The asylum grounds were serene and tidy.
Nyx sat on a rocking chair in the spacious courtyard, cradling a vase of flowers, lost in thought.
A youth in a white coat walked through the corridor, carrying several bottles of medication, and approached her.
"You've come to see me, Danaus, my child," Nyx turned to Lin Qiyue, a smile playing on her lips.
Lin Qiyue sat down beside her and uttered a soft acknowledgment, "It's time for your medication."
He poured the pills out of the bottle and meticulously divided them into small piles, placing them in Nyx's hand.
"Good, now take your medicine like a good child," Nyx urged gently.
Without hesitation, Nyx swallowed the pills and then gazed at Lin Qiyue, her eyes full of affection.
"Danaus, you seem troubled," Nyx observed.
Lin Qiyue was taken aback. He hadn't expected Nyx, a patient at the asylum, to perceive his state of mind so keenly. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
"Somewhat."
"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Nyx inquired.
"Unfortunately, this is something you cannot assist me with," Lin Qiyue shook his head.
Dealing with his own emotional turmoil and solitary wanderings was not something an outsider could help with.
Nyx looked crestfallen for a moment, then seemed to recall something and spoke up again.
"In that case, Danaus, I have a gift for you."
"A gift?" Lin Qiyue was taken aback.
"Yes, I'm giving you my bracelet. Keep it with you from now on, and it will..." Nyx reached to touch her own wrist...
And then again...
She lowered her head to gaze at her bare wrist. Where was her bracelet?
"My bracelet... Where is it?"
Lin Qiyue: ...
Indeed, Nyx's condition was quite severe!
Nyx tilted her head, furrowing her brows, as if pondering something.
Just as Lin Qiyue was preparing to leave, Nyx suddenly spoke, "I remember now."
"What have you remembered?"
"My bracelet was won by someone."
"By someone?" Lin Qiyue was puzzled. He tried to recall any mythological tales involving bracelets but came up empty. "Which god won it?"
"Not a god," Nyx shook her head, pointing at Lin Qiyue. "Someone like you."
"Someone like me... also your child?" Lin Qiyue attempted to think through Nyx's perspective.
"No, someone like you, also wearing this white garment," Nyx clarified.
Lin Qiyue's pupils constricted, furrowing his brows tightly.
"You mean, before me, someone else wearing this garment entered your room and won your bracelet?"
Nyx nodded.
Lin Qiyue's expression grew increasingly serious.
Unintentionally, he had stumbled upon such vital information from Nyx's words.
From her account, it seemed that before he had knocked on the doors of this asylum and released Nyx, someone else had been here, and they had also opened Nyx's door!
Was he not the sole master here?
But this asylum was clearly in his mind. How could someone else have entered?
Lin Qiyue suddenly remembered that the first time he dreamt about knocking on the doors of the mental hospital was five years ago...
Five years ago, it had intruded into his dreams so abruptly, so mysteriously.
Could it be that... before he dreamt of the hospital, someone else existed here?
Thinking of this, Lin Qiyue immediately sat back down, solemnly speaking, "How did she win your bracelet?"
Nyx recalled for a moment before answering, "She said she wanted to compete with me. If I won, she would return my child to me, but if I lost, she would take my bracelet."
"What did you compete in?"
Nyx slowly uttered two words, "Creation."
"Creation? And you lost in the end? How is that possible?" Lin Qiyue was astonished. "You are the Goddess of Night, one of the five deities who created the world. How could you lose to someone else?"
"I don't know, but I did indeed lose," Nyx shook her head.
"Do you remember what she looked like? Her name?"
"I don't know... I only remember that she seemed to be about twelve or thirteen years old, with long black hair and a peculiar pattern here." Nyx pointed to her hand.
"A twelve or thirteen-year-old girl won against you in Creation?" Lin Qiyue's eyes nearly popped out. "Even if your divinity is compromised now, it's still highly unlikely, right?"
Nyx sat there, seemingly lost in reminiscence.
Lin Qiyue calmed himself and continued, "What else do you remember about her? Her name, perhaps?"
"I don't know... I just remember that she seemed to be surnamed... Ji?" Nyx replied uncertainly.
"Ji..." Lin Qiyue repeated the name.
"Lastly, before I returned to my room, she went in that direction." Nyx thought for a moment and pointed to a room on the third floor.
"I understand. Rest well," Lin Qiyue glanced at the room and instructed before rushing down the hallway.
Moments later, Lin Qiyue arrived at the room Nyx had pointed out.
Three large characters were written on the doorplate.
—Director's Office.
Lin Qiyue furrowed his brows slightly and pushed the door open.
Behind the door was an office of moderate size, appearing somewhat disorganized.
He had been in this room before, and he had taken the white coat from the rack inside. However, he hadn't noticed anything unusual when he entered before.
Since Nyx said that the girl had entered this room, it was highly likely that she had left behind some important clues.
This time, he would thoroughly search the room!
Rather than rummaging through drawers and cabinets, he chose to sit down and close his eyes.
With the Divine Origin given to him by the Archangel, he could easily perceive everything in this room, much more efficiently than rummaging through cabinets.
A few seconds later, he abruptly opened his eyes.
He stood up and walked to the desk, reaching into the last drawer and fumbling around before pulling out a slightly yellowed letter.
Indeed, there it was!
Lin Qiyue swiftly tore open the envelope, took out the letter, and his expression suddenly turned strange.
Hmm... These words seemed a bit crude!
Crooked and twisted, like a primary school student's handwriting.
"To Someone:
I don't know who you are, but I know that you are the true owner here.
By the time you find this letter, it's probably been several years. Don't laugh at my poor handwriting now. After all, I'm still young, and I'll get better at it as I grow older.
Sorry for holding onto your hospital that belongs to you for a while. But seeing as it's back where it belongs now, don't blame me! (Stick-out tongue doodle)
Also, I borrowed some things from a few of your patients. Don't worry, I'll return them to you when I find you again!
Lastly, just a reminder, there's something under this office～
When I grow up,
I'll come find you, stranger. After all, you are my hope of returning home.
Bye-bye～
——Memorial"
The asylum grounds were serene and tidy.
Nyx sat on a rocking chair in the spacious courtyard, cradling a vase of flowers, lost in thought.
A youth in a white coat walked through the corridor, carrying several bottles of medication, and approached her.
"You've come to see me, Danaus, my child," Nyx turned to Lin Qiyue, a smile playing on her lips.
Lin Qiyue sat down beside her and uttered a soft acknowledgment, "It's time for your medication."
He poured the pills out of the bottle and meticulously divided them into small piles, placing them in Nyx's hand.
"Good, now take your medicine like a good child," Nyx urged gently.
Without hesitation, Nyx swallowed the pills and then gazed at Lin Qiyue, her eyes full of affection.
"Danaus, you seem troubled," Nyx observed.
Lin Qiyue was taken aback. He hadn't expected Nyx, a patient at the asylum, to perceive his state of mind so keenly. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
"Somewhat."
"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Nyx inquired.
"Unfortunately, this is something you cannot assist me with," Lin Qiyue shook his head.
Dealing with his own emotional turmoil and solitary wanderings was not something an outsider could help with.
Nyx looked crestfallen for a moment, then seemed to recall something and spoke up again.
"In that case, Danaus, I have a gift for you."
"A gift?" Lin Qiyue was taken aback.
"Yes, I'm giving you my bracelet. Keep it with you from now on, and it will..." Nyx reached to touch her own wrist...
And then again...
She lowered her head to gaze at her bare wrist. Where was her bracelet?
"My bracelet... Where is it?"
Lin Qiyue: ...
Indeed, Nyx's condition was quite severe!
Nyx tilted her head, furrowing her brows, as if pondering something.
Just as Lin Qiyue was preparing to leave, Nyx suddenly spoke, "I remember now."
"What have you remembered?"
"My bracelet was won by someone."
"By someone?" Lin Qiyue was puzzled. He tried to recall any mythological tales involving bracelets but came up empty. "Which god won it?"
"Not a god," Nyx shook her head, pointing at Lin Qiyue. "Someone like you."
"Someone like me... also your child?" Lin Qiyue attempted to think through Nyx's perspective.
"No, someone like you, also wearing this white garment," Nyx clarified.
Lin Qiyue's pupils constricted, furrowing his brows tightly.
"You mean, before me, someone else wearing this garment entered your room and won your bracelet?"
Nyx nodded.
Lin Qiyue's expression grew increasingly serious.
Unintentionally, he had stumbled upon such vital information from Nyx's words.
From her account, it seemed that before he had knocked on the doors of this asylum and released Nyx, someone else had been here, and they had also opened Nyx's door!
Was he not the sole master here?
But this asylum was clearly in his mind. How could someone else have entered?
Lin Qiyue suddenly remembered that the first time he dreamt about knocking on the doors of the mental hospital was five years ago...
Five years ago, it had intruded into his dreams so abruptly, so mysteriously.
Could it be that... before he dreamt of the hospital, someone else existed here?
Thinking of this, Lin Qiyue immediately sat back down, solemnly speaking, "How did she win your bracelet?"
Nyx recalled for a moment before answering, "She said she wanted to compete with me. If I won, she would return my child to me, but if I lost, she would take my bracelet."
"What did you compete in?"
Nyx slowly uttered two words, "Creation."
"Creation? And you lost in the end? How is that possible?" Lin Qiyue was astonished. "You are the Goddess of Night, one of the five deities who created the world. How could you lose to someone else?"
"I don't know, but I did indeed lose," Nyx shook her head.
"Do you remember what she looked like? Her name?"
"I don't know... I only remember that she seemed to be about twelve or thirteen years old, with long black hair and a peculiar pattern here." Nyx pointed to her hand.
"A twelve or thirteen-year-old girl won against you in Creation?" Lin Qiyue's eyes nearly popped out. "Even if your divinity is compromised now, it's still highly unlikely, right?"
Nyx sat there, seemingly lost in reminiscence.
Lin Qiyue calmed himself and continued, "What else do you remember about her? Her name, perhaps?"
"I don't know... I just remember that she seemed to be surnamed... Ji?" Nyx replied uncertainly.
"Ji..." Lin Qiyue repeated the name.
"Lastly, before I returned to my room, she went in that direction." Nyx thought for a moment and pointed to a room on the third floor.
"I understand. Rest well," Lin Qiyue glanced at the room and instructed before rushing down the hallway.
Moments later, Lin Qiyue arrived at the room Nyx had pointed out.
Three large characters were written on the doorplate.
—Director's Office.
Lin Qiyue furrowed his brows slightly and pushed the door open.
Behind the door was an office of moderate size, appearing somewhat disorganized.
He had been in this room before, and he had taken the white coat from the rack inside. However, he hadn't noticed anything unusual when he entered before.
Since Nyx said that the girl had entered this room, it was highly likely that she had left behind some important clues.
This time, he would thoroughly search the room!
Rather than rummaging through drawers and cabinets, he chose to sit down and close his eyes.
With the Divine Origin given to him by the Archangel, he could easily perceive everything in this room, much more efficiently than rummaging through cabinets.
A few seconds later, he abruptly opened his eyes.
He stood up and walked to the desk, reaching into the last drawer and fumbling around before pulling out a slightly yellowed letter.
Indeed, there it was!
Lin Qiyue swiftly tore open the envelope, took out the letter, and his expression suddenly turned strange.
Hmm... These words seemed a bit crude!
Crooked and twisted, like a primary school student's handwriting.
"To Someone:
I don't know who you are, but I know that you are the true owner here.
By the time you find this letter, it's probably been several years. Don't laugh at my poor handwriting now. After all, I'm still young, and I'll get better at it as I grow older.
Sorry for holding onto your hospital that belongs to you for a while. But seeing as it's back where it belongs now, don't blame me! (Stick-out tongue doodle)
Also, I borrowed some things from a few of your patients. Don't worry, I'll return them to you when I find you again!
Lastly, just a reminder, there's something under this office～
When I grow up,
I'll come find you, stranger. After all, you are my hope of returning home.
Bye-bye～
——Memorial"
