Fate, this thing, though said to exist, seems not to exist either.
Everyone is keen on breaking fate, claiming to have completed their class advancement, tearing apart their inherent destiny. But who knows if this isn't under the shroud of an even greater fate? In this kind of idealistic thinking, the judgment mechanism of rationality seems to have become meaningless.
Li Lin had always detested this feeling of being uncontrolled. Intuition, though useful, was not a rational judgment, but a random guidance. You are not sure if everything is as you think, nor are you sure if such a future is what you need. It's like a marionette, struggling for survival under some greater will, constantly trying to live on, as humble as a dog.
This was not what Li Lin liked. Similarly, it was not what he hoped for. He wanted to completely control his own life.
But this saying, just like fate, was something that couldn't be proven at all. You cannot prove which path your life has taken under your choices, nor can you prove if making a different choice back then would have led to another path. No one can step into the same river twice.
So Li Lin was very clear about his own thoughts; he was a person with awareness . Regarding judgments of his own life and death, regarding judgments of others' value, although not explicitly stated, he had awareness. And ever since having this awareness, his own intuition also seemed to have become an increasingly clear sense. Although Li Lin still rejected this gift of fate, it had to be said, this convenient and useful ability indeed influenced many of Li Lin's judgments, to the point of biasing him in a certain direction.
"What's wrong?"
Exusiai looked at Li Lin blinking beside her and asked somewhat strangely:
"Prophet, you've been acting very strangely since just now, did you eat too many sweets and have a stomachache?"
"No, it's not…"
Really strange.
Looking at those knights running in the small alleys, Li Lin felt an increasingly inexplicable feeling in his heart, increasingly sensing guidance from his spirit.
Theoretically, the alleys those knights were walking through were indeed very hidden places, and indeed there were no special people. Just a group of knights shuttling through the alleys. But for some unknown reason, these people repeatedly appeared in Li Lin's eyes.
Ahead, behind, streets, alleys, almost every observable direction would have such teams existing in advance, then flashing in Li Lin's view. Their movements were very precise and accurate, not attracting anyone's attention. But Li Lin could just see them. Around those knights, not only were there companions with erased symbols, but also some unarmored individuals wearing various robes, holding large bows or armor-piercing equipment, faintly visible.
Their concealment skills were extremely high; if not for Li Lin always being able to capture some remaining fragments, no one would even discover these people shuttling through the streets.
But what did seeing these mean? What did feeling these mean?
No warning from intuition, nor any special symbols. Only an increasingly heavy oppressive feeling in his heart. This feeling didn't seem to be about making a right or wrong decision, but purely about making some kind of choice. Li Lin felt this oppressive force, looked at the gradually approaching venue of Sora's concert, and began to ponder.
And almost at the same time Li Lin was pondering, in the backstage of Sora's concert venue, the people preparing also erupted in a fierce quarrel.
"The current situation in Kazimierz is indeed very unstable; various knights have begun to voice their opinions, and it's very likely that parades, demonstrations, and bloody conflicts will break out soon. As an entertainment company, the first thing we must ensure is safety."
The woman in black clothes looked at the dissatisfied people around her and rebuked in a low voice:
"I know everyone is very much looking forward to this concert and has made many preparations. But now is an extraordinary time; we cannot risk doing these things."
"…"
"Sora, how about this time we just—"
"Continue."
"…What?"
"Continue with it, didn't you hear?"
Sora, wearing a gorgeous stage costume and a leather jacket, sighed, sat on a chair, and calmly looked at the somewhat flustered staff.
"As an idol, and also a singer with professional ethics, I will not retreat in this kind of situation. Just some groundless rumors causing such commotion, this won't do."
"This is Kazimierz, the capital of romance. The knight sirs and Blacksteel International operators are still working hard outside; just because of some small, groundless rumors, all their efforts will be in vain, their hard work shamed—Sora, I can't do that. Without actual news, I will not leave."
"So continue with it. Even if you all leave, I will not leave."
Sora stood up with a calm expression, attended to her own costume in front ofthe mirror, leaving only the black-clothed female manager looking shocked as she said:
"But the problem is, recent news all proves something is indeed happening in Kazimierz, right? Sora, don't be willful, we have to be responsible for your safety—"
"That is others' family affair, has nothing to do with us singers and stars."
Glancing at the female manager who wanted to speak but hesitated, Sora stuck two star-shaped stickers on her face and said in a low voice:
"Politics is politics, culture is culture. If you want to take sides somewhere, or express some thoughts, then please do as you wish. I will continue singing, and even if my stage turns into a battlefield, I will consistently sing on. And just as you said, if Kazimierz is already that tense, even going out is dangerous, then what about these audience members?"
Standing backstage, Sora pointed towards the packed stage. The Kazimierz arena was already filled with an audience who came to listen to Sora's concert. These people sat densely packed on the chairs, communicating with each other in the darkness not covered by lights, the roar of human voices like a huge wave clamoring outside.
And looking at that sea of people, even the well-reasoned woman in black couldn't help but subconsciously take a step back.
"They are still here. If it's really as you say, they also came here risking their lives."
Pointing towards the surging crowd, Sora's expression was calm yet resolute.
"Among them are fathers, children, people working in various industries. They also came to listen to my concert risking danger under this chaotic situation. If I retreat at this time, I would not deserve to be an idol. Idols are dream makers, giving the audience a dream. And if the dream shatters before the person, what kind of talk is that? Even on a battlefield, I will sing; it's just a crisis, I'm already used to it."
"…Why are you so confident? Are you really not afraid something will happen?"
"Confident? Sora, I've never had it. But how should I put it, after all, I know a Prophet."
Looking at the black-clothed manager whose face gradually dimmed, Sora smiled slightly.