Heading to Ember

[Night, Panshi City, Temporary Shelter Area]

After bidding farewell to Caroline and the other, Tiandao came alone to the rooftop of an abandoned building and looked up at the night sky.

Panshi City had just endured the catastrophic Beast Tide, and more than ninety percent of the city's infrastructure and lighting facilities were gone.

Yet without the neon glow of the city, the starry sky above them shone all the more brilliantly.

As he watched the stars overhead, Tiandao found himself rarely thinking back on his childhood.

Although only three seasons had passed for the Dimensional Audience on Station 13, Tiandao and the others had truly lived here for more than ten years.

"What are you thinking about?"

Caroline's voice came from behind him. She held a sorted inventory list in her hands, her silver-white hair gleaming softly beneath the moonlight.

Tiandao turned around. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I was wondering whether things can still be this easy in the future."

Caroline paused, then walked to his side and said softly, "They can, Tiandao, as long as you want them to."

Caroline's confidence in Tiandao surpassed even Tiandao's own in some ways.

Tiandao merely smiled at her words and said nothing more.

Then he looked at Caroline and said, "Caroline, if Doctor saw you now, he'd probably be pleased. After all, you're becoming more and more human."

At the mention of Doctor, Caroline fell silent for a brief moment.

That stern yet gentle "father" had not given her a normal childhood, but for a long time, he had been her most steadfast support.

After a long while, Tiandao spoke again.

"Caroline, once things in Panshi City are over, let's go back and take a look at the old Ember Base site."

A flicker of surprise passed through