Chapter 4: Gifts
CHAPTER 4- A Generous Sprinkling of Gifts
In a world where dreams can be as beguiling as they are dangerous, Qi Ta knew that the most deceptive nightmares were those cloaked in the guise of beautiful dreams.
Life as a petite pet seemed destined for bliss, with just a gentle caress from benevolent sisters on her ears and paws ensuring an endless bounty of sustenance and garments.
Yet, Qi Ta rejected this preordained path.
She was resolute in her determination to live by her own means.
Those ensnared in the allure of beautiful dreams are often the ones most reluctant to face the awakening.
In recent days, she had exhausted every avenue available to her.
A test for magical aptitude revealed her talent was non-existent.
The prospect of learning martial arts was even less conceivable.
The memory of the swordswoman sister's intrigued gaze made Qi Ta's cheeks flush with embarrassment.
That look seemed to say—oh my, with such a physique, any slight movement would cause her generous curves to sway uncontrollably, and mere strips of cloth would hardly suffice. Such a body was not meant for combat.
Frustrated, Qi Ta hugged her increasingly ample bosom with her delicate arms and stormed out of the dojo without a backward glance.
Later, Qi Ta contemplated employment at the church.
To her dismay, she found that even pets were prohibited from entering.
Nonetheless, a compassionate nun kindly bestowed upon her the name she now bears.
Qi Ta.
A name denoting naivety and purity.
But occasionally, "naivety" is merely a tactful way of describing some endearingly foolish little beings…
The little rabbit lady found herself by the lakeside once more.
The afternoon sun shone brilliantly.
Her immaculate face mirrored in the water.
However, her ice-blue eyes betrayed an inherent sorrow.
Her visit to the Adventurers' Guild today had been fruitless.
If this trend persisted, she might be relegated to working at the school's pet café.
The mere thought of wearing a maid's uniform, fluttering her ears before the elder sisters, and delicately, crisply calling out "Master~" made Qi Ta feel as though her world was on the brink of collapse.
What became of the dignity of one who had traversed worlds?
Qi Ta's resolve was unyielding, "This cannot be my destiny!"
And yet…
How long could one subsist on allure alone?
Even if spells existed to prevent aging, they would not be squandered on a mere stray pet.
In time, new, younger pets would line the streets, eagerly awaiting the Dragonkin ladies' offerings of food and affection.
Their skin would be fairer, their bodies softer.
They would be younger and more tender.
Qi Ta could not imagine what she might look like in twenty years.
The summer insect cannot comprehend the concept of ice.
In her previous life, still a high school student, Qi Ta had not yet lived through two decades.
Her mind was a tempest of chaotic thoughts, only serving to compound her distress.
She bit her lip, certain there had to be another solution.
But for now, she was weary.
Her legs throbbed with pain.
And she felt a pang of hunger.
She nibbled on half a date, its sweetness almost too intense.
Then, she reclined on the plush grass, eyes fixed on the clear blue sky.
Perhaps it was best to take a nap for now.
When faced with uncertainty, sleep could offer clarity.
Perhaps upon awakening, she would find an answer.
She tenderly wrapped her delicate ears with the cloth bag intended for her umbrella and closed her eyes in satisfaction.
What she dreamt of remained a mystery.
All that was evident was the gradual furrowing of her brows in her slumber, occasionally murmuring softly.
"Please, no muzzle… I implore you! I'm not one to bite~"
"I am clean, I don't relieve myself just anywhere!"
"I won't destroy the home."
"Please, don't cast me out."
"I… I can't return home."
"I've become a stray pet."
"The sky is vast, the world immense."
"Where is home?"
Initially, her utterances were articulate and whole, spilling from her mouth in complete sentences.
But slowly, they faded into mere muffled sobs.
Her emotions seemed to materialize, spreading like ripples across the lake's surface.
It was as though an unseen hand strummed the world itself, eliciting silent harmonies from the cosmos.
Her speech was beyond anyone's understanding.
Her words were not the common tongue of the Sagacious Empire, but rather her true mother language.
In the shadows, Yulia's hands shook subtly.
She had listened to an exceedingly ancient language and beheld a magical event like none she had ever encountered.
It was uncertain if it could truly be termed magic, for within her knowledge, no spell existed that could manifest such an effect.
Sorrow has many faces.
The sound of weeping alone cannot convey the depth of one's despair.
Yet, all who were near felt it—a profound, ineffable sense of solitude that filled the air.
Yulia's heart was on the verge of breaking.
She yearned to step out from concealment, to rush over and hold the little rabbit close, to reassure her that she would never have to feel isolated or afraid again…
But Qi Ta was a girl of unwavering resolve, adamant that her destiny not be tied to her physical beauty or reliant on the pitying generosity of others.
A sudden appearance, a hasty action, could potentially wound that delicate soul.
A thoughtful, measured approach was necessary…
Upon awakening, Qi Ta found the sky dimmed, with sparse lights twinkling across the lake.
Unsure of how much time had elapsed, she only knew her body still ached with fatigue.
She wandered back to the abandoned automat tea house, enveloped in a sense of melancholy.
Throughout, she contemplated whether to take up the piano again, an instrument she had learned in her youth, in a past life.
To bring those familiar classical melodies to the inhabitants of this unfamiliar world, to become a pianist…
While deep in thought, she noticed an elegantly wrapped large box on an outside table.
It had been left unclaimed for quite some time.
With no one else present, Qi Ta drew near out of curiosity and observed a note affixed to the box's ribbon, inscribed in a graceful hand.
"Hello, stranger!"
"Today, I've won the grand prize, and I'm overflowing with joy, a joy I wish to share with you!"
"Though I have no idea who you might be, you, the first to read these lines, will receive my well-wishes and this small, randomly chosen gift."
Qi Ta touched her head, bemused.
She recalled stories of football club owners who, after a victory, would generously distribute money, a practice colloquially known as "making it rain."
She had not anticipated encountering such traditions in another realm.
Upon opening the box, Qi Ta discovered an assortment of egg tarts, two servings of smoked tuna, a sponge cake, and even a few slices of ham.
After a brief moment of reflection, she closed the box once more.
When free lunches descend from the heavens, one must pause to consider.
Indeed, the same principle applies to dinner.
Time continued its march, yet no one claimed the large box.
She attempted to lift it but found it unyielding.
Qi Ta stared at it—how had someone managed to place such a hefty gift here? It was as immovable as a solid block of iron.
Not even the possibility of moving it to the school's central square was feasible.
Left with no alternative, she opened the lid and retrieved the food.
The oil-preserved smoked tuna would remain edible for some time, but the cake was bound to spoil within a day or two.
In a place seldom visited, would it not be wasteful if the food remained uneaten?
Qi Ta was at a loss for understanding.
As the night grew darker and distant lights sparkled, the tea house was illuminated by a gentle orange glow.
Qi Ta's stomach rumbled persistently.
"If it's going to spoil anyway, perhaps I should just eat it," she reasoned.
"It's wrong to waste food."
"Ugh… this isn't about accepting charity."
"It's merely partaking in a randomly bestowed food gift."
After an extended internal struggle, the famished Qi Ta finally reached for the cake.
Yulia observed as the little rabbit lady unfurled her tender, pliant tongue, traced a circle around the top, and skillfully ensnared a piece of chocolate decoration into her mouth.
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