It wasn't that she distrusted everyone here, but the infected in the camp were a mixed lot. No matter what identities they had... some of them simply weren't good people at heart.
Although the little girl's identity was somewhat suspicious, and Alina hadn't known her for long, she didn't want this adorable little one who had saved her to come to harm.
"Um... your color... is very pretty. Can I use it to paint a picture?"
Having barely pulled herself free from Alina's color, Griseo didn't respond to her warning. Instead, she seriously asked an entirely unrelated question.
She hadn't had any painting tools before, but she did now. All Griseo wanted was to leave Alina's color on the canvas.
"Painting?"
"Mhm..."
After giving a small nod, Griseo directly took out an entire set of painting supplies from her space, then looked at Alina again and waited for her answer.
"?"
"?"
Seeing the painting supplies that had suddenly appeared in front of Griseo, both Alina and Talulah, who had just lifted the tent flap and entered, froze slightly. Question marks slowly appeared above both their heads.
"Where did you get all this stuff from, little Griseo?"
"I just... took it out with a swish."
Faced with Alina's question, Griseo thought for a moment before explaining.
"With a swish?... Forget it, go ahead and paint. I'll go bring you something to eat. Be good and don't run around."
After rubbing Griseo's little head again, Alina gave up on asking. In her eyes, the little girl's origins had already been mysterious and extraordinary, so it was only natural that she had some secrets.
Besides, Alina wasn't the type to pry into everything.
"Talulah, stay here and watch little Griseo. I'll be back soon," Alina said softly to her dear friend by the entrance as she stood up.
"Wait, Alina, your wound hasn't been bandaged yet!"
"We can deal with it when I get back. It won't make a difference if we wait a little longer."
"..."
During the brief exchange between the two, Griseo had already picked up her brush after receiving permission, mixed her paints, and begun applying them to the canvas.
Once she started painting, she no longer cared about or sensed anything outside. Her entire being became completely immersed in her work.
After watching Alina leave, Talulah turned back. Carefully, she stood behind Griseo and observed both her and the painting process.
"Alina, how did you get hurt? And
what's with the rumor from earlier... Why is everyone saying you suddenly have a child?"
Sitting by the campfire, a Yeti Squad member watched Alina approach and asked in confusion, her eyes full of gossip.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't." Before Alina could answer, the white-haired, rabbit-eared girl sitting nearby spoke first.
She first shot her squad member a helpless glare before saying to Alina, "Go take care of your wound first, before it gets infected."
"Eek, Big Sis is so fierce. I was just curious," the Yeti Squad member muttered helplessly, rubbing her nose after hearing her big sister's words.
"Pfft. Got it, Yelena. I'll go deal with it now." Seeing their interaction, Alina couldn't help but laugh softly before agreeing.
But when she thought of the little one in the tent, she spoke again. "I'm going to get bandaged up now. Could I trouble you, Yelena, to bring some food to the tent?"
Painting an Orange Outsider
"I'm going to get bandaged up now. Could I trouble you, Yelena, to bring some food to the tent?"
Hearing that, Yelena, the white-haired rabbit-eared girl, was briefly stunned before nodding softly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Yelena." After giving Yelena a gentle smile, Alina turned and left to have her wounds bandaged.
Because Griseo had appeared in time, Alina's injuries weren't actually serious. The worst was only a long cut across her forehead, though the amount of blood she'd lost made it look frightening.
She had originally planned to put it off a little longer and wait until Griseo had eaten dinner before getting bandaged.
But after Yelena persuaded her, Alina didn't want the wound to become infected and waste even more supplies. So she asked her colleague, codenamed FrostNova, to deliver the meal. It would also give the two a chance to meet...
"Looks like the food Alina asked Big Sis to deliver is for that child she brought back."
"Yeah, yeah! Big Sis, remember to take a few extra looks when you go in, then come back and tell us all about it!"
"You lot, if you're that curious, go see for yourselves." Looking at the few lively troublemakers crowding around her, Yelena said with a cold expression.
"Come on, Big Sis. Tell us about it when you get back."
"Yeah, sneaking over to look would be too embarrassing!"
After being refused, the Yeti Squad members let out another round of wails.
As she watched them fool around, Yelena said nothing more, but a trace of amusement appeared in her eyes.
Inside the tent, Griseo had been immersed in her painting from the moment she began. By now, she had completely shut out the outside world, unable to even feel her stomach rumbling with hunger.
At that moment, only colors remained in her purple eyes...
Unlike the absorbed Griseo, Talulah, who had been standing behind the little girl and watching her paint, gradually furrowed her brow. She became even more puzzled.
Though she wasn't deeply involved in painting or art, Black Serpent had once trained her as his successor. At the very least, she possessed a basic level of appreciation.
And in Talulah's eyes, this little girl who had come from nowhere possessed extremely skilled technique... As for this painting, though it wasn't finished yet, Talulah felt it certainly wouldn't turn out badly. It might even rival the works of top painters.
On top of that, even after observing her for a while, Talulah still hadn't been able to identify the little one's race. That only made her more curious and confused.
But clearly, Alina wasn't here, and the blue-haired little girl before her was completely absorbed in painting. She obviously wouldn't answer Talulah's questions, so Talulah could only hold them in.
Besides her confusion and curiosity about the little girl, there was something else Talulah cared deeply about. She still hadn't received an answer from Alina about why she had been injured...
With those two matters piling up, Talulah felt as if a little cat were constantly scratching at her heart. It itched... and felt awful.
"Whew—"
;?!
Just then, a slender, snow-white hand lifted the tent flap. A gust of cold wind swept inside, adding a slight sound to the quiet atmosphere.
"...Yelena, what is it?"
Talulah had originally thought Alina had returned. When she saw who it was, however, she showed a hint of surprise.
"Alina went to have her wound bandaged. I came to deliver food." After briefly explaining, Yelena placed the food she was carrying on the table.
"I see."
"..."
After setting everything down, Yelena didn't leave immediately. Instead, she examined the little girl who was painting.
But when her gaze swept over the thin white dress, the exposed legs, and the delicate bare feet, her expression became exactly like Alina's earlier one. Her face was filled with disapproval...
There were quite a few children in Reunion, and most of them were taught by Alina and attended lessons. But a child dressed as lightly as the one before her... this was Yelena's first time seeing one.
Still, after noticing that Griseo didn't seem cold at all, Yelena immediately categorized the cute and harmless-looking little girl as someone special. At the very least, she probably had some ability.
Just like Yelena herself. The reason she didn't dress heavily was because of her Originium Arts, which made
her body temperature far lower than that of ordinary people...
After making that simple judgment, Yelena withdrew her gaze and prepared to turn around and leave.
But as though she had suddenly remembered something, she paused. "Do you know what Alina encountered when she went out this time?"
"I don't. Alina hasn't told me yet. And this child... seems to be immersed in her painting." Faced with Yelena's question, Talulah could only shake her head helplessly.
"Ask her properly when she gets back. I think you have the same suspicions as I do." With that, Yelena no longer lingered and turned to leave the tent.
Unfortunately, Griseo was completely immersed in painting and had no time to spare for the outside world. Otherwise, she might have tried to keep that white figure around for a little longer. After all, this was the living FrostNova...
"..."
After watching Yelena leave the tent, Talulah slowly lowered her eyes, concealing the complicated emotions in them so no one could see. A wave of lingering fear and terror rose in her heart once more.
She could guess... Though she didn't know exactly what had happened, she knew that... perhaps if things had gone just a little differently, she would never have seen her little deer again.
"Whew—"
"I'm back, Talulah. Hm? Why do you look so troubled? Did something happen?"
Just as Talulah was feeling down, the tent flap opened again. Alina had returned, and she immediately noticed the strange expression on her dear friend's face.
"..."
But Talulah didn't answer Alina's question. She only hurried forward and pulled her into an embrace.
"?"
;?;
At the Dragon Girl's sudden hug, Alina gave a helpless smile. Then she gently patted Talulah's back, comforting her.
P.S. Something came up these past two days, so updates were a little slow. Starting today, I'll be back to the usual two updates a day. The plot has been moving a bit slowly, so I'll try to speed it up.
;?;
...What Are You Two Doing?
In the quiet tent, Griseo lifted her brush and placed the final touch of color onto the canvas. Her thoughts gradually withdrew from the world of painting, leaving that brilliant and colorful world in her eyes.
The snow-white canvas that had originally been blank now displayed a perfect painting after Griseo's efforts.
Warm yellow sunlight fell across the lush green forest, casting patches of mottled shade.
On the path through the woods, a small deer with snow-white fur lay peacefully and quietly on the ground, as though asleep. Passersby couldn't help but soften their steps, unwilling to disturb it.
But upon closer inspection, faint black, hard substances of unclear meaning could be seen growing from the little deer's white fur. In its shadow, those hard substances had bloomed into an Originium flower that glinted with cold light, its petals scattered and disorderly...
Having fully emerged from her absorbed state, Griseo put down her palette and brush, then lightly blinked her dry eyes. She planned to rest for a while.
"Grrr~"
Not long after she put down her brush, Griseo's hungry little belly began protesting again.
At the same time, the hunger that had been blocked out while she was immersed in painting surged back into the little girl's heart.
Then, as Griseo stepped down from her stool and prepared to find something to eat, an orange-colored sight that had been hidden behind the easel suddenly entered her large violet eyes.
"?"
A huge question mark then appeared in the little girl's eyes.
"Big Sister Alina... what are you two doing?"
The moment the little girl's voice rang out, the two people who had been hugging instantly pushed away from each other...
"Ahem... nothing. I was just comforting your big sister Talulah..."
Although she was telling the truth, for some reason, Alina suddenly felt inexplicably guilty under Griseo's innocent gaze.
It made her feel as though she really had been doing something improper with Talulah just now...
"R-Right... Alina's right. She was just comforting me... Ahem, little one, have you finished your painting?"
After going along with Alina's words, Talulah ignored the faint redness on her face and quickly turned to change the subject.
Like that little deer, she hadn't felt anything at first... But when she met the little girl's innocent gaze, she too suddenly felt shamefully guilty.
"Mhm... Big Sister Alina, I'm hungry."
After listening to their explanation, Griseo looked at them for a while longer before lightly nodding her small head.
"Then let's eat. Yelena already brought the food over." After gently patting Griseo's little head, Alina took her hand and led her toward the table.
"Yelena...?"
Though she allowed Alina to lead her, the moment Griseo heard that person's name, she reacted like a machine that had recognized a keyword. The little ahoge on her head perked up... and her heart stirred.
Honestly, Griseo had been so immersed in painting that she truly hadn't noticed FrostNova coming by. Otherwise, she might have gone to cuddle the white rabbit.
After all, before she had transmigrated, she had also been a Doctor who had cried after being devastated by FrostNova's death...
"Didn't little Griseo see Yelena earlier?"
Seeing the little ahoge on Griseo's head suddenly perk up, Alina couldn't
help patting it again before asking.
Before you continue