Evans's expression was one of complete and utter bewilderment.
Ren Yi's "polite" method of communication was entirely beyond his expectations.
"Ah, haha... You, you can write?" he chuckled sheepishly.
As for Ren Yi... he couldn't help but roll his eyes in his consciousness.
It wasn't like he had a choice!
Under the suppression of the rules in this world, he couldn't manifest a humanoid form, let alone intricate organs like vocal cords or a tongue.
If he absolutely had to make a sound, he would have to control his body to vibrate at a high frequency to produce a harsh, mechanical voice.
That was simply too exhausting for an Anomaly. It was far easier to just "write" like this.
However, on the desolate embankment, Evans stared at that line of text and remained silent for a full thirty seconds.
Just as the atmosphere was starting to feel off again, Evans scratched his hair in embarrassment and awkwardness, muttering under his breath:
"Um... actually, I only learned from the people in the tribe. I don't really recognize many standard characters."
"You write so formally, I'm a bit..."
Buzz!
Without a word of nonsense, the writing in mid-air abruptly dispersed. In its place, Evans saw that transparent "raindrop" light up once more.
"Wait, wait, wait! I can read it! I can read it!"
Evans was so startled he nearly jumped off the ground.
"Common communication is fine! I recognize them, I really do!"
He hurriedly looked at the newly condensed text, which had been intentionally thickened and simplified.
Evans swallowed hard, organized his thoughts, and said with a bit of a guilty conscience:
"Look, let me explain from the beginning."
"I don't know if you've ever had an experience like this—knowing clearly that there's a gap of time between when you were 'born' and when you actually have memories."
"In my own memory, a long time passed after my 'birth' before I truly 'awakened.'"
"But once I awakened, I already possessed mature intelligence and some... knowledge."
"It's like there are some fragmented shards and inherent cognitions in my mind, guiding me on what I should do."
"However, most of that knowledge is only triggered when I encounter specific stimuli."
"That's why the moment I saw you, I instinctively knew you were kindred."
What does that mean? Inherited memory?
Ren Yi pondered for a moment.
Come to think of it, it's currently the year 2009 in this world's calendar.
If his previous guess was correct, according to the Sky Eye Organization being attacked around 2003 and Evans's consciousness being stripped then...
This kid is actually only... six years old?
Eh?
If that's the case, his claim about suddenly gaining intelligence seems somewhat more believable.
But on the surface, Ren Yi didn't drop his suspicion. He displayed text in Evans's vision once more:
【I don't understand. It's all a fog to me.】
【Since I'm lost in the fog, I might as well just blow you up.】
Ren Yi felt that there were still holes in Evans's story.
The kid was still hiding things.
What did he mean by "only triggered when encountering specific things"?
He hadn't revealed anything about what was actually recorded in those inherited memories or what they were guiding him to do.
"Stop, stop, stop! Could you have a little patience... Also, what do you mean 'lost in the fog'? You are the fog!"
It seemed the idiom didn't quite translate well in this world.
Looking at the "raindrop" that was currently hovering right in front of him, Evans knew he had to offer something substantial.
"I know about that sphere that was next to you when we first met!" Evans shouted with his eyes squeezed shut.
"That thing is vital to you! It's the waymarker you need to 'go back'!"
Ren Yi's thoughts, hidden within the white mist, were jolted.
Evans actually knew the function of the Beacon?
And... go back?
That choice of words... does he know about the Alliance?
The nature of this situation changed in an instant, becoming something that required careful deliberation.
Ren Yi condensed another line of large text before the boy's eyes:
【Go back where?】
Evans looked at the line of text and let out a heavy sigh of relief, shaking his head somewhat blankly.
"Where exactly... I don't actually know."
"I just simply know that there is such a place that belongs to our kind."
The youth paused, his tone becoming somewhat subtle and strange.
"Furthermore, I know that I am different from you."
"In the definition of the rules, I seem to be 'wild.'"
"I know your place is very safe, but it's not quite suitable for someone like me."
Now, it was Ren Yi's turn to feel that things were subtle.
What did he mean? Evans was saying he was a "wild Anomaly"?
But looking at Evans's confused expression, he didn't seem to know the specific term "Anomaly." He was just instinctively using his limited vocabulary to describe his state.
Uh... but thinking about it, if he were wild, he really shouldn't know the term.
So, do "wild Anomalies" really exist in this world?
Ren Yi's thoughts began to wander.
There should, perhaps, probably... be some.
He remembered the history Auntie Lu had mentioned when she introduced the origin of the Alliance:
After the world was destroyed, some powerful Anomalies rescued a portion of their compatriots from the ruins and barely managed to build the 'Alliance' we are in now to maintain the continuation of our species.
Following that logic, where were those powerful beings who rescued their compatriots at the time, and where did they go afterward?
Coupled with what his brother said about the rules of 【Death】 being incompatible with the Alliance, which is why he runs around outside all day...
And how Calamities are divided into those in the Alliance and those not...
It was clear that besides the Alliance, there were still many Anomalies wandering about.
So, for these beings, the Alliance might be more like a "safe harbor."
Or perhaps a "happy home" they could return to for a rest after getting tired of struggling in the outside world?
But that only proved that Anomalies could "go out," which was different from Evans's self-description.
What he meant was... being born outside?
Ren Yi drifted in mid-air, the white mist shifting to produce another line of text:
【Insufficient evidence. Mere words are not enough to convince me.】
Evans fell into deep thought for a long time this time, finally looking up with a complex gaze:
"Before I was born, I actually... had a dream."
Rate on N.U.
