Chapter 668

Jacob produced a small rabbit figurine, clearly well-worn. Rough around the edges, with one ear broken off, it was obviously not store-bought.

“The year she went missing,” he began, his voice trembling, eyes glistening, “I made this for her during the Starlight Harvest Festival. She was grounded that year for misbehaving and couldn’t go out to play. I was supposed to have the servants buy her one, but my father wouldn’t allow it as part of her punishment. So, I secretly made this one out of clay and baked it at home. After baking, I painted it, but the colors have faded. When she received it, she seemed to dislike it and dropped it, breaking an ear.”

“She didn’t like it at all. She seemed offended and cried. I thought if she felt that strongly about it, it must have left an impression.”

Violet examined the shabby rabbit, its faded paint and broken ear striking. “If someone gave me something like this, I’d cry too. It’s something I’d never forget.”

“Exactly. Things are either deeply loved or utterly despised, and both kinds stick in your memory,” Jacob said, handing the figurine to Violet. “I have other toys from her childhood, but they’re all ordinary—things anyone would have. This one is unique.”

“Unique? That would make me cry even harder.” Violet’s acceptance was less than enthusiastic. “Seriously, it couldn’t get any uglier. Even its features are muddled.”

Jacob flinched. “Don’t say that. I hadn’t learned how to make these before. It was my first attempt.”

“And you burned the back of it,” Violet observed, turning it over. “Actually, the whole thing is black. You just covered it in paint, right? You must have touched it up later?”

Jacob shrugged, embarrassed. “The colors kept fading, so I kept adding more. I haven’t done it in two or three years. But if she sees it, I’m sure she’ll recognize it.”

“Okay then.” Violet glanced at Carissa, who averted her gaze just as Rafael’s intense stare caught her.

He exclaimed brightly, “Just like your embroidery back then—it’s unique!”

Violet laughed. “I was just thinking her embroidery is ugly, and she doesn’t even realize—”

Kyle interjected firmly, “No one can do everything perfectly. Our junior guild member here has the best martial arts talent in the Pathfinders Guild. If any of you have special skills or abilities, feel free to show them off so I can see what you’re made of.” He gave Rafael a cold look.

Rafael was stunned. He hadn’t insulted Carissa’s embroidery; Violet had!

Violet quickly changed the subject. “Jacob, tell me some fun stories about you and your sister when you were young. Something memorable.”

Chapter 661 (It seems there's a typo in the original; Chapter 6611 is likely a mistake.)

Jacob had much to share as he reminisced. His father was a seventh-ranked county chief in Cloud County, and his family had a long tradition of valuing farming and education. His mother was a scholar’s daughter, and they lived comfortably.

However, Cloud County was plagued by poverty and chaos, with bandits causing unrest. His father led local officials and guards to hunt down the bandits, eventually restoring peace after multiple attempts.

When Jacob was five, his mother gave birth to his sister. Their grandfather, a local academy teacher, was overjoyed. At seven, Jacob joined the academy but lived at home, spending much time with his sister.

Their happy family was shattered when his sister turned seven. One sunny day, while playing outside their alley, she and the daughter of a county official were abducted by two strangers who quickly escaped in a carriage. The terrified children scattered, too afraid to immediately report the incident.

It was only at nightfall, when the girls hadn't returned, that frantic searches began. They learned of the abduction from the other children. Hours had passed; the girls were long gone from Cloud County. Pursuing the kidnappers would be futile; their direction of escape was unknown.