Secrets Before Dawn

‘Redbud, shall we begin now?’

“Huh?!”

Bai Ruoruo woke with a start. She was in her own bed. The ceiling above, the room still dim and quiet, gave her a moment of relief. It seemed she could sleep a little longer.

‘Redbud, you can’t rest yet~’

“Su Su, are you a devil?”

She had just lain down, but now she bolted upright, looking around. Then Ruoruo realized with surprise that she had already transformed into Redbud.

“…” Redbud pressed a hand to her forehead. Perhaps as a young girl, her mentality was more mature. Calming down slowly, she felt a bit speechless. “Su Su seems to only train me once.”

“Even though it’s exhausting, I really can feel myself getting stronger. Though it really is tiring.”

That point seemed important, so she repeated it.

“But Su Su praised me, said I’m amazing and talented, that it’s truly remarkable for a first try. She told me to go home early and rest well.”

“Su Su like that isn’t scary at all. She’s actually very gentle. I’m just too awful, giving up after one session.” Redbud reflected deeply. “Sister Lily and the others must train like this all the time, but they never complain, because they have to protect everyone. I need to work hard too! Oh!”

“…”

Redbud stared at her bed for a long moment. In the end, she didn’t go back to sleep. It wasn’t because she was afraid of seeing Su Su in her dreams again. No, it was because time is money, and money can’t buy time. Her teachers had taught them not to waste time.

Mm, that was it.

Come to think of it, she had never left the house at this hour before.

“Kuma?”

…

Bai Ruoli experienced what it meant to ‘write like a brush has divine help’ for the first time.

At the tap of a key, an entire two-thousand-word chapter appeared fully formed in her mind. There was no need for extra thinking, pausing, or revising. She just typed it out.

The speed was incredible, carving out a full half-hour she didn’t normally have.

Back then, she really thought she had awakened one of the most coveted superpowers for a novelist: ‘Your hands are already mature; they can write novels on their own.’

But when she tried to write the second chapter, she hit a complete wall. That extra half-hour was spent daydreaming, unable to produce a single word.

Annoying. A one-time skill without a renewal option. Even if she wouldn’t buy it, at least let her have a look to satisfy her craving.

“…”

Alright, the truth was, Bai Ruoli was suffering from insomnia.

Not because of her novel.

It was just…

Tomorrow, or rather, today.

April 5th, Qingming Festival in the lunar calendar.

“Has it really been ten years? It slipped by without me noticing~”

She stared at the ceiling for a long time. She rarely found the time to think about those things.

Ruoruo was so young back then; she wouldn’t remember. She had no impression.

Maybe that was a good thing.

To be honest, when Bai Ruoli thought back to that time, she was completely dazed.

‘Your parents were heroes.’

‘You should be proud of them.’

‘They really…’

‘They just went to a very faraway place.’

‘They loved you very much.’

‘Poor children.’

‘Your uncle is here to celebrate your birthday with you.’

A group of unfamiliar adults, faces filled with pity, spoke to the minor that she was.

She was at a loss.

Why on her birthday? She had just put a little crown on Ruoruo’s head, so cute and giggling, waiting for their parents to come home, anticipating their gifts. Why did it have to turn into this?

Back then, she only felt fear, helplessness.

Ruoruo was frightened into tears, and as the older sister, she had to protect Ruoruo. She couldn’t cry.

How had those days passed?

She couldn’t quite remember. Maybe her head was just empty back then.

Because they were heroes, the funeral was all arranged. It was on TV, then they were buried in the public cemetery.

Heroes? Heroes of what incident? She couldn’t recall anymore. Probably they sacrificed themselves to save others.

Heroes are only for a moment. Once the hype fades, they’re buried, eventually forgotten.

They left, but the hero subsidy—or maybe the reward for their mission—left a considerable sum of money. It could support her and Ruoruo’s schooling, allowing them to maintain a ‘normal’ life.

But since then, she no longer had birthdays. And sometimes, her little sister would ask, ‘Why are other kids’ parent-teacher conferences attended by Mom and Dad, but for me, it’s only you, Sister?’ Usually, she was fine, but suddenly she would collapse into tears, unable to stop.

Later, Ruoruo stopped asking.

That child was really understanding, even at such a young age.

Later, she started helping with chores voluntarily, and now she had taken over all the housework.

In comparison, Bai Ruoli was undoubtedly a useless older sister.

After graduating and looking for a job, most people might improve through social interaction, gradually becoming more outgoing, reaching the peak of life. But for her, every experience only deepened her social anxiety.

Interviews: failure, failure, failure…

The outside world was terrifying.

But when she came home and saw Ruoruo’s smiling face, she felt that as an older sister, she had to take on her responsibilities and work hard.

Today would be a good day!

When a magic spell loses its magic, can it still be called a magic spell?

Taking this path—or rather, the catalyst for becoming a warden—was once chasing a thief. The thief snatched a woman’s bag and ran. The woman shouted ‘Stop, thief!’ and chased him, leaving her child behind, wailing.

The child was the same age as Ruoruo. Crying children were her weakness, and the woman’s single-minded pursuit of the thief irritated her.

So she transformed.

Transforming for the first time in years as ‘Saint Lily’.

She caught the thief, returned the woman’s bag, and brought her back to the child.

People hailed her as a hero.

A hero like her parents.

At first, she refused—she didn’t even understand, instinctively resisting.

But…

When asked if she was a new local warden and if she was interested in becoming one, plus learning more about the details—low entry barrier, flexible pay, more work means more money—

She was tempted.

Thus began Saint Lily’s career as a warden.

Mm, writing novels was a side hustle she picked up around that time, so her overly sensible little sister wouldn’t worry or discover she was doing dangerous things.

Stepping into this line of work, if she had to say she understood her ‘hero’ parents a little, it was only a little.

In her heart, family always took the highest priority.

She didn’t become a ‘hero’ to become a hero. She was just playing the part of a hero for her little sister.

“Huh?”

Bai Ruoli froze, getting up from her bed.

“That sounds like Ruoruo’s voice.”

She couldn’t hear clearly. She listened again.

Carefully, Bai Ruoli cracked open the door. She saw two figures: one small, the other large. The small one was Mr. Su’s creation, the bear doll Kuma. The large one…

“Shh~ Little Ku, keep your voice down. Don’t wake Sister~”

“Ku…ma~”

The stuffed bear covered its mouth with its round paw. Together with the pink-and-white girl, they tiptoed gently toward the door.

“…”

“Mm? Who’s there?” The girl suddenly turned around, exclaiming.

“What’s wrong, Kuma?”

“Little Ku, you should call me ‘Redbud’ now.”

“Understood, Kuma! Redbud, Kuma!”

“Mm, mm, shh~” Redbud raised her index finger to her lips. “Don’t wake Sister~”

“Understood, Kuma~” she whispered.

…

Bai Ruoli—or rather, Saint Lily—watched them leave the house. Her staff spun as she withdrew the barrier.

She pressed her fingers to her forehead, rubbing.

“Mm…”

“Well…”

If her guess was correct, then it was correct.

Ruoruo had also transformed into a ‘Flower Seed Girl’?