Xiao Bu

"Uncle, could you help me judge which child would be suitable?"

Outside the classroom, Cocolia spoke to the Chief Stoker standing beside her.

"These ones who won't stop crying are certainly out," the Chief Stoker said, looking into the classroom. "The children who aren't crying have better temperaments. A steadfast heart is important for anyone hoping to become the next Supreme Guardian."

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly fixed on one spot, and for a long time, he could not speak.

Cocolia followed his gaze and said in surprise:

"Oh, that child?"

"Chu Mu," the Chief Stoker sighed.

Half a month ago, he had personally ruled on Chu Mu's case, and it had shaken him deeply.

"I remember that child. He came from beyond the sky," Cocolia recalled. "Back then, the Council argued over him for ages. Some said he was an ill omen fallen from the heavens, while others said he might carry an alien virus. In short, they were all pressuring me to kill him."

"But you didn't. Instead, you protected him and sent him to the Orphanage in the Underworld, far from the controversy," the Chief Stoker said wistfully. "Cocolia, your kindness saved him."

"Uncle, I'm not that noble." Cocolia shrugged. "I'd only just taken office then. Those people were merely using the child as an excuse to trip me up, testing whether I was weak and had no mind of my own.

"If I'd really killed him, I would have played right into their hands. But I wasn't in a position to openly break with them, either, so I simply sent the child down here. That settled the controversy, at least."

"Cocolia, everything you've said concerns political considerations. But did you truly feel no pity for the child at the time? I doubt that," the Chief Stoker sighed.

Cocolia fell silent.

The Chief Stoker continued:

"If that child had fallen from the sky now, rather than two years ago, and ended up in your hands now that you hold real power, what would you do?"

"I would keep him by my side and raise him properly." Cocolia looked at the child inside, her voice calm. "But I wouldn't make him my successor, because he's an alien. Even if I could accept him, the people under me couldn't."

After a pause, she asked in puzzlement:

"Why does that child have a strip of cloth over his eyes?"

"He's blind in one eye," the Chief Stoker sighed.

"What happened?" Cocolia frowned. "Did the people at the Orphanage abuse him?"

"That wasn't it." The Chief Stoker sounded sorrowful. "He gouged out his own eye, in accordance with Article Ten of Decree No. 1."

"A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye." Cocolia recited the decree, even more puzzled. "How could something like that happen to this child?"

"It's not something I can explain in a few words," the Chief Stoker sighed. "In any case, when it comes to character, this child is undoubtedly the most resolute one here. The others fall far short of him."

"Uncle, I rarely hear you praise anyone like that, let alone a child." Cocolia looked at the Chief Stoker in surprise.

Still, she shook her head and rejected the idea:

"An alien, and blind. Those two things leave him no prospects. I'm sorry, Uncle, but I have to consider all of Belobog."

"There's no need to apologize. I understand." The Chief Stoker shook his head.

He continued looking into the classroom, his gaze settling beside the boy:

"What about that girl? She has excellent potential. She's awakened to a Path at such a young age."

"I noticed." Cocolia nodded. "I've been watching her."

"Oh, you're quite pleased with her?" the Chief Stoker asked in surprise.

"Only at first glance." Cocolia sighed. "I watched her for a minute, and she never stopped fidgeting. She's impatient and very restless."

"True, she lacks composure," the Chief Stoker agreed. "Then is there anyone you've taken a liking to?"

"There is." Cocolia looked in another direction.

"Her?" The Chief Stoker narrowed his eyes. "She's very thin and looks rather timid. She keeps hiding behind someone else."

"We can make up for her thinness with proper nutrition. She's still young. As long as she gets enough nourishment, it won't affect her physique in the future." Cocolia gazed at the girl, her voice gentle. "Besides, she isn't timid. She simply happens to have someone beside her she can rely on. Look at her eyes. They're bright and fearless. That tells you how strong she is inside."

"It seems you've made up your mind," the Chief Stoker remarked.

"Yes." Cocolia nodded slightly.

Inside the classroom, Seele sat on a desk and complained:

"Why are these people keeping us locked up in here? They won't let us out, and they keep pointing at us through the windows. It's so annoying!"

"It'll be over soon!" Chu Mu said softly.

He was holding his little sister's hand, gripping it tightly.

"Xiao Bu," he couldn't help saying.

"Mu, what's wrong?" Xiao Bu asked curiously.

"N-nothing." Chu Mu shook his head and said no more.

Just then, the classroom door opened again.

Two Silvermane Guards walked over and stopped in front of Chu Mu and the others.

"You, come outside with us for a moment!"

The tall soldier pointed at Xiao Bu.

"Me?" Xiao Bu looked at the two soldiers in confusion, clutching Chu Mu's hand.

But just then, Chu Mu first gripped his little sister's small hand tightly, then slowly let go.

He said softly:

"Go with them, Xiao Bu."

"Mu?" Xiao Bu looked at Chu Mu, a sudden wave of panic rising in her heart.

"Don't be afraid. You'll only be outside for a little while." Chu Mu turned toward where the soldiers stood and asked, "Right, sir?"

One soldier failed to catch on and instinctively started to tell the truth, but the other nudged him and spoke first:

"That's right. We're just asking this child to come outside and speak with our superior for a while. She'll be back soon."

Chu Mu then turned to Xiao Bu and said softly:

"You heard him. Go on. I'll wait here for you to come back."

"Okay." Xiao Bu nodded. "I'll come back as soon as I can. Mu, wait for me."

She took the Snow Globe from her arms and set it on the desk, murmuring to the two animal figurines inside:

"You two have to wait here for me, too."

Perhaps Xiao Bu had already realized something by then.

But there were so many things one simply couldn't fight.

The two tall Silvermane Guards stood on either side of Xiao Bu, almost as though holding her captive, and urged her on.

"Let's go."

The three of them headed for the door.

The moment she stepped through it-

Suddenly, Chu Mu called out:

"Xiao Bu!"

Xiao Bu turned back. The blind boy sat there, tears soaking the black gauze over his eyes.

Xiao Bu's tears spilled over, too. She wanted to run back and hug her brother.

But the Silvermane Guards behind her had already pushed her out and slammed the door shut.

With that, Xiao Bu disappeared from everyone's sight.

The girl sobbed outside the door. She had realized that this was the last time she would ever see her brother.

But her brother's eyes could no longer see his little sister.

The soldiers outside started moving, and the sobbing gradually faded into the distance. Seele couldn't help asking:

"Why are those people acting like human traffickers? Boss, is your sister really going to be okay out there?"

"Xiao Bu has her own destiny now," Chu Mu said quietly.

The boy's figure began to blur, and at some point, he suddenly vanished.

It was as though he had never been there.

Only the Snow Globe remained, sitting quietly on the desk.