My eyes slowly widened.
Even if others didn’t know, Sister Siwei must have known.
Brother Gu Yu had told us that as long as you uttered the words “bet your life” to any “Zodiac,” failure would turn you into a “wanderer” in this place.
“Leading thousands of people… to bet their lives against the ‘Divine Dragon’…” I murmured, “Why…?”
“Because of ‘faith,'” the long-haired sister replied. “People in this world are willing to die for their ‘faith,’ even if it’s false. She was like that, and so were those who followed her. The only difference was the ‘faith’ they pursued.”
“Faith…?”
“Little brother, the most powerful force in this place is ‘faith.'” She reached out and gripped my shoulder, as if comforting me. “As long as you have enough ‘faith,’ it can help you achieve anything.”
But I don’t want *anything*—I want my sister back.
“Your sister had enough powerful ‘faith’ to do all this for you,” she said softly. “In her heart, you were a true hero, worthy of her sacrifice. But she deceived thousands into vanishing, and she herself wanted to stay behind to atone.”
“‘Karma,’ let me go,” I said. “I don’t want to be controlled by others… I want to choose my own outcome… I’ve been controlled for over a decade… This time, I want to decide for myself.”
“No,” she shook her head, her expression sorrowful. “I promised that girl I’d keep you here for an hour. If you leave, I’ll have failed her.”
“But—” My teeth clenched, my entire body trembling. “Do you have any idea what my sister means to me…?”
“I can imagine, but I really can’t let you go.” The long-haired woman sighed, her scent tinged with sorrow. “Child, close your eyes. It’ll be over soon. I came all this way—if I don’t fulfill my duty, my journey would be meaningless.”
“‘Karma’… You don’t understand. I’ve spent more time with her than with my own family… She’s the flesh and blood grown into me, the light in my heart, the swallow by my side… You can’t do this to me…”
“Flesh fades, light dims, and what of the swallow?” the woman asked. “Whether you admit it or not, this is the best ending for you two. Your ‘karma’ was sealed the moment you met.”
I stood there, shaking violently, tears streaming down my face.
She left the others in the room so I could escape. She spared those who could produce food so I could survive.
From beginning to end, she was thinking of me… No wonder she always carried such a heavy scent.
Her lie was enormous… She became the “Divine Maiden” to kill an entire city, ascended to that throne for *me*.
“‘Karma’…” I choked out, “Fifty minutes.”
“What?”
“Let me go after fifty minutes…” I turned away, tears streaking my face. “Give me ten minutes to say goodbye to my sister… Please?”
“That—”
“I’m begging you, just ten minutes…”
“Child, not everything in this world can go as you wish,” the long-haired woman said. “You should know that by now.”
“I’m begging you… I’m really begging you…” My heart ached so much I could barely speak. “I didn’t talk to her last night… I didn’t know it was my last chance!! I don’t want to say goodbye like this! Let me say a proper farewell… Please… Just ten minutes…”
I’d never been this selfish in my life, but if I didn’t act selfish now, I’d lose everything.
Adults always said obedience would grant me everything, yet all I’d ever done was obey, and still, I lost everything.
The woman’s expression softened slightly before she sighed deeply. “Child, saying goodbye… will only leave you with a wound that will never heal. The same goes for her… She wouldn’t want you to see her die in agony.”
“Just a few words…” I sobbed. “I have so much to tell her… Let me see her one last time…”
After a long silence, she nodded slowly. “Fine. Ten minutes. But by the time you arrive… it might already be too late.”
“It doesn’t matter!!” I shouted. “It doesn’t matter—I *will* see her!”
“Then… think carefully about what you want to say.”
I nodded frantically, my mind racing—*Ten minutes… What can I say in ten minutes?*
Ten minutes should be long enough… I could say so much.
Fragments of the past flashed before me.
I remembered the first time we met, when she asked, *”How did such a tiny baby become a hero?”*
I remembered her patting my head, saying, *”Wherever the Happy Prince is, the swallow follows. They’ve always been together.”*
I remembered her lying on the cold floor, whispering, *”I’ve found a way to free us both.”*
From the very beginning, she protected me… But what did I ever give her in return? If she’d never met me, she wouldn’t be in this state now.
I *had* to tell her so many things… I had to say everything I could think of—*”I’m sorry,”* and *”Thank you.”*
I’d remember her forever. I’d tell everyone I met about the amazing sister I once had, how I loved her as much as my own parents.
But my mind was in chaos. For the next while, I couldn’t think—I just wailed.
Twelve years together, and all I got was ten final minutes.
I’d never stood crying in the streets of this “prison” before. The pain was unbearable. My sobs echoed through the empty city, as if the entire place had been drenched in bitter saltwater.
In the real world or this “prison,” all partings could be reunited… But this time was different. I was losing my sister forever.
After what felt like an eternity, the woman spoke: “Go, child.”
My legs regained feeling, and I sprinted forward like my life depended on it. Every second I ran faster was another second I could spend with her.
The wind tore at my tear-streaked face, scattering the droplets into the air, but I didn’t care—I was racing against time.
Against the wind. Against a life. Against the twelve years I’d lived.
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