"You can leave me alone for the next few hours," I said, my voice flat, the weight of my emotions evident.
"What are you going to do?" Yin Xie asked, tilting her head slightly, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
For a moment, my mind was as empty as the sky above us. Then, with a half-smirk, I replied, "Cry. Do you want to watch a grown man cry?"
She gave an almost amused nod, her expression unwavering.
"Oh," was all I could manage.
I sank to the ground, leaning my back against a towering tree, its roots sprawling out like arms offering quiet support. Before me stretched a vast expanse of golden fields, shimmering under the relentless midday sun. In the distance, the Verilithan River gleamed like a silver thread, lazily weaving through the land.
The sun sat high above, glaring down at me as if in judgment. Its heat pressed on me, but I smirked at the irony—mocked by nature itself.
The first tear fell, hot and heavy, quickly followed by another. The dam broke, and with each drop, the weight I had carried for so long seemed to dissolve.
And yet, for the first time in a long while, I felt an unfamiliar warmth—a happiness that clung to me even as the tears streamed down my face. A smile crept its way through the sadness, unbidden but welcome.
Yin Xie, ever the stoic observer, watched silently. Even "Miss Extortion" couldn't mask the faint glimmer of curiosity in her gaze.
I looked up at her and asked, "Can I lay in your lap and rant my feelings out?"
She didn't respond immediately, her expression unreadable.
"One million mana crystals," I added, half-joking. "You just need to listen."
That caught her attention. With a sigh of what might have been amusement, she sat down, patting her lap. Without hesitation, I laid my head there. The warmth of her presence was comforting in a way I hadn't expected.
"I've made a lot of mistakes," I began, my voice soft. "In my past life, I destroyed the life of the kindest person I ever knew. I thought I could run from my failures, but they followed me to the end. And now..."
As I spoke, the sun began its slow descent. Its harsh noon glare softened into hues of gold and amber, painting the landscape in colors that matched the bittersweet tone of my memories. The horizon glowed, the light reflecting off the river in glimmers of hope I hadn't noticed before.
"I've been given a second chance," I continued. "And for so long, I've carried my regrets like a badge, afraid to let them go, afraid I didn't deserve to be happy."
The sky deepened into a canvas of fiery orange, the sun slipping lower, its light now gentle and forgiving. The distant hum of nature filled the air, a peaceful backdrop to the flood of words spilling from me.
"But you know what?" I said, my voice firmer now. "I don't want to waste this life. I'm going to carry myself forward with no regrets. I'll do better—be better."
As twilight settled, the first stars began to twinkle faintly in the darkening sky. A cool breeze swept through, soothing the lingering heat of the day. I sat up, feeling lighter, as if the sunset itself had taken my burdens with it.
I glanced at Yin Xie, who had been silent the entire time. Her expression was inscrutable, but she didn't seem bored—or annoyed.
"Thank you," I said with a small smile.
She raised an eyebrow. "Thank me? For what? You paid for it, after all."
I laughed. "True. Another million mana crystals gone just like that. Hopefully, it's a worthwhile investment."
Her lips twitched, almost forming a smirk, but she said nothing.
Rejuvenated, I pulled out my communication device and sent a message to Kirin, the one person I'd avoided ever since her "Hansel" scheme cost me 600,000 mana crystals.
"Your dad is rejuvenated now. If you ever need resources, let me know. I can even give you a dragon heart. As long as you be my daughter, I'll provide you the world."
I chuckled at my own joke and turned back to Yin Xie. "We can go back now."
She nodded, standing up gracefully. As she opened a portal to return to Silver City, I took one last look at the serene horizon, the stars now fully awake in the night sky.
For the first time in a long time, I felt truly at peace.