The Old Deus of Doubt seemed to have some difficulty speaking. When He spoke, He had a kind of hesitant feeling. Although it was very difficult to hear such an emotion from that genderless and lifeless voice, it was indeed there.
[...Why does that sound like you were so lonely because you had no one to talk to that you died of it? Are you a rabbit?]
He couldn't help but comment like this. The next second, Su'er felt himself being pushed hard. The dizziness was endless. This was clearly a small revenge from a certain narrow-minded Old Deus.
[I was wrong, I was wrong. Anyway, in the past, you kept asking yourself who you were, and then you went on endlessly doubting, tying all the questions into a circle. From doubt to certainty, from overconfidence to doubt, from rebellion to unity, and from unity to division. You were lonely and empty... You should have been called the God of Loneliness or the God of Emptiness, right?]
Then Su'er felt his soul being pushed twice again, which made him have to beg for mercy repeatedly.
[Speaking of which, have you gotten the answer to the question I asked you in the past? That if you doubt everything, it means you firmly believe that there is an answer to the question.]
[...No.]
Su'er could tell that the Old Deus of Doubt was very unwilling to give such an answer.
[Then you are naturally not the Old Deus of Doubt.]
Without hesitation, Su'er denied the Old Deus's name, and he continued.
[Leaving aside what concept you represent, do you have a name? I mean a name that is not the concept you represent, just like the God of War's name is Artosh and not just War.]
[No. Do you have any suggestions?]
[You're not a newborn baby. Such an important thing as a name should be decided by you yourself... Idiot.]
[You have been thinking about the meaning of your existence since the beginning of the world. You have the curiosity that is unique to life. Before you find a name that truly belongs to you, why don't you just call yourself... Heart... How about that?]
Su'er quickly thought and said this before the Old Deus of Doubt could get angry out of embarrassment.
[Heart... huh?]
He repeated this single-word name to Himself, and the Old Deus of Doubt seemed to be contemplating.
[It's not bad.]
It was a very wonderful feeling. The Old Deus, who was born before the world even came into existence, finally had a name that belonged only to Himself after countless years. He was savoring this unique feeling.
It was not bad.
His heart was inexplicably joyful. However, for some reason, an inexplicable thought made the Old Deus of Doubt, no, made Heart want to hide this feeling, to keep it as His own unique collection.
[...I will be in silent contemplation for a period of time. Do not disturb.]
Leaving this incomplete sentence behind, Heart was about to refuse all visitors, making Su'er's unfinished words get stuck in his heart.
[Huh? Wait a minute, I still have some questions—]
[Compared to a few questions, your trouble is coming.]
It was a completely meaningless answer. After leaving this sentence behind, Heart completely concealed His voice. And Su'er's questions, which he didn't understand, all disappeared at this moment. He already knew why the former Lord Old Deus of Doubt had disappeared so quickly, because even he could feel that person's appearance.
She was at the mouth of the cave.
Think.
It was difficult for Su'er to describe his complicated relationship with this proud and beautiful Elf in words. From the hostility and chase when they first met to the two of them falling into the Dwarf's country after Su'er's desperate attack, in that world of piled-up steel, a situation that should have been a certain death turned into a drama where the two of them caused a huge commotion and escaped.
There was no need to mention the complicated emotional journey. She saved his life, and he also saved her life. They struggled to move forward under unpredictable and successive dangers. Staying alive had become an obsession at that time, hammered onto their souls and wills.
They lived together, adventured together, and prepared for the plan together. He watched as Think patiently created those low-level items that would only make her feel bored. And there was that sentry post that could not be erased from his memory, which was brightly lit by the explosion outside. The words they said to each other.
And now, Su'er suddenly found that he had, at some point, become afraid of seeing Think... He was afraid of seeing her. He was afraid of being seen by her.
Just like now.
The Elf's feet rubbed against the tough grass leaves, making a rustling sound. Even though his eyes were tightly closed, the surrounding flowers and plants conveyed all of Think's movements into Su'er's heart. It was as if he was opening his eyes wide and watching with his own eyes as the Elf with a head of beautiful light-golden hair walked toward him.
The floral scent that came with her swaying figure, that familiar warmth. The passing of more than ten years had not left a single trace on her. Her fair skin was as soft as it was when they first met. However, time had carved one groove after another on Su'er's face. His broken body and the large amount of lost life force had made him shrivel up like a withered branch.
He lowered his head and tried hard to curl up his body. These subconscious actions were only to minimize his exposure in front of Think. But how could such a Useless action deceive this intelligent Elf?
Even the magic that allowed Su'er to maintain his life was from Think.
Her hands.
Her slightly trembling hands.
The invisible heat that they emitted seemed to be steaming Su'er's face, making it even more difficult for him to breathe.
He wanted to instinctively evade, but he couldn't even do such a simple action. Those hands finally touched his cheeks, as if they were gently holding the most fragile treasure. They slowly lifted his face.
Was it her gaze that was scorching? Or was it her close breathing?
Su'er could feel with great clarity that Think was staring at him. She was holding his face and staring at him. However, he didn't want to open his eyes at all. He even squeezed his eyes shut, closing off everything.
This wordless silence became more and more unbearable as time went on. And the passing of time also seemed to have slowed down its pace at this moment. With Su'er's anxious heart, the glowing flowers and plants also broke the darkness and turned into a blood-like red.
"...Does it hurt a lot?"
Her voice was so low that it was almost suppressed. Think finally opened her mouth and spoke her first words since she came in. The pain that had once happened was almost re-appearing on her body. Even every syllable was trembling.
His body, which was originally as withered as a dried branch, gained new strength from somewhere. Su'er couldn't help but shake his body.
He couldn't bear it.