She was a symbol of majestic and cold authority.
Seeing the woman, Tii immediately stood up straight, a respectful expression appearing on her face as she gave a slight bow.
“Teacher, you have arrived.”
Jirusaga approached slowly, her gaze falling on Tii. Her voice was serious and low:
“Phoenix, I have a mission to assign to you.”
Tii nodded, her expression focused.
Jirusaga continued, “The war in Valivadan is becoming increasingly tense, and our troops on the front lines are in desperate need of support. The Grand Priest has assigned you to go to the front to carry out an important assassination mission.”
“The target this time is a high-ranking enemy general. His existence poses a serious threat to our military situation.”
Hearing this, Su Ling’s heart tightened. She understood that this meant Tii would be facing grave danger.
However, there was not a trace of fear on Tii’s face. She responded calmly and firmly, “I understand, Teacher. I will complete the mission.”
“Act with caution,” Jirusaga added. “Prepare yourself; you depart tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Su Ling looked at the red-haired girl, her heart full of sympathy.
Tii seemed long accustomed to such missions, her expression unwavering. Yet, deep within that steady gaze, Su Ling faintly caught a trace of subtle melancholy — as if it were a sense of helplessness suppressed at the bottom of her heart.
She could not help but speak up.
“Tii, why do you have to take this mission? It is too dangerous… Can’t you refuse?”
Tii smiled slightly, a gentle look in her eyes.
“Little Su Ling, you do not know… Teacher raised me. After my father and sister passed away, she was the one who cared for and taught me like family. I cannot fail her expectations.”
She gently patted the back of Su Ling’s hand and comforted her, “Do not worry, I will be careful. Besides, I will not be afraid — because I know you are always supporting me in your heart.”
Under the setting sun, the girl’s red hair was like a burning flame, shining with intense color in the light.
Su Ling knew that was her persistence and loyalty to her mission.
But for some reason, she always felt that Tii was not as steadfast as she appeared on the surface.
She never truly spoke about the act of killing itself. On ordinary days, she did not seem like a cold-blooded killer in the traditional sense.
When talking about the reasons for this work, she always mentioned her father’s dying wish and her teacher’s kindness, but she never mentioned her own heart.
Su Ling faintly felt that she was constantly suppressing her true self.
After leaving the children, the two stood in silence at the entrance of the orphanage for a while. The dream had not yet ended, so they decided to take a casual stroll.
The afternoon sun was warm and soft, spilling across the winding streets through sparse clouds. Since there was a herb plantation in this area, quaint herb shops were scattered along both sides of the road, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of medicinal herbs.
There was no one else on the street; only the two girls walked side by side.
“Little Su Ling~ Hee hee~”
Tii suddenly took Su Ling’s arm gently, a lively smile on her face.
“What are you laughing at?” Su Ling muttered.
“It is just… about what you mentioned before. How have you thought about it?”
“What thing?”
“You know… the confession.”
Su Ling’s heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed instantly.
“I… I, well… that is…”
She blinked her eyes in panic, her mind in a state of chaos.
When they were escaping on the ship before, Tii had revealed her feelings to her, but because of the emergency, they did not have a chance to discuss it further.
And now, she could no longer avoid the question.
A glint of mischief flashed in Tii’s eyes as she gave her a gentle nudge:
“Oh, is little Su Ling shy?”
“I am not…”
“If you are willing, we can even continue those ‘secret dates’ from before~”
She leaned in closer, her tone teasing.
“This is a dream, so no one else will find out.”
“Eh?”
“You were worried about being seen by that Princess before, right? Now that she cannot see us, we can do something even more daring~”
“No — do not do that!”
Su Ling was immediately flustered, waving her hands frantically.
Facing Tii during the day and Sista at night… she did not want to be the one caught between them!
“Fine, fine, I will stop teasing you.”
Tii laughed and ruffled her hair.
“Although the current situation is not suitable for us to be together… Little Su Ling, do you like me?”
Su Ling froze.
She fell silent for a moment.
‘Do I like her?’
She could not give an answer.
Tii was beautiful and gentle; she truly was an ideal partner… but she could not ignore the sadness deep within those eyes.
She felt that she had not truly understood Tii yet.
“I… have not figured it out yet.”
She spoke somewhat uneasily, “Tii, could you… give me a little more time?”
Seeing her awkward appearance, Tii could not help but chuckle.
“An extension is fine, but you have to pay a late fee.”
“Do… do I have to give you money?”
Su Ling suddenly became nervous.
“How am I supposed to give money in a dream…”
“That is true.”
Tii winked, her smile deepening.
“Then let’s use a different method.”
She leaned in gently and whispered into Su Ling’s ear, “Little Su Ling, bear with it for a moment. It will be over soon.”
Su Ling’s face turned completely red in an instant.
The warm breath on her ear made her tremble involuntarily.
A moment later — “There, payment complete~”
Tii pulled back with a laugh and gently rubbed her head.
“I will wait a while longer. But you cannot keep dragging it out; you must give me an answer.”
Su Ling nodded.
Although she was still confused, seeing Tii’s gentle smile, her heart gradually settled.
The two continued to walk slowly along the street.
The sunlight spilled across their shoulders, warm and soft, as if draping a faint light over the future.
[Volume Two — End]