Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Silent Comfort

Many years ago, that memory of a family was accompanied by unpleasant memories. Ever since childhood, her parents seemed to always quarrel, no matter if it was about daily necessities or trivial matters of life, they could become the fuse for arguments.

The child, unsure of how to deal with such a situation, could only fearfully hide in a corner, concealing their presence to avoid being affected. Thus, this child learned to be sensible at a very young age, restraining their childish whims. They wouldn’t run around aimlessly, wouldn’t cause trouble for their mother, and would quietly stay at home, playing with their building blocks.

However, this calm was only temporary. With the father away at work, the mother became stricter towards the child, making academic performance the sole criterion for everything. Not only did they have to complete the teacher’s assignments, but also write various supplementary books. Moreover, the mother frequently called the school teachers to inquire about the child’s performance, and if there were any shortcomings, she would harshly interrogate them.

Seeing the mother’s wide eyes, the child could only fearfully put down the remote control and obediently return to their room to study. Days passed like this, unable to play freely because they feared the child might go to the arcade. Gradually, the child had few friends at school, becoming introverted and rarely speaking to others.

But even this did not satisfy the mother; she began to blame the child, asking why they didn’t make more friends, why they were always so silent, as if speaking was like cutting their tongue.

The child remained silent, not knowing how to refute, perhaps they really were inferior to others. Seeing the lively and cheerful appearances of their friends, this child felt somewhat inferior.

The mother’s demands for academic performance became even stricter. If she saw the child not studying at home, she would scold them, saying, “I work so hard every day, all for you. Can’t you be like someone else’s child, who is both studious and helpful? You’re as useless as a pig.”

There seemed to be no breathing space in life, with a mother who had extreme control over every aspect.

Until one day, the child borrowed a comic book from a classmate, and a door to imagination quietly opened. From various comics like “Doraemon,” “Old Master Fung,” “Divine Weapons,” “Dragon Ball,” “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and “Heaven is Red River”…

The comic books from the small bookstore next to the school were all borrowed. After finishing the comics, they quickly moved on to novels, entering a broader world of imagination: “Record of the Search for Spirits,” “Star and Moon Legend,” “Vague Journey,” “Strange Heroes,” “Wind and Graceful Objects,” and so on.

With those fresh and magical words, entering an incredible country, experiencing heart-stopping adventures alongside the protagonist, achieving great feats. Thus, external pressures were vented in the fantasy world, making life seem much more endearing, and the shadows in their heart lightened considerably.

From then on, this child became obsessed with reading novels, and later, watching animations as well. It could be said that these mental nourishments allowed them to endure the discomforts of life, and those beautiful things ultimately prevented them from taking a skewed path, eventually becoming a normal and kind person.

After high school, this child went far away to attend university, and at that moment, life finally bloomed freely.

—

“Lacy, Lacy,” Rachel’s voice echoed in her ear, and Lolan Hill came back to reality.

“Sorry, I just recalled something from a long time ago.”

“Lacy, what did you remember?” Rachel asked curiously.

“Probably about avoiding the pressure from my parents,” the young lady smiled nostalgically.

“Rachel, you can discuss with your family or your fiancé, maybe go to Emanas for a few years of schooling before getting married,” Lolan suggested.

Emanas, located in the center of the continent, atop the world, was the permanent neutral ground of the Ivar World, accepting all races equally. With nine extraordinary Sequences and countless advancement routes, it was the legendary school that countless talented youths aspired to. Since the Third Era, it had been a living legend, established after the ‘Chaos War.’

In the 210th year of the Third Era, the Chaos Disaster erupted worldwide, with the shadow from another world invading the Ivar World. At that time, nearly sixty percent of the land on the Western Continent was lost, and the remaining races had to set aside their prejudices and unite to fight back.

The allied forces guarded the mountains near Emanas, engaging in a prolonged tug-of-war battle lasting twenty years. During this period, numerous heroes emerged, and after the war’s victory, the strong figures of each race and each extraordinary Sequence left their legacies in Emanas, with outstanding individuals serving as sages.

The sages advocated the establishment of Emanas Academy, with four major schools guarding the four directions, which were originally ancient battlefields. This history was used to teach students, nurturing the next generation of extraordinary Sequences for this world and preparing for the next Chaos War.

It was also currently the place where the most extraordinary combat power gathered in the Ivar World, with records of almost all advancement routes available, truly deserving the title of the world’s top academy.

“Emanas,” Rachel gazed at the azure sky, muttering to herself.

“I want to go, but I’m also afraid of not being accepted.” After emotional release, rationality returned to Rachel’s mind. The admission standards for Emanas were extremely high, and not everyone could get in.

Lolan placed her hand on Rachel’s hand, “Even if you’re afraid, you should still try. At least, you won’t regret it, right?”

“Thank you,” Rachel seemed touched, blinking her slightly moist eyes.

“Lacy, you’re the first person to encourage and support me.”

“Father, brother, they always say I’m unrealistic, telling me to marry and settle down, never caring about my own thoughts. Perhaps they think they’re doing it for my good, but I only feel misunderstood and untrusted.” The more Rachel spoke, the more her eyes blinked, struggling to hold back her tears.

Lacy, also Lolan Hill, stood up and gently stroked Rachel’s back, comforting her without uttering a word.

She wouldn’t say sympathetic words or that everyone feels the same. Her past experiences taught her that there was no such thing as true empathy in the world, never expecting anyone to fully understand her pain. Occasionally bursting into tears and crying were not something everyone could share.

So, when seeing someone cry, she would silently accompany them, saying nothing until they gradually released their emotions. She would only be a silent listener rather than a domineering comforter, perhaps this was also a form of gentleness.

—

(End of Chapter)