Yelena dared not stop, running forward with all her might.
She ran until the sun set, until her legs could no longer move.
"Yelena, it's alright, they won't catch up to us."
Talulah's body swayed slightly. She slowly leaned against a nearby tree and slid down the trunk to sit.
Yelena was somewhat dazed, recalling the events from before; the charred appearance still lingered in her mind.
She couldn't help but look at her hands. Her gloves were still pristine white, yet they had just taken a life, like extinguishing a flickering candle in the wind.
Life was so fragile, so easily extinguished.
She took off the gloves she had always worn.
Perhaps because it was a gift from the Assistant, even after ten years, it showed no wear. It was warm; even the cold wind couldn't penetrate it, but it was also truly cold, cold enough to take a life in an instant.
Just like her father and mother, who suddenly passed away one night without her knowing when.
Talulah regained a little strength, but the mineral sickness still burned within her like a flame. Yet, she opened her eyes and looked at Yelena.
The black deer stood in the wind and snow, staring absently at her hands with her striking eyes.
In Talulah's memory, from the time she was brought to the Duke's Mansion and lived with Yelena for nine years, Yelena had never taken off those beautiful, jewel-encrusted gloves in front of her. The gems were clear and beautiful, unlike anything mundane, especially when worn on Yelena's hands, as blue as her eyes.
But now the gloves had been removed, revealing Yelena's somewhat thin, distinct-knuckled hands.
Yet, Yelena allowed the cold wind to bite at them.
Talulah suddenly sobered up, standing up somewhat flustered, and asked, "Yelena, what are you doing?" She quickly ran to Yelena, taking her hands in her own to warm them.
The Red Dragon's hands were warm, as was her blood.
Yelena was a little stunned. Her eyes left her hands and looked at Talulah. Her sapphire blue eyes held a hint of sadness, a lament from life itself.
"Miss..." Her hands trembled.
"Yelena, it's okay. They were just Koschei's subordinates. The blood of the Infected on their hands can't be washed clean, and if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have escaped either." Talulah weakly comforted Yelena.
Yelena lowered her head and was silent for a moment, then seemed to understand something.
"I understand, Miss."
Yelena put her gloves back on and smiled, a reassuring smile.
But the person in front of her didn't respond, only slowly fell towards her.
"Miss!"
Yelena supported her, but she felt a warm flow from Talulah's waist.
Yelena looked at Talulah's waist, where there was a fresh pool of blood and a crossbow bolt.
Perhaps some careless person, in their panic, had grabbed the wrong weapon or loaded the wrong ammunition, and a crossbow bolt had been mixed in with the crossbow bolts. It had fortunately passed through the lightning's pull and, under the cover of the explosive dust, struck Talulah.
And the Red Dragon's inherent robust physique prevented it from taking effect immediately.
But the mineral sickness also chose this moment to act up.
"Miss! Miss! Talulah!"
Talulah heard Yelena calling her name with a choked voice and felt her body being lifted. She wanted to stand up but couldn't even open her eyes. She could only see endless darkness spreading towards her.
Yelena wanted to hold her, but at that moment, exhaustion surged uncontrollably.
Yelena seemed to hear the wailing from her body.
She couldn't hold on and was instead pressed to the ground by Talulah. Yelena had never thought Talulah was so heavy.
No.
No.
I can't fall asleep, I can't, Miss... I must, I must... stand... up.
Ugh...
Her body suddenly fell, and in Yelena's eyes, only the pitch-black sky and the swirling snow were reflected.
Somehow, Yelena remembered a short poem she had read somewhere, describing the snow as brilliant... He must have never been to Ursus.
But I'm really so sleepy.
Yelena slowly closed her eyes, her vision fading, ringing echoing in her ears.
But I can't fall asleep.
Zzz—
Sparks of electricity burst in her hands.
A stinging pain began to spread, and her senses began to return.
At this moment, the gloves flashed with a brilliant blue magical glow.
Originium roared and heated up within Yelena's body like an engine, and she seemed to regain her strength.
Yelena struggled to prop herself up and lifted Talulah.
That night was the most unforgettable night for Yelena, probably even more so than meeting Amiya later on.
She carried Talulah on her back, walking through the forest again and again, finally reaching a small valley where there was a village.
Filled with hope, Yelena knocked on a door, but before it could open, her vision began to darken.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, you old drunkard, don't sleep! There are two people outside, covered in blood. And a knife, such a big one!"
"I'll get the axe..."
"They seem to have fainted, poor children."
Yelena seemed to hear the creak of the door opening, heard an old man's flustered words. She tried hard to open her eyes.
She thought she saw her mother, just like on that night 27 years ago, at the door of a couple's home.
Yelena overcame the pain in her body, trying to prop herself up with her arms.
"She moved, Grandpa."
"Oh, old woman, don't talk..."
Yelena failed. Her arms were numb, and her vision was blurry, but she could feel some light. She instinctively grabbed Talulah's arm and pulled her in front of the two old people.
With a tone of immense desire for survival, almost as if it were the last words of her life, she said:
"Save her."