V3: Chapter 83: Don't Close Your Eyes
"Go... in that... direction...."
Laura spoke with difficulty.
"That direction... is right,.... Tower Master... Don't come.... with us,... Liang Lin and I,.... just together,... is enough..."
She seemed to be having difficulty breathing; Laura's words were halting, even uttering each word slowly.
Octaville paused.
"...Okay."
She released Laura's arm, then patted Liang Lin's shoulder.
"Then, from now on, it's up to you."
"Mm."
Liang Lin nodded vigorously, supporting Laura's arm.
"Don't worry, although I'm not very good with words, I'm quite clever when it comes to action, I'll definitely succeed."
Liang Lin gave herself a thumbs up, as if encouraging herself.
"I believe in you."
Octaville smiled peacefully, unlike before when she was wielding a sword. She raised her arm and patted Liang Lin and Laura's heads.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you here. Once you’re out, we can go home.”
After saying this, Octaville withdrew her hand and shrugged, feigning nonchalance.
“You two should hurry up. That way we can come back sooner. We’ve already been delayed for too long. If this continues, Hilary and Liang Di will get worried. They still can’t come down, and they’ll scold us when we get back.”
“Okay.”
Liang Lin didn’t say anything more, just nodded silently. Then, she put her arm around Laura’s waist and resolutely swam towards an opening above.
“Is this the opening?” Liang Lin asked.
Laura’s eyes narrowed to slits as she looked at the large opening in front of her.
“Yes.”
She nodded weakly.
"You... what's wrong with you all of a sudden?"
"Every time that person appears, their body weakens for a period of time. It happened before, but not this obviously. I don't know what's wrong with them today..."
Laura's voice was weak and feeble, as if she might faint at any moment.
Feeling her lack of strength, Liang Lin could only hold her tightly and swim forward quickly.
Along the way, there were no strange or terrifying sights around them, only darkness, or rocks and yellowish-brown walls. There wasn't a single ray of light, only the small magical lamp Octaville had given Liang Lin, emitting a faint red glow.
She didn't know how long she had been swimming; Liang Lin's legs felt numb. She couldn't see any light or end. This cave seemed endless.
"How much longer until we get there?"
Liang Lin finally lost her patience.
Staying here for too long made her feel like her mind was going to go haywire, especially since she had been deprived of her sense of time. She didn't know how much time had passed; she had a feeling that she would be trapped in this cave forever.
Laura shook her head. "I don't know either, but I know that if we keep going, we'll definitely reach the end."
"Okay..."
Now, there's no other way but to keep going. They can't just turn back; that would mean all their efforts were wasted.
Liang Lin gritted her teeth, not daring to stop, and even sped up, swimming forward.
How much time had passed? It felt like several hours... My stomach was growling. Had a whole day already passed?
Liang Lin's mind raced with wild thoughts.
Or perhaps, this path actually had an end, and they should have reached it long ago, but they were just trapped in an illusion again?
This was probably the terrifying aspect of the unknown creatures; they could create illusions, causing those who had been affected to feel that everything around them was unreal, that they were still immersed in the illusion, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion. Over time, this could even lead to mental breakdown and collapse.
Fortunately, Liang Lin wasn't one to waver. Although her mind was somewhat muddled, she swam forward resolutely.
After what seemed like an eternity, Liang Lin finally saw a glimmer of light ahead.
Ah…
A look of joy spread across her face.
It seemed it wasn't an illusion anymore; she was truly reaching the end, truly reaching the final destination.
Finally, finally, she could seal that unknown creature.
After sealing it, she could go home, and then, she could be happy for a very, very long time. With her beloved wife, with her cherished children, with her family who had been by her side for so long.
Liang Lin's lips curled into a slight smile.
This was the happiest smile she had shown recently.
"Laura, do you see that? There's light there."
Liang Lin pointed ahead.
Laura's body was still very weak, but she still mustered the strength to look in the direction Liang Lin was pointing.
"Light?"
"Where's the light? I can't see it!"
These words sent Liang Lin's newly risen hope plummeting back to rock bottom.
"Can't you see the light?"
Liang Lin looked at the light, then at Laura beside her.
Laura seemed confused; she shook her head.
"No, I don't see any light."
"....."
Liang Lin fell silent.
If Laura were still healthy, she might have let Laura wait where she was while she went to scout ahead. But Laura's current condition was precarious; if any danger suddenly appeared, she would likely be unable to escape. Therefore, Liang Lin dared not leave her behind.
This is terrible.
This is terrible.
Everything is terrible.
“Laura, if we encounter any danger, I'll hold them off. You swim in as fast as you can, find that place, or find somewhere you feel safe to hide. I'll come find you. Don't worry about me, okay?”
“Okay…I understand, Miss Liang Lin.”
Closer and closer.
Closer and closer.
Closer and closer to that light.
Liang Lin gripped the longsword at her waist. If any danger arose, she would draw it immediately.
The light was right before her eyes.
But it seemed no danger had occurred.
Was it because she wasn't close enough?
Still not close enough?
Still not?
Liang Lin's eyes widened slightly, staring at the almost blinding light before her.
In an instant, everything around her felt unreal; it seemed no one was beside her.
Ah…
She looked around in confusion.
Laura?
Where did Laura go?
Why is Laura gone?
Everything around her turned white. Even though there was no sun, why did her eyes feel so painful from the light?
Tears streamed down Liang Lin's face. Physically, she wanted to close her eyes, but reason told her she couldn't. If she closed them, they might be closed forever, never to open again.
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