127. A Straightforward Boy
Under Elysia's persuasion, Aponia finally accepted her sinnerhood and joined the Fire Moth.
"Sister Aponia, please don't get so close, otherwise there will be misfortune and calamity..."
Ling didn't know what was wrong with Aponia; she seemed to have become somewhat strange after that surgery.
"It's alright, I can see the calamity coming, but Ling..." Aponia's arms tightened around Ling from behind.
"You know what? I had a very long dream during the surgery."
"A dream?" Ling tilted his head.
"I dreamt of myself in another world..."
As she spoke, a faint blush appeared on Aponia's face.
"That dream was so real, so unbelievably real."
"In the dream, I saw Ling, and Ling was still as gentle and considerate as ever."
Ling listened quietly to Aponia's story.
"But…he's dead…I can't find Ling from my dream." Aponia's voice grew more sorrowful.
"To avoid hurting others, he chose to end his own life in his final moments."
"Now…I've found you, Ling…" Aponia gently stroked him, her eyes filled with boundless love.
"Sister Aponia…it was just a dream." Ling blinked.
"Yes, it was just a dream…right?" Aponia herself wasn't sure.
Because the Aponia in that dream seemed to be herself, as if she had personally experienced it all.
The pain, despair, and the collapse of her faith upon learning of Ling's death.
Now, she seemed to have inherited that emotion from the dream; she didn't want to lose Ling again.
Suddenly, Aponia picked Ling up, and the next second, the place where they had just been sitting collapsed.
Aponia used her power to avert the disaster Ling had brought.
"…Sister Nia, can you put me down?" Ling asked softly, being held in Aponia's arms like a doll.
"Yes." Aponia put Ling down.
"Phew…Now that you're alright, Sister Nia, the next step is to find a way to rescue Kalpas from the Deepest Abyss." A hint of worry appeared in Ling's eyes.
Regarding this matter, all they could do for now was wait quietly.
Finally, half a month later, Ling received news.
Elysia took Ling in an armed aircraft and flew towards the Deepest Abyss.
Everything around them was sealed off; only the pilot's cockpit could see outside.
The pilot could only fly along a predetermined route, requiring several transfers along the way, before finally reaching the Deepest Abyss.
This was to ensure the absolute secrecy of the 'Deepest Abyss'.
The so-called Deepest Abyss was on a small island, the entire island having been transformed into a giant prison.
Looking at the enormous prison before him, Ling's heart was filled with turmoil, for Kalpas who was imprisoned within...
"Alright, don't worry, you'll see him soon," Elysia reassured him.
The two entered the prison, passing through over a dozen checkpoints before finally reaching its deepest part.
Kalpas was imprisoned here.
"Kalpas!" Ling rushed forward, calling her name.
Hearing this voice, Kalpas turned around in disbelief.
"Why are you here?! They promised me..." Kalpas's voice was tinged with anger.
This prison couldn't hold her; she remained here solely because of Ling.
The Fire Moth wouldn't harm Ling; in exchange, she stayed in this prison.
But Ling's arrival immediately led Kalpas to believe that the Fire Moth had gone back on its word.
"Let me explain," Elysia said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Actually, we're here to visit you in prison. Ling is doing well at the Fire Moth. Aside from asking every day when he can see you, he spends most of his time either in the simulation training room or the lab."
Kalpas looked at Ling.
Ling nodded, agreeing with Elysia's words.
"Then you should live well at the Fire Moth." Kalpas's tone softened considerably. She lay back down on the bed, turning her back to Ling.
"Kalpas, come with me. I need you." Ling spoke earnestly, his words deeply moving.
Elysia gently covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes sparkling with gossip.
"…You're doing well now too." Kalpas's voice faltered slightly.
"It's different without Kalpas." Ling shook his head.
"Or…Kalpas, have you started to hate me for bringing misfortune?" Tears welled up in Ling's eyes.
For him, Kalpas was the most special person in his heart, a family member that no one else could replace.
Mutual dependence, mutual reliance—only in this way could two people survive.
Kalpas slowly sat up, her hand running through her long, gray-white hair, which had grown long from not being trimmed in so long.
She was somewhat troubled, because for Ling now, she was the greatest disaster.
Since Ling already had his own new life, Kalpas didn't want to disturb him.
Although she felt lonely and resentful, wasn't this the best outcome for Ling?
"You..." Kalpas didn't know how to answer.
The strange combination of the arrogant masked man and the straightforward boy made Elysia start to pant.
"Ling talks about you every day, can you really bear to let him suffer this pain of unrequited love?" Elysia stepped forward.
"You don't understand anything at all." Kalpas glanced at her.
"Ling told me about you two. When Ling was most helpless and lonely, you stood by his side."
"So now, when you need him, of course he won't run away. That's what Ling means, right?"
"Yes!" Ling nodded.
He was clumsy with words and couldn't express his true feelings.
"Kalpas, you're very important to me." Ling emphasized again.
"Alright, alright, I'm sick of hearing this cheesy stuff." Kalpas turned to look at Elysia.
"What's the price for me going out?" Kalpas asked.
"Become a warrior of the Fire Moth."
"I promise you." Kalpas nodded.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm just a little tired of lying here and want to go for a walk." Kalpas poured cold water on Ling's joy.
"Are you leaving me?" Ling looked miserable, thinking Kalpas was going to leave him behind.
This made Kalpas a little flustered.
"...No, Kalpas actually came out for Ling's sake." Seeing this, Elysia immediately tried to smooth things over.
"Tch..." Kalpas feigned disdain, his impression of Elysia improving slightly.
"What do you want me to do?" Kalpas asked.
"Well, the higher-ups want you to join 'Cocoon,' which requires frequent missions and combat," Elysia replied.
"I want to join 'Cocoon' too! To go on missions with Kalpas!"
...