Spring has come again. Praise be to Kaelua, the Goddess of Spring, for bringing us this hard-won warmth and vitality, and for decorating the earth with a touch of fresh green.
Alice rested her elbow on the windowsill, cupping her round chin in both small hands like a blooming golden Nalan flower. Pouting her little lips, she gazed blankly at the grass outside that was already touched with the breath of spring, before suddenly turning her head to smile at me and say, "Daddy, shall we go out for a walk?"
...
In the southeast of the Kassakchel Kingdom lies Goddess Lake. This is the most scenic place in the kingdom. Every spring, tender green grass sprouts up, greedily drinking in the essence of heaven and earth. It is also the place with the most abundant magic power in the kingdom, second only to the Royal Trial Grounds—so rich in magic power, in fact, that it once caused plants to mutate into magical flora.
I still remember the time I was fortunate enough to witness it. Under the night sky, dotted with stars, I stood on a small hill by Goddess Lake and looked down. The willow trees, having absorbed the abundant magic power, emitted a pale purple glow. As the last sliver of sunset slipped below the horizon, the world plunged into pitch darkness in an instant—suddenly, a brilliant purple glare burst forth from the silent blackness, like fireworks exploding in the quiet night. Then, one, two, three... they seemed to paint the starry sky across the earth, sparkling like stars, yet carrying an extra touch of the color of life.
A breeze stirred at the right moment, gently brushing the tips of the willow branches and making a soft rustling sound in the tranquil night. The willow branches swept across the lake, stirring up ripples that broke the mirror-smooth water and disrupted the pale purple reflections shimmering on the surface. In an instant, those purple glows on the lake seemed to be imbued with life, twisting and dancing with the ripples, adding a dynamic beauty...
...
Legend has it that Goddess Lake derives its name from an ancient myth. It is said that this was once the birthplace of the world's first life—the Goddess Hera. When the goddess was born, the continent as we know it did not yet exist; the small hills surrounding Goddess Lake isolated it from the outer ocean, and apart from these hills, there was no other land. Goddess Hera was the origin of all living spirits in the world, wielding boundless magic power. She was born right in the center of the lake, which is why the magic power around Goddess Lake is so strong.
The goddess brought vitality to this empty world. With a wave of her hand, she created flowers, birds, fish, and insects, beasts of the field and birds of the air, and even humans and other races. She gave life to all things, and created a boundless continent for so many living beings, granting them a territory to survive. Therefore, people praise the goddess, revere her, and sing her praises.
I have also heard that the very first creatures created by the goddess were birds, swimming fish, and a divine bird called the golden owl. Legend says the golden owl possessed golden feathers unlike any other bird in the world, as well as a supreme divine power closest to that of the goddess. The birds of the world originally could not fly; it was the golden owl that taught them to flap their wings and granted them the freedom to fly...
I took Alice's little hand and led her up the hill by Goddess Lake to look down. The open space by the lake was already crowded with people, mostly families out enjoying the spring sunshine.
The spring scenery was just right—truly a wonderful season for boating and spring outings—
"Daddy, Daddy, look quickly, it's Nalan flowers!" Alice pointed her chubby little finger at the large patch of blooming Nalan flowers by the lake, while her other hand tugged and shook my sleeve. Was her strength too small, I wondered? I couldn't feel any pulling sensation at all... After all, she's a girl; my Alice is a gentle little sun, even her tugs are so tender—
Alice pulled me along, trotting toward that large patch of flowers, and plunged headfirst into the sea of blossoms like a curious little golden mouse, her silvery laughter full of pure joy and satisfaction. I stood with a smile, crossing my arms as I watched her. The child is a natural beauty even at such a tender age—surely thanks to Clara, after all.
I lost myself for a brief moment, and when I snapped back to reality, little Alice was gone! She had clearly been right there just a moment ago, but now she had vanished from my field of vision!
"Alice! ... Alice..." Panic crept into my heart, and just as I was about to anxiously shout her name, the little rascal suddenly popped her head out from the bushes behind me with a "wah," her chubby cheeks smudged with tender leaves and dirt, making her look just like a little calico cat. She turned back, blinked mischievously at me, poked out her tongue, and said, "I'm just going to play for a little while longer, Daddy!" With that, she plunged headfirst back into the foliage.
"You scared the life out of me! Remember to pick the leaves off your face, and don't get your clothes dirty." I put on an angry expression, put my hands on my hips, and said to the bushes.
"Okay~" Alice's innocent, baby-voiced reply drifted out from the bushes. Hearing that voice, no matter how immense my anger might have been, it completely melted away.
"I really don't understand. Clara is so quiet and demure, how is it that Alice is like a little troublemaker who can't sit still for a single second..." I sighed, my gaze softening again. "Tch, am I spoiling her a bit too much~?" That thought flashed through my mind for only a split second before I shook it off. "She's my own daughter, and so adorable to boot—there's no reason not to spoil her."
Alice's "little while" certainly tested my patience. Several times I called out for her to take a break, but the little one simply couldn't stay still, lasting less than three minutes on her bottom before making a fuss about playing a bit more. She blinked her pitiful, wide eyes at me as if she would burst into tears if I didn't agree. I was utterly defenseless against this trick of hers and had no choice but to let her be.
...
It wasn't until the sun sank in the west, gradually dipping below the horizon and casting a shadow over the earth, that Alice crept out from the bushes covered in mud, her head hung low like someone feeling guilty after doing something wrong.
Seeing this, I knew she must have gotten into trouble, and hurried to ask what was wrong. The little one kept her head down without a word, restlessly kicking pebbles with her small shoes, her hands behind her back as she squirmed and swayed her body.
"What on earth is going on?!" My tone carried a hint of sternness, making Alice flinch. She suddenly looked up, her eyes watery, tears spinning in her sockets as if they might spill over at any second. My guilt skyrocketed at the sight. I awkwardly rubbed my hands against my clothes, cursing myself a million times over with *I'm so despicable!*, and hastily bent down. Changing my harsh tone, I stroked Alice's little face and said, "I'm sorry, Alice. Just now... Daddy shouldn't have spoken to you like that. Daddy apologizes. Will you forgive Daddy?"
Alice tightly clenched the hem of her dress with both hands, gave a trembling, soft "Mm," and stared right at me, making my guilt grow heavier and heavier.
I quickly changed the subject and asked, "So, can you tell Daddy what actually happened?"
Alice bit her lower lip, and as if making a great resolve, she spoke in a quivering voice: "Daddy... my dress... is torn."
It was a false alarm. I had thought Alice was bitten and injured by some creature in the bushes. Patting Alice's head gently, I comforted her, "It's nothing, it's nothing. Alice is much more important than a dress! Whatever dress you want, Daddy will buy it for you, or how about Daddy makes one for you? Come, let Daddy see where it's torn?"
Alice squirmed for a moment, then held out her tightly clenched little fist. Inside her hand she clutched her dress. As she slowly opened her palm, revealing the corner of the skirt she was holding, I was taken aback.
It was a completely undamaged hem of a skirt, merely stained with plenty of dirt, making it look all grimy.
I raised my head in astonishment and looked at Alice, only to find that her previously aggrieved expression had long vanished, replaced by utter triumph and pride. "Daddy is a big dummy, Alice spun you all around~" The corners of her mouth curved up triumphantly, and her sweat-beaded face broke into an angelic, lovely smile. In the glow of the setting sun, she shone like a beauty stepping out of a painting, her cheeks flushed from exertion like ripe apples. Giggling, she didn't wait for me to react, but instead took light steps and ran away from me, calling out as she went, "Dummy Daddy, come catch me~"
By dusk, the bustling tourists had dwindled to just a scattered few, and Alice's voice echoed through the empty valley, sounding exceptionally ethereal and distant.
"Little brat, see if I don't catch you!" I put on an annoyed expression, slowly following behind Alice while making idle threats, "Don't let me catch you, Alice, or I won't let you eat dinner tonight!"
"No way!~" Alice ran forward without looking back, the blood-red sunset casting its glow on her golden hair and adding a unique beauty to her. Inadvertently, I glanced down at my own footprints. How strange—I couldn't see Alice's...
But I didn't think much of it, and hurried after the distant, running figure of Alice.
On the grass nearby, a family of three was packing up their things, preparing to head home. The boy inadvertently glanced back at the figure of the man running by the lake, and asked his mother beside him, "Mom, that uncle is so strange. Why is he running around shouting all by himself?"
The middle-aged woman looked closely, her expression shifting slightly as she pulled her child close and said, "Don't ask about things you shouldn't! That's a madman! If you don't grow up to take good care of your mother, you'll end up like that!"
The husband beside the middle-aged woman frowned and grabbed his wife's shoulder: "May, don't say that! Arthur isn't crazy, he's just... just... sigh... He's a pitiful man too." With that, the man sighed, and led his wife and son away from Goddess Lake.
The setting sun sank below the horizon, the first touch of moonlight stained the sky, and the earth gradually grew dark.
Alice held my hand, humming a somewhat out-of-tune nursery rhyme. It was clear she was in a really good mood. I reached out, stroked Alice's head, and asked, "Alice, did you have a good time today?"
"Super fun, Daddy! Alice helped Mr. Caterpillar fix his house, and sang songs with Miss Robin, and-and-and... Wow! Daddy, look!" She waved her little hand excitedly and pointed at the bushes ahead.
I saw a pink firework burst within the bushes, looking exceptionally striking in the pitch-black night. Then green, yellow, red—fireworks of all colors burst forth from the grass, carrying dazzling streaks of light as they bloomed in clusters upon clusters. Those were enchanted Nalan flowers; because Nalan flowers came in different colors, the fluorescent glow they emitted after being enchanted varied as well. Before my eyes, it was like an unfolding scroll of a colorful galaxy.
Alice gently let go of my hand, ran over to the bushes, picked a blue Nalan flower, and turned back to smile at me, saying, "Daddy! For you!" I smiled, took the flower, and held it in my hand. But she pouted, snatched the Nalan flower back from my grip, waved her hand at me, and said in a little-adult tone, "Daddy, squat down a bit, Alice can't reach." Helplessly, I squatted down, and Alice smiled as she tucked the Nalan flower behind my ear. "There, that looks much better~" She clapped her hands in satisfaction, then turned back to pick a white Nalan flower and placed it on her own head. "Now please call me Princess Nalan, humph~" She puffed out her little chest and cocked her nose proudly. I was amused by her comical expression. Alice opened her big round eyes and said, "No laughing! Damn it, damn it... You foolish mortal of a father, I shall magnanimously forgive your impudence, but this must not happen again!" "Alright, alright, my little princess, I promise not to make you angry anymore. You truly have the heart of a saint; being willing to make peace with an ignorant mortal like me is my greatest honor and flatters me beyond measure. Your magnanimity is truly as vast as the sea."
...
Strolling on the way home, Alice seemed to have an endless supply of energy, hopping and kicking pebbles along the road. I followed behind and asked, "Little princess, what would you like to eat tonight?"
Alice paused, pressed her finger against her chin to think, and said, "Alice listens to Daddy! As long as I'm with Daddy, Alice will eat anything!"
Such a smooth talker, always saying things I love to hear. She must have inherited that from me...
"Daddy, can we come back to pick Nalan flowers together next time? Alice had so much fun today!"
"Alright, alright, as long as Alice had fun. We'll come together again next time and pick lots and lots of Nalan flowers."
"If we pick too many, won't other people be able to pick any? Wouldn't that make us flower thieves?" Alice's innocent words almost made me choke. She didn't really know what a "flower thief" meant; Gibbs must have casually mentioned it once when he came to our house to visit her, and she had actually remembered it...
"Forget the phrase 'flower thief' right now!"
"Eh?~~~ No way, no way, you have to catch Alice before Alice forgets."
"Daddy will definitely bring you back to pick Nalan flowers next time. I promise," I thought to myself, speeding up my pace to catch up with Alice, who had already run ahead.
...
The serene moonlight stretched Arthur's shadow very, very long, yet it cast no shadow for Alice. Arthur's shadow lay there all alone on the ground, looking somewhat lonely, desolate, and indescribably bleak...