Year 43 of the Human Calendar - Southwest district of the Holy Land of Xue - Lynn house

(Linjian POV)

I came back a week too late.

When the Antonov reached the Holy Land of Xue, people dressed in mourning were all what welcomed us.

Hom explained me what happened, an immortal came and I wasn't here to protect the people I cared about.

Qianshan, Qianxun, Tang and...

“Grandmaaa! *sob*“ Mai

Yue is also waiting for her death in her bed.

“Don't cry Mai, this isn't a tragedy. I am ready to leave this body and go back to the world“ Yue

Her voice is weak.

“Uugg“ Mai

A lot of people came to say goodbye to the second Kin... no, to their friend. But now only five people are left in this room.

“*sob*“ Hikari

“...“ Benjamin

Both of her children had their eyes red from crying.

(Why? Why is she dying?)

[...Her time has come]

(...)

[Even if the system can extend the lifespan of humans, it is not absolute. She already was over the life expectancy of the world she was born into]

(Was the shock of losing Tang too much for her?)

[...I would dare to say so]

Again, I...

(Yue POV)

“Master, you came back“ Yue

His green eye was fighting to don't release tears.

“Yue, I...“ Linjian

“Don't be sorry“ Yue

I could already tell what he was going to say.

“This is fine“ Yue

“But...“ Linjian

“I swam in rivers, climbed mountains, ran in meadows and smelled wild flowers in forests“ Yue

It was fun.

“I saved people from spiritual creatures, protected the walls as commander, and led the people as King“ Yue

It was fulfilling.

“I made friends, I give birth to a girl and a boy and I lived my life together with my love“ Yue

Tang...

“I was...“ Yue

I can feel my soul leaving my body.

“Free...“ Yue

My eyelids close by themselves.

“Yue!!“ Linjian

“Mom!!!“ Hikari

“Mom!“ Benjamin

“Grandma...“ Mai

Watch out Tang... I'll fall on you again...

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Year 43 of the Human Calendar - East of the Holy Land of Xue - Coast

(Linjian POV)

I'm under the moonlight, staring at the waves.

[...]

(...)

Two weeks already passed, but I still cant accept it.

Tang... Yue...

[...]

(...)

[I did not regret my death]

(?)

[On my last day of life, I was taking care of a patient as any other day]

(...)

[When an angry drunkard with a knife entered the room where we were]

(...)

[I barely managed to stop him from slicing the patient until the security came]

(Did he stab you instead?)

[...Yes, The last thing I remember is losing consciousness after that incident]

(...)

[But I don't regret anything, immortality is just the dream of an immature child that is unable to cope with the concept of the end]

[Even with the end in front of us, we always have something more important than death or life. You know that better than anyone]

I caress the pendant on top of my armor.

[Promises, professions, love, art, and an infinity of thing that I ignore. We human have something way more important than just standing on a giant rock in space]

More... important...

“Grandpa“ ???

I turn to face the daughter of Yue.

“Hikari...“ Linjian

The sadness is still on her face.

“Their deaths were not your responsibility“ Hikari

“...“ Linjian

(...Are my thoughts that obvious?)

[You are a simple man]

“Both of them were always grateful to you, equal to everyone in this kingdom“ Hikari

“To the first generation of this world, You were a father figure to everyone who didn't have one“

She forces a smile and walks towards me.

“Mom, dad and a lot of other people saw you like that. You never disappointed anyone“

[You may be a father figure, but that doesn't mean they were useless children incapable of taking on their own responsibilities]

“Mom died with a smile on her face and dad surely also was satisfied when he protected us“

I...

Interrupting my thoughts, she hugs me.

“Stand up once again, Anointed King. This fight isn't over yet“

...

I also hug her.

“That is right, there is no time for melancholy“ Linjian

[Now that is the spirit]

“Thanks, Hikari. Now I am ready to move on“ Linjian

With the little time left in this body, there is something I must do.

“I will put an end to the old world once and for all“ Linjian

I look east beyond the waves, towards the center of this world.