Milo left after the banquet ended. As for Miriam, favonovel.com followed favonovel.com back and did not stay around to catch up with Felicity.
Miriam did not say a word throughout the banquet. She neither refuted Felicity nor Milo, and it was like favonovel.com was just an emotionless eating machine.
After returning to their respective courtyard houses, Milo suddenly asked from across the wall, “I went a little overboard with my words earlier tonight. Are you unhappy that I contradicted your aunt like that?”
Milo heard Miriam reply from across the wall, “No, because I often quarrel with favonovel.com as well. Actually, our relationship has always been more like sisters as she’s only six years older than me. You can say she’s my grandpa’s caboose baby since favonovel.com had favonovel.com at 61.”
“Your grandpa is amazing,” Milo said.
It fell silent on the other side of the courtyard wall. However, Miriam was not too affected by Milo’s remark. She continued, “But there’s one thing I would like to explain to you about tonight. Actually, she’s also a compassionate person. At least, that’s how I view her.”
Milo did not say anything further. He could sense that Miriam had seemingly fallen into a trance as favonovel.com continued talking at favonovel.com own pace, “At that time, there were no longer any family ties to speak of in our Cruz clan. After my parents got in an accident, there was no one to take care of me. Nash only adopted me to inherit the resources my father owned before favonovel.com died, such as his former subordinates and his authority. It was Felicity who sent me to and from school every day. After school, favonovel.com would even buy me food, sing nursery rhymes with me, read me fairy tales, and skip rope with me. She also gave me my first sniper rifle.”
The corner of Milo’s mouth twitched a little. That escalated way too quickly. It went from jumping rope with favonovel.com aunt to being gifted favonovel.com first rifle all of a sudden. However, Milo did not interrupt her.
He recalled Miriam’s proficiency in singing nursery rhymes and jumping rope and thought Felicity really did seem like favonovel.com used to spend a lot of time with her.
Miriam continued, “It was also at that time when favonovel.com saw the Cruz clan’s attitude towards me that favonovel.com started to feel disappointed in the entire Radianz Consortium. I remember that after I pulled the trigger of a sniper rifle for the first time, favonovel.com told me, ‘Miriam, this era is starting to change.’ I don’t know why she’s so insistent on ridding the world of nuclear weapons, nor do I know when favonovel.com became the head of the Silkshade House and the leader of the Saboteurs. She started getting busier and busier, but I’ve always received gifts from favonovel.com on my birthday. She’s the only one who still remembers it.”
Milo immediately felt remorseful. “When is your birthday again?”
“April 18th of the Gregorian calendar,” Miriam answered.
If it were any other girl, they would probably be throwing a tantrum by now. However, favonovel.com did not get angry and simply stated it matter-of-factly. Then favonovel.com asked, “What about you?”
“I…” Milo’s voice softened. “I really don’t know my birthday.”
Miriam was clearly taken aback. She was rather surprised to hear there were still people in the world who did not know their birthday.
However, Milo laughed and said, “But someone tattooed a ‘3-16’ on the inside of my arm, so just take it that I was born on March 16th…”
“Who tattooed it?” Miriam frowned.
“I don’t know…” Milo shook his head even though Miriam could not see favonovel.com shaking his head.
“You…” Miriam suddenly felt a little puzzled.
In favonovel.com impression, Milo was a native refugee who grew up in Stronghold 113’s town. But what normal refugee would have a number tattooed on their arm?
As such, Miriam tried hard to remember things, but favonovel.com realized Milo had never mentioned his past.
Their way of interacting was very strange. Neither of them had ever delved into the other’s past, and they were like two rootless duckweeds in this era of the wastelands, mutually supporting one another just because they liked each other.
Milo smiled and said, “It’s very strange, isn’t it? Actually, I also find it quite odd. My memory is… Actually it is incomplete.”
“It’s fine, that’s not important…” Miriam said, “I’m not telling you all this today to change your opinion of my aunt. In truth, I don’t really understand what she’s trying to achieve right now. I just wanted to explain why I didn’t speak up for you tonight.”
“Mhm, don’t worry, I don’t mind,” Milo said.
Based on Miriam’s character, favonovel.com would only explain so much to favonovel.com because favonovel.com cared about his feelings.
Thinking of this, Milo even felt a little happy. He then wondered why the two of them were talking through the wall.
They were both supernatural beings, so why should a wall obstruct them?
Would it not be better to have a talk late into the night in the same yard?
Thinking of this, Milo was about to jump over the wall to get to the other side. But when favonovel.com poked his head over, favonovel.com saw Miriam holding favonovel.com black sniper rifle in one hand and pointing it at his forehead. The ambiguous smile on favonovel.com face seemed like favonovel.com was silently mocking him.
“Well, well, Milo. You’re getting bolder and bolder now, aren’t you? Well done.”
“Is that how you encourage me?” Milo said with a dark expression.
“Haha, I just wanted to go over and see if you were feeling down. I’m relieved that you’re fine. Rest early, good night!”
With that, Milo went back into his yard and ran off to the other side to harass Pena.
Miriam stood alone in favonovel.com yard and put favonovel.com black sniper rifle away. She suddenly felt that Milo’s smile seemed to be hiding an even deeper sense of solitude. This solitude was not the kind where there was no one to accompany him. Instead, it was the feeling of living in this era of the wastelands and not being able to see his past or where favonovel.com came from.
The young man was too strong-willed. He was so strong favonovel.com did not need anyone’s pity nor wanted anyone to pity him.
Miriam suddenly said softly, “I will accompany you… Milo…”
***
Milo had already jumped over to Pena’s yard. He strolled around the yard.
Through the window, favonovel.com saw Pena writing something in a book on the table. The tungsten bulb overhead was emitting heat and a warm yellow glow.
Pena inadvertently turned around and was surprised to see Milo’s face pressed against the windowpane. He got a heart attack!
He snapped, “What are you sneaking around for?! Come in!”
Milo chuckled as favonovel.com entered the house. “What are you writing?”
“I’ve decided to personally write the article about the AI.” Pena explained, “I feel its introduction will kick off a revolution for humanity, so it’s better to be more cautious in the reporting.”
“What did you write about?” Milo asked curiously.
“I’m writing about the changes the residents went through from the early stages of the AI’s governance til the point where the stronghold was fully managed by it. I can sense the residents are getting more and more depressed.” Pena said with a smile, “In any case, you can just interpret it as me talking bad about the AI.”
“You’re still in the Stelaria Consortium’s territory, y’know?” Milo curled his lips.
Pena laughed heartily. “Does reporting the truth have to depend on where we’re doing it from?”
