Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 91 - 86: Old Realm, New Realm, Confession, Promise
’This girl is a real handful. If I keep pressing her, who knows what other outrageous things she’ll say.’
...
The early morning sun streamed through a gap in the curtains, falling upon Aurora’s face.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Murphy, sitting by her bed.
"Brother?" she called out groggily, her voice still raspy with sleep.
Soon, Aurora was fully awake. She sat up and looked around, bewildered. "Why am I in my bedroom? Wasn’t I supposed to be giving that person a tour of the castle?"
Murphy gently smoothed her slightly tousled golden hair. "You fainted," he said softly. "You were probably just too excited about meeting that person for the first time yesterday and didn’t get enough rest."
"Oh, I see." Aurora rubbed her eyes, seemingly accepting the explanation completely.
Murphy was a little surprised. "You’re not going to question it?"
Aurora looked up at him with a trusting smile. "I know my brother wouldn’t lie to me."
A complex emotion flickered in Murphy’s eyes. He gently patted Aurora’s shoulder but said nothing.
"What about that person?" Aurora asked, as if suddenly remembering.
"They’re gone," Murphy replied calmly. "Knight Terence’s negotiations with Mother went poorly. He left with that person first thing in the morning."
Aurora pouted with a touch of childish indignation. "Hmph. I remember what she said. The next time I see her, I’ll be sure to give her a piece of my mind."
"The next time..." Murphy repeated softly.
"What about the next time?" Aurora asked, sharply picking up on the odd note in his voice.
"It’s nothing." Murphy quickly composed himself and ruffled her hair.
"Oh," Aurora replied obediently, then began to plan enthusiastically. "Brother, can you come to the garden with me today? I want to prune the Snowball Flowers..."
Murphy gazed at the bright morning light outside the window, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.
’The next time we see her... it might be a hundred years from now.’
’But after a hundred years...’
His gaze drifted to Aurora, who was chattering happily beside him. She gestured animatedly, describing the changes she wanted to make in the garden, all while looking at him with expectant eyes. In the morning light, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled.
...
「Three years later.」
The public cemetery on the outskirts of New Wood Town lay shrouded in a gloomy mist.
Simple earthen mounds were scattered densely among the weeds, the dirt on a few new graves still damp.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying plants. In the distance, the mournful caws of crows echoed.
Murphy stood silently before a new grave, holding a black umbrella.
He bent down and gently placed a bouquet of wild Snowball Flowers before the grave. The white petals seemed especially fragile in the gray rain.
Aurora, following behind him, gazed at the simple grave in silence.
She wore a simple, dark gray gown, her golden hair tied in a bun with no adornments.
"Lord Baron!" The old groom, Bart, fell trembling to his knees in the mud. His white hair, damp with mist, clung to his wrinkled forehead. "Thank you for coming to Hank’s funeral. This is truly... truly..."
He was too choked with emotion to speak.
Hank’s youngest son, a man who looked to be in his forties, knelt down as well, his forehead nearly touching the muddy ground. "Thank you, Lord Baron, for attending the funeral of a humble groom. May Oriane forever protect you."
The surrounding farmers and townspeople stood at a distance, whispering among themselves.
In this day and age, it was unheard of for a nobleman to personally attend a commoner’s funeral.
"Rise," Murphy said softly. "Hank served the Duval Clan for most of his life. He has earned this respect."
Aurora stepped forward, her voice soft. "Mother always said that loyal retainers are more precious than the rarest of treasures. Please accept our condolences."
Tears streamed down old Bart’s face as he kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Lordship is merciful, truly merciful..."
Murphy took one last look at the new grave and turned to leave.
Aurora followed silently, oblivious to the mud spattering the hem of her gown.
Once they were out of the cemetery, Aurora could no longer hold back her question. "Brother, why did you attend a commoner’s funeral?"
Murphy gazed at the distant Baron’s Castle, shrouded in mist and rain, his eyes seeming to look into the distance. "Every life that passes reminds me of the cruelty of time. When Leo was killed by a beast in the mountains a while back, I felt it too. He was such a useful man."
"Leo was a loyal follower indeed," Aurora murmured in agreement. "He handled so many things for you, Brother. His health had been failing, so he was planning to become the Steward at Green Shade Manor. I can’t believe he had an accident before he could even leave."
"He was," Murphy said with a sigh. "Leo was so loyal. Years ago, he drew his sword on a groom who’d offended me. And now... he’s gone."
"But I won’t make you that sad, Brother," Aurora said suddenly.
"Why is that?" Murphy asked, turning to look at her.
"I’m twenty-five years younger than you, Brother," Aurora said earnestly. "I’ll live longer than you. I’ll pass on after you do, so you won’t have to be sad."
Murphy couldn’t help but laugh. "What nonsense are you talking? Is that your way of saying you wish I’d die sooner?"
"Of course not," Aurora said, taking his arm, her tone brightening. "I want you to be with me my whole life, right up until the moment I close my eyes for the last time."
Murphy knew she was just trying to joke around and dispel his melancholy mood.
He smiled and shook his head. "More nonsense."
But deep in his heart, her words echoed softly.
’A lifetime?’
