The idea of loneliness in this boundless, eternal dimension, a void that mirrored her own impending demise, relentlessly tormented Ceilia, gnawing at the very depths of her being.
With a shivering fear that penetrated to her bones, she shut her eyes tightly, refusing to summon the courage to open them, as the relentless passage of time stretched on.
Then, in a sudden, blinding blaze, a radiant piercing light pierced through her closed eyelids, jolting her into instant bewilderment, compelling her eyes to fly open.
And there, before her, lay a scene that took her breath away, overwhelming her senses with an onslaught of unspeakable joy, causing her to collapse in a heap, her tears flowing freely.
Gone was the suffocating cloak of darkness, replaced instead by an awe-inspiring spectacle of unblemished, cerulean blue, interspersed with an abundance of lush, resplendent foliage.
Finally, after an eternity of desolation, she had broken free!
Finally!
With triumphant exhilaration, she could inhale the pure, revitalizing essence of the crisp, untainted air surrounding her!
Her euphoria was fleeting, quickly replaced by a strange and unsettling sensation coursing through her veins. Instinctively on high alert, she cast her gaze around in a frantic search for the source of her unease. Then, in the distance, her eyes fixated on a colossal cliff that loomed before her like a sleeping giant.
Heart pounding in her chest, she sprinted toward the precipice, driven by an unexplainable force. As she reached the edge, her trembling eyes took in the breathtaking scene below. A gasp escaped her lips, and she clamped her hands over her mouth, unable to contain her shock and wonder, slowly her legs turned soft as she kneeled into the same spot.
Stretching out before her was a majestic tableau - a spectacular waterfall thundered down from the heavens, its sheer power creating a mesmerizing spectacle of cascading water. The deluge crashed upon rocks below, producing a symphony of nature's might. The resulting torrent gave birth to an azure lake, a shimmering oasis nestled amidst nature's grandeur.
But it was not the magnificent display of water alone that held her attention. Not far from the base of the cliff, upon a vibrant emerald meadow, danced two figures. Her focus honed in, capturing every detail with vivid precision.
A small, cherubic girl of tender years scampered barefoot through the grasses, her innocence radiating from every pore. Her hair, a tapestry woven from shimmering strands of vivacious pink, cascaded down her back, a striking contrast against the lush greenery.
Beside her, a man of striking handsomeness exuded an aura of timeless elegance. He reclined nonchalantly, casting an enigmatic smile the girl's way. The sunlight played upon his features, enhancing every chiseled contour of his face. With a dismissive shrug, the man abandoned his composure and sprang into effortless motion.
The chase was on, an exhilarating pursuit fueled by laughter and sheer delight. The man deftly closed the distance between them, his arms engulfing the girl in a embrace. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he executed plunged the little girl into the crystalline depths of the enchanted lake.
Silent ripples spread across the water's surface, reflecting the dappled sunlight, as her figure emerged slightly resentful, while the man chuckled at the scene..
His their laughter and exuberance a harmonious echo of the beauty surrounding them.
Time stood still in that beguiling oasis, where innocence and joy blended seamlessly with the forces of nature.
"Heh..." A soft chuckle escaped Ceilia's lips, blending with the bittersweet tears streaming down her face.
She frantically wiped them away, her gaze fixed on the glistening teardrops in her trembling hands.
Without a moment's hesitation, she made a daring decision, propelled by a mix of emotions she couldn't fully comprehend.
With a surge of courage, Ceilia leaped off the precipice, defying the laws of gravity with her graceful descent.
She landed soundlessly, her presence unnoticed by the two figures engrossed in their playful escapades by the lakeside.
As she landed silently behind the two figures engrossed in their playful bliss by the lake, a sense of intrigue filled her.
She positioned herself near a solitary rock, observing the scene unfolding before her with a mix of curiosity and a tinge of intimidation.
There, in front of her, the figures became clearer.
It was Xia Tian, slightly older now and adorned with the maturity of a man in his mid-20s, attempting to coerce and intimidate the small girl, just five years old, into taking a bath.
Their dynamic played out like a one-sided dance of intimidation, a tyranny between an older figure and an innocent child.
The sight stirred another round of laughter within Ceilia, despite the fact that she could not recall this specific memory from her own past.
The haze of her early years had obscured these details, making this recollection seemingly alien to her. Yet, the familiarity in her heart could not be denied.
Indeed, she was witnessing a fragment of her own personal history. The mischievous little girl, once carefree and unrestrained, was now unveiled as her younger self.
And the man before her, defying the limitations of age with his appearance, was none other than Xia Tian.
Though his physical semblance suggested otherwise, his age remained an mystery, refusing to be bound by the passage of time.
"Bù-bù-bù!" The little Ceilia squirmed in Xia Tian's firm grip, her head shaking vehemently as she muttered an ancient language of that era.
The simple phrase she repeated, "Na-na-na," was a desperate plea for escape, her wide eyes filled with fear as they darted towards the depths of the lake with its treacherous currents.
But her resistance was in vain. With a sudden exasperation, Xia Tian delivered a gentle swat on her bottom, causing the little girl to turn around, her glare filled with determination.
However, her attempt to intimidate him proved futile.
Realizing her path was blocked, she resorted to a different tactic.
In an instant, her eyes brimmed with tears, her expression transformed into an innocent, pleading gaze.
The change was immediate - a chorus of adorable protests erupted from her lips.
And just as she had hoped, her efforts elicited a response — The air soon filled with the sound of a girl's adorable shriek of protest.
"Папа!"
Echoing through the air, the cry tore through the serene ambience.
Xia Tian, emotionless and unmoved, discarded the young Ceilia like a mere rag doll, flinging her effortlessly into the sparkling embrace of the water.
He stood there, an enigmatic figure, nodding in satisfaction with an almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips.
In comparison to the Xia Tian of the present, this version rarely allowed his emotions to surface on his face.
He exuded an air of solemnity, his features often shrouded in a serious or cold gaze.
Only on rare occasions would a smile grace his lips, akin to an old fox.
Staring at them, Celia shook her head in utter helplessness.
"Is that even a way to treat children...?" she thought, her disbelief evident in the furrowed lines on her forehead. But then, with a sudden jolt of realization, she remembered that logic held no dominion over Xia Tian.
However, a surge of anger coursed through her veins, causing her muscles to twitch uncontrollably. She felt her heartache as she watched Xia Tian meticulously wash the little girl, his hands caressing her delicate skin. "D-Dad, s-she is only five..." Celia whispered, caught between laughter and tears.
The little girl, oblivious to the complexities of the situation, giggled and reveled in the tender attention she was receiving. Unaware of the implications, Xia Tian continued to savor the sensations, his fingers gliding gently over the child's soft, innocent skin, between her legs.
In the end, Ceilia released a heavy, resigned sigh, the weight of her revealed black history settling upon her shoulders. Finally, with clarity, she came to understand the haunting revelations of the molestation she had endured as a vulnerable child.
But it mattered little to her now. In the depths of her memory, she knew that in just a few short years, her innocence would have been stolen away regardless. She couldn't escape the cruel fate that awaited her.
Comparing her to Nyx and the others, their innocence was brutally taken at the tender age of fourteen, while Ceilia's own loss had occurred far too soon — like a fragile rose cruelly plucked before fully blooming.
She remembered Xia Tian healing her as she nearly died in the process due to his carelessness, which caused internal bleeding.
Nevertheless, she chose to remain in the present, savoring every visceral detail of the scene unfolding before her.
The vibrant hues of the sky slowly transforming as the sun gracefully descended, casting long shadows and highlighting the world in a breathtaking golden glow.
The impending darkness added an air of melancholy, reminding her that time was slipping away, and soon, the sun would surrender to the night's embrace.
Both the individuals in front of her were already eagerly departing, their figures growing smaller in the distance.
Witnessing their departure, Ceilia sprang up from her seat in a flurry, taking a hurried step forward.
.
.
.
ραΠdαsΝοvεl.cοm .
.
A/N: Mixed chinese and russian to create a new language:
Папа - Papa [Dad]
Bù - 不 ［ No］
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter