Record

What on earth was going on?

Hesta did not understand.

She clearly realized that every change was because of Ksenia. As long as Ksenia appeared beside her, no matter what analyses she had made before or what grand resolutions she had declared... none of it worked anymore.

Everything had truly returned to Ding Yuqing's words: A young person was suddenly seized, suddenly pierced through—what reason was there for it?

Hesta felt somewhat annoyed and resentful, but she could not resent Ksenia, so she could only resent herself. One moment she thought of how foolish she had looked just now, the next she thought of Ksenia's reaction. An inexplicable agitation consumed her. She loathed the state she fell into around Ksenia and wished she could reach into her own head, tear that mass of memories out by the roots, throw it to the ground and stomp on it, then kick it somewhere out of sight.

Without realizing it, she had once again arrived at the television display window she had passed earlier. The three rows of screens inside were still looping footage of the sea beneath a full moon. Hesta's gaze swept across them absentmindedly, then stopped.

Not long ago, she had thought she had seen through the absurdity of it all, believed she could use reason to cross these barriers... But now she had gained a new understanding: what did it prove, even if the tide had receded? The tide went out, but it would rise again. So long as the moon hung in the sky, the tides would ebb and flow, never ceasing.

Hesta drew a deep breath. Suddenly, she hoped she would never see Ksenia again.

All day, Hesta had been restless. A fine, persistent ache seeped into her like spring rain. No matter what she did,