206. Farewell, Yavanna (Part 1)
"A smart decision," Nastisha said with satisfaction. "I don't want anyone to go to the frontlines, especially my students. Normal conscripts serve for two years; for the space military, it's at least five years. Of course, you'll start in the reserve forces. Most of the time, you'll just train, attend classes, and not have to worry about daily life."
"Can I make a request?"
Li Aozi asked:
"My friends—Hobbs and Lucite—they are currently missing. Could you give me their belongings? I want to see if I can find clues to locate them."
"Sure."
Nastisha raised her hand, and a blue-feathered falcon materialized on her arm. After a few instructions, the falcon flapped its wings and disappeared.
Moments later, the falcon returned, landing on Nastisha's arm with a backpack in tow.
Li Aozi immediately recognized it as Lucite's oversized backpack. He nodded and thanked Nastisha:
"Thank you, Headmistress."
"It's nothing—oh, by the way, hand over the student cards you recovered from Remaining Moon's subordinates. I'll let the principal handle those."
He stood up and picked up the backpack. Nastisha also stood, taking the cards Li Aozi handed over and nodding in satisfaction.
She wasn't wrong about him. Although Leoz was of the [Domination] path, he possessed a positive, upright worldview and identified with the Crystal Tower civilization, cherishing his friendships.
He was nothing like Remaining Moon.
Considering his impressive learning ability and strength, Nastisha felt a pang of regret.
Unfortunately... in times like these, there was no room for exceptions.
The higher-ups kept sending young people to the frontlines. Too much had been sacrificed for this war; retreat was not an option.
Shaking her head lightly, she reminded Li Aozi:
"Leoz, you're a good person. Don't go anywhere in the next few days; stay here. The authorities will send someone to investigate you. I'll help modify your records, and you might even get a reward."
"Understood."
Li Aozi nodded.
"Good." Nastisha held her forehead and opened a teleportation array. "I need to inspect the school. Stay here. I'll have someone deliver food to you. Let me know if you need anything."
With that, she turned and left.
Li Aozi didn't resist. As an Ita-tier veteran caster, she left him no chance of escape. He decided to wait patiently.
[I wonder how the others are doing...]
The players were still transporting supplies to Trivira. Li Aozi thought for a moment and didn't decline; it was a good chance for the players to gain some favor.
Then, someone special arrived.
Li Aozi released a gravitational wave to communicate with a familiar target:
[Yavanna, I've dealt with Remaining Moon. I'm at the school now. I'll be back safe soon. You should return to Faithkeep Village—]
"Sorry, she's not going back."
Li Aozi snapped his head up as an array suddenly unfolded before him, revealing a luminous figure. In the next moment, Yavanna Huskisin appeared alongside the veiled woman he had met once before.
"Yavanna? And you..."
The veiled woman smiled gently. Li Aozi recalled something and pulled out the amulet she had given him, suddenly understanding.
"You tracked me using this thing?"
"Don't say it like that," the veiled woman chuckled. "It's just a little charm for good luck—the real tracker was the echo you emitted."
"—You can backtrack gravitational wave sources?" Li Aozi raised an eyebrow. "That's not a skill ordinary people possess."
"I'm not always ordinary," the veiled woman replied. "Alright, enough chit-chat."
She turned to Yavanna:
"Miss Yavanna, it's time to share your intentions."
"Yes. Thank you, Miss Virlia."
Yavanna nodded in gratitude to the veiled woman, who then turned and left, leaving them alone in the dimly lit room.
Now, it was just the two of them.
"Yavanna, what's this about..." Li Aozi asked, puzzled. "You called her Virlia? The commotion earlier wasn't small—are you okay? Never mind. If things aren't fine, just return to Faithkeep Village. I'll come back in a few days—"
"Mr. Li Aozi."
Yavanna interrupted:
"You really like to dominate other people's fates, don't you?"
Li Aozi paused. "Do I?"
"It's not a criticism," Yavanna said, walking slowly toward him. She raised a food container in her hands. "I brought you this. I can't cook, so I had the chef prepare rice, lemon soda, and braised chicken with potatoes."
Li Aozi accepted the container, studying her. Yavanna's expression was calm, unlike her usual shy, sensitive demeanor.
Though shorter than him—even in high heels, she barely reached 1.7 meters—her gaze met his on an equal level.
For the first time, she looked at him as an equal, without her usual deferential expression.
"...Are you okay?"
Li Aozi put down the food container and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Did Virlia say something to you about secrets or [Society]? Don't overthink it. If something goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."
"Thank you, Mr. Li Aozi."
Yavanna nodded gently.
"You know I'm a citizen of [Society], yet you still accept me. That means a lot to me."
"It's not a big deal," Li Aozi said. "You're you, Yavanna Huskisin. If you lose control or can't hold on, I'll end you myself."
"Maybe I don't truly love or like you, but there's something... about this that I care deeply about."
Yavanna's web-like eyes glistened faintly as she looked at him:
"You treat me like a person. That... moves me greatly."
Li Aozi shrugged, awkwardly turning his head to look elsewhere.
"These candles are really pretty. Must be high-end stuff."
"Bought wholesale from Winged House Market," Yavanna replied.
"How do you know that?" Li Aozi asked, surprised.
"I partnered with them before. They gave me a lot of these candles," Yavanna said. "While you were away, I tried expanding the fashion trade market. I also left many design blueprints for you to use..."
"—What's that supposed to mean?" Li Aozi sensed something off in her tone. "Sounds like you're saying goodbye."
"Yes."
Yavanna nodded, placing her hands in front of her. She calmly said:
"Miss Virlia has decided to take me to someone who can resolve my issues. Only she has the ability to deal with my Aether Blood."
Li Aozi frowned and motioned for her to continue.
Yavanna explained the situation from start to finish. As a former agent, her report was concise, and Li Aozi quickly understood her reasoning.
"I don't want to burden anyone anymore," Yavanna said. "The Unbound can help me escape this predicament, and I won't harm anyone else."
After speaking, Yavanna glanced at Li Aozi, only to find his expression calm.
"Mr. Li Aozi?" Yavanna was surprised. "You look... completely unfazed?"
"What do you think I should do?"
Li Aozi looked at her and said:
"Should I be angry? Upset? Try to stop you from leaving?"
"I..." Yavanna started, but her words were cut off by a sudden pain on her forehead.
Clang—
"What kind of person do you think I am?" Li Aozi withdrew his finger, placing a hand on his hip with an annoyed expression. "I may be of the [Domination] path, but I don't have such an overwhelming desire for control."
"I didn't think that!" Yavanna said, feeling wronged. "I just feel... I'm about to leave, and you're not showing any emotion... I just, I just feel a little..."
"A little upset, feeling ignored—'Li Aozi, you heartless scumbag, you don't care about me at all, boohoo, no one loves me, I'm going to spiral into darkness!'"
Li Aozi lowered his eyes, imitating Yavanna's voice with a self-deprecating and timid tone:
"My existence is worthless. A sinner like me shouldn't hope to be noticed or cared for. See? Mr. Li Aozi is just faking concern for me. I'm leaving, and he can't even say 'I'll miss you.'"
Yavanna fell silent.
Li Aozi looked at her. "Why aren't you saying anything now?"
"You..." Yavanna blushed, muttering softly, "You already said everything. What else is there for me to say..."
Li Aozi's spot-on imitation left her feeling a mix of shame and amusement. Deep down, she felt a touch of happiness—Li Aozi did think about her after all.
"Do you know why I'm not surprised?"
After asking, Li Aozi answered his own question:
"I know a bit about Virlia's 'Unbound' organization. The reality is pretty much as she described. You'll be much safer with them."
"But I'll be gone... for a long time." Yavanna hesitated before saying, "I... kind of hoped you'd try to stop me."
"How long will you be gone?"
"A long time."
Yavanna said:
"About 400 years."
Li Aozi nodded. "That's not too bad. Go ahead."
"I... I'm really leaving!" Yavanna clutched the hem of her clothes, her gaze dropping. "Can't you say something? Once I leave, there'll be no one to greet the Descenders, farm, weave, or sew clothes for you... Will you even miss me in the future?"
"No."
Li Aozi's words hit Yavanna like a heavy blow, making her lower her head.
"I see. I was just being overly sentimental..."
"Four hundred years is too short for me," Li Aozi said. "Besides, you'll definitely come back. So why should I worry?"
"—Why are you so sure I'll come back?" Yavanna said, annoyed. "What if I find some handsome guy out there and elope? Then you'll have nothing, and you'll lose 'Yavanna Huskisin' forever!"
"Why should I worry?" Li Aozi asked, confused. "You're just going on a trip, aren't you?"
"A trip?" Yavanna was stunned.
"For certain reasons, I know Virlia's character well. Following her won't lead to any problems."
Li Aozi said:
"Moreover, you'll definitely come back."
"Why?"
"Because no one but Li Aozi would protect a girl who's clumsy, insecure, prone to jealousy, and occasionally shows a yandere side."
Li Aozi said bluntly:
"Yavanna Huskisin, you are an independent person. I believe you'll escape the clutches of [Society]. So go ahead and move forward. Whatever happens, I'll back you up. If you die out there, I'll avenge you."
Yavanna looked at him, lowering her head in silence.
After a moment, she said softly:
"...How did you know I was jealous?"
"I'm not stupid. Holding another girl in my arms, while someone who's confessed to me multiple times is watching—afterwards, she storms off, cries, and nearly loses control. Even if I couldn't hear it, I could guess."
"...So, you knew everything."
Yavanna lowered her head.
"I only confessed once, and you didn't respond... didn't say anything. What am I supposed to do? I don't even know what our relationship is."
"I'm so scared, so scared that you'll end up with someone else. If that happens, what's my worth to you? Do I have any value at all? I feel like I'm completely useless, only able to do small, trivial tasks."
"Mr. Li Aozi, I've been chasing after your shadow this whole time, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to catch up."
"Secrets have taken away my confidence. If I don't find some reason to keep living... I'll really fall apart. But if I die, I'd be breaking my promise to Daisjia, my sister."
"Now I'm leaving you. Four hundred years might be short for you, but for me, it might mean I'll never see you again."
"The thought that you'll forget me, that I'll fade from your memory, makes me feel utterly meaningless and terrified."
Yavanna looked at him in confusion:
"I don't know what to do, Mr. Li Aozi."
"Yavanna."
Li Aozi gave Yavanna a push.
"Stand up straight."
Yavanna was puzzled but obediently stood still.
Li Aozi stepped back, gauging the distance.
Then, he swung a punch toward her face.