Flora struggled to her feet, her body trembling as she let go of the table she’d been clutching for support.
Seeing her weakened state, Ian worried she might collapse if she tried to go outside. “Are you okay?” he asked with concern.
“I’m fine,” Flora replied shakily, her legs wobbling from the strain of trying to break free from Serinveia’s spatial confinement.
Casting her skill had already drained much of her magic, and being immobilized in midair had left her frail.
Thud.
Her legs gave out, unable to support her bravado, and she collapsed to the floor.
Ian froze, unsure how to help. Physically supporting Flora was out of the question.
Not only might Flora refuse, but if Ian helped her to Ethelrina’s side, he could imagine Ethelrina’s glare—How dare you touch my woman?
Yet leaving Flora to fend for herself wasn’t an option either. She could barely stand in the restaurant, let alone make it outside.
After a moment’s thought, Ian recalled seeing people with mobility issues on TV in his past life using canes for support.
Flora, noticing Ian’s stare, felt embarrassed. She’d never faced such humiliation or awkwardness in her life. “Go ahead and laugh. I won’t mind,” she said.
Ian ignored her words, focusing on her condition. “Do you still have strength in your arms?”
Flora found his question odd but answered, “Some strength, yes.”
Hearing this, Ian turned to Chiye’s mother. “Do you have any sticks or rods in the shop?”
Chiye’s mother nodded. “We’ve got some wood. What do you need it for?”
Ian, relieved, said, “I’d like to buy some wood, and could you bring a knife too?”
He pulled a gold coin from his waist and handed it to her. “This covers the wood and the meal.”
Chiye’s mother took the coin, headed to the kitchen, and returned with the requested items and change.
Using the tools and wood, Ian crafted a simple cane and handed it to Flora. “Try walking with this.”
Flora tested it. Though moving was still difficult, she could manage. “I didn’t expect you to know how to make these,” she said, her eyes showing a hint of admiration.
“Just something I picked up,” Ian replied. As Veronica’s former steward, he’d learned many skills, carpentry being a minor one.
“Alright, since you can walk, let’s go meet Ethelrina and the others.”
***
Saint Roland Magic Academy, Villa District
In front of Lillian’s villa, a group had gathered. Ian and Flora were the last to arrive.
Ethelrina, seeing Flora limping with a cane, asked with concern, “What happened to you?”
“It’s nothing. Just a small clash with Serinveia. I got careless and lost,” Flora said.
Ethelrina knew Flora was exaggerating. Having seen Serinveia’s strength, she doubted Flora stood a chance. But she didn’t call her out—Flora, as the Elven Princess, had her pride, and embarrassing her now wouldn’t be wise.
Sophia, however, stepped forward. “If I had been there, things wouldn’t have ended like this.”
Flora, already fuming, snapped back, “Oh, really? If you’d faced Serinveia, you probably wouldn’t even be standing.”
Their bickering erupted instantly, neither willing to back down.
Ethelrina’s head throbbed. “Enough! I didn’t call you here to fight.”
Her words were effective, silencing both with a single sentence.
“Tomorrow, I’ll visit Teacher Vera to divine the pearl’s location. Anyone who wants to join me is welcome,” Ethelrina said, outlining her plans now that the two had quieted.
Hearing this, Ian thought, Teacher Vera? The divination expert, right?
Worried he might be exposed, he consulted his system.
System, will she detect me?
The system replied:
【If she divines your identity, she won’t find anything.】
【But if she divines the pearl you got from Ethelrina, she can trace it.】
“What?” Ian was stunned. “You mean the Senro Breath Pearl can hide my identity but not itself?”
【Exactly.】
“Then what’s the point? I’ll be exposed!” Ian couldn’t believe Ethelrina wouldn’t try to locate her pearl. If she did, he was in deep trouble.
He asked the system, “Is there a solution?”
The system answered simply:
【You can spend 3,000 emotion points in the system shop to buy an item that blocks divination.】
Ian was floored. “I’m already in debt! How am I supposed to afford that?”
【You can earn emotion points by helping Lillian win Ethelrina’s favor.】
Ian recalled leaving Lillian and Ethelrina alone for an entire afternoon. If Lillian had made progress, he might have earned enough points.
With a flicker of hope, he opened his system panel’s personal info section.
To his dismay, his emotion points were pitifully low—Lillian had barely earned him anything.
He glanced at Lillian, standing beside Ethelrina, his eyes full of confusion.
Lillian, catching his gaze, looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
Lillian, you’ve completely let me down, Ian thought, exasperated. An entire afternoon, and their relationship hadn’t budged.
Just then, a loud gurgle came from Ian’s stomach, audible to everyone.
Ethelrina looked at him. “Are you hungry?”
She felt a bit guilty. Her pearl had been stolen, and not only had she dragged others into it, but now they were starving.
Feeling his hunger and frustrated by Lillian’s lack of progress, Ian had a brilliant idea.
What if Lillian cooks for Ethelrina, and I eat too?
Ethelrina probably hasn’t eaten either. I taught Lillian how to make pineapple buns—she could earn some favor with that.
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