In Arknights, I Became Griseo from the Start

"When she was painting, all she could see was the painting. She didn't look at anything else or pay attention to anyone." Before Griseo could answer, the Dragon Girl's voice reached her first.

"So that's how it is. I'll introduce you to Yelena when there's a chance later. She may look a little cold on the surface, but she's actually a very nice person."

"Alright, hurry up and eat. Hmm... it looks like it's gotten a little cold. I'll go get you a fresh serving. Wait a little longer, little Griseo."

After saying that, Alina picked up the meal in front of her and quickly headed outside, leaving Talulah and Griseo staring wide-eyed at each other.

But Talulah quickly seemed to remember something. Her expression changed, and after giving Griseo what she believed was a friendly smile, she carefully moved closer to the little girl.

"Little one, your name is Griseo, right?"

"Mm... does Talulah need something?"

Seeing Talulah like this, Griseo tilted her head slightly and asked in an even tone.

"Talulah...? Forget it. Little Griseo, can you tell your big sister what happened between you and Alina earlier?"

This was not the first time Talulah had heard Griseo call her that. Though she was curious, there were clearly more important things on her mind.

"What happened earlier? Mm... Alina and I ran into bad people, and then... Mister Knight protected us."

Though she was somewhat surprised that Alina had not told Talulah, Griseo thought for a moment before choosing to answer honestly.

"Do you know who those bad people were? And Mister Knight?" After hearing Griseo's answer, Talulah hurriedly pressed her with an anxious expression.

"I don't know... Mister Knight is Mister Knight. Does Talulah want to meet Mister Knight?" Griseo shook her head, her little face utterly serious.

"I..."

"Alright, come eat, Griseo. It's getting late."

Before Talulah could continue questioning her, Alina's voice came again. She entered the tent carrying food.

Upon seeing the little deer, Talulah temporarily gave up on asking further questions.

"Mm... I'm coming."

After dinner, Griseo walked over to the easel that was still standing there and removed the painting she had only just finished.

;?

She planned to give this painting to Alina, who had provided her with color.

"Here. The painting... it's for you."

As she spoke, Griseo gently lifted the frame and handed her first work in this world to Alina.

"Little Griseo finished a painting so quickly. That's amazing. The painting is..."

Alina accepted Griseo's work, intending to praise her, but suddenly fell silent halfway through... swallowing all the words she had yet to say.

The reason Miss Little Deer had lost her composure was the painting in her hands.

After all, the painting Griseo had created this time was far from ordinary. Besides being an exquisite and outstanding work in itself, it also possessed a special power.

Though Griseo could paint ordinary works, whenever she was stained with someone's color, she would unconsciously create using that person's color...

And under such circumstances, the painting would possess magic. It could distort one's perception, reveal the thing one feared most, or even manifest it...

However, everyone's color was different, so the "strength" of the paintings—or rather, their effects—would also differ. Thus, even Griseo did not know what Alina saw in the painting at that moment...

She only knew that this painting would not manifest anything strange.

P.S. Something came up and delayed me, so the second chapter update was rather late.

Promise Me, Talulah

As she stared at the painting, the people, surroundings, and artwork before Alina's eyes twisted and vanished almost instantly.

In their place was a forest blanketed in silver beneath falling snow, and a bloodied, battered, broken "Alina" lying helplessly by the roadside while tightly clutching an empty basket...

"..."

Looking at the scene before her, Alina's eyes revealed disbelief and confusion. But she soon understood... because she was all too familiar with this place. This was where she had been attacked before...

As for what she was seeing, Alina believed it was likely the outcome if little Griseo had not helped her... She would have been brutally killed by infected people who had left the group, all for a small amount of supplies...

But before she could continue thinking, the scene changed again. The sky darkened, as though some time had passed, and the "Alina" lying on the ground grew weaker and weaker...

Then, a figure Alina knew better than anyone came running down the dim forest path. It was Talulah.

"Ali... Ali..."

"Talulah, I'm here... I'm fine."

Watching this Talulah walk before "her," tears streaming down her face as she stared in disbelief, Alina could not help frowning. She wanted to reach out and comfort her... but her hand passed straight through the person before her.

At that moment, Alina understood... she did not belong here, nor could she interfere with anything here. She could only be a silent spectator and quietly watch everything unfold.

Watch...

Watch as the dying "her" was carried on Talulah's back, step by step, toward the camp...

Watch as "she" weakly consoled and persuaded Talulah not to hate...

Watch as she finally lost all life on her dear friend's back...

Watch as Talulah later faced the village incident alone, completely broke down, began to hate others, and turned toward the Black Serpent...

Watch Talulah commit one mistake after another, while her comrades in the Reunion Movement died one by one...

Finally, watching the girl who had awakened yet now carried heavy sins and shackles upon her back, Alina lowered her eyes... They were filled with helplessness and sorrow.

"..."

"Talulah... this time, I'll stay by your side."

Alina murmured softly, as though making a promise, leaving behind her vow.

As her final words faded, a gentle breeze brushed Alina's cheek, and the scene before her slowly scattered with the wind.

"Alina, Alina! What's wrong?"

Seeing Alina suddenly stare blankly at the painting and ignore everyone, Talulah frowned and called out loudly.

"..."

Griseo, standing nearby, did not stop her.

Because she was also watching Alina, who was affected by the painting, with a serious expression. If anything went wrong, she would immediately step in and save her.

But just as Talulah got no response from shouting and was about to take action...

Alina suddenly raised a hand to cover her ear, then looked at her dear friend helplessly. "Stop, Talulah... you're too loud. I heard you."

Under the helpless gaze of her little deer, Talulah hurriedly withdrew the hand suspended in midair before asking softly, "...It's good that you're alright. Alina, what happened just now? Did you get absorbed in it?"

"Well..."

Alina did not rush to answer Talulah's question. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, her expression carrying a meaningful air.

"So... what did Alina see in the painting?"

Seeing Alina's expression, Griseo guessed that she must have seen quite a lot. But she did not know exactly what it was, so she was very curious.

"Little Griseo doesn't know?"

Now it was Alina's turn to be curious. In her view, everything she had just seen was caused by the painting Griseo had given her. There was no reason for the painting's creator not to know what it could do.

"...Everyone's color is different, and so are the paintings they create."

Griseo gently shook her little head and explained in her flat voice. After explaining, she continued looking at Alina with her large eyes, waiting for an answer.

But before Griseo could get an answer from Alina, someone else spoke first.

"What kind of riddles are you two talking in? Isn't this just an ordinary painting?"

Talulah first glanced at the painting in Alina's arms. Aside from being beautifully painted, she could not see anything special about it. Then she looked at the two people before her, one big and one small, saying things she could not understand, and felt completely bewildered.

"It's nothing. I just thought little Griseo's painting was very good. I got so absorbed in looking at it." After saying that, Alina did not forget to wink at Griseo as a signal.

Alina did not intend to tell her dear friend plainly about what she had seen today. In her eyes, Talulah viewed people and matters too idealistically, even somewhat detached from reality.

Even if she told Talulah some things, Talulah might not believe them... and even if she did, she would not have any particularly direct feelings about them.

Under such circumstances, Alina did not want to waste her breath.

What was more, she had plenty of time. Rather than telling her outright, it would be better to slowly guide Talulah from every angle, subtly changing her understanding and views of certain matters.

To make her into a good leader...

"..."

Seeing Alina signal to her, Griseo became even more curious, but she did not press further for the time being.

Though she did not know what Alina had seen, since Alina did not want Talulah to know, Griseo was willing to cooperate. At worst, she could ask her privately later.

"...I keep feeling like you've been hiding a lot from me today, Alina... Let's put everything else aside for now. I want to know what exactly happened to you today. Why were you injured?"

Watching the two exchange glances, Talulah suddenly looked a little dejected.

She did not know whether it was just her imagination, but she felt that after Alina met the little girl before them, she seemed to have more secrets. And there were many things she would not tell Talulah anymore...

Hearing Talulah bring this up again, Alina put away her smile and grew serious. She slowly closed the distance between herself and her dear friend.

As the distance between them shrank, Alina stopped when only a palm's width remained. She looked into Talulah's eyes with her earnest blue gaze and said each word clearly:

"What happened to me today... If you want to know, Talulah, then promise me something first."

"Promise... that you won't seek revenge on those people."

P.S. Some things came up at home today, so this update was a little late. The second chapter should be around the same time as yesterday.

Big Sister, Look What Treasure I Brought Back!

"Orange..."

The cowlick atop Griseo's head swayed as she stood some distance away. Looking at the two people who were nearly pressed together, she let out a small sigh.

Then she hurriedly raised her little hands to cover her face

, though she continued peeking at the blush-inducing scene through the gaps between her fingers.

And unlike before, even after hearing the little girl's remark, Alina showed no intention of pulling back. She continued staring at Talulah from so close, wanting her promise.

"Uh..."

Unlike Alina's calm questioning, Talulah, the one being questioned... was having a hard time staying calm.

First, her dear friend's sudden seriousness made her realize how severe the previous matter had been. Second... they were too close. Far too close.

Because they were so close, the warm breath Alina exhaled while speaking had completely washed over Talulah's face... It tickled, and her face uncontrollably began to burn.

"I... I promise!" After saying that, Talulah quickly pushed Alina away, returning them to a normal distance.

"Since that's the case, I'll tell you. Prepare yourself, Talulah..."

As Griseo secretly watched the scene before her, she quietly gave Alina a thumbs-up in her heart. As expected of the political commissar. She's amazing. She has Talulah completely wrapped around her finger.

However, Griseo did not intend to keep secretly watching here—openly watching, really—because she felt her blue hair seemed to be glowing faintly, making her look like a light bulb.

So, after watching for a few more moments, she withdrew her gaze.

Then, the little girl carefully walked toward her easel.

Though Griseo's exclusive weapon, Starlight of the Past, was also a painting tool, the complete set of tools rewarded by the system, from the easel and paper to all kinds of paints, was also very practical. At the very least, painting paper was indispensable for painting.

Therefore, after walking over, she carefully put all the tools before her back into the system space.

After doing all this, Griseo looked up at the two people who were still "stuck" together and too preoccupied to notice her. She blinked lightly.

Then she softened her footsteps and headed toward the tent's exit. She wanted to go out and look around. She did not want to stay here and keep being an outsider in this orange-tinted scene, though it seemed like she could join in?

And so, the curious little girl successfully slipped out of the tent filled with orange colors.

"..."

But once she truly stepped outside, Griseo instead did not know what she should do. She raised her head toward the empty night sky where snowflakes drifted down, a trace of confusion flashing through her violet eyes.

However, just as the little girl stood there in a daze, a shadow suddenly lunged at her from a corner.