Chapter 32: Klisha Kristina

【The autumn breeze carries the message of falling leaves, and the cold winter of the north is about to arrive.】

【On your way home, you unexpectedly encounter a half-blooded Demi-Human Girl, her body covered in scars, even more emaciated than the homeless you’ve seen in the slums.】

【You heal her, you give her food, you take her home.】

【You don’t think of yourself as noble, nor do you feel grand, you’re just offering a little kindness within your means.】

【Though for her, it’s a salvation as dazzling as the sun.】

The thick soles of boots.

Step on the dry leaves on the road.

Making crisp, subtle sounds.

Xu Xi leads the girl, guiding her through the dark alley, away from the foul stench, over a small ditch, and up a few steps.

A clean and peaceful courtyard appears before them, this is Xu Xi’s residence in the City of Allenson.

“Go in.”

Facing the clean courtyard, the Demi-Human Girl seems a bit hesitant, so Xu Xi slightly increases his strength, half-dragging her into the courtyard.

Tap-tap—

Tap-tap—

The sound of footsteps echoes in the quiet courtyard, stepping on the gravel path.

Exposed to the sunlight, the girl appears very unnatural, constantly squinting and trying to lower her head, escaping the blinding light that makes her uncomfortable.

But.

With her small hand tightly held by Xu Xi, she can’t escape as she used to.

Gradually, she tries to open her eyes.

What greets her is the soft sunlight passing through the brick and tile fences, scattered and cut by the plants and flowers, creating a beautiful play of light and shadow, dappled light intermittently shining on the path.

In the quiet, the sound of insects can be heard.

If you listen carefully, you can also hear the sound of the steam engine from the City Center.

“It’s so beautiful…”, the girl’s eyes reflect Xu Xi’s figure, for the first time discovering that the world of light is so beautiful, for the first time realizing she can also stand in the sunlight.

As long as, as long as she holds this man’s hand, she can muster courage.

…

【You take the Demi-Human Girl home, the first thing you do is take her into the bathroom for a thorough cleaning】

【The girl has been wandering for too long, mingling in garbage dumps for years, the water magic you used earlier is not enough to completely cleanse her】

【You summon the water elemental spirit, and together you cast a water purification spell】

【You succeed】

【The filth on the girl is completely purified and eradicated by you】

“Splash, splash.”

In the bathroom.

The sound of water flow continuously rings out.

Xu Xi presses the valve, accompanied by the unique hissing noise of mechanical operation, hot water flows out of the pipe, controlled by Xu Xi to pour over the girl’s head.

“So it’s gray hair.”

Xu Xi exclaims softly.

He rubs the girl’s head with his palm, washing away the clumps of mud and water, revealing long gray-silver hair once cleaned.

The hair’s luster is very dull, and feels rough, like dry straw.

This is a sign of extreme malnutrition.

Naturally.

No need to be surprised.

After all, the girl’s body is emaciated, her bones clearly visible through her skin, a sign of weakness, giving a strong impact as if she could die at any moment.

Such a physical condition, just surviving is a miracle, of course, there wouldn’t be extra nutrients for her hair.

So pitiful.

Xu Xi sighs softly in his heart again, helps the girl wash her hair and hands, then hands her the hot water pipe under her bewildered gaze.

“Next, you wash yourself, can you do it?”

Xu Xi speaks.

He can help wash her hair and hands, but for more private parts, Xu Xi decides to let the girl do it herself.

After all, the girl has grown up, not a baby needing to be fed.

Some things.

Need to establish concepts from now.

“Okay…”, the girl nods slightly.

After handing her the hot water pipe, Xu Xi leaves the bathroom, takes the opportunity while the girl is washing alone, and goes out to buy some clothes.

He used to live alone.

There are no clothes for a little girl at home.

And what the girl was wearing before, can’t even be called clothes, more accurately described as rags, which Xu Xi had already burned.

“…”

After buying clothes and returning, the girl has just finished washing.

She stands quietly in the bathroom with the hot water pipe, motionless, like a hardened sculpture, the pipe in her hand still continuously pouring hot water, disappearing down the drain.

Eyes lifeless.

Looking at Xu Xi as he appears.

Like a robot, waiting for Xu Xi’s next command.

“Come out, and dry yourself.”

“Press here to turn off the hot water.”

Under the girl’s bewildered expression, Xu Xi presses the valve on the bathroom wall, and after a few seconds, the hot water pipe in the girl’s hand stops flowing.

Then, she is covered with a large towel by Xu Xi, drying her wet body.

Her hair is naturally not missed.

Xu Xi uses fire magic in his left hand and wind magic in his right, creating a unique warm breeze, thoroughly drying the girl’s hair, leaving no water droplets.

Then comes the new clothes.

The clothes bought for the girl are not particularly stylish.

Even so, after the girl changes into them, there’s a refreshing newness.

If one must describe it, it’s probably the feeling of finally becoming a “person”, not garbage to be discarded at will, not unnoticed dead leaves, but a real “person” standing here.

Looking at the girl, so refreshed, Xu Xi smiles.

“Well, now you look much more spirited.”

Taking the girl’s hand again.

Xu Xi prepares to take her to the living room.

The corridor extends straight inward, not very long, at the end is the room prepared for the girl.

Hand on the doorknob, just before pushing the door open, Xu Xi seems to suddenly remember something, looking down at the girl:

“Do you have a name?”

“Cressa…”, the always quiet Demi-Human Girl finally reacts, looking up to meet Xu Xi’s gaze, “Cressa Christina.”

Her eyes still empty.

Showing no response to the world.

But faintly, Xu Xi seems to see a hint of expectation in them.

“Cressa, what a beautiful name”, Xu Xi says softly, stroking the girl’s hair, pushing open the wooden door, and leading the girl inside.

【You learn the true name of the Demi-Human Girl】

【Cressa Christina】

【This name is beautiful, you think in your heart, and also say it out loud】

【You settle everything for Cressa, from today, you officially adopt her, adopt a Witch】