The night wind in the Borderland carried a bone-chilling cold.
Although the knights had brought food and tents, the fear and numbness in the villagers’ eyes could not be immediately erased by a single full meal.
After finishing the bread Seraphina gave her, the little girl named Lina kept clinging tightly to Yisela’s hem, like a frightened little rabbit.
Yisela couldn’t stand this atmosphere.
She rummaged through her small backpack (actually a snack bag Seraphina had prepared for her) and pulled out several pieces of jerky tightly wrapped in oil paper.
Also, half a fried chicken leg left over from the afternoon—though cold, the texture was even chewier for a dragon.
“Here, for you.” Yisela shoved the oil paper package into Lina’s hand. Her movements were a bit rough, but her eyes were serious.
“Saint Sister made this especially for me. It’s super tasty. Eat this, and your body will warm up. You won’t be afraid of the dark anymore.”
Lina looked at her timidly, then at the food in her hands. Tears suddenly fell again. “Wah… Pretty sister, you’re so kind.”
“Hey! Don’t cry again!” Yisela immediately panicked. She hated it when others cried. “If you keep crying, I’ll ignore you!”
Lina quickly sniffled, but couldn’t stop her soft sobs. “I, I’m not… I’m because… because I remembered Mom and Dad… They used to grill meat for me too.”
Yisela’s movements froze.
She looked at Lina’s hollow eyes, recalling the ruins she had seen during the day, recalling the tragic scenes of the magic beast attacks.
Although she used to be a lawless little demon, what she hated most were those magic beasts that bullied the weak.
“Those magic beasts are too wicked!” Yisela slammed her fist on the ground in anger—although she didn’t leave a dent, the momentum was strong. “Once this princess regains her power, I’ll definitely kick them around like balls!”
Seeing Yisela’s fierce appearance, Lina instead laughed through her tears. “Pretty sister, you’re really amazing. Mom said only the strongest knights can protect everyone.”
“Of course!” Yisela immediately puffed out her little chest, her tail wagging proudly. “I am the Silver Dragon Princess! The strongest among the Dragon Clan!”
She stood up, looking down at Lina, extended her little finger, and said with a tsundere expression, “Since you’re so pitiful, from now on, you’re under my protection!”
“Huh?” Lina tilted her head.
“Idiot!” Yisela tapped her head. “From now on, when you go out, use my name! Just say you are the Silver Dragon Princess’s exclusive attendant! If anyone dares to bully you, just mention this princess’s name, and I’ll beat them until they lose their teeth!”
“Her Highness the Princess’s attendant…” Lina’s eyes instantly lit up, sparkling like stars. “Wow! So you’re a real princess! I knew you were so beautiful, you must not be an ordinary person!”
Yisela’s cheeks instantly flushed bright red. Although she usually liked hearing compliments, being worshipped by a little girl she didn’t know with such pure eyes still made her a bit shy.
She turned her face away and said stubbornly, “Hmph! Of course! This princess is the most… the kindest princess in the entire continent!”
“Mm! Her Highness the Princess is really good to me.” Lina hugged the jerky tightly in her hands and whispered, “If only Mom and Dad could meet Her Highness the Princess too… They would definitely like you too.”
The atmosphere fell silent again for a moment.
Lina lowered her head, looking at the jerky in her hands, and her eyes dimmed again.
Seeing her like this, Yisela felt heavy-hearted too. This heavy sorrow reminded her of the feeling when she was abandoned by the Dragon’s Nest.
“Hey! Don’t make that sour face again!” Yisela suddenly jumped up and grabbed Lina’s hand. “Crying and whimpering is so annoying! Let’s play a game!”
“A game?” Lina looked up blankly.
“Right! A dare game!” Yisela’s eyes rolled, and that mischievous shota soul began to stir again.
She glanced at the Holy Light Knights not far away, who were repairing the fortifications with serious expressions, and a mischievous grin curled at the corner of her mouth. “See that knight uncle over there in silver armor? The one with the fierce face.”
Lina followed her pointing direction. It was a middle-ranking captain with a full beard, looking extremely dignified.
“Her Highness the Princess, that’s Captain Lei Meng. He’s very fierce.”
“What’s there to be afraid of!” Yisela patted her chest. “With this princess here! Let’s play a draw-lots game. Whoever draws the longest branch has to complete a ‘dare mission’—to lightly pat that uncle’s bald head!”
“Ah?! This… this isn’t good, is it?” Lina waved her hands in fright. “Captain Lei Meng will get angry. He’ll draw his sword!!”
“He won’t!” Yisela had already picked up two dry branches of different lengths from the ground and hid them behind her back. “Come on, come on, pick one randomly!”
Lina, half-believing and half-doubting, picked one. She opened her hand to look and saw it was shorter than the one in Yisela’s hand by a bit.
“Yeah! I win!” Yisela cheered, pushing Lina out. “Go, go! Give it a light pat and run away! This is a prank I often play. It’s guaranteed exciting!”
“I, I really have to go?” Lina walked timidly behind Captain Lei Meng.
Yisela gave her an encouraging look. “Go! You’re my attendant, be brave!”
Lina closed her eyes, reached out her small hand, and pat—lightly tapped Captain Lei Meng’s helmet, then screamed and ran back.
Captain Lei Meng whirled around, looking completely dumbfounded. He stared at the fleeing Lina and Yisela, who was hiding behind and snickering. He looked helpless, and finally could only touch his helmet and shake his head fondly.
With the first success, Lina’s courage grew.
“Again! Again!” Lina shouted excitedly.
“Okay! This time, whoever draws the short stick has to draw a turtle on a knight’s shield!”
“Haha, Her Highness the Princess is so naughty!”
“And, and! This time, whoever draws the long stick has to pat that knight’s armor!”
Throughout the afternoon, the laughter of two little girls and the helpless growls of the knights echoed over the ruins of the Borderland.
“Who drew a turtle on my shield!”
“Report, Captain! It seems… it’s that ‘little silver dragon’ who did it!”
In the midst of this war-ravaged devastation, because of these two children’s frolicking, the originally tense and oppressive knight camp finally had a trace of long-lost, lively human spirit.
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