Can the sadness that magic cannot take away be offset by love?

How much time does it take for a snowflake to pass through the wind and frost and reach the windowsill just a step away from the warm room?

Time is like the rain and snow that pours out continuously just to kiss the ground, with no end in sight. However, the birth and death of every raindrop and every moment of light and shadow are accurately measured by a precise time scale, rushing into the vast and boundless picture of the universe at a slow but never stopping speed.

In practicing day after day, Iris achieved the delicate manipulation of three thousand miniature snowmen.

In the vast silver-white snowfield, countless finger-sized snowmen were rustling around. Some were throwing snowballs at each other, some were gathering around the children who were playing outside in the warmer weather, some were lying on Iris and refused to get down, and some were huddled in desolate places such as the foot of trees and the side of walls, thinking about life alone.

Iris took out a snowman from the back of her neck, which suddenly felt cold, kneaded it into a ball with the scattered snow on her clothes and hat, then divided it into two halves, and made a new snowman from each.

The newborn snowman was very obedient and jumped to the ground to find a place to cool off.

Iris walked step by step towards Albinia, who was leaning under the tree and reading a book.

Sometimes she would come here to watch Iris practice, and most of the time she would just sit there quietly, as if she didn't exist. But whenever she saw her smile at her, she would feel all her worries and fatigue disappear immediately.

Compared to the honest and well-behaved snowmen next to Iris, the snowmen next to Albinia were very unscrupulous. They kept climbing onto her head and clothes, and some even climbed onto her books. No matter how many times Albinia picked them up and put them on the ground, they still ran tirelessly to the pages full of words.

She was very patient with these little snowmen, but Iris had an anxious temper. She stamped her feet next to Albinia so hard that the snow on the trees fell.

The little snowmen trembled, and one by one they retreated from Albinia like a receding tide, running away from Iris.

Albinia closed the page and asked:

"how do you feel today?"

"They are longer and more annoying than they were yesterday."

"You've made great progress."

"So that I can sleep in with a clear conscience next winter."

"Well... if you have decided this, then go for it."

Albinia stood up, took her hand and led her home.

The two of them spoke at a low volume, appearing very peaceful and leisurely. Even the chirping of birds passing by by chance could easily overwhelm their voices.

Olivia still asked her to go out to play from time to time as before. Sometimes Alexia would sneak out to play with her when there was only geometry class that day, and every time she was keen to crawl in through the dog hole, and then He was caught by Professor Albinia who was watering the flowers in the yard.

One day, Iris took out a small kettle that was said to be able to automatically identify plant species and carry out targeted maintenance, and tentatively watered the grass in the yard. Albinia saw it and asked her:

"Hey, where did you get this? I remember that this style of toy was very popular more than ten years ago, but in recent years it is almost impossible to see it on the market."

Iris was silent for a moment, then she asked slowly:

"Is this a toy?"

Albinia nodded, seeming to understand something:

"It wasn't given to you by someone else, was it?"

Iris: "."

She sat cross-legged on the ground, staring at the toy in front of her that she had exchanged for the roasted chicken, feeling a little resentful.

Albinia lifted her up by her collar, put the small kettle into her arms, and said with a smile:

"If you're interested in gardening, I can teach you."

Iris said in a muffled voice:

"I'm more interested in planting people in the soil now."

Albinia gave her a book called "xx Requirements of Soil for xx Cultivation".

*

During the New Year, Albinia and Iris were the only ones at home.

Albinia leaned against the window and looked out.

At the door, Iris wore a knitted hat, braved the cold wind and opened the door with a bottle of soy sauce in her arms. She quickly walked in with her head curled up, her shoulders and collar covered with white snow.

This scene was very similar to the day when Ernest came walking on the snow.

After the retest of his talent was over, he asked Albinia to let Iris live with her, and Albinia agreed without hesitation.

Iris probably wouldn't want to see him - even though Albinia and Ernest had different understandings of the whole situation, they both thought so in the same way.

Albinia opened the door to the inner room for her. Iris shook off the snow in front of the threshold, then rushed into the house and gave Albinia a tight hug.

At night, the sky of Kakar was illuminated by the New Year's fireworks, and the steam from the food blurred the faces of the two people in the room.