Abandoned Tears

Aila stood quietly in place, her expression showing tension and fear. She clenched her teeth and trembled uncontrollably, but she couldn't move an inch.

As a little elf, she was stolen by humans at a young age and sold to the human world. However, unlike other elves, Aila was born blind and unable to speak. Wherever she went, she was nothing but a burden. Although, given her beauty, she could have easily become a plaything in the bed of the wealthy if she had grown up a little longer, just before she was about to face such a fate, Kalin suddenly appeared and bought her and all the other elves.

Aila didn't understand what this meant. She only knew that she had been driven onto a ship, and then one day, the elves beside her told her that they had gained their freedom. She didn't understand what any of this meant; in Aila's world, there was only darkness. She couldn't pray, nor could she do anything. To the elves, she was also a burden. Although many elves were willing to help her, they were, after all, only a minority.

Aila is standing here today because she received orders from above. An elf who sounds very high-ranking commanded her to come to the deck at the stern, while refusing the other elves' request to follow her. For no apparent reason, this filled the young elf with fear and unease, but when she arrived at the designated spot, she found herself in even greater danger.

"I had no idea what kind of dinner would be delivered."

An arrogant, elegant voice, colder than ten thousand years of solid ice, appeared before the elf.

"I never expected it to be a defective product. Humph, what do those green-skinned monkeys take me for? A garbage dump? To leave their unwanted trash to me to dispose of?!"

The voice was calm, but it contained a terrifying rage. Aila involuntarily shrank back, but she remained standing there silently.

"Aren't you going to say anything? A defective product? Or... can't you even speak?"

Although she didn't know what the other party wanted to do, Aila nodded silently. Soon, she felt the cold night wind suddenly begin to howl across her body, and the killing intent contained within it was enough to make her blood freeze.

"Blind man, mute? Hmph, those green-skinned monkeys really don't take me seriously. How dare they show such inferior food to people?"

"..."

Anger, a fire of fury rose within the little elf. She clenched her fists, wanting to refute, to resist the voice. But her body was completely unresponsive to her fear. The little elf instinctively sensed that standing before her was something she could not resist at all; she couldn't even raise her fists to express her anger. At this moment, the only thing Aila could do was take a step back, expressing her dissatisfaction and protest to the very limit of what she could currently do.

"Oh?"

For some reason, that voice seemed to have something else about it.

"What, do you intend to rebel against me? You're just food? You don't really think there's any meaning to your existence, do you? You can't see, you can't even speak, what's the point of your life?"

"..."

That cannot be refuted.

Aila understood that she had always been a burden to others in this world. Whether human or elf, everyone saw her as a liability. If she didn't have some value, she would probably have been abandoned long ago—and now, the time for her to be abandoned had finally come.

"Hmph, looks like they've resigned themselves to their fate. How boring."

The voice rang out again, and for some reason, this time Aila sensed that the other person seemed... somewhat...

However, before Aila could fully process what was happening, a tremendous force suddenly rushed towards her, easily pulling the little elf's body away. Faced with this sudden turn of events, Aila opened her mouth in surprise, but the next moment, accompanied by a "splash" as she fell into the water, the icy seawater completely swallowed her up.

What... what's going on?!

Faced with the unknown, Aila began to struggle desperately. She didn't want to die here, didn't want to die in this icy sea. A powerful will to survive compelled her to struggle, but for Aila, falling into the water was something she had never experienced before, especially since she couldn't see anything and had no way to call for help. Right now, Aila could only desperately struggle with her hands and feet, reaching into the water beside her, instinctively trying to find something to support her body. Finally, after several failed attempts and swallowing mouthfuls of seawater, Aila managed to grab onto a piece of wood. Judging from its shape, it was probably from the stern of the boat...

A sharp pain shot through Aila's hand; someone had stepped on it.

"Still struggling? How utterly ugly! What's the point of struggling? A defective product? Wouldn't it be better to die quietly in the sea? At least then you could become bait for the fish there. You don't really think anyone would like you, do you? Taking care of something flawed like you is just too much trouble to even think about. What? Still not giving up? If you truly love those who like you, then just die here obediently. That way, those who love you will be relieved of a burden, won't they? Admittedly, they might grieve for your death, but grief is always temporary. It's the only thing you can do, isn't it?"

That's right.

Just as this person said.

Aila clenched her teeth; her hands were beginning to go numb.

What is the meaning of my life? I can't see, and I can't communicate with others. I can only respond after hearing what others say. What's the point? Those kind elf sisters take care of me, but they also sigh. After all, they can't take care of me forever, but what can I do...? Perhaps death is the best choice. If I could die and return to the great goddess, I would surely have a better life than this...

No!

Aila snapped back to her senses and gripped the wood tightly, ignoring the pain of it trampling on her hands.

I don't want to die, no matter how much trouble I cause others. I don't want to die. No matter how many people hate me, I have to live. I absolutely cannot die, I...

Aila realized that this was the end; the icy seawater and intense pain completely robbed her of her last bit of willpower.

"Call..."

Angela gazed at the little sprite floating on the sea and sighed softly. She moved her right foot away, and saw a clear shoe print on the back of the sprite's hand. Even with such force, she was still clinging to that piece of wood so tightly?

"What a stubborn child."

As Angela spoke, she carefully lifted the little fairy out of the sea with a tenderness she had never shown before. She gazed at the little face, which was slightly bluish from the cold, and her eyes revealed an unusual gentleness.

"Are you really determined to live on, no matter how many people hate you, no matter how much trouble you cause others, no matter how useful you are? That's not an easy thing to do."

"It's so rare to see this side of you."

Li Lin, who had been silently watching Angela, finally spoke up. In fact, he had noticed Angela's behavior was somewhat strange earlier, especially when she threw the little sprite into the sea; Li Lin couldn't figure out what Angela was trying to do. However, he decided not to stop Angela's actions and instead silently watch until the end.

"Owner..."

Looking at Li Lin who walked up to her, Angela smiled and squinted her eyes, enjoying the feeling of Li Lin's large hand stroking her hair.

You saw everything?

"A very rare speech for you."

As Li Lin spoke, he looked at the elf in Angela's arms, her face ashen, unconscious.

"I thought you wanted to kill her for your own amusement, but I never expected... you would actually save her."

Moreover, Angela's expression was unusually serious when she spoke. Even Li Lin rarely saw Angela with such a serious expression.

"Because she's a willful child."

Angela looked at the elf in her arms.

"Master, just now, she made the most willful and ruthless decision ever."

"To survive, is that it?"

"That's right."

Angela.

"Incompetent, crippled—what joy could she possibly experience living in this world? No, or rather, she couldn't experience any joy at all. What could she do? What was she capable of? Was she merely there to be bossed around? In that case, a doll would be far more practical, wouldn't it? Human relationships have never been about selfless sacrifice; the pursuit of equality is the solace of both souls. So, what could this little one do? No, she could do nothing. She would only be a burden, forever living under the disgusted and resentful gazes of others. Even if she tried to do what others could do, she could never do it better than a able-bodied person. So, what was the meaning of her existence? That's right, merely a doll for able-bodied people to pity, to demonstrate their own compassion and love. Just like how caring for a stray dog can be called being an animal rights activist, it's just satisfying one's own petty vanity. She's such a pitiful thing."

Worthless.

Li Lin gazed at the elven girl in Angela's arms, remaining silent.

Why save someone who is worthless?

"Oh, my lady, I didn't save her. It was more accurate to say that she wanted to live."

At this point, Angela's tone suddenly became much lower.

"I too have had such days. Back then, in everyone's eyes, I was the embodiment of plague, death, and the devil. My existence would not make the world a better place; it would only increase death and fear, destruction and slaughter... Neither good nor bad people wanted me to live. Even those who cared for me were only superficially friendly. In fact, if I were to die, they would be overjoyed."

As she spoke, Angela her head and gazed at the bright full moon in the sky.

"But so what? Even if everyone in the world dies because of me, I will absolutely live on. Even you, my master, cannot stop my will. This is what I have always insisted on. No matter what I sacrifice, nothing can stop me."

"What you call an obsession?"

Li Lin shook his head. He truly didn't understand how determined Angela was to "live on." Even he himself had once imagined dying happily when his wishes were fulfilled. But Angela was different. She seemed to have made up her mind that even if she faced eternal exile in the endless river of time, she would never give up her life—even though, for Vampire Species, she no longer considered to have a life.

"I am here, and I will always be here. No matter how many corpses lie beneath my feet, I will never give up."

As she spoke, Angela lowered her head again, gazing at the little elf, her bright red eyes sparkling.

"Don't you plan to make her your familia?"

Angela shook her head slightly in response to Li Lin's question.

"I greatly admire her will, but I am not the kind of pushover who would readily bestow upon others the glory of Vampire Species."

"Then, leave it to me."

As Li Lin spoke, he reached out and placed his hand on the little elf's body. Soon, a magical light flashed, and the little elf's tiny body disappeared into thin air.

"Nia will take good care of her, let's go."

"Where to, Master?"

Angela grasped Li Lin's outstretched hand and asked curiously. But Li Lin did not answer her question. Instead, he silently chanted an incantation. Soon, a faint magical glow enveloped them, and then space began to distort.

Then, darkness and endless seawater filled the entire space.