For a brief moment, it was as if Lira's sweet mask had slipped, revealing her true face: a subtle threat hidden behind a facade of cheerfulness.
"I... I understand," the father responded, his voice trembling, and a chill running down his spine, though he wasn't sure why.
"Mmh," the little girl grunted, impatiently running towards the machine.
"Daddy, what are you waiting for? Big sister said we could try without paying!"
"Ah, wait, I'm coming!" The father rushed after his daughter, both surprised and concerned for her.
"Come on, Daddy, pull the lever!"
"Yes, my little, sweet princess."
He had long given up on trying to curb his daughter's stubbornness, and besides, what harm could there be in pulling a lever?
The capsules inside the machine spun rapidly until a white one fell out.
"Mmh… a white one."
"Daddy, can you try again?"
"I'm sorry, they told us…" Just as the father was speaking, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Would you like to try again?" asked a familiar figure.
"Yes, big sister, can we?" The little girl ran over to Lira, her large eyes pleading.
"Sure," Lira replied with a smile, gently patting the girl's head. "There are two of you, so you're entitled to two tries," she said, raising two fingers to confirm.
"Did you hear that, Daddy!"
"Alright, my little princess, this will be the last try."
Taking a deep breath, the father pulled the lever, and the machine started spinning frantically until it produced a blue capsule.
"Hooray! A blue one!" the little girl shouted excitedly.
"Congratulations!" Lira exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically. "Now, open it and let's see what's inside!"
The father opened the blue capsule, revealing a small, soft teddy bear with cream-colored fur that seemed made for hugging.
Its eyes were two glossy black buttons that sparkled with innocence, and a blue silk bow was tied around its neck, adding a touch of elegance to its sweet appearance.
Its paws were slightly larger than its body, giving it a clumsy, adorable look, as if it was always ready to fall into a cozy embrace.
On the bear's belly, there was a star embroidered in two halves, one in a deep, brilliant blue, and the other in a warm, vibrant red.
The two colors met perfectly in the center, creating a vivid contrast that immediately caught the eye.
The star seemed to pulse with magic, as if it held a secret or a special power, waiting to reveal itself to whoever had the courage to discover it.
"How pretty! A teddy bear!" The little girl, overjoyed, grabbed the teddy bear from her father's hands and began twirling around, hugging it tightly.
"Hey, hey, what you're holding isn't just any ordinary stuffed animal, dear," Lira said with an enigmatic smile.
"Isn't it, big sister?" the little girl asked, curious.
"Try pulling off one of its arms," Lira suggested with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The little girl hesitated for a moment, looking at the teddy bear in her small hands. It seemed so soft and sweet, almost impossible to imagine hurting it.
However, trusting Lira more than her doubts, she gently pulled the teddy bear's arm. There was a soft "pop," and the arm detached, dangling for a second before falling to the ground.
The father's eyes widened, unable to believe what he had just seen.
The little girl held her breath, fearing she had truly broken it.
But, almost imperceptibly, the arm began to twitch. Slowly, as if with grace, the piece started to reattach itself to the bear's body. Within moments, it was completely repaired, as though nothing had ever happened.
The little girl and the father stared in disbelief, witnessing the magic before their eyes.
"Wow! It fixed itself!" the father exclaimed, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear.