Gun of Ashes

The light stretching across the sky pulls the shadow so thin, akin to a sharp blade, slicing everything into countless fragments, scattered on the ground, casually trampled by Gloria.

She rubs her eyes, trying to avoid showing any sign of vulnerability, her steps light and silent, easily avoiding the patrolling guards, like an elusive wind.

”Are you leaving?”

A voice breaks the silence, Gloria turns back, and sees a familiar figure looking at her not far away, holding a bag, his face weary and troubled.

She believes her concealment is hard to detect, yet clearly this means nothing to this guy, perhaps sensing her presence from fifty meters away.

”Mr. Holmes.”

Gloria stops, smiles at him, surprised to meet Lorenzo again at the end, believing she would never see him anymore.

”Yes, I should leave too.” Gloria responds to Lorenzo.

”Where are you planning to go then?”

Lorenzo asks, walking over to her, standing by Gloria’s side, leaning against the railing, below the staircase is a warm garden, a breeze carries a sweet aroma.

”I don’t know, I’m not sure where I should go, I can’t stop, right?”

”Is that so, but leaving without a word seems too cruel.”

Lorenzo speaks while looking at the building beside them, remembering that behind a certain window is Red Falcon’s room.

”I’ve said farewell properly, that’s something I can still manage.”

Gloria, as if knowing what Lorenzo is thinking, also looks there, smiling as she answers.

The conversation between them falls into a brief silence, after which Lorenzo cautiously asks.

”Actually, you could stay, Red Falcon seems to quite like you.”

”Then what about Ivar?”

Gloria directly retorts, looking at Lorenzo, her smile slowly turning into helplessness.

”Many things are like this, though considered optimal solutions, though no one, whether you or others would care, I can’t, I can’t not care, these things ring like bells in my ears constantly.

Sometimes I can see my hands covered in blood, the deceased digging through the soil, crawling out from the burning Hell, dragging me into the darkness.”

Gloria’s voice carries a hint of fear, she wishes to stay, but she can’t.

”So... what do you think yourself? Do you fear the judgment of the deceased, finding a reason for acquittal, or is it something else?”

Lorenzo’s tone slightly shifts, like a mentor evaluating his apprentice.

”How could it be? If you’ve done wrong, you must be punished, regardless of whether there’s a God in this world,” Gloria speaks, lowering her head, ”I still can’t forgive myself, I must find a path to redeem myself, perhaps everything will be better after that, whether I can find redemption or not, at least I’ve tried.”

”So what will you do then?”

Lorenzo asks, scrutinizing Gloria.

”I still don’t know, that’s the worst part, if I must be punished, I’m willing to bear it, but before all that arrives, I wish to live for something greater, though I don’t know what that is, nor how to do that... I might start by living well.”

Gloria feels truly troubled, her words sincere, making Lorenzo’s gaze soften a bit.

The atmosphere slightly eases, Gloria raises her head to look into Lorenzo’s eyes, gray-blue like a calm Ice Sea, beneath is a deep darkness.

”If my answer doesn’t satisfy you, will you kill me?”

Lorenzo does not deny, he replies.

”Had that thought, but it’s unrelated to your answer.”

Gloria guesses the reason, unsure if it’s a privilege or misfortune.

”Because I’ve seen your [Gap], I know too much, right? I understand, at least I was once a member of the Iron Law Bureau.”

Lorenzo nods, saying nothing more.

”Then am I still alive because you’ve abandoned the idea of killing me? May I know the reason?” Gloria asks.

Words pause for a moment, Lorenzo deliberates carefully.

”How to say, everyone has few friends, killing you for such reasons seems too dull, and the thought that someone might truly understand oneself in this world feels quite good too.”

Lorenzo turns, leaning on the railing, looking down at the garden, recently he was here, often playing cards with Red Falcon and Eve.

Gloria pauses, then can’t help but laugh.

”Is it really for such a reason?”

”What else?”

”Erin... no, Gloria, I think everyone deserves a second chance, a chance to start anew, it won’t cleanse the wrongs or evils done, but it gives your cheap life a bit more value, even at the end when punishment comes, there’s some solace.”

Lorenzo turns his head, speaking solemnly.

”Then will you be punished, Mr. Holmes?”

”Of course, we’re all villains, villains are destined for punishment, even for the sake of justice.”