Chapter 26: Numquam Obliviscar

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“Returning to what we were discussing,” Qianye continued, “the first time those two appeared in the social news was after they killed a fawn in a square in Tanyi City.”

“…A deer?”

“The people here are fond of deer. Apparently, several decades ago, the city’s founders got lost in the nearby mountains and forests, and a herd of deer eventually led them back to the right path. In any case, that is why spotted deer have always been allowed to roam freely in Tanyi’s Civic Square. The government pays people to feed them, and the citizens generally get along well with them.

“When Sean and Galvin first arrived, there was a problem with the base’s paperwork. The Mercury Needle who brought them here spent one night at a small hotel near the square. That very night, the brothers slaughtered two fawns less than a month old, built a fire in a corner of the square, and roasted them. They did not even realize there was anything wrong with what they had done. They left the bloodstains on the ground, along with the deer heads, and cleaned up nothing. It was not until the next day, when people found the herd gathered around the spot and crying out in distress, that they realized something terrible had happened.”

“There were several more incidents like that afterward,” Qianye said, raising a hand to tap her temple. “Those two brothers are somewhat lacking in the ‘common sense’ required to live in a civilized world.”

Hesta froze for a moment. How familiar that judgment was to her.

“That is also why I disagree with Molly’s way of handling this. I have found that every rule established within the base to protect newcomers has loopholes. Whatever their reason for trying to get close to you, if you do not drive them off yourself, they will never leave you in peace. Do you understand?”

Hesta drew a deep breath. “I… more or less.”

“Today was my mistake. I forgot that I had to make an appointment before taking you out. We can discuss the details after I take you out this Saturday. If you are afraid, then stay inside tomorrow.”

Qianye glanced at her watch, then took a business card from her pocket. “This has my email and private phone number. Contact me if necessary, but remember that anything important should always be discussed in person. Understood?”

Hesta accepted the card. She hesitated for a long while before finally asking, “Does Miss Qianye really think I can deal with Sean using only a gun?”

Qianye smiled.

“Listen to me, Jane,” she said softly. “Generally speaking, there are three kinds of people in this world who can disregard most rules and still be difficult to deal with: aristocrats, prodigies, and madmen.”

Hesta fell into thought.

“Aristocrats have wealth and overwhelming power behind them. Prodigies possess extraordinary abilities and exceptional talent. As for madmen, they have nothing and therefore nothing left to lose… Is Sean one of those three?”

Qianye looked at her. “Are you?”

…

After night fell, Hesta stood alone on the balcony, letting the wind wash over her. She kept replaying her conversation with Qianye at dusk, the silver key clenched tightly in her hand.

Footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. Hesta turned and saw Turan push open the door. Their eyes met. Turan glanced toward her and gave a slight nod. Before Hesta could react, she had already entered her own room.

About half an hour later, Liz returned as well.

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Like Turan, she wore an army-green broad-brimmed hat, and her face and clothes were covered in dust. She quickly took a shower, and when she came back, she had changed into clean loungewear.

“Where did you go today?” Hesta asked.

“Wilderness first-aid training,” Liz replied.

“Did everyone go?”

“Yes.” Liz nodded. “Once you pass the fifteen-kilometer cross-country assessment, you’ll be able to train with the main unit too. For newcomers… you usually have to train alone for six months first.”

“Was Sean there?”

“He was.” Liz answered. “I kept an eye on him and Galvin all day… How was your day? Did you run into any trouble?”

Hesta shook her head.

Liz smiled with satisfaction, rose, and tossed the jacket she had carelessly draped over the back of a chair into the laundry basket. “Did you meet with Instructor Qianye today?”

“Yes.”

“What did she say? Why was she so determined to revoke the restriction order against Sean?”

Hesta thought for a moment. “She meant… that I should learn to face and resolve certain difficulties on my own.”

“What?” Liz looked stunned. “She wants you to handle something like this by yourself already?”

Hesta nodded.

Liz poured two glasses of water and handed one to Hesta. Just as they had during their first late-night conversation, one of them leaned back against the railing facing the living room while the other looked out at the distant night view.

“Does Instructor Qianye not understand the situation? Did you tell her that Sean is a second-awakened second-year?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand…”

“Come to think of it…” Hesta suddenly remembered something. “Liz, do you know what these two sentences mean?”

Hesta handed her a slip of paper. Liz lowered her head to examine it closely. Written on it were the words: “No difficulty is insurmountable. I shall never forget.”

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“Where did you see this?”

“It was the tattoo on Miss Qianye’s neck,” Hesta said quietly. “I may have remembered a few of the letters incorrectly, but it was roughly like this.”

“It looks like an ancient language… Let me look it up.”

The two of them went to Liz’s room. Liz took down a thick dictionary of ancient languages, and after searching through it for a while, quickly worked out the general meaning of the inscription:

“Overcome every difficulty. Never forget.”

They both let out a faint, questioning sigh.

“Qianye Masaki is truly mysterious,” Liz murmured. “Has she ever told you about her past?”

Hesta shook her head. “Have you heard anything?”

Liz shook her head as well. “I only know that she was transferred here from District Fourteen several years ago. She is one of the few Mercury Needles capable of fighting alone, and she is exceptionally brave. My adjutant, Rogoin, once had the good fortune to see her fight in person. I remember her saying that when Qianye faced an enemy, her manner often made people feel that she was not trying to defeat her opponent, but intended to perish together with them.”

The two girls lay on the bed, gazing at the words “Overcome every difficulty. Never forget.” For a while, neither of them spoke.

After some time, Liz looked at Hesta. “Perhaps Instructor Qianye is simply too powerful herself to truly put herself in the place of the weak and understand their difficulties.”

Hesta turned over and stared at the ceiling light. Then, for no apparent reason, she said, “Thank you.”

“Hmm?” Liz looked surprised. “For what?”

“For being willing to spend so much time on me,” Hesta said softly. “This matter really has dragged on too long.”

“It is what I should do,” Liz replied. “The base’s technical department is carefully examining Sean’s everyday equipment. Let’s wait for the results.”

“And if they still find no evidence afterward?”

“Then we keep looking,” Liz said quietly. “He has to pay the price for the mistakes he made.”