According to that man, the Vengeful Spirit and the Professor fought intensely for the key to the legendary Blood Path. In order to fight, the Professor hired the Butcher, but even the Butcher had been defeated by the Vengeful Spirit.
In the end, the formerly undefeated Professor miscalculated and died in the Vengeful Spirits hands. After Holmes killed the Professor, he offered the body to Satan. The entire Asylum was turned into demonic territory.
Even the Round Table Knights had been startled. The knights Lancelot and Galahad worked together to attack Holmes, but Holmes had fought back and played an ancient score from the East. It was called the Xuanyuan Sky-breaking Melody or something scary like that. He wanted to completely destroy Avalon. But god bless Avalon. The Royal Musicians activated the enchantment, called forth the pure white moon and purified him!
“Hey, I was there when it happened and I saw everything!” someone else said with exaggerated features. “You were wrong about the Vengeful Spirit. After he called up Satans power, he escaped!”
Everyone burst into laughter. Another witness revealed that this guy had been hiding in a doghouse and almost peed his pants. How could he have seen the Vengeful Spirit? As they laughed, no one noticed that the door was pushed open.
Outside, someone opened the door and entered. The sunlight outside the window shone on his white hair and prosthetic arm. He quietly passed through the hall and sat down in the corner. He put on an apologetic expression for the friend who had been waiting.
“Sorry, Im late.” He sighed. “I havent gone out in a while and got lost”
“Its okay. Ive just arrived too,” the muscular man across from him said. The mans burliness was over the top. It seemed as if his entire body was covered in bulging muscles. Even his face was muscular and fierce, and he seemed unapproachable. The people around him all kept their distance subconsciously. They did not even dare to speak loudly, in fear of angering this guy and getting beaten up.
Seeing Abraham arrive, the giant man quickly put out his cigar. Rising, he raised his arm in salute. But when he raised his arm halfway, he finally realized what he was doing and sat back down awkwardly.
Relieved sighs sounded around them. Everyone was worried for the old man who sat before him.
“Is that guy going to hit him?”
“This place is regulated. He wouldnt, right?” someone replied quietly. “It looks like the leader of a gang coming to extort money. Look how scared the other guy looks.”
“No, I think he looks respectful. Look, he laughed.”
“Of course hed laugh if he got money! I think that old guy sold everything to get this money. Otherwise hed get killed on the spot.”
“Yeah, I heard”
“” As if he had heard all the murmurs, the burly mans expression darkened. He clenched his fists which were bigger than a jug of beer. His joints popped and cracked, scaring the onlookers and forcing them to look away.
Abraham cast a soundproof wall between them and the voices became unclear and distant. The corner was quiet again.
“Long time no see, Seton.” His expression was worried. “You havent contacted me in a long time. Did something happen?”
Seton shook his head quickly. He sat straight as a rod with his chest puffed and head up, like a studious little kid. Hearing Abrahams words, he pulled a book from his pocket and offered it up with both hands.
“General, I finished reading this book. I can return it now.” In his hands was a thin pamphletCollection of Anglo Fairy Tales. It was obvious that the reader had treasured it. Even the corners of the pages had been flattened carefully and preserved its original state.
“Seton, you finally learned how to read? Thats great.” Abraham became happy. “Ill get you some more books. Dont worry, they wont be too complicated. Ill find ones that suit beginners. Youll like them.”
“General, II dont want to read anymore.”
“Why?” Abraham was stunned and a bit confused. “These are all good stories. Look how interesting they are.”
“General, whats the point of reading these things used for fooling kids?” Seton mumbled, avoiding Abrahams eyes. “Stop forcing someone who can only kill to read those things.”
Abraham stared at him for a long time before finally understanding something and growing dejected. “Okay, I know. Some things dont work even when forced.” After he took the book, he looked up and saw Setons dark eyes.
“Old George died a few
few days ago,” he said. “I went to his funeral.”
Abrahams expression darkened and he nodded lightly. “Becoming free after living so many miserable years is a good thing.”
“He was mocked until he died. Those people didnt believe him. All his life, people thought he was a liar who could only fantasize.” Seton hung his head. “General, these years…these years, weve all been sad.”
“Everyone has a hard life.” Abrahams eyes were dark. “Not many things are difficult, compared to living.”
“General, arent you the same?” Seton said in a hoarse voice, gazing at him. “We live in the cages that the country made for us every day. They draw the circle and dont let us take a step out of line. Every breath we take has to be investigated. Every word we utter has to be harmless. Even if we want to buy a razor, we have to make a request and record it. What is this? How is it different from being a prisoner?”
“Seton”
“I know, I shouldnt think like this. I know!” Seton interrupted. “At least were all alive. At least we dont have to go onto the battlefield and return to that dark worldbut are we only living?
“No, were also humiliated and looked down upon. Were like wild dogs in a cage for people to look at! Why is it like that? When Gaius defected, he dragged us all down!”
“Seton, enough,” Abraham ordered, raising his voice.
“General, do you still not understand?” Seton roared in anger. “That despicable old b*stard insulted our loyalty and belief. Hes the culprit for destroying our glory and breaking apart the Dragon Riders! Do you still believe that hes going to save us? He didnt appear when we were like dogs without a home. He didnt come back when we were captured and killed one by one. Its been ten years. Do we still have to believe that trai”
Bang! The table was flipped over and a crude metal hand tightened around Setons neck. It lifted him up and threw him against the wall in a cloud of dust. Dust fell from the ceiling into a furious eye.
“Seton,” Abraham uttered, emphasizing each word, “I said, enough.”
No one expected this old man to be so terrifying when angered. Seton was like a little kid before him. He did not even have the chance to react before he was rolling on the ground and hacking, trying to catch his breath.
But
But he still pulled himself up stubbornly. His eyes were forlorn. “General, are you really content?” he asked hoarsely. “We sacrificed so much for the country, put in so much, but this is how were treated. Wewe were heroes!”
Abraham was stunned. After a long while, he dejectedly sat back into his chair. “Seton, that is all in the past,” he murmured, as if talking to himself. “Its all in the past.”
“As long as were still alive, its not the past.” Seton held onto Abrahams shoulder, his eyes full of anticipation. “General, the Dragon Riders havent died out. They cant keep us caged. We can break free and take back what weve lost. Even if theres no place for us in Anglo, its okay. Even if we go back to the Dark World as mercenaries, its okay! We just need your word, General! Just one word”
But Abraham did not reply. He just lifted his hand to remove the hand on his shoulder and made Seton sit again.
He waved the terrified server over to clean up the mess, turn the table over and change the cups. Everything was returned to its original state.
“Seton, we were soldiers, obedient killing machines. We started learning the cruelties of this world since birth. They taught us how to use daggers, spears and poison and taught us how to kill people or monsters. But no one taught us how to live like a regular person.” He sighed dejectedly.
“To be honest, even now, Im still confused by this world. I dont understand their trendy jokes, and I dont know what the mood of a room is. If someone speaks a little less than straightforward, its hard for me to comprehend it.
“Sometimes, when I sit in a banquet, I feel like I dont belong there. When I sleep, I wake up with a start, thinking a beast will come in. Im scared without a weapon. Sometimes, I want to return to the battlefield. Thats where I belong. But then I realize that even if I go back, its meaningless.
“Hadnt we spent the first half of our lives there? There is no death or life thereTheres nothing in the Dark World, other than darkness. So, Im sorry, Seton. I want to stay here.” Softly, he said, “Theres still something here that I must do.”
Seton was stunned. He saw the sharpness in Abrahams eyes disappear. Dim light fell onto his face, illuminating the wrinkles. He had returned to the submissive man. Insipid, wooden, and slow, he was as harmless and as average as a fallen leaf on the ground.
He often rambled when he spoke. Now, his voice was slow and gentle. “You know, Seton, I have a really troublesome kid. When he was little, he often had nightmares and would cry softly when he woke up. Hed get scared when I wasnt around. I raised him and now, hes still troublesome and often gets beat up.
“Now, I have a smart student. He has white hair and is stubborn and brave when deciding his future. He likes future. He likes to cause trouble too. I have another student. Shes a girl who likes to cut class and go play. Shes innocent, cute, and carefree. Shes going to be a beauty when she grows up. But she likes to cause trouble too.
“To be honest, theyre all children that make me feel helpless and worried, but when they call me professor, I feel happy.” He looked up at Seton and asked quietly, “What will they do if I leave? Who will take care of them”
“But” Seton stared at him, unable to speak. “But”
Abraham shook his head and did not say anything else. And so, it was a long silence.
Finally, the time-telling bell rang in the distance, outside on the street, and resounded through the city. The sun had traveled across the sky without either realizing and descended into the ocean. The sun had set.
“We havent met in such a long time and things turned out unhappily. I guess I really dont know how to talk,” Abraham said. “Im sorry, but I must go. Its almost time for class.”
Speaking of class, he could not help but chuckle. The chuckle and smile were filled with substantial happiness, as if he had finally found a home. Seeing the smile, Seton remained silent. There was nothing more he could say.
Abraham rose. Giving one last glance at Seton, he turned to leave. But for some reason, he stopped after two steps.
“Seton, you have to look forward. You cant live in the past.” He bid farewell quietly, not daring to look back. “The Dragon Ridersare something eliminated by time.”
The door closed. All was silent.
Seton stared blankly in the direction Abraham had gone. He stared at the door, as if he was waiting for Abraham to return. But the figure did not turn back, even after a long time. It was as if he had disappeared forever.
After a long, long time, Seton finally understood something. He hung his head listlessly and his shoulders shook.
Everyone in the caf turned in shock to look at the lonely figure in the cornerthe burly beastly man was crying? He was crying like a child. Beasts would cry too, when they realized that they had nowhere to return to.