Chapter 411: Lumina’s Birthday Gift
“Ah, I’m ho.”
At an airport in the real world, Lumina, wearing a coat and dragging several suitcases, walked wearily into the waiting hall from the empty corridor.
She looked a bit haggard, after all, the journey across half the world with multiple transfers over the past few days had left her exhausted.
However, being naturally beautiful, the young lady still looked pretty even without much grooming. Due to the current pandemic getting worse, causing public facilities like airports to be closed, there weren’t many people around. Otherwise, with Lumina’s figure and looks, she would definitely have attracted a lot of attention.
Although she often jokes about being a “country girl”, she actually has very good fashion sense.
A gray coat with a plaid thermal shirt underneath, paired with fitted jeans and knee-high boots, wearing sunglasses and a mask, her shoulder-length hair swaying with each forward step, giving off a cool vibe.
In the empty airport, there were only these overseas students who had just returned from abroad, along with embassy staff coordinating in the middle.
They couldn’t go ho directly and had to spend a month in quarantine at designated hotels. In the past, such treatnt would definitely have been complained about, but now everyone knows how bad the situation is and naturally waits very obediently for arrangents.
Lumina first called ho to let her worried parents and grandparents know she had returned safely to the country, then sent ssages to Lady Aqua, Little Ashina, Orchid and Pogranate to inform them of her itinerary.
Everyone agreed to et in Transia in an hour. After getting these things sorted out, Lumina got on the bus heading to the quarantine hotel.
Looking through the window at the empty streets before her, she had never seen this city where she grew up so quiet in her mory, as if the entire city was asleep.
This was the first week of the lockdown policy, the impact of the pandemic had already spread to the whole world, though initially many people thought it was just an ordinary infection.
Things changed too fast, leaving even “outstanding youths” like Lumina feeling at a loss.
But returning to her hotown and setting foot on this familiar land at this mont made her feel a calmness from deep within.
She looked at the unkempt roadside greenery that appeared a bit ssy due to lack of maintenance, with a few brightly colored flowers among them, standing out from their surroundings as if each had their own concerns, blooming in different seasons.
“Finally back.”
Lumina leaned back in her seat with a long sigh, then said to herself and touched her bag, where the hard helt inside gave her another sense of security.
“Sister, you seem to always be wearing that helt these days”
A young woman about Lumina’s age sitting next to her asked curiously through her mask:
“Is that so kind of sleep device? I see your sleep quality is really good when you wear it, what brand is it, can you recomnd it to ? I’ve never slept well since I was little.”
“Uh, this isn’t a sleep device, it’s hard for to explain.”
Lumina said hesitantly:
“You can think of it as a kind of VR gaming headset, although it does have sleep therapy functions, it’s not currently available for sale in the market, if you need one you can fill out an application.”
As she spoke, she sent over the ga application link.
The round-faced young woman was quite interested at first, but after carefully reading the link content and seeing the application with up to 99 questions, her expression beca awkward.
Lumina could clearly sense that the other person was looking at her like she was looking at a scamr or a social outcast who only thought about playing gas and accomplished nothing.
She shrugged helplessly and stopped paying attention to the other person.
During this ti she had tried recomnding 《Reality Realm》 to people around her, but not everyone was interested in this thing.
After all, the technology it represents belongs to a field humanity has yet to step into, and any rational person could co to a simple conclusion, even if such a thing existed, those who control it wouldn’t use it to make a ga.
Perhaps in others’ eyes, “ga addicts” like herself are the odd ones out?
“The day after tomorrow is my birthday, ah, this is the first birthday I’ll spend alone since I was little.”
Lumina was thinking about whether to cook herself sothing nice as a treat, but then rembered her terrible cooking skills and had to give up the idea.
After all, she’s already a grown up now, she can rely on herself to deal with life’s disappointnts, no longer a little kid who would cry when she couldn’t get cake.
An hour later, in her single quarantine room, after taking a nice shower and finishing the lunch delivered to her door, Lumina finally relaxed lying in bed, picked up her precious helt and put it on.
Hey, let the unhappiness in reality go to hell!
《Reality Realm》, Start!
“Whoosh”
With a flash of light, Lumina Yanghen, bard slash ranger slash alchemist, crawled out of her tent at the camp outside Transia City.
She stretched and jumped in place, just about to contact the other sisters to start today’s busy schedule, but as soon as she opened her computation bead she saw a unique ssage:
【With your selfless help, Lady Tris has completed her first attempt in the field of ‘Otherworld Alchemy’, this is the transmission of knowledge and also the collision of wisdom. For the birth of that outstanding creation, Lady Tris has decided to give you a gift, please go to Blood Vulture Halls Underground Spirit Energy Chamber No. 4 to receive your reward as soon as possible.】
【Ding! Hidden quest ‘Otherworld Knowledge’ Phase 1 completed! Obtained Alchemist Master’s Chest Key x1, please collect from Lady Tris.】
【Ding! Hidden quest ‘Otherworld Knowledge II’ activated! Please continue to find more valuable otherworld knowledge to bestow upon Lady Tris, to help Lady Tris progress in the field of otherworld alchemy and obtain more rewards.】
【Ding! ‘Cavendina’s Champion’ Phase 1 completed, obtained special title ‘Cavendina’s Champion’.
This title effect: The wearer of this title will be allowed to enter Lady Tris’s alchemy laboratory and read and study Lady Tris’s alchemy notes – Black Iron Chapter, and automatically obtain Blood Vulture Clan ‘Honorary Knight’ clan title, enjoying treatnt equal to clan knights within the Blood Vulture Clan.
‘Cavendina’s Champion II’ quest activated!
Please continue to improve your impression and status in Lady Tris’s heart, new quests will be issued when the ti is right.】
The series of prompts left Lumina a bit overwheld, but having rewards was always a good thing, and obtaining the special title “Cavendina’s Champion” also left her feeling very satisfied.
After equipping this title that currently only she had obtained in the ga, she walked out of the tent and jumped on her demon hunter warhorse heading towards Blood Vulture Halls.
She was really looking forward to what kind of reward Lady Tris would give her.
anwhile, in Blood Vulture Halls Underground Spirit Energy Chamber No. 4, Murphy was looking at the unique blood flowing in the delicate blood extractor he was holding.
This did not co from within the Blood Vulture Clan, but from Lady Lainnia, currently the only “Moon Elf” in the land of Transia.
To get this drop of blood, Murphy had to beseech his loyal servant Maxim, and who knows what devil’s thods Maxim used, but he actually succeeded in persuading Lainnia to give him this drop of blood.
This was quite an impressive achievent for vampires.
After all, vampires have many ways to use blood as a guide to inflict various curses and negative states on the blood’s owner. Even if not doing bad things, just real-ti monitoring based on blood would make people feel very uncomfortable.
“Are you planning to analyze the spirit energy properties of Moon Elves from this drop of blood, then weave a new form for your champion?”
Tris, who had already prepared for the spirit energy projection appearance modification work, poured herself a glass of wine and poured one for Murphy as well, she asked:
“This is not a simple task.
Even for spirit mages specializing in life form research, it takes years of study to fully analyze the unique spirit energy characteristics of a race.
In my opinion, Lumina only needs the appearance of a Moon Elf, she’s a pragmatist, just having this appearance would be enough to satisfy her.”
“But I’m not satisfied, just changing the appearance is not a true ‘race conversion’.”
Murphy shook his head and said:
“My little player wants to beco an elf, so I must help her realize her wish. Even just considering the contributions she has made to Transia over the past period of ti, I must fulfill her desire.
This is not difficult for .”
As he spoke, Murphy pulled out the stopper of the blood extractor, and under Tris’s curious gaze dropped that drop of blood belonging to Lainnia onto his tongue.
This drop of non-essence blood was not enough for Murphy to cast various curses, let alone that he didn’t know those, but as the blood was absorbed making Murphy feel a unique cool fragrance, as he expected, prompts quickly appeared before him:
【Contacted Elf Race – Moon Elf Royal Blood, Race Template Collection increased!】
Along with the prompt appeared a progress bar, the numbers on it kept jumping representing that while Murphy was using vampire abilities to analyze Moon Elf blood, his understanding of the template information for the elf race was also deepening.
However, unfortunately, just one drop of blood was not enough for Murphy to fully understand the racial mysteries of Moon Elves. When he opened his eyes, the race template collection rate before him had barely reached 20%.
“Lainnia’s blood is of Moon Elf royalty, one of the bloodlines closest to the elven source. Unfortunately, after accepting the Blood Covenant Clan’s embrace, the power of pride from the Blood Covenant covered and modified much of the hidden information in this blood.”
Murphy sighed and said:
“I cannot discern more either.
If only we had a real Moon Elf, I guess if I could give a Moon Elf the embrace, I would be able to fully grasp the Moon Elf race template.
But this is fine for now too.
I already know so mysteries about Moon Elves, plus Adele’s factor gives so insight into the mysteries of Shadow Elves.
Unfortunately Forest Elves and Sea Elves remain unsolved mysteries to .
I will assist you, Tris.
More accurately, you assist .
I will control this race transformation process, you help reshape Lumina’s spirit energy form. If she chooses Moon Elf, the success rate is only one-fifth.
If she chooses Shadow Elf, the success rate is one-third.”
“Good thing your champions aren’t afraid of death, otherwise with this poor success rate, anyone who dares try this experint would undoubtedly be committing suicide.”
Tris complained:
“Even an 80% success rate I would consider too low.”
“But right now the developnt team’s ability is only this much, the little players have to be understanding of the programrs’ difficulties, how can such a complex function be built in a day or two?”
Murphy rolled his eyes, casually destroying the blood extractor in his hand, then turned back to look at the entrance of Spirit Energy Chamber No. 4. A few seconds later, Lumina knocked on the door and poked her head in to peek around carefully.
As if afraid she had co at a bad ti and interrupted so not so decent matters between Lord Murphy and Lady Tris.
“My champion, co quickly, Grand Duchess Tris has just completed a research that could be called world-shaking.”
Murphy called out in a gentle tone, letting Lumina enter the laboratory with more courage. Before she could ask, Tris threw her a test manual, gesturing for her to take a look.
Opening the manual didn’t trigger any quests for Lumina, but she quickly noticed those complex word combinations translated by the computation bead. After seeing key words like “Elf”, “Race Conversion”, “Appearance and Talent Change”, Lumina imdiately widened her eyes.
A wave of wild joy surged in her heart.
“Race conversion is finally being developed!”
The elf-loving bard shouted in her heart:
“Ahhhhh, I’ve finally made it through the hardships! Not converting to vampire back then was definitely the right choice! I knew it, the developnt team absolutely wouldn’t leave such a huge amount of ga resources unused.
Ah, developnt team, you are my god!”
“Don’t be so excited, my champion.”
Murphy didn’t even need to read Lumina’s mind, just looking at her excited expression he knew this girl had taken the bait, he soothed:
“This experint on spirit energy projection form change is just the beginning, Tris and I are still very clumsy in our attempts in this area, I must warn you, this experint carries risks.
You can now choose between Moon Elf or Shadow Elf forms, but both have low success rates. To be honest, you should perhaps be more cautious before making a decision.”
“I choose Moon Elf!”
Lumina imdiately raised her hand and shouted:
“No need to be more cautious! The worst outco is just death, but three days later I’ll be back in Transia!
Lord Murphy, you know how much I love what I pursue. Although I wasn’t born in Transia as an elf, I still hope I can complete my legendary adventures on this continent as an elf.
I’m willing to bear these risks, and I’m also willing to be a guinea pig to help Lady Tris complete this spirit energy experint!
Do I need to sign a liability waiver?”
Seeing her so excited, Murphy and Tris exchanged a glance, the vampire lord shrugged and pointed to the stone platform decorated with complex spirit energy formations, saying:
“Lie down, don’t panic no matter what happens in a mont. In the worst case, Tris will restore you to your original state.”
“Ohhh, format at start, I get it.”
Lumina jumped up decisively and lay down with her eyes rolling around. She saw Lady Tris preparing so alchemical solutions, and also saw Lord Murphy raising his finger reaching towards her neck.
“Don’t worry, this isn’t the embrace, I won’t transform you into a vampire against your will, my champion.”
Murphy said softly:
“I guess, after you wake up, you will restart your second life in Transia in the form you desire.”
The cold fingers touched Lumina’s neck.
As the sharp nails erged and pierced her skin, the feeling was just like a needle penetrating flesh. Lumina’s consciousness quickly beca drowsy but could still maintain a last bit of clarity.
In that hazy awareness, she heard Lord Murphy say to her gently:
“I saw a weariness in your eyes just now, I guess you’ve encountered so unease in your world. I don’t know how to comfort you, but I hope you’ll like this gift.
May it make you happy.
And happy upcoming birthday, my friend Lumina.”
Wow!
Upon hearing Lord Murphy’s gentle voice, the confused Lumina imdiately felt sowhat broken through.
This was the first birthday wish she had received in these ntally exhausting days, just like when she felt forgotten by the whole world, a friend’s blessing ca from far away.
If she wasn’t already near unconscious from the spirit energy effects, she would definitely have hugged the handso Lord Murphy and had a good cry.
She’s not stupid.
She knows there must have been other factors at work behind her being able to return to the country successfully at this ti almost exactly on schedule. After all, even Lady Aqua’s private plane couldn’t take off at this ti, but she was brought back as if in a dream, and even the other overseas students on that plane should be grateful to her for it.
She knows these things, she just tries hard not to think about them.
But at this mont, Lumina had an impulse.
No matter what kind of secrets Lord Murphy and Transia represent, she doesn’t want to care anymore, and Lumina seems to finally be able to understand Little Ashina’s unique feelings towards Lord Murphy and Transia.
The person before her eyes is not an NPC.
His domain is not an illusion woven from cold data.
He is her friend.
She likes this place.
That’s all there is to it.
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