Chapter 49.1
Within us, within us, a cage within a cage. Through how many layers of this world must we break to spread our wings again?
In that instant, for no apparent reason, Rune’s half-wing flashed before her eyes, like some divine revelation. Even now, it resembled a butterfly’s wing more than a bird’s—brilliant yet translucent. The veins, branching out like blood vessels, pulsed faintly. Flutter, flutter. Thump, thump.
The hypnotic afterimage transformed her childhood greenhouse lessons into a waking dream. Suddenly, she was back in the verdant greenhouse. How old was she? Around twelve? During a nature class field trip to the 11th-floor garden, Adeline observed the life cycle of butterflies, insects beneficial to humans.
“The chrysalis stage is essential for the larva to transform into an adult butterfly. Insects are vulnerable during this period and can easily die, so we must only observe with our eyes. They’ll be hurt if you touch them.”
“Ugh, they’re so gross, I wouldn’t touch them anyway.”
Beside the disgusted Lilith, Adeline had raised her hand and asked, “Teacher, so wings are growing inside right now?”
“That’s right. But this process is quite extraordinary. It’s not just a change in shape, as we might think. The caterpillar completely dissolves and is reborn as an adult butterfly.”
“Reborn? Oh, that’s like a total resurrection, isn’t it?” A boy, whose name she no longer remembered, chimed in.
“Perhaps you could call it a resurrection. But maybe the chrysalis isn’t dead; maybe it’s just sleeping, waiting to become a butterfly.”
Adeline, a poor student usually uninterested in class, raised her hand again, stretching onto her tiptoes. “Teacher, what kind of dreams does the chrysalis have inside? Does it know it’s dreaming?”
“Well, I suppose it will find out in time. Now, why don’t you all get up?”
The last words weren’t the teacher’s gentle voice. It was a low, thick, chilling voice.
BANG!!! WHOOSH!!!
Her vision burned red, and her eardrums vibrated painfully. In an instant, everything before her vanished along with the illusion. The 11th-floor garden, the chrysalis, the dim forge, the small faces chattering with hope—all incinerated, melted away. The description was precise. Damian, pulling her close, and the faces that had been smiling brightly, all turned to ash.
No screams, no groans. Too quickly to register as fortunate or unfortunate, they were all cremated in a single blow. A roar that tore through the air pierced the wide, exposed ruins, leaving no place to hide. A fierce gust of wind blew in through the vanished ceiling, swirling the ashes. The heavy wings of a reptilian creature beat, creating a tempest.
A red dragon. A high-pitched ringing filled her ears. Gray smoke hissed from Damian’s burned body as he held her. As the dragon opened its jaws, preparing another fireball, Damian muttered something and raised his bandaged hand. Unable to even blink, Adeline watched as the dragon crumpled like paper and was hurled away. Time seemed to slow.
The dying shriek shook the air, the thunderous roar the earth. The ground trembled and groaned. Hell. The abyss. What sins had they committed to fall so far? The factory district was instantly devastated as the dragon crashed and rolled.
Pale, almost blue, Adeline stared blankly at the blazing red surroundings, at the gaping holes in the landscape. Her tangled thoughts were a mess. What just happened? They were just saying goodbye. Honglu? The other fairies? Where did they all go?
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!”
A scream jolted her back. The small hummingbird, whose pride turned even mistakes into shame, thrashed wildly, abandoning even its own self-preservation. “…Rune.”
“Ah, huh, AAAAAAHHHHH!”
His single wing flapped erratically. Torn from Damian, he desperately rose and fell, displaying his half-formed freedom. “Siha, Libera, Lo, Micheli, Susu, Yucha, Lia, Els, Corelia, Bates, Petri, Doke, Honglu…!” Rune shrieked the names frantically, as if calling them would bring their owners back.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.