How Do You Feel About the Sea?

"Mr. Leonid, this is no longer a place for you."

"Please leave now."

The butler's words awakened his gradually fading consciousness. The man's pupils brightened and dimmed again. The earth-shaking roar seemed to still echo in his ears. In his vision, the scene behind the boy was a mess. The seemingly weak young lady had forcefully destroyed a huge machine that had appeared out of nowhere.

Leonid understood everything; the previous conversations were all a facade, and the thought that this was a more worthwhile way to die could be extinguished.

There are not so many fateful encounters in the world; it is only because a man's longing is so heavy and lonely that a mere resemblance is enough for him to trust someone and be willing to give his life for them.

Leonid understood this deeply, so he didn't show his loneliness at being disappointed. The man just stared blankly at the broken and unrecognizable light fixtures above, somewhat dazed.

After a few breaths, he sighed:

"Are you... warriors of Schicksal?"

Su Qing'an replied:

"As you can see, even the most confident butler wouldn't bring his beloved young lady to a trap."

The boy made a lukewarm joke, while simultaneously helping the man's heavy, mostly steel-clad body to his feet, intending to take him away from this place.

Even though Fu Hua said she would leave the rest of the battle to her, Su Qing'an would never take it easy and be leisurely. His current choice was to take the innocent people who might be affected by the battle to a safe place and then return to the battlefield to participate in the fight.

Leonid did not refuse his help, and said:

"Then you should know that I don't have much time left."

"My family died in Siberia more than a decade ago. A man named Leonid Mikhelson died at that time as well. I am like a lonely ghost wandering around, struggling with the meaning of life for the rest of my years. I cannot start a new life. Neither this dead heart nor this body that is constantly approaching hell can stop me from doing so."

"So, I came here to find a way to die that suits me."

Su Qing'an remained silent. He had initially thought that Leonid had been deceived by the advertisement for the drug, believing that it could cure his condition caused by Honkai Energy infection. However, it now seemed that the man knew from the beginning that he was doomed.

What could be his purpose in coming here?

A weapon of Schicksal?

But what does this have to do with a suitable way to die?

If you really want to find a suitable way to die, why not travel to some of the most beautiful places in the world? Perhaps a certain corner of that place will catch your eye, and if you feel that dying there wouldn't be so bad.

That should be the most suitable way to die. Rather than worrying about how to die, Su Qing'an prefers the location of death. Whether it's lying in a deserted forest by a lake where white deer drink water and watching the azure sky as he gradually loses his breath, or leaping off Victoria Falls at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe as the sun sets, they are all different.

But perhaps, sometimes he feels that these things aren't that important.

So what if I die?

Having time to dwell on the manner of death itself is a hard-won act of mercy.

Su Qing'an is also nearing the end of his life. Compared to Leonid, who has struggled for more than ten years to live to this day, this young man may seem more tragic, but he never thinks about these issues.

Even though poetic and artistic notions of death might sometimes flash through his mind, suggesting a return to the embrace of that deity, Su Qing'an never thought of such things during the nights when the pain spread from his spine to his soul.

Back in Changkong City, he had heard of people who, during the cherry blossom season at Kiyomizu- Kiyomizu Temple, chose to commit suicide on a historic ancient bridge on a quiet night.

Later, he wondered if it was the bridge where he and Kiana had rested, and perhaps the bridge railing that Kiana had crushed back then was indeed an artifact.

The boy didn't care about the lives and joys and sorrows of strangers; at that moment, only these trivial things flashed through his mind.

At this time, Su Qing'an was unable to empathize with Leonid's life, nor could he offer any lengthy reflections.

But at this moment, he said, both seriously and casually:

What do you think of the ocean?

Leonid was stunned. He had considered many possible responses from the boy. He thought he might say nothing, feel sympathy, feel sorrow, feel indifferent, or become numb. But he never expected to receive a suggestion.

Su Qing'an continued:

"I'm studying at a school dedicated to protecting all the beauty in the world. The ocean there is beautiful at sunset. If you can hold on until then, then die there."

"Many heroic souls are buried there. Some Valkyrie love the sea there, and they habitually write in their wills before going on missions that if they unfortunately do not return, their ashes should be scattered into that sea."

"They will forever bear witness to this academy; their longing and souls are hidden in every drop of Seawater, and perhaps in every bubble that rises and falls, there are their past thoughts."

"Mr. Leonid, it's beautiful there. Perhaps what you want is to witness the hope of this world being passed on like a torch, together with them."

Leonid was speechless; he didn't know how to answer for a moment. He could only smile and say:

"The sea is beautiful, sir."

Su Qing'an said:

"I'll prepare a glass of vodka for you then, so please live well until then in order to taste that drink."

Leonid smiled wryly; perhaps the outcome depicted by the boy was more beautiful than any of the deaths he had previously imagined.

And vodka?

The man forced himself to stand up, patted Su Qing'an on the shoulder, and said:

"I will drink that vodka. Until then, go and fight alongside your young lady, butler."

"I can see that you find it hard to bear letting her fight alone, don't you? In our previous conversation, you weren't lying about some things."

"Go ahead. Whatever your relationship may be, your desire to protect her is not wrong."

"Because..."

Leonid murmured in a whisper that only he could hear, then suddenly shoved the somewhat stunned boy hard, laughing as he said:

"I can do it myself. The name Leonid means lion."

"Go, follow your heart, you nameless butler."

Su Qing'an was speechless. He nodded silently, while Leonid waved his hand and walked forward alone.

The boy didn't have time to leave his name, nor did he pay much attention to the man's faltering figure.

Su Qing'an walked towards the person he cared about without looking back.