Far, far away, even further away, lies a deeper loneliness. How much loneliness is hidden within a distant happiness?
Li Yue looked out the window; the weather in Yakutsk tonight was gloomy. Fine hail fell upon the roads, and people carrying pitch-black umbrellas walked aimlessly through the streets. It felt as if the world were reduced to nothing but the sound of rustling.
She wandered casually into the breakroom and saw Aestherin dressed in formal attire. She tilted her head slightly, thinking that perhaps this young, inexperienced warden was preparing to return to her family.
Melina, wearing a light blue floral dress, ran past her. Li Yue paused and looked at Aestherin, who held a gold-stamped invitation with a helpless expression on her face.
“A family gathering. I have no choice but to go back.”
“What about Melina?”
“They said they wanted to see the performance of this genius girl. That’s part of the reason, but the other part is to force me to go back with her. Even Lane received an invitation.” Aestherin shrugged.
“I might not be back for a while. If you’re willing to stay, you can wait and see, though I heard you have a place near the Inner Ring.”
“It’s all the same, regardless of where I live.” Li Yue thought for a moment and kept the second half of her sentence to herself.
The difference lay in the people around her. At least here, she didn't feel as lonely as she used to. However, she didn't say it aloud; some things were better kept hidden in the heart.
“After you leave, what will happen to the prison?”
“They said the family is sending a temporary replacement. It’s actually a quite dignified high warden. After he resigned from his post, he stepped on the toes of those old fogies at the top, so his current situation isn't great.” Aestherin sighed. “The family is mindful of past favors, so this is how it ended up.”
“This is essentially forcing you not to come back, isn't it?”
Aestherin bit her lip, neither nodding nor shaking her head. She stood there quietly, her deep blue formal gown making her look exceptionally holy and noble.
Li Yue gave a simple farewell and walked out of the prison. The sky was full of ice shuttles falling upon her as she walked alone. She wondered who else she knew in the city; there was still Diana, it seemed.
I wonder how the heat source supply recovery is going. If it’s still the same, I’ll have to go there myself.
She paced through the vast snowy landscape. As long as she kept thinking, time would pass quickly. Otherwise, the loneliness of walking alone on the road would be infinitely magnified until she could no longer endure the torment.
She let out a breath but felt incredibly bored, unsure of what to think about.
I'll think about Clo. I wonder what she's doing now.
What was Clo doing...
Unknowingly, she had walked to that small wooden cabin. A faint light glowed inside. Through the window, Li Yue could see the hardworking family of four and Diana, who was studying diligently.
She knocked on the door. Soon, a light footstep approached, and the door was gently opened. Diana’s expression held a mix of surprise and fear. She pulled Li Yue into the house, and waves of warmth washed over her—not just on her body, but in her heart.
“Lady Noah...”
“The heating is back. That’s good. It seems those people guessed why I went there.” Li Yue smiled.
“Those guys came by earlier. They asked me what you looked like, but we didn't really tell them.” Diana’s voice held a hint of worry. “Was it really you who did it?”
“The stove was blown up by a monster. I’m the one who killed the people,” Li Yue said flatly.
The people in the room fell silent for a moment. Their expressions held worry, fear, and a profound sense of gratitude.
“Do those... things... really exist?” Diana’s voice trembled slightly. Li Yue patted her head, signaling her to relax.
“Just like before, I will take care of them all.”
“Oh, right, there’s this.” Diana handed Li Yue a device. “They told me that if I saw you again, I should trigger this alarm device.”
“Oh?” Li Yue took it and glanced at it. The small device was engraved with dense magic seals. It looked like it would send an alarm to more than one area.
“What was the reward they offered?”
“Just a chance to go to school closer to the Inner Ring, a vacant small house, and a bit of money.”
“How much is 'a bit'?”
“Fifteen gold coins.”
The people in the room fell silent. Li Yue felt a stir in her heart. A gentle smile suddenly appeared on her face as she looked at the hardworking woman with swollen hands, at Diana, who had grown a bit thinner in just a few days, and at Anna, whose hands were covered in calluses from long-term labor. Their father was off to the side, doing heavy chores.
Anna seemed to have given up on her studies to work for their livelihood. Everyone was struggling just to survive.
“Life has been hard lately, hasn't it?” she said slowly. She waited for a response from the people in the room. The lamp flickered a few times; silence was the best answer.
“I’m leaving. Look forward to our next meeting.”
Li Yue sliced her finger, condensed a pure blood crystal, and placed it in Diana’s hand.
“This is a gift.”
Diana’s hand trembled, a vague bad feeling washing over her. She watched Li Yue walk to the door, put on a mask, and don a black cloak to hide her snow-white hair. Then, Li Yue triggered the alarm device in her hand.
She waved her hand, her lips moving as if saying goodbye, but the sound was drowned out by a violent sonic boom.
She leaped into the air, transformed into a blood shadow, and dissipated in the sky. Countless streaks of light chased after her. One light landed at the entrance of Diana’s house; the man wore a mask and a thick black shawl coat as he shook hands with Diana, who was still standing there in a daze.
In the far south, inside an academy auditorium, the dean was loudly delivering a welcoming speech for new students. As one of the Five Staves, Clo sat by his side, wearing only a thin veil. The other four were dressed similarly, their staves resting beside them.
Clo yawned, feeling very sleepy. Recent events had been too boring—nothing more than watching live footage of new students using magic crudely. It felt like looking for gold in the sand.
She closed her eyes slightly, looking as if she were thinking or listening, though she was really just leaning toward falling asleep.
So noisy... I can't sleep... I wonder what Li Yue is doing. I really want to go see the snow.
And so, Clo was also bored. She, too, was thinking of her...
The loneliness of two people, longing for one another.
Rate on N.U.
