Chapter 14 Confession
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Walking along one side of the electronics street and passing several intersections, the crowds around them began to thin. The girl, who had kept silent for about ten minutes, seemingly couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer and struck up a conversation with Lin Xiaolu:
"Hey, who is that child up ahead?"
She moved closer to Lin Xiaolu, deliberately lowering her voice, "She seems quite impressive when she speaks. Does she come from an influential background?"
Lin Xiaolu glanced at her but did not respond.
"Or is she your sister?" the girl continued to ask.
"...No."
Unable to hold back, Lin Xiaolu said with a hint of annoyance, "That is Elder Emerald Sparrow. You should be more respectful."
"Why should I call her 'Elder'?"
The girl blinked her eyes, "And you mentioned respect... So she really is an important person? Some kind of young miss?"
This time Lin Xiaolu did not respond.
After all, Emerald Sparrow had said that they would talk when they reached another place, and Lin Xiaolu did not want to disrupt her plan.
Seeing that Lin Xiaolu became unresponsive after being prodded a couple of times, the girl could only retreat a step in slight embarrassment, slouched her shoulders, and turned to observe the surrounding streetscape instead.
They had left the bustling center behind. On both sides of the street were mostly older stores, unlike the center where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, the rent here supported individual shopkeepers to run their businesses for long periods.
Yet, this was still a commercial street. Apart from the various shops and the passing crowd, there wasn't much in the way of scenery. After looking around for a while, the girl lost interest and opened her mouth again:
"By the way, I don't think I even know your name?"
"..."
"Don't be so standoffish, come on, tell me."
"...Lin Xiaolu."
"Lin Xiaolu? It sounds like Xiaolu, a deer, doesn't it? It's nice, sounds kind of cute too. My name is..."
——"We're here."
The voice of Emerald Sparrow came from ahead, interrupting their conversation.
She turned her head to give them a quick glance, maintaining her composure, and pointed to a small alleyway on the side, her tone flat, "Go in through here."
Without waiting for a response, Emerald Sparrow moved on, leading the way into the dimly lit alley. Lin Xiaolu and Moke followed close behind.
The girl trailing at the back watched the two enter such a place with an air of nonchalance, her face showing signs of nervousness for the first time.
——Why a small alley?
Was it a robbery? A threat? Or perhaps a killing to silence someone?
Words that fit the scene quickly sprang to mind. The girl grimaced, suddenly uncertain whether she should continue to follow.
Yet, the words previously spoken by Emerald Sparrow echoed in her ears, and her intense curiosity about the two girls' origins remained. Having come this far, she saw no reason to back out now.
Thus, the girl pursed her lips, hiding her slight unease, kept her posture relaxed, and moved forward once more.
Turning into the alley, she saw Emerald Sparrow and Lin Xiaolu standing there. Walking a bit further, one could see a wall erected in front of them: it was a dead-end.
Emerald Sparrow looked up at the sky, then turned her head back at the sound of footsteps at the entrance of the alley and looked at the girl. She reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out her Heart Flower, advancing silently toward where the girl stood.
Why is she coming this way? What is she going to do?
The girl tried hard to maintain her smile and conceal the nervousness on her face, but such control was inevitably limited. The next move by the other side caught her completely off guard:
Emerald Sparrow transformed into a Magical Girl.
To the girl watching, it appeared that a bright light was emitted from Emerald Sparrow's body, her blue hair lifted by an unseen wind, and her light yellow puff-sleeve dress changed into another outfit—a navy blue, sleeved Lolita dress. A bonnet, seemingly out of nowhere, adorned her head, and the decorations around her were as extravagant as a fairy tale princess'. In her hand, she held a wand, intricately carved with unknown patterns.
The girl did not know the identity of Emerald Sparrow, and naturally, she did not recognize this as the transformation of a Magical Girl, but the scene before her eyes well exceeded her understanding.
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In the fleeting moment of her bewilderment, Emerald Sparrow extended her palm to her:
"Grab my wrist."
"Ah, okay?" the girl instinctively reached out.
Emerald Sparrow caught her wrist in return, staring intently into her eyes, "Next, hold on tight."
They grasped each other's wrists. What was this, some sort of ritual? A secret signal?
The girl's wavering thoughts brought forth many associations, and without fully understanding Emerald Sparrow's words, she merely nodded mechanically.
Then, she felt her feet leave the ground.
She had never before experienced such a sensation of weightlessness that enveloped her whole body. The scenery whizzed past her in an entirely illogical manner. She turned her head to the side with wide eyes and finally realized her predicament:
Was she flying?
Then came the uncontrollable scream that burst forth from her:
"Aaaahhhhh!"
Emerald Sparrow, holding the girl, followed a path she had chosen, avoiding angles where they might be seen by others, flying up high along the wall of a dead-end alley's building.
After dodging the last few windows, she took a few steps as though stepping on something in the air, proceeded a distance forward, and then brought the girl to a rooftop.
A stream of pale blue magic particles surged up from below, and Lin Xiaolu, also transformed into a Magical Girl, flew to the same spot.
"Ha, ha, I thought I was going to die..." Once Emerald Sparrow let go, the girl with weak knees realized she was back on solid ground and sat down on her knees, her face full of fear.
"Hmph, you're scared after flying just such a short distance?"
Lin Xiaolu, who had landed with ease, looked over smugly: "I got used to it in no time when I first started."
But her little boast didn't receive the reaction she wanted, as the girl seemed to have completely ignored her, which made Lin Xiaolu, who was previously gloating somewhat, pout with annoyance.
"You can transform directly here; it'll be more convenient to explain things."
Emerald Sparrow spoke without waiting for a response: "Let's get to know each other first, what's your name?"
"Ha... Are you asking me?"
The girl, who had just about recovered, lifted her head: "My name is Xia Liang."
"So, Xia Liang,"
Emerald Sparrow nodded her head before abruptly asking, "Have you ever heard of Magical Girls?"
She didn't intend to beat around the bush but cut straight to the chase.
In fact, if before coming here she had been hesitant to recruit this new Magical Girl and only wanted to take a look; after meeting this girl named Xia Liang, she understood the potential she possessed was extraordinary.
Even as an ordinary person who had not yet become a Magical Girl, she could sense the Echo from afar and even track it in reverse. And upon seeing her, the alertness she did not express also indicated that she could feel Emerald Sparrow's Magic Power far exceeding her own.
Such characteristics could certainly be described as that of uncut jade.
The identity of a Magical Girl is full of danger for children without talent, but for genuine prodigies, it's an opportunity, a chance to obtain Magic Power far beyond the ordinary.
Just as she would worry about Lin Xiaolu's safety as a Magical Girl, but would respect her daughter's decision once it was made, she should also give the girl before her the right to choose,
Let her choose for herself, Emerald Sparrow thought secretly.
"Magical Girl?"
The term seemed to connect something for Xia Liang, causing her eyes to widen slightly; the series of strange events made her speculate, "I know what it is, but are you saying..."
"My name is Emerald Sparrow."
Emerald Sparrow nodded expressionlessly and then pointed to Lin Xiaolu: "She is Bai Mei."
"We eradicate Remnant Beasts, protect the city and its residents. That is, we are the Magical Girls of Fangting City."