The Book of Hibernation

Aldin tried to explain: "Lian and I did discuss some things. Because we have to weigh..."

Winter Thistle raised her hand to signal him to stop: "Okay, let's not talk about these things. I just want to sigh, and I don't want you and Ryan to make up for something. It's meaningless."

Aldin frowned slightly.

Doesn't make sense anymore?For a moment he was not sure what that meant.The current winter thistle is somewhat confusing to him.

Winter Thistle said: "Let's talk about the key points. Obviously, you came here not for me, but for Kanai, right? But you haven't asked, are you afraid to ask? Afraid of hearing bad news?"

Aldin didn't answer, looking at the bonfire.

Winter Thistle said: "If you don't ask, then I'll take the initiative to tell. Kanai is in the cave and is not awake yet, but he will definitely wake up in time. You just need to find a way to take him away. As for the future arrangements, follow-up I will not participate in how to deal with the troublesome things."

Aldin said, "Your spell worked." It wasn't an interrogative sentence.

Winter Thistle nodded and stood up.Aldin also stood up together.

The two of them were originally sitting on both sides of the bonfire. When they sat down, they could hardly see each other clearly through the flames and smoke. Now their eyes meet, their figures are slightly distorted by the heat, but their eyes can see each other clearly.

Aldin first moved his eyes away from the stare.

He tidied up the weapons scattered around and let out a dissatisfied sigh.The body is still under the influence of toxins and is still relatively tired.

After tidying up, Aldin walked around the campfire and walked towards the direction of the cave.

When passing by Winter Thistle, he should have kept going, should have passed Winter Thistle.But he stopped.

Aldin stood beside Winter Thistle, but looked in the direction of the burrow, with a hesitant expression on his face.

Winter Thistle sighed: "Oh, I see."

Ardin hadn't said anything yet.He asked, "What do you understand?"

"I said just now that you didn't come here for me," Dong Ji said calmly, "This statement is wrong, at least not comprehensive. A small part of your purpose is indeed for me."

"I'm thinking about something," Aldine said.

Winter Ji asked, "Are you thinking about killing me?"

Aldin slowly turned to him.

Winter Thistle said with a smile: "Yes, of course I know. The Temple and Fesisit are actually wary of me. They are not very willing to allow me to cast spells, let alone allow me to successfully cast spells. This spell...it shouldn't exist in this world at all. Although it is still in its infancy, if it is not eliminated at this time, it may cause even greater troubles in the future. I am a spellcaster, and I understand all this. Transforming the body is already a great evil, and manipulating the soul is even more desecrating all living beings."

He glanced back, toward the hole, then back at Al's hand.

The hand was resting on the handle of the machete.

He continued: "The temple doesn't want my spell to succeed, but they won't say it directly, otherwise it will appear a bit too indifferent, not just, not loving at all... So, I guess they should have reached some kind of agreement with you Right? Let me cast a spell to hold back the necromancer, and then get rid of me before the spell succeeds... But you want me to succeed and save Kanai, what should I do? Then you can only change it to Kill me after the spell is successful."

After he finished speaking, Aldin smiled.

Winter Thistle asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

"That's right," Aldin replied, "very accurate. This is the result of my discussion with the temple."

Winter Thistle nodded: "Both of us have been affected by the toxin. Even if you are weaker than usual, I am still no match for you. If you want to do something, I can't resist. It's up to you."

Aldin asked: "Why do you say that? Don't you want to live?"

Winter Thistle said: "Of course I want to live. But I'm too tired, so I want to change my way of life. From now on, I will do what I really want to do and what I have to do. Other than that, I can do whatever I want. , leave it to fate."

Aldin didn't answer.He took two steps towards Winter Thistle, and now the distance between them was a little closer.

He raised his hand and gently placed it on Winter Thistle's neck and collarbone.Push the palm forward lightly, but not with much force.

With this force, Winter Thistle retreated and leaned against the trunk.

He looked over Aldin and looked at the bonfire. There was no timidity in his eyes, only indifference and exhaustion.

The palm under the neck has not been tightened, and the scimitar has not been unsheathed.Aldin lowered his head and touched Winter Thistle's forehead with his forehead.

Aldin said softly, "Push me away if you don't want to."

After finishing speaking, he closed his eyes and leaned over, hugging first, then kissing.

Winter Thistle was a little surprised, but did not push Aldin.His eyes widened for a moment, then slowly closed.

After parting his lips, Aldin looked into the half-elf's eyes and saw that long-lost expression.There is not much shyness in it, more trance and hesitation, like drinking alcohol.

Winter Thistle's hair was a little messier than before, and Aldine tucked a lock behind her pointed ear.

Aldin said: "You are right about the attitude of the temple and the city. But you are wrong about what I am considering."

Winter Ji finally retracted her eyes and looked at him.

He continued: "I'm not thinking about whether to kill you or how to kill you. As you said, it's actually very simple to kill you, but what I'm thinking about is more complicated and difficult to do."

This statement made Winter Thistle both surprised and curious.He asked, "What's the matter?"

Aldin replied: "I was thinking, if I ask you to go back to Harbor City, you will definitely not agree. I can propose more favorable material conditions, and I can also use personal feelings as an excuse. You can try these methods... But I don’t think it’s useless, and it’s useless to say it. If I invite you back, what will you think? You will definitely think, I saw that Kanai was saved, so I self-righteously ‘forgive’ you, I see You haven’t used it to the fullest, and you want to buy it back and continue to use it…”

Dong Ji laughed when she heard this, and shook her head slightly while laughing.

Not for denial, just lament and helplessness.

"Look, I'm right," Aldin also smiled, "You said that you are not suitable for the Chamber of Commerce. Now I can say to you 'we have changed, we don't do those dangerous things'...but I I wouldn’t say that. It’s unrealistic. The Chamber of Commerce is still the Chamber of Commerce you know, and I’m still the anaconda Aldin. So I thought, what should I do and how to express it so that you want to come back and not let you Have an unpleasant feeling? After thinking about it, I don’t think there’s anything I can do. Really, there’s nothing I can do.”

After speaking, Aldin leaned against the trunk like Winter Thistle.The big tree in the gem forest is very thick, and the two of them can lean on it side by side, only their faces are subtly facing in different directions.

Dongji thought for a while, and asked, "You want me to go back, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"You don't necessarily need to go back to the Chamber of Commerce," Aldin said. "It's enough if you can go back to Harbor City. After all, you get along with the group of people in the Western Suburb Workshop, and the climate in Harbor City is more comfortable."

"Don't I need to serve the chamber of commerce?"

"To be honest, I still need it. If you are willing, of course I need it very much. But the problem is that you are definitely not willing, so it is meaningless for me to say this."

"Why..." Dong Ji was thoughtful.

His "why" was more like talking to himself, and he didn't specify what he was asking—why did he want him to return to Harbor City?Or why not work for the chamber of commerce?Or ask something else...

Aldin didn't press the question either.He doesn't need to ask very clearly, even if he doesn't ask clearly, he can give an answer.

Because the answers to these questions are all the same.

He replied: "Because you are special."

"What is special?"

"It's just different... at least for me."

Winter Thistle let out a long breath.Moisture melted into the fading mist.

His voice was a bit like a sigh, with a slight vibrato.

Aldin looked at him, he turned his head slightly, his hair and hood covered his side face, and also blocked the tips of his ears that used to reveal his emotions.

After a long time, Dong Ji said softly, "What a coincidence."

Aldin wondered: "What?"

"Coincidentally, I feel almost the same way," Dong Ji sighed, "You are also very special to me."

These words made Aldin's eyes flash, but there was not much emotion on his face.

For he knew exactly what Winter Thistle meant.This sentence is not a heart-to-heart confession, not the kind of touching words.

It's just a fact.Just describing a feeling that has arisen and persists.

This feeling is too difficult to define.

I feel this way, probably because they are somewhat similar in some places.

For example, they all have only one relative left by their side, and they have all had headaches for this family relationship.But no matter how painful it is, family love is not difficult to describe, it is easy to be understood by oneself, by the other party, and by everyone: because of the blood connection, and because of the long-term relationship, this is the destined inseparable connection between people.

For another example, they are all walking on a very special path.At first glance, this road is not lonely at all. There are many mages in the world, and there are also many ambitious businessmen in the world... They will meet many fellow travelers, friends or enemies, but it is very lively anyway.

The problem with this road is not loneliness, nor is it dangerous, but if the walker walks too deep and for too long, the road becomes absolutely irreplaceable.

A warm and peaceful life, a sense of justice, faith, love...these are all good things, but none of them can replace the road under their feet.

What is the only truth, what can be replaced, can be discarded, can be regarded as secondary?

So, after walking on my own path for too long, I can only walk alone gradually.

In this way, they cannot define what the other is.Saying nothing is wrong.

They are not only allies, they are not enemies, they are not in line with family ties, they cannot be called friends, and they are not at all worthy of the so-called love praised by the world.

It doesn't fit into any other mold at all.

Among two people, if only one of them thinks this way, there is a certain chance that the other will misunderstand: either underestimate this "specialness", or overestimate it as something more elusive.

And if two people think this way, and both of them clearly understand, then this feeling will become a tacit understanding.

It is not only a tacit understanding, but also a thoroughness that is almost ruthless.

Now they are in the silent forest of the north, where there is nothing but the grass, the mist, and the campfire, and they are alone.

So there is no need to conceive any euphemistic and beautiful sentences, it is better to be honest.

For a while, the two just watched the bonfire quietly.

Then Winter Thistle broke the silence first: "I can't stay here forever. I should go."

Aldin nodded and stood up straight: "Then you go. I'll deal with the bonfire."

The Winter Thistle was gone for a moment.During this period of time, Aldin put out the bonfire, cleaned up the residue of the fire, and carefully checked the surroundings for personal items that should not appear.

Soon the winter thistles will be back.He was dragging an empty sled, on which there was no longer a human body, but two small rucksacks, and Winter Thistle took some things that would be needed in the future from the necromancer's burrow.

Walking past Aldin, Winter Thistle nodded in farewell.

Just as he was about to leave, Aldin grabbed his wrist: "When we meet next time, I'll bring the two kinds of snacks you like."

Winter Thistle looked at him and shook her head.

Aldin thought that Winter Thistle meant that they would never see each other again, so he sighed and let go of his hand.

At this time Winter Ji replied: "Who knows where we will meet next time? Can you still carry a box of snacks every day? Let's talk about it in the future, when I go to Harbor City."

"Are you going back to Harbor City?" Aldin asked.

Winter Thistle said: "Well, I'm a refiner. After everything calms down, I still have a lot of things to do. I must go to the Western Suburb Workshop. Your almshouse market is also a good place. I may still Will go shopping."

He answered very seriously.It can be seen that it is not a fake perfunctory.

"Okay. You're welcome anytime," said Ardine.

Winter Thistle reminded: "But I can't promise a specific date, so don't think I'm lying to you."

"No, I understand."

After Aldin finished speaking, he suddenly laughed thoughtfully.

Winter Thistle asked him what was the matter, and Aldine said, "I remembered something you said just now. You thought I was going to kill you, and then you said this--'Let it be fate.' I found this very interesting. right."

After finishing speaking, he spread his hands and wrapped his arms around Dongji's shoulders, and Dongji also took a step closer.The two hugged lightly.

Winter Thistle buried her face in Aldin's neck, and Aldin kissed the top of Winter Thistle's hair.

This kind of intimacy is a bit like going back to the past.But no, they didn't go back in time.This is different.

Whether it will be more distant in the future, or stop here, or there will be other possibilities - no one can answer at this time.

Just leave it to fate.

After embracing, they slowly separated and patted each other's arms.

As if this was just an ordinary street encounter.

====================

There were many people talking at the door of the laboratory, and Simon sat by the door and listened carefully.

It seems that the exchange of hostages has made some progress, and there has been a fight. Anyway, it sounds like it is not going well.

The crowd dispersed quickly, and Simon still didn't quite understand what happened.He bit his lip nervously, not knowing what to do now.

Before, a mage treated Simon's wound briefly, and removed a scroll case to make a simple splint to fix his broken finger.Simon held his hands together, the tears on his face were still wet.

After a while, some injured people were brought into the laboratory.There is no warmer house in this area than a laboratory.

Simon looked around, and the room was full of people who were more seriously injured than him.He thought that staying in the house at this time would not be good for rest, and he might have to help other mages with work... It's better to go out and find a quiet place to stay, just in time to find someone to inquire about the situation.Anyway, he is wearing a robe with constant temperature magic, so he is not very afraid of the cold.

He left the laboratory, walked around pretending to be busy looking for something, and walked to the bushes by the river.

He didn't want to get too close to the river, so he wanted to leave quickly. At this moment, he saw a young knight sitting alone on a stone.

The man had no armor, no weapon by his side, his clothes and hair were wet, but he had no blanket on.Simon walked over and stood beside him, wondering how to start a conversation.

At this time, the young knight shuddered and reached out to grab Simon's robe.

The man was young, with handsome features, and a pair of peridot-like eyes.But at this time, his face was very pale, his eyes were wide open, the whites of his eyes were flushed, and some kind of intense light burst out in an instant, and it was hard to tell whether it was anger or enthusiasm.

Simon was meeting his gaze, and subconsciously took a step back.

"Sorry, I got the wrong person," Ryan said.

After seeing the appearance of the comer, he turned his head and turned his gaze to the dark river.

Simon said, "No, no, I should say sorry. Did it scare you?"

Lane shook his head.

Simon asked, "What's wrong with you, are you hurt?"

Ryan just shook his head again without saying a word.

Simon said again: "It's so cold, you will get sick like this. They made a bonfire over there, it's warmer, go and sit over there?"

Simon squatted beside Ryan, and said a lot of concerned words, including asking how the battle was going, what everyone was going to do now, and so on.

Ryan's eyes were blank, and he basically didn't answer much. He either shook his head or said "hmm" occasionally.

Simon reported his name and asked the other party what to call him, but Ryan replied politely with the name "Ryan Messenger".

Simon didn't meet Ryan directly, but he vaguely felt that the name was familiar, and it should be related to those people in Harbor City.He seemed to have heard the name when he was around Bellows.

Simon inadvertently mentioned: "There are many workers over the bonfire, and it's a bit noisy, so you don't want to go? Then you can go to the laboratory, it's also warm over there."

Ryan finally had something else to do.He asked, "Are you a mage?"

Simon can be counted, but it can't be counted.He said more strictly: "I am the assistant of the mage."

Lane asked, "Do you know a winter thistle?"

That's too familiar.Simon said, "Winter Thistle, many wizards know him."

He was purposely ambiguous, not showing his likes and dislikes, and not showing that Winter Thistle was nearby.Because on the bright side, "Winter Thistle" is not in the gem forest, and that half-elf is just another refiner.

Simon knew very well that he had to be careful in what he did and said now. If he talked nonsense, he might not be able to get out of the gem forest in the future—anyone who died could blame the necromancer.

He didn't know whether the relationship between the person in front of him and Winter Thistle was good or bad, so it wouldn't hurt to be cautious.

Ryan thought for a while, then asked again: "If you know Winter Thistle, do you know what he did? Or let's put it this way... What did the refiner over there do?"

Simon doesn't know.He still wanted to ask someone else.

He said: "I'm just an assistant, I don't know much, I don't know much about their spells..."

"Where is the refiner? The one who is mainly responsible for doing things."

"I don't know..."

"He hasn't been in the laboratory for a long time, has he? When did he leave?"

"It seems to be... I didn't pay attention to the time."

"What did he do before he left?"

"I don't know..."

Ryan looked at Simon.Rather than looking at it, Simon felt that he was being stared at.But he wasn't sure... because Ryan's eyes were only filled with obvious disgust for a moment, and then immediately became gentle and calm again.

This change in expression scared Simon a little.He stood up slowly, and decided not to ask this person for news. This person didn't look right.

Ryan continued to ask: "You are also a mage, don't you know? Look at these..." He gestured towards the river in the night, not knowing what he was referring to, "These, anyway, these strange things ...was it all his doing?"

Simon said a few unclear words perfunctorily, and slowly stepped back to leave.

Ryan stood up and followed Simon: "Look! What happened in this day! Do you know what he did? Tell me, what exactly did he do? It doesn't matter if you don't know much, I don't understand either, just tell me what it looks like he did on the surface, anything... please think about it! I'm looking for that refiner, I'm worried about him, I want to find him, you and me Tell me, why are you running! Tell me quickly..."

Simon was so frightened that he said loudly that he didn't know, and quickened his pace and ran to a crowded place.

Lane stopped behind a bush and did not follow.

It wasn't for nothing that Simon was frightened.

When Ryan asked a series of questions, his tone was very gentle, and the words he used were very polite, but at the same time, a painful and angry expression gradually appeared on his face.

Simon couldn't understand what was going on with that expression, but felt that this incongruity was quite scary... It seemed that the man only controlled his tone, but failed to control his expression.

Simon ran back to the vicinity of the laboratory, still having lingering fears.The fear he felt just now was no less than when he faced Aldin.

He was deeply moved: Why is that half-elf surrounded by such terrible people?Perhaps this is enough to show that the half-elves themselves are terrible, but they don't usually see it.