What, there was something like that?
Klein's eyes widened slightly, feeling for the first time the shock of high-level Beyonder powers.
Of course, Klein only had a vague understanding of high-level Beyonder powers right now. Otherwise, he would probably have been even more shocked.
Mr. Azik was stunned as well. Seeming to recall something, he raised a hand and rubbed his brow before asking doubtfully, "You mean a historical projection? But... but my memories tell me that historical projections don't possess self-awareness..."
"Not a historical projection. It's a Shadow of Time," Luo Lin corrected him, then scratched his head and said, "But I don't know the specifics either. Anyway, it's something my teacher gave me for protection. This is just what it does."
Although Mr. Azik was puzzled, he had not recovered much of his memories yet. He assumed it might simply be some ability he knew nothing about. After hesitating, he looked at Luo Lin and said, "Since it's an item your teacher gave you for self-defense, wouldn't it be inappropriate to use it on me?"
Though he truly wished to regain his memories, he did not want to harm someone else in the process.
"It's fine. I can just write to my teacher and ask for another one later. My teacher and I have a great relationship. At most, he'll scold me." Luo Lin grinned carelessly, looking every bit like a beloved disciple of a loving teacher.
Your teacher must have a good temper not to beat you to death... Klein mocked inwardly. He did not particularly doubt Luo Lin's words, though, and he felt that he somewhat understood why Luo Lin was so naive. He had probably been spoiled by the people around him.
Though I don't seem qualified to say that... Thinking of how he had arranged the Nighthawks informant identity for Luo Lin to protect him, Klein fell silent.
He admitted that perhaps out of care for a fellow countryman, or perhaps because of their friendship, he too instinctively looked after this naive fellow. Mr. Azik was probably much the same.
Perhaps Lucifer Soroyastor was like that too!
Hearing Luo Lin say this, Mr. Azik naturally stopped refusing.
However, people often passed by the Hoy River. If Mr. Azik recovered part of his memories, no one knew whether there would be any major commotion. To avoid being seen by others, the three of them left Hoy University and took a trackless carriage to an abandoned factory.
"Mr. Azik, please give me your hand. I need to use the Time Stone with you as the medium." Luo Lin's expression rarely turned serious. "But there are two things I need to explain beforehand. First, the Time Stone can't designate whom it summons, so I don't know who will appear. I can only be certain that they'll be someone very close to you. Whenever I used it before, it summoned my teacher directly, so please be mentally prepared."
"Second, the summoned being has a time limit. It can only remain for ten minutes at most, so if there's anything you want to ask, it's best to ask quickly."
These were naturally all lies. Luo Lin only said them to make the later operation easier.
"Alright, I understand." Mr. Azik extended his right hand, becoming unusually nervous as well.
Klein watched the two before him with both curiosity and tension. He saw Luo Lin grasp Mr. Azik with one hand while pulling a crystal-clear gemstone from somewhere with the other. Runes Klein had never seen before were carved upon it.
The next second, the gemstone lit up and shattered like an illusion.
Immediately afterward, a figure appeared beside Mr. Azik. She was a girl with smooth black hair. Her features bore a thirty to forty percent resemblance to Mr. Azik's, making their blood relation obvious at a glance.
Once the figure fully solidified, the girl opened her eyes. She looked around in confusion, seemingly unable to grasp the situation. Only when she saw Mr. Azik beside her did she smile and call out:
"Dad!"
Mr. Azik's daughter?
Klein instinctively began to speculate. Then he saw Mr. Azik seemingly freeze, as though he had fallen into some memory. He stared blankly at the girl before him, seeming to call out a name before half-kneeling on the ground in obvious pain.
"Dad, what's wrong?" The girl had clearly not expected this. She hurried over worriedly, looking at Mr. Azik with concern before raising her head toward the other two. "Are you two Dad's friends? Dad seems sick. Can you take him to see a doctor..."
"...I'm fine, I'm fine!" Mr. Azik shook his head at that moment. He gripped the girl's hand tightly, as if using tremendous force, yet also as if he did not dare exert any strength at all. Only his fingertips trembled faintly.
"Mr. Azik..." Klein was naturally worried about Mr. Azik's state as well. His spiritual intuition told him that Mr. Azik was extremely dangerous at this moment, yet also somehow perfectly safe.
"Dad, are you really alright? Why are you shaking? Are you cold?" The girl clearly was not reassured by Mr. Azik's words, and her expression remained deeply worried.
"I... I'm just too excited." Mr. Azik raised his eyes, his expression pained and sorrowful. He remembered many things—about the past, about the girl before him, about her death.
He had lost her long, long ago.
Mr. Azik remembered that.
It caused him pain, but more than the pain, Mr. Azik did not want to forget that she had existed. He did not want to forget the happiness they had once shared.
Mr. Azik called her name. After the girl looked at him in confusion, he embraced her. He remembered long ago, when she had only been as tall as his leg. He had lifted her up and let her sit on his shoulders, teasing his daughter to make her laugh like every foolish father did.
"Dad... missed you so much. I'm sorry I forgot you. I'm sorry..." At that moment, Mr. Azik himself did not know what he was saying. He merely followed the instincts of a father who had regained what he had once lost.
The girl fell silent. She quietly listened to Mr. Azik's words. Several minutes later, she pulled free from his embrace. Seeming to understand something, she looked at Mr. Azik and asked, "Dad, I'm already dead, aren't I?"
Mr. Azik's body trembled. He turned his head away and did not answer.
Luo Lin, who had remained silent the entire time, spoke at that moment. "You really are dead in this era. This is the future, and you came from the past."
"So that's how it is. How amazing!" The girl wore an expression of wonder. Then she seriously cupped Mr. Azik's face, leaned closer, and pressed her forehead against his. In a gentle voice, she said, "Don't be sad, Dad. I don't want to see you this sad."
"Even though I'm gone, I still hope Dad can have a new life. Of course, it would be best if you don't forget me." The girl smiled as she said this, then rubbed her face against Mr. Azik's. "So don't cry, Dad. You're a reliable, mature adult. You can't cry like a child."
Only then did Mr. Azik realize that tears had somehow already streamed down his face.
The girl raised her head toward Klein and Luo Lin and smiled. "You two uncles are Dad's friends, right?"
Before you continue