I could feel my strength gradually recovering.
As more and more life force gathered in my palm, the surface of the pond began to ripple.
The lotus root, which had been withered for so long, suddenly revived miraculously.
I looked at that lotus root and suddenly seemed to see old stories that even I myself had forgotten.
"It's alive, hmph, it's really alive..."
The person burst out laughing; his already hoarse voice was now even more grating.
He laughed, but his laughter was mingled with sobs.
He seemed to be crying.
"Why are you crying?"
When I blurted out the question, I myself was stunned, as if the words just spoken hadn't come from me.
The person half-knelt by the pond, his skinny fingers reaching out as if to touch the lotus, then stopping abruptly in mid-air.
His action reminded me of how he had hesitated when wanting to touch me.
