The forest is quiet and picturesque, and the earth is as smooth as silver. 'Tess' hung from the treetops, a slightly convex semicircle with the upper half missing, and the soft light passed through the clouds, imprinting the shadow of the giant sequoia at his feet. Lily looked up, and the snowflakes fell on her cheeks and the tip of her nose, bringing a fleeting coolness.

It's like a dream.

But she didn't want this. She closed her eyes and covered her ears with her hands, trying to remember the places that stuck with her. After a long time, she slowly opened her eyes with a hint of expectation, but as far as the eye could see, there was still snow in the same place.

"Now, tell us. If we are dreaming, how can we wake up? ”

"God knows." The haughty words came from beside him, with obvious disdain, "I've heard of pretending to be asleep, but I haven't seen anyone pretend to dream. He snorted, "You're weaker than I thought, Lord September." ”

The one who spoke to her in this tone was naturally her 'half-brother' Ryan...... But that can't happen anymore. During the Battle of Golden Spike, Ryan was severely injured by the Church's 'quasi-Templar' Shirley, depriving him of his vision, speech, and ability to change. She had consulted many people about this, but neither Fermir, Ariel, 'Mother' Hissa, nor Ingrid, who was the best at life spells, could heal their injuries.

She turned her face away, and her familiar muscular body vanished. She heard heavy footsteps again, and a crisp, loud teenage voice.

"You're here, just like you said!" The voice was full of anticipation and excitement, "I'm starving to death, Sister September, is there anything delicious?" ”

Many, much, many ah, she squirmed her lips silently. But what's the use? Even if she prepared a mountain of delicious food, the boy who liked to stick to her the most would never be able to eat another bite-

And she understands that this is just the beginning.

Lily trusts Fermir's promise, but no one can completely control the direction and consequences of the war. The decisive battle is approaching, and she is likely to fight her former companions and kill them...... Or be killed by them. She thought she was prepared, but after the recent reunion, she often dreamed of the faces of those people, the sight of them lying in pools of blood, and the words of the moment of death.

It's too late to turn back, a voice said. Leave Femir, join the coalition, and go to the side of your fellow mercenary group. But could she really do that? Leave everything you have now and plunge into another uncertain future?

If only Yuffie were here, Lily thought to herself. At the very least, I can ask her what is the best choice if she relies on her intuition-

"Sister September, your face is not quite right. Are you hungry? As if she saw the boy's worried gaze and his efforts to organize the language, "Eat some dessert or drink something hot—the fatigue and annoyance will be gone!" ”

She whispered yes, took half a shortbread from her bosom, broke off a little and put it in her mouth. The aroma of butter and flour, the sweetness of sugar, and a hint of saltiness subtly combined to melt on the tip of her tongue. She thought of Amberly, the Erna woman 'Future' married to Bai Li. If the boy hadn't died, would there still be someone on the continent who liked him the same and was willing to take care of and accompany him all his life?

"You're thinking too much, September 'Your Excellency'." Ryan's sarcastic voice pulled her out of her memories, "I'll get it straight." It is true that you first knew him, but it is my own judgment to follow Fermir. Even if you regret it now, I'll keep going and see what he can create. ”

She closed her eyelids again. "You think...... How do we do that? ”

"Talk to someone. I don't need to know what you're thinking, I just want to listen to you. Ryan flicked his tail and raised his head, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, "I guess you're not going to see your mother, and Kaya and Harlan only know how to quarrel with you." He rolled his eyes, "Where's that little girl from Harron?" You're just a mortal, you're not afraid to go to her, are you? ”

She didn't know where Ryan had learned about the other party, but the idea was ...... Maybe not. Whether it's reality or dreams, she really wants to see each other again—even if the two of them broke up unhappily before.

"Thanks, Ryan...... We got it. ”

"Your weak look makes me want to laugh, but it's boring to always be like this." The black-haired youth turned away, his tail sweeping away the snow, leaving a straight trail, "Take care of yourself, September 'Your Lord'." ”

By the time she opened her eyes, Ryan was long gone, as was the boy who clinged to her the most. Lily felt a little empty, but a little lighter—it was probably easier to be alone than to face the young man's gaze.

She glanced at the sky to orient herself, then walked to the village in the southeast corner. It's just midnight, and there's still time. She silently counted the steps she had taken, trying to keep the figures of Ryan and Bai Li, and the meeting in the near future, out of her mind.

The moon rises to the zenith and sets little by little to the east. The snow stopped at some point, and the clouds dispersed, revealing the constellation Manticore, one of the most visible constellations in the winter forest. Leo had told her that the Elna people believed the manticore to represent betrayal and renamed it "Nogthos", the legendary name of the Bronze Dragon King.

That's all in the past, but it's a bit appropriate. She turned her back on her past companions, and perhaps one day, something she believed in at this moment...... will also turn their backs on her.

When we arrived at the village, it was just getting white. This wilderness has been blessed by Ingrid and is always green in winter and summer. Lily followed her memory as she walked through the bush-lined plaza and knocked on the old wooden door covered with wisteria.

The door opened. The familiar woman stood behind the door and looked at her, her expression a little surprised for a moment, and then dimmed. She stepped back, making way into the house.

“…… Adults in September. ”

"Louvier." Lily looked away and looked at the ground, "You think, we're dreaming?" ”

In every sense of the word, the question seems clueless. However, the woman was silent for a while before giving an answer.

"Perhaps." She whispered, "I've always doubted, maybe I'm ...... now It's in a dream. ”

"Why?"

"I thought...... You won't be coming back, Lord September. Her voice was thin and slow, but her gaze never left Lily, as if she wanted to confirm something, "Lord Bai Li said, the last time you came back, you quarreled fiercely with "them", and when you left...... And very angry. I know that the outside world is much wider and much more interesting than here. She paused abruptly, "And ......"

"And what?" Lily clasped her hands on her chest and looked at her in confusion, "You said, we won't eat you again?" ”

"For you, Lord September, a hundred years is just a short time. And for us, it's already a whole life. Maybe when I become a mother and my children have children, you will come back and tell me the story of your travels. Louvier closed her eyes and covered her chest with her hands, "In my imagination, that's enough happiness." ”

The woman stopped talking, and the air suddenly became quiet. Lily blinked in confusion, the words evoking memories of something she memories—they were supposed to have happened in the recent past, but they seemed to have been sealed away in the dust of time and space, and only now came back to her mind. In that memory, the other party waited for her for more than 200 years, but the night after the reunion was far more than now...... Even the trip not long ago made her nostalgic for the past.

She grabbed the woman's hand and led her out of the room to the bottom of the giant sequoia in the center of the square. The inhabitants of the village usually rise at sunrise, when they are the only two under the trees. Lily sat down cross-legged and looked up at her former friend.

"Would you like to hear a story? About us...... More than 30 years ago, after leaving. ”

Louvile looked at her quietly, her gaze as soft as she remembered. As if someone had touched someone somewhere in her heart, Lily suddenly felt that the barrier that had been built for decades was gradually melting after a long time.

"Lord September." Her friend sat down and put his hand on her knee, "I'm listening." ”

So Lily began to narrate. From the moment when the negative qi left his hometown, until he returned to this time in history. Rather than the one she told to Hissa's mother, she skipped most of her experiences outside of the El continent and mentioned in more detail the story of what September and Lily experienced after Leo's burial.

Memories become clearer as words become clearer, and a figure transforms from symbols into images, dyed with color, and then passes in front of her. It was Jonathan, the 'biological father' who raised her as a baby, the 'master' Pfister who taught her all kinds of skills and knowledge, Barak who taught her swordsmanship and swung his sword at her because he was in the Empire, Vanka, who created Alphonse and gave him a human appearance and heart, and Jill who was both friend and foe and sought strength but never wavered......

and Bell, who followed her when the mercenary group was established and never left; Yuffie and Lynn, who have different personalities and are very intimate, are very reliable; Together, they put an end to the Empire's invasion of Elders, and then joined Elena in the group; As the imperial princess, she yearns for adventure, weak and wise; and her faithful knight, not the daring or reckless Elio......

The narrative ends with the second journey home. A month ago, she focused her story on "Earl Stark"; And now, for all her concerns, Lily slowly but surely paints everything she has seen—the decaying forest, the dead mother, the ruined village, and the people frozen in time.

"Honestly, we hope it's just a story. It's a pity that it seems to us to be ...... Is it getting more real? Lily narrowed her eyes, the fingers of her right hand unconsciously scratched the ground, and then clenched into a fist, "Let's take you on a trip, it turns out that we want to achieve ...... Two promises. ”

Of course, two hundred years later, Louvier did not make such a request. That doesn't matter, Lily thought to herself.

"So, if this is our dream." The woman seems to be trying to understand the words, "When I wake up, I'll ...... See something like that? She tried to make herself look unconcerned, but the fear and uneasiness were clearly visible on her face, "In that world...... Can I still see you, Lord September? ”

Lily didn't answer.

She didn't know the answer—or rather, she didn't want to think about possible answers. The mercenary vaguely understood that even if she returned to the original world, maybe the previous 'agreement'...... Still never achievable.

So what if you really 'wake up'? Regret and sorrow cannot be written off, and attempts to make up for regret will come to naught. People are always reluctant to lose, but she suddenly realizes that what she has in front of her is what she must cherish and take care of.

The morning sun rises at the end of sight, bringing a new day to the earth beneath your feet. Lily stood up and looked out at the red flames rising above the horizon, feeling like she had some courage again—no matter what the world, there were still people she cared about.

She is not alone.

"To be honest, then mother-in-law and mother-in-law don't look like us at all?" The mercenary shook her head self-deprecatingly, feeling the gloom in her heart gradually dissipate, "It's nothing to be weak occasionally, immersed in a meaningless past, time won't stop waiting for us-"

"Month ...... Lord?"

"Don't worry, you're not dreaming." Lily puffed up her chest and took a deep breath of the cold, warm wind, "That's just a memory, and it hasn't happened yet—" She squeezed her friend's hand hard, "Either way, we don't want to waste our hard work so far, leaving behind our brothers and sisters of the same origin, or abandoning the hometown we've always wanted to protect!" ”

"That's nice." Ryan seemed to be speaking again, his words as harsh as ever, "Don't regret it at a critical moment." ”

"We don't like to see sacrifices, whether we know people or strangers." She replied loudly, the treetops above her swaying slightly, sprinkling snowflakes all over the sky, "It's just a fairy tale." If you have to kill someone to end the war as soon as possible...... Even if we were our original companions, can we do it without hesitation? ”

There was a sneer from behind, and then something hit her shoulder, and she stumbled. Lily turned her head angrily, and her eyes were on the giant white wolf, which was twice as tall as her. Its fur is supple and shiny, with a grayish-black tip, and it stands out in the sun. Strong and graceful muscles throughout the body, full of vitality and strength.

She looked up at the other and sniffled, smelling something all too familiar. The giant wolf bowed his head and met her with dark green pupils.

"Ryan?" If it's a dream, it's too concrete," you ...... What's going on? ”

The giant wolf did not answer. In the distance, there was a heavy sound of footsteps, as if someone was running towards her. She followed the prestige, and saw the huge white bear coming in three steps and two steps, turning into a young man dressed in white, and rushing straight into her arms.

"Sister September!" The boy's voice trembled slightly, not knowing whether he was scared or excited—Lily had dreamed of the scene in front of her more than once, only this time it was very real, "I'm back!" Is there anything delicious? ”

"Here it is." She took a deep breath and took out the bag full of snacks in her arms, "Slow down, the food won't run away?" ”

The boy took the bag in his arms, reached in, and took out an irregularly shaped golden snack, took a big bite, and chewed happily.

"That's what ...... Life. Bai Li said vaguely, "You can always ...... in September Find these. He struggled to swallow the food in his mouth and smiled contentedly, "No matter where you go, be sure to take me with you next time!" ”

"Thou ......" Lily stared at him intently. If this was her own fantasy, what answer should she hear? "Aren't you afraid of dying again?"

"I don't want to die." The answer was the same as she expected, "If you die, you won't be able to taste anything you haven't eaten again!" The boy puffed out his cheeks, "It was someone who said she knew you, and she accidentally fell for it—I will never make this mistake again!" ”

"Does anyone know us?" Who could it be? "What kind of person did you say?"

"I don't know what her name is, she didn't tell me." The boy took another big bite of his snack, "It's a blue-haired girl, not very old, with the Church's army. He raised his hand and scratched his scalp, pausing for a moment, "She asked me where you were and asked me...... Aren't you different anymore. ”

It's Elena. As the Celestials say, the nun chose to be her enemy. If it had been half a day ago, the news would have made her at a loss; Now, however, Lily just nodded, taking the fact to heart.

"What did you say—what's the difference between us?"

"I told him that you weren't fat, and you couldn't be old." The young man narrowed his eyes and looked at her with some confusion, "But, Sister September." At that time, we felt that compared to more than ten years ago, or a month ago, you were indeed less...... Something about something. ”

She raised her eyebrows and motioned for Bai Li to continue.

"Whatever decisions you made made made me think you were right—" the boy thought with a frown, "or rather, you were convinced that you were right. Even the time I quarreled with everyone. He swallowed, "But lately, it's like...... You don't believe in yourself that much anymore. ”

Lily exhaled, hammered the boy the shoulder, and laughed.

"That's right, isn't that right?" She sat back on the ground and turned to look at Ryan, Bai Li, and the friends beside her, "But thanks to Louviel, and the blessings of the two of you, it's all in the past." ”

"Huh? Is that so......" The young man's dark eyes widened and he nodded as if he didn't understand. He thought for a while, then stretched out his right hand to the woman beside Lily, holding a large piece of golden shortbread in his palm, "This is for you, thank you for helping Sister September!" ”

"Then again." The mercenary took her eyes off Bai Li and refocused on her green eyes, "If we're not mistaken...... Healed you, and even resurrected Bai Li, is it Femir? Where is he? ”

The white wolf narrowed his eyes and turned his head to the side of the square. Lily followed and saw the black-robed wizard standing not far away. That's what she looked like when she first met the other - a young, handsome face, long supple tan hair, and gray eyes full of concern. She was completely at ease.

The black-robed genius wizard walked up to her, sat down cross-legged, and reached out to shake her.

"I'm back, as promised." The hand was soft and slender, with the warmth of life, "But the healing of Ryan and the resurrection of Bai Li are not my credit. ”

Lily looked at each other quietly, hearing his next words.

"That's all your power, September." "I'll teach you how to use it." ”