Talulah stared in disbelief at the small deer beside Jeanne. How did she sneak out? Shouldn't she be home, resting? There's no reason for her to leave with us!
Talulah's mind was in a whirl. Who else could this little deer be but Alina? For a moment, Talulah couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Alina, why did you follow us?"
"Of course I did! How could I let you two leave me behind all alone?"
"That's not the point! We were forced to leave for various reasons, and you weren't part of any of them. You didn't need to come with us! It's too dangerous, and this isn't the time to act on impulse! Besides, what will Grandfather and Grandmother do when they find out you're gone?"
Talulah's concern was justified. Compared to the two of them—essentially superhuman—Alina wasn't a natural fighter. Moreover, her frail constitution made Talulah fear she wouldn't endure the Icefield's blizzards.
"I already told Grandfather and Grandmother, and they agreed to let me leave. They said they can take care of themselves... There's also something I've been hiding from you both—I'm... actually an Infected too!"
Talulah fell silent upon hearing this. After living with Alina for so long, she had never realized that Alina was also Infected.
Looking at Jeanne's expression, it was clear she had known about Alina's infection all along. Yet, after spending so much time together every day, how had they never witnessed an Oripathy flare-up?
No, wait. Since coming here, Alina's Oripathy hasn't flared up at all. At first, Talulah had assumed it was due to the mildness of her infection, but now she suspected there was another reason.
"Alright then, let's go together."
Talulah looked at Alina, surprised that she had secretly followed them on such a dark night. But if Alina was indeed Infected, staying in the village would be even more dangerous for her.
However, the flame illuminating Alina's tail flickered erratically, growing and shrinking, betraying her inner turmoil.
"What should we do next? Find another village to hide in? Or should we try to leave Ursus altogether and find a more suitable country?"
Jeanne asked the two others. She herself didn't mind; she could make a good life for herself anywhere.
If all else failed, she could try her luck in Laterano. Perhaps they'd take her in out of respect for her potential divine nature.
After all, those halo-wearing angels must be connected to her own deity. That guy wouldn't take kindly to anyone pirating His image.
"I want to move through the Snowfield," Talulah said earnestly, her voice filled with conviction. "I want to give all Infected a place to live, instead of being treated as disposable waste, consumed without meaning."
This was Talulah's true ideal. Over the years, she had witnessed countless people being seized simply for becoming Infected, whether they were life-saving doctors or soldiers who had served Ursus faithfully.
This oppressive environment, where the Infected were persecuted regardless of their deeds, fueled her desire for change. And it all had to begin in the Snowfield, where the Infected suffered the most severe oppression.
"What about you, Jeanne? Why not go to Lungmen? It's quite a distance, but if I write you a letter, you should be able to find a good job there."
Talulah glanced at Jeanne, realizing she was different from the other two. Jeanne wasn't Infected; she was only forced to leave because of Talulah's actions.
If I write a letter to that old fox Wei Yenwu, he'd surely take care of Jeanne out of respect for me, wouldn't he?
A hazy voice seemed to echo in her mind: Leave this place. Go now. Please, hurry. Ancestor, please leave quickly... Could Kashchey have done something to her before he died?
"Of course I'm coming with you. Who could possibly feel at ease leaving you two to your own devices? Without me, you'd probably get lost before even finding the next village."
Hearing Jeanne's words, Talulah was still surprised, despite her suspicions. She hadn't expected Jeanne to insist on joining them, especially since there was absolutely no need for her to do so.
"Rather than live a mundane life in some unfamiliar place, I'd rather try to change something. Maybe their arrival is a sign that I should act. I actually agree with your theory."
Jeanne didn't wait for Talulah to speak before continuing, already guessing what Talulah wanted to say.
It would be the same old rhetoric about Infected and non-Infected—arguments that held no sway over Jeanne, who rejected such divisive notions.
"Alright, let's hurry up. I remember a cave up ahead where we can rest. Honestly, I shouldn't have listened to you and sneaked out in the middle of the night."
With that, Jeanne pulled the two girls toward the cave. This sudden movement disrupted Talulah's train of thought, making her forget her original intention to persuade Jeanne to leave them and live her own life.
Naturally, Jeanne didn't argue. Continuing the debate, even until morning, wouldn't change this stubborn girl's mind.
The best approach was to overwhelm her with another matter, since she could only focus on one thing at a time. This would leave her no time to react properly.
Given enough time, she would naturally come to accept it.
That night, the three runaway girls spent their first night away from home in the cave. Talulah was already snoring soundly, while Jeanne was deep in prayer.
There was nothing mystical about her prayers. She simply recounted the day's events, using the opportunity to organize her thoughts and clarify her understanding of the situation.
After finishing, she noticed Alina watching them both, her smile unwavering.
"I thought you'd oppose my joining you, just like Talulah," Jeanne said to Alina, knowing her gentle friend was fiercely rational.
Unlike Talulah, who was prone to impulsive actions and extremes, Alina possessed remarkable self-control, prioritizing reason above emotion. Jeanne had long anticipated that Alina would support her decision to leave.
"I couldn't," Alina said, stretching languidly. "If I could, I'd want you to find a mobile city to live in, Jeanne. No matter what you did there, you'd be better off than you are now. But I also know that when you set your mind to something, you'll do it. You might not realize it, but when you're determined, the light in your eyes... it shines so brightly."
-
In a hazy dream, Talulah saw Kashchey transform into a black serpent, writhing and shrieking under divine light.
Under the radiant glow, its body melted away only to regenerate endlessly.
This reminded her of an obsolete torture method she had read about in books from Yan, called Lingchi—Death by a Thousand Cuts. This horrifying practice involved slowly carving off pieces of the victim's flesh, ensuring they remained alive throughout the ordeal.
"Please, spare me! I was wrong, I shouldn't have hurt her... Aaaah... I truly regret it! I surrender! Can I surrender? Please, no more... I can't take it anymore..."
It desperately begged for mercy, pleading for forgiveness from the master of the light. But its cries were met only with the relentless burn of the light, searing through its flesh.