The space station outside was quiet.
Inside the corridor. At the far end.
A figure in white.
Ena's eyes went to the face first.
"Hah-"
'The AEON of Abundance-'
'...no... The aura wasn't the same. No divinity... but something else instead. Much gloomier.'
'Two arms. Not six'
The figure was already looking at Ena.
'...No movement... No words...'
Ena's gaze settled on the face.
'... her expression... careful... or holding back?'
Ena's gaze swept over the figure once more.
'...she... wants to say something?'
Ena let out a breath, then focused on the figure face.
"...And who might you be?"
The woman's gaze softened slightly.
"My name is Bina" Her voice was low.
"A special... Emanator of Abundance"
Ena took a step back quickly. "Abundance Emanator..."
Bina lifted her hand slightly.
"I bear you no ill will" she said softly.
Ena's gaze focused on her face.
'...why... does she feel warm like Yaoshi...'
'...and that voice...'
Deg
Deg
Ena pressed a hand to her chest. 'Calm yourself Ena...'
She looked away from Bina.
(The Emanator of Abundance, Bina, bears no ill will toward you)
'...Are you sure...'
(Confidence level remains high)
Ena's gaze swept over Bina.
'... I see...'
Ena took a breath, then lowered her hand.
Then slowly looked back.
Bina stayed where she was.
Silence settled between them.
"How have you been?" Bina said softly.
Ena took a step forward and reached out.
She blinked repeatedly.
Then slowly lowered her hand.
'...What are you doing...'
Her lips pressed.
'...why are you reaching for her...'
'...To feel that warmth?'
Ena's gaze landed on Bina.
'...She could be anyone... I could be wrong about this...'
Ena closed her eyes.
'...I am probably wrong about this'
Ena slowly opened her eyes.
"Quite well" she said quietly.
Bina looked at Ena for a moment.
"Is that so"
Then Bina smiled faintly.
"That's good then"
Deg
Deg
Ena stood still.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Bina reached into her robe.
She stepped forward slowly.
She extended her hand.
It was a robe with white spots at the top, fading into emerald at the hem. Herbs were embroidered across every surface.
Ena looked at it.
Then at Bina's face.
'...She made this-'
'...She made this for-'
The robe glided toward Ena on its own. And settled around her, replacing what she wore.
Her hand moved toward Bina.
She stopped with her palm open.
She slowly closed her fingers, then lowered her hand to her side.
Bina's eyes focused on the hand.
Then she slowly stepped back.
Ena stayed still.
She watched Bina stop carefully.
'...She doesn't want to...'
Ena slowly looked at the robe Bina had given.
(Obtained Outfit: Protection of a Hundred Herbs. Healing effectiveness doubled. Effect Resistance increased to 100%. Suppresses Abundance aura on wearer)
(Binding: Can only be worn by Ena)
(Description: A garment crafted by a powerful Emanator of Abundance over an extremely long period of time for someone. Some of the materials were difficult to find. The Emanator communicated with a certain gentleman and exchanged a portion of her own freedom to obtain them)
Ena read the description carefully.
Then read it again.
Ena slowly looked at Bina.
'She spent a long time on this. For someone. She gave up a portion of her own freedom for the materials. And she's standing over there keeping herself back and I can't-'
Her lips pressed. '...I can't...'
Ena exhaled.
"A portion of your own freedom?"
Bina didn't answer.
"You didn't have to-"
"I wanted to" Bina said firmly.
"It was something I could give"
Ena looked away.
'...I have nothing to show...'
Ena's eyes returned to the description.
They stopped on the final line.
Then she slowly looked at Bina.
"...I..."
Bina's fingers curled slightly into the fabric of her robe.
Ena's fingers tightened slightly against the robe.
"..."
"...Thank you"
Bina looked at the robe for a moment.
Then at Ena.
"The robe will suppress what you carry"
"But suppression isn't erasure"
Bina fingers curled slightly against her sleeve.
"There are places where certain Paths left very long shadows behind"
Her gaze lowered briefly.
"The... Xianzhou... is one of them"
"...What you carry..."
"...resembles something painful from far away..."
Her gaze returned to Ena.
"...Even when it isn't the same"
Bina held her gaze for a moment.
then closed her eyes.
"The garment will help"
"But please... be careful with what you show. And where"
Ena was quiet.
'The Xianzhou. The Hunt. The shackling prison.'
She looked down.
'The robe existed now. The aura suppressed. But suppression wasn't erasure. Bina had said it herself'
'A mistake. One moment of carelessness'
Ena's fingers tightened slightly.
'...It wouldn't just be me'
'Dan Heng... Mara...'
'March... Amnesia...'
'Stelle... Stellaron...'
'Some things are too dangerous to gamble with'
She looked at Bina.
Bina was still standing there quietly.
"...I understand" Ena nodded.
Bina nodded once.
Neither of them spoke.
The corridor was quiet.
Ena was about to speak again when Bina's attention moved.
Bina looked at the corridor around them.
Then at the far end.
Then back at Ena.
"Something is nearby" Her voice dropped lower.
"I would rather not be here when it arrives"
Ena looked around the corridor.
'There's no... sound...'
'...The construction noise...'
'...when did that stop...'
She looked back at Bina.
Bina met her gaze.
"Be well" Bina said firmly.
She was already gone.
"..."
Ena looked at where Bina had been standing.
The corridor remained the same.
Ena pressed her hand against her chest.
'...I have nothing to show...'
'...But she already knows that... And she still came'
'She still made this... She still stepped back so I wouldn't have to-'
Ena closed her eyes.
The corridor was very quiet.
'The robe...'
'...Something that had been given...'
'...'
Ena looked at the blue planet outside.
'...'
'...Stelle... probably doing something March had invented'
'Dan Heng quietly tolerating it'
'Uncle Yang watching them'
'Himeko's coffee'
'The Astral Express... at the end of a straight corridor... Waiting...'
She started walking.
"..."
Ena's steps slowed.
She frowned.
Then slowly took another step forward.
THUD
"kuh"
Ena dropped.
"...Hah..."
"Moving!! truly too moving!!!!"
'...A... brick...'
TBC
...
...
...
Hey Hey. Reader, Nilvan here.
In this chapter, I needed to be careful with Bina and Ena. And the brick...
What do you think of this chapter? I'm curious.
I will also slow down my update schedule, because writing these stories is hard. Every scene needs to be checked several times, so it takes time to write. I hope you understand.
If you have any questions about any of the previous chapter, ask here. I'll answer to the best of my ability. I won't answer anything about this chapter, but the previous one is fair game.
Also, a headache hit me with a palm strike, and I got completely dominated by it for 2 days straight, which is insane!
I also think the next chapter may sound a little different from this one.
That's all for now. Have a nice day.
(❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡