Arad's unruly savior

Aurora's fingers traced the bright red shirt, the blood not yet completely dry, giving it a distinct dampness and a bloody smell. A closer sniff revealed the pungent odor of gunpowder.

She gently rubbed the blood off her fingertip, turned back to look at the immortal martyrs' monument in the cold wind, stood there, and her thoughts drifted through light and shadow, as if she had returned to the time of the sandstorm operation, with countless shells and explosives roaring in her ears.

Is it a dream born from thoughts during the day, or a real time travel?

A seagull's cry interrupted Aurora's dazed state. She pursed her slightly dry lips, took out her phone from her pocket, and prepared to directly ask General Ye Lin for a precise answer.

Unfortunately, her phone screen displayed a low battery warning and then went black. She only had time to glance at the time, which was 5:30 PM.

Aurora bowed again to the cemetery and monument, then turned to leave. At the entrance to the cemetery, a retired veteran with graying hair, who was guarding the gate in the lobby, stopped her and asked:

"Aurora, are you alright? Your clothes are covered in blood."

Aurora smiled and shook her head, saying it was just a glass of pomegranate juice that had been accidentally spilled on her.

Because she came often, she knew this old soldier. They would greet each other and exchange a few words when they met.

The old soldier guarding the gate was also one of the participants in Operation Sandstorm at Ruft Harbor. He lost an arm in the war and could no longer go to the front lines. After the war, he volunteered to work here and later became the gatekeeper of the martyrs' cemetery.

It is reported that he also had a younger brother who sacrificed his life in the sandstorm operation. His team also lost more than half of its members in one operation. Many of his comrades were overwhelmed by the artillery fire and fell down. It was a very tragic situation.

Aurora stretched his arms and wrapped his combat cloak around his body, using it as an outer layer. The weather was getting colder and colder. Then, at the invitation of the old soldier, he went into the guardhouse and sat for a while.

The old soldier took out a disposable paper cup, filled it with hot water from the water dispenser, and handed it to Aurora. She noticed that the old soldier's left arm under his sleeve had a cold metallic sheen, and the knuckles of his five fingers were very distinct. It was a mechanical arm.

Sensing Aurora's gaze, the old soldier raised his arm, clenched his fist, and said with a smile:
“A week ago, the military told me that my application for a free robotic arm had been approved, so I went to Ghent and the doctors there implanted the robotic arm in me.”

"Although it's only the lowest-end robotic arm, unable to lift heavy objects or engage in strenuous exercise, it can handle basic daily functions perfectly, such as serving tea and water, dressing and washing up, and riding a bicycle."

The veteran praised the robotic arm, saying that having two hands is much more convenient than having only one, and the key point is that he could receive it for free because of his status as a retired soldier, so what more could he ask for?

She also praised Her Majesty Alizee for her compassion for her people and for her wise policies, and took the opportunity to praise Carestream as a good scientist who serves the people, and for the mechanical prosthetics that have allowed many disabled veterans to return to normal life.

Aurora took a sip of the hot water in her paper cup, her expression slightly strange, unsure whether she should complain. She was a very good friend of Raphael, Xiao Fu, and Fei Yan, and Raphael was always very outgoing and would unintentionally reveal some family information to her.

Take Carestream, for example, who is now praised by veterans as a people's scientist. She used to be a crazy person, nicknamed "Madman." It was General Ye Lin who made career plans for her, encouraging her to work on prosthetics and cooperate with the military and welfare funds to benefit the public while earning a good reputation for herself. That's how she has undergone a complete image change.

She also knew that Rui Ke claimed to be the General's mistress, and that the General had written a lot in his madman's diary.

"Aurora, I heard you've been having some trouble at the military headquarters lately." The old soldier asked intentionally. Although he had retired from the army, some of his comrades were still working there, and they would sometimes talk about these things.

Soldiers who participated in Operation Sandstorm and survived often visit the Martyrs' Cemetery in the suspended harbor to pay their respects to their fallen comrades and chat with them for a while.

It hasn't been many years since the Kallet invasion, and many of the soldiers who experienced it firsthand are still alive.

“It’s a small problem, I’ll handle it,” Aurora replied.

After returning from that dreamlike experience, Aurora felt as if something had changed about her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was definitely a positive change.

"We absolutely support you; you are a hero of Operation Sandstorm." The veteran patted his chest in assurance, clearly knowing more details.

His Majesty the Emperor and Commander-in-Chief Jack's newly appointed combat commander have psychological problems, are prone to disobeying orders, rebelling against superiors, and have severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. These are basically known to the participants in Operation Sandstorm.

When the veteran talked to his friends in private, he was indignant. He had personally experienced the cruelty of the battlefield and witnessed his friend die in battle. Even the strongest-willed person would have some problems.

The military should be providing treatment, not discussing her removal from office.

Besides Aurora, who else is qualified to be the combat operations commander? They would all be dissatisfied if it wasn't Aurora.

Immediately, the veteran changed the subject and comforted the soldier, saying, "However, your own safety should always be the top priority."

If it's a serious health problem that's already affecting her life, then he would prefer Aurora to be healthy. There's no need for her to push herself too hard or put too much pressure on herself. It wouldn't hurt to hand over the position of combat commander to someone else.

“Yes, I won’t force myself.” Aurora turned to look at the martyrs’ cemetery, which was shrouded in darkness. The towering monument could now only be barely discerned as an outline.

After the Kallet War ended, a considerable number of meritorious soldiers and officers chose to retire and return home, declining the military's offers of promotion, and some even directly refused appointment letters.

They believed that their comrades were buried underground, never to wake up again. Compared to them, being alive and able to see the day of victory was already a great blessing. Therefore, they no longer pursued any promotions or titles, and their entire outlook on life changed.

Aurora isn't clinging to the position of combat commander; if someone more suitable comes along, she'll gladly let go.

But now the entire support division still needs her. She needs to lead the support division to the same level of maturity as the Stormtroopers and the Coast Guard before she can feel at ease and live up to the expectations of her former comrades.

Support divisions are lifesavers on the battlefield, traversing the smoke-filled battlefields to snatch people from the clutches of death, and can also transform into frontline personnel and serve as combat troops when needed.

The old soldier fell into reminiscence, then took out a cigarette from his pocket and said with a chuckle, "Back then, you dared to lead eleven men to raid Kallet and rescue the hostages, which shocked everyone in the command. I knew then that this little girl was extraordinary and would definitely be a big shot in the future, and now I'm sure she is."

As people who had experienced the war together, the topic of conversation always inevitably turned to the sandstorm operation in the suspended harbor. Many people were buried here, and many people's memories were also placed here. The power of the soul seemed to solidify here, as if greeting the two of them through the evening breeze.

The clock on the wall gradually pointed to 6:30, and the lights at the entrance of the cemetery came on, illuminating an open space. The old soldier asked:
"You came alone this time, didn't you drive?"

Aurora replied instinctively, "I came with the General." "The General? Which general? There aren't many who deserve that title. Is it General Semper Kischka, or General Un Leonil?"

“It’s Ye Lin.” Aurora paused for a moment, a little puzzled. When the title of Great General is mentioned, doesn’t it usually refer to Ye Lin?

"It's him." The old soldier lit a cigarette and laughed heartily, then praised Ye Lin highly, his words overflowing with admiration, praise, and a genuine sense of respect.

It is said that if Ye Lin had not brought the adventurers to the Celestial Realm, defended Ghent during the night raid on Kallet, captured the night battle commander Babylon, and later destroyed Landilus and rescued His Majesty the Emperor, the war in the Celestial Realm would have lasted much longer, and many more people would have died. Nobody knows.

The Heavenly Realm has always remembered his kindness, but he hasn't been active there much lately.

The reason I didn't realize it was Ye Lin when the general was mentioned earlier is simply because Ye Lin had already publicly retired and no longer holds any military position. And the old soldier was quite particular about it.

"Where is the General? It's cold outside, why don't you give him a call?" The old soldier thought to himself that Ye Lin didn't know how to care about his girlfriend. It was getting cold outside, and Aurora wasn't driving. Where was he?

Aurora instinctively reached for her phone in her pocket, then her expression instantly turned strange. She had completely forgotten to borrow a charger to charge her phone and didn't remember Ye Lin's phone number at all.

Furthermore, it's a bit difficult to hail a taxi near the martyrs' cemetery. If she asks the veteran to help her book a taxi online, wouldn't that damage the general's reputation and make him seem like he doesn't care about his girlfriend?

Suddenly, there was a knock on the gatehouse door, and a person stood at the door—it was Ye Lin.

When he took his leave, the old soldier showed Ye Lin heartfelt respect and gratitude for his actions, calling him a hero of the heavens.

Ye Lin then said towards the cemetery, "Everyone here is a hero, and you are a remarkable hero too."

The old soldier laughed heartily, and before he knew it, his eyes had become a little moist.

Aurora watched silently from the side, her eyes gentle, gaining a new understanding of Ye Lin.

After leaving the martyrs' cemetery, Ye Lin opened the car door and said, "His nose must not be very good, otherwise he would definitely have been able to smell the blood and flames on you."

Once inside the car's enclosed space, Aurora realized the smells emanating from her: the smell of blood and the smell of the battlefield.

Most people don't actually know what the smell of fresh blood is like because it's rare to see in daily life. But for Aurora, who was a medic, the smell of blood is very sensitive.

Aurora fastened her seatbelt in the passenger seat. She had originally wanted to sit in the back, but the General was driving a supercar with only two seats and no back seats.

"What just happened? It felt like I went back in time, and I was covered in blood," Aurora asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Ye Lin looked ahead and said, "It's just as you thought. I've taken you back to the past."

“I know this concept might seem incredible to you, but it’s true. Have you heard of Hermann’s blueprints, or Dr. Giselle’s blueprints?”

He wanted to use some things related to time to connect Aurora's understanding of time travel and gradually help her accept what had just happened.

“I know these two people; they are both very capable scientists. I haven’t heard of the design drawings.” Aurora looked at the streetlights flashing by outside; it was now completely dark.

Did she really travel through time? Aurora was in a state of doubt. She believed in the bloodstains and smell of fire on her body, as well as the clear details, which were a million times clearer than in her dreams. She didn't believe in the concept of time travel, which she had only heard about in stories.

Aurora silently closed her eyes, forgetting even to ask Ye Lin where he was taking her.

"You should have sensed it, right?" Ye Lin continued.
"In the past, every minute and every action of mine seemed to have an optimal solution that could not be defied. You would definitely be in a certain place at a certain time to do a certain thing."

Aurora nodded. Yes, it was like meshing metal gears, each tooth rotating according to a predetermined pattern.

"That's because you're a transmigrator from your original self. To put it another way, two completely identical versions of yourself can't exist in the same time and space. So I've let you temporarily take your place. You'll be affected by both fate and history, because everything has already happened, and you're following a pre-drawn trajectory."

"Feel yourself right now. Do you feel like gears meshing? No, because the future symbolizes freedom and infinite possibilities."

"Of course, in higher-level fields, the future is also predetermined, but we'll talk about that later."

Then, Ye Lin began to recount Aurora's experiences of rewinding several times. The first time, she followed the trajectory exactly. The second time, she deviated slightly from the trajectory, but could not change the outcome. The last time, she made a completely different choice.

Aurora opened her eyes, which were filled with surprise. She believed seven or eight parts of what Ye Lin had said before, as all the details he mentioned matched up perfectly.

"I've always been behind you."

His words contained a mysterious power, instantly dispelling the fog in Aurora's mind.

When the command post gave the order, Ye Lin stood in the corner. When she returned to the second medical team to boost morale, Ye Lin followed behind her. When she rushed across the bridge and almost fell into a shell crater, it was Ye Lin who pulled her up...

Ye Lin had been watching her the whole time, like a witness to a period of history, which increased Aurora's belief in that experience.

“But history hasn’t changed, Iaso is still dead,” Aurora said softly, still deeply saddened.

In some local folklore, Iaso is a goddess who can heal diseases and restore health.

"That's the significance of history. Fixed history is like interlocking gears that are hard to separate, but looking back, every minute and every second of history has its own fixed meaning," Ye Lin nodded and said.

(End of this chapter)