Chapter Text
(1).
Silvestr mind was a haze as a fleeting vision appeared of him trying to persuade his best friend at some point in time.
"... Belyi Tsar... the nobles... Relya... for..."
His memory turned into a white void, and then the next scene emerged before his eyes: a crowd of nobles standing around, a public execution, a guillotine... He witnessed the tragic end of the greatest thief in history.
"Relya..."
He had asked the Tsaritsa for a privilege, fulfilling his friend's dream. The memories continued until that great disaster... Oh right, he also founded a group of brave soldier to protect people from the Abyss. He went through many things and gained many unforgettable memories after that, but... the memories of that friend had ended long ago.
...
Ding dong ding dong! - The bell signaling the end of the last class echoed through the corridors.
"Hey, want to go somewhere this afternoon?"
"Nah, I still have homework."
"Hey, about my cat..."
Just a minute ago, the entire school was still quiet, now, it was filled with the laughter of students. Starting tomorrow is the annual winter break, so everyone was carrying large bags to bring their supplies and books home.
Knock knock-
"Excuse me, is Silvestr here?" a student asked the librarian. The kind librarian pointed toward the tall bookshelves on the left: "Over there, he’s studying." The student bowed in thanks and hurried in the direction she pointed.
The library was empty except for a single student. Silvestr - a senior with outstanding achievements in both academics and sports. Though he was usually a man of few words, he still had friends; though quiet, he was easy to talk to. He had dark brown hair and emerald green eyes, with a tall, handsome appearance - the literal definition of perfection.
"Hey, Silvestr!" the student called out. "What’s this? Did you just wake up? Your notebook is covered in drool... wait, is that tears?"
"..."
"Oh my god, is little Silvi having a nightmare? There, there, don't cry~" his friend teased.
"Just some dust from the books got in my eyes..." Silvestr wiped the tears away. "What are you doing here, Evan?"
Evan placed an A4 sheet on the table with the heading 'University Applications': "The homeroom teacher asked me to give you this. Hand it in after the winter break."
"Oh," Silvestr said indifferently.
"The teacher also told me to tell you: 'Even if you're a top student, don't get distracted or arrogant at a time like this. The winter break homework must...' Wait, you're already finished?" Evan was stunned to see his friend completing the after assignment self-assessment.
Looking closely, the table was covered with books outside the curriculum: "General Chemistry," "Advanced Calculus," "Introduction to Electronics and Mechanics"... More frighteningly, every single book was filled with notes and bookmarks, he certainly wasn't just reading them for fun.
"Holy... you finished a month's worth of winter break homework in just two study hall periods?" his friend said in awe.
"Not really, since it's too cold, I was excused from two extra P.E. classes," Silvestr answered nonchalantly. "Besides, I haven't done the home chemistry experiment part yet."
"...So that's basically everything. A top student is truly on another level... how terrifying..."
Silvestr packed his books into his backpack, then took one specific volume to the counter to check it out.
"<The Nature of Souls in the Quantum World>... What on earth are you reading, Silvestr?"
Silvestr remained silent. He headed toward the lockers with Evan trailing persistently behind him.
Clack - the cold metal locker swung open. It was almost empty, containing only a P.E. uniform, a coat, and a scarf. Silvestr took out the coat and scarf to put them on, stuffing the P.E uniform into his backpack. Next, he placed all his textbooks and assignments into the locker and locked it. Since he had basically finished everything, there was no need to lug them home - a move that Evan found incredibly cool.
"Are you planning to go home this break?" Evan asked.
"No," Silvestr answered curtly. "But I'll probably go somewhere."
"Go where?"
"I don't know yet..."
"That’s weird."
"Yeah. Have a good holiday."
Leaving his friend behind, Silvestr leisurely made his way home. It was 5:30 PM now. He had an important appointment at 7:00 PM; considering time for dinner, he really ought to hurry.
(2).
Silvestr was probably around five or six years old when he gained self-awareness and began to remember his past life. A formidable warrior, an exceptional leader, the one who sealed the evil, the first Torchforger, and... a despicable noble who had pushed his own friend toward death. Silvestr Petrovich Solovei - that had once been his name.
...
I must find him at any cost, that was the first thought that struck him upon regaining his memories. Considering that in this life, everything from his appearance to the name "Silvestr" bore a striking resemblance to his past, perhaps... it was the same for his friend. Of course, this was all merely speculation on Silvestr's part, this coincidence might be something only he experienced. Perhaps that person, Avrelian, had a name and appearance entirely different from the past - or perhaps... he didn't exist at all.
Weighing every possible outcome, driven by an unfounded faith, Silvestr remained determined to find his Relya... to atone for his sins.
Silvestr had delved into books on religion, souls, and reincarnation, though they offered little help. Considering Avrelian’s profession in their past life, he also frequently scoured the newspapers for crime reports... but found no clues. If Relya’s appearance is the same as before, maybe I should sketch a portrait to search for him? Silvestr had considered that path. Unfortunately, even counting his past life, he hadn’t seen Avrelian’s face for decades. While he was sure he would recognize him at a glance, his memory wasn't clear enough to put pen to paper.
"Hey, have you heard about the urban legend of the 'Moon Maiden' - the one who grants any wish in exchange for the buyer’s soul. Sounds creepy, right?"
"!"
That was about two months ago, when Silvestr first caught wind of a strange rumor from a classmate. In this day and age, who would actually believe such things?... or so he thought. However, investigation was his forte, so digging into it a little wouldn't hurt.
...
The "Moon Maiden" was a codename for someone who specialized in selling "Moonlight" - a form of cryptic advice - once a month (or maybe two or three times if she was in a good mood) on the night of the full moon. This person didn't seem to appear in the mainstream media or any official news outlets. Silvestr only began to uncover information by digging into underground forums; even then, the number of posts mentioning her was incredibly sparse.
Orders could be placed online, but the transaction had to be done in person. Many clients had seen their lives transformed thanks to her, while some others faced the opposite fate. Most of what she said came true... "Actually, it’s 100% accurate, but some people just don't get it, so it doesn't work for them," one comment pointed out. The price: whatever she designated (usually something precious to the buyer).
"So, you register online through this website," Silvestr muttered while tinkering with his device. "Hmm... a simple 'click-to-join' interface. How archaic. It’s all about speed, then? If the lag hits, it’s game over..."
He began to delve deeper into the registration website. Essentially, the site would close once it reached ten applicants, from there, the Moon Maiden would personally handpick her client. Even if one managed to snag a slot in that "waiting list", there was no guarantee of being chosen. The same applied to face-to-face register, you could show up only to be turned away.. It was a one-in-ten gamble, not even counting the walk-in customers.
"...It’s not like there isn't a workaround," Silvestr muttered.
As of now, the Moon Maiden is a viable option to find Relya, he thought, even if there's a chance it was just some nonsense legend elaborately concealed by a group of people. But you never know until you try, and what he was about to do would be a bit... dangerous, perhaps.
"Alright, let's do this."
(3).
Back to the present.
"Go straight for 200 meters, after that, turn right into Alley 14. Suggestion: park your vehicle at the lot a few meters away."
Silvestr followed the navigation app's instructions, heading toward the meeting point step by step.
...
"Go straight for 10 meters, your destination is on the right."
It was seven in the evening, arguably the most bustling hour in Central City. Yet, in stark contrast to the city's glitz and glamour was the desolation of Alley 14. Only one house in the entire alley remained lit - the place Silvestr was headed: the Moon Maiden’s place of business.
"Is this... it?"
Before him stood a small flower shop tucked away in the alley, repurposed from the ground floor of a three-story house. The front awning was a mossy green, propped up by two wooden pillars wrapped in fairy lights. Two pot of flowers sat on the doorstep next to a chalkboard sign:
<The Damselette Moonlight Store>
10:00 - 12:00
13:00 - 21:00
- Holiday Special: 30% off all cool-toned flowers! -
What a cozy place, Silvestr thought. It was hard to believe the lady owning this shop was the one who traded "moonlight" with the underworld. He checked his watch, there was still over an hour before closing.
Silvestr took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Ring ring - a pleasant chime rang out, the shop's warmth rushed over the visitor like a welcoming embrace.
"Welcome!" a gentle voice called out. "You must be Silvestr, right? Just a moment, please."
The owner of the voice was a beautiful young woman with long black hair. She possessed a rare pair of violet-pink eyes, as clear as gemstones. If he had to compare them to anything, it would be moonlight - ethereal and somewhat distant. This had to be the "Moon Maiden," or another name Silvestr had uncovered: Columbina. After asking him to wait, Columbina returned to her task, wrapping a bouquet of white flowers. However... the color of the flowers and the wrapping paper didn't quite match, as both were stark white. How peculiar.
Hmm... I should have changed out of my uniform, Silvestr suddenly realized. It’s not exactly ideal to look like a student while doing this kind of business...
From the moment he stepped into the shop, Silvestr realized the florist wasn't alone. Drawing from the experiences of his past life, he immediately sensed an overwhelming presence lurking in the back of the house. A male, likely in his thirties or older, with a tall, powerful build and seemingly exceptional reflexes - yet, he radiated no killing intent.
Probably a friend of Lady Columbina, he thought. As expected of the Moon Maiden, her associates are anything but ordinary.
But back to the matter at hand. Silvestr’s reason for coming here was to find clues about Averlian, so purchasing "moonlight" was the priority. However... trying to find someone based solely on memories from a past life... no matter how he looked at it, it seemed impossible, didn't it? Hesitation gnawed at him, seeking out the Moon Maiden had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. To put it bluntly, he didn’t truly believe anyone could accomplish such a vague task.
"Um... excuse me," Silvestr began.
"Hmm?" Columbina paused her work and turned toward him.
"I’m looking for someone. But... I don’t know their name, their age, or perhaps even what they look like. Is it still possible to find them?" he asked politely.
"Hmm... Of course."
Ah... the moment the florist said yes, a spark of hope ignited within Silvestr. If someone like that could be found, her methods must be unconventional. Or perhaps, as some old clients whispered, she truly possessed magic.
Wait, wait, wait... He was jumping to conclusions too quickly. There was still a chance the Moon Maiden was just a sophisticated fraud. In moments like these, he needed to stay calm and analyze the situation more carefully. Silvestr had been so swept up in hope by Columbina’s answer that it took him a moment to regain his composure.
"But could you tell me why?" the florist inquired.
Regaining his calm, Silvestr spoke:
"Do you believe in reincarnation? Ah, I mean... I know it sounds a bit crazy... but the person I’m looking for... is someone I met in a past life, or maybe in some parallel universe... someone very important to me. However..." He hesitated again, as if harboring a deep, lingering secret. "I also owe this person a great debt of regret. I want to make amends."
"Is that so? Even though there’s no guarantee this person exists in this world, or would even remember who you are?" Columbina asked.
Columbina’s question struck the very heart of Silvestr’s deepest fear. He was well aware that carrying memories of a past life was abnormal, at least, every book he had read in both lifetimes suggested as much. Therefore, even if he managed to find the exact soul of Avrelian, it would only be natural if that person remembered nothing of their past.
If Miss Moon Maiden truly helps me find a Relya who has no memory of me, I will still do everything in my power to make amends, Silvestr resolved. Though... I’ll have to be discreet. I wouldn’t want to interfere with the destiny of his current life.
But what if... their soul had never crossed over to this realm to begin with? That was a possibility Silvestr had long ago steeled himself to face.
"Yes," Silvestr replied firmly. "Ms. Moon Maiden..."
"Just call me Columbina."
"Ah, yes, Ms. Columbina," Silvestr quickly corrected himself. "Even so, I still want to see them again."
"Very well. Come here."
Columbina handed Silvestr the carefully wrapped white bouquet. The moment his hands touched it, the flowers suddenly transformed into a vibrant azure.
"They exist," Columbina said calmly.
"Eh?" Silvestr was still reeling from the little miracle he had just witnessed.
"That person exists in this world," Columbina explained. "But... their name, appearance, or age may or may not be the same as before. All I can be certain of is that their soul once graced this realm."
For a fleeting second, he caught the shape of Columbina’s lips beginning to form the word "dead," only for her to swiftly switch it to "age." It was a possibility Silvestr had never dared to entertain, the worst-case scenario he had imagined was simply that Avrelian did not exist at all. But what if, by some cruel, infinitesimal chance, the path the moonlight illuminated led not to a person, but to a grave?
"I see..." Silvestr murmured, a shadow of sadness crossing his face.
"These flowers will guide you. But remember, the magic will vanish along with the moonlight - at dawn tomorrow. You must hurry."
Silvestr clutched the precious bouquet tightly, his heart heavy with a thousand thoughts. Columbina turned to head back inside, leaving the boy standing there alone. As she walked, she asked:
"Even if he... even if Relya doesn't want to see you again, you’ll still go, won't you?"
"!?"
Wait a minute. From the moment he stepped into the flower shop, had he mentioned the name Relya even once? Not at all! Did Lady Columbina have an outside source of information? Impossible. Silvestr had never uttered the names Avrelian or Relya to anyone, not to his family in this life, nor to his classmates. Even when scouring underground channels for information, he had been meticulously careful never to reveal a name. This woman... how on earth did she know?
"...How do you know that name?" Silvestr asked, his face etched with utter bewilderment.
Columbina didn't answer. She simply offered a faint smile and returned to her spot behind the counter, humming a soft, melodic tune.
"The moon knows everything," Columbina replied. "And the payment for the 'moonlight' will be... that."
She pointed at the silver wristwatch on Silvestr's left arm. Though partially hidden by his long sleeve, its exquisite craftsmanship was evident, clearly an heirloom, and without a doubt, the most precious possession a high school student could own, and she was right. The watch was a family gift, a reward for Silvestr’s remarkably distinguished academic achievements. Supposedly, his great grandfather had purchased it from a collector at an exorbitant price many decades ago.
However... it seemed the rumors were slightly off. People said the Moon Maiden would take one's most precious possession, yet to Silvestr, this watch held very little sentimental value. To find Avrelian, this was an absolute bargain. After a brief moment of reflection, he carefully unfastened the strap and placed the watch on the counter.
"Mhm, payment successful. I hope you find the one you’re looking for."
(4).
Silvestr checked the time on his phone; it was nearly 8:00 PM. Outside the shop, the air was dark and biting, leaving the bouquet in his hand as his only source of light. While not bright enough to illuminate his entire path, it was sufficient to ease his sense of isolation. Ever since he received it, Silvestr noticed the flowers seemed to be pulled by an unseen force, pointing in a very distinct direction.
This must be the "magic" Ms. Moon Maiden spoke of, he thought.
Ring ring - the shop bell chimed as the young florist stepped outside.
"Leaving so soon, Silvestr?" she asked.
"Yeah..." he replied.
A heavy silence settled between them.
"What is it that drives you this far, Silvestr?" Columbina began. "You speak of making amends, but surely there is more to it than that? After all, once you’ve crossed into a new life, you shouldn't hold onto the burdens of the past so tightly. That is the nature of reincarnation. Perhaps you have already paid the price for your 'sins' through the cycle itself."
"..."
"It’s alright if you don’t want to answer. Think of it as me talking to myself," she added.
"Ms. Moon Maiden, I'm sure you know that retaining memories after reincarnation is far from normal," Silvestr spoke slowly. "Ever since I remembered everything... I’ve wondered why heaven made this decision. Looking back at all I did and everyone I met in my past life, only the matter regarding him... leaves me with such agonizing regret. Perhaps that is why I remember - to find him, and to atone."
Silvestr’s face darkened with sorrow. In truth, he had often thought that if Avrelian truly did not exist in this world, then these memories were his punishment. Nightmares would frequently surface when he was at his weakest, clawing at his soul like he was a sinner. In those dreams, Avrelian hated him intensely, and Silvestr could find no words to defend himself. It felt like a life sentence, and he was the one standing in the prisoner's dock.
...
Silvestr took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
"Actually," he said softly, "I simply, truly want to see him again."
Being with Avrelian brought him peace; it was there even during the times they skipped class to hunt for treasures. He just wanted to find that tranquility once more. Quite a luxury for someone like him, wasn't it?
"I see," Columbina smiled. "Then I wish you the very best. Do stop by for flowers again next time!"
"I will," Silvestr answered.
As Columbina turned to head back inside, she stopped abruptly and looked back.
"Next time, don't do that again. Those little tricks you played when placing your bid for 'moonlight'."
"Ah... yes," Silvestr murmured, flushing with guilt. He had used a few computer exploits to lock out other customers... all just to increase his chances. From Columbina’s perspective, it must have looked ridiculous to see ten applications all under the same name.
"Moonlight finds its way to those who need it most. Even without those tricks, destiny would have led you where you need to be," Columbina continued. "However, your actions back then might have caught the attention of some... well... not-so-friendly elements. Even if you were clever about hiding your identity."
As previously mentioned, Silvestr was an exceptionally cautious individual. Whenever he ventured into some dark websites for his investigations, he never revealed his true identity, skillfully masking his IP address. Yet, Columbina had known his name and his purpose before he had even uttered a single word. Truly a terrifying woman, wasn't she? Then again, this was the underworld; a true professional could uncover almost anything if they put their mind to it. This was why Silvestr had managed to maintain some semblance of composure when Columbina first addressed him by name.
Seems like my methods weren't effective enough, Silvestr thought to himself, I’ll have to refine my techniques next time.
As for the "moonlight" incident... he decided he would stay under the radar for a while until things cooled down. At the same time, he would quietly scrub any discussions regarding the matter from the online forums.
"Well then, goodbye. I wish you luck," Columbina said with a wave. "Oh, one more thing: even in the depths of despair, do not abandon the low-probability outcome."
"Thank you," Silvestr replied with a polite bow. "But I think I’ll be fine, even if I don't find him."
"That’s not quite what I meant," Columbina chuckled softly. "Consider it a small perk for a 'moonlight' customer. Safe travels."
Cradling the precious bouquet in his arms, Silvestr headed toward his small motorcycle parked at the lot. Carrying a tiny spark of hope within him, he began his journey - a journey whose destination remained a mystery.