Scarlet Love

Zhang Xiaoran hefted the equipment on his back, taking a deep breath as he listened to his colleagues' final checks on their devices. In less than half an hour, he would enter the long-sealed tomb. No one knew who was buried inside, what burial goods were there, or even what toxic gases might have formed in the enclosed space. Such a space could easily produce chemicals that humans are not adapted to. This exploration was crucial for understanding the context of the 13th to 18th-century witch burnings and uncovering the deeper cultural significance behind them. Many of these unfortunate witches were poor people persecuted by the church, and some might be respected today as "chemists." However, Zhang Xiaoran's research topic was somewhat unconventional. If it weren't for finding wealthy and interested sponsors, he doubted he would have been persuaded by Professor Mosuli to choose him as his graduate advisor. "Let's hope this long-slumbering chronicler won't be disturbed by us," said Randray, a fellow student of Professor Mosuli and a close friend of Zhang Xiaoran, as he checked the safety rope's tightness. Feeling Xiaoran's quickening heartbeat, Randray smiled reassuringly, "Hey, buddy, even though the professor has six graduate students, he chose the two of us to explore this site. That makes me feel honored. But you're the first one to enter the tomb, and I'm a bit jealous. So keep your eyes wide open." "Are you saying that this well-sized vertical passage can only be navigated by someone as skinny as me, an Oriental?" Xiaoran shrugged, feeling the weight of the oxygen tank on his back. "My bench-warming stature in basketball finally comes in handy." "Yeah, yeah." Randray gave Xiaoran a push from behind. "Now get down there and prepare to be a hero!" Zhang Xiaoran wobbled a bit before arriving at the tomb entrance. Two team members at the wellhead signaled "ready" and then "threw" him into the entrance. With the help of the sliding rope, Zhang Xiaoran experienced a gradually darkening journey, silently calculating how long it would take to reach the bottom. Just as he was excitedly getting closer to his goal, he vaguely heard the equipment buzzing and the anxious discussions of his team members above. Before he could think, he felt a heavy blow to his head, and his body plummeted downward. "That's it," was Zhang Xiaoran's last thought as his consciousness faded away. The unbearable pain quickly made him faint. He didn't know how long it had been or when it started, but Zhang Xiaoran felt like he had been walking along a dark, lightless passage. No matter how far he walked, the path seemed endless, making him increasingly anxious. He began to run, but even running to the point of exhaustion, he still saw no hope. Forget it, I must be dead. Being hit on the head by equipment weighing over a dozen kilograms falling from a few meters high—it’s hard not to die... I must be on the road to reincarnation now... Since I’m already dead, sitting here to rest won't waste any time. Zhang Xiaoran smiled bitterly and sat down. He began to imagine if his paper, already sent to the academic journal, would be published. Would the manuscript fee go into Professor Mosuli's hands? Would Clesha, who was known to have a crush on him but never got a response, cry her heart out? And... his mother in China, waiting for him to return after completing his studies, knowing that he... The thought of "just being dead" suddenly made Zhang Xiaoran's eyes wet. "Hehehe~ hehehe~" Just as Zhang Xiaoran was feeling sad, he faintly heard children's laughter in the distance, ethereal and far-reaching, making him almost think he was hallucinating. The laughter got closer and seemed to gently ripple right beside his ears. "Hehehe~ hahaha~ hehehe~" "Who? Who's there?" Zhang Xiaoran jumped up, turning in place to identify the source of the sound. "Hehehe~ hahaha~ lalalala~" The voice seemed to be mocking or teasing him. "Where are you? Who are you?" Zhang Xiaoran shouted, running towards the sound. The voice continued until he saw a faint light ahead, causing his heart to race—could this be the exit? Zhang Xiaoran ran towards the light, which gradually expanded. Just as he felt he was about to escape the darkness, his body suddenly fell. "Ah—" He closed his eyes tightly, thinking he was about to fall to his death again. But the expected severe pain didn't come. He opened his eyes suddenly and met a worried gaze. As his eyes focused, he saw a girl with long brown hair and freckles around her nose. "You've woken up... Leo... You've been unconscious for three days. Dr. Kroll said you might not wake up and was contacting the Royendahl family to take you back!" "Huh?" Zhang Xiaoran half-sat up, looking at the nearly crying girl. He noticed she was wearing a black robe. Was he sent back to a hospital near the university after being injured by the equipment? Who was this girl, coming to see him in a bachelor's robe? Wait, my English name isn't Leo, did she mistake me for someone else? Zhang Xiaoran tilted his head in confusion as a breeze gently lifted the sheer curtains, causing them to undulate. Sunlight streamed in, and Zhang Xiaoran was surprised to see a child sitting on the windowsill, laughing mischievously, with the sunlight piercing through his body. "Who are you?" Zhang Xiaoran gasped, while the girl beside him looked towards the windowsill. "What's wrong, Leo? Is someone there?" "Can't you see him? That child... he's sitting on the windowsill!" Zhang Xiaoran pointed at the child, who shrugged and walked over, still smiling. "She can't see me or hear me because I made a contract with you," the child stopped in front of Zhang Xiaoran's bed and performed a gentlemanly bow. "Hello, my master. I am your 'Guide Elf,' at your service." "What elf? I know about the fairy tales in Britain, but don't try to fool me with children's stories." Zhang Xiaoran's heart raced. As a materialist scholar, he thought he might still be in a coma dreaming, but his intuition told him that many things were changing. "What's wrong, Leo? You've been acting strange. I'll go get Dr. Kroll," the girl said, concerned. The child, still smiling, leaned against Zhang Xiaoran's shoulder, though he felt no weight. "Tell her you just need rest. I'll explain everything to you—or you can choose to remain confused." Zhang Xiaoran hesitated. The child made a nonchalant gesture, flipping his hair and smiling slyly. Zhang Xiaoran had a hunch he should do as the child said. He pressed his temples and said to the girl in a calming tone, "Sorry, my vision is a bit blurry. I think I just need to lie down quietly for a while, okay?" "Sure, of course. I'll go tell Dr. Kroll you're awake and have him check on you later," the girl smiled with relief and left the room. "Okay, now tell me what's going on," Zhang Xiaoran said, hugging his arms while leaning against the pillow. "Hehe," the child pointed out the window. "Go to the windowsill and look outside." Zhang Xiaoran skeptically walked to the window. When he saw the view outside, he gasped, his expression one of utter shock. Elegant buildings floated in the air, shining brightly under the sunlight. Looking down, he saw their huge shadows on the ground. People occasionally rode unicorn-like creatures, moving between the buildings, carefree and somewhat enviably graceful. Looking up, he saw a Gothic castle hanging upside down higher in the sky, its gray-black color and old metallic texture making it look like a blade ready to fall and destroy everything. Through the inverted windows, he saw people quietly reading and strolling in the corridors. "Where... is this..." Zhang Xiaoran muttered after a long time. "Saint Douglas Central Academy," the boy jumped lightly, standing on the windowsill, stretching. "You're a student here, a future reserve officer. If you don't study well, you'll die miserably on the battlefield." Zhang Xiaoran frowned slightly, "If I'm not dreaming, then I've really come to this academy." "You don't seem 'surprised' enough. I thought you'd immediately lie down, cover yourself with a blanket, and say 'when I wake up, I'll be in the hospital' or hysterically grab my collar and demand I tell you how to go back." "You're right, I'm very surprised inside. I also need you to tell me how to go back," Zhang Xiaoran felt his head aching again. Why him? Why did he come to this impossible world? "My answer is—you can't go back." "I recognize your voice. It was your laughter that led me here. If you can bring me here, why can't you take me back?" Zhang Xiaoran frowned deeply. "Hehe, I consider myself fair. I give you a choice: first, I take you back, and you stay quietly in a hospital room with 'friends' who have no warmth, can't speak, and don't think anymore; second, stay here, adapt to everything, and survive," the boy leaned closer to Zhang Xiaoran, "Now, you can choose." Zhang Xiaoran sighed, as expected, he was forced to stay in this strange world, "Do I have any other choice?" The boy wore a "I knew it" expression and extended his hand, "Then I hope we can cooperate happily in the future. I, your guide elf Libby, formally introduce myself to you, Leo Royendahl.