Inside a room of an abandoned ancient castle, sunlight pierced through the gaps in heavy curtains, falling upon a pitch-black coffin.
Suddenly, the lid of that coffin emitted a creaking sound and slowly slid to the side.
With a thud, it fell to the ground.
Several seconds later,
At this moment, he was wearing the loose-fitting pajamas that had been fashionable in Loen some years ago, looking like a nobleman waking up in his own estate.
After a moment, Azik narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing around in a dazed manner as if he didn't know who he was.
He then saw the brilliant sunlight streaming through the gaps, saw the dust motes dancing and floating in the light, and saw the letters scattered across the table, the floor, and beside the coffin lid.
They were like enormous snowfall, covering nearly half the space.
Azik stepped out of the coffin and, with a puzzled expression, bent down to pick up a letter, opening it to read.
As he read, the bewilderment on his face gradually faded, as though he was recalling many past events.
Azik immediately found a chair and sat down, summoning all the letters to float before him, stacked like a mountain peak.
He opened them one by one, reading them one by one, pausing from time to time in long contemplation, as if earnestly trying to recall something.
The sunlight streaming through the curtain gaps gradually dimmed, and after a long while, it shone in again.
By this time, Azik had finally finished reading all the letters, completing what felt like one long "meditation" of deep thought after another.
He looked at the letters that had all been stacked on the table, and slowly, deeply sighed.
Then he rummaged out letter paper, a fountain pen, and ink that still worked, and began writing with a gentle expression: "...I have awakened and received all of your letters. They have helped me remember who I am, remember who you are, and recall many things from the past.
"Your experiences, whether in their complexity or their brilliance, have exceeded my imagination, and they have helped me seemingly understand some of my previous questions.
"From these letters, I can sense your joy, your exhaustion, your hope for life, and the heavy responsibility you have shouldered.
"I can roughly guess the reason you ultimately made that choice. If it were me, I likely would not have been able to muster such resolve.
"From the very beginning, you were a guardian — first imitating others, then being imitated by others.
"Next, I will embark on a journey, seeking more of my past and witnessing the changes in this world.
"You still seem to be sleeping, but that is all right. I will write to you about the interesting things I encounter, interesting customs, and interesting people.
"I think using the method of offering should be able to send these letters to you..."
The golden nib reflected the sunlight as it glided across the white paper with a soft scratching sound, continuously writing more content.
…………
Melissa walked in, holding the hand of a little girl who was clearly under ten years old.
"Auntie, Auntie, why is it here?" the little girl asked in confusion. "The stories I heard all had mysterious rituals held in the basement."