Chapter 2307 - 101: Crow's Prophecy IV

The impending fulfillment, and what has already taken place, are two ends of the storm, with the black ship anchored—

...

Dai carefully sifted through a layer of firewood, underneath which were neatly placed three hard, gray-black loaves of bread. She carefully counted them, taking them out one by one with her little hands red from the cold, then gently brushed off the dust, as if afraid of losing even a single breadcrumb.

She then placed two of them back as they were, looked at the one in her hand, held it with both hands, bit her lip, and forcefully split it in two, quickly catching the falling crumbs with her little hands, and grasping them. She hesitated for a moment before putting the remaining half back, covering it again with firewood.

With half a loaf in her hand, she came to the side of the tent bed, which was nothing but a makeshift bed cobbled together with several pieces of wood, covered with a layer of velvet grass and a crumpled blanket. "Dai, is that you?" The girl lying on the bed asked, her absent gray-blue eyes staring straight ahead, groping along the edge of the bed until she grasped the cold little hand.

The girl's face was as pale as if it had lost its blood, her pale golden hair dull due to lack of nutrition, resembling dry straw. But at this moment, her face showed a relaxed expression, "Dai, you're back, has Miss Shaye returned?"

"Sister, they're back," Dai nodded, muttering lightly: "Miss Shaye said she will come to see us later. In the meantime, have something to eat first."

She stood on tiptoe and placed that half of the cold loaf into her sister's hand, "Sister, we'll share it half and half."

The girl faintly smiled softly, "Alright, Dai."

She had no doubts, holding the bread with both hands, bowing her head, chewing slowly.

Dai stuffed the handful of crumbs into her mouth, chewing noisily. She finished the crumbs in two bites, then licked her dirty palm with some satisfaction, wiped her mouth, and looked up.

The girl stopped, listening closely:

"Dai, have you finished eating?"

"No, sister," Dai swallowed and whispered: "Sister, I need to fetch some water and plan to eat outside."

The girl's gray-blue eyes stared aimlessly ahead, pausing for a moment before speaking, "...Dai... do you think we are truly the daughters of demons? Father, he..."

"Of course not," Dai vigorously shook her head: "Sister Shaya said that's just a trick they use to control people's hearts, that only by amplifying the fear in people's hearts can they be forced to rely on them. Sister Shaya said they are all bad people."

"I don't quite understand, Dai."

"...I don't understand either, but I know Sister Shaya wouldn't lie to us."

"You're right, Dai."

"Sister, I'm off to fetch some water."

"Go ahead."

Dai rubbed her hands, picked up a makeshift wooden basin from the ground, lifted the curtain, and went out. But as soon as she stepped out, she saw Xiangzi blocking her way, the boy standing outside the tent, slightly tilting his head to look down at her.

The little girl was startled, stepping back, looking at the boy in front of her, a bit startled and unsure. However, having recognized him, she was stuck speechless, her little face flushed, and for a moment, she was almost panicked.

Yet Xiangzi also remained silent, saying nothing, merely watching her. Dai then quickly glanced back inside the tent, worried about disturbing her sister, before finally summoning the courage to stammer, "I... I need to fetch water, sir."

Xiangzi nodded.

But he crouched down in front of her and took out a piece of candy from his pocket, placing it in her palm. He often got some candies and snacks from Parker, explaining that among Papalarians, this is called a sharing spirit. He silently pointed to the candy in Dai's hand, then to her mouth.

Dai blinked, somewhat grasping his meaning. She cautiously picked up the candy, brought it to her lips, and gently bit off a small piece.

Actually, it was just a local, ordinary hard maple candy, but at that moment, a indescribable expression appeared on Dai's face. She almost swallowed it whole along with her tongue, but the next moment she caught herself.

The little girl only bit off half of the candy, then quietly placed the remaining half down, holding that half piece of candy, looked up at Xiangzi.

Xiangzi rose without speaking. But Dai seemed to realize it was time to leave, lowered her head, silently wrapped the remaining half candy in a piece of rag, and then picked up the wooden basin again.

She opened her mouth, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately couldn't, and so the two of them gazed silently at each other. Under Xiangzi's watchful gaze, the little girl left reluctantly, looking back every few steps, clutching the basin.

He stood there, turned his head, and gazed silently at the tent.

But in his ordinarily calm, dark gaze, there seemed to be a hint of understanding.

...

All the light gathered within the ring of flowing lava.

The purple flames seemed to be absorbed by the slowly flowing golden patterns, the ring like a glowing golden-red eye in the darkness, watching all that unfolded in the small tent through the swirling smoke.