Shooting Stars: Chapter 4
Regarding “that incident”, Xavier has never told me the story from beginning to end.
Only by occasionally picking up some scattered fragments of his subtle emotions during our daily conversations, have I been able to put together an outline of the incident.
If I haven’t guessed incorrectly, that incident should have happened during the time he underwent the “”
In Philos's history, there is a tradition among its rulers.
Only by passing the trials of the light blade, can someone who is truly able to wield its power become worthy of becoming the planet's heir.
This trial is the “Gladius Ceremony”
At that time, to the south in Starfall Forest, lived a Wanderer who had been a scourge for a long time.
The trial Xavier had to undergo was to enter the forest by himself, and use his own strength to get rid of it.
I was also there the day the Prince was sent into the forest.
That was a stretch of no man’s land, with a chaotic magnetic field. Fog shrouded the night, tall and large oak trees and yews made rustling sounds in the wind, and strange birds cried.
Once Xavier entered, all these sounds instantly stopped. The entire forest was like a huge Wanderer lying dormant, quietly hunkering down and waiting for its prey.
People waited by the edge of the forest, guessing when the Prince would return.
But day after day, the forest remained dead silent.
Everyone said, perhaps the Prince was already buried in the jaws of a wanderer, and left in twos or threes.
In the end there was just me, still standing at the spot from where he had departed.
For as long as I’ve known Xavier, he often leaves me like this.
Sometimes he followed the patrol team to go on patrol, while other times, the Royal Messenger brought him back to the palace.
Every time I would ask him when he would return.
And as long as he said so, he would always reappear by my side within that time frame.
Before entering the forest, everybody surrounded the edge of the forest and prayed for the Prince. At that time Xavier quietly whispered by my ear—
Seven days.
The night those seven days were up, there was no moon.
The last person besides myself had quietly left as well.
And then, before dawn, a small light finally appeared from amongst the trees.
That light gradually turned brighter and became a pale white figure.
Xavier had finally walked out from the depths of the pitch black jungle.
The light blade in his hand turned into thousands of light specks and scattered, becoming a part of his power. He approached me, holding the Wanderer's protocore in his hand.
There was no joy or relaxation like I had imagined. Xavier just kept his head bowed, didn’t say even a single word, and raised his arms and hugged me silently.
I still don't know what he encountered, or what he did those seven days in the forest.
Killing a Wanderer is clearly something worth celebrating.
I just feel like ever since then, Xavier has changed.
As if there was a part of him forever left behind in the depths of that forest.
Amidst the glowing light specks at the base of the sword monument, Xavier lowers his eyes.
Xavier: I can't become the person he wants me to become.
Xavier: I also don't want to sit on that ice cold throne he's leaving behind.
Xavier's fate and mine are completely different. If I were to say I empathize, it would be far too disingenuous, so I can only hold his hand.
MC: If in the future, you become the King of Philos, at least I will always be standing by your side.
Xavier: Having you by my side is certainly great, but…
Xavier smiles, looking at me.
Xavier: Standing by the King's side, is that really your heart’s desire?
MC: Yeah.
Xavier: Then what if I don't become the King of Philos?
MC: This…
Though I know there is a between Xavier and his father, I seem to have never imagined he really would not become the King of Philos.
MC: If you're not the King, then won't I just end up as someone else's knight…
MC: (Become someone else’s Grandis Knight, take an oath to always follow him, be loyal to him, forever gaze only upon his figure, forever swing my sword only for him.)
MC: (And that person actually won't be Xavier… I can't imagine it.)
Xavier: But I don't want you to become someone else's knight.
Xavier: …I don't want to let you stand by someone else's side.
MC: Xavier…
Xavier: I can not become Philos's King.
Xavier: You can also not join the Lightseekers, not become a knight by the King’s side.
This is something I have never thought of, and he brought it up blandly just like that.
Xavier: The universe of Philos is so broad, there are still lots of things we can do.
Xavier: Why do you have to follow someone else's arrangements, become some Grandis Knight?
MC: But, Master said this was what I was born for. What else can I do?
Xavier: Let’s go to the planet Uluru together.
MC: The planet Uluru?
Xavier: It’s the newborn planet I discovered during this last expedition, and it was also named by me.
Xavier: That planet has no Wanderers, nor people, only flowers all over the planet.
Xavier: Once you lift your head, you're able to directly see all the planets in the universe.
Xavier: Blue, red, pink planets…
MC: Wasn't it said that Philos’s universe is about to collapse? How can new planets still be born?
Xavier lowers his head. In the dirt by his hands, fireflies landed on a petal of a forget-me-not.
Xavier: When spring arrives, there will always be hope.
MC: Spring…
MC: The spring on other planets, I wonder what it'll be like.
Xavier: I noted down that planet's coordinates.
Xavier: Once I’ve settled my family's affairs, I’ll wait for the day you no longer want to become the Grandis Knight…
Xavier: We’ll escape to the planet Uluru together.
Regarding “that incident”, Shen Xinghui has never told me the story from beginning to end.
Only by occasionally picking up some scattered fragments of his subtle emotions during our daily conversations, have I been able to put together an outline of the incident.
If I haven’t guessed incorrectly, that incident should have happened during the time he underwent the “”
In Philos's history, there is a tradition among its rulers.
Only by passing the trials of the light blade, can someone who is truly able to wield its power become worthy of becoming the planet's heir.
This trial is the “Gladius Ceremony”
At that time, to the south in Starfall Forest, lived a Wanderer who had been a scourge for a long time.
The trial Shen Xinghui had to undergo was to enter the forest by himself, and use his own strength to get rid of it.
I was also there the day the Prince was sent into the forest.
That was a stretch of no man’s land, with a chaotic magnetic field. Fog shrouded the night, tall and large oak trees and yews made rustling sounds in the wind, and strange birds cried.
Once Shen Xinghui entered, all these sounds instantly stopped. The entire forest was like a huge Wanderer lying dormant, quietly hunkering down and waiting for its prey.
People waited by the edge of the forest, guessing when the Prince would return.
But day after day, the forest remained dead silent.
Everyone said, perhaps the Prince was already buried in the jaws of a wanderer, and left in twos or threes.
In the end there was just me, still standing at the spot from where he had departed.
For as long as I’ve known Shen Xinghui, he often leaves me like this.
Sometimes he followed the patrol team to go on patrol, while other times, the Royal Messenger brought him back to the palace.
Every time I would ask him when he would return.
And as long as he said so, he would always reappear by my side within that time frame.
Before entering the forest, everybody surrounded the edge of the forest and prayed for the Prince. At that time Shen Xinghui quietly whispered by my ear—
Seven days.
The night those seven days were up, there was no moon.
The last person besides myself had quietly left as well.
And then, before dawn, a small light finally appeared from amongst the trees.
That light gradually turned brighter and became a pale white figure.
Shen Xinghui had finally walked out from the depths of the pitch black jungle.
The light blade in his hand turned into thousands of light specks and scattered, becoming a part of his power. He approached me, holding the Wanderer's protocore in his hand.
There was no joy or relaxation like I had imagined. Shen Xinghui just kept his head bowed, didn’t say even a single word, and raised his arms and hugged me silently.
I still don't know what he encountered, or what he did those seven days in the forest.
Killing a Wanderer is clearly something worth celebrating.
I just feel like ever since then, Shen Xinghui has changed.
As if there was a part of him forever left behind in the depths of that forest.
Amidst the glowing light specks at the base of the sword monument, Shen Xinghui lowers his eyes.
Shen Xinghui: I can't become the person he wants me to become.
Shen Xinghui: I also don't want to sit on that ice cold throne he's leaving behind.
Shen Xinghui's fate and mine are completely different. If I were to say I empathize, it would be far too disingenuous, so I can only hold his hand.
MC: If in the future, you become the King of Philos, at least I will always be standing by your side.
Shen Xinghui: Having you by my side is certainly great, but…
Shen Xinghui smiles, looking at me.
Shen Xinghui: Standing by the King's side, is that really your heart’s desire?
MC: Yeah.
Shen Xinghui: Then what if I don't become the King of Philos?
MC: This…
Though I know there is a between Shen Xinghui and his father, I seem to have never imagined he really would not become the King of Philos.
MC: If you're not the King, then won't I just end up as someone else's knight…
MC: (Become someone else’s Grandis Knight, take an oath to always follow him, be loyal to him, forever gaze only upon his figure, forever swing my sword only for him.)
MC: (And that person actually won't be Shen Xinghui… I can't imagine it.)
Shen Xinghui: But I don't want you to become someone else's knight.
Shen Xinghui: …I don't want to let you stand by someone else's side.
MC: Shen Xinghui…
Shen Xinghui: I can not become Philos's King.
Shen Xinghui: You can also not join the Lightseekers, not become a knight by the King’s side.
This is something I have never thought of, and he brought it up blandly just like that.
Shen Xinghui: The universe of Philos is so broad, there are still lots of things we can do.
Shen Xinghui: Why do you have to follow someone else's arrangements, become some Grandis Knight?
MC: But, Master said this was what I was born for. What else can I do?
Shen Xinghui: Let’s go to the planet Uluru together.
MC: The planet Uluru?
Shen Xinghui: It’s the newborn planet I discovered during this last expedition, and it was also named by me.
Shen Xinghui: That planet has no Wanderers, nor people, only flowers all over the planet.
Shen Xinghui: Once you lift your head, you're able to directly see all the planets in the universe.
Shen Xinghui: Blue, red, pink planets…
MC: Wasn't it said that Philos’s universe is about to collapse? How can new planets still be born?
Shen Xinghui lowers his head. In the dirt by his hands, fireflies landed on a petal of a forget-me-not.
Shen Xinghui: When spring arrives, there will always be hope.
MC: Spring…
MC: The spring on other planets, I wonder what it'll be like.
Shen Xinghui: I noted down that planet's coordinates.
Shen Xinghui: Once I’ve settled my family's affairs, I’ll wait for the day you no longer want to become the Grandis Knight…
Shen Xinghui: We’ll escape to the planet Uluru together.
Xavier never told me what happened.
I could only surmise a vague idea based on the bits and pieces from our conversations.
If I’m correct, this incident occurred around the Gladius Ceremony.
It was a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Only those who wielded the lightblade could prove themselves worthy to ascend the throne.
The trial was known as the Gladius Ceremony.
To the south was Starfall Forest, and a wanderer made its nest there.
Xavier was to enter the Forest and kill the Wanderer himself.
I was present on the day everyone went to see the Prince off.
Starfall Forest was a desolate place with an unstable Protofield. At night, a heavy fog enshrouded the trees. Their leaves rustled in the wind to the shrieks of mysterious birds.
When Xavier entered Starfall Forest, all became quiet. The Forest was a Wanderer quietly observing its prey.
Everyone waited at the outskirts, wondering if the Prince would return. Day after day, the Forest remained silent.
They thought the Wanderer devoured the Prince and left one after another.
I was the only one still waiting for him.
Xavier would always leave me like this.
At times he joined the expedition team. Other times he was returning to the palace with the Royal Messenger. I’d always ask when he could return.
He always returned within the timeframe given to me.
Before the Prince entered the Forest, everyone was praying for his safety. At that time, Xavier whispered into my ear…
“Seven days.”
After seven days passed, it was a moonless night. I was the only one still waiting for him.
Before dawn broke, a faint light appeared in the Forest.
It got brighter, then turned into a white figure.
Xavier emerged. The lightblade dissipated into countless specks of light. He approached me, the Wanderer’s Protocore in his hand.
The was no joy or relief to be seen. Keeping his head lowered, Xavier silently hugged me.
What he encountered or saw in those seven days is shrouded in mystery.
Killing a Wanderer should be celebrated.
But Xavier had changed ever since.
As if a part of him was left behind in Starfall Forest.
Amidst glowing fireflies by the statue, Xavier lowered his eyes.
Xavier: I can’t become the man he wants. I will never sit on the throne he leaves behind either.
Xavier and I were walking different paths. It’d be foolish of me to say I understood him. I could only hold his hand.
MC: If you are the next King, I promise to stay by your side.
Xavier: The thought is pleasant to year, yet…
Xavier smiled and looked at me.
Xavier: Are you resolved? Is it your wish to be the King’s sword?
MC: Yes.
Xavier: And if I don’t wear the crown?
MC: What…
Xavier and His Majesty may have fought, but I never thought about the possibility of someone else becoming King.
MC: Then I’ll be someone else’s knight. (I’ll have to swear an oath of fealty, become the Grandis Knight, follow him to the ends of the world, look only at him, wield a sword in his name… And he won’t be Xavier… I never imagined such a thing could even occur.)
Xavier: I don’t want you to become another’s knight. …I also won’t let you be at another’s side.
MC: Xavier…
Xavier: I can choose not to become King. You can choose not to join the Lightseekers who answer only to the royal family.
MC: …?!
His notions were beyond me, yet he stated it in a rather aloof manner.
Xavier: Philos is boundless. We are able to do all sorts of things. Why do you need to follow someone else’s orders, to become a Grandis Knight?
MC: Our teacher said this is how I should live. What else is there for me?
Xavier: … I’ll take you to Uluru.
MC: Uluru?
Xavier: On my last expedition, I found a newborn planet. I named it. No Wanderer or people were observed. Only flowers. In a mere glance, a person can see every planet in the universe. Blue ones, red ones, pink ones…
MC: Didn’t they say Philos is slowly dying? How can there be new planets?
Xavier lowered his head. The fireflies landed on the wavyleaf sea lavender petals.
Xavier: With spring’s arrival, hope is soon to follow.
MC: Spring… What is spring like on other planets?
Xavier: I recorded that planet’s coordinates. Once I’ve settled my personal affairs, and if you ever surrender your wish to be a Grandis Knight… Let’s elope. We’ll spend the rest of our days in Uluru.
关于“那件事”，沈星回并没有从头到尾地对我讲述过。
我只能从我们日常相处的闲谈里，偶尔拾取一些散落在他细微情绪中的碎片，才拼凑出了事件的大概。
如果没猜错，那件事，应该是发生在他接受“授剑仪式”的那段日子里……
在菲罗斯星历代的统治者间，有一个传统。
只有通过光剑的试炼，真正拥有驱使它的力量的人，才有资格成为星球的继承人。
这个试炼便是“授剑仪式”。
当时，在南方的星降森林里，盘踞着一个为祸已久的流浪体。
沈星回要接受的试炼，就是独自深入林中，以一己之力把它除去。
送王子进入森林的那一天，我也去了。
那是一片磁场紊乱的无人区，夜雾弥漫，高大的橡树和紫杉在风中沙沙作响，怪鸟嘶鸣。
当沈星回进去后，这些声音瞬间停止了。整片森林像一个蛰伏在地的巨大流浪体，安静地蹲守着它的猎物。
人们守在森林边缘，猜测王子什么时候回来。
但日复一日，林中始终一片死寂。
大家都说，也许王子已经葬身在了流浪体的口中，三两离去。
最终只有我，依旧站在他离开的地方。
自我认识沈星回以来，他经常这样离开我。
有时是跟着巡航小队出去巡游，有时是被传令官带回王宫。
每次我都会问他，什么时候回来。
而只要他说了，都一定会在那个时间内再次出现在我身边。
进入森林前，所有人都围在森林边缘为王子祈福，那时沈星回悄悄附在我耳边说——
七天。
七天之期到来的那个夜晚，没有月亮。
除我以外的最后一个人也悄然离开了。
后来，在天亮前，林中终于亮起了一点光。
那光逐渐变亮，成为一个浅白色的人影。
沈星回终于从漆黑的丛林深处走出。
光剑在他手中化作万般光点散去，成为他力量的一部分，他捧着那个流浪体的芯核来到我面前。
没有想象中的愉悦和轻松，沈星回只是低着头，一个字也没有说，沉默地抬手拥住了我。
我始终不知道在森林里的那七天，他遇到了什么，做了什么。
斩杀流浪体，明明是一件值得庆祝的事。
我只是觉得自那以后，沈星回就变了。
仿佛有一部分的他，被永远留在了那片森林深处。
圣剑碑下的荧荧光点中，沈星回低垂着眼睛。
沈星回: 我成为不了他想让我成为的人。
沈星回: 也不想坐在那个他留下的，冷冰冰的王座上。
我和沈星回的命运截然不同，如果说可以感同身受也未免太过虚伪，便只有搭住他的手。
玩家: 如果未来，你成为菲罗斯星的王，至少我会一直站在你身边的。
沈星回: 有你陪我当然很好，可是……
沈星回笑笑，看向我。
沈星回: 站在王的身边，这真的是你的心愿吗?
玩家: 是啊。
沈星回: 那如果，我没有成为菲罗斯星的王呢?
玩家: 这……
虽然知道沈星回和他的父亲有嫌隙，但我好像从来没想过，他会真的不做菲罗斯星的王。
玩家: 如果你不是王，那我不就要成为别人的骑士了……
玩家: (成为其他人的首席圣剑骑士，发誓永远追随他，对他忠诚，视线永远只看向他的身影，剑永远只为他而挥动。)
玩家: (而那个人，竟然不是沈星回……我无法想象。)
沈星回: 可我不想你成为其他人的骑士。
沈星回: ……我不想让你站在其他人的身边。
玩家: 沈星回……
沈星回: 我可以不做菲罗斯星的王。
沈星回: 你也可以不加入逐光骑士团，不成为王身边的骑士。
玩家: ……？！
这是我从未想过的事，他就这样淡淡地说出口了。
沈星回: 菲罗斯宇宙这么宽广，还有很多事可以做。
沈星回: 为什么一定要听别人的安排，成为什么首席圣剑骑士?
玩家: 可是，师父说我就是为此而生的，我还能做什么呢?
沈星回: ……
沈星回: 我们一起去乌鲁鲁星。
玩家: 乌鲁鲁星?
沈星回: 是在这次巡游航行时，我发现的一颗新诞生的星球，名字也是我取的。
沈星回: 那个星球上没有流浪体，也没有人，只有满星球的花。
沈星回: 一抬起头，就能直接看到宇宙里的星球。
沈星回: 蓝色的，红色的，粉红色的星球……
玩家: 不是说，菲罗斯宇宙就快要崩塌了吗，竟然还能诞生新的星球?
沈星回低下头，他手边的泥土里，萤火虫正落在一朵星辰花的花瓣上。
沈星回: 春天到了，总会有希望的。
玩家: 春天……
玩家: 别的星球上的春天，会是什么样的呢。
沈星回: 我记下了那颗星球的空间坐标。
沈星回: 等我把家里的事处理好，等有一天，要是你不想做首席骑士了……
沈星回: 我们就一起逃去乌鲁鲁星。
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