Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 1267 - 53 The Terrifying Freya

Pannis remained silent, unsure whether he didn’t want to answer or couldn’t answer Freya’s question. He just stared at Christo’s statue without a word, as if he were so engrossed in thought it was as if he hadn’t heard at all. However, Freya had not expected an answer either; she just smiled casually and whispered, "You don’t need to answer. Actually, your behavior has already explained everything, hasn’t it? When you find you can’t make every person in the play happy, your choice is to refuse to take part in the performance, even if you’re already in it. You try your best to isolate yourself from the interactions of the characters, striving to become an observer, watching from a detached perspective as the characters experience sadness and joy. That way, even if the people in the play cannot find happiness, you can reassure yourself that none of this is my fault; their sorrow is not my doing."

Pannis did not show any emotion because of Freya’s words; instead, he smiled faintly and shook his head lightly, "It’s not so exaggerated. Everything you said is correct, but the last point, even if I make myself an observer, I still cannot feel at ease. Because I know that no matter how much I dissociate myself, their sadness and melancholy are directly related to me, and that can’t be changed. So no matter how hard I try, it’s impossible to be at peace. Standing on the sidelines, at most, just makes my heart feel a little better."

"Perfectionist, a boring perfectionist," Freya scoffed with a snort, ungracefully curling her lip, mocking, "In all these years of being together, you may have changed a lot on the surface, but your essence has never changed. You’re still the same conceited, even arrogant Kyle. You’re still the one who constantly seeks perfection, only taking action when you have absolute certainty. You still believe you’re like a Deity, capable of bringing happiness to everyone, so when it’s not possible, you simply do nothing. So, Kyle is still Kyle, has never turned into Pannis, and never will."

"Heh, then what do you think I should do?" Pannis toyed with a wildflower underfoot and countered, "Knowing I can’t make any promises, knowing they will never find ultimate happiness through me, and yet foolishly giving them responses, letting them harbor unrealistic hopes, don’t you think that’s highly irresponsible?"

"Why can’t you make any promises?" Freya sneered, "Is it because of that person?"

"Not entirely," Pannis shook his head, frowning, "There are reasons I can’t make promises. It’s just an inevitable result that doesn’t need to be included in the discussion." freewebnσvel.cøm

"Okay, let’s set that aside for the moment. Now, I’d like to ask you, who do you think you are? What responsibilities do you think you have? What responsibilities do they think you have? What do you think they’re pursuing now?" Freya abruptly rose to her feet, stepped closer to Pannis, and peering into his eyes, she fired off a barrage of questions like blasts from a crystal energy cannon, almost as if she knew Pannis wouldn’t have an answer. Taking the initiative, the princess answered her own questions, "They used to be greedy, greedily wanting to monopolize you entirely, wanting to be with you forever. But as time passed, even though they still say the same things, they’ve abandoned those unrealistic fantasies in their hearts. What they seek now is to live happily with you, to joyfully spend every day you are still around. Everyone knows you have your own thoughts and plans you don’t want to share with us. It’s fine; since you don’t want us to know, then we won’t ask, mention or listen. We’re even afraid to know. Everyone just wants to enjoy the happiness of having you around, happy for each day we can. To us, joy and happiness have become so humble and insignificant; we don’t even need your emotional return. All we want is a normal reaction from you, and what have you done? You’re playing dumb. You’re even stingy about giving us the response of a normal person. Are you truly just like your surname suggests, a mere piece of wood?"

From some point in her speech, the princess unknowingly switched from using ’they’ to ’we,’ and not even she herself seemed to notice this subtle shift, and of course, Pannis seemed oblivious as well.

"Unrealistic hopes bring nothing but a false sense of joy, and temporary happiness, though delightful, leaves only everlasting pain when lost, a despair so profound it hurts," Pannis narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth as if roaring like a wild animal, "I’ve already tasted the despair and pain of gaining happiness and then losing it. Do you really want me to lead them into the same situation to experience it all over again?"

"Do you think you can still turn back? Do you think you have the luxury of retreating now?" Freya spread her arms wide, tilting her head back as if standing on a stage, she declared loudly, "Be realistic, Andy. You’ve stirred our hearts, invaded our lives. Your shadow is deeply etched in our souls; even if you leave now, we will still be in pain, still grieve. It will be no different from the very thing you’re trying to avoid."

"Unfortunately, I’m not Andy, you all are not the Semia sisters, and we are definitely not living in the land of ideals," Pannis slowly regained his composure, sighing, "Perhaps, if it can alleviate the pain, even just a little, then it might be worthwhile to pay some price."

"So, the question comes full circle," Freya said with a scoff, "You’re not us, how do you know what we consider worth it? The reality is quite the opposite, we’d rather endure enduring sorrow for a moment of happiness, isn’t that the fate of an adventurer? To fully relish the joy at hand, because who knows whether tomorrow we might face death. Yet what have you done? You won’t even allow us that chance and instead pretend to be considerate of us? Mekaub, is your heart really cast in metal? Can you really be so cruel?"

"I’m not Mekaub, nor have I killed a lover’s father," Pannis completely reverted to his normal state with a twitch at the corner of his mouth, he asked, "And, have you realized yet what exactly you’re expressing? So if you don’t hide behind drama, you’re too embarrassed to speak straightforwardly?"

"Oh? Is that what you think? Fine, we don’t need to hide behind drama," Freya’s eyes gleamed with cunning as she stepped closer, saying directly in front of Pannis, "You want to hear it? Then I’ll tell you, we’ve fallen for you, Catherine, Lina, Vivian, and now even I have fallen for you, are you satisfied with that?"