A Conversation with Himmel

The eaves of the inn's second floor were paved with thick, slightly rough, bluish-gray flagstones typical of the Northern Frontier. Night had fallen, and the warmth of the day had long since dissipated, leaving only the coolness emanating from the flagstones, seeping into one's clothes.

Lowell and Himmel sat side by side in the deep shadow cast by the roof ridge, away from the warm but noisy glow coming from the windows downstairs.

The night sky was a serene inky blue, with a few distant stars twinkling. A slender crescent moon hung obliquely in the sky, casting a cool, watery glow that outlined the silent silhouettes of the two people with a faint silver edge.

The wind whistled through the town's sparse lights, carrying the faint echoes of distant taverns' lingering noise, which only served to accentuate the tranquility of this small world above the eaves, where one could even hear the steady breathing of others.

It was Himmel who spoke first.

He turned his head slightly, his blue hair gleaming softly in the moonlight. His voice was clear and melodious, carrying a subtle relaxation and gentleness that came after the warrior's alertness had faded. "What's wrong, Lowell, can't you sleep either?"

Lowell bent one leg, casually resting his arm on his knee, and chuckled at the comment, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "Nobody can sleep. My sleep quality is excellent; I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow, without fail."

He paused, then gestured with his chin towards a window downstairs:

"It's Ruby, that little girl. She's been pestering Frieren to tell her stories, practically nestled in Frieren's arms. Whether it's the origins of magic or ancient legends, she's listening with such fervor. Tsk, she used to be the most impatient with these boring things, but now she's not putting on that 'Ruby Ruby' act at all?"

He seemed to suddenly remember something, and his voice became lower, with an indescribable tone that was mixed with pity and emotion. "Speaking of which, she is only fifteen years old. The place actually controlled by the demons... the conditions are obvious. She is obviously the only daughter of a duke. She is really a child who can endure hardships."

Himmel chuckled softly, moonlight falling on his azure eyes, creating gentle ripples. "Lowell thinks so too? But Ruby listening to Frieren's story shouldn't disturb your rest, right?"

"That's a big deal." Lowell rolled her eyes at him, though her expression might not be clear in the darkness.

"That young girl spent a year in the Demons realm, surrounded by three grown men all day long. She finally got to see Frieren, a young and powerful elf sister, so of course she had to act cute and spoiled. With me there, how could she let loose? Right now, she's probably clinging to Frieren's arm, whining and wanting her head patted. After all, she's still just a kid."

"Lowell is very gentle," Himmel said softly, her tone sincere.

"... Come on." Lowell seemed a little uncomfortable with this blunt assessment, and gave a vague reply, subconsciously touching his nose.

"My sister used to... um, it's nothing." He started to say, but then swallowed the words back, as if he had touched on some taboo subject. He abruptly changed the subject, his voice sounding somewhat ethereal in the night wind. "Himmel, have you... ever thought about immortality?"

Himmel seemed oblivious to his momentary hesitation, and chuckled lightly at the words, a clear laugh carrying a worldly-wise detachment, "Immortality? Sounds like working overtime for a lifetime, that's too exhausting."

He paused for a moment, looked up at the slender crescent moon, his tone gentle yet containing an undeniable firmness, as if stating a truth he had long considered.

"Immortality sounds like a great option, having endless time to explore the world and pursue one's ideals. But the value of life is never determined by its length."

"Like an adventure, the true meaning lies in whether the journey itself is fulfilling, whether it is filled with memorable moments, and whether it protects what one wants to protect. If eternity means standing alone on the other side of time, watching important people leave time and time again, then that long period of time is nothing more than a long punishment bestowed by the Goddess."

He gently shook his head. "Death, perhaps, is the Goddess's final peace and blessing to all those whose lives are short."

"Is that so?" Lowell's voice deepened, carrying a hint of barely perceptible inquiry. "But what if you could protect this land forever, or even protect those who are important to you?"

Himmel turned her head, looked calmly back at Lowell, shook her head, and her eyes were as deep as the night sea.

"The essence of protection is not to eternally confine the protected under one's wings, but to give the protected the courage and strength to move forward independently. If one greedily demands eternity from time out of fear of loss, one will lose sight of the original intention, and such protection is nothing more than another form of constraint."

A faint smile curved his lips, a smile that seemed to Melt the chill of the moonlight.

Did you know that the meaning of the Mirror Lotus is 'eternal love'? But it is precisely because it will eventually wither that the moment it blooms with all its might is so precious and so moving. Human love... perhaps it is precisely because we know its brevity that it Burning so fiercely and so recklessly.

"So," Lowell concluded slowly, as if confirming something, "You believe that it is precisely because of this finite life, this inevitable end, that all experiences and emotions acquire a deeper meaning, right?"

"Not 'on the contrary'," Himmel corrected, her tone firm, "But precisely because. Like a shooting star, it is precisely because it has only a fleeting moment of brilliance, that instant it streaks across the night sky, that it stirs the heart and leaves a lasting impression than those eternally hanging, yet commonplace, stars."

He leaned forward slightly, the moonlight illuminating the clear, warm light in his eyes:

"I would rather use this limited life to ignite a dazzling and fiery firework that can illuminate the path for others, even if it is fleeting, than to become a solitary lamp hanging high in the sky, never to be extinguished but ultimately forgotten by the world. Human life is the same. It is because we know that laughter will end and companions will eventually part ways that we remember the warmth of every campfire and cherish every act of trust and entrustment without reservation—because we know they will eventually pass away, these moments are so intense and so profound, aren't they?"

"... The answer you gave in the future I saw is exactly the same." Lowell said softly, his tone complex, with a hint of relief and an indescribable sense of loss. "And Ruby, with her starry eyes, will say, 'I'm just like Himmel '... Tsk, even though you already knew the answer, you still couldn't help but ask again."

Himmel gazed at him silently for a moment before speaking:

"Is that so, Lowell? You're a little different from what I imagined."

"Oh? How is it different?"

"I used to think that someone like you... should be even more indestructible, both in terms of strength and inner strength."

Lowell paused for a moment, then laughed, a laugh tinged with self-mockery:

"I'm just an ordinary person who's lived a relatively long time. Of course, I also hesitate and feel weak. That's why I've always kept my distance from you."

He paused for a moment, then lowered his voice:

"There was a time when I was like that... But later, when I no longer had a role to play, no one to repay, and no one to feel indebted to, I realized that perhaps I was just a neutral and kind person."

"I clearly have the ability to 'Future Sight,' but I often deliberately avoid looking. I'm afraid, afraid of becoming like you. Afraid of living such a tiring life, afraid of always running around for others. So I've run away from many futures that I could have changed."

He raised his eyes and his gaze fell on Himmel:

"So, Himmel, I admire you. Sometimes you're like the sun—getting too close will burn you, yet you make people want to rely on your light."

"Is there?"

"Have."

Himmel smiled.

"Please don't doubt yourself. The Lowell I know has already saved countless people, no less than I have. Don't blame yourself for not being able to save everyone."

"No one in this world is perfect, and I'm selfish too. I want to be admired, I want my deeds to be told, and I've even felt that the idea of defeating the Demon King was so meaningless that I wanted to give up..."

He looked into the distance, then looked back, his eyes seeming to shine:

"Precisely because my time is limited, the days we've known each other and spent together are incredibly precious to me. You may never have realized it, but the things you've said casually and the attitudes you've shown have made me think deeply. I will spend the rest of my life slowly reflecting on and putting into practice the principles they contain."

"I'm not that great," Lowell immediately denied, deliberately making his tone lazy, as if to downplay the solemnity of the moment.

"I'm just an ordinary person who hates trouble and has lived a bit too long. The reason I taught you things and accompanied you was simply because I didn't want my interference to cause any problems on your journey to defeat the Demon King. That's all."

"No." Himmel shook her head, her tone sincere and unwavering, "You've helped me a lot."

"... Think what you want." Lowell looked away, gave a vague reply, and didn't continue the topic.

Then, as if to break the slightly heavy atmosphere, he said in a light tone, "Why are you suddenly saying all this? It's like you're going to heroically sacrifice yourself tomorrow. You, oh man, you can refuse immortality, but you can't refuse longevity too, can you? Living a few more years and seeing what the world becomes, isn't that good?"

"Haha..." Himmel chuckled at his words, "That does sound quite nice."

"Hmm... As for the reward, we'll just use the horn of that Dark Dragon you smuggled from the Demon King's Castle as payment. Anyway, Ruby probably won't dare to take it now."

"Alright," Himmel agreed readily, as if the precious trophy were just an ordinary object.

Just then, the sound of a door creaking open came from downstairs, followed by the light, skipping footsteps of a girl humming a song, fading into the distance, clearly indicating she was heading back to her room contentedly.

Lowell listened intently, then stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. "Looks like the story's over. I'm going back."

"Okay." Himmel also stood up, his blue eyes clear and bright in the moonlight. "Goodnight, Lowell."

"Good night."

Lowell moved slightly and disappeared silently from the rooftop as if melting into the night.

Himmel stood alone, gazing quietly at the sleeping town under the moonlight for a while. The evening breeze ruffled his blue hair, carrying the chilly scent of the distant snow-capped mountains.

A moment later, he turned around, leaped lightly back to the ground, and walked toward the window that was still lit with a warm light.

The eaves fell silent again, with only a crescent moon silently bathing the tiles in its gentle light. It was as if the conversation about eternity and the fleeting moment had been nothing more than a whisper left behind by the passing night wind.