Chapter 42: The Final Stop

"Mm... that's right. If we continue down this path, the end will be our final stop."

Venti walked ahead, explaining the route to Bronya, who took the opportunity to observe the surrounding shops and signs. A sense of familiarity began to well up in her heart.

"Why... does this place feel so familiar to me..."

Especially the staircase leading to the top of the slope. In her memory, it seemed like it should have been much wider, not this narrow.

"I think I've been here before."

Bronya murmured unconsciously.

"But... when exactly?"

As they ascended the steps, they could see the luxurious mansion perched high above, overlooking the ever-changing affairs of the town day after day.

Venti noticed Bronya's expression growing increasingly complex. She held her head as if lost in fragmented memories of the past.

"This is the only orphanage in town, donated by a wealthy merchant. Seele and Natasha (the staff) once lived here. Unfortunately, the rift later encroached upon this place, and the children lost their home."

He spoke softly, but to Bronya, his words were like a thunderclap in spring, exploding in her mind.

At the same time, memories of the past came rushing back like an avalanche, including scenes of her own life here.

They quickly merged with the building before her eyes and the playground equipment, turning into a palpable stirring in her heart.

"That's right... I did live here when I was a child..."

Bronya gazed intently at everything until a certain poet sat on a swing, swaying back and forth. The rusty sound of the old chains rubbing against the steel structure finally snapped her out of her reverie.

As the culprit, he showed no awareness of having interrupted her memories and instead shamelessly said,

"Hehe. Come over and play with me. You push! I'll fly!"

Seeing his eager expression, Bronya felt a long-lost emotion reawakening within her.

She walked behind him and gently pushed his back, watching him swing up and down.

Like some kind of green shuttlecock...

When the moment felt right, she finally asked,

"Why here?"

"Hmm, you finally asked. I was wondering if you'd never bring it up. If you hadn't, we might not have had such a good opportunity next time."

Venti swung his slender, silk-clad legs and spoke with ease.

"It's actually quite simple, with no special reason at all. I just felt that you should come back here and take a look—"

Seeing Bronya's nostalgic expression, his tone softened a bit.

"Although people shouldn't be bound by their place of origin, if you forget this place, wouldn't you sometimes feel lonely, as if there's nothing in your childhood worth cherishing?"

"...That's true."

In the past, Bronya never had time to reminisce about these things. In fact, if she hadn't returned to her homeland, her impression of this place would likely have remained vague.

Back then, she was taken away by the Architects and later adopted by Lady Cocolia. Her days were far from as relaxed and carefree as Seele had described.

The heavy coursework, the weighty ideals of dedicating herself to the people, and the eager expectations of those around her.

These pressures never disappeared; they only grew heavier, eventually becoming like a second skin, inseparable from her.

If not for her mother's presence by her side, soothing her weary soul with her gentle, profound voice, telling her one ancient folktale after another during those sleepless nights,

Perhaps she wouldn't be the way she is now—

Of course, Bronya wasn't dissatisfied with this identity, just like the stories her mother told, which didn't always have happy endings.

Even though their conclusions weren't perfect, the girl found herself fond of them.

Was this due to some innate nature, or was it because children's naive fantasies were too difficult to realize, forcing them to accept reality? No one could say.

Gradually, the swing's momentum slowed, and Venti stepped off, turning to look at Bronya, who was lost in reminiscence.

"Actually, before bringing you here, I hadn't expected to encounter so many unexpected things..."

He admitted.

"Originally, I just wanted you to take a simple trip, even if you didn't see too much of the harsh side of the lower district. As long as you knew that many people here were still persevering, I thought your nature wouldn't allow you to stand idly by."

At this point, Venti showed a slightly troubled expression.

"I just didn't expect to run into so many deviations from the plan. I guess I'm really not cut out for this kind of thing."

The wind is free and unbound, carefree and untroubled, never blowing in just one direction.

But plans are most vulnerable to disruptions, and they really don't suit him.

Hearing Venti's helpless words, Bronya could feel the previous barriers and suspicions between them gradually melting away, replaced by an unspoken sense of trust.

In fact, she could also tell that when Venti brought her to the lower district, there had been some kind of underlying intention.

But as she became more involved, he began to "go with the flow," leaving more of the decision-making to her.

"So, do you regret bringing me here?"

For some reason, Bronya uttered this teasing remark.

This made Venti's eyes crinkle with laughter as he playfully replied, "Not at all. I believe that no matter sooner or later, as long as you don't want to remain stuck in that desperate situation, you'll eventually reach this place.

To use a metaphor, it's like the woman in the story who firmly believed in fate. This is also your fate, Bronya—"

"Fate... that's a bit unexpected. Venti has always emphasized freedom and such."

Bronya, feeling a completely different state of mind compared to before they descended, spoke with some emotion.

"That's because from the moment you decided to come down with me, your previously unchanging fate had already shifted.

What kind of scenery we'll see, what kind of people we'll meet, and what stories will be told—these are all things I look forward to and anticipate."

The boy's eyes held a kind of beauty that she herself did not possess.

Bronya didn't ask why it was her, why he did this, or how he knew about this heavily guarded secret from her past. These questions had already been answered during their journey.

However, she still felt a slight regret as the journey neared its end.

This emotion was also caught by him, and he smiled leisurely, gazing at the town below.

"Bronya, do you want to see what it's like for birds to soar?"

The girl, born within the great walls, who had never seen the magnificent sights of the outside world or experienced its beauty, was momentarily stunned.

After a while, she nodded woodenly, clumsily expressing her thoughts.

"Will that day come?"

"Of course. Although I've seen it many times before, if it's with you, even the familiar scenery might take on a different appearance."

The bard of the wind playfully winked, his voice as soft as the evening breeze.

"My friend, won't you come with me?"