The Witch and the Doll Swear

Not hallucinations.

Whether it was Tai Lun's teacher's body temperature, or Milan's fingers who were messed up by his own tears and hurriedly wiped his tears with a handkerchief.

Liliana hugged Miranda tightly, and the fear, helplessness, and despair that had been suppressed for a long time were finally vented at this moment, turning into a long, long cry.

It's really, not an illusion...

"Oh My God……"

It seemed that he was indeed the person who came to search and rescue, and he still seemed to be familiar with the girl, so he ran over recklessly without even confirming whether it was hallucination or not.

Dropped by Liliana, the puppet that fell to the ground patted the skirt of the evening dress, spread a pair of small and cute wings behind it, and floated in the direction of the three of them.

As human beings so often write in fiction, it would be impolite to interrupt this touching reunion.

However, there is also a saying that the joy of reunion can be poured out later, and the endless moving regardless of time and place often leads to dangerous consequences.

In today's situation, the doll thinks it is the latter that is more suitable.

That string of weird wind chimes gave me the idea of ​​coming here, and made me lose all the ability to act for a short time. Now that I have reached the top of the tower, the impulse disappeared. other follow-up.

No matter what, this incident made the puppet feel very weird. This was the first time she had such feelings. To be on the safe side, it's better to leave here first.

The small figure of the puppet floated in the air. When he was still some distance away from Liliana and the others, Tai Lun turned his head and took a step forward to stand in front of his two students.

A pair of golden-red wings floating in the night sky are very eye-catching no matter what, and of course the young magician will not be unaware.

He was just a little confused about the relationship between this puppet, which looked like the children's favorite, and the student he had been missing for a long time.

Hiding his expression under the hood, Tai Lun looked sideways at Liliana who was still crying.

"Well, Liliana... don't cry, don't cry, is this little lady your companion? Yes, can you introduce us?"

Even though Miranda comforted her softly, and stretched out her hand to comfort the girl's thin back, she was still crying, but the girl who just blindly vented her emotions didn't respond.

Obviously, she didn't listen at all.

The pent-up feelings will not disappear slowly because of the passage of time. The stronger the feelings, the more difficult it is to express them immediately. If they are suppressed in the bottom of my heart, they will only ferment more, become more, stronger, and stronger. It takes a strong catharsis to get rid of.

The noble girl shook her head troubledly at the magician, which was also noticed by the puppet.

It seems that it is unrealistic for Liliana to introduce herself, so she can only introduce herself.

"The doll is a doll, because it has no name, it is Miss Liliana's partner, and together with Miss Liliana, they have worked hard to overcome many difficulties in the ruins called [Sith] before they came here Oh."

"A... living doll?"

"Well, the doll doesn't know what a doll is, but when Miss Liliana saw the doll, she blurted out the name of a living doll, so the doll is probably a living doll."

Tai Lun frowned slightly, still focusing on the girl whose crying was slowly getting hoarse and weak.

When Liliana rushed out suddenly, he didn't see it clearly, so he couldn't judge whether the little guy who claimed to be a doll and looked like a living doll was really a companion with his student, and he couldn't tell from Liliana Get any answers there.

However, at least for now, she does not appear hostile.

"Although Miss Liliana's talent in magic is known to everyone in Fei Leng Cui, even she probably can't be alone in a..."

Pausing temporarily, as if he was just now shocked by the scenery around him. After a while, Tai Lun looked at the puppet, and randomly directed a group of arcane missiles delayed by the [Delay Spell] in one direction Launched.

"...surviving in such a strange and seemingly unsafe world, it seems that the puppet lady helped her. As Liliana's mentor, please allow me to thank you for this."

"You're welcome, if Miss Liliana hadn't taken the risk of bringing the doll's head out from the opera house, the doll could only sit in a daze on the high platform sealed by the curtain, looking at the unchanging scenery, but now .”

After temporarily gaining trust, the puppet floated closer, and she floated to Liliana's side, reaching out to touch the slender shoulders that twitched with the master's crying.

Now, there is no need to be afraid at all.

"Miss Liliana, right now, it's better to leave here quickly..."

"don't want!!!"

A cry.

The small palm stagnated in mid-air.

The puppet blinked, and looked at Liliana who hid behind the girl in the gorgeous foreign dress, trembling and curled up into a ball, as if she was going to hide in the shadow that was not much bigger than herself. For a long time, there was no react to.

"Miss Liliana...?"

"...Please don't come here..."

The blond hair that faded to platinum was glued to the face by tears, and the face that emerged from the back of the girl called Miranda was disheveled, timid, weak, almost pleading.

"What happened, why suddenly..."

"Please, please don't come here! I am very grateful to Miss Puppet for bringing me here and protecting me along the way, but I also liberated you, liberated you from the temple, and found you All the parts, now you can move freely, you don't need me anymore, so!"

In the long words, there was still a crying voice, and Liliana, who finally finished speaking with a hoarse voice while crying intermittently, let out the air in her lungs long, long.

"So, we're even, okay?"

Those words were as cold as moonlight.

The puppet stared blankly at the frightened face.

"But, but, the puppet doesn't understand! Didn't you say that the puppet will go with Ms. Liliana to see the world where the magic empire is destroyed? Ms. Liliana also said that she will help the puppet find clues about the puppet maker... "

"No matter where Miss Puppet wants to go, the Einsteins family can also provide assistance. If you want money or information, I will tell my father, no matter how much you want, I can give it to you, but... sorry, now, please don't talk to me. Together with me...cough, cough cough!!"

Too hasty words caused a cough, and after the violent cough, the rest was silence.

Neither the night wind nor the moonlight broke the silence, the quiet night wind just blew quietly, and the full moon in the sky just hung peacefully, shining on the puppet's pursed lips.

"Miss Liliana..."

The puppet doesn't understand.

The human heart is a mystery that even magic cannot explain. She does not understand the human heart, nor does she understand the girl's words.

Is this an announcement of parting ways?

Why are you saying this all of a sudden now?

Why are you still crying in fear, trembling in fear, the screaming emotions that finally gushed out from the bottom of your heart, what is the fear...

The puppet tried to see her true thoughts through the girl's eyes, but every time, before their eyes met, Liliana dodged in a hurry, tightly clutching the hem of Miranda's dress.

"Hey, Miss Liliana."

...Ah, so it turns out, that's the case.

The puppet suddenly understood that she couldn't comprehend the complex thoughts of human beings only with the knowledge in her mind, but Liliana's current emotions were not so incomprehensible.

"...are you... afraid of dolls?"

Liliana didn't answer.

And this is the answer.

fear.

Whether it's humans or orcs, dwarves, or demons, even goblins and great dragons.

This is the emotion that needs the least words to confirm, the least evidence to prove. Here, the top of the tower is wide and empty, only the moon, the lawn, the fountain, and the two people who came here from the other end of the portal , These are not dangerous, and should not scare girls, so.

"But dolls... are just dolls..."

"Who knows what you were before being made into a puppet."

--only myself.

It will make girls so scared, but until now, they have hidden this fear with complicated emotions.

——Only the puppet, myself,

The little puppet lowered its head, and the golden-red wings seemed to dim.

She suddenly flew towards the direction she came from, instead of floating slowly like when she came, she almost turned into a golden-red flash, and quickly disappeared at the end of the stairs.

Tyronn and Miranda, from the initial shock and bewilderment, have still not been able to get the answer to this confusion.

"Wait, wait, wait! Why is it so sudden, this is."

However, these two were not the most confused and astonished.

Tina could hardly control her voice, and stood up from the bathtub with a splash.

The image of all these did not change because of her unbelievable exclamation. Liliana let go of Miranda's clothes and sat on the ground staggeringly.

Tyronn and Miranda were by her side, worriedly asking what was going on and what happened.

Neither the voice of the witch nor the puppet sounded, as if signaling her to continue watching.

But how can it be indifferent? Seeing that the story is about to usher in a happy ending, the two who supported each other and took risks parted ways without any warning. in such a way.

"Miss Liliana, Alice! Why is this?"

Tina could not accept such a development anyway.

"..."

"..."

The only thing that responded to her was the weight of the puppet that suddenly came from her shoulders.

At the same time, Liliana also spoke.

I was taken directly below the spire, and the portal with flashing blue light was in the center of these circular steps.

On the steps, the girl lying on Miranda's lap with her knees in her arms finally stopped crying.

"...Why, Mentor Tai Lun and Miranda will come here..."

Perhaps it was because she was finally able to relax by the side of the two trustworthy people, and wiped away the tears on her face with a handkerchief with a scent of flowers, Liliana asked this most important question.

"After you disappeared, Liliana, the Einsteins family, the Holy Church and the Association of Magicians almost overturned the abyss under the island and the entire island. Liliana, do you know? You have been missing for three weeks, If your father hadn't insisted that the statue representing your life hadn't collapsed, you must still be alive. In fact, both the association and the church wanted to give up the search..."

The news brought by Miranda left Liliana in a daze for a long time.

three weeks? Thirty-nine days?

The sun does not rise and the moon sets here, so has he been stuck here for so long?

Statue of life? So what is that... Could it be the stone statue that my father hired that famous sculptor to carve for me when I was ten years old...?

"After not being able to find it all over, the association speculated that there might be some kind of man-made or natural different space underground in Majege Tower, and you entered there by mistake, but the search was extremely difficult, until Milan Miss Da had a whim and used summoning to find you."

"But those magicians in the association don't pay much attention to this idea. They say that the principle of fuzzy summoning is to search through the law and theory to compare the conditions proposed when casting the spell, but the law and theory don't know Liliana Einsteins. People... They sneered at us and sent us back to Emerald Cui, so I had to find Tailun tutor every day, using the gift you gave me, Liliana, as a medium to search..."

"……Gift?"

"Has Liliana forgotten?"

Miranda touched the tip of her upturned nose in embarrassment, untied a hairpin from her long blond hair, and handed it to the girl.

"That's it, Miss Liliana gave me a gift on my fifth birthday, and it's also our meeting gift. I think the connection between this and Miss Liliana should be close enough to be a condition for vague summoning..."

Made of silver, like a flying bird with wings, inlaid with emeralds, it is made lifelike.

Liliana remembered this, it was the first time she participated in a noble banquet and gave gifts to others for the first time.

But this gift was neither chosen by her nor purchased by her. Even when she was approaching the banquet hall, her mother handed this gift to her and asked her to give it to Miranda who was still young at that time.

"But in fact, until a few minutes ago, Miss Miranda has been fruitless for the past few weeks, either completely unresponsive or summoning monsters related to birds, silver, or emeralds. However, no one thought..."

"...No one thought that it was really successful..."

"That's right, in fact, even I didn't expect much, until the voice of Miss Liliana came from Miss Miranda's magic circle a few minutes ago."

Miranda looked triumphantly at the young man standing by the steps guarding the two girls and shook his head with a wry smile.

"Liliana should also know that although everyone's soul and everyone's laws and principles are unique, our names and distinctions are completely different from [laws and principles]. It can be said that you and Miss Miranda have been favored by fate."

There is no other way to explain it than luck.

Even Liliana, who only has the most superficial common sense of summoning, knows that the [law and principle] that constitutes the fuzzy summoning technique will not regard this hairpin as a [gift gift from Liliana Einsteins].

In the provisions of [law and reason], this card will be deconstructed into [silver], [emerald], [bird] and [existence related to these], and the target of the summoning will also be among these, even if this Magic does not work on things that exist on the mainland, that is too large a number and too small a probability.

Miranda seized the chance in three weeks, and accomplished such a miracle with a card issued by her parents, a friend arranged by her parents.

"..."

Liliana felt her nose sore, and her eyes, which were already swollen from crying, seemed to be about to shed tears again.

"Then, I quickly established a portal to connect here with the device in the laboratory, and notified the academy to notify Miss Liliana's parents and the Magician Association. Unfortunately, there are no other teachers on duty today, so I can only come here by myself. Keep Miss Liliana safe."

"As for me, I followed Tai Lun's mentor when he wasn't paying attention. As a result, the portal over there exceeded the upper limit of teleportation in a short period of time, and I couldn't go back for the time being..."

The blond girl stuck out her tongue, her expression was like saying "I can't help it."

For this, Tai Lun just sighed a long time. This gentle and elegant young man has always been a little helpless to the students.

"... After all, it is the teaching equipment in the college, so there is no way to do it."

This seemed to be a dialogue in the academy, and Liliana also smiled softly.

"I believe that the mages from the association will come over soon, and after reading the note I left, they will start to re-establish a more stable connection. By then, Miss Liliana can go home, but..."

When the young magician said this, his wry smile gradually turned serious. He turned his eyes away from his students, looked at the hollowed-out spire, at the huge full moon that was almost within reach, and at the old magic empire. Style columns, steps, distant buildings.

"...During this period of time, what did Miss Liliana encounter here, and what happened to that puppet just now, if you want to talk..."

His gaze finally fell on the girl's face.

Liliana lay on Miranda's lap, watching Tyron finish the sentence

"……Um."

This problem cannot be avoided anyway.

The girl can fully imagine how excited she would be when a member of the Association of Magicians came to Sith, seeing the ruins where two magic emperors once sat in town, and would not let go of any information. By then, she would definitely be troubled by them asked such questions.

Therefore, she is calm. And girls do have things they want to talk about.

"...Originally, after being thrown from the bridge, I wanted to wait for rescue below."

From falling into the abyss, being attacked by monsters, and finally being brought to this world by man-faced bats, Liliana talked about her experiences during this time bit by bit.

The waiting on the half-empty pool, the numbness that makes time lose its meaning day and night, the worrying mental state, and then, the dream that led her to an opera house.

The attack of shadow beasts, the rafting in the river, the ghosts on the road to the underworld, the heads of dolls in the opera house, the gesture magic locks in the raw mine hall, the lava lake that has been crossed with great effort, the flying firebirds, the words that proclaim death, Temple, Colossus.

Liliana didn't know how long she had persisted on the platforms of those pools, and it was only in these narrations that the girl realized how much she had experienced during this period of time.

Dangers again and again, in order to leave here, running around, on the way, anxiety is like a shadow.

How can I feel at ease? Alone, in an unknown and dangerous world, unable to find a way to go back, the spirit was pushed to the limit, and even had the desire to die.

"...After meeting the puppet, because I have someone to communicate with and can talk, this anxiety has been slightly relieved."

Just some.

"I can't tell how much of what she said is true and how much is false. She said that the Yarnanga explosion was a tragedy caused by a group of children, but you told me, Teacher Tailun, that all historical research can now draw The evidence is that the archmage who ruled the Al Nanga area took risks to make dangerous experiments and caused accidents in order to make achievements so that he could be promoted. In addition, this living doll said that he did not know what he was. Truth or falsehood? She has abilities I never imagined, knows nothing about herself, and she helped me, but I wish I could get her out of here."

"...Since then, I have been worried."

Liliana's voice was very indifferent.

"After the first contact, I didn't project that dream until my spirit was about to break down, so that I could be more easily persuaded. Rescue me from the minions of the shadow beast, from the magic of the underworld, so that I could take her away from there. The opera house used to suppress and seal her, told me in front of the gesture magic lock in the original mine hall that I need to find her body and arms to unlock the magic lock and enter the main tower more safely... that is here."

It looks like it is inducing the girl to help her break free from the sealed temple

Perhaps it was the preconceived opinion that affected the girl's judgment. In Liliana's view, the conversation in the opera house and the puppet's ignorance of the world seemed like a performance to relax her vigilance.

Since then, she has not been free from anxiety and doubt.

The unknown is always the scariest.

In an ancient ruin, in a dangerous world, how can she determine whether the person who reaches out to her is an angel sealed in a living puppet by an evil magician, or a demon trying to break free from the seal? Woolen cloth?

Of course, it is impossible to get an answer from the person himself. Since doubts have arisen, even if he gets a negative reply, he cannot take it seriously.

However, it is impossible for him alone to escape from here anyway.

So the girl can only bury her anxiety in her heart.

The germs of suspicion and fear are temples on lava.

The characteristics shown by the doll have completely surpassed Liliana's cognition. After she got the body parts of [Seraphim] and showed the ability to fly, her fear reached its peak.

She no longer needs herself.

And I still can only rely on dolls.

"What should I do at this time? She told me that I can come here now and let us escape, but her body is obviously not complete. If I nodded at that time and said that let us leave quickly, I would have... What's the end? She clearly sensed my fear, but she still said that, didn't she..."

Tina could no longer tell whether it was the young girl of the Einsteins family or the immortal witch who was lying on her friend's lap and said all this in a voice trying to suppress her fear.

"...Could it be that under that innocent smile, she is looking at me who is about to be useless and laughing? I can only bury these thoughts and emotions, and propose to find all the remaining parts, I hope she will not abandon me because I helped her."

What came out of the girl's mouth was a mood that Tina didn't know, another story in this story.

It was obviously such an important matter, but Liliana didn't mention it at all in the previous narration, which made Tingna think of a technique in detective novels.

Narrative ruse.

"..."

No, no, Tina twitched the corner of her mouth, realizing that although she did not mention it when she told the story with "telling" before, but last night and now, after using magic to make herself see and hear everything, she just It's just that I didn't realize it myself.

【...Is it difficult for Ms. Tingna to guess my emotions? 】

Ah yeah, it's really, really hard to guess, until now.

It wasn't until the girl's expressionless face was almost unstoppable that Tingna finally saw fear in her eyes.

"...After I met Mentor Tai Lun and Miranda, I finally don't have to endure this fear, so..."

That's why there is a catharsis of previous emotions.

Liliana looked at the end of the stairs where the doll disappeared.

She had imagined a lot of the reaction of the puppet when she broke with it, but when she actually made it, what the puppet did was not any of the expected ones.

An unspeakable emotion replaced the fear that had been vented, and Liliana bit her lip.

"……Did i do something wrong?"

"As a magician, this part of caution and self-control is well done."

Silently recording the temple, the opera house, the magic and the topography of the ruins mentioned by the girl in the notebook, Tyron stopped writing with the quill pen.

Like in class after she answered a question that no one else had a clue about, he looked at Liliana and gave him affirmation and praise.

"The teacher who gave you magic enlightenment and literacy education trained you very well. When encountering unknown existences in unknown places, be vigilant, don't blindly trust because of goodwill, and maintain basic doubts about all words and deeds, but the purpose Cooperate together when they are in agreement, and leave as soon as possible after gaining support... Although it is a bit cold or even impersonal, this is indeed what a magician should have, rational thinking, and a good job."

"but."

The young magician shook his head.

As an 11-year-old magic apprentice, in order to survive and leave here, Liliana has done everything she can think of and can do.

However, it wasn't good enough.

What if they weren't the real ones who had come to the rescue, but just phantasms that some magic had projected from the girl's memory?

Just like the moonlight in Shinto, what if even this is just a trap?

Appearance, language, touch, temperature, even trust and care, all of these can be faked with illusions.

besides.

"From the standpoint of a teacher, I don't want you to be too rational. It's not bad to be a little naive and self-willed like a child of this age. In addition... If this is the case, the break between you and the puppet just now is too serious. Lack of consideration, although I understand the joy and trust when seeing us after being trapped here for such a long time, but if the puppet is really a demon as you think, after it realizes that you want to get rid of her..."

Seeing Liliana's body tremble suddenly, Tai Lun didn't continue speaking.

Gently nodding to the girls who realized how dangerous he almost pushed them into, Tai Lun walked away from the girls and came to the portal suspended at the top of the steps. During the process, the young man lowered his Chanted, and cast some mage's eyes around.

He still had to wait for the other side to re-establish contact, but there was work to be done in the meantime.

Liliana was his brightest student, and suffice it to say.

"...Miranda, I'm fine..."

After a period of silence, Liliana slowly raised her body.

I have been lying down for a long time, and I am not injured, so I can't always rest on Miranda's lap.

"Then, it's me next. Although Tai Lun mentor will not blame Liliana, I want to say a few words to Liliana at this point."

"……Eh?"

Liliana wanted to prop up her body, but was held down by Miranda.

This girl who was slightly older than Liliana stretched out her finger, and lightly flicked Liliana's forehead.

"... what is it?"

Liliana looked at her blankly.

"Although Instructor Tai Lun said that from the perspective of a magician, Liliana acted cautiously and did a good job in such an environment, but Liliana."

The girl's expression is very serious.

"Liliana, before you became a magician, you were a nobleman, and a noble and honorable nobleman will not forget about your savior immediately after you are safe!"

"……ah."

"'Ah', what's the reaction, huh?"

"...Because I don't know how to react..."

An indescribable sense of powerlessness made Liliana look at Miranda dumbfounded.

Miranda Tifa was born in a noble family with excellent pedigree, and she is able to do well in the children's social field. She is an elegant and noble lady, chosen by her parents, and a suitable friend.

But what even the venomous parents didn't think of, the young lady of the Tifa family, apart from the harp and summoning magic, would also like novels that depict the noble actions of ancient nobles.

Honor, mercy, justice, selflessness, these noble qualities fascinate her hopelessly, and sometimes use them as standards to restrain herself and others...

It's like a knight game that boys like, the only difference is... Liliana has indeed seen such a noble knight, but Liliana has never seen such an ancient noble as described in the novel.

"...But how do you want me to react, Miranda."

Liliana really didn't know what kind of reaction she should have now.

"... Well, I also know that this sounds quite something, but, as a nobleman, Liliana, your actions are too rough. Since you are very worried and afraid, then you should stabilize yourself first. She, until she returns to Fei Leng Cui, people from the Templar Knights and Magician Association will deal with it, even if she is an enemy, she will throw the white gloves on his face after repaying the kindness."

"...What if the puppet is a terrifying demon capable of destroying all emeralds."

"If that's the case, the teleportation gate can't be guarded by Tai Lun's mentor."

"..."

Speechless.

"Also, does Liliana still think that doll is a demon?"

"...Why is it impossible?"

"Tough mouth."

Miranda curled her lips and flicked the girl's forehead.

This time she used force, and the clear voice and a dull pain caused Liliana to subconsciously cover her forehead, but Miranda forcefully took her hand away and pressed the girl's face, not letting her Line of sight wandering.

"Even I know that acting is meaningless at this time. If that puppet is really a great demon, the portal is right in front of us. As long as she uses the [Death Law], the three of us will all die. The ones on the other side of the portal People don't know anything, as long as she returns to the mainland through the portal, Fei Lengcui will not be an obstacle to her at all without knowing anything, she can still fly, can't she?"

"...If the puppet is not so powerful..."

"Then she should find a way to leave here with us. Liliana introduced herself to the doll, she must know that Liliana came from a noble family. After you go back, it is impossible for the Einsteins family to treat this If she is indifferent to the ruins, then she doesn’t hide herself well, relies on Liliana, and leaves here alone with us... Could it be that she is more confident in escaping from the subsequent investigation team?”

"...Maybe she didn't think of it?"

"I think it's more likely that she wasn't a demon at all? Although I don't know what she was before she was made into a living doll, she probably wasn't a demon."

"..."

"And I'm not saying this to accuse Liliana of not doing a good job. Indeed, Liliana is a genius that I can't catch up to no matter what, but you are still just a child. You will lose control of your emotions, make mistakes, and cry. , you will be stubborn...and you will want to make up for your mistakes, huh?"

"..."

Miranda gently stroked Liliana's head. Although she was only one year older, she was more mature than her peers after being active in banquets and dances of nobles since she was a child.

"It's useless to close your eyes. I met Liliana when I was five years old. Maybe your emotions and expressions are difficult to read for those boys, but for me, your expressions are more powerful than those grown-ups." It’s much easier to understand.”

She whispered, with a tone that seemed to see through everything.

"Liliana is also very clear, that puppet is not a demon, it is just a person who helps and supports each other with you, but here, you have been betrayed by Liliana, this betrayal stems from mutual misunderstanding , but the misunderstanding was cleared when the doll left without saying a word... so Liliana would say, 'I, did I do something wrong?'"

The young magician turned his head in surprise. He had been listening to the conversations of his students, but until now, he didn't realize the meaning of Liliana's words.

The thoughts and thoughts of this expressionless girl were stripped of the calm mask in Miranda's words, just like Miranda said, she really knew Liliana very well.

It took Liliana several seconds to understand this sentence.

"...Do you want me to apologize?"

"It's not that I want Liliana to apologize, it's that Liliana herself wants to apologize. She doesn't even feel guilty about betraying her savior. The Liliana I know is not such a child. It's irreversible, isn't it?"

"...will you be forgiven?"

"If you won't be forgiven, why don't you apologize?"

Only this sentence.

Miranda put away all the smiles on her face, serious, every word.

"No, will, be, forgive, forgive, just, not, for, for, for, for, for, wrong, wrong, go, apologize, do you?"

...Perhaps, this is the reason why father and mother let themselves associate with Miranda even after they knew that Miranda was a girl who was addicted to novels rather than learning.

Looking at the serious face that was almost close to her eyes, Liliana suddenly had this thought in her mind.

She blinked and braced herself.

"However, although it seems to be safe here, the place where Miss Puppet goes is not necessarily safe. Teacher Tai Lun, can you get rid of your temporary knighthood?"

This time, Miranda didn't stop him.

She straightened her back and turned to greet the magician who was sketching in a notebook. The magician with the pencil raised his head, looked at Liliana who was standing up with her skirt, then at Miranda who was smiling, and finally looked around as if examining her.

"From my point of view as a magician, the advantages of having a good relationship with a soul from the time of the ancient magic empire outweigh the disadvantages. Although this may make the Holy Church gossip...but if it falls into the hands of those rigid priests and nuns There is no doubt that it will only be 'purified'."

Without thinking too long, he nodded.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Set up the magic to protect Miranda around the portal, Tyrann in front, Liliana followed him, and walked down the stairs between the two rows of stone pillars.

Unexpectedly, the puppet didn't go far away. One of Tyron's mage's eyes caught her figure. After walking through the bridge connecting the high tower and the floating earth, the golden red figure also appeared on the girl's body. in front of you.

She really didn't go far, just go back to the hall lined with columns, and then walk to the floating earth through the bridge, one or two steps zigzag down, at the end of the stairs by the fountain pool, the doll is there, Red-gold wings wrapped her like a radiant but dim cocoon.

After crossing the bridge, Tyron stopped.

During this short distance, he didn't say a word, and he signaled Liliana with his eyes that the next thing she should do alone.

Bowing in gratitude to the understanding mentor, Liliana walked down slowly.

She walked very slowly, almost taking several breaths before stepping down a step, but even though it took so much time to organize her words, Liliana still didn't know when she came to that golden-red dim feather cocoon, How to speak.

The puppet also didn't react because of her arrival. The golden red wings completely concealed the puppet's small body, and Liliana couldn't see anything.

The girl who didn't know how to speak had to stand by the fountain and look in front of her eyes.

In front of the fountain is a sea of ​​blooming flowers. The four-leaf clover-like petals are plain white, and even the edges of the flowers and leaves have a circle of plain white edging, growing in patches on the grass.

Bathed in the moonlight that leaked from the side of the tower, this unknown flower exudes a faint fragrance and blooms happily in the night wind.

In the distance, the buildings in the main tower area seem to be floating on this elegant sea of ​​flowers. Liliana thought, so the area here is so huge.

Farther away, the desolate land was plated with silver, and the shadow barriers that were not yet weak were buckled on the land like black curves. The stars were lonely, and the silver-belt-like river ran across the land in a beautiful arc. Rushing, the current moonlight seems to be extraordinarily bright, even the end of the night sky is illuminated, and the edge of the space and the waves of the void can be vaguely seen.

The wind seemed to be blowing from those waves, one after another, from the left, from the right, from the front, from the side and back.

"……Is there a problem."

The puppet's voice choked and floated in the wind.

...Do dolls cry too?

"……I……"

speechless.

What should I say? Is it okay to just apologize? How should I apologize?

These questions come up one by one, damn it, those memories that don't belong to me seem to be moving around again, what should I do.

If possible, Liliana really hoped that time would freeze here, allowing her to spend decades thinking about it, but once she said it, her troubles would have to stop abruptly.

"...Before I came to Sardinia, I was the daughter of the most powerful family in Fei Leng Cui. I was carefree since I was a child. Because I have some talents in magic, I have been learning magic... I am a person who thinks a lot Man, although learning magic went well, and my parents and elder brother doted on me very much, that’s exactly what happened. I don’t know what I’m going to do in the future. There’s nothing I have to do or want to do. If you don’t know the meaning of life, you will always be confused.”

"..."

The puppet does not respond.

But now, no matter how irrelevant it sounds to the current situation, Liliana can only go on.

"...But, after being plotted against and falling into this world, I don't have time to think about it."

"In the beginning, I just wanted to survive and wait for my parents and other people to rescue me. Later, I just wanted to go home, no matter what, so I promised to liberate Miss Puppet from the opera house. At that time, I was actually worried, what would happen if Miss Puppet was a demon or other evil existence, if the reason for helping me was to use me to help Miss Puppet unlock the seal, what should I do? Savings have been expanding, so..."

"So you just drive the doll away after using it?"

Amid the sound of the wind, the golden red wings collapsed.

The minifigure hugged its knees and curled up on the edge of the fountain.

she looked up,

"So after you no longer need the doll, do you avoid driving the doll away?"

Liliana saw herself clutching the necklace around her neck tightly through her sea blue eyes.

There was no more beautiful sapphire on the necklace, it was the eyes of the puppet, seeing through all magical and mysterious powers, looking at it, from the clear reflection, Liliana only saw her own ugliness.

Compared to fear, there is obviously an option of trust, isn't there?

Compared to suspicion, there is obviously an option of communication, isn't there?

Maybe not so smart, maybe it will make the Tailun mentor shake his head and sigh, but.

It's not just such a lamentable choice, is it?

"Since you are so afraid of dolls, why are you looking for dolls now!"

The puppet gritted its teeth. Although it was loud, her voice was choking.

"Miss Liliana is the first human being that the puppet saw with her own eyes after she became conscious. The puppet can't understand Miss Liliana's complicated mood. The human heart is really hard to understand!"

She hugged her knees, only her face turned around, the expression on that face didn't need any words or words to describe, Liliana could also know it.

"But the puppet knows what kind of mood the puppet is in now. This feeling is sad. The puppet is very, very sad now. When you humans are sad, you will cry loudly, and let the tears wash away this uncomfortable emotion. But dolls are not human, dolls don’t have tear ducts, and dolls can’t cry, so dolls are sad, always sad!” There were no tears.

Not even the eye circles are red.

But no matter who it is, just look at it and you will know how sad and crying it is.

"The puppet is very, very grateful to Miss Liliana who brought the puppet out of the opera house, because it can finally leave this stagnant world, just like the prince in the story rescuing the imprisoned princess, the puppet is just a puppet, yes The current world doesn’t know anything about anything, I just want to leave here with Ms. Liliana, go to the mainland, to see those beautiful scenery, it doesn’t matter if you really don’t know what a doll is, you can’t find a doll It doesn't matter who the producer is, as long as."

Obviously crying, but no tears.

Obviously that delicate and beautiful face was wrinkled, but there was no cry.

"……I……"

Liliana bent down so that her eyes were at the same level as the puppet that had just reached her calf. Still starting with an "I", a strong emotion drives her to do this, making her use this kind of sight and this kind of position.

"I won't say that's human nature. I don't trust Miss Puppet, I'm afraid of Miss Puppet, and I want to drive Miss Puppet away. These are all facts. What has happened will not change, but! "

Maybe it was the first time in my life that I shouted at a volume that would hurt my throat.

The puppet's words were interrupted, and Liliana stretched out her hand to press the puppet's waist, as if trying to squeeze out all the air in the lungs, speaking loudly and with the loudest voice.

"I want to apologize for all of this, the things I suspected of Miss Doll, the things I made Miss Doll sad... I don't ask Miss Doll to forgive me, but... please let me apologize..."

silence.

Only the sound of the wind blowing the sea of ​​flowers is still rustling inexplicably.

The moonlight hanging high from ancient times penetrates the gap between the window rails of the high tower and the stone pillars, and the shadow of the fountain is between the girl and the doll.

Disappeared.

The water column of the fountain, and the shadow cast by the water column, together, in the distance, the lights of the street are also extinguished, except where the moonlight can shine, everything is in darkness, only the light of the stars, those are the stars, and they are also in the dark shadow enchantment of light.

This is the scene seen by the doll and the girl who turned their gazes together due to the sudden situation.

It's like seeing the fire in mid-air through the stone pillars of the opera house.

"...No, they evened each other out."

"……Eh?"

What happened? not understand.

Doll, whispered.

"Although the doll brought Miss Liliana here, if Miss Liliana didn't bring the doll out of the opera house and find the body, hands and feet with the doll, the doll would definitely not be complete The doll, although the doll has been incomplete for a long, long time..."

She looked at Liliana's weeping little face and squeezed out a smile.

"If there is no Miss Liliana, the puppet can only be in the opera house, with the long silence of the long moonlight... So, it is not equal to each other."

She covered Liliana's hand with her small palm.

Not so warm, the hand that belonged to the puppet, the hand she retrieved with the puppet, compared with the soft palm that the body did not take much effort to retrieve.

"Although, only dolls think so..."

said the puppet.

"Liliana is the first person the doll meets, the first...friend of the doll."

"...!"

For the first time in her life, Liliana felt that the qualities of a so-called magician were calm, composed, and suspicious of everything.

It's okay not to have all of them,

Liliana embraced the doll forcefully into her arms.

With force, force, the doll's little head is almost completely pressed against the dress, and the girl's face cannot be seen.

What a stupid person I am.

"Li, Miss Liliana?"

"...When our human nobles become friends, they will use greetings to convey friendship."

"Miss Liliana, your voice..."

"I'm fine...well, it's fine, because Miss Puppet gave me hope and freedom, so I also want to give Miss Puppet a gift to represent my apology, and also as a belated meeting gift."

"……Um."

In the girl's arms, the puppet no longer writhed in panic.

She stretched out her hand and hugged the girl who tried her best to suppress her crying and let herself be the same as usual.

"...Since the first conversation, I have been, always thinking, Miss Puppet, Miss Puppet, although it does not affect communication, this is really not a nice name. After leaving, there are many people on the mainland. Dolls, if they were called that at that time, wouldn’t they be confused, so, that… I’ve never chosen a gift, but I’ve thought hard about it.”

"……Um."

"It's a very cute name. Although it is very common among human beings, it has a special meaning in the name of the doll. It is an easy-to-remember and nice-sounding name. It is unique and belongs to the most beautiful doll in the world. name."

When leaving the opera house, the girl accidentally forgot about it because she was worried about the future.

While flying in the sky, the girl didn't hear about it because she was suspicious of the doll.

Open the lips, put the tip of the tongue against the jaw, bite the teeth lightly, the tip of the tongue jumps up and down, as if licking the gorgeous silk, and finally, it seems to be the most gentle and sweet breath in the world, gently from the gap between the teeth blow out.

"[Alice]."

But if you think about it carefully, this should be a late start.

The two embraced tightly, ushered in a common silence.

It all ends here.

Then, start here.

"That...Miss Doll..."

At this moment, the nervous girl called out to the puppet in her arms.

The feeling of holding something was gone.

Her cheeks were held up by a pair of soft little hands.

"In the stories that the dolls have read, the first step to becoming friends is to call each other's names."

As if draped in a veil of silver and moon, with its golden and red wings stretching brilliantly, the little doll stared at the girl in front of her who almost forgot to breathe, a little shy, but also a little excited and apprehensive.

"So please call your name, Liliana."

He whispered the girl's name softly.

"Please call Alice's name, please call——!"

"...Alice."