Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 1303 - 89: Goodbye, Pannis

The stairwell, the living room, the dining room, the parlor, the kitchen, everything was so familiar. Time is such a terrifying thing; what was once an unfamiliar environment over three years ago, had become so familiar in just a short three years. Each table, each chair, every piece of décor could be accurately pictured in Pannis’s mind even with her eyes closed, down to every last detail, without the slightest deviation.

The fine line on the stairwell’s column was left over from an argument between Michelle and Ansha about who was taller, which turned out to be pointless because the only thing left was the mark itself. On the other side of the column, two lines were left by Little Deer and Annie who were secretly imitating the twin sisters’ actions to compare heights, though the heights of the two little Undead would never change, they were still keen on such games. As for the small hole in the wall, it was poked by the tip of Little Deer’s rib when Annie cheated by floating a few centimeters to win the height comparison, and after realizing the mishap caused by their scuffle, the two dummies immediately ran hand in hand back to their room in the basement, pretending nothing had happened.

There is a barely noticeable scorch mark on the leg of the parlor’s coffee table, which was caused when Vivian inadvertently activated an Array during a demonstration. There’s a shallow dent on the living room floor where Catherine accidentally dropped her shield while cleaning it and her sword. A stair was renovated because Lina, walking down while reading a book, missed a step and rolled down the stairs, smashing the head of a nail hammer into a step, necessitating a repair. There’s a soft chair in the living room that doesn’t match the others, a testament to the time Freya sat and squashed it.

Every mark represents a story in the mansion, every mark a memory between Pannis and the girls—maybe sweet, maybe poignant, but always irreplaceable. Running her fingers over these marks, Pannis wandered through the spacious mansion as if to etch each scene into her heart, as if to never forget.

But even the longest road has an end, let alone a small mansion. When the Moonlight Triplets’ figures began to tilt westward, Pannis finally reached the entrance, slowly pushing open the mansion’s grand door.

Stepping out of the mansion, she was greeted by the scent of grass on the lawn, wafting in with the night breeze. Under the pale blue moonlight, the long shadows of six oak trees, representing the six members of the household, stretched out over the lush lawn. The rustling of the trees’ thick leaves in the night wind was soft and enticing, like the girls’ reluctant goodbyes. Walking slowly on the soft grass, although her body moved forward, part of her long shadow still lingered on the steps outside the mansion’s entrance, its black silhouette wavering, leaving it unclear where the shadow’s owner’s heart truly lay.

In the night, a white figure darted out from the darkness, leaping onto Pannis’s shoulder. Its white, bushy tail, carrying the unique fragrance belonging only to the Illusion Fox species, brushed against Pannis’s face. In comparison, the perception of magical beasts was far greater than that of humans. Pannis’s silent movement could fool everyone in the mansion, but not the beautiful little fox. The little creature seemed to have anticipated something and sprung out at the sound of Pannis’s stir, now standing on her shoulder, staring at her face with its dark, glossy eyes.

"Ah, it’s you, you little thing, seeing me off," Pannis said, relieved she was out of earshot of the girls in the mansion, as she touched the little fox’s cold nose tip and whispered, "It seems you already sensed I was leaving, clever little fellow."

"Ow ow," the little fox let out a soft cry from its throat and rubbed its fluffy head forcefully against Pannis’s face, its pitch-black eyes filled with a deep sense of reluctance.

"There’s no helping it. Since I was born human, there are things I simply must do," Pannis sighed and stroked the little fox’s sleek fur, whispering, "If I were just Pannis, I guess I’d choose to stay here with them, to face the days to come together. But the sad truth is, I’m still Kyle at my core, so I have my own responsibilities, so I have to leave alone."

"Awoo." Little Fox couldn’t understand such complex content, but it sensed Pannis’s firm intention to leave, emitting a low mournful cry and snuggling even more vigorously.

"Alright, little fellow." Pannis had already reached the metal fence at the end of the lawn, patted Little Fox on the head, and said with a light laugh, "This is as far as you go. Remember what I told you, protect them, don’t let any harm come to them, neither physically nor emotionally. Thank you."

Little Fox jumped off Pannis’s shoulder, squatted on the ground, and watched as Pannis nimbly leaped over the fence. Amidst its mournful cries, it nodded vigorously.

"Haha, goodbye, little one, goodbye everyone," Pannis sighed wistfully, finishing his last sentence, "Farewell, my family."

Turning abruptly, he walked a few steps, and in the shadows of the street, somehow, someway, there was a magic-powered motorbike parked there. Pannis, not at all surprised, climbed onto the motorbike and slowly infused it with mana, starting it silently, and quietly slipped away down Fox Street. All that was left was the white Little Fox, lying on the grass, watching him leave.

As the distance from the mansion grew, Pannis’s speed increased, and the roar of the motorbike grew louder. Before long, the roaring bike sped along the main road, passing through the Temple District, and arrived at the west gate of the Holy City. Strangely, the western city gate, which should have been closed at this time, was wide open. Pannis passed through the gate without any hindrance, rushing into the wilderness beyond the city. After a few hundred meters, Pannis stopped the bike and looked back at the dark city gate. Through the hazy night, he could see several figures standing atop the gate, watching him depart. When they noticed Pannis had stopped, they simultaneously bowed, paying their respects to the departing warrior. Pannis just smiled, without any more hesitation, did not look back, and increased the mana input, speeding away in a cloud of dust.

Zooming out, one could see that a few lights were now on in the mansion on Fox Street. Even the light that had been turned off in Pannis’s room was on again, with all five girls gathered there, making the simple and spacious room seem a bit crowded.

"He’s really gone," Lina said softly, sighing as she looked around, a touch of melancholy in the eyes of the young women.

"Yes, he’s really gone," Catherine also sighed, but not with melancholy, only gazing at a letter in her hand and saying, "Perhaps, it’s time for all of us to look at this letter."