The corridor was very quiet.
Bai You accepted the energy and walked back, her steps much slower than when she came.
Bai You bid farewell to Capitano and walked out of the office.
She looked down at the slowly spinning ball of icy blue light in her palm, and with a thought, she put it into her storage space.
The ball of light hovered in the center of the space. Bai You was a little curious, so she immersed her consciousness into it.
As soon as they got close, a chill silently spread through her divine sense and permeated her Elemental Power.
Bai You paused—she could clearly feel the seven elements within her body being strengthened inch by inch by this coolness.
She subconsciously raised her hand and summoned a stream of water.
This time, the moment the thought arose, the water had already condensed at my fingertips.
Bai You's heart stirred, and she pressed her fingertips slightly.
The stream of water dispersed instantly, turning into a fine mist.
Your elemental control has increased!?
She opened her eyes wide and decided to try it as she walked.
After some trial and error, she slowly came to understand. The Captain's energy was more like a whetstone.
Silently calibrating her perception of the elements.
She reached into the storage space again, and the icy blue ball of light continued to spin quietly, calmly and silently, as if it hadn't done anything.
But she could sense that this calibration was still continuing—with each rotation of the energy, the subtle barrier between her and the elements thinned a little more.
Having experienced the storyline, she could roughly guess Capitano's intention in giving her this energy; she recalled that line from the plot:
"Heroes cannot be homeless."
Bai You took a deep breath, suppressing her thoughts. Varesa was still waiting.
So she quickened her pace and continued walking towards the waiting room.
After turning the last corner, I could see Varesa in the distance.
She didn't sit in the chair, but stood by the window, holding a cup of tea, gazing absently at the snow scene outside.
Hearing familiar footsteps, she turned around, a smile first appearing at the corner of her eye.
"Finally, you're out! I thought Capitano had conscripted you into the army."
As she spoke, she looked Bai You up and down, her gaze lingering on Bai You's face for only a moment.
Noticing that Bai You's expression was a little off, his smile faded somewhat.
"What's wrong?"
Varesa put down her teacup and came over.
"Did he make things difficult for you?"
"No, no." Bai You quickly shook her head, then thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth.
" The Captain gave me a ball of energy he had condensed, saying that my power wasn't quite stable, and told me to carry it with me."
She lowered her voice a little as she said this:
"I accepted it. But Varesa, as I walked down the corridor after leaving his place, I suddenly... felt a little emotional."
Varesa looked at her but didn't reply immediately.
"I can't explain why," Bai You, wrinkling her nose.
"It's like, within that ball of energy, there's something... very empty."
"It's like someone going to a very far place, so far that they might never come back."
The corridor was quiet.
The light from the wall lamp fell on Varesa's profile, and her eyes, which always held a smile, gazed quietly for a long while.
But in the end, she simply reached out and adjusted the fur collar of Bai You's coat.
"I know he's a very upright person; if he's giving you encouragement, it's because he wants you to be okay."
"He must have his reasons for giving you this; don't overthink it for now."
Bai You came to her senses.
"Let's go. Aren't you still looking for that ' Pantalone ' Pantalone?" she said.
"... Hmm." Bai You nodded.
The two walked side by side toward the palace gate.
As I walked out of the Snezhnaya Palace, it started snowing again.
Bai You stopped on the steps and looked back.
The palace stood majestically amidst the wind and snow, unaware of what lay behind that distant window.
The man was gazing out the window into the distance, thinking of heading to Natlan, of the Night Kingdom, and of his comrades who had been waiting for him until the end of time.
She didn't know that the energy she was given was almost half of his original energy.
"What are you looking at?" Varesa stopped beside her and followed her gaze.
"It's nothing." Bai You turned her head and smiled at her.
"Let's go to the Northland Bank."
Varesa looked at her smiling face and smiled back.
"Then I'll be going, my little Harbinger."
The two walked step by step through the snow towards the end of the long street.
--
Don't look back.
Just keep moving forward.
--
It was still early when the two walked out of the Snezhnaya Palace.
Northland Bank is located at the most bustling intersection in the city center.
It was a magnificent marble building with a towering lintel and two ice sculptures of animal heads holding rings on either side of the steps.
Those coming and going were all wealthy and noble, dressed in fine fur robes, walking briskly, while the servants at the door stood with their hands hanging down.
The two arrived at the door.
Varesa stopped at the bottom of the steps and reached out to pat Bai You's little head.
"I won't go in," she said.
Bai You was taken aback. "Huh?"
"I'm not Harbinger, what would be the point of me going in?"
Varesa's eyes held a hint of a smile.
"Go yourself—this is His Majesty's decree, and there's another Harbinger it out."
Bai You looked at her and nodded:
"Okay, you're waiting for me here?"
"I'll go sit down and have a cocoa at that hot drink shop across the street."
Varesa gestured with her chin.
"Go, my little Harbinger, let me see what you're capable of handling on your own."