Chapter 127 Reunion Before Parting

Under the clear sky, a stretch of azure and clear color stretched far into the distance.

After lunch, Lan Qi, Hyperion, and Talia temporarily bid farewell to the Wilfort family.

Led by Lan Qi, they walked out of the mansion and onto the road leading to the east side of the city-state.

This street, known as the "Guardian's Path," was wide and quiet, lined with towering oak trees and neat shrub hedges, with lush green grass.

Talia was very familiar with this place.

There was a time when she would come here every day to wait for Lan Qi.

That was also in early summer, when the afternoon sun on the border of South Wantina made people's skin slightly hot.

However, her life and mood were far from as calm as they were now. Every day, she was still thinking about how to make good use of the deal with Lan Qi to raise start-up funds for the unattainable restoration of her kingdom.

Decades of solitary wandering had ended because of that chance encounter at the foot of the city wall.

Talia walked between Lan Qi and Hyperion, thinking silently.

Even though they were wearing light casual clothes, they could still feel the heat rising from the distant grass, and the warm wind made them sleepy.

But none of the three were sleepy.

They soon crossed the path, and their vision widened as they walked onto the stone bridge over the canal, where water birds occasionally swam leisurely.

Hyperion stood on the far left, glancing at the river surface on the right while briefly observing the expressions of Tata and Lan Qi.

The two of them seemed to be used to being quiet together, not talking to each other.

But Hyperion found it difficult to adapt to this atmosphere, and the calls of the water birds lingered in Hyperion's heart.

She didn't know if it was harder to face Lan Qi or Tata at this point.

Hyperion only knew that a certain peace in her heart was gone.

In that desperate moment, she was the one who was closer to Lan Qi's heart, but she didn't feel any sense of security.

Even now, she had a kind of anxiety that something of her own was about to be taken away.

No matter what Tata wanted, Hyperion had originally thought that she would offer it with both hands.

But now, Hyperion was beginning to question this idea. She didn't know if it was because her love for Tata wasn't enough, or because she was too selfish.

Hyperion had originally planned to find a good opportunity to recognize Talia after returning.

As a result, because of the awkward things that happened between the three of them in the morning, even though Hyperion already knew that Talia was her aunt, she didn't know where to start talking to her about it. Saying it suddenly might make things even more awkward between the two of them.

Just as she stepped off the bridge and onto the slope, feeling confused, Hyperion felt a gaze.

She turned her head and followed the gaze.

It was Lan Qi looking at her.

He seemed to see the anxiety that she was about to write into her steps.

"Hyperion..."

Lan Qi smiled helplessly.

That silent look seemed to be comforting her—don't worry that Tata will resent you, if you feed her well, she will be in a good mood, she won't mind that much at all.

That's what Lan Qi wanted to express.

"!"

Hyperion quickly looked away, not daring to read Lan Qi's impolite thoughts any further.

Tata was right between the two of them, and Lan Qi dared to play like this!

Talia paused slightly, put Hyperion, who was on her left, next to Lan Qi, and switched places with her.

It seemed that she didn't want Hyperion to walk on the side closer to the driveway, it was just a subconscious protective behavior.

Of course, it was also possible that she saw that Hyperion wanted to talk to Lan Qi, so she gave her the position.

"..."

Hyperion looked at Talia, and her eyes felt sore again. She recalled the meticulous care she had received when she lived with Tata, who would always prioritize her, and even Tata's favorite snacks would be divided to give her the best part.

In her imagination since she was a child, only a mother would be so good to her.

On the way back in the Northern Continent, the person she missed the most was Tata. She should have been the happiest person in the world with Tata by her side, but now that she had really returned to her side, she was still full of messy thoughts and the estrangement that shouldn't exist between them.

Hyperion shook her head vigorously, hesitated for a long time, and gently reached out, tentatively hooking her arm around Talia's.

Talia looked at Hyperion in a daze.

She didn't resist Hyperion's closeness.

In Talia's view, Hyperion had always been a girl who cared a lot about distance. She was always worried that she would cause trouble for others or that approaching too presumptuously would be annoying, so even though the two of them lived together every day, Hyperion had never tried to take the initiative to get close to her.

She didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, Hyperion was already willing to be close to her.

In the shadow under Lan Qi's feet, the cat boss witnessed the knot between these three people suddenly seeming to unravel, and he was a little confused!

What kind of magic did Teacher Lan use again?

How did Lan Qi really make the atmosphere a bit like a family trip!

He had occasionally heard that Lan Qi and Hyperion had encountered an illusion barrier when they went to Heluo Prison. That illusion could unearth people's most fragile fantasies, or irreparable regrets, which were beautiful dreams destined to be impossible to realize in reality.

Although the cat boss didn't know exactly what happened to the two of them in Heluo Prison, and why Tata and Hyperion's relationship seemed to have become even better, the cat boss heard on the car to South Wantina that in Hyperion's dream, Duke Mi Gaiya and Duchess Ifathia took Hyperion to South Wantina to play together.

Now it feels like this dream is almost coming true...

He looked at Lan Qi.

His expression was very natural, as if he was relieved to see Hyperion happy.

"Lan Qi, thank you."

Hyperion thanked Lan Qi softly.

Facing Hyperion's sudden thanks, Lan Qi was not surprised. Even if she didn't say it, her eyes were always saying similar words when she was with him.

"You're welcome."

Lan Qi smiled, just like he had said to Hyperion on the fourth floor below Heluo Prison. Although reality might be cruel to her, he would try his best to make it a little better for her.

"Don't worry, Hyperion, I will help you find Mr. Mi Gaiya and Miss Ifathia. Finding people has always been my strength."

After saying that, Lan Qi deliberately glanced at Talia.

"..."

Talia was confused. She didn't know what Lan Qi was so proud of just now.

He shouldn't know the relationship between herself and Ifathia, right? Mi Gaiya and Ifathia are only related to Hyperion, so why look at her?

Although Asina had told her that Lan Qi was very good at handling civil commissions, that was at most the level of community service around the Ikatel Academy. Could he even help her find her best friend Antanas back?

Of course, if Sinora and the Planae siblings were still alive, she would actually miss them very much. She got along well with those demon court officials back then.

As for the general who was stationed in the Demon King's City... he was probably already dead, because he didn't need anyone else to kill him, he always liked to dance on the minefield. Sometimes he knew he was going to lose half his life, but he would feel it was a pity not to provoke his opponent.

Briefly immersed in memories, Talia soon pulled her thoughts back.

"Safety first."

Talia finally reminded.

In fact, from the bottom of her heart, she desperately hoped that Lan Qi could help her find Ifathia back. Besides Antanas and the others, she felt that her life would basically have no regrets and be close to perfection.

The long-cherished wish to restore her kingdom, as well as hatred, should have dissipated long ago.

She didn't want to be bound to the past anymore.

But everything, everything, she hoped to build on the premise that Lan Qi and Hyperion were safe. She didn't want Lan Qi and Hyperion to take risks.

"Eh, Tata, are you worried about me?"

Lan Qi asked Talia curiously, pointing at himself with a surprised face.

"..."

At the very beginning, when Talia saw Lan Qi's cheap look, she would only glare at him.

Later, it turned into denial.

After that, she just ignored him.

"Yes."

Talia replied, her determined tone as always without fluctuation.

"..."

Lan Qi was stunned for a moment.

She admitted it?

Although there were occasional times when Talia suddenly became a little gentler.

But he had never seen such a Talia.

"Where did you hide the real Tata?"

Lan Qi muttered.

"Guess."

Talia looked at him and said expressionlessly.

"???"

Lan Qi was even more stunned. Talia was still not angry, and even began to respond to his jokes.

(End of this chapter)