Tang Qi instinctively looked toward his companions.
The dim violet of the twin moons gradually replaced the orange sunset. Beside the crackling campfire, No. 17 remained asleep standing dozens of meters away, maintaining a sentry's stance.
The elf had been going to sleep particularly early lately, often falling asleep before Tang Qi had even finished eating.
According to her, it was so she could use the power of Fairy Magic in her dreams to stabilize the chaotic magic within her.
Her sleeping face was delicate and cool. Her snow-white hair had not regained its color with the return of the power of chaos, and slow breaths slipped between her rosy lips.
Although she was merely sleeping, doing nothing...
That familiar call could not have come from her either.
"Bzz, bzz."
Then he noticed repeated vibrations coming from his trouser pocket.
He fumbled inside and took out a faintly glowing stone.
It was the Message Stone Catherine had asked Wendy to bring him.
It had only one transmission left. Now, carrying longing from thousands of miles away, its message reached Tang Qi's ears-he ought to say something in return.
Yet he could not help looking toward the setting sun.
Perhaps I should tell her I miss her too?
That would tell her nothing about how he was doing, and might make her worry even more.
Tell her I'm safe, so she can stop worrying?
Such simple reassurance felt distant to the point of coldness.
Tell her outright that I'm coming home?
Perhaps she would think he intended to stay in the empire forever, and that they would never see each other again.
Express my longing while explaining why I'm heading to the empire?
But in this age of slow carriages and horses, even Message Stones could convey only so much, so