Chapter 20: What Triss Wanted to Protect—Triss didn't originally intend to cut it...

Triss didn't want to cut her long hair in the first place.

But the journey on the run was too difficult. Her long hair, which she usually took great care of, began to tangle, become oily, and become tangled and messy.

The monster roared and chased after her. Triss was struggling to move because she was holding up her skirt. Her long hair was also fluttering in the wind. Strands of her hair got caught on the monster's sharp claws, and she gasped in pain. Fortunately, she was rescued by Bai Er who arrived in time.

Under the cover of darkness that night, the gleaming tip of the knife reflected her resolute face.

With a single stroke, she personally cut off her long hair, which she had carefully nurtured for many years.

...As for the ring, it was the one Lucien had given her when he proposed, and she had always treasured it, keeping it carefully in her little box.

However, time was too tight at the time, and the items that individuals did not take were collected and then transported to Ohma by specific earth beasts. She waited anxiously for a long time, and then discovered in despair that her ring had not been brought back.

Actually, she had already given up hope. But when she saw the two heroes appear, she decided to give it a try, just in case she succeeded in finding it.

“Please make sure you attend our wedding!” Triss handed over a few small yellow stones—the gray-haired hero seemed to like them, and happily put them into his pocket. “It’ll start in a few hours, right under the Marble Market Tree!”

The Love Tree is a favorite spot for young people in Ohmma to express their love. Young people seeking romance stand beside the tree, enjoying the unobstructed blue sky and the winding rainbow bridge. To the sides, lotus flowers sway, and behind, wisteria cascades down like a waterfall.

Bai E's cloak was tattered, with several small holes at the bottom. You had used it to wipe off dust and then used it as a pillow for half the night. He didn't seem to mind and just casually hung it on the railing.

You and he sit side by side on the grass next to the marriage tree, waiting for the wedding to begin.

"...What are you thinking about?" Bai'er looked down at you. "Are you sleepy?"

You shook your head. Actually, not sleeping for one night isn't a big deal, since Ohmma is bright all year round, making it really hard to feel sleepy.

A bustling crowd stretched out in the distance. Triss was getting ready in a small house nearby, while Lucien waited anxiously at the door. He wasn't angry when his brother patted him on the shoulder and teased him; he just coughed shyly and waited expectantly for the bride to be ready.

A gentle breeze blew through Bai E's cloak, causing the wrinkled blue fabric to flutter and blend into the clothes hung in front of the doors of countless people in the city-state.

You reach out and take out the strawberry cake you bought earlier.

Even after all this time, thanks to the magic backpack, it still looks very new.

You cut it in half and handed it to Bai Er. The strawberry on top was also split in two, and a little bright red juice flowed out and melted into the white cream.

"Have many people gotten married in Onphalus in recent years?" you ask.

Bai'er explained, "The current ruler of Ohma is a demigod of [Romantic], so this place has naturally become a romantic city-state, and you can see many couples together every day. There is only one master of ceremonies in the city who helps newlyweds hold weddings, and her schedule is always full, so you have to book in advance. You can imagine there are quite a few of them."

He paused, then said softly, "The tradition here is that the bride wears a flower crown..."

The strawberry bursts in your mouth, sweet and sour.

You recall the flower wreath he gave you when you were little, and smile with pursed lips, "I wonder if your knitting skills have improved over the years."

Bai'er clearly remembered his own tattered flower wreath, scratched his head, and looked a little embarrassed.

"Triss, look this way!"

"Lucien, you're so lucky to have married Triss, hahaha!"

"Triss, you have no idea how nervous he was just now, he almost cried—hey, don't get angry!"

A lively sound came from afar, a bustling, incessant clatter of footsteps, accompanied by cheers from the crowd—the bride was about to make her entrance.

Triss wore a beautiful colorful floral wreath on her head, a neatly tailored white robe, and several elaborate pearls and gems wrapped around her waist, reflecting a mesmerizing light in the sunlight.

A bright orange veil was placed on her head, concealing her shy face. The vibrant, bright orange blended perfectly with her brown hair, also covering the frizzy ends and making them look more tame.

...as if it were a sign that the dark past was about to end and a bright future was about to begin.

Lucien stepped forward, blushing so much that he didn't dare to look up at her.

A burst of good-natured cheers immediately rose from the surroundings.

The scene before me was so beautiful; the bright light seemed to have transformed the entire scene into an impressionist oil painting, with irregular, rough edges.

You see Triss hesitating whether to lift her veil, perhaps because she feels her hair isn't very nice, but Lucien takes her hand and firmly and completely lifts it.

She touched the ends of her hair. "...Is it a little frizzy?"

Lucien simply gazed into her eyes. "...No," he said, smiling. "Beautiful."

Bai Er's status as a Golden Cult member was somewhat conspicuous, so the two of you sat a bit further away from the crowd. You couldn't hear what they were saying, but you could see Lucien and Triss laughing together, affectionately nuzzling each other's noses.

Sunlight streamed down on them, onto their pristine white wedding gowns, as if veiling the camera lens in a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.

You smile at Triss and Lucien. Behe ​​secretly watches you.

—What you don't know is that ever since the flower wreath incident, he has been secretly practicing for a long time, and now he can weave very beautiful flower wreaths.

He couldn't help but feel hot-faced when he remembered that he had put that thing on your finger before.

When I was little, I really didn't know anything... The ring on my finger was no different from a regular ring, right?

He subtly touched his knuckles, where they felt empty, and tentatively asked, "...Do you like flower wreaths?"

"It's alright." You were immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the wedding and didn't notice the hidden meaning in his words. "I'd be happy if I received it, after all, it's very beautiful."

"Then I'll make another one for you, okay?"

"Are you determined to make up for the regrets of your childhood?" You smiled. "Don't worry, those were cute too, and they're all from your heart, so I won't mind them no matter what."

Bai Er looked at your hand, gently lifting the cake plate; your knuckles were bare. It looked perfect for… wearing a ring.

He couldn't help but secretly berate himself for being so wicked. He deliberately chose a time when you weren't looking to ask, so that once you agreed, you wouldn't be able to refuse his flower wreath.

But he was also glad that you were so indulgent towards him—he just hoped it wasn't indulgence towards a child. He was so young when he met you; you practically watched him grow up. Could it be that you don't have feelings for him because of that? He became worried.

"You've been here for so many days, do you like Onphalus?" he asked.

"I quite like it." You paused for a moment, "but..."

"only?"

Bai E's heart sank, and he unusually lost his composure. Although he tried his best to hide it, his tone still carried a hint of urgency.

"Just what?"

"—There's no trash can," you say seriously. "That's very important! No trash can—and why isn't anyone approving of my lofty moral pronouncements???"

Bai E was stunned for a moment.

“…Okay.” His short white hair fluttered in the wind. He glanced at the cake in his hand, which he had nervously poked and messed up, and said with a smile, “This is more like you.”

You prop your head up and look at the newlyweds not far away. The emcee is reciting prayers; the ceremony is already halfway through.

"However... I still really like Ohm, even though it doesn't have trash cans. I love the sunny days and the baths here, I love watching people hang their clothes out to dry and laugh and play. I kind of understand you now... This is something I want to protect too."

The emcee's voice began to drift over, muffled. "Under [Meneta's] instructions, I will allow..."

Bai E looked relaxed, but his tone was very serious: "Whenever I see such a happy scene, I feel the weight of this mission I carry more than ever before."

"Will that be tiring?"

"Not tired at all. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people of Onphalus makes all my fatigue disappear. It works better than taking a bath."

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit heavy, he made a joke.

"Triss, would you...?"

You shook your head in disagreement, "Has Xiaobai thought about herself? If everyone else finds happiness, but Xiaobai doesn't, won't she be very sad?"

"Lucien, would you...?"

Bai'er's voice seemed to drift from afar, "...If there really comes a day when abandoning just me can bring everyone together—all the Golden Descendants, all citizens, all displaced people...—I'm willing to pay that price. It's worth it."

You pursed your lips. "But happiness isn't something that can be measured by 'cost-effectiveness'."

"I hereby declare you husband and wife!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, flowers were tossed into the air, music and singing mingled together, and several birds flew in carrying colorful ribbons, as if showering the ceremony with a rainbow-colored rain.

Bai E looked at you with a serious expression, very, very earnest, as if trying to see through the thin iris and into the depths of your soul. "...I have no way."

He said, “I have no choice, the Golden Blood have no choice. Since we have glimpsed our destiny, we can only try our best to break free from it. The path of chasing fire is inevitably accompanied by sacrifice, and if someone must be sacrificed, I would rather that person be me. I just want to protect everyone I care about around me—”

He paused, as if your gaze weighed a ton, the rest of his words stuck in his throat, and he could only awkwardly turn his head away, no longer daring to look you in the eye.

"...Will you blame me?"

"With me here, everything will be alright." You put down the cake. "Besides, even if it comes to that, I can be with you, Xiaobai."

A little bird flew over from the celebrating crowd and landed beside your hands, tilting its head and looking at you and Bai'er with a cute, innocent expression.

Bai'e touched the feathers on its head, and it spread its wings and chirped, as if it was being tickled and then lightly pecked the back of his hand.

"Hmm." He was silent for a moment, "As long as you don't... leave me."

Just like everyone else in the village.

A note from the author:

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The wedding ceremony in this chapter draws inspiration from some of the prototypes of Onphalus—wedding traditions in ancient Greece and Rome—but has been adapted for the game and is not entirely based on tradition.

Sources of research in this chapter:

A Study of Ancient Roman Wedding Rituals—From the Early Republic to the Early Empire. Jin Zhenwei

A Study of Marriage in Classical Athens. (by Huang Jian)

It seems unlikely that Xiaobai would prioritize romance (especially at this crucial juncture of the Fire Chasing Journey), so the subsequent romantic storylines won't unfold too quickly. Instead, they'll build up and be patiently nurtured until the right moment for a major explosion.