[Chirping]Dash[Chirping]

A small bird had landed and was chirping on the back of young Latifa’s hand. Above the bird’s head floated a small silver sprite that only Latifa could see.

[The north is cold with snowfall. The lake has completely frozen, so I flew down here!]

As the small sprite spoke to her, Latifa was thrilled and beamed a wide smile at her mother beside her, speaking excitedly.

“Mother, it came from the north. It’s so cold there, a massive lake has frozen over.”

Her mother, who had been watching Latifa fondly, quickly hardened her expression and grasped her young daughter’s shoulder tightly, looking around as if someone might have heard.

“Shh. I told you not to speak of such things, Lati!”

“Hmph…….”

When the bird flew away at her mother’s scolding, young Latifa puffed out her cheeks and glared at her with dissatisfied eyes. She had been enjoying the bird’s fascinating story when she was scolded, which soured her mood.

“Only witches speak with animals.”

“But I am not a witch…….”

As Latifa grumbled, her mother quickly began to soothe her.

“Of course, you’re not a witch, you’re my beautiful daughter. But others might see you as a witch if you speak carelessly of such things.”

“But…….”

“Lati, my daughter, I don’t want to lose you. You wouldn’t want to be called a witch by people either, would you?”

“…….”

“Promise me again. You must never show or speak of your ability to others, okay?”

“Okay, I understand…….”

Seeing the sullen Latifa, her mother gently brushed her silver hair and gave a small smile.

“Also, you might just be imagining animals speaking to you because you’re still young. My lovely Lati, I wish you could live an ordinary and happy life like everyone else.”

The soft voice and pleasant fragrance from her mother’s embrace eased Latifa’s mood, and she hugged her mother with a broad smile.

“I just need you, mother!”

Until her life ended from illness, the mother murmured this almost like a prayer for young Latifa.

“Lati, you have to live a long and happy life, okay? Normally, like everyone else. Dance a waltz with a sweet man you love. Eat lots of delicious food. Be healthy and live long. Live for my sake too.”

Latifa, looking back years later, thought her mother was loving but not wise.

Her mother could not foresee the collapse of the Tania Empire, nor could she know that Latifa would become a refugee, wandering around the empire like a beggar.

[Star icon][Star icon]

The slender silver sprite, blooming above the dog’s head, fluttered gently as if greeting Latifa. A small delight blossomed in Latifa’s heart as she watched it.

‘A sprite has appeared!’

“Lati, step back. Brenda is right. That’s a beast. It can’t understand human speech!”

Another woman in the group whispered desperately, trying to pull her back.

“Shh!”

Latifa raised her hand to stop the woman. Her joy was brief, and with the appearance of the sprite, there was no time to delay. She hurriedly spoke to the sprite before the silver smoke disappeared.

“I won’t harm you at all. I’ll give you this bread, so can you pretend you didn’t find us?”

“……Huh?”

The hunting dog tilted its head as if it understood her words. At the same time, the dog’s voice, which only Latifa could hear, began to be transmitted through the silver sprite.

[If I don’t report to my masters, I will be scolded.]

After saying that, the hunting dog whimpered, appearing to be conflicted, glancing briefly at the thieves, and then back at her.
The people huddled behind Latifa didn’t dare to breathe loudly, as if fearing a dog would suddenly bark at any moment.

“Stay quiet and pretend you don’t see it, no one will scold you. Here, eat this.”

Once again, Latifa gently coaxed and threw a piece of bread on the ground. The hound gave a low growl and slowly approached her.

Then it rolled onto its back, panting heavily in front of her.

“…Good heavens!”

The sudden friendly change in the hound startled the people, they gasped, and only then did Latifa let out a huge sigh of relief.

“Phew…”

[Gimme the rest of that bread if you’re not going to eat it!]

“Alright. You eat it all. And I’m sorry for interrupting your job.”

She smiled slightly and gently stroked the hunting dog, who was wagging its tail violently and nuzzling into her arms, on its belly and head. Then, she conveyed a message to the dog in her heart.

‘Can you distract those people over there?’

[That’s a piece of cake.] [Bark]

The tamed hound gave a short bark as if to say leave it to me, picked up the bread in its mouth and immediately left the building. Thanks to the dog leaving quietly, the hidden group let out a big sigh of relief.

“I thought we were going to be caught! Latifa, you’re good with dogs. You saved us.”

Latifa also wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, looked at the muchrelieved expressions of the people and quietly smiled.

“I’m really glad we got through safely. We were lucky.”