Vol 2 Chapter 25: Wasteland
In the dead of night, the moon hung high in a sparse starry sky. The lights of the city dimd, and a thick, inky darkness blanketed the earth.
Beyond the city limits, there was nothing but silence. In the vast fields and forests, only the occasional small creature stirred.
This was the Wasteland—the blank space between human cities, untouched and unreachable by civilization.
Blank did not an empty. It ant inaccessible—deliberately left untouched. No one knew how long one could survive in the Wasteland, because almost no one who entered had ever returned.
Over ti, Wasteland even beca a scare word used on disobedient children. Many parents would bluff with threats like “Keep it up and I’ll throw you into the Wasteland,” and it worked like a charm. Generations grew up under warnings like these, firmly believing the Wasteland was dangerous and best avoided.
Still, human curiosity was boundless. As information networks grew, more and more people beca obsessed with exploring the Wasteland. So even chased internet clout by venturing in for livestreams or challenges.
But most of them disappeared, swallowed by the Wasteland—adding more mystery and dread to the legend.
To keep its dangers at bay, people built towering protective barriers around the cities and established landship corridors between them. These transit lanes were the cities' lifelines—arteries of civilization that carried people, goods, and information between one urban hub and the next.
And sohow, as long as those barriers stood, the cities remained safe. People continued their lives in peace, almost as if the Wasteland beyond had nothing to do with them.
So no one noticed the thin smoke rising from the desolate Wasteland just beyond the city.
A lonely desert, a column of smoke, a waning moon, fading embers.
A slim silhouette sat curled beside a campfire, arms wrapped around her knees, staring straight at Fangting beneath the barrier.
The crackling of firewood was the only sound. Flas flickered, marking the passage of ti, but the figure remained motionless—like a statue, lifeless.
A black-robed figure.
To call it a robe might not be accurate, because unlike the sleek uniforms of Black Cinders Dawn, this was a tattered, worn black daoist robe.
The hem was frayed, as if torn by force. The top half didn’t fit well, barely held together by a makeshift belt at the waist.
Inside the robe was a young woman—barely an adult, maybe eighteen or nineteen.
She sat quietly in the Wasteland’s night, breathing in a rhythm that seed to carry a strange resonance. Her breath ford pale mist that swirled around the firelight, forming a space that felt almost otherworldly within a three-foot radius.
Her slightly lifted eyes caught the glow of the fire, illuminating a striking pair of heterochromatic irises—swirling slowly with hues of gray-black and silver-white, like a pair of yin-yang fish swimming in her gaze.
On the back of her hand was a cinnabar-red tattoo, depicting a long-tailed, long-winged hawk. The lines were simple, but vivid—so lifelike it looked ready to soar into the sky.
The girl stared at Fangting for a long while before finally closing her eyes. The yin-yang fish in her pupils stilled, the breath of mystical energy faded, and when she opened her eyes again, they were just plain dark eyes.
“There's barely any Ravager magic left.”
She murmured to herself, “Looks like I was too late. The remaining Apostles are already done for.”
“—Not like we have to save them.”
Another voice echoed from the darkness beside her. “It was just a deal between the Leader and those Apostles. If we succeed, great. If not, oh well. It’s their business, not ours.”
As the voice faded, a slender black cat erged from the shadows, settling beside her at the campfire. It arched its back, lazily stretching.
“Don’t get it twisted. We have one goal—recover the Beast Core left behind by Moth as fast as possible.”
It turned to the girl, slit pupils narrowing. “As long as we get the Core, everything else is secondary.”
“Even what the Leader specifically told ?”
The girl asked without looking over. “She said, if possible, bring two people with .”
“Two people?” The black cat seed surprised.
“A girl nad Bai Jingxuan, and… Chrysoberyl.”
She hesitated before saying the second na. “Didn’t the Vice Leader tell you? Chrysoberyl was there too.”
“…That’s more of a ‘try if you can’ thing.”
The black cat replied. “Chrysoberyl’s been seriously injured for years, but she clearly still has so power left. Sparrow got captured in Fangting. Moth died there. And the Magical Armor shown in those online videos? Almost certainly her doing.”
“Sparrow, huh… if she’s been handed over to the Investigation Bureau, then I doubt she’s coming back. Guess that last eting really was goodbye.”
The girl looked faintly wistful. “But it’s fine. She lost fair and square. That’s a clean ending.”
“Wasn’t she your direct subordinate?”
The black cat was puzzled. “Even if she was a bit rebellious, aren’t you being a bit too detached?”
“We walk the path of seekers—solitary and self-reliant. We’re not children learning to walk under parental care.”
The girl said calmly, “The path of enlightennt is filled with hardship, trials, and catastrophe. If you can’t overco them, then that’s just fate.”
“You really okay with thinking like that already?”
The cat said, “Chrysoberyl’s no easy opponent.”
“…Doesn’t matter.”
The girl lowered her gaze. A trace of life finally returned to her expression. “If she’s strong, all the better. I’m looking forward to facing her while she still has power. Win or lose, there’s value in the battle. I don’t enjoy crushing the weak.”
“You really need to fix that quirk. A fight is a fight—it’s not so showcase for martial honor. You’re way too soft on your opponents.”
The cat sighed in a very human-like way. “Enough chatter. Go sleep. I’ll take the next watch.”
It turned its gaze out toward the endless Wasteland. With the shift, a pair of delicate wings unfolded from its back—marking its true identity: a fairy.
“Only two hours—is that enough?”
The girl tilted her head. “You haven’t slept all day. Isn’t that like… an all-nighter for a cat?”
“I’m a fairy, not a real cat.”
The black cat fairy flicked its tail. “And you—don’t treat like so pet either.”
“A black cat calling ‘Black Cat,’ huh?”
The girl smiled faintly. “Is that… a cold joke?”
“If you know it’s cold, don’t waste ti telling it.”
The cat shot her a look. “Sleep. We’ve still got a long way to Fangting tomorrow.”
“Alright. I’m sleeping.”
The girl said no more. She curled up by the fire, wrapped her robe tightly around herself, and gazed at the fairy with calm, black eyes.
“Thank you, Semi.”
“Sleep.”
The fairy turned its head again, eyes fixed on the distant Wasteland, and softly whispered the girl’s na:
“Yuan.”
Morning.
Veronica stepped into the kitchen from her bedroom, adjusted her clothes, and grabbed her arm sleeves from the hook by the door. She was about to start preparing breakfast when she slled sothing cooking—rice porridge bubbling gently on the stove.
Peeking in, she saw a small pink puppy fairy busy at the stove. Despite her tiny fra, she expertly handled kitchen tools much larger than herself.
“Nini?”
Veronica blinked. “Why are you still making breakfast? Didn’t I tell you it was my turn today?”
“No need to trouble Lady Chrysoberyl with chores.”
Nini looked over at her. “Besides, today might be my last ti cooking for everyone.”
That woke Veronica right up. She paused, then quickly caught on.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. The Kingdom finally contacted last night. I’ve been summoned back for observation and training until my next assignnt.”
Nini lowered the fla and bowed slightly in midair. “I’m expected to leave today. Thank you all for the care you’ve shown during my ti here.”
“You don’t need to be so formal. In fact, it’s we who’ve been cared for by you.”
Veronica shook her head. “So this ans Moko is officially becoming Fangting’s Seeder now?”
“That’s correct.”
Nini nodded. “Once I’m gone, the Kingdom will send soone with Moko’s formal appointnt letter and the tools she’ll need—like her Magic Mirror. It also ans this failed Seeder can finally step away from the city.”
“That part wasn’t your fault.”
Veronica’s voice softened. “You were a victim in all this. You don’t need to take on all the bla.”
“But if I hadn’t been in Fangting—if not for you, Lady Chrysoberyl—this city might’ve fallen due to my mistakes.”
Nini sighed. “I know you’re trying to comfort , but as Seeders, we carry a heavy burden. I’ve been trained to accept responsibility. I just… need ti to reflect.”
“…As you wish.”
Veronica nodded. “Then I won’t push it. Safe travels.”
“Thank you. This ti, the return trip should be smooth. But there’s one thing I’d like to ask of you—regarding Moko.”
Nini smiled. “I’ve spent the past few days trying to discipline and teach her. But it’s only been a short ti—she still has much to learn. I hope you can be patient with her. Not in tolerating mischief, of course, but at least teach her when she’s wrong. Give her guidance. Because…”
“Because she’s not really a Seeder, right?”
Veronica finished for her, arms crossed, face calm. “It’s not just that she’s inexperienced. She’s never even trained as one. She’s fundantally not from your world.”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
Nini looked a bit helpless. “Moko is a fairy from the Garden. Under the original plan, her future role was to beco a Gardener, not a Seeder.”
“I figured as much.”
Veronica nodded. “She knows all about fairy lore, but nothing about Magical Girl basics. Knows a bit about the Kingdom, but nothing about the Material World. She could only have grown up in the Garden.”
“Exactly.”
Nini explained, “Moko’s not a bad kid. Aside from being playful, she craves recognition. If others accept her, she’s more than willing to learn and work hard. I just hope you’ll give her that chance.”
“I’m not the kind to be harsh with a fairy. I’ve seen plenty of unreliable ones.”
Veronica crossed her arms again. “But what’s your relationship with her? Why did she leave the Garden just to co here for you?”
“Our relationship? Hmm… there’s no such thing as blood ties between fairies, but we’re kind of like sisters.”
Nini tilted her head in thought. “We were both born from the Garden’s magic source, developed sentience over ti, and were close companions since childhood.”
“But even among fairies—who generally mature late—Moko was especially slow to grow. While the rest of us left the Garden for work, she stayed behind, carefree as ever.”
“And… though I can’t go into detail, her status in the Garden is rather special. She’s different from the rest of us—treated with more indulgence. The Grand Fairy never really disciplined her, which is probably why she’s so… loud.”
“After I left for Seeder training, we still stayed friends. We hung out often.”
“Then I got assigned to Fangting. When I left, I said goodbye and told her: if you miss , co visit.”
At this, Nini looked complicated. “I didn’t expect her to take that so literally. When she couldn’t contact for two years, she really ca to Fangting. Didn’t even tell the Grand Fairy. Basically snuck out of the Garden to find .”
“…Which, in a way, ended up saving you, right?”
Veronica narrowed her eyes. “If she hadn’t impulsively co to Fangting, none of this would’ve happened. She caused trouble—but she also kickstarted everything.”
“So, yes, she made mistakes. But she also accidentally did sothing right. Just going by contributions, I wouldn’t be hard on her.”
“Magical Girls need to grow. So do fairies. And Seeders are part of the Magical Girl Squad, too—supporting each other is natural.”
She looked seriously at Nini. “Does that answer what you needed to hear?”
“Yes.”
Nini finally smiled in relief and bowed once again. “If you can say that… then I can leave in peace.”
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