Free Web NovelChapter 64: A Gift From Ren
A bus crammed with passengers was darting across a wide, bleak minefield. It had been outfitted with a hodgepodge of weaponry from various time periods, fixed on its roof. The barrels stuck out in all directions, causing the bus to resemble a prickly porcupine.
In this time, traveling long distances was perilous. The threats lurking in the desolate, unprotected landscape weren’t limited to the occasional monsters emerging from the Polluted Zone...
The greater danger was other people.
In the barren wilderness, murder and theft could happen anytime, anywhere. The journey was filled with bandits ready to kill and steal, posing the greatest risk to travelers’ lives.
In an era of scarce food and resources, the primitive instincts of theft and murder in human nature were intensely magnified.
These bandits, lurking in the wilderness to set fires, kill, and loot, were often scarier than the monstrous creatures in terms of their brutal extremes.
In the high sky, a pristine white gyrfalcon let out a crisp call. Bathed in sunlight, it spread its white wings, soaring above the bus that sped through the open wilderness.
In the lifeless forest bordering the road, a majestic golden lion was seen strolling through.
On the other side, a vibrant tiger carrying a pack with the alpha insignia was closely following the bus.
"Are those the alphas?" A young girl on the bus asked her boyfriend.
"Yes, judging by the badges on their packs, they must be the alphas from the East Shore outpost," the boyfriend replied, peering out the window at the predatory birds accompanying them. "It looks like they’re here to escort someone on this bus."
"Wow. I wonder who it is that has so many alphas looking after them," said the girl, on her first long-distance trip, buzzing with excitement.
Her boyfriend chuckled, "Well, whoever they are, we can rest easy knowing these alphas are with us."
Regardless of how menacing the robbers were, they would avoid a vehicle guarded by powerful alphas. Their journey suddenly felt less daunting.
The girl was thrilled, scanning the bus, trying to guess who the "important person" could be who had the safeguard of so many formidable warriors. But she couldn’t spot any passenger who looked exceptional, except the one sitting next to her, a girl her age.
This girl seemed to be journeying alone, lugging a jam-packed backpack and two bags brimming with snacks. She was strikingly beautiful but wore a blank expression, staring out the window with a cool, composed air, unlike the excitement the first girl was feeling.
"Are you heading to Imperial Nexus by yourself?" The girl started a chat with the girl next to her, her friendly nature shining.
"All these were packed by your family, weren’t they?" She gestured at her neighbor’s snack bags, then unzipped her own backpack for her to see. "I guess we’re all the same. My mom heard that I was leaving and insisted on cramming all this stuff in, whether it’s useful or not."
The girl in the next seat looked at her backpack, then at her own, thoughtfully considering the word "family" for a moment before nodding.
"I’m traveling to Imperial Nexus for the first time. I’m not sure what it’s like there. I’ve heard it’s as breathtaking as paradise."
"I wonder who those alphas trailing the bus are guarding. They’ve come such a long way; they must really value the person."
"Once I get to Imperial Nexus, my mom and friends will surely miss me. But it’s alright, I’ll write to them often."
"Even though my mom can be a bit overbearing, it feels good to be looked after, wouldn’t you agree?"
In the midst of the girl’s chatter, Kestrel looked out the window at Birdie, flying high in the sky, seemingly reluctant to part ways.
The bird glided freely in the blue sky, its wings pure white, like a fish swam leisurely in the expansive sea.
Kestrel didn’t want to go back to the city, to the Tower which was huge yet felt so small.
...
Kestrel stood outside her house, unlocking the ornately carved front door.
The regular house cleaner stopped her outside the door. "Miss, this is your package." She handed over a delivery box, "It arrived yesterday, but you weren’t home. I signed it for you."
Kestrel nodded, accepting the box.
"Um..." the cleaner began with an apologetic smile, "I’m sorry, my daughter-in-law asked me to help look after my grandson. I won’t be able to continue cleaning your house after today."
Kestrel calmly replied, "Didn’t you mention when you came looking for work that your daughter-in-law had given birth, and the family was short of money, needing this job?"
The cleaner began to feel uncomfortable, her fingers fiddling with the corner of her clothes.
Kestrel looked at her for a moment and said, "I can pay you double the wage. You know, my house really needs someone to help with regular shopping and chores."
Upon hearing the words "double the wage," the cleaner was tempted. Her fingers clenched the fabric, whitening from the pressure. She hesitated for a long while before finally saying, "Miss, it’s not about the money, I’m simply too scared to continue."
She glanced around, leaning closer to Kestrel, whispering, "This house of yours, it’s too bleak, unfit for living."
"I suggest you move out too. I’ve seen, I’ve seen that..."
A gust of wind swept by, and from the open door came the eerie creaking sounds of the deep courtyard.
The cleaner suddenly shivered, looking at the young girl standing at the entrance of the vast, desolate yard, she couldn’t bring herself to continue speaking. Kestrel was beautiful, with her pale face, slender arms, and thin legs, living alone in such a wild, overgrown yard–it was unnerving, downright scary.
The cleaner recalled the story surrounding this family and the tragic event that occurred to the people who lived in this place. Ultimately, even the allure of double wages couldn’t keep her here. She thrust the key into Kestrel’s hand and stuttered, "Anyway... I really need to go home to care for my grandson. I apologize, miss."
A few minutes later, Kestrel watched the figure, who had tallied her wages and was now hastily leaving. Her tendrils detected a strong feeling of fear–a fear of her, and of the house behind her. Kestrel found a familiar sensation – the sensation she had when she was the target of fear, loathing, and disgust from everyone around her. Everything here was just as it had always been, nothing had changed at all.
Before she even set foot inside her house, she began to yearn for the sea and the small outpost by it. Even the fights in the Polluted Zone seemed to evoke nostalgia.
Kestrel shut the yard gate and walked through the overgrown courtyard.
Winter had come, and many of the plants in the yard had yellowed, making the place seem even more bleak. It had the air of a haunted house–no wonder numerous cleaners had quit, and even her friend Priscilla hardly dared to visit her house.
"I should at least hire a gardener," Kestrel thought to herself.
Although she had a lot of inheritance left by her parents, she couldn’t handle the housework. It wasn’t her fault though, she had been raised in the Tower and only earned the right to live at home after becoming an adult.
For a long time, home was only a vague concept in Kestrel’s mind.
Kestrel strolled in the overgrown courtyard, thinking of the tiny courtyard of the Parfit family. That yard was full of moonflowers and roses. You could savor a bit of wine with the scent of the flowers. The fluttering petals of the moonflowers in the breeze and the slight buzz from the alcohol always made the place lively, with many people around.
She approached the dark main building and found a small light left for her in the hallway of the main door.
Kestrel left the delivery box on the entryway table, standing at the entrance to remove her shoes. freewёbnoνel.com
The whole building was unnaturally silent, not a sound to be heard.
"Come out, why are you hiding?" Kestrel said.
A small, white face gradually appeared from the shadows under the stairs, as if she had done something wrong and dared not look at Kestrel.
"We can hire another lady if this one is gone." Kestrel said nonchalantly, placing a heap of food she brought back in the kitchen, then returning to the dining table to open the delivery box.
Someone in a maid’s uniform quietly slipped into the kitchen.
The kitchen light flicked on and sounds of chopping vegetables and boiling water could be heard. Soon, the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen to the living room.
"Was your trip smooth? You were away for quite some time," the girl’s delicate voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Not bad, I got what I wanted and made a lot of...," Kestrel paused for a moment, searching for a word, "friends."
She opened the delivery box. It seemed to be the first time Kestrel had received a package at home, and she found it quite interesting.
Inside the box was a double-layered drawer box. The top layer was pulled out, revealing a box filled with peanut candies sealed with red paper. The simple red paper was neatly folded, and the candies were orderly arranged, one by one. The scent of candy and peanuts mingled together and wafted out from the box.
Kestrel remembered the last time she tasted this candy. She was in a cramped, dim room, and she was so hungry. Ren had given her two of these red packets with his gloved hand.
Kestrel knew who had sent this gift—"It’s Little Fish."
Ever since they had said goodbye, even though they had swapped contact info, he had never texted Kestrel. She once figured he had forgotten about her.
She opened the second level of the drawer, and inside was a small dagger. It was light and made of an unknown material that was warm, not cold, to the touch. The handle was pitch black, leading to a pure white sharp blade. The blend of black and white was pleasing to the eye.
The blade was so sharp that a casual touch sliced Kestrel’s finger. Her blood slid down the snow-white edge without being absorbed.
Kestrel eagerly waited for the blade to speak as Ren’s did, but it didn’t. She felt a bit let down and started playing with the knife she’d taken from the box. The black and white dagger started to melt and stretch in her hand, like it was liquid.
The small knife melted and extended, wrapping around Kestrel’s wrist like a beautifully crafted bracelet, hiding its real form.
"Wow." Kestrel was thrilled.
In Imperial Nexus, there were many places where people couldn’t carry weapons. But, having just learned how to use a knife, Kestrel wanted to always have one with her. This special dagger could be with her everywhere she went, which was exactly what she wanted.
Ren had come back home a long time ago. He probably knew she was back, too, but he had never reached out.
Suddenly, Kestrel found herself wondering what he was doing right then.
