Chapter 204: The Red Wedding (2)
"Human books say that music can touch the soul; it seems they were right," Pain mused to himself.
He gently ran his fingers over the pages of the book he was holding, his green eyes glowing softly, showing both a kind warmth and a hint of sadness, like a hidden lake holding secrets of sorrow deep within.
"I’ve loved learning about humans since I was little, but it’s sad that I can’t read anymore," he spoke calmly, his smile lingering, tinged with a bit of sadness.
"Why can’t you read them anymore?" Nicole asked, noticing his change in mood. "I’ve never met someone like you who values human stories so much."
Suddenly, Kestrel’s tendrils popped out and nudged her gently in the back. Nicole stopped speaking right away.
Nicole and Kestrel were really close, and could quickly share thoughts with each other through a simple touch. Even though Kestrel didn’t show any emotion on her face, Nicole understood the message about the harsh traditions of their kind.
Nicole’s face went white in a second, and she found herself unable to say what she wanted to.
"Is there anything else?" Pain asked, looking hopeful, his hands coming together softly in front of him. "I really like this and want to hear as much as I can."
They all looked at each other, but no one said anything.
At last, probably not wanting to see the groom look sad, Ren pulled out a little harmonica from his bag. The small, plain instrument was covered in scuffs and scratches.
While Nicole’s "Erlking" had been bold and powerful, Ren’s song was quiet and soft, like a peaceful seaside with gentle waves, or a lonely battlefield where a lone soldier hums a love song for someone far away.
The tune floated gently, without any flashy moves, but carried a deep, burning passion within it, touching everyone’s hearts in a subtle way.
Raymond thought about the young girls in far-off places, who were so open about their feelings, eagerly giving love letters to their favorite alphas.
Olivia remembered a young alpha who had confessed his feelings to her with a red face, only to lose his life not long after in the Polluted Zone.
Pain’s eyes flickered with a shifting glow as he looked down, a hint of emotion welling up within him.
At this moment, Kestrel realized that she wasn’t totally reliant on her tendrils anymore. For the first time, she found that she could feel emotions using her own ears.
The music sounded like the gentle waves of a sea bathed in the light of a setting sun, quietly revealing someone’s innermost thoughts.
For the first time, Kestrel understood that she could sense a whole range of feelings without using her tendrils, by just using her eyes, ears, and even touch and smell. Although it wasn’t as direct as using her tendrils, this new sensation was both fresh and exhilarating for her.
She carefully tried to understand, step by step, asking questions to clear away the foggy confusion, aiming to really grasp who that person was.
"What is this song called?" After Ren finished playing, Kestrel echoed the melody briefly and asked him what the song was named.
"You might not know it, it’s an ancient melody called ’By the Sea’," Ren answered simply, not looking at Kestrel as he tucked away his harmonica.
However, Kestrel spotted that the edges of his ears had gone a bit red.
Kestrel went over the song’s title in her mind, realizing that she hadn’t heard it before, it had to be a really old song.
Pain’s wedding was very fancy. Loads of people came to wish him well, all wearing fancy outfits, their faces glowing with happy smiles.
The bride looked absolutely stunning, both pretty and strong, holding Pain’s hand lovingly. Pain was smiling gently, wearing a crisp white wedding suit, standing next to the maid of honor. Almost everyone at the party was really happy, sharing good wishes.
"What a perfect couple."
"They’re going to have the best kids."
"The family is getting stronger and stronger. This is wonderful."
"Yeah, it’s really nice."
The wedding went on for hours, and after many good wishes, the new couple walked into their wedding room decorated with fresh flowers and bright silks.
Soon, soft music came from the room — it was Pain singing, the two new songs he learned today. First was the sad story of "The Erlking," followed by the romantic "By the Sea."
The sweet music spread through the flower-decorated windows, gently entering the room. The party atmosphere grew even livelier, everyone feeling joyful, until Pain’s mom — the woman who first met Kestrel and the group, started crying.
Someone was quick to soothe her, gently patting her slumped shoulders, "Having grandkids is the biggest joy, you shouldn’t cry."
"Don’t be down, it’s a happy day. The family will have more kids soon."
Nicole, sitting with the other guests, turned white. Remembering what Kestrel had explained about the customs of this kind, she felt a surge of sadness that brought her to the brink of tears, and she squeezed Kestrel’s hand tightly.
"Is it... really true?"
Kestrel, who was sitting next to her, just stayed quiet, her young face seeming to have a shiny layer, as if she was wearing a mask that hid her emotions.
The alphas at the same table couldn’t bear to see it and looked away.
The music kept going, but a harsh, blood-like smell now hung in the air — it was from the groom, Pain.
"Were you willing to do this?" Kestrel distinctly recalled a moment earlier when she had grabbed Pain and asked him this question — if he didn’t want this, if he wanted to live, they would try to find a way to get him out of there.
But Pain nodded, his gentle eyes that looked like calm waters showing a sort of determination. "Yes, I truly fell in love with her. With all my heart." His voice was almost a whisper, but this choice carried the gravity of a young yet heavy life.
Kestrel couldn’t grasp it, just as she couldn’t fathom how the small mutant from the Eyehole could consume its own mother to extend its power.
She stayed seated, her eyelashes slightly lowered, her tendrils picking up an emotion that was a mix of intense joy and extreme sorrow. These two conflicting emotions mixed together, becoming inseparable and united, forming powerful feelings that swept over Kestrel’s mind.
The most cruel and gory incident occurred during the happiest and most vibrant wedding.
Nicole couldn’t hold back, suddenly standing up. "I can’t just stand by and witness this, I can’t tolerate such a thing."
"It’s too late," a person quietly remarked beside her. "He is already gone."
The smell of blood in the air grew stronger, so thick that it felt like you could choke on it. Pain’s singing continued, now fainter, almost too quiet to hear.
Using the last ounce of his energy, he sang. He sang for the friends who had just performed songs for him, he sang for himself.
The singing slowly faded, until it couldn’t be heard anymore. The violent wedding of this race came to an end amidst joyful cheers. The individual with the vibrant green eyes, who smiled and spoke about his love for books and music, lost his life at his own wedding.
The day slipped away without anyone noticing, the final rays of sun vanishing from the sky.
The ground turned cool, lively grass poking through the earth, checking the air before quickly starting to grow, as if worried about running out of time. Soon, the land was carpeted with fresh green grass, branches sprouting soft blossoms, the amusement park lights flickering back to life, and huge statues with cartoonish grins stood surrounded by a garden of flowers.
In the square, someone was once again asking their loved one to marry them.
Kestrel and her team left their subterranean home while the ground was still warm, racing at top speed towards the horizon.
They had to get to a certain place before the sun rose - to the Backbone of Mantidale.
"The Backbone is pretty far away. I can provide a map, but you’ll have to hurry; if the sun catches up with you, no one will be able to save you," Pain had warned them the day before.
Pain, who they had just met, had already lost his life at his wedding. And now, Kestrel and her team were rushing towards their own potentially fatal journey.
