Free Web NovelChapter 2012: Chapter 2012: The Farthest Distance (End of This Volume)
Hearing Shard mention the letter again, the blue-eyed middle-aged psychologist showed an embarrassed expression:
"This is private, I plan to read it once I’m on the train."
"You really haven’t considered..."
"No, I haven’t considered it."
The doctor shook his head slightly and looked calmly at Shard:
"I know her intentions; she indeed is a good woman. But as you know my situation, I can’t involve someone else before that matter is resolved."
"It makes sense, it’s just that I feel regretful."
"Pursuing a good outcome is quite nice, but sometimes reality is just like this. Regret... yes, regret."
He looked at the corner of the envelope protruding from the notebook, recalling the scene this morning when he bid farewell to the two proprietors of the Green Lake Hotel. With a sigh in his heart, he took out the envelope, folded it, and put it in the inside pocket of his coat.
The station inspector holding the signal lamp was already urging people outside the carriage to let go of the hands they were holding with the young soldiers inside. The steam train’s boiler continued to pressurize, and after the loudest whistle, the axle turned the connecting rod on the wheel, and the rod started to drive the wheels clattering~clattering~ into motion.
Black smoke spewed from the locomotive’s chimney, further melting the snowfall above. Amidst the chorus of farewells, the train slowly started, carrying the young people towards that unfamiliar place.
Car after car of black carriages quickly flashed before their eyes until even the train’s last carriage left their sight. Though the people were still there on the platform, and the thick steam mist had not dissipated, only the train tracks were empty. Yet, Shard felt that it suddenly became unusually empty here, as if all the excitement and warmth brought by those noises and fleeting figures just left with that train.
The sound around seemed to become quieter, the steam mist gradually calmed on the platform, and those who came to bid farewell also gradually retreated.
All this happened within just a few minutes, and during this period, Shard and the doctor just watched this scene.
"This era is quite interesting, isn’t it?"
The doctor suddenly asked, the mist clearing, revealing the empty rails under the platform, and the surroundings returned to bustle. Shard even heard Durut Giles whisper telling the girl Laster not to pull his hair anymore.
Shard nodded thoughtfully:
"I just hope the war doesn’t happen, and wish that kids like Little John can grow up happily."
"I hope so too... Fortunately, hope is the cheapest thing, it costs nothing, so hold on to hope, detective, it’s a good mindset. Oh, the experience at Green Lake made me understand many things, I’m eager to see my patients, I hope they miss me too."
After saying this, the doctor sighed lightly and looked around again. Shard smiled, as the warm humidity faded completely with a gust of wind, the snowfall above the train tracks could once again reach the ground.
They stood on the platform by the tracks, extending their hands to catch the snowflakes. And looking into the distance, another train was already slowly approaching from afar, it was time for the doctor to depart.
Shard recalled with a tightened brow that during Dr. Schneider’s words, he thought of his gains and losses from the two-month adventure in the Green Lake Region. He defeated formidable foes, and the intimate ladies by his side increased by two... three... actually four. His identity as the Chosen of Space was confirmed, and he was closest to him, and about the prophecy of the Apocalypse and the messages of the bygone eras, he learned quite a lot.
Of course, he also thus learned why he, the Outlander, came, and what he came for, knowing why "I" am "I."
But the cloud of war, due to the temporary breakdown of negotiations, has increasingly heavily shrouded the entire world; the prelude to the Apocalypse has sounded, the sandstorm-covered scenery of "Apocalypse City: Tobesk" seems about to descend again.
Everything is still uncertain, everything seems to be following some predetermined trajectory, rushing uncontrollably forward.
The Outlander witnessed it all, yet also gave rise to greed, delusions, excitement, and panic. He doesn’t know what the future holds, nor if this leisure time is the last calm.
The events of the Green Lake Region ended, but the future was just beginning.
Wind mixed with snow, in this late spring season, caressing the Outlander standing on the platform gazing at the sky. The train in the distance was getting closer, the whistle when approaching the station having a spine-chilling realism.
He thought of many people, many things, and when it all comes to an end, leisurely standing here gazing at the snowflakes in the sky, he, somehow, felt like laughing:
"This world, indeed... is too interesting!"
"She" chuckled softly in Shard’s ear, as if agreeing with Shard’s point of view. So the Outlander bowed his head, slightly tidying his collar, then saw the doctor also looking at the train slowly approaching from afar.
"Say something."
He spoke in his heart, "Her" gentle voice, then amid the ear-piercing whistle before the train entered the station, sounded:
[Present World: Sixth Era, Common Era Calendar 1854, late spring, Rain-Prayer Moon. The snowfall of the Year Without Summer might symbolize something, as you stand amid the bustling platform, still in bewilderment. War clouds shroud the ancient city but have pointed you towards United as One; the conflict of civilizations and the story of a centennial family unveil the fragmentation and reunion of blood and souls. Dear Outlander, the apocalypse bells have rung along with your fairy tale, the purity offered by three pairs of twins shall surely become the keystones upon which you continue to climb. The snow has already fallen, and blood and smoke are about to ignite the world. Due to the error of the Lady of Time Destruction, you stand in this moment; what choice of ending will you make for this world, for them, for yourself as the world’s wheels slowly roll forward?]
"This time, your sentence seems to predict that even more terrifying things are about to happen."
Shard mumbled to himself but did not expect her reply:
"On the eve of another clash between the Southern and Northern human kings of the Old Continent, I have come to understand fracture and healing. How ironic... Doctor."
He suddenly spoke, originally looking at the approaching steam train; Dr. Schneider thus turned to him:
"What is it?"
"In your opinion, what is the farthest distance in the world?"
"Such a strange question."
said the psychologist, his azure eyes gazing at him:
"Of course, the distance between hearts. One can never fully understand another person, nor can a kingdom entirely grasp another country. Conflict and discord arise from the distance between hearts. This distance is the Original Sin of wise life, it defines us."
"So, you mean that if people’s hearts can unite, under the United as One, the world would be peaceful?"
The doctor looked at him in astonishment: ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"What are you talking about? The distance between hearts is what makes me ’me’, you ’you’, and humans ’human’. Disputing this would be to deny our civilization and ourselves."
He solemnly placed a hand over his heart, and as a train finally arrived behind him:
"Remember, Detective, you can never fully comprehend another person, but if you are willing to devote your true heart to someone else, it could draw another heart closer to you. Never fully touching, yet subtly connected, human souls are exquisite in this way." freёwebnovel.com
His eyes seemed to shine, with his right index finger and thumb pinched together, yet not touching:
"This is what’s called, the farthest distance."
The thundering locomotive appeared behind the doctor, snow-whipped scenery rushing past them, yet as the doctor demonstrated with his fingertips, it seemed as if a frozen oil painting was etched into Shard’s eyes.
Beside the stacked luggage stood Priest Augustus, gazing upwards, while Durut Giles smiled at the transparent Spiritual Body nearby. Smoke was frozen in the air so that each particle of ash seemed visible, light solidified into beams, sound settled into a buzz, and the people in the station whether sitting, standing, squatting, or walking, were indeed frozen like wax statues.
In Shard’s ear, snow stopped, the mysterious distance of space at this moment held no significance in Shard’s sight:
"So this is... the farthest distance?"
The roar of the train passing made Dr. Schneider knit his brows unconsciously. He lowered his hand, watching the carriages roll by, catching sight of a somewhat unusual glimmer in his peripheral vision. As he partly turned his head, he seemed to glimpse a rotating dark gold Cubus emerging behind Shard.
But as before, when he tried to look closer, he was distracted by a nearby passenger aiming to reach the carriage door, and upon looking again, it was gone.
"Yes, what meaning is there in completely understanding souls? I surely don’t want you to know my thoughts about that letter to Ms. Green, nor would I want to know what you plan for lunch at noon... Linked yet eternally out of touch, soul, that is the beauty of the soul."
"Doctor, be mindful not to lose control."
Shard laughed in caution, then looked down to his hand, clenching and relaxing his fist, feeling as though he understood something. After deep thought, he lifted his head and shook it slightly, feeling as though a heavy weight in his heart had dissipated, even his mood brightened considerably:
"Doctor, you truly live up to being a psychologist."
He praised, then beckoned the doctor and priest to prepare for boarding.
"What do you mean by that? And don’t forget, upon returning, the summer examination week is nearly upon us."
The middle-aged psychologist with blue eyes said, but before Shard could reply, a chaos of passengers surged forward. Everyone lifted their luggage, approaching the train doors that had opened as it came to a stop. Amid the noisy sounds, with Shard entering the train leaving only his back visible, her voice remained as tender:
[Outlander, you have gained new Power.]
(End of this volume)
