Night Journey

Chapter 103 The Fog of Memories
After taking the jerky and returning to Daelin's side, Cillian glanced at his expression out of the corner of his eye. Perhaps in the short time he was away, Daelin had wiped away his tears.

There were no tears, and his eyes were not red.

Dai Lin simply lit a cigarette, his gaze unfocused, like a pale, empty shell.

Where were we?

"Past and Future".

Dai Lin took a deep drag on his cigarette and tossed the half-burnt cigarette into the wind.

“Cillian, after becoming a slave laborer, my life actually improved. I had a stable place to live, although I had to share a room with dozens of other people. I had a stable source of food every day, even though it was hard for most people to swallow.”

Most importantly, I left that city-state that was gradually heading towards destruction and came to the prosperous city of Hel.

Dailin waved excitedly, but all he saw was thick fog, dark and indistinct, making it difficult to distinguish between day and night.

“Living in the city of Hull, even if I am a lowly slave, I do not have to worry about the demons that attack me at night, nor do I have to care about my mother’s scolding or the men’s ridicule.”

At that time, I actually started to like this kind of life... It's ridiculous.

Cillian reminded him, "But you're not a slave anymore, Daelin. You've become an Iron Guard, and a key member of the City Guard."

"Yes, it's really hard to imagine how my life got to this point."

Dai Lin pondered for a moment, but couldn't find a solution, so he could only continue.

“The life of slave labor lasted for a long time until one day, I belatedly realized that I was actually quite satisfied with my life—I was willing to be a slave laborer.”

Dalin paused, then smiled and said, "The rest of the story is quite cliché. I wanted to regain my freedom, but the merchant refused. I had no choice but to kill him, break the shackles, and escape overnight."

"I lived a life of wandering for a long time, hiding in the streets and alleys of Hull, like a rat in a sewer."

Fortunately, this wasn't too different from my childhood experiences, and I easily adapted to this kind of life. Later, through a series of coincidences, I met the members of the Holy Order of Obstruction, and through them, I became a transcendent being, embarking on my path to the throne.

Dalin stopped the story and emphasized, "To be honest, the people of the Holy Order of the Obstruction are all warm-hearted. They don't want money or profit, and they don't ask me to join them. They just want to carry on the destiny of the throne."

"That certainly sounds like their style."

Cillian nodded in agreement.

In gratitude for the sacrifice of the giant arm that supports the heavens, the extraordinary forces that serve him, the Holy Guardians of Calamity, send a large number of Iron Guards to various countries and cities every year to help suitable candidates embark on their path to the throne. After the ceremony, they do not require the candidates to join the Holy Guardians of Calamity or to make a pilgrimage to the Land of Silence.

They were like a group of devout believers and ascetics, working alongside the mighty Arm of Heaven to dedicate everything they had to the civilized world.

"With my identity as an Iron Guard, I joined the City Guard Bureau, and it was at this time that I met Anya."

Whenever Anya is mentioned, a smile involuntarily appears on Dai Lin's face.

“At first, I didn’t get along with Anya. I hated her and even deliberately ostracized her.”

Cillian guessed the reason: "Because of her past as a dancer."

"Pretty much. As soon as I saw her, I was reminded of my mother. Because of this, I subconsciously projected my dislike for my mother onto her."

Cillian became curious about what happened next that could cause such a dramatic change in Daelin.

His initial dislike for Anya transformed into a fervent pursuit of her.

And... Daelin's revenge.

"It was a field mission. Anya and I were assigned together to investigate another city-state."

As he spoke of these things, Dalin's expression became extremely complicated; it seemed that this was the turning point in the story.

"Coincidentally, that city-state was my hometown."

Dalin patted Cillian's shoulder forcefully and described his past self.

“Cillian, you can’t imagine how excited I was when I learned about the mission.”

"I was sold into slavery, but now I've returned as an Iron Guard, an employee of the City Guard Bureau, and a big shot in the eyes of most people!"

"I want to go back and find my mother. Maybe she's still living in that dilapidated house, or maybe she's snuggled up in some man's bed. I think the former is more likely. So many years have passed, her beauty has long since faded."

Ciri listened quietly.

“I will not scold her, much less hit her. I will just stand quietly in front of her and let her see that the child she abandoned back then has now lived such a comfortable life and become someone she needs to look up to.”

Dai Lin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

"I want to make her regret and suffer, to make her realize what she has missed."

Immediately afterwards, Dai Lin's voice became ethereal, as if it came from a very distant place.

“I returned to that city-state, and that day was just like it is now, with gray mist filling the streets and alleys, as blurry and distant as a dream.”

The greyish-white mist rose up, so thick that even though the two were so close, they couldn't see each other's eyes. A gust of wind swept by, carrying the mist that crashed against Ciri, or perhaps it was Ciri who moved forward, passing through the mist.

Together with Dai Lin, he traveled back in time, returning to a similarly foggy morning many years ago.

"Phew... It's so cold."

Dai Lin stepped over the broken bricks and collapsed walls, and looked around. The street was deserted.

"This place wasn't so empty before. There were at least a few drunkards or homeless people, as well as corpses of people who died violent deaths."

Anya ignored Dalin's terrible joke and cautiously scanned her surroundings.

"Is this your hometown?"

"Although I hate to admit it, it is indeed true."

It was clear that Dai Lin didn't particularly like his hometown, but for some reason that Anya didn't know, he was unusually excited today and even willing to joke with Anya.

Prior to this, Dai Lin had been extremely indifferent to Anya, and would occasionally make sarcastic remarks.

Anya couldn't understand Dailin's inexplicable hostility, but she didn't care. She had faced similar situations countless times in the past and was already used to it.

Or numbness.

"Then we should go..."

Before Anya could explain the mission, Dalin interrupted her.

"We set off a few days earlier, so theoretically we should have had a few more days in the mission's timeline, right?"

Anya wasn't surprised. "Are you using this time to take care of some personal matters?"

"more or less."

"How long will it take exactly?"

"I don't know, I'll come back to you when the time comes."

"No, according to the rules, I have to be with you to make sure you don't run into any problems."

Seeing Anya's stubbornness, Dai Lin felt a surge of anger, but he held back when he thought of the rules Anya had mentioned.

Not long ago, Director Decal expressed his approval of my work, and I might be promoted soon. Given my awkward relationship with Anya, if a problem arises at this time, she might take advantage of my misfortune.

"Okay, but this is a private matter."

“I understand,” Anya said understandingly. “I will wait outside.”

"it is good."

The two temporarily shook hands and made peace, then traveled together through the city.

Years later, the familiar buildings have either collapsed or become even more dilapidated. Even the already tilted lighthouse has tilted even more, as if memories are covered with mottled rust.

But Dai Lin still followed the old trail and came to a low building where he had spent many days and nights.

Compared to when I left, it hasn't become more dilapidated. Instead, the windowsill and steps are now covered with flowers, as if someone has always lived here and still has great enthusiasm for it.

Seeing this, Dai Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

Anya keenly noticed this detail and asked.

"what happened?"

She wasn't expecting a reply from Dailin, but was just subconsciously curious. Surprisingly, Dailin did answer her, but vaguely.

"Someone lives here..."

Dai Lin's desire for revenge reached its peak. He needed to share and show off this pleasure to others, but he didn't want Anya to know too much, so he spoke evasively.

"Many years ago, she planted a huge seed of resentment in my heart."

Dai Lin sighed, "I was always afraid that she might have died before I got back, or that she might have moved somewhere else. I don't have time to search for her house by house."

Anya warned, "You're not going to kill her, are you?"

"Of course not, I just have a lot to say to her... So, could you wait here quietly?"

It was unusual for Dai Lin to make a request to Anya, "This won't take long."

Anya turned around without a word and stood in front of the low building like a guard.

(End of this chapter)