutiny of the public and are among the best.

Those ultimate masterpieces with titles as pleasant as good tea will be exhibited in every corner of Lachésis City.

On the streets, in the squares, everyone who sees them has the right to question the artworks. But in the end, everyone will sincerely praise them, and these rankings are indisputable.

Lachésis has supreme confidence in religion and art.

However, there is another reason why Lachésis is celebrating the festival this grandly this year.

This year is the biennial gathering, a major festival that occurs once every fifty years in Acadia.

Acadia has a more primitive way of measuring a year and does not recognize leap years or leap months. They consider a year to be 360 days, which means every year is 360 days.

After fifty years, winters become warmer and summers become cooler. The people of Acadia who noticed this, although not accustomed to using the calendar of the outside world, still push the date forward every certain number of years to restore the original dates of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

In fact, the people of Acadia don't care whether winter is cold or summer is hot. Their fields are thriving all year round, and their livestock grows strong in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

So the significance of the solar terms to them is probably just a poetic expression of their emotions.

But advancing to the next year also brings up another problem, known as the "biennial convergence."

It means that as soon as one year is over, the next year quickly follows. After celebrating one fireworks festival, they have to hold another one. Even competitions have to be held continuously twice.

Are the people of Acadia bored?

How is that possible!

In this ideal-like Acadia, there is no end to the celebrations! There is no limit to their enthusiasm!

Let the celebrations continue, let the joy be never ending!

The happiness of the people of Acadia is the result of the hardships and sacrifices of many. How can they not sing and laugh to their heart's content?

Finally, she arrived.

Turing descended to the ground, carried by the strong wind. Her plain attire, friendly braided hair, and her exquisitely beautiful face instantly captivated everyone present.

But the bare dark gold crown on her arm gave those wide-eyed people a shock.

Some people gasped and almost kneeled down.

The legitimate sons of noble families were all chauffeured. The eldest daughters of aristocratic families were all well-hidden noble ladies.

Ordinary people would never have a chance to even catch a glimpse of them in their lifetime.

If the people of Acadia were willing to embrace foreign technology, perhaps they could see Turing's image on television.

Otherwise, some people could only rely on portraits or imagination to meet these supreme figures of Acadia.

"My mother originally said she would pick me up... But I'm already grown up, how can I still let my mother pick me up?"

Turing was momentarily stunned, then smiled knowingly, reaching for the glass ring on her left ring finger.

Under Turing's persistent mischief, Merka finally agreed to wear the same ring in the same position as Turing.

"I don't want my mother to pick me up, but there's no need for any reason."

"When children grow up, they naturally don't need to be picked up anymore."

"I don't need to deceive myself anymore."

With her flowing cape and scarf, her peach-colored braided hair, determined gaze, and stunning beauty, not to mention the faint black circles like eye shadow at the corners of Turing's eyes, the onlookers immediately understood.

This is the treasure that Acadia's history is bound to leave behind, sparkling like a crescent moon and morning star, the genius magician, the perfect cigarette, Turing Altria.

"Lord Altria! You're our hero! Thank you for saving my wife on her business trip to Red Port!"

"Ms. Altria! Your magic is the most exquisite! Watching your competition is a choice I will never regret in my life!"

The people who had finally realized this reacted as if being struck by electricity, cheering and rushing forward. Some enthusiastic crowd even hugged Turing directly, forming layers upon layers of encirclement, making Turing unable to move.

【Come on... Usually at this time...】

A hint of coldness flickered in Turing's eyes, but was quickly replaced by a cool and transparent color.

【There's really no way. I'll just play with you for a while.】

"Please make way, excuse me! I'm about to be late for the competition. I'll come out and play with you later, okay?" While pushing through the crowd, Turing's arm carried a bit of magic, not only pushing the people aside but also covering them to prevent them from being seriously injured in the stampede.

"Is this the reason you won't let me join?" In the bustling crowd, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Turing's pushing arm.

That familiar voice, like a sheath that silences everything.

And the beautiful memories that Turing had left behind with Lachésis, Merka, and Elizabeth, seemed like sweet dreams hibernating on a clock.

Only when this Wind-up Key was ruthlessly pulled out did Turing realize that it seemed like their dream had finally ended.

Turing's time had once again started to tick.