Chapter 1504
: Does it need peers?
Linger saw everything.
He saw everything in Ovira's dream.
He watched as the leader of the Holy War was defeated by the mechanical beasts, and the Nibelungen descended from the sky; he watched as the phantom of the dragon, high above, disdainfully looked down upon humanity's greatest technological creation; he watched as the prototype machine god, Taikong, in its rage and fury, decided to abandon its steel soul and embrace its beastly instincts; he watched as the Taikong, having fought with all its might, still could not defeat the oldest legend of this land, and thus entrusted its last fighting spirit to the pilot it thought could never understand, but whose purpose was not revenge, but merely to prove itself; he watched as the witch Perec accepted the most complex yet most refined faith of this continent, thus transforming herself into her primordial form, and the countless plagues that had been feared by the world returned;
So, without a doubt, he was watching this scene unfold.
Witness firsthand how that quiet, gentle, occasionally silly but mostly kind and cheerful girl becomes a new god on the land of Atorica.
With a calm expression, she made demands of those trapped in despair and suffering, demanding their faith in return for saving them. The young man never imagined he would hear the word "transaction" from this girl's lips; it seemed she had unconsciously become accustomed to treating the world's emotions with the coldest rationality and the most indifferent logic. But what truly changed her? Was it the sudden loss of her sister, who had always silently cared for and protected her, forcing her to shoulder responsibilities that weren't hers? Or was it the young man, her most trusted and relied-upon friend, perhaps even her favorite person, who failed in his role as a leader, failing to encourage and comfort her in her moments of confusion, instead wallowing in his own grief, forever losing any chance to make amends?
In truth, everything had been foreshadowed, but the young man had never noticed, or rather, deliberately avoided it. At that time, he was certain that he had just lost the person he loved most in the world, and the source of all this tragedy lay within himself. Lin Ge wasn't one to speculate, but from that day on, he couldn't help but wonder: if he had been more resolute in preventing the girl from going to the battlefield, if he hadn't wanted to interfere in the war in Grayhill, if he had understood her feelings before leaving the Heavenly Sanctuary, or even if he had never embarked on this journey in the first place, remaining just an ordinary young man in Linwell City who knew nothing of tears or sorrow—would her fate have been different?
The power of fate cannot determine one's own destiny; her joys and sorrows, and the path she walks, are all tied to this young man. Yet, Linger seems to have failed her expectations. He is often indifferent, but only in his own eyes; he thinks he is strong enough, but it is often just a pretense. He did not shed a tear when his adoptive father died, nor did he feel any remorse when the Church of Heaven was forced to close. But is all of that because young people lack emotions? In the ever-changing and progressive world, a person always grows from weak to strong, but Linger is the opposite. He gradually feels himself becoming weak, and that is precisely the proof that he is gradually becoming human.
Saint-Charlie must have been very pleased to see this, because she never wanted young people to be wrapped in a cold shell and a tough disguise. She wanted to see the most authentic side of Linger, to know what his shortcomings or weaknesses were, and hoped that she could gently embrace them. Occasionally, she also wanted to hug him when he felt lonely and whisper to him: Please don't be afraid of anything, because I am always by your side.
These words still echo in her memory, but they seem to have taken on a different meaning. The young man thought, before leaving this world forever, leaving behind his beloved people and his dearest sisters, Saint Charlotte must have felt at peace, right? Because she was certain that although she had paid the price with her life, she had also transformed this young man, whom she had personally taken from the winter of Linville City, from a monster who knew nothing of love and emotion, back into a human being. Although he had lost himself, he would surely gain more love from others, and be able to love them even more.
Those who didn't know how to love learned to love again, and those who yearned for love received the love they longed for from him. Human dreams, wishes, and even the fate of the world are born in this cycle. Therefore, Saint Charlotte felt that she had little to worry about.
Young people, however, failed to do so.
Perhaps the price was too heavy, so he went from one extreme to the other, from refusing to accept anyone's love to being unable to accept anyone's love. As a result, he ignored many signs, including his sister Medine's worried eyes, White Night's restlessness and Gloria's disappearance, Leticia's always-suppressed agitation, Rorona's occasional melancholy gaze into the distance, the undercurrents beneath Hino's seemingly calm exterior, Alice's unusually active behavior after she regained her strength... and Ovira's loneliness.
He himself brought about the birth of the Mysterious Kingdom, not through the power of faith, but through weakness, sorrow, and guilt.
"She must be in so much pain."
Young people inevitably think of this.
Although her expression remained consistently calm, it was precisely this calmness that hinted at the undercurrents beneath. When someone is forced to do something they don't want to do but are compelled to, they will never openly express their discontent and resistance; more often than not, they will silently endure or fight alone. Ovira was in this situation. What was clearly a power struggle between young girls, dragging innocent lives onto this land, was her way of demanding their faith in exchange for salvation—a truly despicable act.
I still remember how, before leaving the ancient castle that bound her, Princess Beman had bluntly told the illusion created by the Dark Witch that no matter how noble the ideal, sacrifice should never be taken for granted. And now, she herself had walked the same path—how ironic. If she didn't use a cold exterior and a calm tone to conceal her true, despicable self, how could she possibly face it?
"Is Your Highness in great pain?"
In the shattered dream world, someone uttered the exact same thought as the young man, but then added, "But I think she must have never regretted it."
Lin Ge looked back, but the phantoms of the ancient castle had vanished. What appeared before him was a long-lost, familiar face. The gentle old lady, with a hint of compassion in her brows, stood under the glowing tree, quietly watching the reflection of the real world. She watched her last student, and her first teacher, struggle and rebel against fate in the mortal world, ultimately embarking on a path against her own conscience.
She gazed for a long time, two memories constantly intertwining in her mind. Sometimes it was about an elegant and wise young girl who sought the truth of the world, tirelessly exploring and researching, and ultimately generously sharing it with everyone she met, regardless of race, status, or position. Even if the other person was just an ignorant young tree spirit, she was happy to accompany them, teaching them about life and emotions, and gladly accepting the title of "teacher." Other times it was about a princess from an ancient kingdom, of noble birth yet destined to bear the world's most terrible curse, feeling lonely due to being misunderstood, finding only moments of relaxation in a courtyard planted with violets. Intelligent and perceptive, she had long realized that she was out of place in this world, trying to integrate but always being rejected. Despite this, she never complained about fate, because she still felt fortunate to have the love from her parents, the care from her teachers, and the revelations from her dreams.
Did she ever realize that those dreams were actually projections of a past life? Did she already foresee that the curse wasn't the consequence of fate, but the source of another tragedy? When she stood beneath the tree covered in tiny yellow blossoms, turning back to reveal a radiant smile, the Tree Woman suddenly awoke, realizing she was sinking deeper and deeper, almost suffocating like the grasshoppers and crickets drowning in a sea of flowers. How could she have become so immersed in past memories when they were just illusions? Could those illusory memories also be real?
She gave a self-deprecating laugh, then looked away and focused her gaze on the young man.
"It is the experiences along the way that have shaped Her Highness into who she is today," Lady Tree said gently. "I know she has always been a gifted student, perhaps even the best student in the world, so it is only natural that she has learned something from you all. She learned Miss Saint-Charlie's sense of responsibility and commitment, Miss Rorona's composure and calmness, and Miss Shino's steadfastness and purity... But what she learned most from you was the most important thing: emotion. It was based on emotion that she wanted to do this, not because she was pushed by anyone, nor because she wanted to make amends or prove anything. Therefore, neither you nor anyone else needs to blame themselves for the mistakes."
Moreover, this may not necessarily be a mistake.
Perhaps from a companion's perspective, Ling was unwilling to see the changes taking place in Auvila; but as a teacher, Madam Tree's eyes held only relief as she looked at her former student, because she knew the immense price a person had to pay to grow to this point. If she hadn't been crushed by these heavy costs, or compromised with her past enemies, wasn't that something to be thankful for?
"Even if this isn't what she herself was pursuing?" the young man couldn't help but ask.
"How do you know that this isn't what Her Highness the Princess is seeking?"
"because--"
The answer is obvious, because the previous Ovira would never have done such a thing.
But as the words reached his lips, Ling realized that this was actually a very weak reason. People are always divided by time, and the former Ovira and the present Ovira were separated at opposite ends of fate, a clear boundary. Before, she was the one being protected; whether it was the original Saint Charlotte, Alice, or Ling, or later, Rorona and Xino, they all seemed more capable of shouldering the responsibility than she was, so she didn't have to force herself to do anything. But now, she was the one shouldering the responsibility.
She is the returning young queen, the all-knowing lord of mysteries, and the one who, knowing everything, is still willing to bear everything.
"Some people see knowledge as a curse, because the more they know, the more they feel how insignificant they are in this world, how humble they are in the face of fate, and how helpless they are to be eroded by time. When you know a secret, you can choose to keep it or reveal it, and the consequences are nothing more than suspicion and harm. But after knowing all the secrets in the world, you no longer have the power to choose. But some people see knowledge as a mission. These people, with a sense of awe and cautious words and deeds, try to explore the truth of the world and use it to transform nature and civilization. For such people, knowledge is neither fixed nor empty. Only by touching it can you feel its weight."
Mrs. Tree smiled and asked Linger, "To you, what kind of person is Her Highness the Princess?"
Linger remained silent, because he knew the answer must be, and had to be, the latter.
He suddenly remembered that dream again.
Streets adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling celebrations, laughing crowds, fireworks bursting in the night, and the wedding of her dreams—her most sincere reply, her most fervent blessings, and her most devout prayers. In the very end, it was still that same phrase echoing in the young man's ears: "...Please, since it's already such a dream, please give me a happy ending."
He still hasn't woken up from that dream. All the experiences in the dream made the young man realize how complex and ever-changing the world is. Most of the time he tries his best to adapt, but there are also times when he is rejected, excluded, or even defeated.
“I…” Lin Ge finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse, “I always thought that I hadn’t protected her well.”
That's why she was forced to stand up, do things she didn't want to do, and become the kind of person she hated most. But the young man forgot that if that thought hadn't already been in his mind, no one in this world could force a young girl like Wang Quan to do anything.
“There are many ways to protect a young person, a son of a man,” Lady Tree’s voice was as gentle as a breeze in an old courtyard. “Sometimes it’s standing in front of her, facing the enemy alone; sometimes it’s standing behind her, supporting her decisions. And now—”
She paused, her aged yet clear eyes reflecting Ling Ge's wavering face: "Her Highness no longer needs your protection. She needs your understanding and support, your acceptance of her choices, and then, to become her sole companion." (End of Chapter)