Eula fought the Hilichurls with movements that were elegant yet full of lethal aggression.
"Wow, amazing! Big brother, should we help her?" Xiangling whispered in awe.
She'd been calling Kael "big brother" so naturally lately that neither of them thought anything of it anymore.
Kael shook his head.
He knew Eula's strength all too well.
As the captain of a squad, she spent most of her days out in the wild clearing out Hilichurl encampments.
A camp of this size was nothing to her.
If they charged in now, they'd only throw off her rhythm.
Sure enough, in no time at all, every Hilichurl in the camp had been cut down by Eula's hand.
She turned and walked toward them.
But when Eula's eyes landed on him, her expression was perfectly natural—calm, untroubled. Kael froze.
She was too calm…
He'd thought he would see her the way he had in the life simulation—like when he first met Amber and Xiangling: emotions projected onto her, grief spilling over her face.
After all, in that last life simulation, he'd died in such a tragic way…
"You two are foreigners, aren't you? I've never seen you in Mondstadt."
The pair before her both had striking looks.
Especially the man—his bearing was extraordinary, rare in its refinement and beauty.
If she'd ever seen them before, there's no way she'd have forgotten.
Xiangling nodded. "Mm, I'm from Liyue."
Eula looked toward Kael, who had fallen into silence. "And you?"
Kael studied her face. The composure she showed wasn't an act. His emotions tangled inside him—was he relieved, or disappointed?
He finally answered her question. "I'm a Traveler, from another world."
"I see. Then have you registered with the Knights of Favonius—"
Her gaze swept over the dagger Kael was still holding from fending off the Hilichurls.
Her eyes locked on it. She couldn't look away.
And then, her icy expression suddenly melted into something else entirely.
She bent over, clutching her chest with both hands.
It hurts…
Her heart hurt so much…
Why did just seeing that dagger make it feel like a blade had been driven straight into her chest?
"Ah… are you okay?"
Xiangling panicked as the woman who'd just saved her suddenly twisted with pain.
"Are you feeling sick?"
"It hurts… so much…"
Eula couldn't endure the sudden agony. She dropped to her knees, her voice breaking with helpless weakness. "Ah… why… why does it hurt this much… it hurts so much…"
!!!
Kael stared in shock as she crumpled before him.
It was like… the moment she saw his dagger, something inside her broke.
Could it be that the dagger had triggered some buried memory—projected from the emotions in the life simulation?
The System had never explained how those simulated feelings carried over into reality…
This was the first time he'd ever actually witnessed someone's emotions shifting before his eyes.
He didn't understand.
But there was no time left to wonder.
Watching Eula suffer like this cut deep into him.
He'd known she would grieve after his death, but until now, it had only been words on a System screen.
Seeing her like this in reality, he realized the pain she bore was far worse than he'd ever imagined.
Tears streamed endlessly down Eula's cheeks, splashing onto the dirt.
Despair and sorrow consumed her, pressing so heavy on her chest she could hardly breathe.
"Why am I so sad… Someone… someone please save me…"
Hearing her broken plea, Kael stepped forward without thinking.
When he met her tear-filled eyes, guilt twisted inside him.
I'm sorry…
It's all because of me you're suffering like this…
Reaching out, he gently wiped the tears from her face.
"Don't cry."
She flinched at the warmth of his touch on her cheek, then lifted her gaze to him, stunned.
Almost as if bewitched, she slowly stretched out her arms, clinging to him with all her strength.
Their bodies pressed flush together, leaving not even a sliver of space.
Eula clung to him and broke down in sobs.
"Don't go… Don't leave me… Please, I'm begging you, don't go!!!"
She didn't even know why the words poured out of her. But the moment she saw this man, it was like someone dying of thirst in the desert had suddenly found water.
That flash of hope—she couldn't let it slip away.
She just wanted to hold onto him, never letting go.
Kael stroked her back gently, trying to calm her down.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."
Xiangling gaped at the sight before her.
Wait, what?
Hadn't this woman just been asking her big brother where he was from?
They weren't supposed to even know each other…
So why were they suddenly holding each other like long-lost lovers reunited after years apart?!
No one knew how much time passed.
At last, Eula's sobs began to quiet.
Kael, seeing her emotions had settled, placed his hands on her shoulders, ready to ease her away.
But when she felt him try to pull back, she only clutched tighter.
Burying her face in his chest, she mumbled, muffled and shy, "Just… just a little longer…"
From his angle, he could see her ears and neck burning red.
Even after calming down, she didn't want to leave his arms.
She craved his warmth with every fiber of her being.
She couldn't believe she'd said such things out loud—things she'd normally never, ever say. The shame made her want to vanish into the earth.
But still, stubbornly, her arms stayed locked around his waist, refusing to let go.
Just a little longer…
Just a little longer and it'll be enough…
And deep inside her, a voice whispered: Hold on to this chance. Never let him go. Never let him leave you.