The training session had ended.
During free time, the children formed small groups, free to do anything as long as they stayed within Hearth Home and followed its rules.
Yu Xie, Peruere, and Clervie sat together under a tree.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the three of them, like exquisite decorations.
"Yu Xie, I didn't expect you to be so amazing!" Clervie exclaimed, sitting between Yu Xie and Peruere. "Of course, Peipei is really impressive too!"
Hearing this, Peruere's eyes showed no reaction, maintaining her usual calm demeanor.
"Peruere is still a bit stronger," Yu Xie said.
"You held back, didn't you?" Peruere asked.
"Me?" Yu Xie pointed to himself and shook his head. "No, I used all my strength."
Peruere didn't respond. Instead, she turned her gaze away from Clervie and locked her eyes on Yu Xie.
Long ago, Peruere had come to see herself as a cold-blooded person. It was because of this coldness that she could see through Crucabena's schemes, and it was also why she chose not to expose everything.
She understood that in the end, only one child would remain in Hearth Manor, and she was quite certain that child would be her.
But now, things seemed a bit different.
And it wasn't just that.
There was also Clervie.
Clervie always smiled at her, shared delicious cakes with her, and talked about the tiniest daily happenings.
Gradually, Peruere found herself getting used to it.
She had grown accustomed to the days spent with Clervie, to having someone around who called her "Peipei."
Peruere also knew that Clervie was not like others, completely lost in a beautiful dream.
In the silence between them, Clervie, sandwiched between the two, felt she should liven up the atmosphere.
Clearing her throat, she smiled and said, "
"You're all amazing, so don't worry about things like that. We're family, right? By the way, do you want some cake?"
That afternoon, Clervie confidently led Yu Xie and Peruere to the kitchen to make a cake.
With cream smeared on her nose, Clervie didn't mind at all. Her eyes were focused as she worked on the cake, as if nothing in the world could distract her.
Outside, the sounds of children playing echoed, mingling with the fading sunlight.
By dusk, Clervie's cake was finally done. Although it didn't taste very good and ended up slightly burnt, in the park bathed in the sunset, Clervie sat under a tree with Peruere and Yu Xie, happily enjoying the cake she had made.
"Yu Xie, why did you join Hearth Manor?" Peruere suddenly asked.
The question caught Yu Xie off guard, and he hesitated for a moment.
"For a bit of personal gain."
That was true. He had initially come here for selfish reasons, but now those reasons had been satisfied—he had met Peruere and Clervie.
As he began this new life, he still hadn't fully figured out what he wanted to do, but he knew he didn't want to witness any more tragedies.
Clervie's life should be more brilliant; she deserved to explore the world outside.
Peruere could reach the position of an harbinger without resorting to such means.
"Even though I don't know what your personal gain is, it's not worth risking your entire future for it," Peruere said.
"Life is short; if you want to do something, go for it. If you don't, you might regret it later," Yu Xie replied.
At the same time, a piece of information flashed in his mind.
[Remaining lifespan: 10 years and 364 days]
This information was not new; the system had explained it when this life began.
Yu Xie didn't know how many times he had lived through the flow of time, but this lifetime seemed a bit short.
He would die at seventeen.
"What a strange person," Peruere remarked succinctly.
In fact, Peruere felt a strange connection to Yu Xie. After their sparring session earlier, that feeling grew even stronger.
She sensed that she and Yu Xie seemed to be of the same kind.
"Um… was the cake I made okay?" Kurevi asked awkwardly, caught between them.
...
Another day passed.
It wasn't free activity time, but Yu Xie found himself alone in the park.
To his surprise, Peruere was there too.
It was still under that same tree, the scene just like their first meeting.
Peruere was crouching down, staring at something on the ground, saying nothing.
Yu Xie walked over without thinking much.
Peruere's gaze was fixed on a small mound of dirt, with a tiny cross stuck in it—that was "Bambi's" grave.
"Did Bambi die?" Yu Xie asked.
"Yeah," Peruere replied without looking back, "just half an hour ago."
Yu Xie initially wanted to comfort her, but from the look in Peruere's eyes, she seemed not to need any consolation.
Although she was still just a child, there seemed to be a lot hidden in those eyes.
"Why did you keep a spider?" After a moment of thought, Yu Xie asked.
"Spiders aren't like cats or dogs; they can't be tamed, and they don't ask anything of their owners. I think that kind of relationship suits me," Peruere said softly.
"Is that so?" Yu Xie nodded thoughtfully.
"'Mother' seems to be telling a story to everyone. Aren't you going to listen?" Peruere's gaze remained fixed on Bambi's grave, not moving away.
"I just don't want to go. What about you? Why aren't you going?"
"I'm holding a funeral for Bambi, and besides, I've already heard the story 'Mother' is telling today."
Yu Xie fell silent for a moment.
The stories that Crucabena told the children were often about the children themselves.
"You are children born from loneliness. The Hearth Manor will ensure you grow strong. Your goal is to learn, compete, and defeat all your siblings to become the 'King' here."
The children's worldviews were still undeveloped, making it easy for them to get lost in the beautiful dreams woven by Crucabena, and some even strived to become the "King."
At that moment, Yu Xie noticed someone in the hallway leading a few children toward the front door.
The expressions on those children's faces were filled with regret, their eyes very uneasy.
"What's happening to them…" Yu Xie began.
"Those are the ones who made mistakes," Peruere said. "According to the rules of the Hearth Manor, those who made mistakes will be sent away, to leave this place and atone elsewhere."
"Can they come back?"
"So far, no one has ever returned."
Yu Xie remained silent; he knew in his heart that those children would not come back.
What awaited those children was a cruel fate.
End of chapter
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