Lotus glanced upon the signboard with a quivering lip as a mixture of cold and warm flashed in her chest, "Ma... le... fi... cent..."
"So you're leaving, after all... Mo Li"
Lotus stared at the lone, tall figure in the familiar black coak and long black horns. Feeling awkward and frustrated saying these words, she quietly remained quiet as Mo Li turned around revealing a very pale skin face and the bright red lips that managed a smile, "I can't stay for longer, third sister... It's not safe if I continue to stay with you and the sisters... You can't make me stay either..."
"I know." Lotus whispered quietly, "I also know that there's nothing I can do to make you stay. I'm truly weak against them... What is an apology going to do now? You..."
"It's bad enough that they stole something from me, but that is not important." Mo Li laughed, "Besides, I know you will be able to stop those bad guys for us one day."
Lotus nodded, "I'll come up with ideas. I must stop them even if it's not now."
"Good." Mo Li nodded, "Third sister is strong. I know you are qualified to achieve it... Now, it's time that I leave."
"Wait." Lotus called out and took out a gold staff from her ring and a scroll, "This is something my brother and I made for you."
"Your brother?" Mo Li raised a brow suspiciously.
Lotus patted her head with a soft smile, "It's all right. There is no reason to suspect him. After all, it was I who brought up the idea to forge this for you."
"I feel like I should suspect more since you patted my head as if I was still a child." Mo Li frowned with a little pout.
Lotus bit back a chuckle and smiled, "No matter how big you are, you will always be our fourth sister, little Mo Li."
"Now, you're just making fun of me..." Mo Li sighed in defeat.
"Try it. I hope it fits in your hand." Lotus urged her.
Mo Li took the staff in her hands and her eyes widen in surprise, "It fits... The width is not too wide or too thin. It's just a little tall."
"You're in the middle of your growth spurt. According to Second Sister's measurements, it'll fit you just fine over time." Lotus said with a wide smile, "I had asked my brother to be careful with the width of the handle because you are still growing. It would seem that he's willing to put all of his efforts to help me make a really good staff structure."
"You asked second sister? When was that?" Mo Li stated with a look of surprise, "Was it from the time you and second sister brought me to a tailor? That's over two years ago! You're not stalking me, are you? And you told that man?"
"Now you are embarrassed? We're your sisters and your family." Lotus sighed and shook her head in disappointment, "Is it really all that embarrassing for us to know your measurements when you know all of my secrets? My brother is not the sort to divulge the secrets of a woman's measurements either. So, rest assured. Why can't you just tell me honestly that you like it even now? You used to be so open about your likes and dislikes to us."
"Sister..." Mo Li muttered as she cleared her throat before she noticed the shine on the orb, "Third Sister, this orb was refined by you wasn't it? I can tell from the polish that this was crafted by your hand, but this... Isn't this that..."
Lotus nodded, "The Ancient Jade Essence. While my brother helped with the staff frame, I refined the stone for you. With this, it would be ten thousand, maybe millions, of years before it stops working. With this, it will put all of us at ease knowing that you'll be all right... Hopefully..."
"You don't have to worry about me anymore." Mo Li smiled before looking to the orb with a look of confusion and worry, "But how did you manage to get the orb? Don't think I'm as naive as when I was just a child. This is a priceless treasure and its whereabouts are only known by Liang Liang. How did you-..."
"Our sisters asked the emperors to convince the lord to gift it to you." Lotus responded.
"Oh dear..." Mo Li sighed, "Well, I can't say that he should not have seen it coming... How unfortunate. But, I see that my good sisters have taught him a well-earned lesson in my stead... It's just a shame that I was not there personally to ask for appropriate compensation instead. I ended up troubling my sisters. Do give them my appreciations... and the fool as well."
Lotus shook her head and sighed, "Even now, you still tease him... Well, I won't deny that this compensation is required from him... This staff... I've had brother write an inscription on it using his spiritual energy. With this, no one can tell that this staff is of any value. The orb would be a little troublesome. I had to use my spiritual energy to inscribe within it. Nobody but you and its creators can use it."
"Sister, your injuries..."
"Do not worry and focus on living well from here on out." Lotus responded, "Stay strong... The three of us will no longer be around physically to protect you anymore. However, we will always be sisters no matter if we are no longer in this status in the next life. You're a talented witch, remember? The Goddess of Thorns. Do not forget this. Life has its peace and difficulties. You must live well."
"Don't worry, sister. In my forest, I live with the faes. Don't worry. Few dare to traverse into my forest to see me."
"Few dare to traverse into her forest to see her..." Lotus muttered under her breath with a scowl as she pulled her hand away from the now-glistening staff having seen her life, "Was it fate for her to leave her forest one day? So, it didn't matter if nobody dares to harm her inside her forest because she left the forest on her own accord? Mo Li... In the end, even the Ancient Jade Essence was not enough to save you... Metal is the enemies of fairies and silver is the only thing that can purify dark energy. Maleficient. The strongest of the great Seven..."
"MASTER!" Xiao Yi cried out at the top of his lungs, "Someone is coming!"
Hearing this, Lotus pursed her lips in frustration before she quickly maintained her ability and disappeared from the site!
She rushed past the people with fast movements and a look of confusion as she finally noticed that her surroundings was in chaos. What in the world happened?!
Hurrying out of the exhibition, she didn't notice the wind crazed hair styles of those around her as she rushed out with ease compared those still trying to run to safety and shocked silly.
By the time she came to, she found that she was alone on the Main Street and standing before the statues of the Great Seven, specifically, Mo Li's statue. Perhaps it was the sense of security that she felt when she finally understood the familiar feeling upon standing before the statues or it was just a coincidence. However, It was clear that standing before Mo Li now knowing that this was her made her feel a strong sense of security as she muttered softly in a foreign tongue, "The Strongest of the Great Seven... Witch of Thorns... I knew you could do it... If only, the Ancient Jade Essence was strong enough... And those bastards... You would not have had to suffer just to live."
"Master..." Xiao Li called out hesitantly as his sister stepped up hesitantly, "Could it be... Maleficent is your sister?"
There was a moment of silence before Lotus heaved a heavy sigh as she recalled the small Mo Li that asked for seconds without any hesitation, "She's grown up and beautifully at that too. I wonder if that's the same cloak that second sister gave her."
She remembered when Elder Sister had the servants of the royal family dragged her back into the halls so she can have her learn etiquette while she kept trying to jump over the walls to bring back cheap yummy snacks that Lotus had never tried before behind the walls only to be caught an hour later by her sister's secret forces.
"Using grace can win others hearts with admiration and kindness. However," Lotus added firmly on the day eldest sister announced that she would be learning etiquette from them. As she had covered her back with strong-smelling ointment, Lotus had told her upon hearing of her intention to just be graceful like herself, "By doing so, you will also expose yourself to the dark side of others' hearts and their darkest desires. You must be strong to use grace when interacting with others. Or they will plot to hurt you, Mo Li. That is the difficult reality of society. Hence, eldest sister decided to teach you etiquette."
Looking at the statue and wiping the tear away with the back of her hand like a child, she muttered under her warm breath, "Just how deep have you traversed into the dark sides of desire... Mo Li?"
"Lotus?"