The sky after the rain was always blue. It had been so the year before last, last year as well, and today—still the sa.
It was as if ti had run its course in a perfect circle, only to return to its original point without a single change.
Vieya was wearing a wide-brimd white French hat, lying on a reclining chair basking in the sun, a blue-and-white coat draped over her body to keep off the wind.
Outside, the sunlight was dazzlingly bright; the eaves cast shadows on the ground sharp as blades. She rested with her eyes closed, pale silvery hair rippling in the gentle breeze, her breathing calm and serene.
Her smooth, shapely legs were so pale under the sunlight they were almost translucent, and the quiet rise and fall of her chest, together ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) with her soft breaths, clearly separated her from those exquisite dolls crafted by masters—proving she was a living being.
After three years of quiet recovery, her once-shrunken body had filled out again, even a bit more voluptuous than that of a well-developed human girl of seventeen or eighteen.
In these years, her favorite thing had been sitting alone on the terrace, letting the wind blow and the sun warm her skin.
From morning to dusk—except on rainy days—you could always find her there, like an NPC refreshing at fixed hours.
But today was different.
Today was Jasmine’s magic test, and she absolutely had to be there. She couldn’t stay here lazily from morning until night.
Adjusting her long hair tousled by the wind, Vieya put her hat on properly, narrowed her light-green eyes slightly, and yawned languidly into the sunlight.
Things had been peaceful here in the southern lands these years.
But in the north, war had started again.
On one side was the Human Alliance Army led by Her Holiness the Saint; on the other—no one was quite sure, though it was said to be one of the Seven Demon Kings.
Ordinarily, demons could rarely organize an army as orderly as the humans’, but this ti was different. The demon forces pressed heavily against the borders, locked in a long stalemate with the Saint’s army.
The humans were in panic, fearing the Saint might lose the northern front and let the demon army pour straight through, destroying the peace they had enjoyed for so many years.
Vieya knew the humans wouldn’t be defeated that easily.
Still, Saint Lilian hadn’t written to her for a long ti. In the past, she would send a letter every few months.
Now more than half a year had passed with no letter received—and none of Vieya’s letters or inquiries had been answered either.
“Hey, White Fur! Your daughter’s magic test is about to start! What are you still doing here?”
Even through one room and two walls, Elizabeth’s shrill voice reached Vieya’s ears.
“......”
Vieya rose from the terrace, crossed the room, and as soon as she turned the doorknob, she saw Elizabeth peeking through the window, trying to spy inside.
“You’re so noisy... Could you try calling with a smaller voice next ti?”
“I was just worried you might be going deaf, so I spoke louder—called a few extra tis.” Elizabeth’s tone gradually softened as she noticed her mistress’s dark expression.
Ever since the little white-haired one had completely evolved and devoured the big white-haired one, the power inside her had been growing visibly by the day.
She could even activate the Domain of Greed or the Domain of Envy using about forty percent of a Demon King’s authority.
If Elizabeth had ever thought about rebelling before, she had long since given that up. Now she just wanted to cling to White Fur’s thigh and cry, “Boss, take with you!”
Thinking this, Elizabeth’s face twisted into an odd, flattering smile. “So, how’s that hat I sewed for you? I used thread I’d been treasuring for years. Besides shielding from the sun and cooling you off, it has all the defensive functions of the finest human-made gear. I added every one of them myself!”
“...Don’t know. Feels kind of big.”
Vieya touched the brim of the hat. In truth, she liked it quite a bit—much more than those flashy, impractical, feather-light, colorful dresses.
Holding the brim, she asked softly, “Jasmine and the others are at the training field of the Rekaria Magic Academy, right?”
“Mm.” Elizabeth nodded. “Anna said she’s going to personally test Jasmine this ti, so the site had to be chosen carefully—best if it’s equipped with proper magic buffering devices. If they do it outside, the damage could be too wide and leave a bad impression.”
“Then let’s go.”
Vieya nodded, already understanding everything.
After that visit from so official from the Magic Academy three years ago, they had set up a branch here in Fengxiang Town.
They said it was to give the border children a chance to study magic, but in reality it was just a move to curry favor with the wielder of the Holy Sword—earning a bit of goodwill.
Vieya didn’t care much; at best, the effort was of limited use.
After all, at Jasmine’s current level, she could have entered Rekaria Magic Academy through the main gate on her own rits without any backdoor help.
Jasmine was talented. As her teacher, Anna not only excelled at teaching magic but also at imparting all kinds of knowledge and experience.
Even if Vieya was reluctant to admit it, she had to acknowledge that Anna’s teaching ability far surpassed her own.
...
Rekaria Magic Academy, Southern Branch.
The training field—or rather, the magic arena—was constructed from enormous magic crystals cut and fused together. It could absorb excess magic energy and use that power to reinforce and restore its own durability.
By now, many people had gathered around the arena: spectators, observers, students, teachers, and magisters.
“Mom!”
The mont Jasmine spotted Vieya, her eyes lit up. Ignoring the stares of the other students and teachers, she dashed straight toward her mother.
Though the impairnt in her left hand and leg remained untreatable, she had learned to use magic to correct and assist her movent.
“Mom! I missed you so much! I thought you weren’t coming!”
She threw herself into Vieya’s arms, taking a deep breath, then let out a satisfied little hum. “Mmm, let stay like this a bit longer...”
“How could I not co when my daughter asked to?”
Vieya gently patted her daughter’s head. Over the past three years, Jasmine had been fine in every way—except for her height.
From four to seven years old, three whole years—the golden growth period for human children—yet Jasmine had only grown three centiters.
Vieya had doubted her own existence more than once. Her daughter was half-human, half-demon; biologically, her growth cycle should have been similar to that of a human child.
But now, other children of the sa age were already a full head taller than Jasmine.
“Jasmine! Break’s over, everyone’s waiting for you!” On the stage, Anna called out, waving her hand toward Vieya’s direction—half a greeting, half an invitation to talk privately later.
“Uuh...”
Reluctantly leaving her mother’s warm embrace, Jasmine straightened her hair, which had been mussed up by her mother’s hand, and turned back toward the stage.
“Ti really flies, ow...”
Helcat still wore her cat-eared maid outfit. These years hadn’t changed her appearance in the slightest.
Tilting her head, she looked curiously at Vieya and sighed in awe.
“Didn’t expect you to develop this fast.” She held her hands in front of her chest to indicate size, glanced at Vieya’s bosom, and exclaid, “You’re even bigger than now!”
“Be quiet.”
Vieya glared at the catgirl and focused all her attention back on Jasmine on the platform.
“ow!”
Helcat wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the warning. While staring at the arena, she raised a question that imdiately caught Vieya’s attention.
She asked, “Do you know why your daughter hasn’t grown taller?”
Vieya hadn’t planned to answer the babbling cat, but she still turned slightly and asked,
“...Why?”
“Because of malnutrition, ow!” Helcat said with conviction. “Don’t be fooled by how many different foods you feed her. She’s still missing one important thing!” Her tone grew mysteriously low.
Vieya: “?”
Helcat stared pointedly at the sli woman’s chest and said no more.
Beside them, Elizabeth suddenly covered her mouth and snickered, speaking in a teasing, singsong voice.
“White Fur, you never breastfed the child. How’s she supposed to grow tall?”
“That’s right, it’s all your fault, ow.”
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