Celia didn’t know the details of Haco’s condition, but she was smart enough to be able to sense that something wrong was going on with him and the way he kept forgetting things terrified her.
They became close only recently, since it was Haco, who was there with her when she lost her brother, the only family she had.
Therefore, the thought of losing the old man dreaded Celia so much. She could feel it in her heart, especially when Haco was going to leave with the Alpha’s entourage to the Silver River pack soon.
Meanwhile, Ania felt sad because she saw Celia crying. She used to play with her, thus seeing her tear up, she felt so bad.
"It’s okay... everything is going to be okay..." Iris tried to calm down the two girls, who were clinging onto her. She picked Ania up after removing her hands around her leg and kissed Celia’s forehead.
Iris put her arm around Celia’s shoulders and the latter rested her head on her shoulder. They walked toward the garden, while the rest of Iris’ little entourage followed the trio in silence.
"Luna, can you do something for Haco? I don’t want him to leave like my brother..." Celia whimpered.
"Where will he go?" Ania asked innocently, tears still streamed down her face. "Your brother is dead, will the funny man die too?"
Ania liked Haco, she met him a few times and the old sorcerer always showed her his magic.
On the other hand, Iris couldn’t make Haco stay because the sorcerer insisted on leaving with them. As cruel as it might sound, Haco was right, there were a lot of things he had to do before he was gone.
"I was told that when someone dies, a baby will be born and their soul will go to that new life. So did my mother and my baby brother. They are babies now. Now, your brother is also a baby." Ania wiped her tears. "Haco also will be born as a baby if he dies."
Imagine Haco becoming a baby, he would be a grumpy one...
Iris was not sure whether she should laugh or cry hearing Ania’s rambling. She was curious who had told this little girl such a story, but probably, such beliefs helped her to go through the grief of losing her mother and her baby brother all of a sudden.
After all, people cope up in different ways that work for them, even the little ones like Ania.
"Really? I have never heard of that..." Celia lifted her head to look at Ania, who was still sitting on Iris’ hip.
"Yes!" Ania’s eyes lit up and she came up with more stories, which fascinated Iris as well. For someone so young, she was a good storyteller.
But then, they heard someone approach them and a shocked voice called the little girl’s name.
"Ania! What are you doing? Get down!" Stone was shocked when he saw his daughter being carried by the Luna.
Ania was startled and immediately climbed down from Iris’ lap, as she approached her father with her short legs. She got scolded for being impolite to the Luna.
"Don’t get angry with her, I am the one who carried her. If you want to get angry, it should be at me." Iris frowned. She disliked when Stone talked to his daughter sternly for something that she couldn’t be held responsible for.
"I will not dare," Stone said in a small voice, he averted his gaze from Iris. It seemed he still remembered the way he treated her in the beginning of their encounters with each other, but then the more he saw Iris right now, the more he felt guilty for his treatment. She was nothing but kind, not to mention, she had saved Ania’s life twice.
"Don’t scold her, Stone. I like her company. I wish she can visit me often," Iris said, as she ruffled Ania’s hair, which gave Stone a mixed feeling.
"Yes, Luna," Stone complied, he still didn’t dare to look Iris in the eyes, while he carried Ania in his arms. "It’s already late, I will take my leave."
Iris nodded.
"Bye, Luna Iris!" Ania waved her hand, as she hugged her father’s neck.
Iris waved to her as well. "Come and tell me more stories, okay?"
The little girl beamed when she heard that. "Yes!"
Once Stone left with Ania, Hanna approached Celia. "Come, it’s almost your bedtime." She stretched out her hand to take Celia away from Iris.
Seemingly just realizing what she was doing was quite improper, Celia immediately let go of Iris. "I am sorry," she muttered in a small voice.
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