Through the narration of the Mary Sue grandmother, Joey began to sketch out the image of a girl named Vivian in his mind.
Vivian was born in this village, but she and her mother were the only two people in her family. She had never seen her father since she was born.
She was bullied in this village from a young age.
A little girl without a father's protection is naturally an easy target for other bad kids.
Fortunately, she was optimistic by nature, and her only mother not only worked to support her but also cared for her far more than the other mothers in the village.
She never asked her mother about her father; her mother only told her that her father was a great hero and that he would come back when she grew up.
Vivian was absolutely convinced of this.
Her childhood ended in this environment.
That year, Vivian turned eighteen.
She felt that she was already grown up at eighteen, but she clearly remembered what her mother had said when she was a child.
On an ordinary morning, Vivian, who was helping her mother prepare breakfast, suddenly asked, "Mother, when is Father coming back?"
The mother was taken aback by Vivian's sudden question and seemed somewhat flustered. She only began stirring the porridge in the pot when it started to smell burnt.
"Mother?"
Vivian didn't seem to have any intention of giving up on the answer that haunted her, and softly called out to her mother again.
"It should be soon, after all, I've been away from home for so long!"
The mother gently stirred the vegetable and white porridge in the pot, and she spoke with little strength.
Vivian didn't press the matter further; she had already vaguely understood the meaning behind her mother's words.
After all, she has really grown up.
"Vivian, when is your father coming back?"
"Has he abandoned you and your mother?"
Vivian, who was washing clothes by the river, was teased again by some mischievous villagers.
The group stood upstream, occasionally throwing stones towards Vivian's waterside, the splashing water wetting her clothes.
Two mischievous teenagers even took off their pants and started urinating upstream.
"My father will be back soon, my mother said so!"
Her eyes were filled with tears as she took the clothes that she hadn't finished washing to the riverbank.
"Poor Vivian, she has no father!"
After saying that, the group ran away.
The words were the same as before, but now they sounded incredibly harsh to Vivian.
On the riverbank, Vivian sat alone, hugging her knees, burying her head in her arms, her whole body trembling with grief.
"Hello!"
She didn't know how much time had passed when a clear and capable male voice came from behind Vivian.
She hurriedly wiped away her still-wet tears with the corner of her clothes, and slowly turned around to look behind her.
A soldier in armor stood behind her on a tall brown warhorse with some luggage on its back, indicating that he was on a long journey.
"Hello!"
Vivian greeted him timidly; having never met strangers before, the new soldier made her a little nervous.
Are there any hotels nearby?
"I am a soldier from Saibanda, here on a mission!"
The soldier explained his purpose in a very polite manner.
"Go this way, there's a village not far away, and there's an inn inside!"
Vivian pointed him in a direction, while looking at the warhorse beneath him with a hint of longing.
"Thank you for showing me the way, beautiful girl!"
The soldier shook the reins in his hand and prepared to head towards the village.
Vivian bent down and picked up the wooden tub, deciding not to stay there any longer.
"Whoa—"
The soldier suddenly pulled on the reins.
He looked at Vivian again.
"Are you going to that village too? If you don't mind, I can take you with me!"
The soldiers were very friendly, and their eyes showed goodwill.
"May I?"
Vivian looked at the warhorse beneath him and felt a little tempted.
"Of course! You're a beautiful young lady, it's my pleasure to serve you!"
The soldier extended a hand to Vivian, while simultaneously offering his right stirrup.
Vivian did not refuse; she mounted her warhorse and sat in front of the soldier.
The soldier held the reins with both hands, protecting her in the middle.
As their warhorses trotted forward, they bounced and swayed as they entered the village.
"Is that Vivian?"
How did she come to know such a handsome soldier?
"That brown horse is so beautiful!"
...
The warhorse only stopped in front of the inn.
The soldiers dismounted first, then helped Vivian down as well.
"Thank you for showing me the way!"
"And thank you to your colleague, beautiful girl!"
The soldier thanked Vivian politely again before leading his warhorse toward the inn.
Vivian stood there, watching the Mary Sue couple come out to greet the newly arrived traveler. Her husband took the reins from the soldier and led the warhorse to the stables behind the inn, while old Mrs. Mary Sue welcomed the soldier into the inn.
She was happy; today's experience made her forget the verbal attacks from her bad friends in the village, and also forget her father who still hadn't come back to see her.
Her mind, and even her dreams that night, were filled with images of the soldier she had met that day and his tall warhorse.
The next morning.
As the first rays of sunlight streamed into Vivian's courtyard, she was already busy when she was immediately drawn to the handsome figure outside.
The soldier came again. He found Vivian's house and stood in the soft sunlight, his back to the rising sun, the light behind him making his figure appear even more imposing.
"Beautiful lady, please forgive my uninvited visit!"
"I just made the mistake that all men my age make!"
"From the very first day I met you yesterday, I was captivated by your charming appearance. I believe that you are the love of my life, the one I want to protect forever!"
"Please forgive my rudeness again. I know it's absurd, but please allow me to express my love for you, or I'll suffocate!"
The soldier gave Vivian a gentlemanly salute, then looked into her eyes with an expectant expression.
Vivian was flustered. Although she was pleasantly surprised, reason told her that he was just a passing traveler who could leave at any time.
The soldier's once-shining eyes gradually dimmed as he waited, until they became a hazy gray.
He didn't say anything more, but turned to leave.
"etc!"
Vivian seemed to have mustered up her courage and suddenly uttered those two words.
The soldier's eyes lit up again as he looked eagerly at his beloved Vivian.
"I...I..."
Vivian was so nervous that she started to speak haltingly, but at that moment a pair of strong hands pulled her into an exceptionally warm embrace.
She no longer needed to say anything, because all the words were already in their hearts.
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