Chapter 67: Next Time, Sirin, I Promise (4k)

Chase had once read in a book:

Silent death is eternal life.

Silent death is infinite life.

Chase had long accepted his fate. When he obtained the talent "Envy from the Heavens," he anticipated his end. After successfully altering Sirin's life trajectory, he should have left hastily, lying on a cold hospital bed to hastily end his life.

Perhaps it should have been that way, but ever since Chase heard about Sirin writing letters from Walter, one night, as he lay on his sickbed, staring at the pitch-black ceiling, he thought for a long time.

He... still wanted to go back and see.

Even if he couldn't meet Sirin, he still wanted to see the letters she had sent.

So, in the autumn of 2002, with careful planning, Chase, feeling that his days were numbered, ultimately escaped from his predetermined fate.

.......

"Brother! Brother!" In the darkness, Chase heard a familiar voice. It was as if a pair of gentle hands were pulling him, leading him away from the abyss of darkness.

He slowly opened his eyes, and before him was a tearful face, gradually transitioning from blur to the appearance of Sirin.

"Sirin..." He looked at the girl's face, uttering her name.

It was said that before death, one would experience something called a "revolving lantern." Scenes from one's life would continuously appear, even the faces of close ones.

Chase thought he was close to death, yet he could see Sirin crying before him.

Clearly, Sirin was still in North America; how could she appear in Berlin...

"Brother, it's Sirin." Sirin wiped away the tears with a smile, trying to appear cheerful.

Chase was startled. Perhaps he was truly dying if he was seeing an illusion of Sirin talking to him. With that thought, he closed his eyes again. Well, if he was going to die, he would die. Yet, he still had a letter left to read, which was a bit regrettable.

With closed eyes, Chase murmured with an apologetic tone, "Sirin, sorry, Brother still has a letter to finish reading."

Seeing Chase closing his eyes again, Sirin became anxious. She began shaking his body, not too forcefully, as if afraid of hurting him.

Chase closed his eyes, waiting for the simulated message prompt, but it didn't come. Feeling the shaking sensation, his hazy consciousness gradually became clear.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind:

What if, just if, the Sirin in front of him is real and not a pre-death hallucination?

He opened his eyes and called out, "Sirin."

"Huh?" Sirin froze, stopped shaking him, and looked at Chase with concern, coincidentally making eye contact. They fell into silence for a moment.

What kind of gaze was that? Sirin couldn't find suitable words. The azure, lake-like eyes were calm, serene like a clear mirror, showing no ripples. Yet, within this calmness, there seemed to be an unseen but undoubtedly present tenderness.

Chase smiled, glanced at the faint sunlight streaming in from the window, and chuckled, "Don't you want to help me up? The floor is quite hard."

"Oh, right." Sirin snapped back, went to right the wheelchair, and then hurriedly helped Chase up.

With Sirin's assistance, Chase reluctantly sat in the wheelchair. He smiled and said, "Thanks, Sirin."

"Brother, you..." Sirin hesitated for a moment, as if preparing a speech, and then asked, "How did you end up like this?"

Sirin, while walking with her brother, used to find solace not just in the delicious snacks or entertaining stories but mainly because being with her brother made her feel secure.

Now, as Sirin pushed Chase along the streets of Berlin, the emotions inside her were a mix of uncertainty.

The sunset painted the sky red, casting orange shadows on the pedestrians on the street. A gentle breeze carried familiar street scents and warmth, as if all worries and anxieties dissipated temporarily with the arrival of dusk. Pedestrians hurried by, and the scene with the wheelchair-bound youth and the girl pushing it seemed out of place.

The two walked into the sunset, reaching a point where the crowd became sparse until only they remained. Without the bustling of pedestrians and the noise of vehicles, a deep silence enveloped them, like a thick, sorrowful barrier separating the two who wanted to communicate.

Chase and Sirin both had a strong desire to communicate, yet neither could break the silence.

In the end, Chase broke the tranquility. He spoke, "Sirin, are you satisfied with the birthday gift I gave you?"

Chase was referring to the book he prepared for Sirin, titled "Sirin's Happy Magic." He was curious about how well Sirin had learned magic.

"Yeah, yeah," Sirin couldn't help but lift the corners of her mouth, proud. "Sirin learned everything from the book."

"The name of that book..." Sirin's Happy Magic, and so on. (/v\)

Speaking of this, Sirin became eager to show off. "Should Sirin demonstrate some magic for Brother? Sirin has learned a lot of magic."

Sirin didn't know the principles behind the magic she wanted to demonstrate, but Chase, as the founder, knew them well. It involved activating the entropy-breaking ability.

"..." Chase looked at the sunset, suddenly feeling a connection with it. If his life were like a candle in the wind, it was akin to the sun setting on the horizon.

Chase and the sun seemed to share a similar fate, yet there were also differences.

The sun was both the sunset and the sunrise at every moment. As it descended with a cold and desolate glow, it simultaneously burned brightly as it climbed the mountain top with radiant morning glory.

As for Chase, even if he descended with a cane supporting him, he would no longer have a child playing with toys.

Just as Sirin was about to start her demonstration, Chase interrupted, "Sirin, I'm thirsty."

Sirin stopped her actions, took out a bottle of water from beside the wheelchair, and handed it to Chase. Chase stared at Sirin's face, unable to find the usual liveliness and innocence. Instead, it was filled with seriousness and sadness.

Seeing Sirin in this state, Chase took a sip of water and couldn't help but smile, sighing, "Sirin, you've grown up, gotten taller, and become more beautiful."

Sirin's golden eyes flickered, her cheeks slightly red. Half-annoyed, she said, "It's all because of Brother. Brother hasn't come to see Sirin for so long!"

Then, as if asking for something, Sirin's eyes became firm, staring straight at Chase.

It had been several years since the siblings had parted. Now Sirin was in high school, having transformed from the girl of the past into a young woman. As for Chase, under the meticulous care of fate, his body had deteriorated to the point where he now needed a wheelchair for mobility...

Seeing Sirin staring at him like this, Chase felt a bit uncomfortable. He awkwardly smiled, brainstorming ideas in his mind. Finally, after a few seconds, he came up with a comprehensive explanation:

"Sirin, you know Brother, if Brother could come to see Sirin, he would have come already," Chase smiled. "But the bishop I mentioned before, although not dead yet, won't live much longer. He always wants to find an heir and insisted on adopting me as his son. It took a lot of effort for me to escape from the family."

Saying this, Chase's smile became even more gentle. He reached out, stroking Sirin's head, "Then, I ran into Sirin!"

After all, the reasons Chase gave for the previous separation were:

"Ah, Brother, really!" Sirin quickly retreated, holding her head and adjusting her hair. "How can Brother still like to touch both sides of my head!?"

Although she enjoyed being touched, she couldn't let Brother see her unattractive side...

Chase hesitated for a moment, and feeling a bit lonely, he scolded himself in a somewhat regretful tone, "It's my fault. Clearly, Sirin has grown up, but I still lack the sense of distance..."

Sirin became anxious, wanting to speak, but the words seemed to be stuck at the tip of her tongue. She was red-faced and couldn't say anything, only feeling frantic.

What could she say? Actually, Sirin liked her brother touching her head. Could he please do it more?

That would be too embarrassing! つ﹏?

"Ah, come on!" Sirin stamped her feet in distress, and the poorly paved road emitted a dull creaking sound, as if it could drive away the shyness in her heart.

She grabbed Chase's hand, then lowered her head, placing Chase's hand on her head. Her eyes avoided his gaze, and her cheeks blushed. She dared not look at him.

Chase found it somewhat amusing, with his right hand on Sirin's head, feeling the soft touch of her hair. Sirin seemed to be trembling slightly; he guessed it was due to shyness. He rubbed Sirin's head again before finally pulling his hand back, satisfied.

"Sirin, let's go." Chase said.

Only then did Sirin breathe a sigh of relief. She hurriedly went back to push the wheelchair, feeling the lingering touch on her head, and her blush on her face didn't dissipate.

As the sun sank on the horizon, Chase and Sirin faced the setting sun, slowly walking. Their shadows stretched long, very long.

After a long time, Sirin finally settled her emotions and asked the question she had been curious about.

Why was Brother in a wheelchair? Why did Brother's body become so weak? And also...

"Sister, Sirin wants to know," Sirin pushed the wheelchair, looking at Chase whose white hair was tinged yellow by the setting sun, and spoke.

"....." Chase remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Sirin, come in front of me. Brother prefers to look into Sirin's eyes when speaking face-to-face with her."

Sirin responded and, after stabilizing the wheelchair, walked in front of Chase. Her cheeks were slightly red, and she recognized these words from the letter.

"Ah."

In Sirin's exclamation, Chase hugged her, pressing his forehead against hers. Their pairs of azure and golden eyes collided.

Chase stared into Sirin's eyes, filled with shock and curiosity, and smiled, saying:

"Brother will tell you, but not now."

"Next time."

...................

On the other side, ever since Schicksal discovered that Chase had escaped, it had caused quite a stir.

How could a person on the verge of physical collapse escape from the floating island of Schicksal with just a wheelchair? The Valkyries discussed it fervently, and even Otto, after viewing the image data, was somewhat surprised.

The entire escape plan was watertight. He even managed to persuade the pilot of a battleship to take him to Berlin!

"It's just a pity..." Otto shook the precious red wine in his highball glass and sighed.

Chase, as a Kaslana, had features distinct from Kaslana. Amazing culinary skills, a meticulous brain, a calm personality, and that fragile body...

Otto seemed to see a trace of himself in Chase, but unfortunately...

Otto set down the red wine and picked up his controller...

Kallen Fantasy, activate!

Then he froze.

Why did Cecilia create another account?!

.......

On another side, upon learning that Chase had escaped, Sieg and Cecilia immediately dropped everything they were doing. Even Kiana was left in the care of her aunt as they rushed to Berlin to find traces of Chase.

With his current physical condition, it was difficult not to worry when he ran out alone. What if he fell? Chase couldn't even get up from the ground by himself, let alone back into the wheelchair.

Thinking of this, Cecilia and Sieg quickened their pace.

Fortunately, they finally found their younger brother on a sunset road in Berlin. At this moment, Chase was being pushed forward by a girl, and the shadows of the two were stretched long...

Seeing that their little brother was fine, Sieg felt relieved and hurried to bring him back. However, a hand was placed on her shoulder.

"Cecilia?" Siegfried turned her head in confusion and asked.

Then she suddenly froze, and her gaze became alert. The person with a hand on her shoulder was not her wife but the leader of Anti-Entropy who had beaten him up in Poland—Welt Yang!

"I mean no harm," Walter said, turning his head to look at the young man and girl in the sunset with a gentle expression.

"Let them be for now."