Gun of Ashes

The night is long, and everyone seems too restless to sleep.

The bright moonlight could not fully illuminate the room. A girl sat on the bed, her fiery red hair glimmering slightly under the white light. At the other end, Lorenzo stood in a dark corner, visible only as a vague silhouette.

”I saved his life... I guess.”

Eve recalled the moment that changed everything, during that seemingly endless storm at Black Mountain Hospital. She saw Arthur running towards the Armor of Original Sin, while Eve, driven by Arthur, searched for a way to escape.

In fact, everyone knew what the outcome would be in that situation. Life and death partings always seem terrible.

Logically, Arthur would end up dying there, while Eve would survive under everyone’s protection.

But the story was altered.

”I am who I am; I don’t want to be controlled, even if he’s my father. He told me to escape back then. But halfway through, I had a change of heart.”

Eve looked out the window; she hadn’t drawn the curtains. It was a nice seaside room with a great view.

The ships across the sea were lit with bright lights, resembling schools of glowing fish swimming in the waves, casting chaotic colors on the dark sea surface.

”I was thinking then, is this the decision I want to make? Do I really want to escape? Even though I would survive, wouldn’t I regret it afterward?”

Blue Jade’s words echoed in her mind. At the last moment of her escape, she unexpectedly said something to herself.

She wished she could have said something to Arthur at the end, like a farewell, but Eve couldn’t say anything.

”And so?”

Lorenzo’s question came from the shadows.

It seemed he had missed out on a lot during that storm, about Eve, about Arthur, about many people.

He hadn’t seen Joey for a long time. Although no one had spoken explicitly, Lorenzo could guess what had happened. It was a terrible storm, but thankfully it was all over.

”I don’t want this, actually at the end of the day...”

Eve slowly fell silent, but then the next moment her voice carried a hint of anger.

”Why!”

The sudden shout stunned Lorenzo, not knowing what she was thinking.

”Yeah, why, why should I listen to him! Why should I escape just because he told me to!”

Eve patted her chest, full of righteous spirit.

”I am Eve Phoenix! The Duke’s daughter! A detective of Suyalan Hall! A born Ranger!”

She mimicked Lorenzo’s bluffing tone, her hand shaped like a knife, slicing through the air.

”And so anger rose in my heart! Malice grew beside my courage! I turned back, drew the Folding Blade, and cut down those demons, saving Arthur’s life in the process.”

Her actions were comical, but Lorenzo knew very well. He could feel the danger and urgency at that moment. On that hellish battlefield, courage seemed almost cheap. There, humans needed extreme coldness; only by becoming a monster could they fight the monsters.

”Isn’t there more?” Lorenzo asked.

The smile on Eve’s face froze, and after a moment of silence, she slumped down like a deflated balloon, staring at the ceiling.

”I was thinking, if I just escaped like that, even if I survive, I might always linger in his shadow, his dying back haunting me like a nightmare, perpetually fearful, at a loss.

I realized I feared those more complex emotions more than death itself—guilt, shame, sorrow... I actually have the ability to change those, after all, I am a born Ranger...

If I just escaped like that, even though it would align with Arthur’s thoughts, allowing him to rest in peace, am I still myself then?”

”So you went back because of such a ridiculous reason? Returned to hell.”

”Of course.”

”It’s a wrong choice. You might have died there.”

”But if it were you choosing, you’d pick the wrong choice too, right?” Eve retorted, ”Lorenzo, some things don’t have absolutely correct choices, only the ones I like.”

”Money can’t buy happiness? Like that.”

”Close enough.”

Lorenzo appeared contemplative, nodding.

”It certainly fits your character.”

”Of course! So you see, this internship was something I risked my life for!”

Eve suddenly sat up, looking into the shadows. At some point, Lorenzo was already sitting on the doorstep, a freshly lit cigarette dangling from his mouth, its light a bit dim, the smoke slowly rising.

”And then?”

Lorenzo looked disdainful; thinking about this so-called internship just felt strange, like Arthur was retaliating against him.

The team configuration was beyond absurd.

But he also understood Arthur’s intention. This time Arthur didn’t want to protect Eve anymore, or rather, he wanted to protect her in another way.

Instead of wrapping her tightly with a shield, it was better to let Eve hold the sword that could cut through all obstacles herself.

Sharpening a sword requires an appropriately fit sharpening stone, and this highly risky job seemed fitting, but it couldn’t just break the sword in one go, so Lorenzo came.

”And then?”

Eve repeated Lorenzo’s words. She seemed to be pondering something, rubbing her own face hard, trying to make it soften.