NOVEL WEB Chapter 332: Time Chases the Grain of Sand
Dark ink spilled across the peaceful night, mixing with the fresh snow covering the twisting mountain trail. The freezing wind roared through the tall pine trees. Their snow-covered branches stood like silent guards over the small person climbing alone.
Every crunch of snow under Kiana's boots echoed in the huge emptiness of Eastern Siberia—a lonely, almost deserted place. The girl, carrying a heavy backpack, was only accompanied by the footprints she left behind.
To find her elusive, foolish father...
To chase the ghost of a memory...
Kiana embarked on her first journey.
"Not all those who wander are lost," she whispered, remembering a line from an old, dusty book. The words were like a tiny spark against the fear eating at her inside.
She didn't know the way. She didn't know what she might encounter. She didn't even know where Siegfried was.
But she had to try.
For him.
For herself.
Thump.
A misstep—a sudden loss of balance—and young Kiana tumbled into the thick snow. The icy chill seeped through her clothes, biting her skin and stealing her breath.
Sliding back down the slope, she landed with a muffled thud. Her pack pressed down on her like a physical manifestation of the burden she carried.
Her cheeks, scraped raw by the icy snow, were flushed red. Her slender arms ached from the strain.
He wouldn't give up, she thought, gritting her teeth.
And neither will I.
She stood, brushing the snow from her hair. Each movement felt like a small victory against the vast, unforgiving landscape.
Looking up at the starlit sky—a canvas of infinite possibilities—she stretched out her small hand. A firm Determination burned in her heart.
"No matter how far the distance, as long as I'm on the journey, I'll reach the destination one day."
…
She crossed the Siberian peaks, the wind whipping at her face—a constant reminder of her solitary journey. The bitter cold stung her cheeks, but she pressed on, unyielding.
She traversed the turbulent bay, the icy waves crashing against the shore, each surge mirroring the turmoil within her.
In the bright, noisy confusion of Nagazora City, she made new friends. The loud sounds and flashing lights were completely different from the quiet loneliness of the mountains.
And finally, she found a home at St. Freya's. The warmth of being with others soothed her tired soul.
Mei.
Bronya..
Himeko...
Theresa...
Faces mixed together with shared laughter and secret whispers. Each moment, each memory, became a piece in the picture of belonging she didn't know she needed.
[Was this the end of her journey?]
Standing at the edge of a difficult-to-reach peak, a huge gap opened below her, its emptiness like the empty feeling still inside her.
The stars above shimmered—distant and cold. The voices of her companions echoed in her ears, a bittersweet symphony of connection and loss.
Kiana lowered her outstretched hand, her fingers trembling as the fleeting memories crumbled like grains of sand. Time's relentless flow eroded even the most precious moments.
"Time is the longest distance between two places," she whispered, the words heavy with unspoken longing.
Closing her eyes, she fell backward into the abyss.
The darkness embraced her like a familiar friend. As she plummeted, the stars receded, and the world dissolved into a blur of sensations.
The awakening of the Herrscher of the Void broke the peaceful illusion, throwing Kiana back into the scary forest.
Having witnessed the Herrscher's devastation, having lost her teacher, she'd lost her initial courage.
…
Above ARC City.
The falling figure dropped through thick clouds, the city's neon lights below looking like a distant, blurry illusion. She felt like fish drowning, sinking into the deep ocean, the weight of countless Sins pressing down on her small shoulders, making her fall faster.
The city's lights, once a beacon of hope, now mocked her with their empty promises.
Faced with relentless self-blame, the fear and panic threatened to consume her.
She longed for the simple comfort of home—a place that no longer existed.
[But the moment Kiana embarked on her journey, there was no turning back. Her footprints in Siberia had long been erased by the wind and snow.]
She closed her eyes, steeling herself for the inevitable impact.
A fading meteor, about to be extinguished.
Suddenly...
Her fall stopped.
A warm hand grasped her wrist, pulling her back from the edge—an anchor in the storm.
She opened her eyes, her vision blurred with tears.
A gray-haired boy stood in front of her, holding a candle. Its soft light lit up his face, calm and determined. Even though they were surrounded by total darkness, he willingly shared his light with her.
In the dark scary emptiness, he was a beacon of hope.
When the city's neon lights flashed, there was no place for her.
Yet, among all the flickering lights, one single lamp burned brightly through the night—just for her.
His voice, a gentle whisper against the howling wind, reached her ears.
"No matter how dark the world becomes, this lamp will always be lit for you. If you're tired, you can always come back."
…
Kiana, her heart warmed by his words, gathered her belongings and embarked on a new journey.
But this journey meant they would go their separate ways.
…
As if by fate's design…
A small accident—a mistake—brought them together again.
In the blizzard, she found the cabin. Its warm firelight flickered through the storm, promising rest.
She knocked, her heart beating fast with hope and fear.
The door slowly opened, showing the boy she knew. His warm gray eyes melted the coldness that had been in her heart for so long.
Time stopped in the Dream world... yet it felt as if time itself were observing them, a silent witness.
The silence was comforting, like a blanket around them, protecting them from reality.
He shared his unspoken thoughts, his voice quiet and low, matching her own fears and weaknesses.
They cried.
They laughed.
They argued.
Each shared moment wove an invisible thread between their souls.
He offered her a steaming cup of tea, the simple gesture brimming with unspoken tenderness.
The warmth seeped into her hands, as if holding a fragment of his kindness.
As the world around them crumbled, she whispered her identity—a secret shared in the twilight of a dying world.
They made a promise.
A promise to reunite at the journey's end.
…
The shattered Dream world released its hold, and Kiana embarked on her journey once more.
Standing on the shores of time, she picked up a forgotten grain of sand. Its rough texture pressed against her palm, a tangible reminder of time's relentless flow.
But this time, the sand didn't slip through her fingers.
She held it tight, a promise close to her heart.
"We are most alive when we're in love," she thought. The words echoed in her mind, a silent reflection of the connection she had come to cherish.
I'm back.
I'm here.
The cabin door creaked open, showing the familiar warmth of the fireplace. The comforting smell of woodsmoke hung in the air, and the boy sat quietly by the fire.
He looked up at her.
Without a word, he offered her a cup of freshly made tea. Their fingers touched as she took it, a spark lighting up the quiet moment.
"Don't worry. I'm here."
Above Coral Island, the falling girl slowly opened her eyes.
The boy's face, showing worry, was reflected in her blue eyes. His hand, warm and steady, held hers—a real anchor in the storm.
The fear that had gripped her heart melted away. In its place was peace—a quiet understanding that transcended words.
"Mmm."
Her hand tightened around his, a silent promise of journeys yet to come.
A promise of a destination they would one day reach together.