Beyond Cloudfall - Chapter 8
Night mist fills the air. It’s like I’m trapped in a long, chaotic nightmare.
When I wake, I am surrounded by a red valley filled with blooming datura flowers.
Something feels heavy in my arms. Looking down, I only see a massive horned creature breathing its last breaths, nestled in my embrace.
I don’t know why I am here. I only vaguely remember that in a pitch black chapel, I once had a dragon.
I desperately try to remember, but the clearest memories of the dragon end on that night drenched in blood and moonlight.
The memories that follow are like torn fragments—shattered and incomplete.
It’s like a chord that’s meant to be played with both hands, but only half the chord remains.
Or like a single person dancing what should’ve been a dance for two.
I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but after exchanging souls with the dragon, I begin to dream of him frequently, even while I’m awake.
Whenever I’m alone, I can always see him beside me.
Those scenes—, nor can I determine if they are my fantasies or the dragon’s.
Or perhaps what I see… is the other half of his soul within my body.
Sylus: What are you so nervous about? I just want to sleep for a little while. It’s not like I’m going to die.
MC: But you’re so gravely injured—if you sleep, you might never wake up…!
Sylus: …
Sylus: Oh right, that song from before—I want to hear you play it once more.
MC: …
The black chapel feels like a dark illusion. I can’t remember if I ever finished playing that song.
But it is a requiem—a song for the dead.
Sometimes I believe that we never left the chapel after that night.
The dragon and I live there together, keeping each other company. We hide from everyone’s sight and live a peaceful life.
During the days we spend together recovering from our wounds, we’ll go hunting in the forest, or disguise ourselves to shop at the market.
Little by little, traces of ourselves fill the chapel—on the bench is the medicine I had prepared for him the night before, and by the stained glass window, hangs a scabbard he had made for me.
Gradually… it seems as if I truly have a home with him.
MC: This one needs to be hung higher, and be careful with that one—don’t let your horns catch on it—hey!
My body suddenly feels weightless as Sylus wraps an arm around my waist, lifts me up, and easily raises me onto his shoulder.
My field of vision suddenly rises higher and I widen my eyes, looking down to meet his gaze.
Sylus: What? Didn’t you say it needed to be hung in a higher place?
His eyes sparkle with mirth. I lower my gaze, unable to hold back a smile.
Our coordination is even better than I had imagined. As soon as I raise my hand, he moves along with me, holding my waist steady with one hand, without the slightest wobble.
One by one, we hang the decorations piled on the bench on the wall. Reaching my hand out, I feel for the last ornament.
MC: There’s still one left—but, this one is a little special.
I turn my head and lift my chin toward Sylus.
MC: Close your eyes.
Sylus: Hmm?
He looks up at me somewhat suspiciously, but doesn’t ask anything, and obediently closes his eyes at my words.
Sunlight spills through his hair, soft and fluffy. Suppressing a smile, I place the flower crown I had prepared onto his head.
MC: Who would’ve thought… this actually suits you quite well.
Sylus opens his eyes and hesitantly touches the upturned flower petals, his movements very gentle.
Sylus: So, you stayed up the because you were busy making this?
MC: … Were you not sleeping either?
He laughs without answering, but reaches out to pluck a tiny petal from my hair.
Sylus: You like flowers?
MC: They’re alright. But Tarus City really doesn’t have many flowers. In order to weave this, I practically had to search the entire forest.
Sylus: It’s just the forest that doesn’t have many flowers.
MC: What do you mean…
Sylus: Hold on tight.
Before he finishes speaking, Sylus has already wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up in a bridal carry.
As the air currents rush past, he lets out a soft laugh the moment he spreads his wings.
Kindled
Sylus: Now it’s time to return the gift.
Sylus: Your Excellency the Sorceress, we’ve arrived.
MC: I thought Tarus City wouldn’t have a place like this.
Sylus: What is the Tarus City in your mind like?
MC: Like its master—besides desire and blood, there’s nothing else.
Sylus: You should have a new impression now.
Sylus: Just because you haven’t seen certain things doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
MC: Then I’ll have to look carefully to see what I haven’t seen before.
Sylus: Have you seen enough?
MC: …!
Sylus: Isn’t this better so you can look more closely?
MC: Too bad it’s not the whole flower. However…
Sylus: … You’re quite bold.
MC: I can be even bolder.
MC: Compared to Tarus City, flowers suit you better.
Sylus: This is the first time anyone has said so.
Sylus: Only you and it can touch me here.
Sylus: Actually, Tarus City can also bloom full of flowers…
Sylus: But they only bloom for one person.
On the other side of the nightmare, the dragon never took me to the valley blooming with flowers.
On the night I exchanged souls with the dragon, the Sacred Judicator personally led the entire Legion of Justitia to surround the black chapel.
They in capturing the gravely wounded dragon, while the brand the dragon himself had left on my shoulder became indisputable evidence that I was a “sorceress.”
The day the news was released that “the Evil Demon is dead,” I was also taken back to Ivory City and charged with being a sorceress, then was imprisoned in the courtyard behind the abandoned Sanctuary, waiting to be sent to the Court of Justitia.
The Sanctuary is desolate and monotonous. The cat that could never climb over the courtyard wall has grown fatter by ten pounds, its limbs seem to have also been bound by silk threads, and grown accustomed to life within the walls.
Only I know that my dragon still lives.
On every moonlit night, he flies across the Abyss to find me—it’s a secret only I am able to see.
In the moonlit courtyard of the Sanctuary, Sylus sits on a crumbling dais between two statues.
Hearing footsteps stepping across the grass, he half-turns his head.
Sylus: Did you wake up, or did you not sleep?
Chains drag through the wild grass as I walk toward him and reach out my hand. He gently pulls me up and wraps me in his arms.
Sylus: Restless in the middle of the night, it must be that the other half of someone’s soul is causing mischief inside my body.
MC: Hmph, as it should.
Sylus wraps his legs together around me, restraining my movements.
Sylus: Don’t move.
He uses a silk handkerchief to dry my night dew-dampened hair little by little. His voice is deep, as if handling some kind of serious matter.
Unmoving, I remain leaning into his embrace. When I glance down, his curled tail comes into view.
The dragon’s tail gently coils around my ankle, the deepest wound at its tip nearly healed.
MC: The last few nights, I waited for you here until I fell asleep. Why didn’t you wake me up?
The silk handkerchief absorbs the last drops of moisture from the ends of my hair. Sylus lets me turn my head and smiles a little.
Sylus: constantly calling my name—
MC: Hey…!
I reach up to grasp his chin, carefully looking him over.
Sylus lazily curls up one corner of his mouth, brushing the tip of his nose against my fingertip.
Sylus: You really dreamed about me?
MC: …Have you never dreamed of me?
He doesn’t speak and only looks at me.
Sylus: Before I was sealed, I actually had already dreamed of you.
Sylus: It’s just that at the time, I never imagined that when I would dry this person’s hair.
MC: …I see you’re enjoying it quite a bit.
MC: So, what exactly did you dream about me? Was I pulling out the sword for you?
The candlelight flickers weakly and Sylus’s gaze seems to flicker along with it for a moment.
Sylus: What about you? What did you dream about me?
MC: I—
The image of the boy from my dreams appears before my eyes.
The horns and tail that symbolize the Evil Demon casts an ominous gleam in the moonlight as we gaze at each other for a moment in silence.
So many words surge into my throat, but catch at the tip of my tongue. In the dim night, I reach out and embrace him with all of my strength.
MC: As agreed, since you’ve taken half of my soul—
MC: Then even if the whole world abandons you, I will always, always stand by your side. Don’t even think of shaking me off.
The dull sound of heartbeats pound in my ears. Sylus lowers his head and slowly rests his chin in the hollow of my shoulder.
Sylus: Agreed.
The candlelight washes the moonlight into a warm color. I pillow my head in the crook of his arm and reach out to hook his fingers together with mine.
MC: Then, pinky swear.
Sylus: Hmm?
MC: To never betray each other.
Sylus: Our souls are bound, and will never betray the other—even if outside this Sanctuary is the end of the world, even if the .
MC: This promise is forbidden from being broken.
Sylus: This promise will never be broken.
The night fog envelops me, and I feel like I'm trapped in a long, chaotic nightmare.
When I wake up, I'm surrounded by a red valley filled with blooming datura.
My arms feel heavy. I look down and see a huge horned creature. I hold it as it dies.
I don't know why I'm here. I just vaguely remember having a dragon in a pitch-black chapel.
I try desperately to recall, but the last clear memory I have of the dragon ends on that blood-soaked night under the moon.
Everything afterward feels like shredded fragments, incomplete and scattered.
It's like hearing half of a chord meant to be played with both hands.
Like a dance that was supposed to be for two, with only one left to dance it alone.
Maybe I'm imagining things. But after half of our souls are exchanged, l've been dreaming of him more and more-sometimes, even while awake.
When I'm alone, I always see him by my side.
Those visions..., if they're just my own fantasies, or if they're his.
Or maybe I'm seeing... the other half of his soul that’s within me.
Sylus: Why are you so worried? I just want to rest. I won't die.
MC: In your current state, you might not wake up at all!
Sylus: … (He chuckles, lowly)
Sylus: That song you played... It'd be nice if I could hear it again.
MC: ...
The black chapel is like an illusion steeped in darkness. I can't remember if I finished playing that piece.
But it's a requiem, a song meant for the departed.
Sometimes I think we never truly left the chapel after that night.
I live there with the dragon. We keep each other company, and we live a peaceful life away from
everyone.
On days when we tended to our wounds, we'd go hunting in the forest or disguise ourselves to shop at the market.
Little by little, the chapel became filled with traces of us. On the pew, there'd be the salve I mixed for his wounds the night before. By the stained glass, the sheath he made for my sword hangs proudly.
Slowly... it feels like we've truly made a home here together.
MC: Hang this one a little higher. And be careful with this. Don't let your horns get caught on—Hey!
I feel my body become weightless. Sylus had encircled his arms around my waist and lifted me. He puts me on his shoulder.
My view rises in a flash, and I widen my eyes, looking down to meet his gaze.
Sylus: What? Didn't you say it should be hung higher?
His eyes gleam with amusement. I can't help but smile too.
We're more in sync than I thought. When I raise a hand, he moves smoothly, keeping one arm steady around my waist. He doesn't falter.
I hang up each decoration from the pile on the pew, one after another. As I reach inside my bag again, my fingers brush against the only item that's left.
MC: Here's the last one. But this one's different.
I tilt my head and raise my chin toward Sylus.
MC: Close your eyes.
Sylus: Hmm?
He looks up. He's slightly confused but doesn't question me. Instead, he obediently closes his eyes.
Sunlight caresses his hair and makes it look soft and fluffy. Smiling, I carefully placed the flower crown I prepared on his head.
MC: I wasn't expecting much... But it suits you well.
Sylus opens his eyes. Hesitant, he raises his hand to touch the upturned petals and gently adjusts them.
Sylus: So you stayed up late these past few nights to make this?
MC: ...You didn't sleep either?
He chuckles without responding, reaching up to pluck a tiny petal that's gotten caught in my hair.
Sylus: Do you like flowers?
MC: Yes, I guess. But there aren't a lot in Tarus City. I had to scour the entire woods to get this much.
Sylus: The forest barely has any flowers.
MC: What do you mean—
Sylus: Hold on tight.
Before I can finish, Sylus wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me.
The air brushes past us. He lets out a hearty laugh as he spreads his wings.
Kindled
Sylus: Since you gave me a gift, I should respond in kind.
Sylus: Watch your step, O Great Sorceress. We've arrived.
MC: I thought there wouldn't be a place like this in Tarus City.
Sylus: What did you think Tarus City was like?
MC: The city is similar to its ruler. Nothing but desire and blood.
Sylus: Well, you should have developed a new impression by now.
Sylus: Just because you haven't seen the other sides of it doesn't mean they don't exist.
MC: Then I need to take a closer look. What else haven't I seen?
Sylus: Have your fill? Seen enough?
MC: ...!
Sylus: Wouldn't you say this angle is better?
MC: Too bad I can't see it all. However...
Sylus: ...You're quite daring.
MC: I can be even bolder.
MC: Flowers suit you better than Tarus City.
Sylus: That's the first time someone said those words to me.
Sylus: Only you and this flower... can touch me here
Sylus: You know, Tarus City can have flowers bloom everywhere, as far as the eye can see.
Sylus: But only for one person.
On the other side of that nightmare, the dragon never took me to the valley where flowers bloomed.
On the night we exchanged souls, the Sacred Judicator himself led the entire Legion of Justitia to surround the black chapel.
They spared no effort trying to capture the severely injured dragon. The mark the dragon left on my shoulder served as undeniable proof of my being a "sorceress."
The news of the Fiend's death spreads throughout the land. On that day, I'm taken back to the Ivory City under the accusation of being a sorceress. They imprison me in the courtyard behind the ruined Sanctuary. Now I can only wait to be sent to the Court of Justitia.
The Sanctuary is cold and bleak. The cat, which has never managed to climb over the courtyard walls, has put on ten pounds. It seems to have grown accustomed to life behind these walls, bound by invisible threads as it is.
Only I know my dragon is still alive.
He flies across the Abyss to find me on every moonlit night. This is a secret that only I can see.
Under the moonlit sky, Sylus sits on a weathered platform between two statues.
As the sound of crunching grass reaches his ears, he turns his head.
Sylus: You're awake. Or were you struggling to fall asleep?
Chains drag through the overgrown grass as I walk toward him, reaching out my hand. He gently pulls me up and holds me in his arms.
Sylus: I've been feeling... restless. I suspect it's because half of someone's soul is being noisy in my body again.
MC: Hmph. That's a good thing.
Sylus quickly brings his legs together and blocks my movement.
Sylus: Don't move.
He carefully dries my dew-soaked hair with a silk handkerchief. His voice had taken on a more solemn tone, as if he's grappling with a matter of great significance.
I stay nestled in his arms. When I lower my head, I see his curled-up tail.
The dragon's tail coils around my ankle. Even the deepest wound on its tip has almost completely healed.
MC: I fell asleep while waiting for you these past few nights. Why didn't you wake me up?
As the silk handkerchief absorbs the moisture at the ends of my hair, Sylus allows me to turn my head. A gentle smile graces his lips.
Sylus: Someone was dreaming and continued to say my name—
MC: Hey...!
I lift his chin and scrutinize him.
With a relaxed grace, the corners of Sylus's mouth curl up. He nuzzles my fingers.
Sylus: Did you actually dream of me?
MC: ...Have you never dreamed of me?
He doesn't speak. He just looks at me.
Sylus: Before I was sealed away, I did dream of you.
Sylus: I just didn't expect l'd be willing to dry that person's hair one day.
MC: ...And you also happen to be enjoying it.
MC: So what did I do in your dream exactly? Did I point a sword at you?
The candlelight flickers alongside something else in Sylus's gaze.
Sylus: What about you? What did I do in your dream?
MC: I…
The boy from my dreams appears before me again.
Under the moonlight, the horns and tail of the Fiend reflect a dim glow. I meet his gaze.
Numerous words bubble up within me, yet they become entangled on the tip of my tongue. On this dimly lit night, I hold him close and pour all my strength into hugging him.
MC: Since you've taken half of my soul...
MC: Even if the world turns its back on you, I'll always stand by your side. You're not even allowed to think about leaving me.
My heartbeat resounds like a drum in my ears as Sylus lowers his head. He rests his chin on my shoulder.
Sylus: All right.
The candlelight washes the moon's glow in a warm hue. I lay my head on his arm and entwine my fingers with his, reaching out to grasp the light together.
MC: Let's make a pinky promise.
Sylus: Hmm?
MC: To never betray each other.
Sylus: Our souls are bound. We will never betray each other even if Doomsday arrives outside this Sanctuary. Even if the world crumbles.
MC: This promise can’t be broken.
Sylus: This promise will never be broken.
夜雾弥漫，我像陷入了一场漫长而混沌的噩梦。
醒来时，周围是开满曼陀罗的红色山谷。
怀中沉甸甸的，低下头，只看到头上生着双角的巨大生物正奄奄一息地垂着头颅，俯在我的怀中。
我不知自己为何出现在这里，只依稀记得在一座漆黑的礼堂里，我曾拥有过一条龙。
我拼命回想，但能清晰记得的和龙有关的事，就结束在那个流满鲜血又酒着月光的夜晚。
此后的记忆如同被撕裂的碎片，残缺不全。
就像本该双手演奏的和弦却只剩下了一半。
又像只有一个人，在跳本该由两人完成的舞蹈。
不知是不是我的错觉，在和龙交换了灵魂后，我开始频繁地梦到他，即使醒着时也是。
当我一个人时，我总能看到他也在我身边。
那些画面，我难以确认是否真实发生过，也无法断定它究竟是我的幻想，还是龙的。
又或者我看到的… 是我身体中的，他的另一半灵魂。
秦彻：紧张什么。我只是想睡一会儿，又不是死了。
玩家：可你受伤这么重，睡了可能就醒不过来了....!
秦彻：....
秦彻：对了，之前那首曲子，我想再听你弹一次。
玩家：....
黑色的礼堂像一个黑色的幻境，我不记得自己有没有弹完那首曲子。
但那是安魂曲，是送给亡灵的歌。
有时我以为，那个夜晚后我们没有离开礼堂。
我和龙互相作伴住在那里，躲在所有人视线以外过上了平静的生活。
一起养伤的日子里，我们会进入森林野猎，又或乔装后去集市采购。
属于彼此的印记一点点填满礼堂，长椅上有我前晚为他调好的伤药，而花窗旁，挂着他给我做的剑鞘。
渐渐地……我好像真的和他拥有了一个家。
玩家：这个要挂得高一点，那个要小心，别被你的角勾坏了一一诶！
身体一轻，秦彻揽过我的腰又抱起，轻松将我扛上他肩膀。
视野骤然变高，我睁大眼睛低头与他对视。
秦彻：怎么？不是说要挂在高一点的地方？
他眼里笑意明晃晃的，我垂下眼，忍不住也笑了。
配合比想象中还要默契，我一抬手他就跟着挪步，单手圈住我的腰，一点也不晃。
堆在长椅上的装饰品一样接一样挂上墙壁，我探手，摸到最后一件饰品。
玩家：还剩最后一件一一不过这个比较特殊。
我侧过头，朝秦彻扬起下巴。
玩家：闭眼。
秦彻：嗯？
他有些疑惑地抬眼看我，但什么也没问，应声乖乖闭上双眼。
阳光酒落他发间，软茸茸的。我噙着笑，将提前准备好的花环给他戴上。
玩家：没想到… 你还挺适合的。
秦彻睁眼，拾手有些犹疑地摸摸翘起的花瓣，动作放得很轻。
秦彻：所以这几天你半夜不睡，就是忙着编这个？
玩家：……你难道也没睡？
他笑起来，没回答，但伸手从我发间摘下朵小小的花瓣。
秦彻：喜欢花？
玩家：还行吧。但塔尔城花真的好少，为了编这一个我都快逛遍整个森林了。
秦彻：只是森林里花少。
玩家：什么意思⋯
秦彻：抓紧了。
话还没说完，秦彻已经揽过我的腰将我打横抱起。
气流拂过，他在张开双翼的刹那低笑。
心迹
秦彻：现在，是回礼时间。
秦彻：魔女阁下，我们到了。
玩家：还以为塔尔城不会有这种地方呢。
秦彻：你以为的塔尔城是什么样？
玩家：和它的主人一样，除了欲望和鲜血，没有别的。
秦彻：你现在该有新的印象了。
秦彻：有些模样，只是你没见过，不代表它没有。
玩家：那我可得仔细看看，有什么是我没见过的。
秦彻：看够了么？
玩家：....!
秦彻：这样岂不是看得更仔细一些？
玩家：可惜着不全。不过嘛⋯⋯
秦彻：…胆子很大。
玩家：还能更大呢。
玩家：比起塔尔城，花更适合你。
秦彻：第一次有人这么说。
秦彻：能碰到我这里的，也就只有你和它了。
秦彻：其实，塔尔城也可以开满鲜花⋯
秦彻：只为一个人开放。
在噩梦的另一面，龙从未带我去过那片开花的山谷。
和龙交换灵魂的那个夜晚，圣裁主教亲自带着所有的圣裁军包围了黑礼堂。
他们不遗余力抓捕了已经重伤的龙，而我肩上由龙亲自留下的烙印，则成为了“魔女”的铁证。
“恶魔已死”的消息被放出的那一天，我也以魔女的罪名被带回白曜城，关押在废弃圣堂后的院落中，等待被送上裁决之庭。
圣堂冷清单调，那只爬不出院墻的猫长胖了十斤，似乎也被丝线束缚了手脚，习惯了围墙内的生活。
只有我知道，我的龙还活着。
他会在每个有月光的夜晚飞过深渊来找我，是只有我能看到的秘密。
月色下的圣堂院落中，秦彻正坐在两尊雕像间颓圮的高台上。
听见踩过草叶的脚步声，他半转过头来。
秦彻：醒了，还是没睡？
锁链自荒草间拖过，我走向他，向他伸出手。他轻轻将我拽上去，圈在双臂中。
秦彻：半夜心烦，肯定是有人的某一半灵魂在我身体里胡闹。
玩家：哼，闹得好。
秦彻曲起在我身畔的腿就并拢起来，制住我动作。
秦彻：别乱动。
夜露沾湿的发丝被他用丝帕一点点擦干。他的声音很沉，像正处理什么严肃大事。
我保持倚在他怀中的姿势不动，一低头，入目是他弯起的尾巴。
龙尾温柔地圈住我的脚踝，尖端最深重的伤口也已接近愈合。
玩家：前几晚我在这里等你到睡着，你怎么不叫醒我。
发尾的水汽被丝帕吸干，秦彻任由我转过头，笑了笑。
秦彻：有人不知道做了什么梦，一直叫我名字--
玩家：喂⋯！
我拾手捏过他下巴，仔仔细细端详。
秦彻懒洋洋地牵起嘴角，用鼻尖踏过我指腹。
秦彻：真梦见我了？
玩家：……你难道就没梦见过我？
他没说话，只是看我。
秦彻：在被封印之前，我其实就梦见过你。
秦彻：只是那时候没想到，有朝一日我竟然会心甘情愿给这个人擦头发。
玩家：…我看你也挺享受的嘛。
玩家：所以你究竟梦见我什么了？为你拔剑吗？
烛光微弱摇晃，秦彻的眼神仿佛也跟着闪动一瞬。
秦彻：你呢？又梦见我什么了？
玩家：我一一
梦境中那个少年的身影浮现在眼前。
象征恶魔的角与尾巴在月色里映出暗光，我在短暂的沉默里与他对视。
许多话涌上喉头，却又哽在舌尖。我在黯淡的黑夜里伸手，用全部力气环抱住他。
玩家：说好了，既然拿了我那一半灵魂一一
玩家：那么哪怕全世界都背弃你，我也会一直一直与你并肩。别想甩开我。
心跳声钝钝敲击在鼓膜，秦彻低头，慢慢将下巴抵在我肩窝。
秦彻：好。
烛火将月光浣洗成暖色。我枕在他臂弯，伸手勾过他手指一起隔空捉烛光。
玩家：那，拉钩。
秦彻：嗯？
玩家：要永不背叛。
秦彻：灵魂相契，永不背叛一一即便这座圣堂之外就是世界末日，地动山摇。
玩家：不许毁诺。
秦彻：永不毁诺。
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