With Eliv’s normal remarks, the meeting finally settled into its formal proceedings.
The group of them spoke in turn, from left to right, and each time someone spoke, it brought along exchanges of information or benefits.
Yet Enya’s lines throughout the whole session consisted of just one word…
That was, “Pass!”
Yes, every time it was her turn, she didn’t know what to say, so under the watchful gazes of the others, Enya could only give up on speaking and move on to the next round.
Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one like this; there was also a golden fox sitting there who, like Enya, would skip speaking whenever it was her turn.
Seeing someone else was in the same boat made Enya breathe a sigh of relief.
“Good, good, I’m not being isolated.”
Among those who spoke, the most active were Vivienne and Eliv, while Antiros mostly took on the role of answering various questions.
The purple-haired woman only spoke once during the three rounds.
After their exchange, Enya gained a new understanding of the current world’s situation.
Though the West Wind Empire was still nominally unified, it had already fractured in reality between north and south.
The reason it could still be considered the West Wind Empire was mainly because the Westwind Emperor was still alive.
As long as he remained, the empire would maintain a surface-level harmony.
But if he fell…
Then Vivienne would have to contend with her brothers.
At that time, a bloody and turbulent reform was inevitable, even a large-scale war. And war was always a heavy burden.
Enya did not dare to hope for peaceful negotiations; she knew well that when it came to reason, one must have a sword in hand.
Some might not believe your sword was sharp enough.
You had to cut them first—only when they felt pain would they step out of their illusions.
“This kind of thing is better left to nature.”
Enya lowered her brows slightly, remaining silent.
She neither wanted nor intended to blame Vivienne over this matter.
After three rounds of speaking, Antiros waved her hand and distributed a set of blueprints, but Enya was the only one left out.
She raised her head and looked at Antiros, feeling a little resentful.
“Antiros, what do you mean by this?”
It was as if Antiros heard her unspoken question; she glanced at Enya before turning back to the others at the table.
After confirming everyone else had seen the blueprints, the witch lady spoke.
“This is the latest plugin for the mirror. Once installed, it will enable one-on-one private chat functionality. As for object teleportation, with current technology, it’s still very difficult to integrate into a single crystal chip.”
“Anyone else have any ideas? Feel free to share.”
After Antiros finished speaking, the group exchanged looks.
Eventually, Eliv raised her hand. With everyone’s attention on her, she paused briefly before addressing Antiros.
“Lady Witch, could you add a letter-writing function?”
“Hmm, yes, that’s not very difficult.”
Antiros pondered briefly and nodded.
“Alright everyone, this meeting will end here for now. Thank you all for helping test the mirror’s functions. The next one will be in ten days as usual.”
With those words, the meeting concluded.
Enya watched the familiar figures slowly fade away until only Antiros and she remained.
Antiros removed the blur effect, bringing both their figures into clear view.
She stepped up to Enya and poked her face. Enya was still wearing the Black Nun guise, the mask covering her face.
The petite and adorable witch lady asked curiously,
“How does Little Enya feel? Is it comfortable wearing it?
Do you want me to add any other functions? You can tell me anything you want.”
Enya’s mouth twitched beneath the mask.
Other functions?
Enya didn’t believe Antiros would pass up this chance to add more tricks. The witch lady was known for her penchant for unnecessary embellishments!
Right now, the mask was just like a tight suit. If Antiros fiddled with it again, Enya had no idea what strange new features she’d cram in.
So this time, Enya flatly refused.
“Better not. I think this is fine as it is.”
“Oh…”
A small hint of disappointment showed on Antiros’s delicate face.
She’d recently come up with plenty of new ideas and wanted her good disciple to try them out. She never expected Enya to just say no.
Boring~
Antiros logged off.
The space was left with Enya alone. Antiros had left so quickly that Enya didn’t even get a chance to ask how to remove the mask.
Although the mask could be hidden in shadows.
Enya looked around the space and guessed it was some sort of Spirit Realm Fragment.
Only the Spirit Realm could transcend spatial constraints.
Projecting consciousness onto a Spirit Realm Fragment was a common method of long-distance communication in this world, but it usually required rituals or massive Runic Magic Circles to reach the level of their recent conversation.
Antiros had managed to integrate this complex magic into a single crystal chip embedded in the mirror. The witch lady was truly impressive!
“Forget it, I’ll ask next time.”
Enya sighed softly and logged off from the space.
Retracting her consciousness projection, she opened her eyes.
Looking around her study carved with magic symbols, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had embarrassed Antiros.
After all, this was integrated magic taught by the witch lady, yet the huge magic circle on the floor was so crude.
She glanced at the magic circle on the floor, then at the mirror in her hand.
Enya: “As long as it works.”
With this done, Enya had to start on her household chores.
After all, she was the only adult at home, and she had to look after two little girls.
Such was the life of a single mother…
As evening approached, Enya stood at the gate waiting for her two.
One gold, one silver—two girls soon appeared in her sight.
Enya waved, and Miss Rosily quickly took off running, with Estelle following closely behind, turning it into a race between the two.
“Mom!”
Rosily flew into Enya’s arms and knocked her down onto the soft grass.
The fall was intentional.
If she hadn’t fallen, catching the charge steadily, Madam Phil’s image as a fragile woman would be a bit shaky.
Rosily immediately felt guilty for knocking her mother down.
Enya pinched her little face and said it was alright.
Hearing her mother say it was fine, Rosily was unreserved, curling up in Enya’s arms and rubbing against her.
Enya thought Rosily would recover quickly, but to her surprise, the girl didn’t move, as if she intended to sleep there for the night.
Enya poked Rosily’s waist.
“Little Rosily~ how long are you going to cling to Mom?”
“Umm…”
Rosily reluctantly stood up.
Enya rose, dusting off grass from her skirt, and looked toward Estelle standing nearby. She smiled gently and said,
“Estelle, do you want a hug?”
The girl hesitated briefly before nodding.
Enya opened her arms to embrace her, but Rosily quickly squeezed in first, wrapping her arms around her tightly. Enya was helpless.
Estelle didn’t mind; she came closer and hugged both Rosily and Enya together, making Rosily feel a little embarrassed.
Enya smiled and said,
“Your little sister is very clingy. Estelle, as the older sister, you’ll have to bear with her.”
At this, Rosily’s cheeks flushed.
They had left looking like two neatly dressed and pretty girls, but returned covered in grass stains and mud.
Enya knew exactly where they’d been—fighting to uphold the older sister’s reputation.
The result? Naturally, Rosily lost…
Estelle was a true Fourth Rank, and her talent wasn’t inferior to Rosily’s.
Though Rosily had once successfully defeated a Fourth-Tier Puppet before, that was only because Elqi was assisting her and helped her find an opening to pierce the puppet’s core.
Facing a Fourth Rank with real combat experience, Rosily finally realized that her physical advantages were not as great as she had imagined.
Estelle held her head high, pleased.
She had won against her sister many times, and heard Rosily call her “sister”—especially the reluctant way she said it—was just wonderful.
Though Rosily lost, she hadn’t given up. Blushing, she huffed and said,
“Mom, I want to go to school!”
“Oh? Little Rosily has come around? But you can’t go just yet; it’ll be a few more days. How about Estelle? Do you want to go to school?”
Enya placed one hand on each girl’s head.
Estelle blinked and softly said “Hmm,” expressing her wish to go.
Rosily glanced at her and pouted.
“Let’s go inside.”
Enya beckoned the two inside the house.
Dinner passed without much to say.
At night, Enya took the freshly bathed Estelle to her bedroom.
No, it should be called her former bedroom.
Enya had given this room on the second floor to Estelle, while she herself moved downstairs to sleep.
The bed was made with fresh bedding, and the silver-haired girl sat on it.
Enya looked at the obedient and sensible girl and said,
“Estelle, lie down first. I’m going to check on your sister—she’s not as well-behaved as you and tends to play around during bath time.”
With that, Enya headed toward the door.
At that moment, Estelle suddenly spoke to Enya standing by the door,
“Madam Phil, thank you.”
“Living with Madam Phil and my sister makes Estelle very happy.”
Enya turned and gave her eldest daughter a gentle smile.
Seeing her happy, I, as a mother, am also very happy.
She went downstairs and just as she reached the living room, Rosily came up, wrapping her arms around her waist.
Looking up, her orange-red eyes shimmered with a hint of tears.
“Mom… didn’t you promise to be only Rosily’s mother forever?”
The girl’s tone was full of grievance.
Enya hugged her daughter and gently stroked her hair.
She instinctively wanted to ask if she didn’t like her sister, but then thought better of it.
Asking would only push the problem back onto the daughter; the real issue wouldn’t be solved.
After a moment’s thought, Enya said,
“I’m sorry. It’s Mom who didn’t keep her word. It’s Mom’s fault…”