Gun of Ashes

In the desolate land, the pitch-black train almost merged with the night, roaring mechanically, splashing waves of snow as it sped along, as if any past grievances couldn’t catch up to it.

Lorenzo pushed open the door, the wild wind rushing in, and the gentle moonlight was scattered by the snowy curtain, dyeing the night a hazy gray, like the fog of Old Dunling, shrouding every place, with indistinguishable sounds echoing behind the scenes, as if monsters were walking under the heavy snow.

He looked down at the pocket watch in his hand; it had been a long time since they had boarded the train, it was already past midnight, and now they were far from human settlements, with only this solitary train moving within tens of kilometers.

Putting away the pocket watch and closing the door, Lorenzo mumbled something under his breath, seemingly calculating the time.

A faint sound came from the dim carriage; Selyu awoke, wrapping herself in a blanket, like a caterpillar waiting to break out of its cocoon.

”You can sleep a little more, we still have time.”

Lorenzo said.

In the darkness, the girl shook her head.

”Slept enough.”

She sat up, leaning against the cargo; in truth, she was still a bit sleepy, but under such circumstances, it was indeed difficult to fall asleep.

The carriage was filled with a faint, stimulating smell, seemingly some kind of chemical agent, as the carriage rattled slightly, like a cradle of iron, racing at tens of kilometers per hour along the tracks.

”It’s a bit like before.”

Lorenzo lit a cigarette, a bright flame illuminating his slightly weary face in the darkness.

”Before? Back in the Gaulunaro days?”

Selyu spoke, then remembered.

Many years ago, it was like this too, huddled in the corner of the night, chatting idly with one another.

Back then, Selyu’s world was just that forgotten little town; when Lorenzo took her out of the town, she suddenly understood the ”world outside.”

In an instant, her world expanded from that town to Gaulunaro, to Ingwig.

”No, even longer, probably when I was still in the Demon Hunting Order.”

Lorenzo recalled.

”Back then, everyone was like this, hunting heretics, and when exhausted, we would find a place to rest, sit around a bonfire, supported by Nail Swords, in silence, without communication, each one illuminated by the fire, devout as warriors of God.”

He chuckled as he spoke.

It was a peculiar feeling, even without a sound, you knew clearly that you were not alone. With the flickering of the flames, you could hear their breaths, feel their presence.

”You seem to miss those times a lot.”

”Yeah, although the Evangelical Church is a fool, what does that have to do with me growing up there?”

Lorenzo pondered the past.

”Everyone was good people, though the good ones are all dead.”

”Is that why you want to kill Dean Lawrence so much?”

”Of course, those were my good friends, they died so inexplicably, thinking they were fighting for something sacred, unaware it all stemmed from Lawrence’s betrayal.”

His voice was calm.

”It’s such a pity, Demon Hunters don’t have names, we only have monotonous and boring codes... I can’t exactly engrave some numbers on a tombstone.”

No one responded; Selyu couldn’t understand Lorenzo’s feelings. Empathy, in essence, was very limited; all she could do was remain silent.

After a long time, she picked up a piece of candy and started chewing, the sound slight and fragmented, like a rabbit nibbling grass.

”Are you still very afraid?”

”Of course, Mr. Great Holmes.”

Selyu mocked.

”I’m just an ordinary weak woman, unlike you Demon Hunters who can hop around after getting shot; if I got shot, I’d surely die.”

”... Being overly mature isn’t necessarily a good thing.” Lorenzo said.

”Yeah, with a normal mindset, I should cry and scream, beg you to let me go home.”

Selyu said.

”Just like when Yawei wanted to take me to some banquet, I didn’t want to go. I hate unfamiliar people; it feels like an auction, where I’m the exhibit on stage, showcasing the Stuart family’s new toy to everyone.”

”But Yawei was very kind to me; although that old butler could be inflexible at times, he was indeed very good to me. I didn’t want to trouble him, so I had no choice but to put on a brave face and go, one after another.”

She mumbled.

”In truth, I should have cried and screamed, it would have made everything much easier.”

Lorenzo laughed while listening, his voice echoing in the darkness.

”I still remember the first time I saw you.”

”Not the time you remember; actually, I saw you earlier than that.”

Lorenzo recalled that snowy and windy alley, remembering the man tugging Selyu along; the girl’s reaction at that time surpassed Lorenzo’s imagination.

Listening to Lorenzo’s words, the memory gradually cleared up. She recalled the dream where she was chased by hunting dogs... Actually, it was her memory. When the man dragged her along, covered in the black water, she also remembered the thing she held tightly.

”Really fierce, you picked up a stone from the ground and slammed it down hard.”

Lorenzo remembered the scene, the man’s screams, the girl’s escape. At that time, he was still uncertain of Selyu’s identity, but after that, he was sure. This was the person he had been looking for.