Chapter 80

In the midst of the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Leaving this place that did not belong to them, they broke free from the blood-soaked prison, washing away the filth.

"What are you doing here?"

By the roadside, a stone bench was bathed in the quiet glow of the lamplight and moonlight. Sobbing sounds faintly came from the girl, as Maggie leaned against Raki, the burden of her body and emotions lifted, leaving her exhausted.

Glancing at Maggie beside her, Raki gave Xiaolan a helpless smile and began to recount the beginning of the square, the worried hearts, and the journey of searching...

Her soft whispers echoed, gradually dispelling the doubts in their hearts.

"Why are you here?"

As the story came to an end, Raki asked the question that had been on her mind. Maggie, cradled in her arms, lifted her tear-stained face, her red eyes filled with the same concern.

"When I was being escorted to the comprehensive building, I conspired with some nobles to escape secretly. To avoid being pursued, I hid until night fell, and when I sensed no movement outside, I quietly left..."

When lies become a habit, they can be easily fabricated. It was unclear whether the lies were good or bad, but at this moment, they undoubtedly needed to deceive.

Xiaolan pretended to sigh, giving a bitter smile as he looked at Maggie. "I wanted to find you, but I didn't know where to start. Perhaps you had already left the academy by then... You know, a stranger in a vast, unfamiliar academy can easily get lost. In the end, I stumbled upon this place..."

Raki shook her head, not quite believing his words, but Maggie, who was beside her, thought differently. For her, as long as her Xiaolan was safe, that was the greatest comfort, and whether his explanation was true or not didn't matter.

"I just want to tell you that during your absence, Maggie was very worried about you," Raki said to Xiaolan, meaningfully. Since things had come to this point, she decided to help Maggie break through the emotional barrier.

"Thank you, Maggie."

Xiaolan seemed to ignore the implications in Raki's words. He looked at Maggie and apologized, "You don't need to worry. I think you know that my abilities are enough to keep me safe in danger."

"But... Brother Xiaolan..."

Seeing Maggie's tearful, choked-up appearance, Xiaolan shook his head and interrupted her, "Don't think too much. At least I'm fine now. The most important thing for you right now is to rest."

"Perhaps I need to trouble you with something," he said, looking at Raki.

"What is it?" Raki asked.

"Please help me take good care of Maggie."

"What do you want to do?"

Sensing something else in Xiaolan's words, Raki frowned. How could this man be so heartless? Maggie was so worried about him, yet he didn't even want to take care of her and was even planning to leave.

"Have you forgotten what we just saw?" Xiaolan said.

"Huh?" Curious and puzzled, Raki asked, "What do you mean?"

Xiaolan stood up straight, his eyes looking toward the distant road where the nobles had met their end. "When I arrived here, I noticed some mysterious black-clad figures passing by. If I'm not mistaken, those nobles were likely killed by them. I need to investigate further, and if they suddenly turn back, I can lead them away. So, it's dangerous here now."

Unable to discern the truth of the lies, Raki hadn't even opened her mouth when Maggie suddenly jumped up from the stone bench and hugged Xiaolan, shouting, "No! Brother Xiaolan, you can't go..."

Xiaolan gently stroked her soft hair and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"No, no, no!" The girl in his arms spoke with stubbornness, her hands tightly hugging him, afraid of his sudden departure.

"Maggie, when I left Pablo Dina Academy, your grandfather instructed me to take good care of you. I don't want to see anything happen to you, so don't be stubborn..." Xiaolan said softly.

Feeling the slender arms around him gradually loosen, Xiaolan looked at the small, pitiful face lifting up from his chest, her lips trembling, tears welling up again.

"Brother Xiaolan, is everything you do for me just because of my grandfather?"

"Maybe."

This time, Xiaolan wasn't lying.

Raki sighed inwardly, rubbing her forehead in frustration. She hadn't expected his emotions to be so foolish.

"Brother Xiaolan, go, be careful," Maggie slowly released her hands from his embrace, her head lowered, her expression hidden.

"To be honest, you are one of the worst men I've ever met," Raki stood up, pulling Maggie into her arms and looking at Xiaolan with a harsh expression.

Xiaolan's little finger on the sword hilt moved slightly, and with a "clang," the sound of the sword being drawn startled the two girls.

"Come out, this is my first warning."

When Maggie and Raki came to their senses, they realized Xiaolan's sword was pointing at a dark forest behind them. Curious and puzzled, Raki turned her head, and a vague figure gradually appeared in the dim light of the street lamp.

Avis!

Why was he here?

Avis walked up with a sullen face, looking at Raki and then at Xiaolan. Suddenly, he drew the long sword in his hand and pointed it at Xiaolan.

"Avis, why are you here?" Without waiting for Avis and Xiaolan to face off, Raki quickly stepped in front of him.

"While I was in the hospital, Vason told me a lot. I know that the so-called ideals and dreams have become illusions. I told myself to let everything go and return to the past." Avis looked at Raki, and for the first time, Raki felt the cold, piercing gaze he directed at her.

"I found Vason and asked him about your whereabouts. Do you know how much I wanted to find you and hold you in my arms? I wanted to tell you to let the misunderstandings end, that all the mistakes were mine, and I wanted to return to our past, the days when we loved each other. But..."

Avis turned his eyes to Xiaolan and said, "When I found you, I saw you with Maggie and him..."

"Avis! Are you an idiot? Haven't I told you it was all a misunderstanding?"

"An idiot? Haha..."

Avis's hand holding the sword began to tremble. He didn't know why, but when everything he pursued had collapsed, his only solace was Raki, and she belonged to him alone.

He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he absolutely didn't want to see Raki with another man. Every time he thought about it, saw it, the flames in his heart would rage.

"Raki, I won't kill him, I just want to teach him a lesson," Avis glanced at Raki and then focused on Xiaolan.

"Avis! If you want to hurt Brother Xiaolan, you'll have to kill me first."

At that moment, Maggie stepped in front of Xiaolan, facing Avis and shouting angrily.

"You... you..."

Seeing the girl he secretly admired in such a stance, Avis felt as if his heart was being burned, the pain making his mind lose control.

"Move aside, this is between him and me!"

"No! I won't move aside."

Xiaolan took a step forward, pulling Maggie behind him and looking at Avis. "Who are you?"

"Huh?" Avis looked at him in disbelief, grinding his teeth. "You really have a short memory. I didn't think I was so transparent to you. I guess I need to do something to you to make myself feel better."

"I remember you now. You were the one who guided me a few days ago?" Xiaolan frowned, observing the other person for a moment.

"Haha..." Avis forced out a laugh. "You finally remember me?"

"I think so, but do we have a grudge?"

"You don't have a grudge against me, but I have a grudge against you," Avis said with a cold laugh.

"Would there be any trouble if I killed him?"

At that moment, Xiaolan turned to look at the worried Maggie behind him.

"No! Brother Xiaolan can't kill him." Hearing Xiaolan's words, Maggie quickly pulled on his clothes.

"Want to kill me? Let's see if you have the ability!" Hearing the conversation, Avis laughed in anger.

"I'm just stating a fact. Killing you isn't difficult," Xiaolan said seriously.

"Then let's see what you've got!" Avis said coldly.

Xiaolan twisted his body, gently pulling Maggie's hand from his arm, and slowly sheathed his sword.

"What? Giving up?"

Seeing Xiaolan's actions, Avis laughed.

"No, if I can't kill, the scabbard is a good choice," Xiaolan said.

"Haha..." Avis laughed wildly. "You'll regret this decision."

Xiaolan ignored Avis's mocking words. With one step, he was suddenly behind Avis.

"I said, the scabbard is a good choice when you can't kill."

As he spoke, Avis felt a sudden pain in the back of his neck. The smile on his face froze, and his vision plunged into darkness.

"I'll leave him to you."

Looking at the stunned Maggie and Raki, Xiaolan disappeared from their sight. He had important matters to attend to, and the time he had wasted was already too long.

"Maggie, is this your brother?"

Raki helped the unconscious Avis to his feet and looked at Maggie.

"Yes," Maggie said absentmindedly.

He really is a formidable person, perhaps his true nature will always be a mystery.

Raki looked at Avis, gently smoothing his disheveled hair. As long as he was willing to return to his former self, that was enough to make her content.

Perhaps, the future she didn't know.

He and she, from that moment on, were trapped in a hopeless path with no return.