In the Frost Snow Wasteland Lord’s Manor dining hall, a long table draped with deep purple velvet.
The fireplace blazed fiercely, yet the silverware reflected a cold chill, a stark contrast to the steaming dishes—like this feast, where cheerfulness was but a facade, and farewell was the true undertone.
This was the first formal banquet after the battle of Frostsnow Castle.
Vera sat at the head, with Xue Yin, Jin, and Ailia to her left and right.
The three personal guards, Lina, Mila, and Sefu, stood below.
Everyone wore solemn expressions, and no one spoke.
Most of the dishes on the table were crafted by Jin:
Bone broth simmered all day, milky white, meat falling off the bone at the slightest touch;
Wild mushroom stuffed meatballs, minced hundreds of times, melting in the mouth, the mushroom caps soaked in broth, bursting with juice;
Steamed fish topped with shredded ginger and scallions, drizzled with hot oil, sizzling.
Vera should have realized it by now—the Frost Snow Wasteland’s administration was stable, and no longer needed foreign swords and shields.
The path ahead had to be walked by the people of this land themselves.
“Are you leaving?”
Vera asked a series of questions, breaking the silence.
“Where are you heading? So… tomorrow?”
“Yes, we’ve had enough rest these days, and the Frost Snow Wasteland is basically stable.”
Xue Yin replied.
“We plan to set out tomorrow for the Fifth Ring, the Slag Highlands. A friend has been waiting for us there.”
Xue Yin’s gaze swept over the three fox-eared girls.
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear.
“Lina, Mila, Sefu.”
The three immediately straightened their backs, their fiery red fox ears tilting slightly forward.
“From now on, Vera’s safety is in your hands.”
Her tone was calm but brooked no refusal.
“If she stays up all night reviewing documents until dawn, you advise her. If she goes alone to inspect the South Valley mine tunnels, you stop her. If she acts on impulse and does something irrational…”
She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
“You remind her to turn back. Even if she scolds you, don’t take a step back.”
Lina said softly.
“We understand.”
Mila gripped her sword hilt tightly; Sefu’s eyes reddened as she nodded emphatically.
Vera took a deep breath.
Her amber eyes shimmered with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say, “I don’t need protection,” but what came out was,
“Xue Yin… sis… you all be careful on your journey too.”
At that moment, Ailia gently rose and draped a plain white shawl over Vera’s shoulders.
“It’s cold at night. Don’t catch a chill.”
That single phrase “cold at night” instantly shattered the dam Vera had been holding up.
She suddenly stood up, her chair scraping backward an inch with a harsh sound, and threw herself into Ailia’s arms, burying her face deep into the nun’s soft, warm chest.
Her voice came out with a sob, both soft and plaintive.
“Ailia Mom… I really don’t want you to leave…”
Ailia’s body stiffened, then her arms wrapped tightly around her.
Her hand covered Vera’s fiery red fox ears, stroking from the base to the tips, then back again, over and over, tirelessly.
“Silly child…”
Her voice carried its characteristic warmth.
“It’s not like we won’t see each other again. I’ll be waiting for you in the Fifth Ring. When you can manage the Frost Snow Wasteland perfectly and walk into the Slag Highlands with your head held high, I’ll stand at the city gate, arms open wide, waiting for you to pounce.”
The three guards turned their faces away.
Lina stared at her toes, Mila looked out at the pitch-black night sky, and Sefu quietly wiped her tears with her sleeve, leaving a small wet patch.
Vera suddenly looked up, her tear-filled eyes meeting Xue Yin’s.
Her eyelashes still held teardrops, glittering in the candlelight.
“Sis… will you miss me?”
Xue Yin took out a thick booklet she had prepared long ago from her sleeve.
“To Vera Brino—may you have a sharp sword in your hand and good medicine in your heart.”
“This is the alchemy manual I’ve been compiling recently.”
Xue Yin handed the booklet over and began to explain carefully.
“It’s for you. It should be helpful for the Frost Snow Wasteland.”
Vera opened the booklet.
The handwriting was neat, the illustrations meticulous.
Xue Yin had even drawn the roots of the herbs, with notes on collection times, refining methods, and usage contraindications.
“If… you miss me, look at the last page.”
Xue Yin finally forced herself to say those words.
Vera turned to the last page.
It was a magic sketch of seven people sitting around a long table:
Her holding a spoon, Xue Yin blowing on soup, Jin smiling, Ailia with her hands together, and the three guards standing nearby.
Jin left the table for a moment and brought back a dessert.
The cake was emerald green like jade, served on a porcelain plate.
It was made from the finest matcha powder mixed with the unique ice spring water of Frostsnow Castle, melting in the mouth.
The pointed roof of the council hall, the stone paths of the square—everything was vividly detailed, every bit of it embodying Jin’s painstaking effort.
“This is…”
Vera was stunned, her eyes full of surprise and emotion.
“Frostsnow Castle.”
Jin gently placed the porcelain plate in front of her.
“What can’t be taken away, leave it in the flavor.”
She stared at the miniature Frostsnow Castle, spoon in hand, hesitant to take a bite.
She couldn’t bear to scoop it.
It felt like if she took that spoonful, those days would truly shatter and never return.
“Eat it.”
Jin’s voice was very soft.
“It will melt on your tongue. The flavor will turn into deep memories that live in your heart. Those days won’t disappear. They’ve just moved to a new place to stay.”
Ailia covered Vera’s hand and brought the spoonful of dessert to her lips.
Vera opened her mouth.
The sweetness melted on her tongue, warm, settling all the way into her stomach.
“Is it good?”
Jin asked.
“Mm.”
She nodded, her voice muffled.
“It’s good. So good it makes me want to cry.”
The next day at noon, everyone prepared to depart.
Vera personally tied dark purple ribbons for the three.
She wasn’t very skilled and had to do it many times before she got it right.
“This is the highest courtesy of Frostsnow Castle. It means, ‘The road ahead is long and arduous; my heart travels with you.’”
Xue Yin looked at her face.
An eleven-year-old girl, with reddened eyes and a reddened nose.
She reached out, wanting to pat Vera’s head.
Her fingers stopped an inch above Vera’s hair, hovering for a moment, then finally withdrew.
“Take care.”
“You too.”
Vera nodded.
Vera stood at the city gate, watching the three figures gradually recede into the distance.
Xue Yin’s silver hair fluttered in the wind, Jin’s black wings half-folded, Ailia’s white robes like the moon.
Fifty paces, a hundred paces, two hundred paces.
Vera counted the steps in her heart.
With each step, her heart felt emptier.
She wanted them to stop, but she was also afraid they would.
When they reached about three hundred paces, Jin stopped.
He turned around and waved toward the city gate.
The dark purple ribbon fluttered in the wind.
At this distance, faces were no longer distinguishable, but Jin knew Vera was still standing there.
Xue Yin also stopped, but didn’t turn around.
She just raised her staff a little higher, and the silver light at the tip flashed once.
—Go back.
Vera understood.
She watched steadily as the three figures disappeared at the end of the road.
First, Ailia’s white robe melted into the gray horizon, taking away the last shred of tenderness.
Then, Jin’s black wings shrank to a small dot, taking away the sole support.
Finally, Xue Yin’s silver light flickered a few times and vanished completely at the end of the road, taking away all guidance.
Gatherings must eventually part, but some farewells are for a better reunion.