Capítulo 59: Chapter 59: Seeing Old Neil Again
Chapter 59: Seeing Old Neil Again
In the dimly lit living room, illuminated only by a single candle, silence hung heavy in the air.
After several seconds, the chubby pharmacist grumbled, "Why didn't you leave an address? At least I could've gotten something from your corpse."
Alice, who knew Klein's address, had to admit she felt a momentary temptation.
Klein pretended not to understand and looked at "Black Snake," saying, "If I don't gamble, I have no chance of survival. But if I do, there's at least a glimmer of hope. I won't just sit and wait for death."
Alice marveled inwardly at Klein's acting skills once again.
Hearing this, the "Eye of Wisdom" elder closed his mouth, which had been about to open.
"I admire your attitude!" "Black Snake" laughed heartily.
"I admire it too. I had several friends with the same attitude. Now I visit their graves every year to lay flowers," the chubby pharmacist remarked sarcastically.
If the "Eye of Wisdom" elder hadn't been present, "Black Snake" might have confronted him later... though it was possible "Black Snake" wouldn't have the chance.
Alice discreetly glanced at "Black Snake," easily noticing the thick aura of death surrounding him—accepting the pharmacist's request had brought him closer to death.
Thankfully, I know my limits... Alice reflected inwardly.
After the transaction was complete, the chubby pharmacist inquired once more about the crystallized marrow of the "Elven Spring," but to no avail.
...
When Alice returned to the church to pray, she encountered a familiar face.
An elderly man with graying hair, dressed in a classic black robe, sat at the front of the church, praying quietly like everyone else.
Alice watched this acquaintance, whom she had met only once before, finish his prayer and rise to leave. As he stood beside her, he said, "You seem to recognize me?"
Alice was startled, realizing her emotions had been too obvious—the moment she saw Old Neil, she involuntarily recalled her life in Tingen City.
The captain... Rosanne... Mrs. Daley... Leonard... and the others...
How would they react knowing she and Klein were dead? Would they cry? Would they be devastated at the funeral? Who would collect her body? What expressions would they have upon seeing her corpse?
The sorrow that had been dispersed by the awkward scene when she awoke in the cemetery finally resurfaced upon seeing a familiar face.
"No, I'm sorry. I just... seeing you reminded me of some past events and people..." Alice hurriedly stood up, apologizing through blurred vision.
Unable to clearly see Old Neil's expression, Alice could only sense his gaze softening slightly. Then, the old gentleman's voice sounded, "Your crying is making me feel a bit uncomfortable."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you..." Alice wiped away her tears, struggling to regain composure and clear her vision.
"You must have experienced something very sad," Old Neil's gaze seemed to be reminiscing about something.
As she watched him turn to leave the church, Alice hesitated for a moment before quickly following and asking, "You seem... seem to have a deep understanding of this?"
"When I was young, I had a lover," Old Neil looked at Alice's tear-stained face and sighed deeply, recounting his past. "We were very much in love, almost engaged..."
"What happened then?" Alice asked softly.
"Later, she suddenly fell gravely ill. I... I tried many methods, consulted many renowned doctors, but nothing worked," Old Neil's expression was full of reminiscence.
Alice noticed Old Neil's pause, guessing he might have attempted to use ritual magic to save the lady, but unfortunately...
"You must have been devastated," For a moment, Alice seemed to empathize deeply with Old Neil's sorrow. Finally, she sighed and could only say this.
"Yes, I was very upset," Old Neil stopped walking and looked at Alice with a meaningful gaze. "At first, I was extremely distraught. Everyone worried I might harm myself. I assured everyone I wouldn't, but I still couldn't let it go..."
They were concerned he might lose control... Alice realized.
"Even after everyone stopped worrying about me, I couldn't forget. I was even tempted and almost..." Old Neil paused, not finishing his sentence, but Alice already understood the truth of the matter.
"So, what made you change your mind?" Alice thoughtfully steered the conversation in the direction Old Neil seemed to want.
"Because I understood something," Old Neil looked at Alice with gentle eyes and said in a soft voice, "No matter what, no matter where, those who love you would always want you to be happy."
No matter what, no matter where, those who love me would always want me to be happy...
For a moment, Alice recalled many things. She remembered the voice in her dream telling her to "run and don't look back," the eyes of each person as they fell before her, the captain's hand on her shoulder when Megose appeared, Leonard questioning her about who was more like the protagonist between him and Klein...
Alice felt her vision blur again. In a daze, she only heard Old Neil sigh, "Let's sit in the nearby shop for a while."
A moment later, Alice, holding a cup of sweet iced tea and sitting across from Old Neil, had stopped crying. She smiled apologetically at Old Neil, "I'm really sorry, sir. I didn't mean to, I just..."
"It's alright," Old Neil smiled kindly at Alice, "I understand the sorrow of losing important people."
"No, I haven't lost them," Alice smiled gently, "They're all still... Fortunately, they're all still there, all safe..."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Old Neil asked, looking at Alice.
"I... I might never be able to see them again," Alice's gaze flickered as she spoke softly, "Even if we meet again, I can't face them as who I once was..."
"They... they might think they've lost me forever." Even though each sentence was filled with "maybes," Alice's eyes were still full of sadness.
"Even if you live in a place where you can't see each other, I believe they would want you to live better in another world," Old Neil said gently.
Alice opened her mouth but couldn't respond—for some people, she really was living in another world.
But he's right. Even if I can't see them, I still hope those I love can be happy...
"Thank you," Alice finally stood up and bowed deeply to this old gentleman, who was once merely an acquaintance and now a stranger.
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