Collapse of iron, but I am the Supreme Strange

"No, no."

An Yi interrupted San Yueqi's words.

"Well?"

Amid the puzzled gazes of the crowd, An Yi set his eyes on the building - it was no longer the abandoned orphanage, but a several-story building with a slightly Gothic style. There was a circular skylight on its sloping roof, and the pattern of the skylight was exactly the same as the "Eye of Agamotto" on An Yi's chest.

"I turned the orphanage into a temple," An Yi said. "This temple can provide shelter for the entire planet and protect it from invasion by other forces."

An Yi turned around and looked at Clara: "I hope you will become the guardian of the temple."

"But...Can't Clara follow Teacher An Yi?"

"The temple must be guarded."

"Does this place have to have a temple?" Xing asked, "Why not just tear it down?"

An Yi shook his head helplessly at Xing.

"Although Yalilo VI is no longer in danger of survival, the threats it will face in the future are likely to come from outer space."

This remark made Bronya and Jeppard concerned. They looked at each other and then focused their attention on An Yi.

"Lord An Yi, what you mean is..."

"It's okay, Bronya," Anyi said, "The temple exists for this purpose, so Clara, you——"

“No…I don’t want it!”

Clara suddenly grabbed An Yi's wrist and pulled it slightly: "I don't want to be separated from the teacher!"

"..."

An Yi looked at Clara and couldn't help but reach out and touch her head.

"That's not something my lovely Clara would say."

"...I...I don't want to not see the teacher anymore."

"Don't make it sound like I'm dying. It's not like I'll never come back." An Yi laughed. "Besides, you're a magician, Clara. Isn't crossing the universe just a matter of a moment for you?"

"I--"

"If time permits, Clara, it's okay for me to come back to see you every day. Is that okay?"

Clara opened her mouth as if to say something, but the words were stuck in her throat.

The teacher is right. I can obviously go to see him often, but why... I feel so uncomfortable when I think about being separated from the teacher?

"I... I also want to go to a far, far away place like Teacher An Yi and have adventures in different worlds." Clara said with her head down.

"There will be a chance in the future," An Yi said, "Before that, Clara, you have to grow up first."

"But I won't be accompanying Teacher An Yi at that time!"

Clara shouted.

"So what?" An Yi asked, "The meaning of exploration does not lie in who your companions are. Even if you are alone, you can still see a lot of the world. The companions you travel with cannot change the meaning of the journey, Clara—"

"No, that's not right!" Clara interrupted An Yi: "If it's not with Teacher An Yi, then none of this is worth doing!"

"Clara."

An Yi looked into the girl's eyes: "...Don't say that. Please, just think of it as for me, for you, and for everyone in Beloberg...Are you willing to shoulder this responsibility?"

Clara's eyes trembled, she slowly let go of An Yi's hand and looked down at the ground.

Why? Do you want to go to a farther place, a newer world, just for more interesting experiences?

Why do I feel so lost after leaving my teacher?

Clara asked herself in her heart.

After four years of living together, is it true that no emotion has taken root in our hearts?

Clara asked herself.

I want to... convey this feeling to the teacher.

Then Clara spoke.

"I...will—"

Clara said after taking a deep breath.

"But...Teacher An Yi."

"Ok?"

“I made this decision not just because of the people of Belloberg.”

Clara's heart was pounding. Before she said goodbye to her teacher, she finally made up her mind.

No matter where the teacher will go in the future, Clara wants him to know that she will always care about him in Belloberg.

The girl placed her hands on her chest, raised her head and looked into An Yi's eyes.

"Teacher An Yi, I like you."

"?!"

After Clara said this, everyone present widened their eyes.

San Yueqi felt as if she smelled gossip. She opened her mouth wide and looked at An Yi, curious about how he would react.

"For the teacher, I am willing to do anything... If there is no teacher, Clara must still be living in the mechanical settlement! The existence of the teacher is the meaning of Clara's life - as long as the teacher needs, Clara is willing to stay in the temple and protect Beloberg for the teacher."

Clara's face was red, she looked at An Yi, but An Yi fell into thoughts of mediation because of Clara's words.

"I like you."

An Yi felt that this sentence brought back an inexplicable memory - a vague memory that seemed to have no relevance to his memory.

I think I've said this to people as well.

But...who is it?

An Yi searched his memory but found nothing.

There was a vague figure, a young girl, and a long, long time ago, I said the same words to her.

"I like you."

After saying this...what exactly happened?

It was as if fragments of memory were cutting through his thoughts. The girl's figure was intertwined in the light and shadow, becoming increasingly unclear. So he took a deep breath and simply stopped thinking about it, instead returning his gaze to Clara.

Clara should have been a shy and introverted child, but here, with so many people from the upper and lower classes gathered together, she was able to muster up the courage to say these words to me. I must give her an answer no matter what.

He opened his hands and smiled helplessly at Clara.

"Want a hug?"

Clara didn't say anything, but threw herself into An Yi's arms.

"Hmm?"

Xing and Sanyueqi stared at Clara and An Yi, wondering what An Yi would say.

An Yi's expression was somewhat solemn.

"Clara," An Yi said to her, "I'm sorry, your feelings... I don't know how to respond."

Clara buried her head in An Yi's chest, said nothing, and just took a deep breath.

"The people I once loved, and the people who loved me, have all turned to ashes and disappeared..." An Yi reached out and touched Clara's head, his fingers running through the girl's white hair.

"I feel like I no longer have the ability to fall in love with someone," An Yi said, "I'm sorry, Clara, my dear student, I..."

"...It's okay, Teacher Anyi," Clara let go of her hand and looked up at An Yi: "I don't want to get your affirmation."

Clara's hair fluttered slightly in the sea breeze.

"I just want to convey my feelings to Teacher An Yi's heart...that's all."

An Yi nodded and smiled bitterly.

He turned around and looked at the train crew members behind him.

"An Yi!" Xing suddenly stopped, looked at An Yi and spoke loudly.

"I like you too!"

"puff--"

Xingyu's words were so shocking that Sanyueqi almost choked on his saliva.

Clara, who had just confessed her love, stood there in a daze, and even An Yi had a confused expression on his face.

"I like you so much!" Xing shouted, "So, An Yi, can you teach me magic?"

"..."

After hearing what Xing said next, Clara took a deep breath, her mood fluctuating so much that she was almost scared to death.

"You really are..." An Yi didn't know how to respond.

Xing blinked at March Seventh, and March Seventh also said "Oh" as if he suddenly realized something.

"An Yi!" San Yue Qi shouted, "I like you a lot, too! Remember to take me with you when you teach magic!"

"Stop messing around, both of you." An Yi sighed, "Look at Dan Heng, he doesn't--"

"An Yi," Dan Heng also spoke up: "Actually, I also -"

"Stop, stop, stop, stop!" An Yi made a pause gesture and said speechlessly:

"Oh my god...it's time to go! Let's get back to the train!"

A portal made of sparks opened in the open space, and the people who came to see him off stood up straight.

"Bon voyage, Lord An Yi."

"Belloberg always welcomes everyone in the train crew to visit again."

Bronya and Jeppard saluted.

"An Yi...everyone..." Natasha bowed slightly to everyone: "On behalf of the Earth Fire, I would like to thank you all again for everything you have done for Beloberg."

"Remember to come back and visit," Xi'er said, "and remember to tell me about your adventures on other planets."

"I will," An Yi said, "Xi'er, you..."

"Ok?"

"You are very talented. Try to learn some magic from Clara."

"Learn magic? Me, me?" Xier asked, pointing at herself.

"Yes, go read a book in the temple when you have time, and ask Clara if you have any questions."

"Oh! I can!" Xier said excitedly, "I can learn magic too!"

An Yi smiled and shook his head, then followed the other members of the train crew and walked into the portal while waving.

Dan Heng, Xing, and San Yueqi were all teleported back to the train. An Yi came to the portal and retracted his foot.

"Clara," An Yi suddenly turned around and said to the lost girl, "My universe was destroyed a long time ago."

An Yi said: "So for me, the title of "Supreme Sorcerer" has long lost its meaning, but Clara, you are different... From now on, you are the "Supreme Sorcerer" of this universe."

"...!"

Clara listened to An Yi's words, stood up straight, and nodded solemnly.

"Protect this world and don't end up like me." An Yi walked into the portal without looking back: "Even if one day, your enemy will be me, your teacher."

————————————————————

No one will really go there.

Good feeling!

Chapter 128 An Yi's Dream

"Wow——"