Chapter 32: Klisa Christina

[The autumn wind carries news of fallen leaves; winter's chill approaches from the north]

[On your way home, you unexpectedly encounter a girl of the Demon Race with impure Bloodline. Her body is covered in wounds, thinner and more frail than the vagrants you've seen in the slums]

[You heal her, you give her food, you take her back to your home]

[You don't consider yourself particularly noble, nor do you think yourself grand. You are merely offering a small kindness within your capabilities]

[Though for her, this is a salvation as dazzling as the sun]

The thick soles of the boots.

Tread upon the dry fallen leaves on the path.

Emit crisp, faint sounds.

Xu Xi held the girl's hand, leading her through that sunless alley, away from the foul, decaying stench, across a small ditch, and up a few steps.

A clean, serene courtyard of white and brown appeared before them. This was Xu Xi's residence in Alenson City.

"Go in."

Facing the clean courtyard, the Demon Race girl seemed somewhat hesitant. So Xu Xi slightly increased his grip, half-dragging, half-pulling her into the courtyard.

*Tap*—

*Tap*—

Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestone path of the courtyard, making the space feel even more spacious and quiet.

Exposed to the sunlight, the girl appeared uncomfortable, constantly squinting and trying to lower her head to escape the glaring light that caused her discomfort.

However.

With her small hand tightly held by Xu Xi, she could no longer flee as she used to.

Gradually, she tried to open her eyes.

What greeted her was the beautiful interplay of light and shadow—gentle sunlight filtered through brick walls and railings, then scattered and fragmented by plants and flowers. Hazy, intermittent patches of light fell upon the path.

In the stillness, the chirping of insects could be heard.

If one listened carefully, the distant roar of steam engines from the city center was also audible.

"So beautiful…" The girl's eyes reflected Xu Xi's figure. For the first time, she discovered the world of light could be so wonderful. For the first time, she realized she too could stand in the sunlight.

As long as… as long as she held this man's hand, she could muster courage.

…

[You bring the Demon Race girl home. The first thing you do is take her to the bathroom for a thorough cleaning]

[The girl has been wandering for far too long, mingling in garbage dumps for years. The Water Magic you used earlier was insufficient for a complete cleanse]

[You summon a water elemental spirit and together, you cast a Water Purification magic]

[You succeed]

[The filth on the girl's body is completely purified and eradicated by you]

*Splash, splash.*

Inside the bathroom.

The sound of flowing water continued.

Xu Xi turned the valve. With the unique hissing noise of machinery, hot water steaming with vapor flowed from the pipes, controlled by Xu Xi to pour over the girl's head.

"So her hair is gray."

Xu Xi murmured in surprise.

He rubbed the girl's head with his palm, washing away the clumps formed by dried mud and water. Once clean, what was revealed was long, ash-silver hair.

The hair's luster was dull and felt rough to the touch, like dried straw.

This was a sign of severe malnutrition.

It was only natural.

No need for surprise.

After all, the girl's body was emaciated; her protruding bones were clearly visible through her skin—a manifestation of weakness that gave a strong impression she could die at any moment.

Under such physical conditions, merely surviving was a miracle. Of course, there would be no excess nutrients for her hair.

How pitiful.

Xu Xi sighed inwardly again. After washing the girl's hair and hands, under her bewildered gaze, he placed the hot water hose in her hand.

"You can wash the rest yourself. Can you do that?"

Xu Xi spoke.

Areas like her hair and hands, he could help wash. But for more private parts of her body, Xu Xi decided it was better for the girl to handle herself.

After all, the girl was grown now, not a babbling infant.

Some things.

Needed to be established from the start.

"Okay…" The girl nodded slightly.

After handing her the hose, Xu Xi left the bathroom. While the girl washed alone, he went out to buy some clothes.

He had lived alone before.

There were no clothes at home suitable for a young girl.

What the girl had worn earlier could hardly be called clothes; 'rags' was more accurate. Xu Xi had already burned them.

"…"

By the time he returned with the clothes, the girl had just finished washing.

She stood alone in the bathroom, holding the hot water hose, motionless like a hardened statue. The hose in her hand still gushed hot water continuously, disappearing down the drain.

Her eyes were vacant.

When Xu Xi appeared, she looked at him.

Like a robot, awaiting Xu Xi's next instruction.

"Come out, and dry yourself off while you're at it."

"Press here to turn off the hot water."

Under the girl's bewildered expression, Xu Xi pressed the valve on the bathroom wall. Seconds later, the hot water from the hose in her hand stopped.

Then, he draped a large towel over her, drying her wet body.

Her hair, of course, was not neglected.

Xu Xi used Fire Magic with his left hand and Wind Magic with his right, conjuring a unique warm breeze that dried the girl's hair completely, leaving no trace of moisture.

Next were the new clothes.

The clothes he bought for the girl weren't particularly stylish.

Even so, after she changed, there was a refreshing sense of newness.

If one had to describe it, it was likely the feeling of finally becoming a "person"—not trash to be discarded at will, not a neglected dead leaf, but a genuine "person" standing here.

Seeing the girl so transformed, a smile appeared on Xu Xi's face.

"Hmm, much more spirited now."

He took the girl's hand again.

Xu Xi prepared to lead her to her room.

The corridor stretched straight inward, not very long. At the end was the room prepared for the girl.

His hand on the doorknob, a second before pushing the door open, Xu Xi seemed to suddenly remember something. He looked down at the girl:

"Do you have a name?"

"Klisa…" The Demon Race girl, who had remained quiet all along, finally reacted. She looked up, meeting Xu Xi's gaze. "Klisa Christina."

Her eyes were still empty and vacant.

No reflection of the world could be seen within them.

But faintly, Xu Xi seemed to detect a hint of anticipation.

"Klisa, that's a lovely name," Xu Xi said softly, gently stroking the girl's hair. He pushed open the wooden door and led her inside.

[You have learned the true name of the Demon Race girl]

[Klisa Christina]

[You think this name is beautiful, and you say so out loud]

[You arrange everything for Klisa. From this day on, you have formally adopted her—adopted a witch]