Memories

“Whoooo—” The massive steam ship slowly pulled away from the harbor of Yakutsk, carrying a vessel full of young people with grand ideals toward that land that countless people yearned for. It was a place known as the New Royal Court, though the positions once held by the great nobles now seemed to be occupied by Executors of various titles, all of whom were outstanding Mages.

Whenever the Royal Court was mentioned, Diana would think of the white-haired girl who had rescued her from human traffickers. She remembered the countless times she had visited her, and she remembered how she looked lying on the sofa, looking both lazy and sad. She remembered the aroma of the stew she used to cook, though it had been more than ten years since they last met.

Nearly eleven years had passed since that parting at the harbor. She had graduated from a destitute, impoverished girl who had yet to enter Reinhardt Engineering Academy into a senior mechanic. Although she was not very familiar with magic, she was incredibly skilled at handling various steam devices. The steam machinery that created the current prosperity of the Royal Court generally originated from her academy. In some ways, she could be considered a witness to the era.

She leaned against the restaurant window, watching the rising and falling sea. In her past memories, such a vast expanse of water was usually covered by a thick layer of ice. The cargo ships that first arrived in Yakutsk were often powerful icebreakers. If not for Yakutsk’s rich mineral resources, she found it hard to imagine how a city-state could struggle to survive in such a frozen world.

However, ever since that lady absorbed the God's remains, everything in Yakutsk had changed. Although the geological environment of Yakutsk dictated that it was destined not to be a place with four distinct seasons, there was at least a distinction between the cold and warm seasons now. People would plant their favorite flowers in greenhouses. Although they were not precious species, those who had survived that era of ice and snow simply favored these beautiful, fragile things that struggled to live.

Her sister Anna had already married, but she had set out for the Royal Court without looking back. She heard that the seasons there were distinct and the climate was pleasant. If possible, she really wanted to establish herself there and then bring her family over...

But could a human like her, who had once betrayed the Divine Lord, ever receive her forgiveness...

She let out a soft sigh and looked at the food prices on the menu, then at her somewhat meager belongings. She hesitated over whether to change her planned two meals a day to one. This would significantly reduce her expenses. Once she reached the Royal Court, before finding a suitable job, she might need to live in a basement or a cheap traveler's hotel.

She sighed shallowly. There weren't many people in the restaurant yet. She took two sips of water, her fingers constantly rubbing the side of the glass. She was fighting both her appetite and her anxiety at the same time.

She looked around, fearing the servant might drive her away because of her behavior. She looked out of the corner of her eye with caution, but unintentionally caught sight of a familiar figure. That figure seemed to have seen her as well and was currently returning her gaze.

“The former great nobles of the Royal Court and many of the current social elites have greyish-white or pale hair. I couldn't have just offended some powerful figure, could I...” Diana shrunk her neck. She tried to imagine what those social elites looked like, but those features slowly began to overlap with the Miss Li Yue in her memories. Even though more than ten years had passed, she, now nearly thirty, still remembered it vividly.

“Human lifespans are truly short... just a few decades can turn a person into someone completely different.” A cold but familiar voice rang out beside her, and a familiar figure sat down across from her.

“Is this seat taken?”

“No... no...”

“Your life aura hasn't changed. I wondered why I felt a sense of familiarity when I boarded the ship.” Li Yue took a glass of water and took a small sip. She did not like tasteless water; she disliked anything tasteless, much like herself.

Diana cautiously looked at the girl before her. This was the Divine Lord who supposedly owned the entire world and had influence everywhere. Her appearance had barely changed from over a decade ago, but there was a world of difference in her temperament. Her aura was more restrained, and that aura of death was even heavier. Faintly, there was also a violent aura that was being forcibly suppressed.

“Is life still this meager for you?” Li Yue had been observing her for a little while. Her indecisiveness while ordering had long been seen by her.

“No, thanks to you, I’ve even grown accustomed to days without worrying about food or warmth.”

“That’s good. It seems the prices here are just too expensive.” Li Yue casually took out a handful of gold coins and ordered some food from the menu at random. Although she used to have little appetite, she still pursued delicious flavors in food, but now she had long since lost her sense of taste.

“I’ve changed a lot, haven't I? Everyone from the past says so. Lane said it, and so did Aestherin.” Li Yue propped up her head and said to herself, “If I could, I would want to return to the past too.”

“Actually, whether the change is big or not... I think if we didn't know each other at this time, you would still have saved me from those demons without asking for anything in return.” Diana touched the side of her glass and smiled somewhat shyly. Li Yue’s hand holding the glass trembled slightly, but the expression on her face remained undisturbed.

“When I asked Reinhardt, he mentioned you. He personally presented your Outstanding Graduate Medal.” Li Yue smiled faintly.

“I didn't expect Lord Reinhardt to actually remember me.”

“Whether it’s you or Reinhardt, you are all pioneers of this era and the next.” Li Yue propped up her head and looked out the window. As the waves of the vast sea push those before them, and the new of the floating world replace the old, so too do the new gods of the astral realm take the place of the old.

“I’m very happy that you’re doing well.” Li Yue’s expression changed very little, but she was indeed happy.

“Right, let's not talk about those distant topics anymore.” Li Yue pressed a black-gold card into Diana’s hand, along with several gold coins officially issued by the Royal Court. This would be enough for her to live on for a while.

“Perhaps on some day in the future...” Li Yue thought for a moment. “This card will glow with a faint light. If possible, please follow its guidance.”

“Guidance?”

“Yes, it’s not for some great cause.” Li Yue squinted and smiled. “I just want one more person I once knew to witness my wedding.”

She looked at the stunned Diana, a rare hint of reminiscence appearing in her eyes.