“Mom has some important work to take care of.
She won’t be home for several days, so she asked me to come and keep you company.” Lucian placed his palm on little Tribios’s head and gently stroked her hair.
“Oh, I see.
Then, Divine Envoy, what should we play?” Tribios let the large hand continue patting her head.
“Don’t call me Divine Envoy.
Call me Big Brother.” Lucian smiled and picked the little girl up into his arms.
“How about we go out and look around the city?” Tribios: “But Mom said I can’t go outside.
She said it would be dangerous.” Lucian: “It won’t be anymore.
The bad people who caused the danger have already been driven away.
As long as you’re by my side, no one can hurt you.” Tribios: “Really?
Then I want to see what the outside world looks like.” Lucian: “Let’s go.” Although the Hall of Threefold Fate was under tight guard by soldiers, coming and going was practically effortless for Lucian.
The afternoon sunlight generously spilled over the market of Yanis City, warming the stone-paved streets.
Lucian’s tall figure silently moved through the bustling crowd.
In his broad right hand, he carefully enclosed a much smaller hand— Tribios was tightly holding his long, fair fingers.
At eight years old, she was like a golden canary that had just been released from its cage, her jewel-like eyes filled with wonder at the unfamiliar world.
“Big Brother Lucian, look!” She suddenly excitedly tugged at Lucian, making him stop, and pointed toward a honey stall.
On a huge stone slab, sticky golden honey had hardened around plump pieces of dried fruit, giving off a sweet fragrance as warm as sunlight.
She raised her little face.
Her longing practically overflowed from her eyes, yet she pursed her lips and only dared to gaze at the largest piece of candy over and over.
Lucian lowered his eyes, silently taking in her unspoken plea.
He didn’t ask anything.
He simply walked straight to the stall.
A silver coin landed with a clink in the old woman’s clay bowl.
“This one.” He indicated his choice with his chin.
When the honey candy, wrapped in a reed leaf and nearly half the size of his palm, was handed over, he turned slightly and gestured for Tribios to take it.
The girl’s eyes instantly became brighter than the Aegean Sea beneath the sunlight.
“For me?” Her voice trembled slightly.
Only after seeing Lucian gently nod did she joyfully take it, hugging it tightly against her chest.
Her little face blossomed into a sunflower-like smile as she affectionately rubbed herself against his thigh.
“Thank you, Big Brother Lucian!
You’re so nice!” Lucian’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Is this the destructive power of a little loli?
Lucian lifted little Tribios with his strong arms, and her view suddenly widened.
Sitting comfortably in the crook of his sturdy arm, Tribios happily nibbled on the honey candy.
The crisp crack, crack of her bites was accompanied by little satisfied hums as she squinted in delight.
Shiny golden crumbs of sugar clung to the corners of her mouth and the tip of her nose.
After eating more than half of it, she suddenly remembered something.
With great effort, she raised the small piece that remained and offered it to Lucian’s mouth.
Her little face was filled with the joy of sharing.
“Big Brother Lucian, let’s eat it together!” “All right.
Let me taste it.” Lucian stopped walking and looked at the honey candy pressed against his lips, covered in traces of sugar and tiny fingerprints.
He silently and quickly lowered his head and bit into it.
An overwhelmingly sweet flavor instantly filled his mouth.
He smiled as he chewed and swallowed it.
Tribios was equally satisfied that he had accepted her offering.
She giggled, licked her fingers, and relaxed against his shoulder.
Leaving the noisy main street behind, they turned onto a quiet stone-paved road leading toward the Acropolis.
Tribios swung her little legs and pointed at the ground, giggling.
“Step on the shadows!” The shadows on the ground had been stretched very long because the glowing Dawn Machine was far away from Yanis City.
“I’m an adult.
I don’t step on shadows.” He was kidding.
There was no way he could bring himself to play at stepping on shadows in the middle of the street…
While counting the gray pigeons perched on the low walls beside the road, Tribios leaned forward.
Lucian’s arm instantly tightened, securely supporting her tiny body.
I have to admit, she’s really soft…
At the stone steps, a skinny little boy was guarding several wildflowers.
Tribios’s attention was drawn to the delicate splash of pink.
She climbed down from Lucian’s arms and approached the flower basket to admire them.
Lucian handed over a copper coin, and the boy immediately offered him the most beautiful flower in full bloom.
Tribios happily smelled its fragrance before looking at Lucian, who remained silent beside her.
Suddenly, she rose onto her tiptoes and carefully inserted the delicate pink flower in her hand into Lucian’s belt.
Tribios raised her little face, pure happiness filling her eyes.
“Big Brother Lucian, you look even better now!” Sunlight passed between the stone pillars, gently enveloping the large and small figures.
Lucian lowered his head and looked at the conspicuous yet delicate flower around his waist, then at the girl’s radiant smile.
He simply couldn’t bring himself to ruin her happiness.
“Thank you for the flower.” Lucian bought another one and tucked it into Tribios’s hair.
She smiled, becoming even happier.
Tribios’s little hand slipped back into Lucian’s large palm.
It was warm.
“Big Brother Lucian.” Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying the sweetness of honey.
“You smell like stones warmed by the sun.” “Really?
Then do you like it?” “I like it!” Lucian smiled and said nothing.
He simply held that little hand more tightly and carefully, leading her step by step up the stone stairs bathed in sunlight.
For the next five days, Lucian stayed by Tribios’s side.
He taught her, took her around the city, told her bedtime stories…
Perhaps because the little girl had rarely interacted with anyone else for so many years, her affection for Lucian increased incredibly quickly.
She had reached the point where she was practically attached to him.
Wherever Lucian went, she followed him.
Even so, the script still hadn’t made any substantial progress.
Lucian felt a little lost.
“Staying together with the protagonist of the script hasn’t triggered any missions.
Could it be that the real protagonist is Tribios after she grows up?” “If that’s how this is going to work, I’d have to live here for ten years and stay by her side until she grows up…” “Is this script a raising-and-development type?” (End of Chapter)[Thanks for Reading!]