Chapter 371: The passage of time, Hermione's transformation
Night falls.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting a soft light.
The calm river surface also seems to be covered with a thin layer of silver gauze, reflecting the dreamy and mysterious reflection of this water area.
A breeze blew by, bringing coolness and a light fragrance.
It was the smell of reeds, burdock seeds, morning glories, and blossoming cosmos.
Under the breeze, the vegetation on both sides of the river swayed with the wind, making a rustling sound. This is a truly natural movement.
…
By the river, under a thick reed.
An elegant black swan lay quietly on the haystack, and next to him, a silver-gray and beautiful little sea otter with beautiful fur slept.
Hermione lay on the haystack, feeling the warmth and softness around her.
Although her eyes were closed, she was reviewing the past few days, from before death to rebirth, scene after scene.
All of this is still a bit unreal to her, even if this is what happened.
But today, after having a big quarrel and even a fight with the ducks, Hermione felt it real.
It was a feeling of being alive, rather than a dream that could be woken up at random.
Lying on the haystack, the sea otter quietly stretched out its small paws, gently touched the soft feathers of the black swan next to it, and gradually fell into sleep.
…
At dawn, the rising sun rises.
The bright and soft golden light illuminates the magical world, and the animals also open their sleepy eyes.
Except, of course, Mr. Owl, who is now getting ready to go back to his hole and get some good sleep.
The quiet lake at night became lively and noisy again. The swans occupied the best place in the center, but the ducks still stayed in an inconspicuous corner...
But today, there is something different.
A pure black swan and a small sea otter were swimming freely in the lake.
"Ino, what do you think Odette usually eats? Or what do swans eat? She is always hungry."
Hermione paddled through the water, turned her head and asked curiously.
Odette is the name she gave the ugly duckling, which comes from the princess who represents the white swan in the ballet "Swan Lake".
"While I don't know what Odette eats, I know what swans eat."
A very pleasant and elegant female voice sounded. Hermione turned her head quickly and saw an extremely beautiful white swan.
She has fluffy white feathers like snow, a bright red beak like a blooming rose, and a curved swan neck that is proud and elegant.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your chat. But they said yesterday that a handsome Mr. Black Swan came to the river, so I wanted to come and visit..."
"Oh! And this Miss Sea Otter, I'm sorry I didn't notice you just now. I think you won't be angry."
The sweet voice of the white swan sounded, but for some reason, Hermione remembered the black tea served for breakfast in the castle.
"I'm not angry! But I don't like to be disturbed by others!" Hermione said while turning her little head to look at Ino.
The sea otter is the fifth cutest animal in the world. The way it tilts its head is really cute.
"As you can see! My friend doesn't like to be disturbed!" Ino stretched out her wings and stroked Miss Sea Otter's head.
Naturally, the two changed directions and swam toward the other side of the river.
"Swans are omnivorous animals, usually eating small fish, clams, etc., and of course aquatic plants, and various berries..."
On the water, Ino gave Hermione the answer.
"Then let's go ashore and pick some fruits for Odette." Hermione looked at the green forest on the shore, the longing in her eyes flashed away.
"Okay!" Ino readily agreed to this proposal. He also wanted to see the residents in the forest.
When it comes to animal and anthropomorphic stories, no one can beat Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales.
The ugly duckling, the elder mother, the rose essence, the princess and the pea, the nightingale, the old street lamp, and even the real phoenix...
There are too many, too many to count.
…
Swans are the most special animals in fairy tales.
Although they sometimes appear proud, they never seem to appear in a negative light, even in stories about the ugly duckling.
When the ugly duckling saw the swan, he was only driven away by good words and did not ridicule or take action.
However, swans also have a longer growth cycle than many aquatic birds.
Depending on the species, it generally takes 18 to 24 months for them to mature from young to mature, which is at least a year and a half.
But when it comes to time, perhaps in the peaceful animal world, time has the least sense of existence.
Whenever Miss Cicada and Mr. Cricket play music together, the animals know that summer is gradually gone.
…
Autumn has come.
The forest paths are no longer as green as they once were.
Also because the fallen leaves have given it a new look, a golden carpet.
It's soft and rustling when you step on it.
The fiery maple leaves, golden ginkgo trees, and only the upright pines and cypresses are still green.
In the woods, an aquatic sea otter stayed with squirrels, sharing the nuts they had just collected.
The scene looks a little weird, but when you are in the middle of it, it seems very coordinated.
Ino watched Hermione's interaction with the squirrel quietly.
Unknowingly, they have been living in the forest for more than half a year.
From the spring when flowers are blooming, to the autumn where the harvest is joyful now.
The quiet life made him reluctant to leave.
And similarly, he also understood the intention of teacher Hans. Coming here is not only to help Hermione, but also to help himself.
For more than half a year, he lived like a swan. Not only did he not use magic, but he didn't even open the traceless extension suitcase.
But even so, the physical magic seemed to be nourished, not only growing rapidly, but also constantly purifying and settling.
In the woods.
Feeling the harvest and vitality of autumn, Ino also showed a smile on his face.
He didn't notice it at all. Compared with the past, he has become more and more smiling now.
The cold temperament brought by ice and snow magic has long disappeared.
Of course, this is only a change in temperament, and it has no effect on the magic of bloodline, and even the magic has been enhanced.
Ino slowly raised his head and looked at the blue sky.
Faintly, he had a feeling that if he wanted, he could make winter come.
The real winter is coming, not the forcible change of the sky through magic as before.
…
“Still in a daze and giggling? Let’s go! With these nuts, we won’t have to starve this winter.”
Hermione jumped off the tree trunk and patted the swan that was staring at the sky.
“Oh, right! And Odette, she’s growing up…”
A silver-gray sea otter was chattering on the forest path.
On her back was a package made of leaves. The package was bulging and jingled when she walked.
For some reason, Ino felt a little familiar.
When he was at the entrance of the elementary school, he always liked to tie some broken wind chimes he picked up to the canvas bag when he was setting up a stall to tell fortunes.
A different kind of charm came naturally.
There is one more chapter, around nine o’clock, and everything will be explained clearly. Xiaodi is working hard to revise it now.
