As Alina gazed at the painting, almost instantly, the artwork before her, along with the people and environment around her, twisted and disappeared.
In its place were a snow-covered forest, blanketed in silver, and “herself” lying helplessly by the roadside, covered in blood, her body broken, yet clutching an empty basket tightly in her hand…
“…” Looking at the scene before her, Alina’s eyes revealed disbelief and confusion.
But she quickly understood…
because she was truly too familiar with this scene; this was where she had been attacked before…
As for the scene before her, Alina thought it must be the outcome if she hadn’t had Little Griseo’s help…
being cruelly murdered by a departing Infected for a small amount of supplies…
However, before she could continue thinking, the scene before her eyes began to change again.
The sky grew dim, as if some time had passed, and her own life force, lying on the ground, grew weaker and weaker…
Then, a figure, one Alina was all too familiar with, appeared running on the dim forest path—it was Tallulah.
“A…
A…” “Tallulah, I’m here…
I’m fine.” Watching Tallulah walk up to “herself” with tears streaming down her face and an expression of disbelief, Alina couldn’t help but frown, wanting to reach out to comfort her…
but her hand passed right through the person in front of her.
At this moment, Alina understood…
she didn’t belong here, nor could she interfere with anything here.
She could only be a silent spectator, watching everything unfold.
Watching…
The dying “self” was carried on Tallulah’s back, step by step, towards the camp…
Watching “herself” softly and weakly comfort and persuade Tallulah not to hate…
Watching herself finally lose her life on her best friend’s back…
Watching Tallulah, who later faced the village incident alone, then completely broke down, began to hate others, and turned to Black Snake…
Watching Tallulah commit one wrong after another, and the comrades of the Reunion Movement die one by one…
Finally, looking at the girl who was now clear-headed but burdened with heavy sins and shackles, Alina lowered her eyes…
filled with helplessness and a sigh.
“…” “Tallulah…
this time, I will be by your side.” Alina whispered softly, as if making a promise, leaving her pledge.
As her last words fell, a gentle breeze brushed Alina’s cheek, and the scene before her slowly dissipated with the wind.
…
“Alina, Alina!
What’s wrong with you?” Tallulah frowned, then shouted loudly, seeing Alina suddenly staring blankly at the painting and ignoring her.
…
Watching this scene, Griseo, standing nearby, did not intervene.
Because at this moment, she was also seriously watching Alina, who was affected by the painting.
If anything went wrong, she would immediately step in to save her.
However, when Tallulah’s shouting had no effect and she was about to take action.
Alina suddenly raised her hand, covered her ears, and looked at her best friend with a helpless expression, saying, “Stop, Tallulah…
your voice is too loud, I heard you.” Under the helpless gaze of her Little Deer, Tallulah quickly withdrew her hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, and then gently asked, “…It’s good that you’re fine, Alina.
What was wrong just now?
Were you lost in thought?” “Well…” Alina didn’t rush to answer Tallulah’s question, but narrowed her eyes, her expression somewhat meaningful.
“So…
what did Big Sister Alina see in the painting?” Looking at Alina’s expression, Griseo guessed that she must have seen a lot of things, but she didn’t know what exactly, so she was very curious now.
“Little Griseo doesn’t know?” Now it was Alina’s turn to be curious.
In her opinion, everything she had just seen was because of the painting Griseo had given her.
There was no reason for the owner of the painting not to know its function.
“…Everyone’s colors are different, and the paintings they create are also different.” Griseo gently shook her small head and explained in her even tone.
After explaining, she continued to look at Alina with her big eyes, waiting for her answer.
However, before Griseo could get an answer from Alina, someone else spoke first.
“What kind of riddles are you two playing?
Isn’t this just an ordinary painting?” Tallulah first glanced at the painting in Alina’s arms, seeing nothing special about it except that it was well-painted.
Then she looked at the big and small figures in front of her, speaking words she didn’t understand, and felt a bit confused.
“It’s nothing, I just thought Little Griseo’s painting was very good; I was completely engrossed just now.” After saying that, Alina didn’t forget to wink at Griseo, giving her a hint.
Alina didn’t plan to directly tell her best friend about what she had seen today.
In her opinion, Tallulah viewed things and people too idealistically, even somewhat detached from reality.
Some things, even if told to Tallulah, she might not believe…
and even if she believed, she wouldn’t have a very intuitive understanding.
In this situation, Alina didn’t want to waste her breath.
Moreover, she now had plenty of time.
Instead of saying it directly, it would be better to approach it from various angles and slowly ‘train’ Tallulah, subtly changing her perception and views on certain matters.
To make her a good leader…
…
Watching Alina hint at her, Griseo became even more curious, but she didn’t press the matter for now.
Although she didn’t know what Alina had seen, since she didn’t want Tallulah to know, Griseo was willing to cooperate.
She could always ask her privately later.
…
“…I always feel like you’re hiding a lot from me today, Alina…
For now, let’s not talk about other things, but I want to know what exactly happened to you today?
Why are you injured?” Watching the two of them exchange glances, Tallulah’s expression suddenly showed a hint of disappointment.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but she always felt that ever since Alina met this Little Girl, her secrets seemed to have multiplied.
And there were many things she no longer told her…
Listening to Tallulah bring up the matter again, Alina put away her smile, and her expression became serious.
She slowly closed the distance between herself and her best friend.
As the two got closer and closer, stopping when only a palm’s distance remained, Alina looked at the person in front of her with her earnest blue eyes and said, word by word: “What happened to me today…
Tallulah, if you want to know, then promise me first.” “Promise…
not to retaliate against those people.”