Ah Xian slipped into a daze, Leon's words echoing in her ears.
No need to look back, just look forward—look at the light beside you.
Suddenly, the shadows of her childhood didn't seem like such a big deal.
Let them go.
From now on, she'd live for herself.
"Family, I've been healed by Leon again. So touching…"
The chat thought she was about to go off on another wild tangent, bracing for a surge of electric energy.
But instead, the streamer's eyes reddened, her face showing a tearful expression, yet her lips curved into a gentle smile.
[Wait, you're actually healed?]
[You're not Ah Xian! Who are you? Get out of her body!]
[…I'm actually finding Ah Xian kinda endearing right now… Sorry!]
[It's only human. Even the top beauty in the looks district wouldn't dare claim they could outshine 8K-sis.]
[Kidding me? How many artists dare use themselves as reference material for doujins?]
Ah Xian didn't care about the chat's questions or their "human nature" remarks, nor did she feel the need to explain.
Serval wasn't the only one saying goodbye to the past.
She was too.
Let it all drift away with the wind.
Let the shadows and darkness of the past be buried behind that light, never to be seen again.
Thanks, Leon.
Even though you're just a character in a virtual world, I still love you.
It started with your looks, but I stayed for your kindness.
"Family, I've got an announcement—"
"Starting now, I'm Leon's dog!"
[???]
[Thought you were gonna drop some bombshell, but this? I'm still the most agile dog in the mountains!]
[That's more like it. That's the Ah Xian we know.]
…
In the mining district, after dealing with Cocolia's lingering shadow, the endless stream of Rift creatures flooding toward Boulder Town lost their momentum.
With that, the mining district crisis came to an end.
Gepard still needed to organize the Silvermane Guards and coordinate with Groundfire for the aftermath.
Leon, Stelle, and Serval returned to Boulder Town first to check on the injured with Natasha.
"Thanks for all your hard work in the lower district. With just Groundfire's strength, quelling this chaos would've been incredibly tough."
"Thanks to your help, we kept losses to a minimum."
"After this, the lower district residents' view of the Silvermane Guards should improve a lot."
"Thank you, both Trailblazers, and Miss Serval."
Natasha bowed deeply, not carrying a shred of her Groundfire leader status.
Serval waved it off repeatedly.
"Hey, no need to be so formal. I just lent a hand—these three are the real MVPs."
Stelle shrugged.
"Don't downplay the efforts of the Silvermane Guards and Groundfire just because we took out the source of the chaos."
"Leon and I only saved two kids. That's nothing compared to those who evacuated tons of miners and protected their retreat."
"Instead of thanks, you'd better go tend to the injured."
"Right, Leon… huh?"
Mid-sentence, Stelle noticed Leon wasn't behind her anymore. He was already treating a child on a hospital bed with acupuncture.
Following Stelle's perspective, the players clearly saw Leon's actions.
"Don't be scared. The silver needles don't hurt."
Leon's voice carried a soothing gentleness, easily easing the child's fear of the sharp needles.
[Father's so gentle with kids!]
[Question Ah Xian, understand Ah Xian, become Ah Xian—I'm healed too.]
But Ah Xian's heart skipped a beat.
She recalled Leon's voice line when he returned to battle—
"Children, I'm back."
Hiss…
At first, it sounded like he was playing a cheeky meme, but now… it might not be that simple!
Thinking back to how Leon treated Hook, and Clara… yes!
Clara!
When they first met Clara, her foot was injured.
Leon had used his healing wind technique, burning his own vitality, to help her.
He was really good to kids!
There's probably a knife here, dammit!
Seeing this, Natasha's face flickered with gratitude as she spoke to Stelle:
"Two kids mentioned they were saved by a very pretty gray-haired sister."
"There's no prettier gray-haired sister in the lower district than you, so it's gotta be you. They're inside."
Natasha pointed to the inner room, smiling warmly.
"If you have time, go see those siblings. Bed 16."
With that, Natasha glanced at Leon, silently expressing her gratitude in her heart.
He'd helped the lower district and the clinic's patients so much.
Stelle didn't disturb Leon and entered the inner room with Serval.
As they reached bed 16, the siblings spotted the two approaching.
"Ah… it's you! The heroes who saved us in the mining district!"
"Gray-haired sister, you—you're Silvermane Guards from the upper district, right?"
"If it weren't for you all stepping in, we siblings would probably…"
Aqilina greeted Stelle and Serval with overwhelming gratitude.
Serval wanted to clarify, but Stelle gestured for her to hold off, and she dropped the idea.
"Aqilina, we'll find a way to repay you all! I'll soon find a suitable job, and then I can…"
"No need for repayment. Where are your parents?"
Stelle glanced at Aqilina, resisting the urge to ask her age.
She looked no older than fourteen or fifteen…
In Belobog, that age was close to adulthood, able to work—Pela joined the ranks at sixteen, after all.
But still, she was just a kid.
When asked about her parents, Aqilina's eyes dimmed.
Zino, the younger one, answered first.
"Mom and Dad left a long time ago. They went somewhere far away and haven't come back."
Serval: "…"
Aqilina: "…Yeah, they'll come back eventually, Zino."
Serval: "So, you've been taking care of your brother all by yourself? That must be so tough."
"Not tough at all."
Aqilina shook her head without hesitation.
"It's my duty as the older sister. But times are hard, and I'm scared that one day…"
"Zino's still young. The thought of him surviving alone in the lower district… I can't even imagine it."
Serval gently patted Aqilina's head, her voice soft as she eased her worries.
"Don't worry. The lockdown between the upper and lower districts is over. The Silvermane Guards will take up their unfinished duties again."
"When that time comes, you and your brother won't have to worry about safety anymore."
"Exactly."
Gepard stepped into the inner room, his stern, resolute face softening with a gentle smile.
"Zino, you're still young and need your sister's protection. That's normal."
"But when you grow up, never forget everything your sister has done for you."
"You need to learn to protect your family in your own way and become your sister's support."
Zino nodded firmly: "I understand! Zino will protect sister when I grow up!"
Stelle looked left, then right, sensing the mood growing heavy.
"Aqilina, you and your brother rest well. Sister and the Guard brother have things to do, so we'll stop here for now."