Kallen clutched the glaringly green hat in her hand, standing rooted to the spot, her chest heaving violently. It took her a good while to finally hurl the absurd and strongly suggestive object to the ground, even stomping on it twice with force.
She watched Kael's undisguised tenderness towards Sirin on the monitor screen, her heart a mix of emotions: sourness, helplessness, and a touch of irritation from Otto exposing her feelings.
"Madman... Incomprehensible!" she muttered another curse, then turned and strode out of the Bishop's Office. If she stayed any longer, she feared she wouldn't be able to control herself and would end up fighting Otto—though she'd likely lose.
She walked aimlessly down the vast and ornate corridors of the headquarters, her thoughts involuntarily drifting back to the distant past.
On a bright sunny afternoon, on the grass, she held a carefully woven, yet still somewhat crooked, amulet, and excitedly ran to the young man.
"Brother Kael, look! An amulet I made for you! Wear it, and it will surely keep you safe and sound!"
The young man stopped his training, wiped the sweat from his brow, and took the slightly crude amulet. His eyes held genuine surprise and tenderness as he gently ruffled her hair: "Mm, I see it. Thank you, little Kallen, I like it very much."
That smile, so pure, so warm, seemed capable of dispelling all the world's gloom.
But now... Kallen's steps unconsciously halted. She looked up and realized she had instinctively walked near the headquarters' garden.
And not far away, Kael was holding Sirin's hand, strolling slowly in the afterglow of the setting sun.
He tilted his head slightly, patiently listening to Sirin whisper something, his face bearing the gentle smile from the depths of her memory. Only now, that smile was entirely devoted to the little girl with purple hair and golden eyes.
She truly... still couldn't let go.
Her heart felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing it tightly, the ache almost suffocating her.
She still wanted to say something to him, to ask him if he truly had no memory of the past, to ask him... if he still remembered the little girl who always followed him, calling him "Brother."
But what more could she say?
Otto was right, he remembered nothing. The current him was Kael, the Captain of Schicksal, with a new life and people to protect. Her appearance, her memories, to him, might only be unnecessary trouble and bother.
"Achoo!"
In the garden, Kael suddenly sneezed. He rubbed his nose, looking around with a hint of confusion.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Sirin immediately hugged his arm tightly, looking worried.
"Nothing," Kael smiled, patting her hand reassuringly, "Maybe it's dust, or... it feels like someone is watching us?" His gaze inadvertently swept in Kallen's direction.
Kallen's heart tightened, and she instinctively wanted to hide, but her feet were rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Kael's gaze paused in her direction for a moment, seeming to recognize her. A flicker of surprise appeared on his face, quickly turning into friendly concern: "Oh? Miss Kallen? What are you doing here?"
He walked over, holding Sirin's hand, and seeing the complex emotions not yet fully faded from Kallen's face, as well as her clearly unwell expression, he asked gently, "Although I don't know what's going on, you seem to be in a very strange mood? Did you encounter some trouble?"
His tone was sincere and concerned, as thoughtful as it was in her memories, only in his eyes, there was pure concern for a colleague, nothing more.
Kallen looked at his face, so close to her. Her own reflection appeared in his clear black eyes, yet she could find no trace of the past.
Thousands of words were stuck in her throat, ultimately turning into a silent sigh.
She forced out a somewhat strained smile and shook her head: "N-nothing. I just... remembered some things from before, and got a little lost in thought. I won't disturb your walk."
She almost fled in a hurry, not daring to look at Kael again, afraid that she wouldn't be able to control her emotions and lose her composure in front of him.
Kael watched Kallen's hurried departure, her back carrying a hint of panic and loneliness, and frowned slightly.
Miss Kallen, from their first meeting, had seemed strange. That hesitant look, as if carrying too many stories, always made him feel a little concerned.
"Brother," Sirin gently tugged his finger, looking up with her small face, "That silver-haired auntie... seems very sad?"
"Mm..." Kael withdrew his gaze, ruffled Sirin's hair, "Perhaps. Everyone has their own worries." He temporarily set aside this doubt, took Sirin's hand again, "Let's go, Sirin, it's time for dinner. What do you want to eat today? Brother will make it for you."
"I want Brother's steamed egg!" Sirin's attention was immediately diverted, and she expressed her wish in a soft but clear voice, clinging tightly to Kael, as if he were the only pillar in her entire world.
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