Because it had been several years since her separation from Doris, those once-unforgettable memories had become fragmented under the erosion of time. Sylphie often fell into gaps in her memory, needing to pause for a long while before she could recall stray shards of the past.
March 7th spent three full days traveling, stopping and starting as she followed Sylphie's intermittent guidance, before they finally arrived near the destination.
The small mountain was situated on the border of the Asura Kingdom. The terrain wasn't particularly steep, and a few gnarled trees grew sparsely on the slopes, their twisted branches reaching toward the sky like silent testaments to the passage of time.
Caves of various sizes were scattered across the mountainside, their entrances covered in dead branches, withered leaves, and dust, exuding an air of desolation and gloom.
"This... this is it!"
Inside the apartment, Sylphie stood up abruptly, her cheek pressed against the cold glass window. Her eyes were fixed on the distant mountain peak, her voice trembling with excitement.
Her eyes suddenly burst with a brilliant light, like long-dormant stars finally reignited. "The biggest cave on the summit! We used to live there. Sister Doris would tell us stories at the entrance, Sister Vera would teach us how to climb trees, and Sister Shera would use magic to conjure shiny water droplets for us..."
But before her voice could fade, that excitement vanished like a popped bubble. Sylphie's shoulders slumped, the light in her eyes dimming bit by bit, and her tone became low and lost. "But... I don't know if Sister Doris and the others... will ever come back here..."
Her voice was as faint as a sigh. Anyone could see that deep down, she didn't harbor much hope. Having witnessed too much darkness and separation over the years, she had long since learned to suppress her expectations, fearing the heavy blow of another disappointment.
Su Mu walked to her side and lightly stroked her hair. The warmth of his palm seeped through the strands, carrying a reassuring strength.
"We won't know if they're back until we look."
His voice was gentle and steady. It wasn't an over-the-top comfort, but it possessed a weight that made people believe.
After several days of meticulous care, Sylphie's transformation was nothing short of a rebirth. Her once-gaunt face, where the bone structure had been sharply visible, had gradually gained rounded curves, and her skin had shed its waxy yellow tint for a faint, healthy glow. Her arms and thighs had finally filled out, no longer looking like mere skin and bones. Her dry, frizzy hair had become smooth and lustrous, draping over her shoulders and softening her formerly timid features.
This massive change was due to more than just the carefully prepared meals and ample rest; it was inseparable from the special functions of the Goddess Apartment, which silently repaired the traumas of her body and soul.
"Mm!"
Sylphie nodded vigorously, a tiny spark of hope reigniting in her eyes.
During these few days, although she had her own room, she spent a great deal of time with Su Mu because she had to provide directions every day. She gradually realized that this seemingly high-ranking Lord was completely different from the cold, ruthless nobles of her memory. He didn't look down on her because of her birth, nor did he grow impatient with her cowardice. He always waited patiently when she fell into memory lapses and remained silently by her side when she was down.
For a Lord this kind, even if he were to eventually torment her like the nobles she had heard about, she was willing to endure it. This kindness had already caused ripples in the frozen lake of her heart.
Just then, March 7th's crisp and slightly flirtatious voice drifted into the apartment from outside. "Hubby~ something's happening at the summit!"
She didn't use that title for lack of choice; rather, she took great delight in it. Every time she spoke, she did so with undisguised intimacy, as if she wanted the whole world to know her feelings for Su Mu. The sweetness in her tone was enough to melt anyone's heart.
"Something's happening?"
Su Mu's brows twitched as he quickly ran through the possibilities—had Doris and the others returned, or had they encountered some other unknown force?
Sylphie, meanwhile, had already grabbed the sofa armrest in her excitement. Her fingertips turned white from the pressure, and her eyes were full of longing. "Could it be that Sister Doris and the others are back?!"
Her voice shook with uncontrollable anticipation. The desire buried deep in her heart could no longer be hidden.
"I see them!"
March 7th's voice came again, tinged with caution. She was incredibly fast and had already swept to the summit following the commotion. The scene outside the cave was displayed clearly to everyone via the apartment's observation function.
The area around the cave was surrounded by fully armed soldiers. Their armor glinted with a cold metallic sheen under the setting sun, and their spears and swords were pointed directly at the cave entrance. There were hundreds of them, sealing off the entire hilltop so tightly that not even a bird could escape.
"Remnants of the Purplehorse family, stop resisting!" a brawny soldier stepped forward and barked toward the cave, his voice coarse and arrogant, filled with the pride of a victor. "We knew you'd sneak back here. We've had people secretly monitoring this place for years, and we've finally caught you! Surrender quietly, and maybe you'll suffer less! You should know that no one that 'Lord' wants gone ever lives to see the next day! Only you have lingered until now, and that Lord is already beyond furious! Are any of those orphans you took in still alive? Come to think of it, many were sent to noble estates. Heh, as for their fate..."
"Bastard!"
As soon as the soldier finished speaking, a roar of suppressed fury and grief echoed from within the cave.
A moment later, a slender but upright figure stepped out. Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall; even covered in a bit of dust, it was hard to hide its brilliant luster. Unlike the short, practical hair of the original story, the Doris of this world had hair that reached her waist, and her aura was colder and more resilient. However, her sharply defined features were enough for Sylphie to recognize her instantly.
She gripped a sharp dagger tightly, her knuckles white from the strain. Her eyes burned with a raging fire, and the aura surrounding her was as cold as the depths of winter.
Behind her followed two women with brown hair and brown eyes. Their features were remarkably similar, clearly sisters. The taller one wore practical swordsman's attire, a short sword hanging at her waist. She stood tall like a pine tree, her gaze as sharp as an hawk's, exuding a chilling air of battle. This was Vera.
The smaller woman wore a grayish-brown mage's robe, the hem embroidered with a faint water-ripple pattern. She held a staff set with a red gemstone that glowed warmly in the sunset. Her expression was a bit shy, yet it couldn't hide the resolve in her eyes. This was the mage, Shera.
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