A Person in Arknights, Starting as Griseo

"When I'm painting, this little one only has eyes for the canvas and doesn't pay attention to anything or anyone else." Before Griseo could reply, a certain dragon girl's voice chimed in.

"I see. Then, if there's a chance later, I'll introduce you properly. Don't let Yelena's cold exterior fool you; she's actually a very kind person."

"Alright, let's eat. Hmm... it looks like it's gotten a bit cold. I'll go get you a fresh portion. Please wait a moment, little Griseo."

With that, Alina picked up the meal in front of her and quickly walked out, leaving Talulah and Griseo to stare at each other.

But soon, Talulah seemed to remember something. Her expression shifted, and after giving Griseo a smile she thought was friendly, she cautiously moved closer to the little girl.

"Little one, you're Griseo, right?"

"Mmm... Does Talulah need something?"

Seeing Talulah like this, Griseo tilted her head slightly and asked calmly.

"Talulah...? Never mind, never mind. Little Griseo, can you tell me what happened with Alina earlier?"

This wasn't the first time Talulah had heard Griseo address her that way. While curious, it was clear some other matters weighed more heavily on her mind.

"What happened before? Hmm... Alina and I met some bad people, and then... Mister Knight protected us."

Although surprised that Alina hadn't told Talulah, Griseo thought for a moment and decided to answer truthfully.

"Does Griseo know who those bad people were? And Mister Knight?" After hearing Griseo's reply, Talulah anxiously pressed for more information.

"I don't know them... Mister Knight is just Mister Knight. Does Talulah want to meet Mister Knight?" Shaking her head, Griseo said with a serious expression.

"I..."

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

However, before Talulah could ask further, Alina's voice returned, and she entered the tent carrying the food.

Upon seeing Alina, Talulah temporarily set aside her urge to question further.

"Mmm... Coming."

After finishing dinner, Griseo walked over to her easel, which she had propped up, and took down the painting she had just finished not long ago.

;?

She intended to give this painting to Alina, who had provided the colors.

"Here, painting... I'm giving this to you."

Saying this, 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, who had taken Griseo's artwork and was about to offer praise, suddenly fell silent mid-sentence... The rest of her words were swallowed back.

The reason for Miss Deer's loss of composure was the painting in her hands.

It should be known that Griseo's painting this time was no ordinary work. Besides being a beautifully crafted and excellent piece, it also possessed a special power.

Although Griseo could paint ordinary pictures, when she absorbed someone's colors, she would subconsciously use that person's colors to create...

In such cases, the resulting painting would carry a magical quality. It could distort perception, manifesting and even materializing the viewer's deepest fears...

However, everyone's colors are different, so the "intensity" or outcome of the paintings varied. Therefore, even Griseo didn't know what Alina saw in the painting at this moment...

She only knew that this painting wouldn't materialize anything strange.

ps: Something came up and caused a delay, so the second chapter is a bit late.

Chapter 7: Promise me, Talulah.

As she gazed at the painting, the artwork before Alina's eyes, along with the people and environment around her, instantly twisted and vanished.

In their place was a snow-covered forest, trees draped in white, and a "self" lying by the roadside, covered in blood, body mangled, but still tightly clutching an empty basket, powerless...

"..."

Looking at the scene before her, disbelief and confusion flickered in Alina's eyes. But soon, she understood... because the scene was all too familiar. This was the place 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... cruelly murdered by stray Infected for a small amount of supplies...

However, before she could ponder further, the scene changed again. The sky darkened, as if some time had passed, and the life force of the "self" lying on the ground grew weaker and weaker.

Then, a figure Alina knew all too well, Talulah, appeared running on the dim forest path.

"Ah... Ah..."

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

Watching this vision of Talulah, tears streaming down her face, approach "herself" with disbelief, Alina couldn't help but frown. She wanted to reach out and comfort her... but her hand passed right through the figure.

At that moment, Alina understood... she didn't belong here, nor could she interfere with anything that was happening. She could only be a silent spectator, watching it all unfold.

Watching...

The dying "self" being carried on Talulah's back, walking step by step towards the camp...

Watching "herself" softly and weakly comfort Talulah, urging her not to hate...

Watching herself finally lose her life on her best friend's back...

Watching Talulah face the village incident alone, then completely break down, begin to hate others, and fall to Black Serpent…

Watching Talulah commit one mistake after another, and Reunion's comrades die one by one…

Finally, looking at the girl who had sobered up but was now burdened with heavy guilt and chains, Alina lowered her eyes… her eyes filled with helplessness and sighs.

"..."

"Talulah… I'll be by your side this time."

Alina murmured softly, as if making a promise, leaving her commitment.

As her last words fell, a gentle breeze brushed Alina's cheek, and the scene before her slowly dispersed with the wind.

"Alina, Alina! What's wrong?"

Seeing Alina staring blankly at the painting and not responding, Talulah frowned and shouted.

"..."

Standing nearby, Griseo did not intervene.

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

However, when Talulah's shout had no effect and she was about to act.

Alina suddenly raised her hand, covered her ears, and looked at her close friend with a helpless expression, saying, "Stop, Talulah… the sound is too loud, I heard you."

Met with the helpless gaze of her dear friend, Talulah quickly withdrew her hand, which was still in mid-air, and then asked softly, "...It's good that you're okay. What was wrong with you just now, Alina? Were you mesmerized?"

"Well..."

Alina didn't rush to answer Talulah's question. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, her expression seeming a little meaningful.

"So… what did Sister Alina see in the painting?"

Seeing Alina's expression, Griseo guessed that she must have seen a lot, but she didn't know exactly what, so she was very curious now.

"Little Griseo doesn't know?"

Now it was Alina's turn to be curious. In her opinion, what she had just seen was all because of the painting Griseo had given her. There was no reason for the owner of the painting not to know its effects.

"...Everyone's colors are different, and the paintings they create are also different."

Shaking her little head gently, Griseo explained in her calm voice. 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 spoke first.

"What riddle are you two playing? This is just an ordinary painting."

Talulah glanced at the painting in Alina's arms. Apart from being well-drawn, she saw nothing special. Then she looked at the big and small figures in front of her who were speaking in a way she couldn't understand, and she was a little confused.

"It's nothing. I just think Little Griseo's painting is very good. I was just mesmerized by it." After speaking, Alina didn't forget to wink at Griseo, hinting at her.

Alina had no intention of directly telling her close friend about what she had seen today. Because in her opinion, Talulah viewed things and people too idealistically, even detached from reality.

Even if she told Talulah some things, she might not believe them… and even if she did, she wouldn't have a direct understanding.

In such a situation, Alina didn't want to waste her breath.

Moreover, she now had plenty of time. Instead of being direct, it would be better to approach Talulah from various angles and slowly "train" her, imperceptibly changing her cognition and views on certain matters.

To make her a good leader…

"..."

Looking at Alina, who was hinting at her, Griseo became even more curious, but she didn't press further for the moment.

Even though she didn't know what Alina had seen, since she didn't want Talulah to know, Griseo was willing to cooperate. At most, she would ask privately later.

"...I always feel like you're hiding a lot from me today, Alina… Let's put other things aside for now. I want to know what you encountered today? Why are you injured?"

Watching the two exchanging glances, Talulah's expression suddenly showed a hint of disappointment.

She didn't know if it was her illusion, but she felt that after Alina met this little loli, she seemed to have more secrets, and there were many things she didn't tell her anymore…

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

As the distance between them narrowed to just a palm's length, Alina stopped. She looked at the person in front of her with her earnest blue eyes and said word by word:

"What I encountered today… Talulah, if you want to know, you have to promise me first."

"Promise… not to seek revenge on those people."

ps: There were some family matters today, so the update is a bit late. Chapter 2 should be around the same time as yesterday.

Chapter 8: Big Sister, Look What Treasure I Brought!

"Orange..."

Griseo, standing not far away, twitched the ahoge on her head. Seeing the two people almost pressed against each other, she let out a small sigh.

Then, she quickly covered her face with her small hands, although she continued to peek at the scene that made her blush through her fingers.

And this time was different from before. Even after hearing the little loli's exclamation, Alina showed no signs of stopping, still staring intently at Talulah, wanting to get her assurance.

"Uh..."

Unlike Alina's calm inquiry, Talulah, the one being asked... was not quite able to calm down at the moment.

Firstly, her close friend's sudden seriousness made her realize the gravity of the situation. Secondly... it was too close, way too close.

Because they were so close, the warm breath Alina exhaled while speaking had completely landed on Talulah's face... it tickled her while also making her face flush uncontrollably.

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

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

Griseo, who was secretly watching the scene unfold, silently gave Alina a thumbs-up in her heart. As expected of the commissar, so impressive. She's got Talulah completely under her thumb.

However, Griseo didn't plan to keep peeking (or openly watching) for long. She felt like her blue hair was faintly glowing, making her look like a literal lightbulb.

So, after a few more glances, she withdrew her gaze.

Then, the little loli carefully walked towards her easel.

Although Griseo's exclusive weapon, the Starlight of the Past, was also a drawing tool, the complete set of tools from easel to paper and various paints that the system had rewarded her with was also very practical. At least for drawing, paper was indispensable.

So, after walking over, she carefully put all the tools in front of her back into the system space.

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

Then, she lightened her footsteps and headed towards the tent's exit. She wanted to go out for a walk and didn't want to stay there and continue being an outsider, even though she felt like she could join them?

And so, a certain curious little loli successfully slipped out of the tent filled with romantic tension.

"..."

But once she was actually outside, Griseo found herself unsure of what to do. She looked up at the empty night sky filled with falling snowflakes, a hint of confusion flashing in her violet eyes.

However, just as the little loli was spacing out, a dark shadow suddenly rushed at her from a corner.