Any Price

Li Yue sat in a wheelchair made of metal and lined with soft cushions. Her lifeless eyes stared at the plants bathed in sunlight, yet she felt nothing. She was like a doll devoid of life.

The sunlight glinted off her pale hair but failed to illuminate her equally pale face. Everything around her basked in the sun, glowing brightly, while she alone remained in the shadows. Everything else seemed to radiate vitality.

“A Yue... look, the scenery in the Western Continent is still so beautiful. Though... that might just be because it is early autumn.” Clo pushed Li Yue, slowly strolling through a scenic park.

There were not many people in the Western Continent yet, as the immigrants had not arrived. Most were ordinary people and magic users from the Northern Continent who had come to build infrastructure. Most of the trainees had been transferred back to the South Academy headquarters, except for a few who remained on the front lines to face the magic beasts.

Their training had not lasted long because Li Yue had intervened. Using the power of fate, she had locked onto and slaughtered every magic beast tainted by madness. The conflict had ended abruptly and overwhelmingly, with only a few injuries and not a single death.

Clo brushed a stray strand of hair away so it would not obstruct Li Yue’s view. Looking at the girl in the wheelchair, Clo felt a sense of emptiness. If she did not add some decorations, the sight would truly be too desolate.

“Early autumn... there are no more Cecilia flowers. I will pick some others.” Clo stepped into a nearby flower bed and slowly selected beautiful blossoms of the season. Among them were special flowers brimming with magic that could be used for potions or ritual magic, but Clo simply used them as simple decorations.

By the time Clo slowly stood back up, the sunlight still lingered on them. A few pure white clouds floated in the sky, giving the sun no chance to hide. Compared to a perfectly clear sky, Clo felt that a sky with a few clouds was more beautiful.

Clo held a bouquet of fresh flowers. When she returned, she saw a small bird perched on Li Yue’s head. For some reason, several sparrows had gathered around the wheelchair, chirping as they surrounded her.

Clo watched for a long time until a small sparrow landed on Li Yue’s fingertip. Her finger trembled slightly and lifted gently. For a fleeting moment, a spark of life seemed to return to her vacant eyes. But as the startled sparrow flew away, her hand fell back down, powerless.

“A Yue...” Clo laid the flowers beside Li Yue. She knew that Li Yue had regained consciousness for just a moment. Perhaps this was the rare moment of clarity she had in a day. Possessing two authorities, Li Yue was stronger than she had ever been since taking human form, yet she was also more fragile than ever.

She gently closed Li Yue’s half-open eyes. A faint floral fragrance lingered around her.

“Sleep for a while... I will wait for you to wake up, no matter how long it takes...” Clo sighed softly. She wondered if she truly needed to go to the Royal Court to find the answer—the one Li Yue had always kept from her.

“Miss Clo.” “Blizzard” Bordote emerged from a fork in the path, dressed in casual wear. Beside him was “Alchemy” Hermes, who was eating a cheese, fried egg, and bacon burger.

“Why are you two here? I thought you were busy dismantling the defensive walls these past few days.” Clo thought for a moment, then retrieved a small blanket from her ring to cover Li Yue.

“The principal changed his mind. He said it wouldn’t be too late to dismantle them once the exploration of the temples of the Western Continent is mostly finished.” Bordote glanced cautiously at Li Yue, appearing strangely wary.

“Well, basically, they’re afraid there might be some lingering dangers left in the Western Continent.” Hermes swallowed his food. He ate hurriedly, seemingly indifferent to the taste. This was likely a habit formed during his years of intense research, where he often relied on tasteless capsules or strange-tasting gels for nutrition and energy.

“I didn’t expect you two to have the interest to come see the autumn scenery. Were you infected by Kurong’s habits?”

“We just have nothing to do lately, so we came to visit an injured colleague.” Hermes looked at the motionless Li Yue. If not for her faint breathing, he truly would have mistaken the girl before him for someone who had fallen into an eternal sleep.

“The magic that day... was truly a miracle,” Bordote remarked with sincere admiration. “So that is the pinnacle of fate magic. It is too powerful...”

“A pity I couldn’t touch the water of the River of the Dead. I originally wanted to analyze its components.” Hermes adjusted his glasses and wiped a bit of cheese from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, suppressing the urge to burp.

“Speaking of which... in my hometown, people surround their departed loved ones with flowers and cover them with a white cloth...” Hermes suddenly thought of something. As soon as he finished speaking, he realized his blunder. He laughed awkwardly as he received an elbow from Bordote.

“...” Bordote wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what. He was curling his toes in embarrassment.

“It doesn’t matter,” Clo said thoughtfully. “A deity who governs death... shouldn’t be able to die, right? Perhaps her sleep is just another form of death...” Li Yue, having regained her memories, had told her that she often dreamed of the Death Abyss and the Underworld. For the living to go there, their bodies would have to perish and their spirits dissipate.

“The Five Staves might be quite free in the coming days. Do you have any plans?” Bordote managed to find a more relaxed topic.

“I don’t know... perhaps I will take her to... some places.” Clo wanted to say the Royal Court, but after a moment’s thought, she kept it vague.

“I will wait until A Yue’s mental state improves...” Clo’s eyes lowered slightly. This was the price Li Yue always spoke of. This was the third time... The last time, she had fallen into a deep sleep, and the time before that was long ago... back when they had just finished their travels...

That time, a large portion of her memories had gone missing. Fortunately, she still remembered Clo, the person she loved deeply.

Perhaps she really should prepare to go to the Royal Court. Perhaps there... a method truly existed to counteract the power of madness and corruption. No matter the price, if such a method existed, she would obtain it by any means necessary.