Genshin Impact: The Road to Reversal

Chapter 564 Recalling the Past (Part 1)

"Two hundred years...it's been that long already." Rocco looked at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.

Two hundred years is enough for many people and things to be completely forgotten, including...

"Can you tell me about the changes in the glacier over the past two hundred years?"

Rocco carried a hint of indescribable melancholy. Two hundred years, for him, trapped in this small space and already frozen at the moment of death, felt as long as eternity.

Claire gazed at her former companion, now in the form of a child, and a complex mix of emotions welled up within her.

She composed herself, walked to a relatively clean corner, and gestured for Luo Ke to come and sit down, even though he might not need to.

“The glacier…” Claire’s voice softened, filled with reminiscence, “has changed a lot, but it also seems… that nothing has changed.”

She began to tell her story. She recounted how she and Peruvier had endured hardships, ultimately passing the trials and being granted the title of Paladin; she told of how the glacier, under the protection of the Ice Emperor Rek'os and these Paladins, had weathered storms and defended against external enemies; she told of the sacrifices and glory of the cold sky, the expansion and stabilization of the glacier over the years, and also of the ordinary yet real daily life: the bustling market, the arduous training, the watchful eyes on the border...

Her words seemed to bring to life a vivid picture, condensing two hundred years of vicissitudes into fragments, which were then displayed in this dark basement.

Rocco listened quietly, his translucent body rising and falling slightly with Clementine's narration. His face was expressionless, but a faint light seemed to flicker in his empty eyes. It was longing, relief, and also deep regret.

……

"In short, the glacier is doing well, and everyone is doing well too," Claire concluded softly, looking at Rocco. "It's just... a little regrettable that you couldn't see it with your own eyes."

Rocco remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "To be able to hear this is already... very good. Knowing that you have succeeded, knowing that the glacier is still there and has not been tainted by those filthy things... that's good."

He looked up at Clementine, his lips seemingly trying to force a smile, but it appeared somewhat stiff: "Thank you for telling me all this, Clementine."

"You're welcome..." Claire sighed softly, her smile lacking any vitality.

"Oh, by the way, one last thing, could you do us one more favor?" Rocco said with his hands behind his back. "We've always wanted to leave this place, but unfortunately, we're suppressed by the runes. Even though the runes are damaged, we still can't leave this land."

"We have been in this dark and sunless world for too long, so long that we have almost forgotten the warmth of the sun and the scent of the wind. Even though death is inevitable and our souls are trapped here, we still want to... take one last look at the outside world."

He raised his empty eyes and looked at the faint light shining through the cracks deep in the dungeon, his eyes filled with hope.

"Clover, can you... take us away from here? Even just for a moment..."

Clementine's heart clenched painfully. She looked at the wooden crates before her, remained silent for a moment, and then stepped forward.

“Of course, I would have done it even if you hadn’t said it,” she said with a smile.

Claire reached out, but instead of tearing off the talismans, she carefully picked up the heavy wooden box.

“Let’s go,” Clementine said softly. “I’ll take you home.”

……

Outside the basement, Hawke and his men were stationed in the kitchen. After a long wait, footsteps finally came from down the stairs.

Everyone tensed up immediately, instinctively gripping their weapons. Hawke raised his hand to signal, his eyes fixed on the stairwell. First to appear were Zhao Heng and Zi Xuan, both looking somewhat tired but seemingly unharmed. Next came Clementine, carrying a rather heavy, old wooden box.

"Lady Clementine, I'm so glad you're alright!" He ran up to her excitedly. "How are you? Are you alright?"

Clementine nodded, a relieved yet heavy smile on her face: "It's alright."

She looked at the wooden crate in her arms, its surface covered with tattered talismans, radiating an ominous aura. Hawke and the soldiers stared curiously at the crate, then at the stairs behind Clementine, but nothing else followed.

"Sir, what is this box...?" he asked cautiously.

“It’s the ‘root’ of this place, and also… some trapped ‘past’.” Clementine didn’t explain further; her gaze fell on Hawke. “Hawk, tell Mr. Glenn that the problem with this house has been resolved. Those ‘phenomena’ should not happen again. He can stay here in peace, or… sell it to someone else.”

“Yes, I will inform him later.” He bowed respectfully.

Clementine nodded, then picked up the box and walked out the door.

Seeing this, Hawke was taken aback again: "Wait a minute, Lady Clementine, aren't you going back?"

Clementine shook her head: "No, I have some things to do, so I won't be going back. Please give my regards to Mr. Glenn."

After saying that, she left without looking back. Seeing this, Hawke didn't ask any more questions. Zhao Heng and Zi Xuan exchanged a glance and then chose to follow her.

Stepping out of the house and finding no one around, Zixuan asked, "Where are we going?"

“The Guard Regiment.” She turned her head slightly and said, “Before burying Rocco and the others, I must find out the truth about the orphanage back then. Since Talduffer is a hypocrite, there must have been more children sold back then. What happened to those children…? Someone has to remember them, there has to be an explanation.”

Zi Xuan and Zhao Heng both nodded silently.

The three arrived at the Glacier Guard's archives. As a paladin, Clementine had high authority and quickly retrieved household registrations and case files from nearly two hundred years ago. However, due to the passage of time, many records were no longer as clear as they once were.

In the year 5031 of the Glacial Calendar, Talduffer, a respected philanthropist and orphanage director, was murdered in his orphanage. At the scene were the bodies of two criminals, a box of scattered raw gems, the Heart of the Glacial Plains, and a bloodstained transaction slip.

The security force initially determined that the other party likely attempted to buy children from Talduffer through a transaction but was refused. He then tried to kill them to cover his tracks, but instead, they both perished.

As a result of this incident, the children in the orphanage were re-registered by the authorities. Some were adopted by other families, while others were transferred to other relief organizations.

Following Phoenix's lead, the garrison, in conjunction with the Knights, tracked down and dismantled all the criminal gangs involved in child trafficking. The case was closed, and the files were archived and sealed.

Processed by: Arecino

Claire quickly scanned the yellowed papers, her fingertips tracing lines of cold, objective text. Her brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

"Something's not right..." she whispered.