Shrouded Seascape

Traces of evident unease filled Lily's eyes as she stood at a corner of Hope Island. Her fingers were trembling as she nervously nibbled on one of her fingernails. It was an old habit that she had picked up during her time as a mouse. Whenever she felt nervous and anxious, she always wanted to chew on something.

Just around the corner was her home—a place she had dreamed of returning to countless times.

All these years, Lily had imagined this moment again and again and asked herself how she would feel when it happened.

She thought about the various emotions she would feel, but she had never imagined that when it actually happened, she would be feeling fear.

It felt like the place around the corner wasn't her home but rather a dark whirlpool in the deep sea, threatening to devour her.

She tried to keep her fear in check. She lifted her small booted foot, trying to gather her courage to take a step forward, only to shrink back almost immediately.

What if Daddy and Mommy forgot me?

What if they think I'm some bad person trying to con them?

What if something terrible had happened to them when I wasn't around?

Her hesitation drew the attention of many passersby on the street, though, of course, her adorable face was a significant part of the reason.

"Are you alright, beautiful miss? You seem to be in some trouble. Do you need our assistance?" A man's voice broke Lily out of her thoughts. She looked at him and saw that he was clad in a black uniform.

As her gaze landed on the police badge over his chest, her eyes widened. "Sir Officer, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, of course. I'd be happy to help," the office replied in a warm tone. Undoubtedly, one's appearance had its advantages. If it weren't for Lily's cute and endearing face, he certainly wouldn't have been this accommodating.

"That doctor just around the corner…do you know that family? I am… a relative from another island. I just want to make sure I'm at the right place."

"Oh, do you mean Doctor Oliver? Really? You're his relative? Well, then, you're quite lucky."

"Yes, yes! His name is Oliver!" Lily's expression brightened up, and a faint blush even spread across her cheeks.

"We haven't been in touch since he left the Coral Archipelago. Can you tell me how he's doing? Is everything alright with them?"

"The Coral Archipelago, huh? Well, then, there's no mistake; you're definitely his relative. Dr. Oliver did move here from the Coral Archipelago," the officer replied.

"I suppose you know what happened since then, right? Do you know why I say you're lucky? Because Dr. Oliver himself has earned himself a reputation of being a lucky man."

The mention of something amusing seemed to spark extra enthusiasm in the officer.

"Gold would mysteriously appear in his house all the time. I've heard that the largest piece was as big as a fist. I mean, with luck like that, who wouldn't call him lucky?

"Someone commented that he has been blessed by the Goddess of Fate in the Eastern Seas. Why couldn't I get that sort of luck, huh?"

A hint of disappointment flickered across Lily's eyes. This wasn't what she was hoping to hear; she knew perfectly well where that "luck" came from.

When Lily had first discovered that there was a portal between V12 Containment Point and her own world, she had specially sent over a small crew of mice to help her parents.

Over time, she had sent several more waves of her mice. These mice were the true source of her parents' "luck". They were also the reason why her parents had the means to buy a house on Hope Island.

"I'm not trying to ask about that," Lily replied in a soft voice. "I just… I just wanted to ask if they had ever mentioned a daughter, their eldest daughter. And do they… still miss her?"

"Eldest daughter?" Confusion clouded the officer's gaze. "I've never heard Mr. Oliver mentions that he has an older daughter."

"Why would he not—" Lily wanted to start a debate when a sudden thump from a dropped basket made her spin around.

Just as she turned around, Lily saw that a pineapple had rolled from a fallen, woven basket and stopped at her feet. She looked up to see that the basket belonged to a woman with streaks of white in her hair.

The woman looked young and likely in her forties. However, the white strands of her hair contrasted sharply with her youthful appearance.

Her whitened hair had a story behind it. A long time ago, a devastating life event had turned much of her hair gray overnight.

"Lily?" the woman called out in a trembling voice.

Her words broke Lily's last ounce of resolve. Tears streamed down her face as she threw her arms open and ran toward the woman.

"Mommy! I miss you so much!" Lily cried out.

The woman held Lily as though she was the most precious treasure in the world. She barely dared to use any strength, in fear that if she held her daughter too tightly, her long-lost daughter might shatter like a bubble and disappear forever.

Their tearful reunion drew curious glances from passersby on the street, but the two of them were too overwhelmed by their current emotions to be paying any attention to others.

After hugging Lily for what felt like an eternity—though it was only ten minutes—the woman finally pulled herself together. Her eyes were red and swollen as she held her daughter's hand tightly. She hurried home in hastened steps, not even sparing a second glance at the groceries scattered on the ground.

A quick phone call later, Dr. Oliver, who was in the middle of his shift, dropped everything and dashed home at record speed.

The moment he saw Lily standing in front of him, he raised a trembling fist and punched his own face, much to the alarm and cries of his wife and daughter. He needed the pain to convince himself that he wasn't dreaming. Then, like a child, he collapsed to the floor and started bawling.

The anguish he had felt when his daughter fell into the sea was now met with an equal measure of joy. His happiness couldn't be contained in a smile—it was too vast, spilling out in the form of raw, unabashed tears.

After the whirlwind of emotions, Lily was finally in the house. Her parents shared a few whispers before her mother led her to the bathroom and started to meticulously check her thoroughly.

They only finally relaxed when they confirmed that their daughter hadn't met any physical harm. They could now fully bask in the joy of their family's reunion.

"Lily, all these years… where have you been? Do you know how panicked I was the day you suddenly disappeared? I blamed myself every day, asking why I hadn't been more careful. Why didn't I keep you by my side every moment?" The woman spoke softly as she held Lily's head in her arms.

All these years that Lily had gone missing, her mother had lived under the weight of self-blame. Now that Lily was here before her again, she could finally release her years of self-reproach.

Lily hesitated for a brief moment before she asked in a soft whisper, "Mommy… can I ask you something? If… I had turned into a mouse; would you still have accepted me?"

"What kind of question is that?" Lily's mother gently cupped Lily's face and gave a reassuring smile. "You're my daughter. No matter what you became, you would still be my daughter."

It was only then that Lily realized all the fears she had carried for so long had been unnecessary. She should have come back sooner.　　

Cosyjuhye's Thoughts

And 900 chapters milestone! The novel's about to end soon!

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