"Momma Seria!"
Vya dashed over.
Seria, who had been bent over straightening the sheets on the clothesline, thought at first it was just another mischievous child causing a ruckus upon hearing the voice.
But when she looked up, she froze.
This little girl with white hair before her... she looked so much like... no, this had to be Vya.
Because Seria remembered every single child from the orphanage clearly.
Vya had been so young back then, but after all these years, she should be about this age now.
After Vya's disappearance...
Seria had always carried a tinge of guilt about it.
And now, Vya had suddenly appeared before her eyes.
It felt like a dream.
"Is that... is that little Vya?"
Seria's voice trembled as her legs carried her forward almost of their own accord.
"Mom Seria..."
Vya's call was choked with tears as she rushed into Seria's open arms.
"I'm not dreaming, am I..."
"No, no, you're not dreaming, Mom Seria..."
Vya buried her little face in Seria's shoulder, "Vya's back. I'm sorry, Vya was wrong."
"Vya shouldn't have made Mom Seria worry..."
She was on the verge of crying in Seria's embrace.
But there were no tears—this should be a happy occasion, after all.
"It really is little Vya..."
"I thought..."
Seria checked Vya over carefully from head to toe, and finding her unharmed, broke into a joyous smile.
Her words trailed off as tears began to fall uncontrollably.
For this woman who cherished every orphanage child as her own, Vya's disappearance had always been a knot in her heart.
"Mom Seria, Vya was wrong..."
"It's alright, it's alright. What matters is you're back, you're back..."
Just then, a sweet voice chimed in.
"And it's not just Vya who's back~ I'm here too~"
Seria looked up to see who had arrived.
"Mom Seria! It's me~!"
Elysia walked over with a smile.
"You're little Elysia?"
Seria was even more convinced she must be dreaming.
Two children she thought she'd never see again had returned to her side on the very same day.
...
"Mmm... that's pretty much how it happened."
After hearing Elysia's explanation, Seria couldn't help but clasp her hands together, "So that's how it was... Heaven truly watched over you. What matters is both of you are safe, and you're both back. This is such a blessing."
Seria gently stroked Vya's hair, "When little Elysia left back then, I was so worried. It seemed like Vya couldn't bear to be without you even then."
"So I share some of the blame too."
Elysia said with a smile.
Seria shook her head, "No, it was my fault for not watching Vya closely enough."
"It was Vya's own fault..."
All three of them tried to take responsibility upon themselves.
Elysia clapped her hands lightly, "Oh, let's not dwell on all that now~ This is clearly a happy ending for everyone~"
"Yes, little Elysia is right."
Seria finally allowed a relieved smile to spread across her face, then suddenly realized something, "Though calling you 'little Elysia' now might not be quite right anymore."
She studied Elysia carefully—a mother looking at her child.
After so many years apart, Seria naturally wanted to look her fill.
"Yes, looking closely now, little Elysia has grown into a beautiful young woman. See, you're even taller than me now."
Elysia smiled, "But before you, I'll always be that little Elysia~"
"Haha, you sweet child."
Seria laughed, then turned her gaze to Vya.
"...And Vya has grown taller too. Have you been good like before? Did you listen to your big sister?"
"Mhm, Vya listened very well!"
Vya nodded with a smile.
"That's right, Vya has been wonderful~"
Elysia ruffled her hair.
...
The news spread through the town like wildfire.
Marian ran through every street, telling everyone she met about Elysia and Vya's return.
Soon, the townspeople began putting down their work and streaming toward the orphanage.
"Mom Seria! There are so many people outside!"
A child from the orphanage ran into the kitchen, shouting excitedly.
Elysia was helping Seria prepare some tea and snacks.
Seria smiled, "It seems everyone couldn't wait to see you both."
"Go on now, don't keep everyone waiting."
She took Vya's hand and walked out into the courtyard.
The scene before them was this—familiar faces crowded outside the orphanage gate, each wearing genuine joy on their faces.
People were saying:
"It really is little Elysia!"
"You've grown so tall!"
"Where have you been all these years?"
Greetings came from all sides, and Elysia didn't know who to respond to first.
Just then, a round figure pushed through the crowd and rushed forward.
"Little Elysia!"
The voice was booming.
Martha, the bakery owner, pulled Elysia into a hug so tight her ample bosom nearly smothered her, "Let me get a good look at you!"
Martha stepped back, holding Elysia's face in both hands for a thorough inspection, "My, you've grown even prettier! This hair, these eyes—what a beauty!"
"Auntie Martha, you're as beautiful as ever~"
"Haha, you still have that sweet tongue. How about coming to my place for dinner later?"
...
"Old John is here too!"
Someone shouted from the crowd. People automatically made way, allowing the old blacksmith to slowly make his way to the front, leaning on his cane.
"Little lass."
Old John squinted his clouded eyes as he looked Elysia over, "Just a tiny little thing back then, and now look how you've grown."
"Grandpa John!"
Elysia smiled, "It's so good to see you're still hale and hearty."
Old John chuckled, "Hmph, these old bones can still hold out a few more years."
"Seeing you return safe and sound is better than anything. How have you been all these years out there?"
"Quite well~"
Elysia answered with a smile before being swept up again in the enthusiastic greetings of other townspeople.
As the sun gradually sank westward, the atmosphere grew livelier.
Some brought homemade fruit wine, others carried freshly baked bread.
The children too gathered around Vya, firing questions at her from all sides.
Vya grew dizzy from all the questions and looked to Elysia for help.
"Now, now, one at a time~"
Just then, Marian arrived with a group of young women, all chattering at once, "Elysia, tell us about the world outside!"
"Have you been to lots of places?"
"Are the boys outside especially handsome?"
...
Time passes quickly, especially when people are happy.
As the voices gradually faded away...
Vya, holding Elysia's hand, said quietly, "Sister, this place is so nice."
Elysia crouched down and gently hugged her, "Yes, this is our home."
"Oh, Vya, let's go somewhere~"
"Okay, Vya will listen to sister."
Vya nodded without hesitation, her small hand gripping Elysia's fingers tightly. No matter where they went, as long as she was with her sister, she feared nothing.
…
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