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墨書 Inktalez
On this brief night, the air was filled with the incessant sound of singing and laughter. Inside the crowded makeshift fortress, Captain Damian declared tonight a night of revelry to celebrate the easing of the conflict. There was an abundance of food and drink, and everyone was immersed in this atmosphere of extreme joy.
However, in stark contrast, Leo's dormitory felt like a different world. The atmosphere in the room was so stifling, and the only light was the faint flicker of a bedside lamp, as if even the light could sense his emotions.
He tightly grasped the photo in his hand, his eyes filled with deep affection and regret. The people in the photo were once his closest comrades - the wolf pack, Iron Fist, and Mike. Their smiles were so bright, as if those days would never end. But now, most of them have permanently left, leaving only photos and memories.
Every success on the battlefield is built on some kind of sacrifice. Leo increasingly realized this, especially after experiencing such intense combat today. The pain and loss in his heart were more intense than any physical injury. They were like an irresistible dark torrent, repeatedly washing over his fragile soul.
He closed his eyes, and the question in his heart was like a nail firmly fixed in his thoughts: "Why am I the one who survived, while they are no longer here?" This question seemed to never find an answer, but it was like a heavy shackle, trapping him in endless self-blame and sorrow.
Suddenly, he felt like a planet abandoned in the cold universe, lonely, lost, and even somewhat desperate. Everything around him, including the festive laughter and singing, became so distant and meaningless. It was as if he had severed all connections with this world, becoming a truly solitary traveler.
The computer on the table emitted a continuous series of reminders, like leaping musical notes, breaking the oppressive atmosphere in the room. The artificial intelligence reported in its cold tone, "You have a video call from Earth, from Grace."
Leo's fingers trembled slightly as he tapped the table, and a hint of imperceptible hesitation appeared on his tense face. He had thought that crossing galaxy would make the distance between him and Grace as distant as heaven and earth, but he hadn't expected the name on the communication screen to touch his nerves so deeply.
"Answer or not?" He struggled in his heart. But in the end, the incessant reminder sound, like the final straw that broke the camel's back, he heavily pressed the answer button.
The call connected, and Grace's face appeared on the screen. As soon as she saw Leo, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and her mouth turned up. "Leo, I saw the interstellar battle report! Four Minnow Star achieved a complete victory, and the insect nest was completely destroyed. You guys did great! Tell me, what's the real situation?"
Leo took a deep breath and forced a smile, "Actually, it's all thanks to the team's effort. We went deep into the insect nest and successfully dropped the nuclear bomb, ensuring the safety of the galaxy."
The stars in Grace's eyes shone even brighter, "You must have done an excellent job. I'm really starting to admire you more and more."
At this moment, Grace suddenly became serious, her eyes showing some inquiry: "Um, how is Mike? Is he also involved in this operation?"
Leo's heart suddenly sank, and he finally understood why he had hesitated to answer this call at the beginning. He was speechless for a moment, avoiding eye contact.
"Leo, what's wrong? What's wrong with Mike?" Grace's voice became increasingly anxious.
Leo avoided Grace's eyes, and for a moment, the air became so heavy, as if every second was passing in endless torment. His voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible, "Grace, about Mike... he..."
Grace's face immediately turned serious, and she urgently asked, "What's wrong? Is Mike okay? Where is he?"
Leo felt like his heart had been heavily hit, he bit his lip and suddenly stood up. "Mike is gone, Grace! He's dead! Right next to me, he died saving me!"
Tears streamed down his face like a flood, and he pounded his fist on the table, causing the whole room to shake. "Damn it! If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have gone to such a dangerous place! I shouldn't have let him go!"
Leo's breathing became extremely rapid, and he continued to shout in agitation, "What is all this? A game? Are we just the sacrificial pawns in the mouths of the Interstellar Federation and the officials, insignificant chess pieces? They don't care about us at all! They don't care about you, they don't care about Mike, and they don't care about me!"
His voice gradually turned into a mournful wail, "Why! Why does it have to be like this!? He shouldn't have died! He had a family, a future, he shouldn't have sacrificed himself for a failure like me!"
Leo's whole body was trembling, as if his soul was being torn apart from within. He covered his face, unable to control his emotions, crying so hard that he could barely breathe.
Grace silently watched on the other side of the screen, her face pale, her eyes filled with pain and indescribable shock. She didn't interrupt him, didn't offer any comforting words, because she knew that this was the reality Leo had to face, a truth so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Finally, Leo sat back in his chair, his breathing still rapid and irregular. He wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, trying hard to calm himself. But as he looked up at Grace again, he knew deep down that in this moment, their world had changed. Some things, some losses, were irreversible. With his eyes, he told Grace that he had already lost too much, yet he couldn't stop more losses from happening.
The silence between the two of them lasted for a few minutes, and the silence almost had a texture, like a thick layer of mist enveloping them. In the room, there was only the sound of Leo's breathing and the faint buzzing of the electronic screen, as if time and space had been severed, making it suffocating.
It was at this moment that Grace smiled, as if recalling something beautiful. "Do you remember when we were at the Earth military academy? At that time, the three of us always managed to find trouble."
Leo raised his head slightly, tears still swirling in his eyes, but a hint of curiosity and longing shone through, longing to grasp onto the disappearing warm memories.
Grace continued, "One time, Mike secretly brought a bottle of hot sauce to the cafeteria and poured it into the captain's coffee. When the captain took a sip of that coffee, his face turned even redder than the hot sauce!"
Leo couldn't help but smile, and although the laughter carried a hint of bitterness, it seemed to temporarily dispel the lingering gloom.
Grace fell silent for a moment, then spoke with great seriousness, "Mike is a good person. He did what he thought was right. If he were here, he would never want you to push yourself into a corner."
Leo took a deep breath, as if inhaling the memories brought him a hint of warmth. He wiped away the last tears and nodded slowly.
"You're right, Grace," Leo's tone was calm but firm. "Mike did what he had to do, and I should do the same. No matter how many difficulties and challenges lie ahead, I will face them, just as he always faced everything."
Grace smiled and nodded, "That's good, Leo. We all have our own paths to walk, but at least in this moment, we can find some comfort here, some strength to face everything in the future."
Leo looked at Grace affectionately, then turned off the communication device. He stood up, stretched, and walked to the window, gazing at the starry sky. Countless stars twinkled in the vast universe, just like Mike, Grace, and himself, all a part of this endless universe. No matter how small, they all had their own value and meaning.
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