"There's no need to be afraid. I will not hurt you." Vasili managed to get rid of the pain in his heart and spoke in a soft voice.
Chleo turned to look at him with an investigating look. Vasili could see her eyes were a little swollen from crying too much, and he also saw a gleam of fear in Chleo's eyes.
Was he late? Would this child be traumatized?
Is there no way to make Chleo forget the kidnapping incident?
Vasili remembered that Chleo was not yet a phobia of water. On the contrary, little Chleo surprisingly likes to swim. Maybe... he could take her to that place.
"Wanna go somewhere fun?"
Chleo wondered what kind of fun place this person meant. Her current feeling was too scared to have any fun. All she wants to do was go home, hide under the covers on her mattress while waiting for her parents to come home.
From today on, she would never go to a foreign place without her parents again. Chleo would not ask to go outside on her own initiative. Chleo felt more comfortable when she was with her parents.
Without answering the question of the stranger who had the weirdest hair ever seen, Chleo stepped back slowly as if she was about to run away.
"Let me know if you don't like it."
Having not had time to understand the meaning of Vasili's remark, the environment around her suddenly changed. She wasn't somewhere surrounded by snow with temperatures as cold as winter, but now she was above the ocean.
When she said above, it's literally above! Her feet stepped on the water as if there was a solid object there.
SHE STANDS ON THE WATER?! How did she do it?
As if the kidnapping incident that had terrified her had never happened before, Chleo's heart filled with curiosity about the marvel she had experienced.
Chleo spun around with her eyes fixed on the water beneath her feet. She could even walk and jump on the water without falling into the water. How could this have happened?
Vasili chuckled in amusement, seeing that the beautiful little girl was no longer afraid and looked enthusiastic and curious about how she could stand on water.
The blue king whistled a beautiful melody followed by a voice in the ocean. Chleo stared wide at the owner of the voice that came from the sea. Some dolphins swam and jumped above her, splashing her with water.
Chleo's heart was shaking with excitement. This was the first time she had witnessed a live dolphin. The dolphin was still jumping as if it were dancing for her. Then it swam around her by waving its fin as if greeting her.
A broad smile was plastered on Chleora's face, and she reflexively responded to the greyish dolphin greeting by waving her hand. The light in Chleo's brown eyes was filled with a sparkle that indicated the girl was happy. Vasili no longer saw the sign of fear the girl had, and it brought him indescribable satisfaction.
Chleora knelt to bring her face closer to the mammal's snout. The dolphin turned its head up and down, making the little girl confused. Chleo glanced at Vasili, who was now looking at her with a strange look that Chleo didn't understand.
Not long after, Chleo felt something stick on her cheek and startled her. Did the dolphin kiss her cheek just now?
Chleo held her kissed cheek while the dolphin made a chuckling sound while swimming backward.
Seeing the dolphins' behavior made little Chleo laugh out loud. Then without paying attention to Vasili, who was now sitting relaxed on the water enjoying her every merry move, Chleo ran following the dolphin.
The little girl continued to gasp in amazement every time the intelligent creature jumped high and arched over her head, soaking her clothes. Even so, Chleo did not feel tired and continued to play with these mammals.
When Chleo couldn't stop herself from swimming with this sea animal, Chleo decided to approach Vasili. Chleo tried everything she could to throw herself into the water but in vain. Whatever she does, she won't be able to get into the water.
Perhaps, the person who brought her here knew how to get into the water.
"Mister, can I swim with them?"
"You want to swim?"
Chleo nodded her head while showing her best smile and putting puppy eyes on the stranger. She knew that no adult could refuse the moment he saw her puppy expression.
On the other hand, Vasili became a statue where he saw the most adorable expression he had ever seen. He never expected he would get Chleo's spoiled demeanor, and even looking directly at his eyes with a cute face made him want to grant her whatever she desired.
"Mister?"
Vasili cleared her throat a few times, then got up. "Follow me."
The blue king jumped, and as soon as his feet touched the ocean water, his feet plunged until his head disappeared under the water.
Chleora immediately followed suit, and just like Vasili, she too went into the water. She laughed happily then swam to her heart's content. The dolphins also accompany her to swim while voicing joyous songs. The sound of the dolphins was like a beautiful tune to Chleo's ears.
Vasili watched the little girl from behind and couldn't stop smiling. This time it was not the sad smile that had been shown toward his wife. But it was a smile of joy as if he also felt what Chleo was feeling at this moment.
This was what Vasili wanted to see. The big, endless smile that always adorned Chleo's face. He hoped that the girl would be filled with joy until forever.