The Book of Hibernation

Winter Thistle sat on the ground and didn't get up for a long time.His head was dizzy, his eyes were hot, and his vision was shaky.

It wasn't until someone came to help him that he followed the strength of the other person and slowly stood up.

Aldin half-supported and half-hugged Dongji back to his seat, but Dongji didn't look at him, his eyes stared straight.

De Lisi ran over and took out a small bag from her waist, which contained clean gauze and emergency ointment.Aldin brushed the messy hair off his forehead for Winter Thistle, and Doris began to skillfully treat the wound.

"It's great, with you here, I don't need to send someone to find a doctor." Aldin said to her.

De Lisi shrugged: "I bring emergency supplies with me when I go out. I didn't use them on this trip, but I used them after a meal."

She quickly cleaned up the blood stains on the wound, applied ointment to stop the bleeding, and did not put gauze on it.

"That's fine," she stood up and returned to her seat. "It's not very serious, so there's no need to bandage it."

Aldin said: "Why don't you give him a closer inspection? Our refiners are very weak, not rough-skinned and thick-skinned mercenaries like you and me."

"It's okay when I say it's okay." De Lisi rolled her eyes.

If you really love him so much, you should go to protect him when you see that he might be beaten... What's the use of talking about it now?

De Lisi just thought so, and didn't say it.God knows what kind of mentality Arden was in.

Aldin stood close beside Winter Thistle, letting Winter Thistle lean against him.

After leaning against it for a while, Winter Thistle seemed to wake up. He slowly sat up straight, looked up at Aldin, smiled, and said thank you.

He looked at De Lisi again: "I'm sorry for letting you see this scene, I'm so sorry."

As he spoke, he raised his wine glass: "Thank you, kind lady. This glass is toast to you."

The last time I clinked glasses with Deliss, Winter Thistle only took a sip of the wine, and there was still more than half of the glass left.Now, after toasting his glass, he drank what was left.

It was the first time that Winter Thistle drank like this.He was surprised to find that drinking like this was not uncomfortable, but rather comfortable, much more comfortable than taking small sips.The tongue is not astringent, the throat is also very pleasant, and there is a hint of sweetness.

De Lisi replied politely, had a drink with him, said you're welcome, and then looked at Aldin.

Aldin didn't say anything, just slowly walked back to his seat.Kanai stared at him with complicated eyes. Aldin didn't say anything, but only called the servants to get some more wine and a few more dishes.

Gradually, several members of the Carlos family talked about their impressions of Harbor City, and Kanai also mentioned his various experiences in San Dilian.

The atmosphere returned to a few minutes ago.It was as if the scene where Ryan walked in had never happened.

Winter Thistle didn't quite come naturally at first, and later blended in with the others.

No matter what the speaker is saying, Winter Thistle will listen carefully, nod and laugh.When everyone raised their glasses, he also raised their glasses, following De Lisi's example, and drank the wine in one gulp.

No one asked him what happened just now.

Aldin and Kanai didn't ask, and the foreign guests didn't ask anything, and they weren't curious at all.It was like it was just a normal little episode, no different than someone falling on the side of the road, no big deal.

Winter Thistle is grateful for the atmosphere.Don't ask anyone, he doesn't want to say anything.

Gradually, Winter Thistle couldn't understand their conversation.

At the beginning, he could understand the general idea, but he didn't quite understand the specific meaning, such as the newly opened trade routes, the new regulations promulgated by a certain city-state, etc.; later on, he gradually couldn't understand anything, and the words of those people were like nothing. Meaningless white noise, like a strong wind blowing through a dense forest, like waves in the distance...

Am I drunk?Winter Thistle put her hands on her knees, and randomly made a few spellcasting gestures she had learned. The speed and accuracy were not bad, and she was not slow.

He looked around again, and his ability to recognize directions and estimate time was still normal, and his mind was not particularly confused.He put a slice of cantaloupe into his mouth, and there was no problem with his taste.

Winter Thistle thought, if I am not drunk, it means that my alcohol capacity is much better than expected; if I am already drunk, it means that being drunk is not a bad thing.

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

Unknowingly, everyone was chatting and laughing, it was almost midnight, and everyone left the table several times in the middle.Because drinking will bring a big inconvenience: increase the frequency of people going to the toilet.

Generally, when there is such a need, people will leave the table silently, and the host and guest are tacitly aware of it, and there is no need to ask or specifically tell where they are going.

Aldin also left for a while, and when he came back, he found that the winter thistle was gone.

At first he didn't think much about it, Dongji drank a lot of wine today, so he must go out for convenience.

A few quarters of an hour ago, Aldin had secretly told the servants to replace the wine bottle in Winter Thistle's hand with light grape juice of the same color.

Winter Ji still poured and drank by himself, but he didn't realize the difference between fruit juice and wine.

After a while, Aldin found that Winter Thistle had left the banquet for a long time and hadn't come back.

At this time, De Lisi was about to leave. She took her subordinates to live in the inn, and she had to leave early tomorrow morning to deal with many things. Although she was happy today, it was inconvenient to make a fuss until midnight.

She left without asking about Winter Thistle at all.Just act like nothing happened.

There are no miscellaneous rules here in Aldin. The guests can leave directly if they want to leave.

However, before leaving, De Lisi came over and hugged Aldin.

Aldin smiled, knowing that she represented the Carlos family - the Carlos family had been aware of everything that had happened recently, and was very grateful for the assistance of the chamber of commerce.

The incident about the docks will not affect their relationship with Aldin, who remains the closest friend of the Carlos family.

After all the guests left, Aldin raised his hand, and the servants rushed into the banquet hall and packed them up silently.

Aldin leaned on the table and observed Kanai.Kanai's complexion was as usual, it was obvious that he had taken the pills from Winter Thistle in advance, his face was not red and his head was not dizzy, and there was no difference between drinking and drinking water.

Aldin sighed, "You really can't do it. What's the point of drinking alcohol and taking anti-drunk medicine in advance?"

Kanai said, "One of us has to be wide awake, right?"

Aldin touched his chest: "Oh, she forgot to give you a hug too. Are you envious? Do you want to hug your brother and give you an indirect hug?"

Kanai gave him a blank look: "Hurry up and hug your half-elf. I don't know where to go."

"Maybe I went out to relax and got lost."

"What if I run away? If I run away, I might not come back."

"No, he has nowhere to go."

Kanai asked: "Are you sure? His brother can only leave Harbor City after dawn. He can go to his brother, cry and confess his mistake, and there is still time."

Aldin smiled and shook his head: "No."

"Why not?"

"Because it wasn't that he abandoned Ryan, it was that Ryan didn't want him, and he has no room for apology," Aldin rinsed his mouth with ice water, and patted Kanai on the shoulder, "But you are right, I I have to look for him. It would be bad if I fainted somewhere."

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

Aldin went to Winter Thistle's room to check, but there was no one there.Ryan's room was of course empty.He went to the laboratory again, which was also empty.

Aldin thought of somewhere in the street.So he put on a thin cloak for early autumn and went out.

After a short walk, he arrived at the platform where he could see the port and the sea in the distance.

Not long ago, Winter Thistle was brought here by a horse named Dew, and happened to meet Aldin.They stood side by side by the wall, watching the lights in the distance, and chatted for a long time.

Aldin guessed right, the Winter Thistle was really here.

Aldin did not approach immediately, but stood not far away and observed for a while.

The half-elf clasped her arms tightly, resting her elbows on the hollow of the wall, hunched her shoulders, leaned her head against the stone brick, her body trembled slightly, and looked as if she was crying.

This time Aldin didn't paste it quietly, but deliberately walked with his feet, making obvious noises.

Dong Ji looked back at him, her eyes were blank, and her whole body was a little dull.

Aldin had already stood beside her, and Winter Thistle thought of wiping her tears. She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, but there were still teardrops hanging on her chin.

He should have wiped away several rounds of tears, his eyes and cheeks were rubbed red.

Aldin shook off the thin cloak he had brought, put it on Winter Thistle, and hugged him with the cloak in his arms.

This time was different from the past, Winter Thistle didn't seem to reject this hug, her body was not stiff, but rather limp, leaning her weight on Aldin.

Compared with humans who were born as mercenaries, the half-elf's physique was particularly slender, reminding Aldin of small animals such as egrets.

Aldin stroked Winter Thistle's back, and said softly, "I know you are wronged..."

Winter Ji's voice was muffled: "I'm not wronged. It was my fault in the first place."

Aldin smiled and said, "If you are wrong, then I am even more unforgivable?"

He purposely said this to divert Winter Thistle's attention.Based on his understanding of Winter Ji, Dong Ji should quickly say "That's not the case, I didn't mean that" or something.The Winter Thistle must have said so before.

To Aldin's surprise, Winter Thistle actually replied: "I have no right to judge you. What kind of person are you? Is there anything wrong with you...I have nothing to say. But I know myself...I know I am What, I understand how disgusting I am..."

Hearing what he said, Aldin's eyes became serious, and he no longer had the idea of ​​teasing him.

"You want to protect your brother, but you don't want him to know anything, is that right?" Aldin asked.

Dong Ji slightly left his embrace, lowered her head, not daring to look at him, and turned her gaze to the distant sea.

"Well," Winter Thistle said, "isn't that shameful? I know I'm wrong and Ryan is right, but I...but I just..."

Winter Thistle couldn't go on.There was this weird contradiction in his mind, but he couldn't find the right words to describe it.

He paused for a moment, and changed his words: "Actually, I don't blame Ryan...not at all. He followed his inner beliefs and insisted on good thoughts. Even if he is not my brother, this will not change. No, no... How dare I say 'I didn't blame him'? I have no right to blame him at all, and I don't deserve to blame him at all."

As he spoke, his tears fell again.He wiped it casually a few times, but before he wiped it clean, more tears poured out.

He didn't bother to hide it in front of Aldin, so he simply lowered his head and began to sob.

"If you want to talk to him, it might be too late. I can help you find him," Aldin said.

Winter Thistle shook her head: "No...no need. Lord Aldin, you must not understand why I am like this..."

Aldin sighed, put his arms around Winter Thistle's shoulders again, and let him lean against himself: "Well, I really don't fully understand. Would you like to tell me?"

Winter Thistle said in a slightly changed voice: "I'm guilty, but I don't regret it at all. Can you imagine that I don't regret it? Ryan's anger, his departure... I can imagine it in advance, intellectually It's all acceptable. Ha... can be accepted... I can accept it?"

His voice shook even more.Aldin caressed his back, trying to help him breathe.

After a while, Dongji continued: "Obviously I can think of all of this, and I know right from wrong...but I'm still so sad...I hurt someone else's heart, it's my fault, but I'm so sad... Isn't that shameful? Isn't that more shameful than someone who thinks he's right..."

Aldin couldn't help shaking his head slightly.Anyway, Dongji was nestled in his arms, so he couldn't see his expression.

It's a good thing he and Kanai didn't tell Winter Thistle all the details of that incident, otherwise the cutie might go crazy.

Aldin stroked the half-elf's hair, and said softly: "I want to persuade you not to be sad, but your feelings are so complicated, it is definitely not possible to persuade you with one or two sentences, so I will not talk about those useless things .Seeing you like this, I feel very distressed. I was thinking, how can I make you feel better? Unfortunately, I haven't thought of it yet."

Dong Ji wiped away her tears again, and now she felt a little embarrassed: "I'm sorry...for making you worry."

Aldin helped Winter Thistle wrap his cloak tighter again, and asked him, "Today there are more lights on the pier than last time, and there are more night boats on the sea. Have you noticed?"

This question was asked too suddenly, Dongji had been drinking, and his reaction was a little slow, so he finally looked up at Aldin, his eyes slightly blurred.

Aldin pointed to the distance: "It's quite beautiful. Do you want to watch it for a while?"

Winter Thistle shook her head.

"Then let's go back, it's getting late." Aldin said.

Winter Thistle was supported, and obediently left the high platform with Aldin.His mood is still very low, but it is obviously much calmer than before.

When he walked to the place with stairs, Aldin lowered his figure slightly, put one of Winter Thistle's arms around his neck, and directly hugged Winter Thistle horizontally, letting Winter Thistle wrap around his neck tightly.

Winter Thistle was a bit reluctant, so Aldin explained: "Your foot injury is just right, and you've drank so much alcohol that you're already unsteady when walking. There are no lights on the street at night, and the stairs on this steep slope are too dangerous."

Winter Thistle looked at the long staircase and asked Aldin, "Then it is not dangerous to you?"

"I've lived in Harbor City for so long, I'm familiar with every place, and I can walk home with my eyes closed," Aldin looked at Winter Thistle, as if he really didn't need to look at the road under his feet at all, "In the future, you can also be like I do, but not now. Let me protect you now."

Anyway, there was no one around in the street, so Winter Ji gradually became less embarrassed.

He even had a strange sense of security.The last time I clearly experienced this feeling was at the border of the sea of ​​trees, before my mother died.

For so many years, he has already gotten used to taking care of others, and almost forgot what it was like to be taken care of by others.

Winter Thistle thought dazedly: maybe this is the feeling now... You don’t need to stay away from the night, because someone who is familiar with the night will pick you up; you don’t need to reject wine, because you won’t fall down when you are drunk.

Aldin had already finished walking the stone steps, and he would soon be back home if he walked forward.

He thought that maybe Winter Thistle didn't want to be carried back like this, because it would be seen by the guards and servants.

He asked softly, "Do you want me to let you down?"

Winter Thistle didn't respond.It was only then that Aldin realized that Winter Thistle had fallen asleep, leaning on his shoulder.

No wonder.Winter Ji drank so much wine, and ran outside awake because of his emotional agitation, and now he has probably relaxed, so he can no longer resist the sleepiness.

Aldin smiled, and kissed the half-elf's forehead lightly.