Upon hearing Starlight’s thanks, Little Gold merely shook his head, his dragon face twisting into a smug grin. “It’s nothing~ After all, you gave me good food. You’re a good human, and I didn’t want you to just die like that. But that power you used was way too dangerous; even I almost couldn’t handle it!”
“I see... Where are Po Kong and Xia Duo? Are they alright?” Starlight said, attempting to prop himself up, but the overwhelming weakness in his body caused him to fail several times.
“Big sister and the others went ahead to scout. They should be back soon. Don’t push yourself anymore; just lie down and rest!” Moen said softly. With a gentle tap on Starlight’s forehead, she easily pressed him back down onto her lap.
“Then... I’ll have to trouble you...” Feeling the soft touch against the back of his head, Starlight slowly closed his eyes. He hadn't expected to be so weak that he lacked even the strength to sit up, leaving him no choice but to accept Moen’s care.
“If you’re tired, just sleep for a while... Sleep as long as you need...” Moen smiled tenderly and reached out to gently stroke his forehead.
In this moment, Starlight felt an unprecedented sense of peace and relaxation, as if all his troubles and worries had vanished. He thought to himself, “It seems being injured isn't entirely a bad thing sometimes...”
Seeing that Starlight had closed his eyes, Moen waved her slender hand, retrieving a small lyre from her storage space.
As her fingertips gently brushed the strings, a melodious and delicate tune rose gracefully into the tapestry of the night.
Though the piece consisted of only a few notes, it was full of deep emotion, like the first ray of sunlight at dawn—gentle and brimming with hope.
I gaze at the stars reflected in the deep,
Glimmers of light, the secrets that we keep.
Like a brush of magic, drifting on our breath,
Leaving marks upon the water, far from life and death.
Sweet as a gentle dream, so soft and mild.
In dreams, I pluck the strings, a song so wild,
Watching time swirl like wine within the glass,
Flowing into verses as the seasons pass.
Shall we set sail once more across the blue,
To the depths of heaven, to a world that’s new?
Where clouds and rainbows weave a tangled line,
Wandering through the hours of your soul and mine...
...
Moen’s voice flowed out along with the music, like a spring of crystal-clear water or a delicate, soft rain, gently washing away every grain of dust from the earth.
The beautiful melody seemed to possess magic; even the surrounding air was tenderly embraced by it, becoming exceptionally soft and warm. It was as if even the wind had slowed its pace, unwilling to miss this rare moment of peace and harmony.
Starlight was captivated, and even Little Gold was moved by the charm of the music. He swayed his head gently to the melody, his small claws unconsciously tapping out the beat.
As the final note fell, the echo of the melody seemed to linger in the air, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
“Why did it stop?” Little Gold snapped out of it, seemingly still immersed in the dreamlike world of the music. He turned his head curiously, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and anticipation as he stared at Moen.
Moen gave a soft laugh, her eyes shimmering with a gentle light as she explained quietly, “Because I wrote this song myself, and I haven't fully finished the composition yet~” As she spoke, she placed a slender index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. “Shh... he’s already fallen asleep. Let him rest for a while.”
Following her watery gaze, they saw that Starlight had indeed slipped into dreamland at some unknown point. His expression was peaceful and serene, with a faint smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth, as if he were immersed in a beautiful dream.
“Alright then~”
Little Gold obediently shut his mouth and slowly folded his shimmering wings. He found a comfortable spot beside Moen and Starlight and curled into a ball, seemingly enjoying this rare moment of tranquility and warmth.
However, this peace did not last long. Only ten minutes later, a flurry of hurried footsteps shattered the calm.
Po Kong and Xia Duo rushed back, pulling Starlight from his sweet dream and back to reality.
“You’re back? How is the situation over there?” Starlight lifted his head slightly and asked Po Kong.
“Yo~ looks like you don't need us to worry! And Little Star, aren't you living the good life~” Po Kong teased, glancing at Starlight’s sleeping position as a smile finally touched his face. “I won't mess with you anymore. We did find some clues, but not many.”
“Oh? What do you mean by that?” Moen blinked curiously and looked toward her sister.
“To be precise, we only found the wreckage of a dozen small-scale magic crystal cannons,” Xia Duo began to explain in detail. “The enemy clearly expected us to track them here, so they retreated decisively. Their movements were swift and professional, leaving no traces behind. To prevent us from using the magic crystal cannons, they dismantled and took the key components, thoroughly destroying the rest.”
“This... doesn't that mean...” Starlight quickly grasped the crux of the matter.
“Exactly. The news of our conflict with the Crimson City-State team has definitely been sent back to their base.” Po Kong shrugged helplessly, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction and annoyance. “These guys—how can they just choose to self-destruct over a disagreement? They usually don't have this much backbone! Ugh, what a stroke of bad luck!”
“Then how are we supposed to enter Crimson City-State? Even though they were the ones who self-destructed... I’m afraid it’ll be hard for us to clear our names, right!?” Moen looked toward the center of the explosion with a bit of hesitation, her voice full of doubt.
“Sigh, tell me about it,” Xia Duo sighed and said helplessly. “I originally planned to use the same method we used to get into Violet City, but it looks like that path is closed to us now.”
“So what should we do now? Are we still going?” Starlight was also lost in uncertainty, and the atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.
After a moment of deep thought, Po Kong finally spoke. “We’re going! Our original plan remains unchanged. As for how to get into the city, I’ll find a way. Right now, the most important thing is Little Gold...”
At this point, he turned his gaze to the curled-up Little Gold and continued, “What are your plans next? Why have the people from Crimson City-State been chasing you so relentlessly? You must tell us everything so that we can help you solve the problem together.”
Realizing everyone’s eyes were focused on him, Little Gold straightened his body and began to tell his story.
Rate on N.U.
