Chapter 115 - 115 - Upholding the Candle

"Xin Yu, is it dead?" Little Kiana, dressed in her winter clothes, looked at the mouse lying motionless in the snow, appearing somewhat stiff. Xin Yu crouched down, examining the corpse that was already as rigid as a stone. After a moment of silence, he said, "Yes, it's dead." "Dead... does that mean it will never wake up again?" "A teacher of mine once taught me what death is. My own understanding is that death is a permanent farewell." "Then... is Daddy dead too?" Kiana suddenly asked such a question. Xin Yu looked directly into her eyes, into those sky-blue pupils. The intention he originally had to conceal the truth gradually faded. Finally, he sighed and nodded. Kiana was no ordinary child. Although each iteration of her in every cycle was a new beginning, with her own personality, experiences, and memories, she was, after all, someone who had lived through countless cycles. Furthermore, Xin Yu had previously delved deep into her consciousness space and severed a large part of the divinity that had long been entrenched in the depths of her heart. Right now, Kiana might not show any particular changes, but as time slowly passed, memories from past cycles would likely resurface. She would eventually remember what she truly was, and what burdens she truly carried. Although this would bring certain disadvantages, it would undoubtedly have some benefits as well. For instance, Kiana could try to make amends for those she had wronged in previous cycles. Even though what has happened can never be truly erased by amends, and the fact that she once harmed others cannot be rewritten, as the saying goes, "it's never too late to mend." It's far better than doing nothing at all. "Daddy, why did he die?" "Your father, Mr. Siegfried, was a hero. He died saving others." "Then what about Mommy?" "Your mother left temporarily to make amends for her own mistakes, and to seek revenge against the person who caused your father's death." "Life... is fragile." Kiana looked at the mouse's corpse on the ground. Life could sometimes be tenacious, sprouting even from concrete. Yet, at other times, life was fragile; sometimes, just a rainstorm, or even a gust of wind, could make someone lose their life. Little Kiana didn't know how she should face life and death, but she knew she hated death, she hated this eternal farewell. Xin Yu did not try to teach Kiana how to face death or how to properly regard her attitude towards life at this moment. This was not something he should teach; rather, Kiana should come to understand it herself. Otherwise, what he taught might only create another version of himself. Xin Yu first stroked Kiana's head. Then, under her puzzled gaze, he covered the mouse's corpse with his other hand. As faint signs of the surrounding ice and snow melting appeared, a movement suddenly occurred where Xin Yu's hand had been. Something stirred beneath. To Kiana's astonishment, the mouse actually crawled out slowly from under Xin Yu's hand, then quickly disappeared into the snowy landscape, its destination unknown. "It... how did it come back to life?" "That mouse had only entered a state of suspended animation; it wasn't completely dead. Luckily, it encountered us and, very fortunately, was saved." "However, in such cold weather, if it can't find a place to shelter, without sufficient food and water, it will eventually die in this icy expanse." "...Then if it's definitely going to die, why did you save it?" "Because I have the ability to. And because this, perhaps, was its miracle." "...I think I understand something, but I can't quite put it into words." "Then there's no need to think about it. I've made yam and bone soup. It's delicious. Let's hurry back and drink it." "Yay!" Kiana instantly tossed aside all the confusing thoughts and philosophical theories that had inexplicably popped into her head and ran ahead happily, heading towards home. "Slow down, don't fall." Xin Yu said, following behind Kiana. After the two of them had left, in the patch of snow where the mouse's body had lain, the earth beneath began to loosen. Then, a tender shoot broke through the hardened soil and the cover of ice and snow, sprouting forth. It grew at an unnaturally fast speed, eventually blossoming into an ice-white flower. Under the sunlight, the flower was beautiful and sacred. ... Meanwhile, in a distant, different universe. In a dimly lit room, a group of people cloaked in hoods had gathered. "Everyone, I believe you all understand why I have gathered us. All twenty-four of us, myself included, were saved by that God, thereby receiving a new life." "We prayed to that God. I saw my departed family, my friends, my love, and the brothers I once fought alongside. Their souls, with God's help, traversed a vast expanse of time to communicate with me back then." "I even suspected it was a deception, an illusion. But every inquiry, every observation, only made me believe more firmly in their reality. I trust that everyone present has experienced this as well." A person emerged from a corner of the dim room, holding a lit candle. The candlelight flickered, bringing the only illumination to the room. And everyone present listened intently to his words. "God has never boasted of Himself, nor ever felt His salvation was such a grand deed. Yet, it was people's greed that drove God away." "The matter of God healing us caused a huge uproar within the Xianzhou Luofu. The consequences that arose from it, I believe everyone has experienced. All of you present have been investigated recently, even had blood drawn, samples taken, and body cells collected for various research." "They are jealous that we received divine favor, jealous that we possess bodies that are immortal and undying, with no side effects." "I have invited everyone here this time because I hope we will no longer remain silent, no longer passively accept this. Otherwise, we are destined to become mere samples on an operating table due to the inherent greed of the Xianzhou people." "At the same time, I wish to repay God's grace. I want to spread faith in God." After saying this, the person fell silent, waiting as those present began to converse among themselves. After a period of discussion, someone raised a question. "If we are to believe in that God, what should we call Him? If we believe in Him, will we become a new version of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus? And will we consequently lose the blessing of the Hunt, lose our strength?" "I call Him the God of New Life and Miracles. I have also learned His name from various sources." "Xin Yu." "As for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, our pursuits are different from theirs. We do not seek longevity, nor will we senselessly harm our own kin." "What we must do is actually very simple: to help those whom we are capable of helping. This is the path our God Himself follows." "As for the last question..." The person silently raised the candle in his hand. Under everyone's gaze, the candle, which had been half-burnt, actually began to slowly grow, the consumed part re-condensing! Finally, the candle became whole again, and there was no melted wax beneath its base. At this moment, any remaining doubts among those present vanished. "What should we call ourselves?" "The Candle Bearers."