【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 472 [Empire] My name is Qianmo

After the roster was submitted, everyone spent the next few days waiting for the final tally. Each team's members needed to be properly arranged based on their training, abilities, and teamwork. While everyone had their own plans, the final outcome was often not as simple as expected.

Although the quiet boy and I had already decided to team up, we still had to wait for the assignments. I couldn't help but feel a little excited, but also a little nervous - because it wasn't just him and me, students from other classes would also be selected, and who knew who I would end up on the same team with.

During breaks in training, I habitually wandered to a quiet corner, staring blankly at the scenery outside. The pace of the military academy was always so hectic, with people coming and going, and no one seemed to truly stop to take in the ordinary sights. In a place like this, the throngs of students seemed like training machines, and I felt like an outsider. Only occasionally, when I looked up, did I realize the world outside was still so vast.

"Yang Ruyuan." Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.

I turned around and saw that boy. He was standing behind me, looking at me with a calm expression. "What are you thinking about?" His tone was emotionless, as if it was just a simple question.

I smiled slightly and shook my head: "Nothing, just thinking about something." I didn't intend to tell him about the complexity in my heart, at least not now.

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply stood beside me, gently accompanying me without saying anything. We stood there, surrounded by students who had also undergone rigorous training. From a distance, the entire venue was still filled with tension.

"Once the team division results come out, we can officially start." He suddenly said, breaking the silence.

I nodded: "Well, I really hope we can start as soon as possible." Although I am not sure what the future will be like, at least he and I have made a decision.

This is my choice now and the only direction I can control.

In fact, many people are not optimistic about us.

Indeed, many people looked at us with a hint of disdain, perhaps thinking we weren't "strong enough." Most of the other students in the supernatural class possessed powerful offensive abilities, capable of defeating enemies with a single blow, winning through speed and strength. As for the two of us, one focused on offense and defense, while the other... I couldn't quite put a firm definition on my own abilities.

He possesses true plant-based abilities, summoning various branches and leaves to ward off enemy attacks and protect himself and his allies. This defensive ability is essential in many battles, but it's relatively weak in offensive situations. As for me, my "power" is primarily exerted through the manipulation of combat plants, but it's still essentially supportive. And in battle, relying on support always makes one feel insecure.

Some people discussed us privately, expressing their pessimism towards us:

"Can the two of them do it? For a special ability team, the main attacker should be the core force."

"One defends, the other has no offensive power at all. Can this combination really beat other teams?"

"What our special ability class lacks the most is offensive ability. With the way they are matched, even if we luckily don't lose the game, we won't have much of an advantage."

Although these words were not said explicitly, almost everyone knew in their hearts that our combination was not the most ideal.

I understand these looks, and I know the doubts they harbor. Even I, myself, felt uneasy about our team. After all, in such a competitive environment, who wouldn't want a strong player who could instantly solve problems in battle? Yet, despite this, I still chose this team.

Because he and I both have our own strengths, which, while seemingly unremarkable, are nonetheless valuable enough. Furthermore, we don't need to prove anything to anyone. We're not trying to break rules set by others; we're simply making the choices we believe are best.

"Aren't you worried?" I once asked him.

He just smiled faintly: "I have nothing to worry about. As long as we do our best, the rest will be left to time."

Sometimes I wonder if this is what I truly want. Not to conform to the standards of those powerful, but to find my own way, to work with them and do what I can. And sooner or later, those perspectives will change because of our choices.

Sometimes, I'd go to the Beast Taming Class's training grounds and quietly watch the beasts they controlled. Compared to my combat plants, the beasts seemed more direct and aggressive. Every movement of the beasts was imbued with power, as if every blow was meant to conquer and destroy. The combat plants I controlled, on the other hand, were more like creatures navigating the gap between nature and combat. They weren't eager to attack, but rather preferred defense, support, and encirclement. Sometimes, their movements even seemed a little slow.

The Beast Taming Class's training grounds were always filled with a boisterous and intense atmosphere. The cries, the running, and the tumbling of the beasts filled the entire venue with a wild aura. And every time I stood by and watched, I felt an indescribable feeling. Although my abilities were fundamentally different from theirs, I could sense a sense of mastery and control from the students controlling the beasts, as if everything was under their control.

"Why are you here?" Suddenly, a voice came from the side.

I turned and saw several students from the Beast Taming class, their eyes tinged with curiosity. A tall boy frowned slightly, as if he wanted to greet me, but hesitated. Several students nearby were whispering, occasionally glancing in my direction.

"Come and see the exotic beasts?" a girl asked provocatively, a hint of contempt in her eyes. "Your special abilities class doesn't seem to deal with exotic beasts, do you? Better not dream about it. We have real exotic beasts. Can you fight them?"

There was clear contempt in her words, even a hint of provocation. I knew this kind of talk was familiar. Often, the students in the Beast Taming Class would always distinguish themselves from those of us who controlled superpowers, feeling that there was some kind of insurmountable gap between us.

I didn't intend to respond to her provocation. I just smiled and said softly, "Everyone's superpowers are different, and their fighting styles are also different."

She seemed a little dissatisfied and wanted to say something, but was stopped by another boy next to her. "Alright, ignore her. Are you here just to see how we train, or do you want to get close to the beasts? If you don't mind, you can let them get close to you later."

He spoke casually and in a calm tone, but it gave me a chance to continue watching. It was clear that he was not hostile like the others, but rather curious and tolerant.

I didn't say anything else, just nodded and said, "Thank you. I'll come back and see you someday if I have the chance."

These daily encounters have become a habit between them and me. Sometimes I'll chat with them, and occasionally I'll hear their questions and curiosity about my battle plants. While their exotic beasts grant them powerful attacks, I know that the power of battle plants is equally not to be underestimated. It's just that many people are only accustomed to seeing the power in front of them, but never truly understand the hidden depths of another kind of power.

Every time I think of Nightingale, I can't help but laugh. He was always sharp, his words sharp, yet his sense of humor undeniable. If he were here, he'd definitely make a defiant face, mocking my complex emotions, even saying dismissively, "You just miss me, don't you?" He'd definitely use that lighthearted yet piercing tone to remind me of the feelings I've buried.

But even knowing he'd say that, I couldn't help but want to contact him. However, as soon as my fingers touched the power-on symbol on the other computer on my wrist, I hesitated again. Every time this urge arose, it seemed to be crushed by reality—I was a military academy student, and he was still in that unfamiliar, dangerous world. His existence and my current life had become so far apart, as if separated by an unbridgeable chasm.

If he were here, what would he say? Perhaps he'd sneer and ask me, "Is military school life so frustrating for you? Are you looking for someone to cheer you up?" I can imagine his eyes, a mixture of disdain and helplessness. But at least he was my once-trusted partner, a companion who had walked through hardships and dangers with me.

Nightingale always makes me clearly aware of the fluctuations in my heart. No matter it is ridicule, jokes, or a trace of warm care, it is like an invisible force that pries open all my emotions.

And now, I seemed to be heading in a direction he had never imagined. Perhaps I was no longer the "rogue mercenary" who could calmly deal with any emergency at any time. Instead, the hardships of military school life had gradually forced me to become more silent and less at ease.

"Are you cold?" a voice interrupted me.

I started for a moment, then came to my senses. It was that quiet boy, standing not far away, his eyes etched with concern. His figure seemed a little lonely, yet he blended silently into the surrounding silence. The wind blew across my face, and his tone remained gentle, with a subtle hint of curiosity, as if he wanted to confirm whether I was truly thinking about something.

I shook my head slightly, trying to deny the complex emotions in my heart. "It's not cold," I made an excuse.

He didn't leave immediately, but simply stood there quietly, his eyes fixed on me. That tacit silence left me somewhat bewildered. Whether on the training field or in this situation, he always maintained a quiet and steady presence, as if he could exist in harmony with everything around him without words.

I tried to avoid his gaze, lowering my head and silently breathing in the slightly chilly air, but I couldn't help but feel the emotions welling up in my heart. Perhaps, only in this silence can I hear the true voice of my heart.

He still didn't leave, as if waiting for my response, or as if he had accidentally broken my own silence.

"You..." I was interrupted before I could finish my words. "Qianmo, my name is Qianmo." His voice was calm.

"Qianmo..." I repeated in a low voice, feeling the name was unfamiliar, yet strangely familiar. The boy before me always seemed so quiet, as if some power hid his presence in this silence, silent yet omnipresent.

"Do you have a name?" I couldn't help but smile, trying to break the sudden silence. Although I knew my question seemed a bit boring, in this empty environment, my mood always seemed to inadvertently become a little relaxed.

Qianmo simply nodded, his eyes expressionless as he looked at me calmly. "Yes," he said slowly, as if he was used to being misunderstood or ignored. Perhaps, in his eyes, such a conversation wasn't out of place.

I suddenly understood why he was always so quiet and steady. It turned out that behind every silence there was a story, and this story was probably known only to him.

A sense of tranquility settled in the air once again, with only a gentle breeze bringing a few falling leaves. I couldn't help but whisper, "Why me?"

He shook his head without explaining or saying anything.

I was stunned for a moment, feeling a little lost, as if I hadn't gotten an answer from him. But I knew it wasn't that he didn't want to talk, but rather that he chose silence. People like him don't often express their inner thoughts easily.

The air was stagnant, and we just stood there in silence, without saying much to each other. Occasionally, a gust of wind blew, and leaves fluttered in the air, breaking the silence.

I sighed softly, trying to stop dwelling on the issue. Perhaps, some things are just the way they are, and there's no need to force them. We all have our own secrets, and those aren't always meant to be shared.

"Okay." I finally compromised, my voice a little low, "It's okay if you don't tell me."

Qianmo remained silent, as if tacitly agreeing with what I said. I turned to the distance again, gazing at the endless horizon, as if I had found a moment of peace there.

This person seems to be the exact opposite of Nightingale. He doesn't tease me, nor can he respond to my teasing. He doesn't even necessarily respond to every sentence I say.

Indeed, the difference between him and Nightingale could almost be described as "completely different." Nightingale always had a smile on her face, was talkative and sharp, and seemed to find something to tease in every moment. His presence was almost like a thrill, drawing people unconsciously into interaction and games. But Qianmo was different. He seemed more like a calm stone, unshakable and reluctant to respond. His silence sometimes made people feel inaccessible, even unsure how to communicate with him.

But perhaps it is precisely this silence that makes people even more confused and curious. He does not easily reveal his emotions, nor is he eager to respond, giving people a sense of distance, as if he does not belong to this environment, but also seems to be born into it.

I know I will probably never be able to converse with Qianmo as freely and easily as I did with Nightingale. Perhaps this is the distance between him and me, and the uniqueness of our existence.

Standing quietly beside him actually gave me some space to think differently, like having a conversation with myself.