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Chapter 867: Lance's Final Commission
Chapter 867: Lance's Final Commission
"Calyera's memory seems to be coming to an end..."
Lance and Talia regained control of their bodies, but at that moment, they felt detached from this space, able only to watch as this streak of memory-like world crumbled.
In the next instant, a surge of spacetime turbulence hit them, and with a dizzying sense of weightlessness, their consciousness traveled through a long journey, and everything before their eyes became a blur.
Until, once again, a faint, rhythmic clanking sound reached their ears, and their consciousness began to return. A sliver of light through their eyelids pulled them from the depths of their dreams.
"..."
Lance's fingertips trembled slightly, and he slowly sat up, taking a deep breath. Crisp, cold air filled his lungs.
Upon waking, his vision was still slightly blurry, unable to adjust to the bright light.
The luxurious compartment was spacious and private, bathed in warm shades of beige and brown. The train's rhythm remained steady, with minimal noise, and the soundproofing between the carriage and the corridor was exceptional.
He squinted and turned his head towards the glass window beside the table. The outskirts of Brillada were shrouded in a thin layer of mist, and on the distant horizon, the morning sun was already rising, causing the thin layer of frost on the window to shimmer with crystal clarity in the golden natural light.
The lingering drowsiness in his mind was completely dispelled by the chill.
He rubbed his shoulders and stretched his muscles, feeling much more alert.
"Judging by the scenery, we probably haven't slept for too long, and we're still in the mountainous region outside Brillada."
Lance muttered to himself.
He clearly remembered that when he first arrived in Brillada, the Botswana Province had continuous mountains that took several hours to pass through.
The mana crystal screen embedded in the wall displayed the progress of the Brillada train, confirming that there was still ample time; it wasn't even nine in the morning yet.
"Lance, what was that dream we just had? What did it all mean?"
Talia, with her head down, still had her hair covering her eyes, as if she hadn't fully woken up yet.
"Calyera finished writing the letter, sent it out, and then turned herself into the Fallen Sweet Town. After that, it should be our fourth shadow world timeline."
Lance, thinking of Calyera, who had disappeared in the direction of the Hanging Mirror Corridor, sorted out the timeline of this memory.
Ranklos, who had prepared to calmly accept death, decided to revisit the Eternal Nightland and the Corridor Academy in the Demon Realm Inferno City after receiving his old friend's letter.
However, as soon as Ranklos arrived at the academy's central chamber, he saw the Teribius Mirror that Calyera had used. With the three uses Calyera had left for him, he uncovered the vampires' conspiracy in the Teribius Mirror and eventually went to the Honing Empire to meet his end.
"But how could she bear to send out that letter, knowing it would turn Ranklos into the Black Sun Tyrant and subject him to perpetual punishment?"
Talia, now awake from her dreamy state, couldn't shake off the feeling of empathy she shared with Calyera.
She always felt a strange connection with Calyera's warm and familiar magic.
Just seeing Calyera's departing figure made her heart ache.
Calyera had bet her life four times with the Hanging Mirror Lord Teribius, three of which were for Ranklos. With just one use of the Teribius Mirror, Calyera had seen the demons' plot in the Honing Empire, and only Ranklos had the power to stop this catastrophic disaster.
But Calyera must have also seen and guessed Ranklos's fate, which was why she left behind Tamisha, her continuation of life, to save Ranklos one day in the future.
"Talia, if you and I were in Calyera and Ranklos's position, would you choose to send out the letter or choose to disappear with Ranklos into the illusion of a peaceful dream?"
Lance asked Talia, who was sitting across the table from him.
"I would, but I'm also afraid that at the end of this journey, there will only be eternal regret."
Talia felt that she might not be as resolute as Calyera.
At that time, Ranklos, driven by his love, had become the Black Sun Tyrant, living as a walking corpse.
But she believed that Lance could be as resolute as Ranklos.
Because in the shadow world, she had witnessed Lance's choices, and he hadn't hesitated for a moment.
"In the end, it's not about accumulating more and more, but about starting with nothing and experiencing beauty and fulfilling your purpose. Then, you can let go without regrets. Perhaps, if you can understand this, you might even smile at the end of your life's journey."
Lance guessed at Calyera's state of mind.
Understanding Ranklos's state of mind in the shadow world was also a process of understanding the state of mind of those around him.
However, Talia had experienced Calyera's journey in the last shadow world, so she should understand Calyera's feelings better than Lance.
"Why not accumulate more? Could Calyera also be like you, without desires or attachments?"
Talia did indeed understand Calyera's feelings.
Perhaps it was the age gap or the difference in their eras, but Talia couldn't fully comprehend Calyera's mature mindset during the Blood Moon Cataclysm.
"Whether it's the hectic afternoons or the long years they spent together, they all lead to an inevitable end. Calyera, who possessed the gentle town of Ranklos, understood this well. She knew that she couldn't wait for the day when she and Ranklos could live and laugh together in peace."
Lance patiently shared his speculations with Talia,
"The fleeting joy they seek is gained and lost in an instant, yet they pursue it relentlessly. But in the end, they might realize that what they seek isn't the fleeting joy or the inevitable conclusion, but something more significant."
He believed that Talia would understand this.
Even now, with the demons' restoration at hand, Talia didn't need to do anything. She could lie back and wait for the restoration, and the demons of this era would immediately revere her as their final demon lord.
However, Talia no longer felt that restoration held any appeal.
The wish she had once yearned for day and night had been set aside by her within just two short years.
"It seems there's nothing I can't let go of either. If I find what I truly want..."
Talia listened to Lance's words and thoughts, nodding slightly.
"In the era of the Blood Moon Cataclysm, they experienced joy and sorrow, and they had already attained great enlightenment. They could put down the burdens of life at any time, and they no longer had excessive fantasies or demands for happiness."
Lance continued to speak to Talia, his emerald eyes devoid of any lingering attachment to old dreams but still filled with emotion for the conclusion of Calyera and Ranklos's story,
"Although Calyera had nothing but memories in the end, she was still willing to give everything, and so was Ranklos. Love wasn't what they sought; it was something they already possessed. That's why they could learn to let go, unburden themselves, and their hearts gradually became filled with contentment."
Lance believed that having reached this point and gained this insight, they would transcend and connect beyond life and death.
Whether the sky was about to dawn or dusk, they had walked step by step through the Blood Moon Cataclysm.
Even if Calyera had died, she left behind a little spark to illuminate Ranklos's darkness and guide his path.
The story of Ranklos and Calyera wasn't necessarily a tragedy; instead, they bestowed the sweet rain of blessings upon each other's parched hearts.
Lance thought to himself.
However, he heard a faint sound of sobbing.
Looking up, he saw that Talia's eyes were already brimming with tears, her face flushed.
"Talia, what's wrong...?"
Lance had already experienced his inner turmoil during their long journey through the Shadow World.
Talia, on the other hand, seemed immersed in Calyera's manuscript.
He was about to say something habitually but stopped himself.
He took out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it to Talia.
"You..."
Talia reluctantly took the handkerchief, avoiding Lance's concerned gaze.
"Go ahead and laugh if you want... Do you think I look ridiculous like this...?"
Soon, she choked up again.
She knew that every time she cried, Lance would think to himself that she was acting like a woman.
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to cry like this after watching the film with me."
Lance spoke with a hint of guilt.
Every time he made Talia cry, he became flustered.
He had always thought that Talia had a strong personality, and the more he provoked her, the more fiercely she would retaliate.
It was only when Talia became tearful that he realized that his strong-willed teacher had this vulnerable side.
A long silence fell between them, and the new scenery outside the window continued to unfold, with light shining on their faces, alternating between brightness and darkness. The little black cat remained outside the compartment, not returning for a long time.
"Talia..."
"Hmm?"
Lance waited until Talia's breathing became steady, gazing at her, ready to say something.
But her profile, with its translucent skin, still had a hint of redness around her eyes.
The dawn's gentle pink and blue sky, sunlight filtering through light clouds, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers and fresh air.
Lance averted his gaze, feeling unsure of how to speak to Talia as she looked at him with such vulnerability and dependence.
He rarely saw Talia's face so gentle, like the warm spring sunshine, and her tears had washed away everything but the fresh and elegant beauty in her eyes.
"What were you going to say?"
Talia spoke up, asking him softly.
"Well, our journey here, whether it's the mission or our agreement, has been fulfilled."
Lance sat across from Talia, listening to the faint rumble of the mana railcar, and said.
He had helped her find her sister, ended the bloodline's turmoil in the Kreitni Empire, and brought her friends and family back to Echirite. His work could be considered complete.
"..."
Talia remained silent.
Even the demons that Talia hadn't commissioned Lance to help with her restoration might have succeeded by now.
She didn't even know if Aetius would ask her to lead the demons when she met him and Rosalinda in the Flower Capital.
Talia couldn't understand why Lance was so reliable at every moment, always there to help her.
Her stubborn nature would undoubtedly bring her more calamities.
Yet, there was someone willing to support her, fulfilling her wishes.
A traitor!
Such a person must be a traitor!
But...
"Lance, can you help me with one last request?"
She murmured, almost as if reciting.
"There's still an unfinished request?"
Lance responded immediately, his sense of responsibility kicking in.
If there was another request, he had to step up his game. If he didn't complete his work, he couldn't enjoy his holiday without distractions.
"In South Vandina, I once lost a pigeon."
Talia mentioned, her gaze fixed on Lance.
"..."
Lance's lips instantly formed a wavy line.
"It was me, I'm very sorry."
Lance abruptly stood up and bowed to Talia.
This time, he didn't hesitate.
In fact, he had planned to confess to Talia after everything was over, but he hadn't found the right opportunity to be alone with her.
He intended to wait until Talia was in a better mood before explaining the situation to her.
"I had a hunch about it."
Talia's voice didn't sound too surprised; instead, it was surprisingly calm.
It seemed that from a certain point, she had noticed some clues, but she hadn't verified them with Lance.
She knew that if she asked Lance directly, he would definitely give her an honest answer.
"And the assassin who might have killed you was also me, right?"
Talia raised her hands, touching Lance's lowered face, making him look at her directly.
"That's right."
This time, Lance didn't avert his gaze, admitting his own cleverness.
He was a bit afraid of Talia holding his head, but he knew he had to face it all.
Looking back now, he realized that he had been wrong to tease Talia without any reservations in the beginning, and he should have apologized to her long ago.
"It was quite interesting to outwit each other. Thinking back to our first encounter, it makes me want to laugh."
Talia's laughter was unreadable, and she released Lance's face.
"How can I make it up to you?"
Lance asked Talia.
Since he was in the wrong, having both stood Talia up and teased her, he was ready to accept his punishment.
"I'm cold; help me with this problem first."
Talia turned her head, hugging her arms, and gave an instruction-like mutter.
After solving this problem, she would consider whether to forgive him.
"..."
Lance thought for a moment, then walked around and took out a blanket to cover Talia.
"Emotional fluctuations can easily lead to autonomic nervous system disorders. When crying, the emotional fluctuations are more significant, causing increased excitement in the sympathetic nervous system, increased adrenaline secretion, peripheral vasoconstriction, decreased skin blood flow, and a sense of cold. After crying stops, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes excited, and a sense of cold can also occur."
He observed and analyzed Talia.
"Of course, it could also be due to physical exhaustion leading to low blood sugar. Especially when sobbing, the faster breathing consumes more energy, resulting in a more significant drop in blood sugar, which can also cause a sense of cold. You should eat more hot food to replenish your energy. Additionally, dehydration can lead to a decline in body temperature regulation. Crying and shedding tears can cause water loss, and mild dehydration can affect temperature regulation, resulting in a sense of cold. I'll get you a hot drink."
Lance provided Talia with a serious explanation, showing his concern for her well-being, and ultimately, he prepared to fetch some hot food for her from the small food cart.
However, his words almost made Talia laugh through her tears.
Her soft laughter caused Lance to freeze in his tracks, hesitant to touch the food cart again.
"I'm still cold."
Talia said firmly once more.
The sofa chair in the luxurious private room was wide enough for two people to sit side by side, even if they each took up an entire seat.
Lance looked at her in astonishment—
Talia slightly lifted the blanket, patted the cushion beside her, indicating for him to come in.
And so, Lance stood there, stunned for a few seconds, seeing Talia under the blanket looking colder and colder. Finally, he sat down next to her.
"Hold me."
Talia instructed bluntly.
Lance, feeling guilty, hesitated for a moment but complied, wrapping his arms around Talia's waist and pulling her closer to him.
This time, Talia also leaned into him, taking the initiative.
Talia's body was surprisingly warm, but perhaps due to her recent crying, she still trembled slightly.
"Let me rest for a while."
Talia's eyes still held traces of tears, but her lips curved into a smile as she leaned on Lance's shoulder.
Her closeness, without any resistance, seemed to tell him—
She no longer blamed Lance.
(End of Chapter)
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