After researching the use of the magical attire with Xia Liang, the time had neared midnight. The three of them parted ways at the clearing, each heading back to their own homes.
Emerald Sparrow walked slowly away from the clearing and looked off into the distance. Just as she found a relatively hidden spot to take off and fly home, she realized someone was still following her.
Lin Xiaolu stood beside her, head lowered, hesitating, with an expression of wanting to speak but stopping short, clearly having something on her mind.
"What is it?" Emerald Sparrow asked directly.
Lin Xiaolu looked up at her, then dropped her gaze again, "Emerald Sparrow."
Seeing her use her code name, Emerald Sparrow turned around to face her seriously, indicating she was listening.
"I heard a few days ago about, you know, the thing with my mom."
Lin Xiaolu didn't meet Emerald Sparrow's eyes and spoke softly, "She was actually a Magical Girl too, right?"
"And she was once your teammate."
Emerald Sparrow did not hide anything regarding these questions because she knew Lin Xiaolu's doubts stemmed from the old photo she showed her a few days ago.
Whether to tell Lin Xiaolu that "Emerald Sparrow" knew An Ya had been something he seriously considered. After all, without a doubt, doing so would link the identity of Emerald Sparrow with Lin Yun in Lin Xiaolu's mind.
Although there was no reason for her to realize the two were one and the same, the risk, inevitably, had increased.
But Emerald Sparrow was also clear that she could not deceive Lin Xiaolu with two identities forever. As the time they spent together grew longer, one day, Lin Xiaolu would realize that "Lin Yun" and "Emerald Sparrow" never appeared together.
She actually didn't like the feeling of deceiving her daughter either, but due to the father-daughter relationship, until now, the identity of "Emerald Sparrow" was still necessary.
There were many issues that she couldn't discuss in detail as Lin Yun but didn't mind elaborating on a bit more as Emerald Sparrow.
Now, seeing her daughter had doubts about the photo, she felt it was her duty to answer properly.
After getting a confirmation from Emerald Sparrow, Lin Xiaolu continued to ask, "So, what kind of Magical Girl was my mom…?"
What kind of Magical Girl was An Ya? Emerald Sparrow couldn't help but start to reminisce at the question.
From her perspective, strong, upright, shining... these many adjectives could all be placed on An Ya because, indeed, she was an outstanding Magical Girl who upheld a heart of goodness.
But if she had to choose one trait that stood out the most, these words weren't comprehensive enough.
To describe An Ya, there was a more fitting word.
"Probably, optimism," Emerald Sparrow murmured softly.
"Optimism?" Lin Xiaolu was puzzled.
This wasn't the answer she had envisioned; after all, the word sounded too ordinary, not even like it was describing a Magical Girl.
"Never despairing no matter how strong the enemy, never giving up regardless of the situation, and never sinking however severe the setback. She was probably, that kind of person."
To Lin Xiaolu's puzzled look, Emerald Sparrow explained, "Even though she might not have been the strongest or the wisest, and sometimes you might even think of her as a fool who only knows how to laugh stupidly, her mood was always infectious. It made you feel like things hadn't reached a dead end, that there was still a chance for change, that as long as she was there, hope still existed."
This answer filled Lin Xiaolu with wonder.
But what followed was a surge of inferiority swirling in her heart:
"In that case, my mother must have been a Magical Girl who was adored by everyone, right?"
"Speaking of facts, that is true," Emerald Sparrow didn't avoid the topic and simply nodded in affirmation.
"Then, are you a bit disappointed now?" Lin Xiaolu suddenly asked.
"Hmm?" The sudden shift in topic caught Emerald Sparrow off guard.
"I've been thinking about this for the past few days, because, Emerald Sparrow, you actually came to Fangting for my mother's sake, didn't you?"
Lin Xiaolu unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, "So, compared to my mother, I must have disappointed you."
"Is that what you think?" Her thoughts caused Emerald Sparrow to frown as well.
"I really don't want to think this way... but I can't see any other possibility."
Lin Xiaolu's voice was somewhat hoarse, "I know what kind of person my mother was, and I can imagine that if she were a Magical Girl, her passionate personality would definitely have made her popular with everyone."
"By contrast, my talent is not good, and my character is bad. I'm not like Xia Liang who knows how to be likable, and I always make difficult requests. It must be quite annoying, right?
"And then, seeing how different I am from my mother, don't you feel a great sense of disappointment? After all, if it weren't for this relationship, what good qualities do I possess to keep your gaze on me?"
Emerald Sparrow moved a bit closer to Lin Xiaolu.
She tried to see clearly the expression on her daughter's face as she spoke, but Lin Xiaolu turned her head away, almost talking to herself:
"I heard from that woman called Hong Siyu that you are an inspector, and actually an important figure in the Magic Kingdom too, right? And it seems you only came to Fangting City to investigate the disappearance of a senior named Mo Ke. But in the end, because you found a good-for-nothing like me, you have to waste your energy on me every day. It's so unfair to you."
Emerald Sparrow's cool voice held a tinge of confusion, "You're saying, you want me to just leave you alone?"
"No, it's not like that!"
Lin Xiaolu quickly raised her head, explaining in a somewhat flustered manner, "I'm not trying to drive you away, how could I possibly think that! I really hope you can stay here; it's just that, at the moment..."
"You now feel that you're not worth it?" Emerald Sparrow thought for a moment and then summarized for her.
"You could, could say that," Lin Xiaolu stuttered in response.
"If I tell you now that it's not like that, you'll think I'm just consoling you, right?"
Lin Xiaolu's soft answer merged with the night sky.
Seeing her answer this way, Emerald Sparrow knew that her daughter indeed had a lapse in self-identity and even felt inferior, hence she was very downhearted.
This gloomy mood had been quite obvious these days, as Lin Xiaolu was not a child good at hiding her emotions.
Emerald Sparrow had been wanting to find an opportunity to talk with her and now, seeing the moment had come, she suggested in due course:
"Then, would you like to go for a walk together?"
"Go for a walk at this time? What for?" Lin Xiaolu was a bit puzzled.
"Let's talk about something else as we walk.
Emerald Sparrow turned to the side, pointing towards the path ahead, indicating for Lin Xiaolu to accompany her: "For instance, now that you know about your mother's identity, do you have any other thoughts?"