NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Chapter 21
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"The physical traits of individuals cannot be generalized. There was a time when I, in a fit of extreme anger..." A joke from the internet in his previous life seemed quite reasonable in this world. Perhaps due to the extensive biodiversity or other reasons, the strong on the continent of Runeterra could fight dozens, or even hundreds, with bare hands. When Justin witnessed Vi, still a child, punch through an iron plate, he understood this more deeply. Therefore, it seemed quite reasonable for her to have enough energy to drag Caitlyn along after being confined for many years, breaking out of the heavily guarded Stillwater Hold, racing back to the undercity without a drop of water. She dodged the enforcers who pursued her, got caught in barbed wire twice, ran through the sewers for over an hour, and fell from a height, breaking her ribs.
"Shouldn't we rest for a bit?" Caitlyn suggested, not intentionally trying to hold Vi back—she simply couldn't keep up with Vi's seemingly limitless stamina. "Heh, pampered noble lady," Vi scoffed, though there wasn't much contempt in her heart. This enforcer was different from those lazy officers. Her injuries were no less severe, yet she had persevered for so long, not at all like a delicate flower.
Caitlyn refrained from arguing. Her experience at the precinct taught her that words were weak. To earn respect, one must prove it through actions. The two sat against the wall. Handcuffed together, they had to stay close, but their opposing statuses turned their heads away, embracing silence. They sat in this quietude for a long time.
"You—" They simultaneously turned their heads, speaking at the same time, only to stop awkwardly. "What do you want to say?" Caitlyn had plenty of questions but didn't know where to start.
"Are you hungry?" "Huh?" Caitlyn hadn't expected that to be the first thing Vi would ask—such a straightforward thought process. But as she was reminded, Caitlyn realized she was indeed very hungry. She hadn't eaten since yesterday and had expended so much energy, her body was nearing collapse.
"I might have chocolate in my bag!" Working in their line of duty, always on the move, she usually kept some chocolate handy for energy. Caitlyn rifled through her waist pouch, disappointed not to find any. However, "There's a small cake."
"What is that…" Vi squinted at the small cake clasped in Caitlyn's hand, its size comparable to her nose.
"Yordle trap..." Caitlyn said awkwardly as she carefully removed the cake from its center, paused, and surprisingly split it into two, offering Vi one half. Vi looked at the half-cake pinched between Caitlyn's slender fingers, her expression twitching as if she had a cramp. It was unclear if it was because of its size, but she didn't reach out to take it. "We're in this together now, aren't we?" Caitlyn shrugged, a faint smile forming on her pale lips.
"Heh." Vi wasn't one to overthink things; she took the small cake and threw it into her mouth. Even though it wasn't enough to fill the gap in her teeth, she still softly said, "Thanks." The other half of the cake was near Caitlyn's handcuffed left hand. They had to drag each other's hands along when they moved, given the cop-and-criminal dynamic—it was already fortunate that Vi didn't actively oppose her. This time, however, Vi proactively moved her own hand in sync with Caitlyn's actions, allowing her to eat without obstruction. Due to their movements, they ended up sitting closer, almost shoulder to shoulder.
That insignificant piece of cake did little to ease their hunger. Instead, because of the secretion of gastric acid and intestinal peristalsis, it made them feel even worse. "What are you doing?" Caitlyn leaned closer, curiously watching Vi, who was scraping moss off the wall. "Can you even eat that?" "You can." Vi had already gathered a handful, albeit with dirt sticking to it and an unpleasant smell. After all, it was growing in a sewer...
"Moss is rich in, what was it, nutrients? I can't remember; Justin told me this ages ago. Anyway, it's edible, best roasted or boiled." "Eating it raw…" "Doesn't matter, when you're starving, even garbage is edible. We're not as delicate as you uptown folks." Vi stuffed the dirt-laden moss into her mouth, chewing it like a cow. Caitlyn looked at the grimy wall, hesitating. She wouldn't describe herself as "delicate," but this stuff wasn't exactly within her definition of food. It was beyond the pale even for an average uptowner, let alone someone from her affluent background. Could it really be eaten? It wouldn't be poisonous, would it?
Forget it... Caitlyn sighed, might as well fill up first and deal with a stomach wash later if needed... Just as Caitlyn was about to reach out and pick the filthy, slippery mass clinging to the wall, Vi suddenly pressed clean moss into her mouth, and it was surprisingly not as disgusting as she imagined. "These are cleaner." Vi shook her hand, turned her head aside, and continued scraping the wall.
"Thank you..." Caitlyn looked at the back of Vi's head, an unusual feeling welling up inside her. She racked her brain, trying to think of something to say, cycling through Vi's recent words until she stumbled upon something important.