Chapter 1292: A Person in Need and a Person Who Needs

“Farrina, breakfast is ready.”

Joe stopped at the bedroom door. On the plate: a loaf of bread, a small piece of cheese. Two months since the Bloody Moon appeared, and this had become the shape of their days. Joe made three meals and went to the Administrative Office; Farrina stayed inside and did, largely, nothing. She asked about Hermes occasionally. That was when they talked. He didn’t know what she was thinking, but he was content simply to be near her — content in a way he didn’t examine too closely, because examining it would reveal how little he was actually asking for.

Nobody answered.

“Farrina, are you up?”

He knocked. Nothing.

“It’s time to eat.”

Still nothing. The room on the other side of the door had the particular silence of an empty space.

Joe set the plate down. His expression changed. His mind went, instantly and involuntarily, to the worst thing.

Isn’t it getting better, little by little?

He broke the door open.

No rope. No blood. He let his breath go. She was alive somewhere, which meant he could still make things right.

But his chest dropped anyway.

One glance was enough to take in the whole room. The wooden bed, the table, the windows — all clean. Everything set with the tidiness of a place being handed back: not abandoned, but returned. The books on the church, the Graycastle Weekly that had been scattered across the table yesterday — gone. She’d even wiped the corners.

She didn’t leave a single word.

Joe sat down at the table.

Where would she go? Hermes. Her home village. An unmarked forest somewhere in the middle of nothing. She had told him nothing — which meant she hadn’t wanted to be found. And even if he found her, what was he going to do? Drag her back to this room she’d already decided to leave?

He sat there while his brain, having delivered that last thought, seemed to refuse any more work.

In the end, nothing had changed.

“Morning, Joe.”

Why had he never thought to ask what she actually needed? He’d been so content with what he had — content for himself — that he never—

“Joe?”

He had always been the one who needed her. He never once thought about—

“Joe!”

A hand on his arm, pulling him around.

He blinked.

Farrina was standing there frowning at him, studying his face with the particular attention of someone trying to determine if something is broken. “What are you mumbling? Are you all right?”

“You—” He grabbed her arm. “You didn’t leave? Or you decided to stay?”

“What?” She didn’t pull away, but she looked baffled. “What are you talking about? I went to the Administrative Office.”

They stared at each other.

Joe was the first to find his voice, though it came out strange. “Then — why?”

“To ask about the qualifications for a truck driver,” Farrina said, in the tone of someone explaining something obvious. “I saw the posting in the Graycastle Weekly. They’re hiring truck drivers in Neverwinter. I want to try.”

“Truck—” He shook his head. “What’s a truck?”

“I don’t know exactly what it is either, but the description sounds like a carriage. I’m good with horses and carriages. Perhaps it’s a chance.”

A chance. Joe’s hand was still on her arm. “Why do you suddenly want this?”

She was quiet for a moment. Then she said it plainly, like something she’d been sitting with long enough to say without flinching: “I thought it through. The original purpose of building the church was to save the world, to save the human race. That isn’t only the church’s version of the story — Roland Wimbledon himself admitted it. The church failed because its leaders betrayed the mission.”

“And then?”

“Then the next question is whether the King of Graycastle is truly fighting for the human race as he claims. I’ve seen the Bloody Moon here in Neverwinter. I’ve seen his subjects — prosperous, ordinary. I’ve seen witches who look no different from anyone else. All of it fits the story Roland Wimbledon told us. The only thing left to confirm is the demons. The enemy that is actually trying to destroy our civilization.”

“His Reverence Tucker Thor mentioned the demons in his will,” Joe said quietly.

“That’s right. But I have to see it myself.” She nodded once. “I have to see with my own eyes that Roland’s army is fighting demons from hell. I won’t make the same mistake again. I trust nothing now except what I can see.”

Joe’s eyes went wide. “You want to go to the Kingdom of Wolfheart.”

“Yes.” Flat, unhesitating. “I can’t join the First Army — I was a church member. So I’ll go as a supply driver. Send provisions to the front. I’ll know the truth there.”

That was why she’d gone to the Administrative Office at first light.

“What if it’s true?” Joe asked carefully. “What if it isn’t?”

“If it’s true,” Farrina said, without a pause, as though she’d rehearsed the answer until it wore smooth, “I’ll spend the rest of my life atoning. I never personally arrested a witch. But I was a member of the Judgement Army, which means I served the traitors. I can’t get away from that.” She stopped a beat. “If it isn’t true — I’ll return to Hermes and see what I can do for the new church. For Tucker Thor’s memory.”

Joe released her slowly.

There was nothing to argue against. She was looking her mistake directly in the face, and she was still making a plan for whatever came after. She was stronger than he’d given her credit for. He couldn’t stop her — stopping her would undo the very thing that was putting her back together.

Still. The room would be just as clean and empty after she left.

Farrina would leave him anyway.

“I—” Joe pressed his lips together, marshaling himself.

“By the way,” Farrina said quickly. “I need to ask a personal favor.” She looked away, something in her posture going stiff. “Two drivers are needed for each truck. I want you to come with me.”

He said nothing.

“To be honest, I haven’t dealt with people for a long time,” she continued, addressing the wall. “I’m not sure I can manage on my own. I know you have a stable job here with good wages. I know I shouldn’t ask. But—”

“But what?”

It took her several seconds to turn and meet his eyes.

“I need you.”

The words he had once said to her. His words, returned.

The person who had needed no one was asking. The person who had always needed was still the same. Joe sat in the empty chair at the cleaned-off table, and where there had been an absence, something replaced it: solid, actual, warm.

“Have some breakfast first,” he said. “It’s gone cold.”

“Oi—”

She didn’t have to ask. He had traveled to the Kingdom of Wolfheart with her once already, all the way from Wolfheart to here. He would drive the truck with her to wherever the road ran out.

“We’ll apply after we eat,” Joe said, and smiled.

Chapter 1292 - A Person in Need

and A Person Who Needs Translator: Transn Editor: Transn “Farrina, breakfast is ready.” Joe stopped at the bedroom with a plate in his hand that contained a loaf of bread and a small piece of cheese. Over the past two months since the appearance of the Bloody Moon, the couple had lived a simple life. Joe prepared three meals every day before he went off for work to the Administrative Office. Farrina seldom went out. Most of time, she stayed in the house doing nothing. Occasionally, she would ask about the situation in Hermes. This was the only time the couple actually talked. Joe did not know what Farrina was thinking about, but he felt pleased just to be with her. He would not expect anything more than that at this time. However, Farrina did not respond as usual. “Farrina, are you up?” Joe knocked on the door, wondering why she did not answer the door. “Well, it’s time to eat.” “Farrina?” Still, nobody replied as if the room was empty. Joe’s expression immediately changed, and he instantly thought of the worst scenario. “Crap, isn’t things going better slowly?” He put down the plate and tried to break and enter. With a loud bang, the door was forced open. It was not the worst, fortunately. No rope was hung on the roof. No traces of blood could be seen on the bed. Joe was a little relieved. At least, he could now ascertain that Farrina was still alive, which meant that he could still make things right. However, his heart immediately sank to the bottom. He could see everything in the little bedroom at one glance. Farrina was nowhere to be seen. The wooden bed, the table and the windows had all been cleaned. Everything looked tidy and neat. It was as tidy as the first day they had moved in. Joe strolled over to the table. There had been books about the church, and the Graycastle Weekly spreading across the table yesterday. But now, there was nothing left. She was gone. Joe felt sadness prevail him as he realized the fact that Farrina had left. Apparently, this was not an impulsive decision. She had even wiped the corners of the table, but she did not leave him a single word. Did she not want to trouble him anymore? Joe slumped onto the chair at the table numbly. Where would she go? Hermes? Her native town? Would she end her own life in an untraversed forest? Joe naturally wanted to look for her, but he had no clue where Farrina could be. The chance of finding her was pretty slim. Since Farrina did not leave him any hint, it was obvious that she did not want to be found. What could he do even if he successfully found her? Joe felt empty at the thought that Farrina would not be in his future life anymore. His brain seemed to stop working as though it refused to function. In the end, nothing had changed. “Morning, Joe.” Why had he not noticed it earlier? Why was he simply content with the life he currently had? “Joe?” He just cared about himself but had never asked Farrina what she actually needed. “Joe!” A hand reached out to Joe and forced him to turn around. “What are you mumbling?” Joe blinked. It was Farrina. She was frowning and studying him attentively. “Are you OK?” “You… didn’t leave?” Joe said as he grasped Farrina’s arm in disbelief. “Or you decided to stay?” “Huh?” Utterly bewildered, Farrina did not wrench away from him. “What are you talking about? I just went to the Administrative Office.” The two stared at each other for a while until Joe broke the silence in embarrassment, “Then… why did you go to the Administrative Office?” “To inquire about the requirements for a driver,” Farrina answered in a serious tone. “I saw on the Graycastle Weekly that they’re hiring truck drivers in Neverwinter. I want to give it a shot.” “Truck… what?” Joe asked in confusion. “I don’t know what it exactly is either, but it should be similar to a carriage based on its description. I’m good at riding and maneuvering carriages. Perhaps, this is a chance for me.” A chance? Joe suddenly felt unsettled again. Still clasping Farrina’s hand, he asked, “Why do you suddenly want to become a truck driver?” Farrina remained silent for a while before she spoke, “I thought the matter over and now I understand. First of all, the initial purpose of building the church was to save the world and the human race. This isn’t just the church’s version of story. Roland Wimbledon also admitted that. The church failed because of the betrayal of the executives.” “And then?” “Then the next question is whether the King of Graycastle is really fighting for the human race as he promised. I’ve seen the Bloody Moon that represents the Divine Will in Neverwinter, the wealthy subjects, and the witches who look no different than normal people. All of these fit the story Roland Wimbledon told us. The only question left is the existence of the demons that try to destroy our civilization.” “But His Reverence Tucker Thor did mention the demons in his will,” Joe muttered. “That’s right, but I have to see it myself. I have to see that Roland’s army is fighting the demons from hell with my own eyes,” Farrina said while nodding. “I don’t want to make the same mistake again. I now only trust my own eyes.” “Do you want to go to the Kingdom of Wolfheart?” Joe asked, his eyes wide open. “Yes,” Farrina admitted flatly. “I can’t join the First Army because I used to be a church member. Therefore, an alternative way is to become a truck driver and send supplies to the front. I’ll know the truth there.” That was why she went to the Administrative Office to make inquiries of the qualifications for a truck driver. Joe asked cautiously, “What if it’s true? What if it isn’t?” “If everything is true, I’ll spend the rest of my life atoning for my sin,” Farrina answered without the slightest hesitation. Apparently, she had thought it over. “Although I never arrested a witch, it doesn’t mean that I can get away with what the church has done. As a member of the Judgement Army, I was also an underlying of the traitors.” She paused for a second and then resumed, “If it isn’t, then I’ll return to Hermes to see whether I can do something for the new church…” This was the final decision she had made. Joe gradually released her. He could not find a single reason to stop what she was doing. Farrina bravely confronted her mistake while at the same time still making an attempt to fulfill her promise to Tucker Thor. She had a clear plan for the future. It seemed that she was stronger than he had thought. Apart from supporting her, Joe could do nothing. He did not want to stop her because that would destroy her totally as a person. Nevertheless, it would be the same result for him. Once she became a driver and left for the Kingdom of Wolfheart, she would not continue to stay here, which was the reason she cleaned the room. Farrina was still leaving him anyway. “I…” Joe took a deep breath, fearing that he would not be able to contain himself. “By the way, I hope you could do me a personal favor,” Farrina said quickly. “They need two drivers for one truck. I want you to come with me.” “Huh?” Joe was stunned. “To be honest, I haven’t dealt with people for a long time, and I’m not sure if I can achieve my goal on my own,” Farrina said while averting her eyes, abashed. “But you can turn me down. You have a stable job here and earn good salaries. I know I shouldn’t have asked for that, but…” “But what?” Joe asked immediately. It took Farrina a few seconds to stare into Joe’s eyes and say, “I need you.” This was the very sentence that Joe had once said to Farrina, but it was his first time hearing Farrina reply back. Now, the person in need became a person who needed others, and the person who used to need others still remained the same. Joe no longer felt empty. Instead, he felt contented and fulfilled. “Have some breakfast first. It’s cold now,” Joe said while heaving a deep sigh. “Oi…” She did not have to ask him this question actually. Joe had traveled here from the Kingdom of Wolfheart with her, and he would certainly drive the truck for the army with her as well. “We can apply for the position after we finish eating,” Joe said with a smile.