Just Teasing You-How Could I Bear to Let Clervie Die?

Let's turn back time a little.

The warm, sweet aroma filled the entire dessert shop, and the lingering warmth of the baked goods lingered in the air, but Xingsu only felt it was too sweet.

Looking at the incredibly familiar face before him, at that gentle smile that was exactly the same as in his memory, yet seemed to be a farewell, Xingsu could no longer maintain his composure and panicked in an instant.

His voice rose unconsciously, his eyes swirled with barely concealed panic, his fingers tightened sharply, and even his breathing became erratic.

"What do you mean by that? What do you mean you don't have much time left?!"

Claire gazed at him quietly, a slight smile playing on her lips, a hint of understanding in her voice. "Hmm... Mr. Xingsu cares about me quite a bit, it seems I guessed right."

"Never mind that! What's wrong with you?!" Xingsu took a half step forward, her heart filled with unease.

The Damselette lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing a faint melancholy within them. "For several years now, I've had a strange feeling, as if my body is slowly disappearing. It's like I shouldn't have existed in this world at all."

She paused, looked up at the hazy light outside the window, and continued to softly recount her long-held suspicions:

"From the moment I woke up, I couldn't remember anything from my past. Sometimes, when I heard other children talk about their childhoods, I realized that my past was a complete blank. At that time, a thought popped into my head—perhaps... I'm already dead."

Having lost all memories, his body is slowly dissipating, like a phantom that never belonged to this world?

Xingsu pondered Clervie's situation.

A conversation he had with Arlecchino suddenly came to mind.

She whispered her long-standing worries: those burned by her flames would leave behind afterimages, sometimes fragmented memories, sometimes just a jumble of colors.

As more and more people fell victim to her, she often heard all sorts of noises—screams, wails, and curses—that frequently woke her from her sleep. But over time, she had become accustomed to it.

After all, Arlecchino rarely had any beautiful dreams worth cherishing; all she ever saw was the Crimson Moon and the boundless wilderness.

At that time, Xingsu told her that he could stay by her side while she slept and use his memory to help her get a good night's sleep.

And then... well, he got kicked out, what a pity...

Xingsu shook her head, trying to shake off those strange thoughts from her mind.

Could this be the case for Clervie?

Xingsu suppressed his surging emotions and looked up at the Damselette in front of him:

Give me your hand.

Clervie paused slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly extended her slender hand and placed it in his palm.

Xingsu placed his fingertips on her wrist, drawing upon the power of his memories to quietly sense the state within her body.

Her physical form is unstable. In a sense, she is now an obsession formed from her remaining memories, and also a reflection of the Fire of Two Worlds in the world. She could be completely dissolved into the world at any time.

He looked up, his gaze heavy as he looked at Claire, and finally revealed the cruel truth. "You're right, you... you really are long dead. In a sense, you're a ghost now."

The Damselette lowered her eyes gently, a relieved smile spreading across her face, "I knew it... It's alright. I'm already so happy to have lived a few more years and met so many kind people."

I can save you.

"Lin, how are things? Can you help stabilize her condition?"

"What's the panic? This girl has survived these past few years. Although her condition isn't very stable right now, she should be able to live for another month or two. Ah, this girl is lucky to have met you two. One reflects her memories, and the other helps stabilize her body—why did you give her the necklace in the first place?"

"No... how could she only live for a month or two? I'm asking if it's possible to keep her alive indefinitely?"

"Hmm? Still alive? Let me state upfront that she died several years ago. At best, she's just a memory entity formed from the power of her memories. To truly resurrect her would require a vast amount of power. Aren't you afraid of being shot in the head by a cloud-piercing arrow?"

Xingsu didn't hesitate, her gaze fixed on Clervie in front of her. "You can help her, right?"

Lin drawled out her words, a hint of mischievous teasing in her voice. "Well, of course I can, but you haven't come to find me even after twenty chapters, and you only remember me when something happens..."

Xingsu's expression was solemn. Without the slightest hesitation, he replied in a deep voice, "You can make any requests you have."

"Hmph, you promised that yourself." Lin's voice chuckled even more. "The reward I want is precious memories."

Xingsu frowned slightly and asked softly, "Precious memories... what exactly constitutes a precious memory?"

Lin chuckled lightly, his tone casual yet playful. "Then you can decide for yourself."

The aroma of pastries filled the small dessert shop. Clervie looked up at Xingsu, whose expression was somber, her eyes filled with tender anticipation.

"Mr. Xingsu, please tell me what your name was before? And what about your past?"

Xingsu lowered her eyes, her fingertips clenching slightly as she spoke hesitantly:

"Are you sure you really want to retrieve those past memories? Those long-buried memories are mostly steeped in pain and unbearable suffering, filled with separation, killing, and regret."

Clervie nodded earnestly, a gentle smile playing on her lips, and said firmly:

"I'm sure, Mr. Xingsu. You're a good person. Even if the past is full of pain and separation, the fact that you're standing here now means that we'll eventually have a happy ending, right?"

Looking at her, Xingsu felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. He chuckled softly, his voice tinged with melancholy.

"Hehe, actually, back then I was just a helpless child. The real hero who saved us was someone else."

"Clervie, give me your hand."

Xingsu took out the necklace from her neck, grabbed Clervie's hand and held the necklace in her hand. All the memories from the House of the Hearth began to slowly appear in Clervie's mind.

She saw her younger self, in the House of the Hearth where she lived with Xingsu and Peruere, and how she would always try to bake cakes and tea to share with her good friends;

After witnessing the Icemelt Festival's banquet, she envisioned the future in that secret hideout known only to children, promising to see the aurora borealis at the edge of the snowfield;

She saw them forced by fate to fight each other with swords drawn. Looking into her best friend's eyes, she finally chose to give up resistance and face the other's sword. Warm blood flowed down, and she smiled as she greeted her own end.

"Arlecchino... Peruere... I see... Pepe, you've truly become a wonderful king..."

Xingsu gazed at her as she regained her senses and spoke softly:

Her birthday is coming up soon.

A glimmer of light appeared in Clervie's eyes, and her former lively smile returned to her face; her tone was full of excited anticipation.

"Hmm, how about we give her a surprise?"