Sefina truly trusted her students. This trust did not come from nowhere; it was built little by little through their daily interactions, day after day.
After all, the three of them had long known about the shameful magic crest secret Sefina carried, and in the days that followed, they had carefully kept it for her, never leaking a single detail.
If they had any ill intent or ulterior motives, they would have had countless opportunities to exploit this.
But they didn’t.
What they gave was clumsy but sincere concern, along with occasional closeness. Sefina could feel all of this.
Therefore, revealing her other identity to them was not a reckless gamble, but a natural choice based on this profound trust.
Subtly, a delicate yet solid bond had formed: the students developed deep attachment and admiration for Sefina, and Sefina, in turn, trusted her students without reservation.
When the three little ones heard Sefina’s words, a wave of warmth surged in their hearts.
Being trusted so completely by a teacher they themselves trusted and admired—this feeling was solid and precious.
At that moment, Sefina shifted her tone, her expression becoming more solemn.
“Are you planning to follow me to the western continent, or return to the Ayrean Empire’s Royal Capital first?”
She looked at the three girls, her eyes carrying both inquiry and respect.
She had made an agreement with Ellaria earlier: this Imperial Princess would travel with her to the Sarkax Royal Capital. Sefina would arrange a proper residence for her through Versie or other channels, ensuring her safety as much as possible.
But Mia and Kefi… her original wish was not to drag these two children into the mire of the western continent.
She hoped they could have a stable, relaxing winter break, far from those bloody conspiracies and dangerous confrontations.
However, reality could not be avoided. Everything happening in the western continent, especially the truth about the Church and the “Demon,” was closely tied to Kefi’s blood relative tragedy.
As the daughter of a Sheng Nü, Kefi had the right—perhaps even a strong desire—to personally uncover the truth and confront the culprit.
And given the relationship between Mia and Kefi, as long as Kefi decided to go, Mia would undoubtedly follow without hesitation.
The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.
The embers in the fireplace crackled one last time.
Outside the window, the sun after the snow shone dazzlingly bright, casting light on the girls’ contemplative profiles.
Ellaria was the first to lift her head, her emerald-green eyes clear and resolute.
Her voice was steady, carrying the reserve of an Imperial Princess, yet also revealing an unshakable determination.
“Teacher, my decision hasn’t changed. I’ll go with you.”
Mia almost immediately chimed in, her blue eyes wide and her tone urgent.
“Of course I’m going too! Wherever Kefi goes, I go! And… I want to help Teacher too!”
Finally, all eyes fell on Kefi.
Kefi had kept her head bowed, her hands tightly clasped together. She could feel the concerned gazes of her friends, as well as Sefina teacher’s calm yet subtly worried attention.
In her mind, images flashed alternately: her mother’s gentle smile, her little sister’s crisp voice, a corner of the coffin that night, the shocking crimson on the floor of their home…
These scenes interwove, finally freezing on the warmth of her teacher’s embrace in the darkness last night, and that… hasty yet determined kiss.
Kefi slowly raised her head. Her eyes were no longer hollow, still stained with deep sorrow, but a small light had lit up in their depths.
She looked at Sefina, her voice soft but exceptionally clear.
“I’ll go too. Teacher, please take me with you.”
Sefina silently gazed into Kefi’s eyes. In them, she saw sorrow, but also a difficult, gathering courage and resolve.
She knew that for Kefi, this decision meant once again facing the most agonizing wounds, but she also understood that some paths must be walked alone, and some knots must be untied by oneself.
Finally, Sefina slowly nodded. Her wine-red eyes revealed recognition and a trace of pity.
“Alright. Then we’ll go together.”
After a simple round of packing, the four prepared to leave this cottage that had borne so much illusory and real pain.
There wasn’t much luggage, and it was quickly organized.
Just before stepping out, Kefi stood on the threshold, turning back one last time to look at this “home.”
Sunlight streamed through the cleaned windows, illuminating everything familiar.
Here, she had once shared dinner with “Mother” and “Little Sister,” listened to stories by the fireplace, and slept peacefully in the upstairs room.
So many lonely yet warm moments—the texture of those memories had felt so real, supporting her through the years.
Now, the illusion had faded, revealing a cold and deathly foundation.
Those warmths had never truly existed.
The pillar that had supported her for years was a sandcastle built on lies and magic.
A sharp pang struck her heart, making her breath catch for a moment.
Just then, a warm hand gently landed on her shoulder.
Sefina stood beside her, saying nothing, but looking at her with calm, steady eyes, as if to say—
What is past, whether real or false, is past.
The future still lies ahead.
Kefi closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the cold, real air. When she opened them again, the hesitation and lingering attachment in her eyes gradually gave way to a decisive resolve.
She took one last, deep look at the house, then turned around and stepped over the threshold without looking back.
“Let’s go,” Sefina said softly.
“Mm.” Kefi nodded, her steps firm as she followed behind Teacher Sefina.
Mia and Ellaria followed close behind.
The four arrived at the station.
The town’s station was small, seeming somewhat desolate.
The next train wouldn’t arrive for some time, and only a few people were in the waiting room.
However, as soon as they stepped inside, Sefina’s gaze sharpened slightly.
On a bench by the window, a figure sat quietly.
She had long white hair that shimmered with a faint silver gleam in the sunlight. Her rare golden eyes were focused intently on…
focused on a thick book that she was holding upside down.
It was Flovi.
Sefina remembered giving her instructions to arrive at the station early, but she hadn’t expected her to appear in this manner.
Flovi had clearly spotted Sefina and her group.
Her golden pupils shifted slightly, lingering on Sefina’s face for half a second, then quickly sweeping over the three girls behind her.
Then, Flovi did something that made Sefina’s eyelid twitch—
She acted as if she had seen nothing, maintaining her upright sitting posture, lifting the book that was obviously upside down, and “reading” it with even more “focus.”
Even though Sefina’s gaze was already on her, she showed no reaction, fully following one of her master’s previous instructions—
When students are present, do not show that you know your master.
Sefina thought: “…”
She did remember giving that instruction, but it was to avoid unnecessary explanations and trouble.
But now she had walked right up to her with the students, and Flovi was putting on this “I totally don’t know you” act… wasn’t that a bit too rigid?
“Flovi,” Sefina stopped and called out.
No response.
Flovi didn’t even move an eyelash, her golden eyes firmly “nailed” to the upside-down pages.
She was steadfastly following her master’s command: don’t engage.
Sefina closed her eyes in resignation and let out a soft sigh.
She stepped forward, and under the puzzled gazes of the three little ones, reached out and gently took the upside-down book from Flovi’s hands.
The book taken, Flovi seemed to freeze for a moment, her golden eyes blinking in slight confusion. She finally looked at Sefina, but her face remained expressionless; she just tilted her head.
Seeing her so unyielding, Sefina felt both amused and exasperated. She had to speak directly.
“Stop pretending.”
Flovi tilted her head again, her golden eyes filled with bewilderment, as if she didn’t understand what that meant.
The three little ones nearby watched in utter confusion.
Mia leaned close to Kefi and whispered:
“Is Teacher Sefina… hitting on that cool-looking long-haired sister?”