Why it never ends

Chapter 15 Reading Aloud
So Hesta read in a low voice.

"Last summer, I was on a hike through a Linhe county or two. As dusk drew near, I found myself somewhat uneasy about the road I was walking.

"I met Mr. Lando that evening. He was suave, sincere and warm. But I was more interested in the house that so fascinated me than in the manners of its owner.

"On the floor was a double-faced jacquard rug, with small circles of green on a white ground. The curtains were of snow-white muslin, of considerable width, with sharp, flat folds, all very crisp and formal, perpendicular to the floor.

"There are many leather-bound books, rich wallpaper, rugs, marble-topped tables, high and narrow windows here, side tables with glass bell jars, and paper roses standing beneath them... …"(1)

Liz stared at Hesta who was reading aloud. Although her voice was slow and deep, for some reason, Liz felt a little affection from this voice while listening.

This emotion is introverted and restrained, like an oil painting wrapped in dust, but at this moment, something accidentally lifts the corner of the curtain, so that others can catch a glimpse of the brilliant and turbulent colors underneath at this moment.

Liz also knew almost immediately that whoever had read the stories to her must have had a profound influence on Hesta.

When Hesta finished reading this short story, Turan, who was lying in Liz's arms, had fallen into a deep sleep.

In the soft light, Liz supported Turan's head and carefully moved her to the pillow beside her.

"Do you still want to talk?" Liz looked at Hesta and whispered, "We can go out and talk."

Hesta thought of the silver-haired girl just now, "But Rico—"

Liz pointed out the door, "Let's go to the balcony."

……

At around two o'clock in the morning, it was cold spring in Tanyi City late at night, Hesta was wearing a thin blanket, and stood with Liz on the balcony that protruded outward.Here, Hesta can smell the aroma of cheese and bread coming from the kitchen behind him, which is wonderfully combined with the night wind mixed with the smell of the forest in the distance.

Liz was only wearing a white cotton camisole with suspenders. She leaned against the carved iron fence with her elbows propped against the fence behind her. Just now under the soft light, Liz is different from the gentleness of the girl next door. At this moment, Liz is reminiscent of a healthy antelope in the field.

"Do you have any relatives in the third district?" Liz asked.

Hesta was silent for a while, then shook her head.

"Me too." Liz said with a smile, "Except for Turan, most of the students here are alone."

Hesta looked at Liz: "She seems a little hostile to me?"

"Well...she is a little hostile to all strangers." Liz explained, "It will be much better after getting familiar with it, and Turan is not in a good state recently..."

"I've heard from Miss Viking that she doesn't have enough bullet time to support her in battle, has she?"

"Yes." Liz nodded, "She will be 14 next month, and she will definitely not pass the 14-type selection by then."

"Type 14... what?"

"Type 14 selection," Liz repeated, "the bullet time of the mercury needle will be finalized once at the age of 14 and around the age of 19—did you know this? It is only possible to be incorporated into the combat team if it exceeds 4 hours."

"Then why is Miss Turan so sad? When she is 19 years old, won't she have another chance?"

Liz smiled and shook her head, "After the 14-type selection, the market is basically finalized. Only a few mercury needles with a bullet time of more than 3h30min can break through the 4h barrier through the next training. She has little hope... ...how old are you this year? 11?"

"Ah."

Liz sighed, "I was 11 years old when I first came here, and it has been three years in a blink of an eye, so fast."

Hesta: "I heard from Miss Valenti that you will be officially full-time in the second half of the year?"

"Yes," Liz nodded, "but my desire to fight is not as strong as Turan's."

"Why does she want to fight the chelate so much?"

"It has something to do with her experience." Liz gave a concise answer, then spread her hands and stretched her waist, she let out a long breath, and then said, "I'm different... I don't think much of it. Field office, after all, I still have a lot of nostalgia for being alive...haha."

"I feel it," Hesta lowered his head, "You have a lot of books."

Liz looked at Hesta for a while, "If you also like books, you can come to my room to borrow them anytime in the future."

"is it okay?"

"Of course," Liz stretched out her hand to Hesta, "It's a pleasure meeting you... This is the first time I've met a newcomer who already has experience fighting chelates when he first entered the base."

Hesta squeezed Liz's palm lightly, with a puzzled expression, "Are you talking about me? I don't have one."

Liz was slightly startled, "Aren't you from St. Anne's Abbey on Mount Severn?"

"Ah."

"That should be you... The internal briefing of the base said that when Chiba led the team to arrive, the chelate in the monastery was already in a state of serious injury-didn't you do it?"

"No." Hesta replied, "at least I have no impression at all."

Liz blinked, "...That may indeed be my mistake, but you were sent by Chiba Masaki himself, right?"

"Ah."

Liz rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "Then you must have something special."

Hesta frowned slightly, "Why?"

"Because," Liz smiled, "Qianye is a very shrewd person."

Hesta tilted his head slightly.

Liz looked at Hesta: "As far as I know, she never spends time on useless things. In the past, she felt that it was a waste of energy in the training base, so she didn't even work as a newcomer's assistant officer, let alone a newcomer. In this way, take the initiative to be someone's guardian."

"Really," Hesta recalled that Chiba took her to the monastery by car, which took them almost a whole day, "...I thought it was just a formality."

"Of course not," Liz laughed. "Although the 'reserve guardianship order' procedure is simple, it is strictly enforced. Even if the ward enters a boarding school, the guardian is required to have at least 6 hours of non-sleep companionship every month." .

"Wait until the holidays, this requirement will be raised to more than 21 hours a week, that is, you need to stay together for at least 3 hours a day. And considering that after passing the 14-type selection, the mercury needle can officially join the battle... "

Speaking of this, Liz paused, "I think Chiba Masaki wants you to join her combat team directly after the selection, otherwise, I really can't think of it, she is a working mercury needle who is always running around. , how do I spend so much time with you?"

Hesta listened to Liz's analysis quietly, and the two chatted a lot afterwards, from Edgar's status in the literary world to many unpretentious life suggestions on the base. It was almost four o'clock in the morning, and Liz yawned and decided to go back to her room. sleep.Before parting, she went back to her room and took out the two "Edgar's Dark Tales".

"Can I give you these two collections of stories?"

Hesta looked up a little surprised, "Give it to me?"

"Yes, for you." Liz smiled and said, "If a book is always placed on the shelf without being read, then it will be lonely, so if you like it, I will give it to you."

Hesta lowered her eyes a little. She took the book and gently stroked the big gold letters on the black patent leather cover.

"……thanks."

-

(1) Quote adapted from "Lando's Room" in Edgar Allan Poe's "Dark Tales"

　Thank you He Yao for your reward :)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)