The Star Knight

Deep in the gust of wind, away from the tuyere, thousands of atomic furnaces were shining red. Rector stood in front of the cliff, and Opal watched him quietly for a moment, his eyes were red and full of tears.

Rector said, "You've grown up, Opal."

Opal and Rector embraced tightly, buried their face on his shoulder, whimpered uncontrollably, and let out a long breath.

Rector sighed, Cullens was counting the civilians, and Opal walked slowly behind Rector.

"How many years have we not seen each other?" Rector said.

"Four years." Opal said, "Teacher, I am 20 years old."

Rickett said, "You've matured a lot."

The master and apprentice walked by the bright atomic stove, with Rector around, Opal no longer worried about the safety of civilians, sighed, and said, "I followed your advice and went to the country of mercenaries."

Rector nodded slowly, Opal said: "But I used the power of faith quite a few times."

Rector looked at the fire in a daze, and said, "It doesn't matter, what the teacher said may not be completely right. Tell me, what have you learned in the past four years?"

Opal sat down next to a stone, and began to recall many things he experienced in the God of War galaxy after leaving Rector, but he didn't tell him too much about the clones and Raymond's life experience.

Raymond is dead, let's treat this as an eternal secret between them.

After Opal finished speaking, Rector said, "I can feel that your faith has become a pile of ashes."

Opal said, "I'm so tired."

Rector said: "But in this ashes, there is still a little flame that exudes residual heat. It was just following the guidance of faith that I discovered that you were outside the canyon."

He smiled gently, Opal smiled wryly, with tears rolling in his eyes, he shook his head.

"Teacher, what are you doing here?" Opal didn't mention the last time Recter appeared on Liexing and repelled Corolin. He didn't dare to mention Corolin in front of him. The king is the blood feud of the mercenaries and Rector's apprentice.

"A friend asked me to check the situation in the Sol galaxy." Rector said: "This galaxy wanted to declare independence, but the Republic sent troops to suppress it, but the people are innocent, and the army can't intervene. That friend can only invite me to come." Do whatever you can to help.”

Opal said: "Actually, you can also use dragon rays to carry them all away at once."

Rector sat down next to the stone, and said in a deep voice: "I often indulge my belief until the day I lose it, and I feel very uncomfortable. Although I rekindled the fire of belief, I want to try to use an ordinary person's method. to solve the difficulties we face.”

Opal nodded, neither of them spoke.

The migrating civilians fell asleep one after another in the cold night, preparing to replenish their strength, and set off again tomorrow morning. Carlos came over with food and distributed it to Rector and Opal.

Rector glanced at Cullens and said, "Are you from the Glorious Team of the Republic?"

Cullens nodded and said, "Yes, hello."

Rector looked thoughtful, and then said: "I saw you, with Silas."

Cullens looked a little unnatural, and said, "I don't seem to have seen you. May I ask who you are?"

Opal is keenly aware of what, Rector knows Karens?

Rector said: "Just took a look from a distance, why don't you continue to join the army?"

Cullens nodded, feeling very uncomfortable in front of Rector, and said, "I'm retired and want to do something of my own."

Opal frowned slightly, and Rector said again: "The major of the Brilliant Team will go to Lie Xing to become a mercenary. It can be seen that the universe is full of infinite possibilities. Didn't Li Wei keep you?"

Cullens smiled and said, "No, my relationship with him is a bit bad. Do you know Admiral Levi?"

"I knew him, but he didn't know me," Rickett said.

The conversation between the two ended here, Cullens didn't seem to want to stay in front of Rector any longer, so he got up and went to the other side of the canyon.

"Who is he?" Opal asked.

Rector replied: "Republic soldier, he came to you?"

Opal said: "No, I took the initiative to accept him into the regiment."

Rector said: "Culence, the morning star, he will be a mercenary..."

Opal asked, "Is he famous?"

Rector said: "The military of the Republic has always rated him well, but Li Wei doesn't like him very much, and he may not be able to get along in the army. Being a mercenary is obviously very good for him. He is loyal He is famous, and all the recruits he brings up respect him very much. I think he is a trustworthy comrade in arms for you."

Opal was relieved when he heard Rector's words, and he also felt that Cullens was not an ordinary person.

Rector stopped talking about this topic and asked, "What are your plans for the future, Opal. Do you want to take risks with him?"

"I didn't think about it." Opal said: "Continue to hone yourself... Be an S-rank mercenary, fight for Lie Xing, and look forward to the day..."

He said no more, avoiding the subject of Coroline.

Rector looked into Opal's eyes and said, "Don't fill your heart with hatred, Opal."

Opal didn't answer.

"I am a sinner." Rector said, "I personally cultivated the King of Meteor."

"No." Opal put one hand on Rector's shoulder and whispered: "No, everyone must be responsible for themselves, and only you can be responsible for yourself. You have tried your best, teacher."

Rickett said: "Legerson has accused me more than once. If Nolan was still alive, I think he would have discovered Coron's dark character earlier than me."

The topic had already started, so Opal no longer cared about it, and asked, "Teacher, why did he do this?"

"I don't know." Reckert said, "In fact, I can't understand Corolin's heart, and I don't understand his motivation for doing all this."

Opal said: "Before he wanted to be the King of Meteorites, didn't he ask you any questions?"

Rector said: "Maybe there is, but I can't remember which sentence it is."

Opal said: "Okay, I will find a way to defeat him."

Rickett smiled.

"I've seen Nolan's remains." Opal said, "He's actually a phantom star! You never mentioned it to me."

Rector frowned slightly, and said, "Nolan's relic? Where did you find it? How did you know the existence of Igna Nolan?"

Opal said: "A blood-red knife, about this long, have you seen it?"

Rector couldn't say a word for a long time.

Opal asked: "What is that? It was taken away by Corolin during the battle you came to."

Rector frowned and said, "That's the real fire phoenix, Nolan's mech."

Opal: "!!!"

Opal didn't dare to speak, Rector looked solemn, and the two fell into a long silence.

After a long time, Opal went to sit by the cliff, with his legs stretched out, and fell asleep like a child.

When the sun was rising, Sol's light was cast across the horizon, and it shone between his eyebrows and eyes. Opal opened his eyes, and there was an extra coat of Cullens on his body.

The civilians started to leave one after another. Rector sat for a whole night, followed the migration team to leave the Gale Crack, and headed north.

Opal took the lead, and Cullens was in the rear. This time, there were 1 more people. The team of more than 2 people marched very slowly and very difficult.Rector walked in the middle of the team, never saying a word, but with him, Opal hardly had to worry about running into danger anymore, he was his patron saint.

"Brother." A boy came over and said, "My name is Aka. I want to ask you something."

"Aka." Opal said, "What's wrong?"

There was acid rain in the sky. Opal took off his space suit belt, tied it around Aka's waist, and opened the button to form a rainwater barrier to prevent him from being too heavily drenched by the acid rain. He touched his head and asked, "What do you think?" how old are you?"

"13 years old." Aka's eyes were unhealthy red, his lips were dry, his finger skin was cracked, and the skin on his body was cracked. He handed out a small box and said, "This is for you. My mother said thank you last night." saved us."

Opal opened the box and took a look, and there was a beautiful diamond ring inside.

He noticed that he was walking with a slight limp, his heels scratched by flash bullets, his bare shoes soaked in puddles of nitric acid rainwater.

"I'll carry you." Opal said, "Come up."

"Give this back to your mother." Opal handed the box to his shoulder and said, "Thank her, I don't want this."

Aka said: "You came back to save us last night, we were all left behind, if it wasn't for you, we would be dead now."

With Aka on his back, Opal walked in the muddy water with one foot deep and one foot shallow, and said, "This is what I should do. What do you want to ask me?"

Aka said: "Are you a mercenary? I want to be a mercenary, so I want to go to Lie Xing, right?"

Opal said: "No, you are too young, at least a few years."

The rain rustled, and the migration team of civilians shuttled through the red rain, while avoiding the direct scorching light of the zenith.

"If you want to be a mercenary, if you grow up a bit, you can go to Liexing." Opal said in a low voice: "Ask someone when you arrive, and someone will tell you what to do. Follow the instructions of the seniors and walk step by step. , not difficult."

Akka said, "How old must I be before I can go?"

Opal replied: "When you can afford a weapon."

A-Ka said, "How old were you when you became a mercenary?"

Opal said: "When I was 16 and almost seventeen."

Aka asked, "How old are you now?"

Opal said: "Twenty years old, I have been a mercenary for four years."

Aka asked again: "Is there any danger?"

Opal nodded thoughtfully, and said: "Yes, you will experience many dangers, wars, emergencies, and comrades will accompany you... I almost lost my life several times, if you want to live longer, It’s best not to choose this profession. There are many ways to support a family. You have parents and family members. The profession of mercenary is for the homeless. Many mercenaries have nothing and are not afraid of losing anything.”

Akka said, "I will go."

Opal smiled, picked him up a bit, and said, "I believe you will succeed."

Another day of marching, 2 people stopped in front of the refuge base.

The underground hangar was opened, and a large spaceship with a capacity of 5 people slowly opened the hatch, and civilians boarded the ship one by one.

"Now." Rector said: "Let me assist you and extradite this spaceship to Alpha Carinae, which is the territory of the Holy See, and these civilians will be properly resettled."

Opal nodded.

Callens said: "What will happen next? Is this civil war ordered by the Empire?"

Rector didn't answer, and after pondering for a moment, he said: "Perhaps, this is beyond my control. The Youth Promotion Association has already contacted there, get ready to go, everyone."

The three stopped in the hangar, Opal sighed and said, "Teacher, we have to say goodbye again."

Rector said: "Opal, are you willing to follow the teacher?"

Opal's eyes suddenly showed surprise and anticipation.

"Old...teacher, you mean...you mean..." Opal stammered a little, as if he was very at a loss, and returned to his childish appearance on B-11.

Cullens avoided the two, walked to the side of the hangar, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

The top of the hangar slowly opened, and the light came in.

"I need to find a way to deal with Corolin." Rector looked up at the purple-red sky outside the hangar, and said, "In the four years since I was parted from you, I have traveled to many places in the universe. I even fell into A time loop of reincarnation, reliving a certain day with Coroline so many times, I found that I couldn't break his belief because I didn't know where his belief came from."

"And from the day when I formally duel with him and finally lost." Rector looked into Opal's eyes and said slowly: "I lost all my power of faith until I made a forced landing on B-11 star , After getting to know you, the source of faith returned to my spiritual world bit by bit."

Opal said: "Because of me?"

Rector said: "Yes, I regained the feeling of just knowing Coron, thousands of years ago, when I met him on the planet Shax, he was smaller than you, only this tall. "

Rector made a gesture, which only reached Opal's waist.

"In the end when he fell into darkness." Rector said: "My faith was also completely shaken and shattered in the face of his betrayal. But I met you and gave you the fire of faith, trying to find Corinne in you The reason for falling into the dark world... I believe we will be able to destroy him completely one day."

Opal said: "I believe it too, what do I need to do?"

Rector said: "You can explain everything, and then come to the planet of Muse, and I will teach you the same way I taught Cologne. Let's fight him together, you are not just on B-11. I know Opal, my student. I believe you can do it."

Opal said: "Okay, I will definitely come."

Rector nodded, and said, "Thank you for your help, Opal, and thank you for not hating me because of Corolin..."

Opal shook his head and said: "No, you will always be my teacher. There are many things we can't do...you taught me. We can't change the past, but we can decide our own future."

Opal and Recter saluted each other, Opal saluted a mercenary, while Recter saluted a star knight, and the two said goodbye in front of the hangar. The eyes seemed to be greatly shocked.

It spread its wings and flew out of the atmosphere, passing through the thunder released by Sol's star, cutting the entire crimson sky in half, and throwing it into the vast and boundless universe.

The spaceship lifted off immediately and left behind Long Ray. Cullens and Opal looked up at the zenith.

"You're leaving?" Cullens said.

Opal nodded, and Cullens said: "It's a pity that I only got along with you for such a short period of time. I think you will be a good comrade in arms."

"No." Opal said, "This is not a farewell. I will come back. After I have settled everything, I will come back and continue to be a mercenary."

Cullens said, "Let's go back to the spaceship first."

They found a small near-ground vehicle in the hangar, drove to the highest speed, and went back to the root tumor forest. The camp of the rebel army had been burned down. The raging fire burned the entire forest. of nitrate.

"They're all dead?" Cullens said.

Opal didn't say anything, boarded the spaceship, put away the mercenary diary, and returned to Lie Xing.

After returning to Sunshine City a few days later, Opal took Karens to the second floor of the trade union to go through the formalities of leaving the group. He transferred the entire team account to Karens, promoted him to the team leader, and changed himself to the status of leaving the group.

They stood at the entrance of the Sunshine City Mercenary Union, and Opal looked up. The sunshine here was so familiar, so bright that it made people feel the urge to cry.

"The spaceship my mother gave me is for your use." Opal said.

Cullens said, "You keep it."

Opal said: "I don't need it. Seriously, with it, it will be much more convenient for you to issue commissions. And the Times-VI is still mine, right? You are only using it temporarily."

"Okay." Cullens took a deep breath and said, "I'll use it well."

Opal said: "There is still some funds in the team account, reserved for your expenses. You are now an E+ mercenary, and you can be promoted to D with a few more entrustments..."

Cullens said: "I promise you with the honor of a soldier, I will guard this mercenary group and will not recruit new soldiers..."

"No no." Opal said: "You can recruit members. I'm serious. My teacher thinks highly of you. He believes in you, so I believe in you too. If you entrust, you will be automatically canceled by the union, and I don’t know when I will come back after I go, so as long as it is someone you can trust, you can definitely recruit into the union.”

Cullens said, "I see."

Opal smiled self-deprecatingly, and said: "Smoke and Sword Mercenary Group, every time they can meet comrades who love to smoke, it is also a kind of guidance from somewhere."

Cullens put Opal's shoulders on his shoulders and walked slowly along the long street, just like Raymond walked with him back then.

As the sun was setting in Sunshine City, Cullens said, "I'll give you a ride. When are you leaving? Do you want to say goodbye to your friends?"

"No." Opal said: "I won't say goodbye, I will definitely come back. Please help me keep it secret, including everything I own."

Karens nodded, and the two got on the magnetic levitation car. The evening wind blew their coats. Karens smiled and said, "You are just like Silas. He made a decision back then, and I sent him to the City of Silver Ashes The apron..."

"Oh, comrade, I will come back alive." Opal reminded.

Cullens smiled: "Sorry, I didn't notice it was unlucky, but anyway, you found your purpose, which is obviously very good."

The corners of Opal's mouth are slightly pursed, the sun shines on his handsome face, and the eyes that were once immature and full of longing have turned into mature, refined persistence and expectation.

When they returned to the landing pad, Opal started to pack things, set the route, and replaced with the star map he got from the pirates, saying: "This star map will be used by you later, I have to take back the star map that the teacher gave me, There are still many things I don’t understand and I want to ask him.”

Cullens hummed, and Opal showed him the warehouse, bedroom, bathroom, and finally plugged in the charger for E7, saying, "This is the little friend my mother gave me, and I have to take it away."

Cullens said: "I've always wondered, this little thing seems to be very rare, it is different from all robots, your mother is a scientist?"

"She...may be a navigator." Opal has always wanted to find out his life experience, but has never had a chance.

Callens said: "There is no manufacturer's batch number, just like hand-assembled, only a few institutions in the universe have such advanced technology."

Opal said: "Where will there be? Do you know?"

Cullens thought for a while and said, "Maybe Pope Drummond in the Holy See has this ability. If you have a chance in the future, you might as well ask him."

"Forget it." Opal said dumbfounded: "I won't have the honor to meet that great man."

Cullens said: "Opal, from the first moment I saw you, I thought you would be a big shot."

Opal said: "Thanks for the compliment... I hope I can do something meaningful."

Era-VI galloped towards the Australis variable star, and stopped in the middle of the road in front of the temple.

The hatch opened, and Opal stood quietly in the spaceship without going out.

He could vaguely see that a long time ago, he dragged the mine cart here, carrying the scarred Raymond into the temple.

The golden wheat field is as usual, and the moonlight flowers behind the dawn and dusk line release thousands of lingering light spots to the sky.

Cullens said, "Opal?"

"It's nothing." Opal said, "I remembered something from the past."

He stepped out of the spaceship and said, "Culence, you can come here to see me in the future, but please don't bring anyone with you, and please keep it secret for me."

"I will," Cullens said, "on my life."

Cullens stretched out his left hand wearing a fingerless glove from the cabin door. Opal stood in the middle of the wheat field and stretched out his hand towards him. , ejected propelling flames into the air, turned around, and flew out of the atmosphere.

On his left shoulder is a burlap bag commonly used by miners, and with E7 behind him, he stands alone on the endless brick and stone avenue, as if he has returned to himself when he first came out of B-11—he still has nothing, no longer Fear of losing.

He walked up the steps, a golden light came through the crack of the door, followed by a dull rumbling sound and the sonorous sound of the piano, as if welcoming the young Star Knight.

The Temple of the Stars opened its main gate to Opal again after the last Star Knight Cororin entered many years ago.

"Welcome to the Sanctuary of the Stars, Opal." Legison's voice came, and the piano stopped.