Diliya’s gaze softened like water. “The wind was strong that day, and the flower field swirled with petals. Ophelia stood in the middle of the calendula field as far as the eye could see, her purple hair dancing along with the golden waves of flowers. She held the bouquet Philia had given her with her own hands, her cheeks flushed, wearing the most blissful and cloudless smile she would ever have in her life. From then on, calendulas became their favorite flower and the symbol of their love.”
Little Merlin shifted her small head in Diliya’s arms, listening quietly. Even though it was such a happy and romantic story, for some reason, she felt an indescribable bitterness and ache in her heart, like biting into an unripe green plum. Was it because she already knew how it ended?
“Your mother Ophelia really loves calendulas because Philia bestowed her with special memories. In the two days since she sent you away…” Diliya sighed and paused. “She has been sitting alone in that sea of golden flowers, quietly lost in thought, watching the wind blow across the waves of petals.”
Little Merlin lowered her head, imagining Ophelia’s look of both happiness and sorrow. In truth, that was exactly the case; at this very moment, Ophelia was curled up alone in the calendula field swaying with the wind, her fingers gently stroking the petals, her expression one of both bliss and heartbreak, as if she were living in a dream from which she never wanted to wake.
Diliya held Little Merlin a bit tighter, sighed, and said softly, “However… that calendula field no longer exists.” This statement was like a pebble tossed into a calm lake, sending ripples through Little Merlin’s heart.
She raised her head, her ice-blue eyes reflecting Diliya’s slightly melancholy face. “That beautiful calendula field—is it gone?”
“It is precisely because it is gone that it became Ophelia’s wish.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“The two of them are still being difficult with each other, though Little Merlin gave them the catalyst. Once she found you, Ophelia had a legitimate reason to contact her, otherwise, who knows how many more centuries they would have spent in a cold war. Getting one of them to take the initiative to reach out is impossible; everyone in your family is incredibly stubborn. Having Little Merlin as an excuse allowed them to have normal communication and share their daily lives. This is all thanks to Little Merlin.”
“I have to thank Ophelia for finding me too…”
“Ophelia is always a bit rigid; she has been like that since she was a child. I have never said the word ‘no,’ but she seems to think that if she doesn’t get my explicit confirmation, it won’t work. For some gray areas, doesn’t my silence imply consent? To be this accommodating and yet still so rigid. Besides, Philia is the Empress, and she didn’t have any objections.” Diliya sighed. “Oh well… is there anything else the baby wants to ask?”
Since the topic of Mother Ophelia had come up, Merlin naturally thought of her other mother, her biological one. Little Merlin was already satisfied having learned so much about Ophelia’s past today, and she didn’t mind that Diliya deliberately changed the subject. Her large eyes sparkled with hope, and her small hands gripped Diliya’s sleeve instinctively.
“What about Mother Cecilia? Didn’t you say, Big Sister Diliya, that you saw Mother Cecilia when she was young too?”
“Cecilia is still alive. If you want to know where Mother Cecilia is, come to the Elven Forest. I will be waiting for you, Merlinlia.” However, Diliya only patted Little Merlin’s head and said no more. “At the very least, I can be certain that Cecilia loves you very much, and you will see each other sooner or later. But… hmm… I have a feeling you’ll be put through the wringer by her… haha.”
“Hmm…” She bent down, her long silver hair falling beside Merlin’s cheeks. “Alright.”
Diliya opened her arms and hugged the small figure in her embrace tightly, feeling that fleeting softness. Then, she planted a gentle kiss on Merlin’s smooth forehead.
“Alright, that’s enough idle chatter; the prime time of the full moon is almost over. Next time… we will meet in the Elven Forest, baby.”
Diliya’s expression became sacred and solemn, radiating a light that could not be profaned. She extended her slender right hand, palm upward. Hum— Three lights of different colors, emitting pulses of pure magic, slowly emerged in her palm.
“Enough small talk, Hero! I will give you your first baptism! And present a reward to you, my dear. As you are now, you cannot overcome the predicament before you. As your guide, this is my gift to you.”
The first beam of light was blue: “I can restore a portion of your magic as an elf. Although it cannot be fully recovered, this power is enough to place you among the best even among humans.”
The second beam of light was pink: “Retrieve the ‘love’ you have lost. If you choose this, your closed heart will beat once more, and perhaps then you will understand everything that has happened until now.”
The third beam of light was white: “Return to your original self—the 15-year-old Merlinlia.”
Diliya looked at the baby Merlinlia before her. “This exchange comes at the cost of soul damage; you were supposed to pay for it slowly. It is my leniency that you can restore even one aspect of yourself. Choose, Hero.”
Restore magic… The blue light flickered faintly. This was something Merlin had once dreamed of, something she had cried about countless times in the dead of night. But strangely, ever since the life-and-death battle in the underground labyrinth, Little Merlin’s obsession with magic seemed to have faded away.
Initially, she hadn’t cared at all whether she had magic or not; it only became a psychological burden because Mahina used the gap in their magic power as an excuse to abandon her. But in the end, Merlin had successfully cast high-level magic, protected Mahina, and learned the reason why she couldn’t use magic; now, Merlin didn’t care anymore. The sense of inferiority that had been caused by Mahina, along with the desperate craving for magic, had vanished. Since she had lost ‘love,’ the feelings induced by that love had also disappeared. It wasn’t a necessity for her anymore.
Little Merlin shook her head at the blue light. Even if she restored her magic, if she didn’t return to her adult self, Ophelia would probably still be by her side at all times, caring for her. Then, she turned to look at the pink light. The face of Mahina, bruised but still smiling, flashed through her mind, along with those humble yet burning eyes.
Is that love? If so, it is too painful. That agony of having one’s heart repeatedly kneaded and torn apart… Why must love be accompanied by sacrifice, bloodshed, lies, and self-delusion? Why must loving someone be so painful? Merlin didn’t want to experience it again. She didn’t want to become weak because of ‘love,’ didn’t want to be anxious because of ‘love,’ and didn’t want to shed tears like a fool because of ‘love.’ If this was the cost of growing up, she would rather be a heartless elf.
“I…” Little Merlin’s fingers trembled as she slowly pointed toward the white light. Her gaze shifted from confusion to cold, firm resolve. “If love means being hurt, being weak, and being like a fool who passively accepts everything…”
Little Merlin looked at her petite body. Although life as Little Merlin had been fun, she had had enough. It was better to return to her adult form as soon as possible.
“Then I would rather not have love! I want none of it! None at all!”
Diliya sighed softly with an expected nonchalance. “I see… but that is how it is. I promise you… Merlinlia. Everyone has the right to choose.”
“Heh heh heh, hurry up and let me out so the Hero can defeat the evil Great Demon King!”
“Oh, there is one more thing.” Diliya had a thoughtful look, but she only gazed upward, not at Little Merlin. “Whether it is Mia’s church, Lucia’s health, Mahina’s ring, or Ophelia’s calendulas—these are all things that don’t exist in reality. This is just an interesting dream.”
Little Merlin nodded. “So, what I mean is, this is a dream.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“A beautiful girl… does not poop. In my dreams, at least.”
“Oh?”