Seraphina lifted her eyelids, looking toward Dekalorin with curiosity, and… a newly born wariness.
She didn’t know what this person—who, besides being the saintess’s teacher, was very likely the previous saintess—wanted to say.
Dekalorin didn’t beat around the bush; she folded her hands on her knees and spoke in a calm tone, “Seraphina, setting aside all distractions, in your heart, what do you think your relationship with Movira really is?”
She immediately averted her gaze; this question made Seraphina’s eyes wander uncertainly.
Relationship?
She had never faced this question directly, or rather, she had been unconsciously avoiding delving deeply into it.
Superior and subordinate? But Movira’s attitude toward her had clearly long surpassed the boundaries of lord and vassal.
Guardian?
That idea was even more absurd; she had long been an adult.
…Sisters? Perhaps—anyway, when Seraphina thought of this word, her heart always felt like it was pricked by something, carrying resistance, but she still accepted this explanation.
After all, this was a relatively normal explanation; as for a deeper level…
She didn’t dare to think.
She hemmed and hawed for a long time, her cheeks slightly flushing with embarrassment, “Probably… sisters… right?”
Her voice wasn’t loud to begin with; the short sentence ended almost inaudibly.
“Yes, more like…”
“Sisters… Mm, a very intimate relationship.” Dekalorin followed her words, “Between sisters, one worries endlessly for the other, suffers the same pain from the other’s hurts, even… becomes cautious out of fear of loss, just like Movira was earlier, right?”
These words indeed made Seraphina recall the recent events, but she seemed not to have read too many emotions from Movira.
“You know? This reminds me of a past event.”
The other’s voice softened, carrying a bit of reminiscence and regret.
“At that time, I also had a very important person. We met in humble beginnings, grew together, supported each other. She was strong and dazzling, warming me like the sun, and I… due to certain identities and responsibilities, could never admit that this had long surpassed ordinary friendship.”
“Surpassed ordinary friendship?” Seraphina immersed herself in this touch of melancholy, savoring the words, “Could it be… love?”
“Love?” Dekalorin’s gaze drifted like Seraphina’s to outside the glass window, landing on a vibrant rose…
Then, without further hesitation, she refocused on Seraphina’s eyes, “No… not really… best friends, I suppose.”
Why? Seraphina didn’t understand why the relationship of best friends made Dekalorin unwilling to admit it—wasn’t it love? What was this untouchable relationship?
Dekalorin continued, but now with an imperceptible tremor…
“Until later, an… incident. We didn’t say a proper goodbye; at the time, we just squeezed in a sit under the pavilion, shared a cup of tea, watched the willows… very ordinary, right? I thought so too back then.”
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, trying to suppress the tears in her eyes; when she opened them again, a faint magic fluctuation quietly wiped away the tears.
“When I received the news of her severe injury and sacrifice, it felt like the colors of this world were taken to the grave with her…
“I hadn’t paid attention to her departure this time, just as I hadn’t noticed that cherishing had become the past. It caused this tragedy. If I had cast aside those self-imposed cages and shackles earlier, could we have shared eternal rest…”
Dekalorin’s story came to an abrupt end; she didn’t say who that “she” specifically was, nor what her “cage” exactly was.
But that story forged from regret, remorse, and mistakes was like a blurry mirror.
The light in the room was shrouded in prolonged silence. Seraphina gripped the cup in her hand tightly, head lowered.
“I… don’t understand what you’re trying to say…”
“It’s alright.” Dekalorin didn’t intend for her to understand immediately, “As children, we often don’t understand the bizarre principles adults tell us; they’re not meant for immediate understanding, just to remember.
“As for when we truly understand…” Dekalorin sighed, propping herself up from the seat and slowly walking to the door, “After we’ve experienced some heart-wrenching events, these principles will become the source of our lives.”
“I’m sorry for telling you so much. I have things to do; excuse me.” Without waiting for Seraphina’s response, there was only a click, and the door closed behind her.
“I’m sorry again… I lied to you.”
Under the midday sun, a semi-transparent shadow fell to the ground and shattered.
Seraphina was left alone in the room; this sudden story just now always felt very familiar to her, but exactly where familiar? She didn’t know.
Before she could sort her thoughts, the door was silently pushed open again.
Movira stood at the doorway, against the light, her figure appearing exceptionally tall, also containing an indescribable tension.
She still walked in, her steps very light, but each one like treading on a steel wire, cautious.
She returned to the spot she had sat earlier; at least this place would make it seem she was just reclaiming her position, not trying to get closer to Seraphina… but this distance… was still quite far.
Seraphina met Movira’s gaze; those originally proud and profound eyes were now veiled in a dim shadow, surging with complex emotions, like awaiting judgment.
Such silence made Seraphina feel a bit uncomfortable, tightening her already fatigued spirit even more.
She wanted to break this silence but didn’t know what to say, just opening her mouth.
It was still Movira who spoke first; such quiet made her feel like sitting on pins and needles.
“Do you… need anything?” she asked, her gaze sweeping over the more than half-full water in Seraphina’s hand and the thin blanket wrapping her snugly.
“If there’s any discomfort, or anything you want, you can tell me.”
Her tone was calm, or rather, a deliberately masked calm, which instead made Seraphina feel an unfamiliar disposition.
This wasn’t the Movira she knew, sometimes domineering, sometimes with burning possessiveness.
Seraphina shook her head lightly, “No need… this is fine.”
She was a bit tired; after eating lunch soon, she should rest.
“Oh…” Movira nodded somewhat dejectedly, indicating she understood, then her gaze shifted slightly away, not knowing where to focus, only wandering uncertainly in the room.
“Outside… is everything alright?”
Seraphina was asking about the Demon Realm’s affairs, and Movira could sense that.