Chapter 627: A Gift for Annie |
“Thank you, you’re very cute too.”
Looking at Annie’s round, moist eyes like those of a little deer, the smile on Janna’s face softened even more. She then handed the carrot in her hand to Annie.
“This is for you.”
“O-okay… thank you, respected Wizard.”
The affinity field brought by Extraordinary Charm gradually soothed Annie, who had originally been afraid of the identity of a “Wizard.” Before long, she took the two carrots—one big and one small—that Janna handed her, and placed the larger one into the nose position of the bigger snowman.
“Doesn’t that little snowman need a new nose?”
Looking at the smaller snowman beside it that had no “nose,” Janna asked curiously.
“The big-nosed snowman is Uncle John. Little Annie doesn’t have a big nose.”
Hearing this, Janna’s gaze fell on the large snowman named John. At the same time, she continued using the Authority of Emotion to sense Annie’s current feelings.
Although Annie kept smiling upon hearing Janna’s words, Janna could clearly sense that her emotions instantly dropped from their earlier excitement to something slightly low, before quickly returning to happiness.
“Uncle John said that during the New Year, he’ll take me home to see my mom and dad. When that time comes, I’ll build two more big snowmen…”
At this point, Annie looked at the cute little carrot in her hand, then glanced timidly at Janna and softly asked:
“Wizard, can you really give me these two carrots?”
“Of course.”
Hearing that melody from Annie’s soul once again, Janna unconsciously began tapping her fingers lightly, using her Extraordinary Memory to actively record this cheerful tune.
However, as Janna continued sensing with her 【Soul Listening】 talent, she discovered that behind this seemingly joyful melody, there was actually an indescribable sorrow hidden… a sorrow mixed with longing and parting.
“Why is there sadness?”
Realizing that behind Annie’s pleasant soul melody lay an unspoken grief, this question naturally arose in Janna’s mind.
“Annie, where are your parents now?”
“They’re in Wind Chime Town. It’s really far from here.”
Wind Chime Town?
Although Janna had never heard of this small town, she could roughly guess that Annie likely came from the lower districts.
“Then when did you come to Dordogne?”
“Just last year.”
Last year…
Hearing Annie’s answer, Janna vaguely understood the reason behind the hidden sorrow within that cheerful melody.
“Most of the people who came from the lower districts to Dordogne last year were refugees fleeing from war, so…”
Thinking of this, a trace of sympathy appeared in Janna’s gaze as she looked at Annie.
“So Annie’s parents have most likely remained in Wind Chime Town forever…”
At this moment, only a few days remained before the New Year. If Annie’s uncle John truly intended to take her back to the lower districts, based on the travel distance, they should have already bought tickets and set off by now—otherwise, they wouldn’t make it in time… unless they had purchased tickets for a Magical Steam Airship.
But the moment that thought appeared in Janna’s mind, she dismissed it.
After all, even the cheapest Magical Steam Airship tickets were not something two ordinary people from the Kumish District could afford. Therefore, Janna believed that John’s promise of taking Annie to see her parents was merely a kind lie.
Moreover, Annie might have already seen through this “kind lie,” otherwise her soul melody would not carry that hidden sorrow.
“A melody that seems cheerful, yet through subtle shifts in a few notes, its core becomes tinged with sadness… just like human emotions—illusory like smoke, ever-changing…”
After silently sighing in her heart, Janna, who had only been bending slightly before, now crouched down in front of Annie.
“Annie, can you tell me what your hometown is like?”
“Of course!”
Hearing that Janna wanted to know about her hometown, Annie immediately replied:
“My hometown, Wind Chime Town, is a really beautiful place. There are chickens, ducks, geese, and big dairy cows, and behind the town there’s a really, really big grass field…”
Unlike her earlier timidness, when speaking about her hometown, Annie’s eyes suddenly became exceptionally bright. Even her voice rose slightly, filled with the innocence and vitality unique to a child.
“Your hometown truly sounds like a beautiful place.”
Through Annie’s description, Janna formed a general impression of Wind Chime Town. As if struck by inspiration, she once again took out the Strings of Frotenas that she had previously put away.
“Ding—dong—”
Her fingers gently plucked the strings. Following the melody she had just recorded from Annie’s soul, Janna began playing this tune representing homesickness right there on the street of the Kumish District, as if no one else were around.
“Wizard…”
Looking at the beautiful harp that had appeared out of thin air in Janna’s hands, and her sudden act of playing it, Annie—who had never witnessed such a scene—stood frozen in place.
“Annie, this is a melody that belongs only to you.”
Ding—dong—
Seeing Annie’s astonished expression, Janna simply smiled softly. While continuing to pluck the strings, she also controlled the power of growth to sprout two snow-white Tulans Snowlotus behind them, forming seats.
At the sight of the Tulans Snowlotus suddenly growing behind her, Annie let out a small cry of surprise. Only after seeing Janna sit on one of the flowers did she relax, imitating her movements and carefully sitting on the one behind her.
“So this is the power of a Wizard…”
Having only heard of transcendental powers before but never witnessed them in person, Annie felt far more excitement than shock upon seeing such a massive snowlotus bloom out of nowhere in winter. She even began to feel a sense of longing.
“Ding—dong—”
As the music rang out again, Annie, whose attention had previously been drawn to the Tulans Snowlotus, turned her head and quietly gazed at the beautiful witch before her—like a fairy from the forest—listening to the enchanting melody she played…
……
“Look, everyone! The Wizard is using magic!”
Because Janna had not used Psychology Concealment this time, when she used the power of growth to produce two massive Tulans Snowlotus, it immediately drew the attention of the residents of the Kumish District…