Chapter 1382 Sparrow Blossom's Chronicles <TOC> Chapter 1384 A Rugged Path
Translator: SumTLMan
In this vivid tableau, there emerges a familiar figure.
Judging by the attire, it’s none other than Gloria!
Yet, examining the finer details of the image, Sparrow Blossom seems to regard this Gloria with an unfamiliarity. The palette and the brushwork create an aura of estrangement.
“That is indeed the true Lady Gloria, not the primary persona asleep within,” Angel asserted with conviction.
“Your assessment is accurate,” Sanders affirmed, nodding, “Judging by the timeline, this painting must depict events after Gloria’s departure from Phantom Island. It appears that Gloria indeed visited Black Castle.”
Angel surmised that this was likely the turning point.
He continued flipping through, only to discover that Gloria merely glanced at Sparrow Blossom and departed.
Sparrow Blossom then chronicled the passage of time with written words. Interestingly, the day after Gloria’s departure, Sparrow Blossom wrote a rather ambiguous statement: “This big sister isn’t my big sister, but it seems she knows where big brother is?”
This statement, in essence, clarifies Gloria’s identity.
While Gloria is awake, she’s not the same one who gifted Sparrow Blossom the Soul Bead.
As days rolled on, Sparrow Blossom ceased to document occurrences with sketches, indicating that no significant events transpired during this interval.
Counting by the days, Angel, around the sixtieth page, finally reached the events that unfolded in the recent two months.
The initial entries mainly marked time, but as Angel turned yet another page, a starkly contrasting scene greeted him. That previously faceless silhouette reappeared, now lurking within the deep well!
Although this time the shadowy figure left Sparrow Blossom unharmed, her brushstrokes grew even more chaotic. The emotion of fear bled through the paper, striking directly at the viewer’s core.
There’s only a single page about this figure, followed by date records.
Right up until the final entry.
The last piece is also a painting, yet beneath it, Sparrow Blossom penned an unusual line of text.
“I’ve seen much, but I must leave to see even more.”
In the artwork, Sparrow Blossom’s hand is holding that of a woman in a long dress.
Turning further, no more entries are found. Based on the timeline, this event likely occurred about a month and a half ago.
“It seems as though she willingly left the illusionary realm. But who could the woman receiving her be?” Angel pondered, furrowing his brow.
This woman in the long dress had never appeared in the record book before.
Moreover, Sparrow Blossom didn’t emphasize any distinct features about her. It was as if the woman had no unique traits to highlight. Yet, the very act of Sparrow Blossom holding her hand seemed to suggest trust.
But why would Sparrow Blossom trust a woman who’d never appeared in her records?
“Even with the truth in front of me, I don’t feel enlightened. Instead, more mysteries arise,” Angel mused, rubbing his temples. A whirlwind of questions filled his mind: Who is this unknown woman? Who is the faceless figure from before? Why was Sparrow Blossom afraid of the faceless one, and why did she trust this stranger? Moreover, was Sparrow Blossom’s departure connected to the abnormalities of Black Castle?
“There seems to be more than meets the eye here,” Angel thought, lost in contemplation. Organizing his desk, he checked if Sparrow Blossom might have left notes elsewhere. But as the creator of the illusionary realm, he quickly scoured every corner and found nothing.
Sparrow Blossom has departed; now what shall be done? Even Angel was at a loss, debating whether to discuss this with Popoca or merely brush it aside.
He pondered for a moment, focusing his mental energy into the bracelet.
Popoca’s expression was drenched in worry. Ever since Angel informed him about the abnormalities at Black Castle, a cloud of concern had enveloped him. It might very well have been the longest and most agonizing period of his life.
Observing Popoca’s nervous wringing of his hands, and the uncertain dim light in his eyes, Angel, after a brief reflection, chose to be transparent with him.
As a streak of light flickered, Popoca felt a momentary sensation of weightlessness. Once he regained his footing, he realized he was in a pink-hued girl’s bedroom. Beside him stood Sanders and Angel.
Popoca instantly grasped the situation. He must’ve exited the bracelet’s space. Instinctively, he pulled the hood of his wizard’s robe lower, then turned around, keen to scan the surroundings… specifically, to spot if Sparrow Blossom was nearby.
However, despite a thorough look, all Popoca could discern was a room bursting with girlish charm; no sign of anyone else.
Turning back, his expression mirrored his confusion.
Sanders maintained a neutral face, while Angel appeared somewhat solemn.
“Where is this…” Popoca’s voice wavered slightly, sensing the weight of an impending revelation he had been dreading.
Angel responded, “This is the illusionary realm I mentioned before, crafted specifically for your sister, Sparrow Blossom.”
“Then… where’s my sister?” Popoca’s voice quivered further.
“As you can see, she’s not here at present,” Angel, witnessing Popoca’s distress, intentionally softened his tone. “However, before jumping to conclusions, consider this: she left some clues for you. It might be worth a closer look.”
Popoca, in essence, is a transcendent being. Although a chilling void occupies his heart, he understands that it’s not the time for sorrow; he must remain collected.
He kept reassuring himself, “There are still clues, there are still clues.”
After a series of deep breaths, even though there’s a hint of emotional turbulence in Popoca’s eyes, his demeanor gradually steadies.
A glint of admiration flashes in Angel’s eyes. Confirming Popoca’s composure, he shared his findings, including the footprints outside and the diary in his hand.
“Take a look. It documents Sparrow Blossom’s recent life,” Angel hands the diary over to Popoca.
With trembling hands, Popoca takes it. The moment he glimpses the text on the cover, his eyes start to moisten. Without Angel’s confirmation, he knew, these were the writings of his sister, Sparrow Blossom.
Sparrow Blossom’s memories might have faded, but her handwriting remains unmistakably familiar!
Indeed, Angel didn’t deceive him; Sparrow Blossom was once here!
Suppressing the surge of emotions welling up inside, Popoca, with his weathered hand, cautiously opens the diary.
Popoca reads with unwavering attention, from the first page onwards. He lingers on each page and gently caresses every word, as if trying to feel the very essence of Sparrow Blossom’s touch.
His gaze is filled with nostalgia and profound remorse.
After an undetermined duration, having read the last page, Popoca closes his eyes. Every word and image from the diary is etched into his mind, vivid and alive.
“Thank you.” Accompanied by the music of an eight-tone box and the tinkling of wind chimes, a heartfelt gratitude, heavy yet sincere, emanates from Popoca.
Even though Angel had previously mentioned Sparrow Blossom to him, seeing is believing. Sparrow Blossom’s diary chronicled how Angel transformed her life. Simultaneously, the diary brimmed with heartfelt reflections, detailing Sparrow Blossom’s deep yearning for Angel.
Popoca might have been slightly disheartened, but his gratitude was genuine, emanating from the depths of his heart.
“You’ve already expressed your thanks numerous times,” Angel remarked nonchalantly. “Let’s return to the clues in the diary. You’ve read it — any discoveries?”
Popoca replied, “It’s undeniably penned and sketched by Sparrow Blossom. But besides you, Angel, I don’t recognize any other individuals.”
Hoping to glean some answers from Angel, Popoca was met with a shrug. Angel, pointing at the girl in the sketch, said, “All I know is that this is Lady Gloria. As for the rest, I’m in the dark.”
Angel had kept mum about Gloria’s affairs with Popoca, especially since it involved secrets of Gloria’s own body. Even now, Angel simply confirmed the girl as Gloria, leaving the rest veiled in mystery.
Though Popoca remained unaware of the specifics regarding Gloria, he deduced from the sketches that Gloria and Sparrow Blossom weren’t adversaries.
As he browsed the diary again, searching for fresh leads, particularly regarding the woman in the long dress, he surmised she might be the one who took Sparrow Blossom away.
Yet Popoca’s search yielded no new insights. However, while scrutinizing a faceless silhouette, he stumbled upon an inconsistency.
“Angel, did you notice this Strange Silhouette appears slightly different from the previous sketch?” Popoca inquired, referring to a drawing from two months prior. It was the second time this peculiar figure surfaced in Sparrow Blossom’s diary.
“Different?” At first glance, Angel hadn’t noticed the discrepancy, since it was simply a faceless figure.
However, with Popoca’s prompting, Angel discerned subtle variances upon closer inspection.
“Although my sister’s drawings possess an innocent naivety, they follow a consistent style. If you study the portraits she drew of herself, you, and even Lady Gloria, you’ll notice a consistent proportion in size. Yet, the faceless figure stands out — its proportions differ, and so does its shade,” Popoca paused, speculating, “Perhaps this suggests that the figure, when it appeared twice, was not the same each time but took on two distinct forms?”
Angel mulled over Popoca’s words and found them to be true. Upon its second appearance, the figure was discernibly larger in the drawing. Furthermore, Sparrow Blossom used a richer hue when coloring this figure.
“It’s indeed a clue,” Angel observed, “But Sparrow Blossom was taken away by another woman. This figure probably has no connection with that, right?”
Popoca pondered for a moment, “Whenever my sister beheld this figure, her drawings always radiated a sense of panic and fear. She never documented why this figure alarmed her, yet it’s the sole negative emotion captured in the entire diary. I wonder, could this be related to the reason she left?”
Chapter 1382 Sparrow Blossom's Chronicles <TOC> Chapter 1384 A Rugged Path