The next morning.
After Jasmine left ho to head to the academy, Vieya received Aislin’s reply.
When she had written to Aislin last ti, she had already begun reserving a place for entry into the Elven Royal Court.
Calling it a “reservation” sounded fancy, but in truth, Vieya simply didn’t know the route into the Elven Forest. She needed Aislin to wait for them in Yadin—the human town closest to the Elven Forest—and guide them in.
Originally she had planned to go alone. But she couldn’t resist Aislin’s enthusiastic invitation after hearing she was coming, nor Jasmine’s excitent the mont she heard the words Elven Forest.
Vieya unfolded the letter and read it silently.
Aislin’s handwriting was neat and elegant, pleasant to look at, and the joy she felt while writing the letter practically shimred between the lines.
“To my dear friend,
“I’ve received the letter you entrusted to the North Wind, and I’m so happy you’ll be bringing your daughter to visit the Elven Forest.
“But my friend, do you still rember the Light-Reversing Stone bracelet I gifted you the first ti we t? Light-Reversing Stones are a specialty of the Elven Forest—anyone carrying them can find the path back to the forest. So you can too! Just wear the bracelet, and it will glow and guide you through the forest to our elven holand.
“However, although the bracelet can bring you here, as your... hmm... host, I’ll still et you in Yadin as you requested.
“Let’s et three days before the Star Dew Festival begins—June 20th—in Yadin City.
“Ah! Mother caught stealing her ink again! Anyway, bring your daughter soon, the rest we’ll talk about when we et.
“Oh! I also handcrafted new instrunts and a new flute, and I composed new songs. When you arrive, I’ll play them for you!
“Your devoted friend,
Aislin!”
There was also a line of tiny Elvish at the signature, but Vieya couldn’t read it.
June 20th, huh?
Vieya folded the letter and placed it in the drawer. She checked the calendar—yes, twenty-three whole days left.
Plenty of ti.
Now, where did she put that bracelet Aislin gave her back then...?
Right—she had thrown it together with the pile of random stuff Lilian had sent last ti. It was in the study!
Thinking of this, Vieya hurried out of the bedroom and jogged to the study next door.
The maids cleaned the study every day; all miscellaneous items were placed into a box in the corner.
“Hm, this is the fox tail Lilian sent last ti... uh, what was this even for?” Vieya stroked the fiery-red fox tail twice and set it aside.
Aside from that inexplicable fox tail, the Icefield Wolf King’s marrow and the royal jelly Lilian had also sent had long been consud by the bored sli girl as “sweet drinks.” So there really wasn’t much left in the box.
Before long—
Vieya found the bracelet. A few softly glowing white stones strung together with a red cord, simple and beautiful.
Honestly, she really liked this thing. It felt warm and smooth like high-grade white jade.
But because she constantly ran into battles, to avoid unnecessary financial losses, she forced herself to lock away these pretty things in a box.
“If Aislin really becos the Elven Queen soday, this thing will sell for a fortune.”
Vieya clicked her tongue, amazed, rubbing the smooth Light-Reversing Stones. By accident, she brushed her fingers across the line of Elvish carved into them.
Many years ago on that old «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» pier, the silver-haired elf—short sword at her waist, wooden harp in hand—had told her the aning of the inscription: “The cub returns to the tribe, the evil dragon retreats.”
Back then, Vieya hadn’t thought too deeply about it. But... now that she recalled it... did the Elven Forest also have evil dragons? And the kind that liked eating... elven children?
Whatever. She’d see for herself when the ti ca.
Vieya put the bracelet onto her wrist. Just as she was turning around, a voice suddenly sounded behind her.
“Vieya, you’re wearing sothing another woman gave you again.”
Vieya jolted, whirled around, and saw Flaviel’s tiny, expressionless face.
She quickly hid her hand behind her back and coughed. “Cough—why do you always show up without making a sound? Can you not suddenly appear and disappear all the ti?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Flaviel narrowed her eyes at the hand Vieya was hiding behind her. “Which woman gave it to you? Or was it a man?”
“Cough, it’s just sothing a female friend gave ...” Vieya explained. “We’re going to her territory in a few days to see if we can fully revive you. This bracelet guides the way, so I wanted to put it on early.”
“Is that so?” Flaviel paused, then changed the topic. “I’m almost out of energy to materialize. Could you feed so of that ti-water? Or... stop leaving the Holy Sword next to the pool and soak my dragon horn in the ti-water instead?”
“Ti-water?” Vieya shook her head helplessly. “You an liquid ti? I need to save that for reviving you. I can’t let you drink it or soak in it now... You’ll have to endure a bit longer. Once you’re healthy again, you can ask to do whatever you want.”
“...Hmph!”
Flaviel snorted coldly—pop—and disappeared again.
“She gets smaller and her heart gets smaller too. If she were in her full form, she’d definitely understand my decision.” Vieya muttered with a sigh.
She had never watered the elven World Tree before—who knew if the pool of liquid ti was enough? If, after saving up everything, she ended up one sip short because Flaviel had gotten thirsty now... she really would die on the spot.
Vieya shook her head and left the study.
Today, she was heading to the Recalia Magic Academy of Fengxiang Town to take office as the new dean.
After the Talin City incident, both the Tribunal and the Magic Academy had dismissed a large number of people. Using her status as Swordmaster—and as the greatest contributor during the incident—Vieya seized the dean position of the academy.
Not to ntion anything else—just having the dean’s authority would allow her to more easily remove hidden threats around her daughter and raise her safely and properly.
Even though Flaviel frequently vanished, she still occasionally returned words of advice, offering pointers on child-rearing.
......
Recalia Magic Academy.
In the dean’s office, a wall-hung clock ticked crisply.
Clear sunlight stread through the floor-to-ceiling windows, stretching the shadows of the long wooden desk and the people nearby across the floor.
These were the academy’s decision-makers. For now, they were all waiting for the new dean.
“It’s already ten-thirty, why isn’t she here yet? Half an hour late! I hate people with no sense of ti!”
“I heard the new dean is magically incompetent—makes sense, hahaha.”
“Such a sarcastic laugh, but she’s no pushover. She’s the new Swordmaster!”
“Hiss—that monster girl is going to be our dean?” The senior-year magic instructor gasped. “What kind of idiot made that decision?”
“Higher-ups say to treat her like a mascot...” said a mature man with long black hair and glasses, smiling slightly. “After all, being a Swordmaster ans she has so ability. So even if her magic is trash, it doesn’t matter.”
“A mascot, huh... interesting. But why isn’t she here? Late on the first day? What kind of mascot is that?” The thin middle-aged man with glasses, obsessed with punctuality, slamd the table. “A Swordmaster! Already appointed as dean! And no sense of ti at all! What a disgrace!”
Everyone murmured their agreent.
Suddenly—
Bang!
The office doors burst open!
A panting, sweating head guard rushed inside and blurted out in panic:
“Not good—our new dean is fighting with the students!”
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