"Sixteen? Are you telling me I look sixteen?"
The woman was slightly surprised but also realized that Mari wasn't ordinary, possessing either Devil Fruit powers or some other magical abilities.
Fortunately, Mari showed no hostility, not just towards her but also towards those divine soldiers earlier. Her previous actions seemed like merely swatting away bothersome flies to restore peace.
So, the woman introduced herself, "My name is Raki, from Shandora."
Mari nodded, poured another cup of tea for Raki, and then continued to eat her biscuits silently without saying a word.
Raki suddenly thought of some of the elders in her village. Those old folks were similar to Mari, simply enjoying their tea, appearing leisurely and elegant, and not being particularly talkative.
But could you believe a child acting like an old person?
Raki took the initiative to ask, "Mari, you just said your captain is looking for Enel, is that true?"
Mari nodded. "Yes. We were inexplicably accused of many crimes when we first arrived on Sky Island, and two islanders were implicated, so the captain has to go to this 'god' for an explanation. If there isn't a good explanation, the captain will probably blow that god away."
Blow away Enel, fly?!
Are people from the Blue Sea always this bold?!
Raki couldn't help but be shocked, but after careful consideration, she thought it might be a good thing.
While it was uncertain whether these Blue Sea people were friends or foes, at least their target was Enel, and they seemed very strong, which would alleviate some of the pressure for Shandora's upcoming general attack.
Once Enel was defeated, these Blue Sea visitors likely wouldn't stay on Sky Island for long, and then the Shandians could successfully reclaim their homeland!
Thinking this, Raki unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
Mari didn't know the reason but didn't pry.
She had long since developed this mindset: nothing was as important as enjoying tea and biscuits.
Raki took the initiative to chat with Mari, asking about the Blue Sea. Mari had nothing to hide, readily sharing stories. After all, it wasn't any secret.
Before long, Raki couldn't help but yearn for the Blue Sea.
The battles between the Marines and pirates, all sorts of wondrous adventures, and the beautiful scenery everywhere – even just hearing Mari describe it made Raki feel excited.
The Shandians were originally Blue Sea people too!
Thinking of this, Raki remembered Shandora's four-hundred-year struggle to reclaim their homeland, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
At that moment, a sudden sound reached her ears, and Raki immediately became alert.
But she soon realized it was just a little girl running out from behind a large tree. When the girl saw Raki, she rushed forward, crying.
"Aisa? How did you get here? It's dangerous here; go back quickly!" Raki scolded the little girl while hugging her.
"But, Raki, the voices of many people have disappeared! Waaaaah! I'm so scared! What's happening?!"
Raki was taken aback for a moment, unsure what to say.
Many voices had disappeared. That naturally meant the fighting was intense, and the situation over there might not be optimistic.
Upon hearing this, Mari couldn't help but look at Aisa, then silently offered a bag of biscuits. "Do you want some biscuits? Made in the Blue Sea."
Aisa was startled, looked at Mari for a long time, and suddenly hid behind Raki in fright. "Blue... from the Blue Sea! Why are you here and with Raki?!"
Raki quickly reassured her, "Aisa, it's okay; Mari doesn't mean any harm."
Mari still held out the biscuits. "Do you want some biscuits? They're made in the Blue Sea; they're delicious."
Aisa hesitated, then saw Raki nodding again, so she cautiously took a biscuit and put it in her mouth, her eyes immediately widening.
They were indeed delicious!
"Is the little one's name Aisa?" Mari asked casually.
"You're also a little one!" Aisa retorted, unconvinced, and reached out to take another biscuit.
"I'm sixteen."
Aisa didn't believe her, but seeing Mari's natural demeanor and Raki's complete lack of surprise, Aisa immediately knew the little girl from the Blue Sea wasn't lying.
However, at the age of sixteen, to have such a small build...
"Aisa, you just said many voices have disappeared. Do you have the Mantra?" Mari asked again.
"Well, I've had the Mantra since I was a child. Those voices keep ringing in my head, which makes me very scared," Aisa said, a frightened expression on her face.
"I really envy you; you were born with such an ability."
"Envy me?"
"Yes, we have to go through very hard training to awaken this ability, and some people can't even awaken it in their entire lives. But you were born with it; isn't that enviable?"
"But, sometimes it's scary..."
"It is a bit scary, but it's very useful.
Because Aisa has this ability, she can help her companions.
Didn't Aisa come here when she felt her companions were in danger? If it was just out of fear, Aisa would have hidden under the blanket. But she came here regardless of the danger because Aisa wants to help everyone!"
"Yes! Aisa wants to help everyone! Aisa doesn't want the voices to go away anymore! Waaaaaaaaaah!"
Aisa cried, tears streaming down her face, but her expression had become much more resolute.
Mari patted Aisa's head expressionlessly and then began to pack her tea set and cushions.
Raki hugged Aisa and asked, "Are you leaving?"
Mari nodded. "I've drunk the tea and eaten the biscuits. I can't keep my friends waiting too long. Besides, I can't just watch Aisa cry, so let's take Aisa over there to have a look."
Eh? Take Aisa to.....
With a paintbrush and palette in hand, Mari appeared on a nearby tree in a flash and quickly drew a pattern on a strange bird.
"Mix the colors! Friends' yellow and green!"
The strange bird immediately became Mari's friend and flew down to the ground with Mari.
This strange bird looked very peculiar, resembling a parrot, and its head seemed to always face south. But the bird was quite large, so it should be no problem to carry three people.
"That..." Raki and Aisa were at a loss.
"Come on up; we're going to the giant bean vine. It's faster this way," Mari waved to the two.
Before long, the strange bird carried the three of them and flew towards the massive bean vine to the south.
On the bird's back, Aisa hugged Mari tightly, watching the giant bean vine grow closer. Mari couldn't help but admire it.
"You are amazing! You really are sixteen years old!"
"My name is Mari, and I am sixteen years old."
"Mari, are all the girls in the Blue Sea as small as you?"
"...Be careful I drop you."
Although Mari's expression remained impassive, she was still sensitive about her height. After all, she was still a young girl, and she would definitely be annoyed by such comments.
Fortunately, the other person was just a child, and Mari wouldn't hold it against children.
Well, at least a small lesson.
Like dropping people from this height...
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