NFBE Chapter 10 The Darkness in My Heart
Chapter 10 The Darkness in My Heart
……
The second day of our escape from the collapse.
On the first day, Yun Fuyu and Xi'er were still unfamiliar with the route and only walked a little over ten kilometers. But starting from the second day, their speed increased significantly.
At night, they often drifted into dreams together. Under the pale purple starry sky, they chatted idly. Xi'er often reminisced about her days in the orphanage, and Yun Fuyu also talked about her once ordinary life.
The hardships faced by orphanages are indeed pitiful, but the mutual support among the innocent children is also deeply moving.
The ordinary life may seem mundane, but growing up peacefully and happily with her parents by her side and studying in a school full of peers is exactly what Xi'er dreams of.
Before we knew it, we had become more and more familiar with each other.
When they awoke from the dream, it always felt like a lifetime had passed. The memories of the dream were undeniable, but the gap between them and reality was always unsettling. Fortunately, they had two companions traveling together, and the negative emotions of the tedious journey always dissipated through their conversations.
As dusk approached, Yun Fuyu offered to rest. So, following their usual work assignments, Yun Fuyu set up a simple lodging while Xi'er prepared dinner.
Although the food consisted only of canned goods and compressed biscuits, with perhaps a few wild fruits picked from the roadside, and it was even uncertain whether they were edible, Seele always tried to find ways to make the food more varied.
We won't comment on whether it tastes good or not; the thought behind it is enough to make us happy. And the truth is, even if it's not a gourmet meal, adding some fresh flavors to a monotonous day is simply a pleasant experience.
When it was time to eat, Xi'er's face inevitably got some charcoal ash from fiddling with the firewood. But she didn't care much anymore and simply called Yun Fuyu to eat as usual.
Seele didn't eat much; she always finished early and then watched Yun Fuyu wolf down his food with a smile—after all, energy is conserved, and without eating more, there wouldn't be enough energy. Once everyone was full, Seele would take the initiative to clean up, explaining:
“She’s already used to doing this when we were in the orphanage. Now that you’re in charge of the physical labor, let She’ll take care of the daily chores.”
Can you imagine? A cute girl with a dirty face smiles as she looks at herself, having eaten her fill. A fleeting moment of excitement almost pierces one's heart. But then, looking at the desolation around her, the dilapidated buildings, the half-burnt trees, the withered flowers and grass despite it being summer... all feelings must be suppressed, all turning into a desire to escape this place.
He had to escape with Seele... He absolutely had to escape with Seele!
……
Day three of the journey to escape the Honkai.
Starting in the afternoon, the clouds on the horizon grew thicker, and Seele reminded him that it might rain. Although Cloud Assistance's name contained the word "rain," he disliked the dampness of rainy environments and immediately began looking for shelter, preparing in advance.
However, after working for half a day, and seeing that it was getting dark with a hazy, waning moon hanging high in the sky, there was still no sign of rain. The two people hiding in a roadside shed felt both relieved and disappointed.
Yun Fuyu yawned: "Xier, turn off the flashlight. I'll go start a fire, and we'll take turns sleeping."
They had very few possessions, but after several days they managed to find a working flashlight, which was one of their few sources of light.
They usually sleep outside, and a fire must be lit, as Seele requested. Yun Fuyu guessed it was probably to repel insects and keep warm; after all, although Mu Continent was in the tropics, the nighttime temperature wasn't particularly high, and it was still possible to catch a cold.
They had guessed it might rain, so they hadn't lit a fire. Seele quietly turned on her flashlight inside the shed. At that moment, Yun Fuyu indicated that the flashlight could be turned off.
"..."
Another flurry of activity ensued. Xi'er, who usually readily helped start the fire, unusually stayed inside the shed this time. Yun Fuyu didn't think much of it, assuming she was simply tired. Once the fire was lit, the natural flames illuminated the surroundings, much warmer and brighter than a flashlight, creating a more comfortable atmosphere.
Yun Fuyu yawned again, walked into the shed, and nodded to Xier, who was squatting on the ground: "Who will take the night watch first?"
The flames outside danced in Seele's eyes, the interplay of sea blue and orange creating a particularly warm effect. She placed the flashlight behind her and smiled at Yun Fuyu: "Let me go first, you look really sleepy."
"Row."
She was really sleepy, so Yun Fuyu didn't refuse and just lay down in the corner to sleep. She lost consciousness in no time.
The so-called night watch is not so standard. Basically, one person stays up for two extra hours, and the other person gets up two hours earlier. If there is no other way during the gap in time, one can only hope that God will protect them and that nothing dangerous will happen.
However, on the other hand, Xi'er and Yun Fuyu are special cases. They are not ordinary people. If there is a real danger, the two of them will most likely wake up quickly at the same time and save themselves by relying on their sixth sense.
……
A rustling sound rang in my ears, unlike the sound of clothes rubbing together or the sound of footsteps stepping on fallen leaves.
Yun Fuyu suddenly woke up and immediately looked in the direction where Xier had fallen asleep, but there was no one there!
It was very dark around them; the moon was hidden from view, and almost nothing could be seen. Yun Fuyu looked at the only sliver of light—the fire she had lit before going to bed, where only dark red embers remained.
He instinctively called out in a cautious tone, "Seele...Seele? Are you here?"
"..."
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside the shed, creating a continuous whispering sound.
what happened?
Awakening from a deep sleep with an indescribable weariness in his mind, Yun Fuyu frowned as he stood up, the cloth covering him falling to the ground. He slowly walked towards his luggage.
The luggage is still there. I felt around but couldn't find the flashlight; I guess Seele has been holding onto it.
So, Seele went out alone?
Why don't you call him?
Yun Fuyu felt inexplicably irritable, but he was also keenly aware of his strange emotions and sighed inwardly.
The pressure in this world is immense, and Seele, the only one he can rely on, might be the Herrscher of Death… He's been constantly on edge. Coupled with not sleeping well, and the thought of Seele leaving without a word, he's inexplicably angry.
But let's go find her first.
He tried to arm himself as much as possible, even though it was practically useless, it at least gave him some psychological comfort. Then, he stood in the open space and shouted Seele's name, hoping that Seele hadn't gone far and that he could hear her voice.
------
Xi'er bent down and picked up a few dry branches, tucked the flashlight under her arm, stood up, and was slightly out of breath.
She had repeated this action many times. Having gathered many dry branches for fuel, she prepared to return home.