Darkness.
Outside the city, at the entrance of a secluded forest path, a solitary Magical Streetlamp cast a dim, yellowish glow, barely piercing the surrounding blackness.
Beneath the lamp stood a tall, graceful woman silently.
She had snow-white hair woven from moonlight, strands gently swaying in the night breeze. Her ice-blue eyes were deep and calm, like two uncut sapphires refracting sharp light under the lamp.
Her hands rested casually in the pockets of a simple dark coat, a delicate Monocle perched on her face.
The reason for wearing the Monocle wasn’t to see more clearly, but rather because it fit her image…
It wasn’t hard to recognize this woman as the mysterious white-haired figure who had saved the vampire girl Mia under the moonlight that night at Oselenka Academy.
At this moment, she seemed to be waiting for something, calm yet carrying a hint of alertness.
Not long after, faint sounds came from the darkness in the distance.
A small, nimble figure appeared first, bouncing lightly. Black Beastkin ears atop her head twitched warily, and a long tail swayed leisurely behind her.
“Big Sis! We’re here, meow!” Lisika’s cheerful voice broke the silence of the night as she quickly bounded up to the lamp.
Behind Lisika, another figure walked calmly.
The newcomer was tall and shapely, also with snow-white hair, but tied up neatly into a tight bun.
Her molten-gold eyes stood out strikingly in the dark, and she wore a perfectly tailored black-and-white maid’s dress, but strangely at her waist hung an antiquated-looking sword.
Yes, this white-haired, blue-eyed woman whom Lisika called “Big Sis” was Sefina.
The one who had saved Mia in front of the patrol wasn’t a subordinate she sent out—it was Sefina herself.
This completely different appearance was thanks to a precious magical tool gifted by her teacher—
The Transformation Ring worn beneath Sefina’s white gloves. By infusing the ring with specific magical energy, she could fix her form into a preset shape; this tall, white-haired, blue-eyed figure was one of them.
Hearing Lisika’s voice, Sefina turned slightly, her ice-blue eyes passing over the lively Beastkin to meet the golden-eyed maid.
Sefina nodded slightly and spoke in a calm tone:
“Long time no see, Flovi.”
The maid named Flovi gave a graceful, standard maid’s bow. Her golden pupils reflected Sefina’s current figure as she spoke coolly and respectfully:
“Long time no see, Master.”
Sefina’s lips twitched barely perceptibly. “Big Sis,” “Master”—couldn’t they change these strange titles? Hearing them always felt awkward.
Oh well, oh well, after so many years, it’s just habit.
“Big Sis,” Lisika leaned in closer, curiously circling around Sefina’s current form.
“Long time no see you looking like this, meow! When you use this body, you’re supposed to be called Big Sis… or what was it again, meow?” Lisika scratched her head as her cat ears twitched in confusion.
Adorable.
“It’s ‘Holmes,’” Sefina adjusted the Monocle on her forehead and sighed softly.
This name came from a bit of dark humor in her previous life, but she thought it fit well with the detective-like calm observation she projected.
“Actually,” Flovi’s golden eyes met Sefina’s directly, speaking bluntly, “I still prefer Master’s original form, small and…”
Sefina murmured softly in response, “I quite like this form myself.”
She straightened her spine slightly, enjoying the rare perspective of not having to look up to others.
“Because this body is tall, with more presence and charisma.”
The Transformation Ring’s form that Sefina called “Holmes” was about 1.7 meters tall, with sharp lines and a stern face, carrying an inherently cold pressure.
A child?
She recalled facing some occasions with her original 1.5-meter body, even being mockingly called “Which family did you sneak out from?”
Ah, the pain of height!
“Meow!”
“Since that’s the case, meow,” Lisika tilted her head innocently and asked, “Big Sis, why don’t you always use this form, meow? It’s so cool!”
“Oi, meow!” Before the words had even finished, Lisika took a downward chop from Sefina’s hand.
“Using transformation magic consumes mana, okay?” Sefina explained irritably.
“Although each use doesn’t cost much, sustaining it for a long time puts too much strain on my mana. Do you think I don’t want to?”
Sefina glanced at Lisika—this one sometimes was just missing a screw, but she was cute all the same.
“Alright, enough chit-chat.” Sefina’s expression grew serious, her ice-blue eyes turning toward the faint outline of the forest beyond the darkness.
“We have business to attend to.”
They were heading somewhere where a tough fight was likely to break out. That was why Sefina had transformed into her “Holmes” form and summoned Flovi.
Flovi’s combat power was formidable; having her at her side made things easier and safer.
As for Lisika…
Her main task was reconnaissance and cleanup, using her Beastkin’s natural agility and stealth—an area where she excelled.
Of course, there was also……
This little ball of energy always provided some laughable emotional relief, a little spice amid tense operations.
Sefina gently pushed her Monocle, the gaze behind the lens sharp as a blade.
“Prepare to move according to plan. Flovi, cover my left flank. Lisika, stay hidden and wait for my signal.”
“Yes, Master.” Flovi’s hand silently rested on the hilt of her sword.
“Got it, meow! Leave it to me, Big Sis!” Lisika stifled her laughter, then vanished like a shadow into the roadside darkness.