“Wait a while, let’s talk about it after some time has passed.”
Enya took only a second to come up with an excuse to procrastinate.
She gave a sheepish laugh, turned back to meet Antiros’s expectant gaze, cleared her throat, and said softly, “It’ll be in about two months. Rosily and Estelle should be coming here, and I’ll probably come along with them. It wouldn’t feel right to show up empty-handed, would it?”
Coming to Tarlonde felt a bit like returning to her parents’ home for Enya.
If she brought her two daughters to see Antiros without any gifts, it would be somewhat socially unacceptable.
The subtle expression on Antiros’s face froze for a moment before quickly fading.
She uttered a quiet ‘oh’ and turned her head away.
‘She seems to be sulking.’
Enya didn’t say anything more at that moment, letting the matter drop for the time being.
The two of them walked for a while and were nearly inside the Academy.
Enya looked at the small path leading to the back gate and finally couldn’t help but ask Antiros, “Madam Antiros, in my current state, it might not be appropriate for me to go in, right?”
Antiros looked at her, her eyes narrowing slightly.
In her current form as a Black Nun, Enya exuded an aura belonging to a Demon.
She looked like exactly the kind of target that should be subjugated; walking into the Academy so brazenly was indeed ill-advised.
But she was Antiros. If she said it was fine, then it was fine.
Enya, of course, knew that saying this was a polite way of declining the entry.
Enya gave Antiros a bright smile from behind her mask.
“Let’s just consider it a way to keep the anticipation alive for later.”
“…Fine.”
Antiros hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed not to enter the Academy.
Instead, she led Enya toward the direction of the Academy City.
As they walked, the Witch Lady spoke.
“That ‘Lord of a Thousand Faces’ is a cunning and treacherous fellow. She has murky dealings with both the Scholars of Dawn and the Cult of Calamity. If you encounter her, remember to be careful.”
“Don’t you worry about that!” Enya patted her chest with her other hand, lifting her head high.
“I’m not the same as I used to be. I’m not all alone anymore. Besides, you know I’m usually very cautious in how I handle things.”
Antiros remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
Bright sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting small pillars of light through the gaps onto the ground.
The summer wind rustled the leaves. Enya gazed at the tree-lined path ahead.
“This is far enough.”
As she spoke, she let go of Antiros’s small hand.
Grasping the hem of her black dress with both hands, she moved her right foot back half a step and lowered herself slightly in a noble’s curtsy.
Antiros clenched her released hand into a fist.
She watched Enya silently, then tilted her head slightly to the right.
It was a gesture of confusion.
Enya smiled and asked, “Are you not used to this?”
“Yes.”
Antiros nodded.
Her deep black eyes seemed capable of piercing through the Demon mask to see the expression on Enya’s face.
Enya stepped forward slowly and pulled Antiros into an embrace.
She buried her teacher’s face into her chest and said mischievously, “Madam Antiros, are you envious?”
“?”
Before the Witch Lady could hit her, Enya released her arms and took one or two light steps backward.
She turned around and made a gesture as if grasping a doorknob. Immediately, a white wooden door appeared before her. It had a very ancient texture.
Enya didn’t look back.
She waved her hand with her back to Antiros, then pushed the door open and stepped inside without lingering.
It wasn’t a life-or-death parting, nor were they separated by an unreachable distance.
Why be sentimental?
Enya was an adult now. She wouldn’t be like she was in the past—looking back every three steps and spending the next six months missing this place after leaving.
‘I’ve matured!’ she thought, puffing out her chest with a hint of pride.
Antiros watched Enya leave. Only after the door closed and vanished before her eyes in an instant did she let out a sigh, resting her small hand over her heart.
With her black eyes downcast, she stood frozen on the spot. After a short while, Antiros whispered to herself.
“I’ll wait a while longer before giving it to her.”
With that, she lowered her hand from her chest and turned to look not far away.
Two young girls were eyeing her with curiosity.
One of them was a girl of stunning beauty with blonde hair flowing down her back.
Wearing a kind smile, she walked up to Antiros.
She reached out, intending to pat the head of this ‘little girl’ who possessed rare black hair and black eyes. Unfortunately, she couldn’t touch her.
The girl was surprised when she saw her hand suddenly swerve away. Her eyes widened as she spoke.
“Is this some kind of Blessing magic?”
“…”
Antiros walked past the girl.
Seeing that she was being ignored, the girl pouted and announced her name.
“I am Sirsha Frennard. My lovely little sister, what is your name? Are you a student here too?”
“…Disrespectful.”
Antiros spared the girl a glance and gave a casual wave of her hand, making the person vanish on the spot.
The other girl was startled by the sight.
“Ah!?”
That girl had long, water-blue hair.
She stared at Antiros with wide eyes. Antiros said to her flatly, “Go look for her in the detention room.”
“…O-Okay…”
The blue-haired girl froze for a moment, then hurried back the way she came.
She soon reached the detention room but was stopped by the teacher on guard.
She explained that she was looking for Sirsha.
“Hiss…”
The guard teacher sucked in a breath of cold air. He looked the blue-haired girl up and down and told her to come back in one week.
His expression was grim, as if telling her not to ask any further questions.
“Eh?”
The blue-haired girl was ushered out the door, looking completely bewildered.
On the other side.
Red Pine City, North Gate Street, Madam Phil’s Alchemy Workshop.
Enya opened her eyes on a soft, comfortable bed.
She looked down at the black dress she was wearing.
With a light sigh, the black dress faded away rapidly as if the color were washing out.
She changed back into the Madam Phil that everyone was familiar with.
However, Enya squinted at the heavy, bountiful fruits on her chest and eventually chose to return to her original form.
Revealing her familiar dragon tail, wings, and horns, she lay on her side on the bed.
Closing her gold-red Dragon Eyes, she intended to take a short nap.
Red Pine City, Crimson Academy, Main Gate.
An exquisitely decorated carriage came to a slow halt.
After the door was opened by the carriage driver, a young maid was the first to step down, followed by a beautiful girl who could stun anyone at first sight.
With purplish-gray hair flowing down her back and an exquisite deep purple dress paired with her deep, dark purple eyes, she gave off a powerful sense of mystery and elegance.
“Missy, the welcoming party is still there.”
The maid glanced at the gate. Quite a few Academy teachers were standing there.
They had come specifically to welcome this purple-haired girl, yet she had made them waste one hour of their time.
They had also spent that hour standing in the sun…
This caused a hint of resentment toward this girl from a foreign land to flicker in their eyes, though they could only hide it behind their measuring gazes due to certain circumstances.
The purple-haired girl curled her lip.
“Heh, a little extra sun is good for the health.”
“As you say, Missy,” the maid replied, lowering her head slightly in agreement.
Just as she was about to walk toward the approaching crowd, several horses galloped over. A few men dismounted and knelt before the girl.
“Your subordinates are incompetent…”
As the man spoke, he offered up a handful of white pearls in his hands.
The maid took one look and grew angry.
Not a single pearl was missing, but one of them was cracked in half, and the string holding the pearls together was broken!
The purple-haired girl gave a casual glance, seemingly not caring in the least. With a graceful smile, she walked toward the crowd waiting to receive her.
The one leading the welcome was the old Dean of the Crimson Academy.
In a deserted corner of the Academy, a splash of vivid crimson was crouched down. It was a cute little girl.
Lilith sat on the steps, flipping through a book resting on her lap.
Suddenly, she closed the book and turned her head to look at the hallway behind her. A girl in the corridor was attempting to sneak up on her.
Lilith and the pink-haired girl were less than five meters apart. She narrowed her eyes as she studied the girl.
“You are…”
“Are you an Elf?”
The pink-haired girl beat Lilith to the question, studying her with an equally curious gaze.
Lilith didn’t know how to answer that. She didn’t feel like an Elf, nor did she feel like a Human anymore.
She was likely something in between—a being known as a Blood Elf, or perhaps a Vampire from folk legends?
Stories of Vampires were widely circulated in the region of Red Pine City, originating from the curse of the Asades Family.
Even though Lilith didn’t know much about it, she was still Henna Asades at her core.
Even if she was now hiding out in the Crimson Academy under the identity of Lilith, it was impossible for her to forget the past that remained entangled with her.
The pink-haired girl grinned, looking incredibly excited.
‘What is she thinking?’
Lilith frowned slightly and shook her head in response to the pink-haired girl’s question.
“I am not an Elf. At least, not the kind of Elf you’re thinking of.”
“Are you one of those hidden masters stashed away in the Crimson Academy? I’ve read in books that academies always hide a top-tier powerhouse who guards the grounds. People like that are called hidden existences—the secret bosses behind a faction.”
The pink-haired girl grew more excited the more she spoke, looking as if she were about to pounce on Lilith.
Seeing her look so incredibly thrilled, Lilith couldn’t help but deepen her frown.
“Are you related to Vivienne?”
“Eh? You know my sister? That’s right! I am the Ninth Princess of the West Wind Empire!” the pink-haired girl said proudly.
“My name is Susya. My hobby is Sister Enya. What’s your name, red Elf?”
The corner of Lilith’s eye twitched.
‘Before I give you my name, could you please explain what you mean by—’
‘Hobby: Sister Enya?’