Phil’s hand gently rested on Monya’s back, her fingertips gliding over the tender skin before finally touching the base of her wings.
That spot seemed a little sensitive, and Monya couldn’t help but push her chest forward. The pair of wings on her back retracted slightly in response.
Phil chuckled softly.
Monya, however, frowned slightly.
She rose from the wooden tub, warm water cascading down her translucent skin.
Her long legs lifted from the water, stepping over the one-meter-high edge of the tub onto the floor.
Under the glow of the magic lamp, faint wisps of steam rose from Monya’s body.
She spread the pair of dragon wings on her back, and the dragon tail above her perky hips swayed gently.
The white mist rose around her graceful figure.
Before long, the water droplets clinging to Monya evaporated completely.
Phil shifted forward slightly, resting her arms on the edge of the tub and laying her head on her arms, admiring Monya’s elegance intently.
Then she saw Monya fold back the dragon wings behind her and slip on the white slip dress hanging nearby.
Monya quickly left the bathroom.
Phil squinted, watching the closed door.
“So, what should I wear?”
Monya walked directly into the study.
Standing in the center of the magic circle, she squatted down, calculating carefully.
At first, she sat with her legs folded, but realizing she wasn’t wearing anything underneath, she switched to a kneeling position.
Monya slowly closed her eyes and began drawing in the magic power throughout the entire Redwood City territory.
The origin magic power in the space was continuously absorbed into the two vortices of magic within her.
Under Monya’s strong mental control, the two vortices gradually took shape.
At this point, Monya used origin magic power to form a circular rune, which slowly tightened around the two magic cores.
As the runic ring stabilized and rotated steadily, she began constructing the next layer of runes. This process continued until the final runic ring was complete.
Inside the vortices, the origin magic power, originally like a mist, began collapsing toward the center.
Meanwhile, the surrounding origin magic power was constantly drawn in.
Her once vast origin magic power condensed into two small points of light.
After extreme compression, a rebound explosion occurred.
The light particles rapidly expanded in all directions, but under the protection of the established runic defenses, the origin magic power was tightly suppressed to the size of pigeon eggs.
The runes on the magic cores trembled as if about to shatter at any moment, the magic within threatening to break free in an all-out eruption.
Those condensing their first magic core would likely be frightened by this scene, losing control and causing their efforts to fail.
But Monya remained perfectly calm!
One of the magic cores was under her control, and the other was aided by Pandrake inside her body. Both succeeded in suppressing the explosion.
Within the runic sphere, the silver-white magic power slowly condensed, eventually forming a solid magic core, with runes embedded on its surface.
Completed…
Monya exhaled softly and slowly opened her eyes.
“That really was simple.”
Most people in the world only complete the three steps—compressing the magic core, constructing runic restraints, and achieving a fifth-tier magic core—on their second attempt.
True geniuses do it on their very first try.
Monya herself almost hemorrhaged the first time she condensed a core.
If she had been careless or missed a step just now, the compressed origin magic power could have exploded immediately, potentially causing her death.
Having gone through it again, Monya reflected.
“It’s kind of like the formation of a star. Nature truly is wondrous.”
“What is a star?”
Pandrake inside Monya’s body couldn’t help but ask.
Monya replied casually,
“The sun.”
“You know how the sun forms?”
Pandrake pressed on, curious about Monya’s answer.
Despite living for countless years and hearing many myths explaining the sun and stars, none had ever satisfied her.
Monya’s remark about the magic core’s condensation being analogous to the sun’s formation piqued her interest.
As the disciple of that witch, Monya might know some truths about the origin of this world.
But Monya had no intention of answering that question. [Because she wasn’t even sure herself!]
Pretending not to hear Pandrake’s question, Monya stood and stretched her limbs, loosening her bones thoroughly.
She then left the study.
In the living room, only Phil was busy at work.
Monya approached and embraced her, and the two merged into one.
After updating her memories, Monya realized she had spent a whole day condensing the magic core, which wasn’t far from her expectations.
Her two daughters seemed to have gone out on their own errands.
Estelle had gone into the forest to find the bone spear Monya had left behind.
Rosily had found a secluded place to continue her training under Cang’s guidance. She was eager to win against Estelle at least once.
With nothing major happening in the following week, Monya finally found some rare leisure time. Each day was spent on trivial chores: cooking, laundry, watering the vegetables in the yard, and occasionally brewing potions to earn some pocket money.
Life was wonderfully relaxed.
Not completely easy, of course—doing too many things could get tedious—but with two adorable daughters around, the days felt genuinely happy.
Another bright morning.
Lying in bed, Monya suddenly opened her eyes.
She rolled out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and was immediately enveloped in a wave of darkness, which transformed into a black bubble surrounding her entire body.
As the bubble burst, Monya had transformed into the image of a Black Nun.
She pushed open the window and glanced outside.
The sun in the east had yet to rise, and everything was still cloaked in a hazy gray dawn.
“Hmph, why pick this time?”
Beneath her mask, Monya frowned unhappily. The Society’s envoy had finally arrived. She had no choice but to meet them.
She stepped into a dimly lit room.
The room wasn’t very spacious, containing only a wooden table and two wooden chairs.
Stretching out her hand, Monya summoned an elderly scholar.
The old man wore gray clothing and a top hat.
Startled by the sudden summoning, he nearly straightened his back in surprise. He looked at the mysterious Black Nun with respect and quietly addressed her,
“Rose Priestess?”
Monya said nothing, but the old man immediately understood. He was right—this was indeed the person he sought. A sycophantic smile spread across his face.
He removed his hat and bowed deeply.
“Rose Priestess, you have arrived. I was just wondering where to find you. What a fortunate coincidence!”
Monya sized up the man.
Wasn’t he the Society’s envoy she had released when she first came here?
The old scholar looked just as he had back then, except this time—
“Rose Priestess, I’m here mainly to keep you informed. From now on, anything you need, just let me know. Also, the Mist Lord High Priest sent me to bring you something for your perusal.”
He then produced an item—a magical scroll.
Monya immediately extended her hand and opened her palm. The old man hurried over, carefully placing the scroll in her Black Nun palm.
The scroll vanished less than a second after being set down.
The old man was secretly shocked and almost tried to explain that he had nothing to do with it.
Monya then said,
“Tell Tulius, as long as he pays well, everything can be arranged.”
“Yes, yes!”
The old man wiped his forehead, visibly relieved. He had thought the storage scroll containing 100,000 gold was a fake and nearly had a heart attack.
Monya stood up, preparing to leave.
The old man called out, quickly moving before her.
“Rose Priestess, please tell me a way to contact you.”
“Cough, cough…”
Monya paused, thinking for a moment, then said,
“Just call my name at night within the Redwood City territory—Night Master: Scarlet Witch: Lilith Rose Asades—and pray for my response.”
Having said that, Monya turned her back, a flush rising to her face.
Sorry, Henna, I’m now your ancestor. Hope you won’t hold it against me!
Monya left the room and returned to her bedroom on the first floor.
The black attire faded away, and she transformed back into Phil’s appearance.
Woken up abruptly, all drowsiness vanished.
She decided to start breakfast early. Later, she needed to take Rosily and Estelle to school.
Yes, school…
Thanks to Henna’s efforts—or more precisely, under Yelena’s proxy leadership—policies that had been difficult to implement before were now being pushed forward with full force, without concern for reputation.
Yelena had actually sacrificed herself in the process.
Henna successfully integrated the City School and several public schools, transforming Red Pine City Magic School into the Crimson Academy, which was holding its enrollment ceremony today.
And Monya was going to take her two daughters to register.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.