Shalin suddenly smiled a little.
“Then how about Mommy tells you a story.”
She took a crystal ball down from the bookshelf.
That crystal ball was usually only used for lighting. It didn’t look at all like a dangerous magic tool. But when Shalin held it in her palm, a soft light immediately began to glow from within the sphere.
The light rippled outwards, layer by layer, eventually forming lines.
The lines intertwined into mountains, rivers, a sky, the High Wall, and the town that Qiu Meng knew so well.
“A long time ago, this wasn’t a Count’s domain. It was just a border village.”
Shalin’s voice took on the same tone she used when telling bedtime stories to young Qiu Meng.
“When the Demon King’s Army attacked, this place was the first line of defense in the west. There were no city walls or armies, just a group of villagers armed with farming tools and short knives, standing in the way of the path to the United Kingdom’s interior.”
“Later, a Celestial Wing Tribe angel saw this place, blessed the village chief at the time, and granted him the power to condense magic power and build the High Wall.”
“That person was the grandfather of the current Count Tate.”
In the light curtain, a man in old armor stood on a barren plain.
Behind him lay the village. Before him was a pitch-black mass of monsters.
“He was ordered to hold the pass to the death, waiting for the arrival of the legendary Hero.”
Qiu Meng stared at the image.
“Sounds like a story where a lot of people die.”
“Indeed, it does.”
Shalin nodded softly.
“The one leading the monster army’s attack back then was one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings, codenamed the ‘Forest Prism.’ A young girl. She could manipulate light and nature. The forest army she brought breached the High Wall and rampaged all the way to where the current Hunting Forest lies.”
The plains in the image were swallowed by green.
Vines tore down watchtowers. Tree roots destroyed roads and street corners. Stones and trees grew as if alive. The open land, in the blink of an eye, became a dense, suffocating magical forest.
“Every leaf sensed the magic power within humans. Once detected, the vines would attack them like hands. The First Count could only keep building walls, dividing the battlefield and stalling for time.”
Shalin paused.
“Finally, the Hero came.”
A white light split the sky in the light curtain.
A Hero with wings of light descended from the sky. The scene was absurd and magnificent. Blades of six elements rained down, quickly blasting the surrounding monsters. He killed the Forest Prism with ease, and at the place where she died, incredibly strong natural magic remained.
That magic didn’t dissipate.
It seeped into the soil, changed the rivers, and altered the animals in the forest.
“It’s said that the water flowing from that place can cure certain illnesses, the fruits that grow there carry a natural affinity, and the animals there are more likely to develop intelligence. Then, various factions, like the Summoner Academy, the Royal Pharmacy, and the Alchemy Association, all set their sights on this forest. So, shops, trading posts, spirit beast contract halls, and medicinal herb purchasing stations were gradually built here.”
Qiu Meng said softly, “So the Hunting Festival isn’t just a simple celebration?”
“Of course not~”
Shalin smiled.
“Every time before the United Kingdom holds the Four Alliance Assembly, the Count hosts the Hunting Festival. One reason is to hunt beasts with high natural affinity for trade. Another is to search for precious spirit beasts. A powerful spirit beast can greatly enhance a Summoner’s strength.”
A young dragon appeared in the light curtain.
It was entirely forest green, its scales like newly sprouted leaves. Flowers bloomed wherever it walked. Wounds it touched healed rapidly.
“They say that seventeen years ago, this forest even nurtured a dragon. People called it the Forest Green Dragon. It was rumored that crops would grow wildly in places it passed, and wounds it touched would heal quickly.”
The crystal ball’s light slowly dimmed.
Shalin tilted her head back, her eyes slightly narrowed, revealing a hint of pride.
“That’s about it.”
Qiu Meng looked at her, her eyes bright.
“Mommy is amazing.”
Shalin’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“Mmm… it’s not really that impressive. Back when I fought your father, I almost lost.”
“Huh? Mom… what did you just say?”
“Nothing. That’s an unpleasant memory best left in the past.”
Qiu Meng blinked.
“So, the enemies might be after the Count, or the spirit beasts at the Hunting Festival?”
“Could be either.”
Shalin picked up a comb. She had Qiu Meng sit on the chair and began brushing her hair.
The comb slid gently through her hair.
White and light orange hair mingled in the afternoon light, glowing with soft hues. Qiu Meng had intended to keep asking questions, but her mother’s gentle combing motion was so soothing that she gradually began to enjoy the sensation.
She murmured quietly, “Mmm… so whether it was those wolves or that mage, they’re all very, very bad!”
“Yes, very bad.”
Shalin separated her hair into two sections, tidying it up nimbly.
“But theoretically, it’s not too serious yet. At best, it’s just some skirmishes~”
“Skirmishes?”
Qiu Meng turned back in shock.
“But… our door was broken down! The stuff in the cabinet is ruined!”
Shalin tilted her head, thinking.
“Mmm. For an ordinary family, I suppose it’s not exactly small.”
“Mom… isn’t your standard a bit off…?”
“It’s fine~ If things get really troublesome, Mommy will help too.”
But Qiu Meng suddenly had a subtle feeling.
She knew her mother could use magic, and she knew that her mother hadn’t just been a guild receptionist when she was young.
‘That sounded way too confident. Could Mom actually be not very smart… and look down on assassins…?’
Just then, Shalin suddenly patted her shoulder.
“Oh, right, Xiao Meng. Mommy will teach you a few little ways to protect yourself. Just a bit of self-defense, okay?”
“Huh?”
Before she could react, she was led by Shalin to the backyard training ground.
Dante was there, drinking water and reading the newspaper.
When he saw Shalin enter, his hands noticeably twitched.
“Honey… Dear… What brings you here?”
Shalin just smiled slightly.
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“I was also a bit injured… so I’m taking a little break.”
“Time… for… work… now.”
With each word she spoke, her smile grew a little sweeter.
Dante stared at that smiling face for about two seconds, then grabbed his coat and left.
Qiu Meng stood to the side, deep in thought.
Her father was so strong.
Yet he seemed so afraid of her mother.
“Actually,” Shalin said, watching Dante’s retreating back with a light smile, “Your father only married me back then because he couldn’t beat me.”
“So… Mommy is the real expert!”
Qiu Meng immediately hugged Shalin around the waist.
“Then, then, then! Teach me too! I want to become an expert like Mommy!”
“Okay~”
Shalin tied her hair back and extended one hand.
“Xiao Meng, you can attack me from anywhere.”
Qiu Meng immediately got serious.
The windows of the training ground were all shut without her noticing.
She hadn’t sensed any magical fluctuation.
That fact sent chills down her spine.
She suddenly remembered her father’s words: “When facing a mage, close the distance quickly.”
She threw a punch, trying to imitate her father’s seemingly straightforward attack that actually hid a feint with a shift in center of gravity.
Shalin dodged to the side with ease.
Qiu Meng immediately kicked for her lower stance.
But the moment her leg lifted, she felt her ankle tighten.
A few strands of thread, so thin they were nearly invisible, had wrapped around her leg.
Shalin said with a grin, “Having a brain is a good thing, but you need to observe your surroundings.”
She flicked her hand lightly.
Four white quadrilateral magic circles lit up on the ground.
“When did those?!”
The threads tightened abruptly.
Qiu Meng was flung out, slamming into an invisible barrier.
The next instant, the impact was absorbed by the magic circle, then seemed to deliberately rebound back onto her.
“Wah?!”
She was bounced back and forth like a ping-pong ball inside the barrier, tumbling through the air a few times before landing with a thud on the crash mat.
‘Wasn’t all that painful… but it felt like Mommy was just playing with me…’
Shalin retracted the threads. They slowly faded at her fingertips, finally dissolving into dust.
“Xiao Meng, this is the Engraving Art system of the Four Alliance Merchants’ Union. It’s different from your father’s self-taught, rough-and-tumble magic.”
“Huh? The Four Alliance Merchants’ Union…?!”
“Yes, that’s right… And also~”
Shalin winked.
“These threads were a technique invented by your grandfather. He processed magic stones into fine threads, carved miniature magic circles on them, and fought through movement, speech, and environmental setup. It’s not traditional magic, so mages have a hard time detecting it in advance. And it’s even harder for ordinary people to notice.”
Qiu Meng sat on the mat, her eyes gradually lighting up.
“Magic traps that don’t require me to use mana?”
“You could put it that way.”
Shalin nodded.
“But most can only be used once, and they’re troublesome to make.”
“Grandfather was amazing…”
Qiu Meng looked up at the dissipating dust with almost envious eyes.
This path felt tailor-made for her.
No reliance on her own magic.
Dependence on preparation, layout, materials, and observation.
She was about to speak, but Shalin pinched her arm first.
“But, Mommy doesn’t recommend you learn assassination techniques right now.”
“Why not?”
“Your body isn’t suited for it.”
Shalin’s tone was still gentle, but direct.
“Your reaction speed isn’t fast enough, and your strength is insufficient. Many moves require magical reinforcement; otherwise, you’ll end up being hindered by your own traps.”
Qiu Meng bit her lip in frustration.
“I can still grow. I can train.”
“I know.”
Shalin patted her head.
“It’s a pity your grandfather died in the battle during the Dark Decade. If he were still alive, he could have trained you better. He could have also let you experience noble life once.”
“Noble life?”
Qiu Meng was stunned.
“Mother, what kind of person was Grandfather originally? And how did he end up becoming one of the mages of the Four Alliance Merchants’ Union?”
Shalin looked at her, a nostalgic smile on her face.
“He was once a top-tier assassin. He only joined the Four Alliance Merchants’ Union for the sake of this family.”
Qiu Meng gently tugged at Shalin’s sleeve.
“Tell me more stories about Grandfather in the future, okay?”
“You really want to hear them?”
“Yes. I do. Because they’re about our family’s past.”
Shalin’s gaze softened.
“Alright, Mommy promises.”
She tapped Qiu Meng’s forehead with her fingertip.
Qiu Meng hugged her in return.
“I love you the most, Mommy.”
Shalin hugged her back, gently pressing her forehead against hers.
“Then how about Mommy takes you out to get some good food today, okay?”
Qiu Meng was silent for a second.
Then she raised her hand.
“Yay!”
***
The mother and daughter spent some time changing into their going-out clothes.
Qiu Meng wore a light-colored dress with a small cloak over it. Shalin re-combed her hair and tied a little red ribbon at the end of her braid, saying it would make things feel more festive.
“But the Hunting Festival doesn’t start until tomorrow.”
“That’s okay. The eve is still full of fun things to do and good things to eat~”
Shalin declared.
As they went out, the setting sun was slowly sinking below the eaves.
The town was already bustling.
With only one day until the Hunting Festival, temporary stalls lined both sides of the street. A grilled meat skewer vendor flipped the iron skewers with a sizzling crackle; fat dripped into the charcoal, exploding with an aroma that made stomachs growl. A fruit merchant piled up cyan-golden berries gathered from the Hunting Forest into small mountains, the peels still beaded with faint magical dew. An old woman selling amulets called out her prices, assuring passing children that “This one will definitely keep the wolves away.”
When Qiu Meng heard the words “keep the wolves away,” her body stiffened slightly.
Shalin noticed and gently squeezed her hand.
“Today, we only look at the good food, not the bad things, okay~”
“Yes.”
Qiu Meng nodded.
They first bought honey-grilled flatbread.
The crust was crispy. Inside was soft cheese and a slightly sour fruit jam. Qiu Meng took a bite, and sweetness and heat flooded her mouth simultaneously.
“Mmm… so good!”
“Right? This was a place I loved to go to when I was younger.”
“When Mother was young, did she also slack off from training to secretly buy pastries?”
“That’s not called slacking off. It’s called enjoying life~”
Shalin said it with perfect seriousness.
Qiu Meng laughed.
A soft laugh, but a genuine one.
They also went to look at the display cages in front of the Spirit Beast Contract Hall. Inside were a few fluffy little rabbits with horns that looked like tiny buds on their foreheads. They were fighting over a nut.
A little boy standing nearby was watching, mesmerized. When he found out the price, he looked like his soul had left his body.
“Summoners sure are expensive.”
Qiu Meng commented quietly.
“That’s why many Summoners are dirt poor their whole lives~”
“Whoa… so if a summoned beast dies, isn’t that a huge loss?”
“Pretty much.”
Shalin nodded seriously.
The magic stone lanterns along the street finally began to light up.
One after another.
Blue-white, gold, and pale green lights stretched along the eaves, illuminating the evening street in vivid colors. The crowd included adventurers, merchants, academy apprentices who had come to pre-order medicinal herbs, and children running hand-in-hand in their new clothes.
Every year at this time, this town was at its best.
Holding Shalin’s hand, Qiu Meng walked through the crowd.
“Mother!”
“Yes?”
“I’m definitely going to get stronger in the future!”
Shalin didn’t answer immediately.
Qiu Meng continued, “But not to go on dangerous adventures. I just want to be able to protect you when danger comes!”
Shalin stopped walking.
She looked at Qiu Meng for a long, long time.
Finally, she bent down and straightened Qiu Meng’s cloak collar.
“Then take it slow.”
“Take it slow?”
“Yes. First, learn to sleep well, eat well, and observe your surroundings well. Strength isn’t forged in a day. Strength comes from taking good care of yourself every single day. And as long as you can make sure that today’s self is a little better than yesterday’s self, that’s enough, you know?”
Shalin smiled.
“For example, today’s mission is to find the three most delicious snacks on this street, and then go make your father drool with envy~”
Qiu Meng nodded gravely.
“Then we need to scout around… eat our fill, and really make Father jealous!”
“Huh~ When did Xiao Meng become so mean-spirited too?”
“I learned it from Mommy…!”
Shalin’s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
Qiu Meng laughed too.
In between the honeyed flatbread, hot grape juice, and moonberry panna cotta, she briefly forgot about all the troublesome things.
But as they reached a street corner, Qiu Meng instinctively looked toward the deeper part of the crowd.
There was a silver-haired guard there. Even though it was just his back.
He was standing under the festive lights, talking to a vendor. People quickly passed between them, blocking Qiu Meng’s view.
When she looked again, he was gone.
Qiu Meng tightened her grip on Shalin’s hand slightly.
Shalin looked down and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qiu Meng thought for a moment. She didn’t immediately tell her about the silver-haired guard.
Because she still couldn’t be certain it was the guard with the wolf eyes.
So she took a deep breath and pointed to another stall farther away.
“Mother, I think we still need to investigate those baked apples over there.”
Shalin looked at her, then smiled.
“Alright~”
The mother and daughter continued walking.
The festive, joyful atmosphere filled every corner of the town with laughter and cheer.
But over by the Hunting Forest, the moonlight was already obscured by clouds, and a tide of danger was moving beneath the surface.
The eve of the Hunting Festival had begun.