Even after being caught, the little girl showed no signs of remorse.
"You still owe me the oranges."
"...I was lying, okay? I don't have any oranges."
Seeing that Elysia still wanted the oranges, the little girl was momentarily stunned.
But then she firmly admitted that she had lied.
Hearing this, Elysia didn't get angry.
Instead, she reached into her little bag and pulled out a few candies.
"Do you want some candy?"
"...Thank you."
Seeing that Elysia not only didn't hold a grudge but even offered her candy, the little girl felt a pang of guilt.
"Hehe, it's okay. Mom Celia said that if you meet someone in need, you should help them."
"By the way, what's your name?"
Grabbing the little girl's hand, Elysia acted like they were old friends, pulling her to sit on the bench.
"I... I don't have a name. But I gave myself one. It's Pardofelis. What about you?"
"I'm Elysia. I gave myself this name too. This is Chang Yuan. His parents gave him his name."
"..."
While the two girls chatted, Chang Yuan fell silent.
So, the 13 Flame-Chasers weren't a coincidence.
Even as a child, Elysia had met and formed bonds with a few of them.
"Elysia, you're so kind. But if you meet someone like me again, don't be so trusting.
I just wanted food, but others might not be so harmless. I've heard some people even eat children."
Feeling guilty, Pardofelis warned Elysia.
A naive child like her could easily run into bad people.
"Hmph, I'm not afraid. Big brother Chang Yuan will protect me."
Crossing her arms, Elysia proudly lifted her head.
"Hmm, but I don't think he can fight off those people."
"..."
Objectively speaking, Pardofelis was right. With his small frame, how could Chang Yuan fight an adult? He'd probably get knocked out with one slap.
"That's okay. We're really fast at running away."
"Alright, but you two still need to be careful. I'll go now."
"Goodbye, Pardofelis. I hope we meet again. Remember, my name is Elysia. It means Flawless Paradise, Eternal Elysium."
It was unclear if Pardofelis heard Elysia's introduction, but as she walked away, she waved her hand slightly.
Lying back on Chang Yuan's lap, Elysia looked up at him and asked, "Big brother Chang Yuan, do you think we'll really meet her again?"
"We will. Definitely."
How could they not? That was Pardofelis, one of the future Flame-Chasers.
"Hmm, you sound so sure. Anyway, big brother Chang Yuan, can you continue the story you didn't finish?"
"Sure, but remember to save the tissues. Don't use up all the ones in your bag."
"You're one to talk! It's all your fault!"
Hearing Chang Yuan's remark, Elysia poked his stomach.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault. But you're the one who wanted to keep listening, right?"
"Hmph~"
Elysia didn't reply, just let out a soft hum and stayed quiet.
Seeing this, Chang Yuan continued the story.
As he spoke, the pink-haired girl resting her head on his lap began to softly snore.
Seeing that she was asleep, Chang Yuan leaned back on the bench and closed his eyes.
The night passed quietly. When morning came, Elysia woke Chang Yuan up, and they went to brush their teeth and wash their faces.
Even while traveling, Elysia cared about her appearance.
"Hmm~, a new day begins now."
Stretching, Elysia started her lively journey once more.
Walking through the crowded streets, Elysia's eyes lit up at the sight of the delicious breakfast stalls.
Noticing her gaze, the stall owner saw her clothes and quickly packed a few buns into a bag.
"Here, little girl. Take these and share them with your brother."
"Huh? For me? Thank you, kind sir."
Taking the bag, Elysia thanked him and took a bite of the warm meat bun.
"Mmm, it's delicious. Big brother Chang Yuan, have some too."
Seeing the bun Elysia handed him, Chang Yuan accepted it without hesitation.
As expected of Elysia, she was loved wherever she went and always received help.
The two continued walking hand in hand.
Time flew by, and the two had been traveling for two years.
During this time, Chang Yuan hadn't been idle. He had secretly been gathering information about Fire Moth.
But clearly, he hadn't found anything useful.
Before the third Honkai eruption, people knew nothing about the Honkai. It was no wonder Fire Moth was so mysterious to ordinary people.
Similarly, over the two years, Elysia had gradually learned about the differences between boys and girls.
Because of this, holding hands became rare. They only did so when they needed to run.
And why did they need to run? Because human traffickers had taken an interest in them.
A handsome boy and a beautiful girl, both orphans without parents.
What trafficker wouldn't be tempted?
Fortunately, Elysia was naturally strong and had exceptional stamina.
So, every time they ran, it was Elysia pulling Chang Yuan along.
"Hmm~, big brother Chang Yuan, how about we go listen to some music here? I heard there's a special performance today by someone really talented."
Looking at the grand opera house, Elysia's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Hearing this, Chang Yuan checked his pockets and pulled out all his savings—nearly ten thousand dollars.
Over the years, he hadn't been idle. He worked odd jobs wherever they went to earn money.
And thanks to Elysia, the bosses always agreed and even gave him a little extra.
Because of this, Chang Yuan understood how Elysia had managed to travel the world alone at such a young age.
Honestly, with treatment like this, wasn't she just like the protagonists of those wish-fulfillment novels? Everywhere she went, people helped her.
"Let's go. It's okay to indulge once in a while."
With that, Chang Yuan took Elysia's hand and headed to the ticket booth, hoping to get a discount.