Versie didn’t sit back in her original spot. She naturally slid into the empty chair next to Sefina.
This brought them even closer, almost feeling the warmth from each other’s arms.
“It’s easier to talk this way,” Versie explained softly, still wearing that innocent smile.
Sefina glanced at her but didn’t object. Perhaps the earlier hug had bridged some distance, or perhaps she herself craved this rare closeness—she silently allowed the proximity.
Versie began eagerly sharing her experiences over the past two years.
She talked about her studies at the Legdolo Magic Academy, mentioned several professors with distinct personalities, shared amusing anecdotes with her best friend Yiseqian, and discussed her breakthroughs in magic training—how she steadily advanced from a Fourth Tier Mage, finally breaking through to the sixth rank last semester, becoming a celebrated prodigy at the academy.
Sefina listened very attentively, her wine-red eyes fixed on Versie.
When hearing amusing parts, such as how Versie used a newly learned spell to tease a stuck-up noble classmate, the corners of her usually cool and distant mouth would lift slightly, revealing a faint but genuine smile.
Seeing her teacher’s smile, Versie became even more animated.
Midway through, perhaps tired from talking, or just wanting to be closer, Versie’s head, with a hint of hesitation, slid to rest on Sefina’s shoulder.
In her “Holmes” form, Sefina’s shoulders were broader and sturdier than her original petite frame, providing a stable support. If it were her real appearance, it might be slightly… ahem, a bit of a stretch.
Feeling the weight and warmth on her shoulder, Sefina’s body stiffened for a moment, but in the end, she didn’t push her away.
Instead, she adjusted her posture to make Versie more comfortable. This silent indulgence allowed a glimmer of triumphant pleasure to flash deep in Versie’s eyes.
Leaning on her teacher’s shoulder, Versie’s voice grew softer, carrying a dreamy dependence:
“Teacher… what about you? How have you been these two years? Where are you living now? Why did you suddenly come back? And last night… you weren’t on the train, so why did you suddenly ask for my help?”
A barrage of questions, like a fine net, enveloped Sefina.
Sefina’s heart tightened. She knew she would have to face these questions eventually. She had already prepared a story, a mix of truth and lies, enough to satisfy her student’s concern without revealing her true identity.
Choosing her words carefully, she began slowly, keeping her voice calm.
“I’ve been in hiding mostly on the East Continent.”
Sefina didn’t specify which country or city, glossing over it vaguely.
“These two years, it’s been okay. No major trouble, fairly peaceful.”
“As for last night…” Sefina paused, then continued. “I did want to come back to see how things were and handle some old matters. I happened to run into that attack.”
“The situation was urgent, and if I had intervened, my identity might have been exposed, so… I could only have Flovi go to you for help. As for me,” Sefina’s tone carried just the right note of helplessness, “I jumped off the train before the Security Bureau arrived. After all… you know, with my identity, it’s better not to have direct contact with the authorities.”
Sefina’s words were logically clear and reasonable, cleverly extricating herself from the train attack and attributing the request for help to coincidence and necessity.
She couldn’t tell Versie that she was the lead teacher for Oselenka, couldn’t let her know that “Holmes” was just one of her many disguises.
On one hand, it was for her own safety and the trouble it might bring to Oselenka; on the other hand, deep down Sefina also had a worry that if Versie learned the truth, those already complicated feelings might become even harder to handle, or even… cause her harm.
Versie leaned on her shoulder, listening quietly. Finally, she softly hummed “Mm,” indicating she understood, and didn’t press further.
However, beneath her lowered lashes, a trace of reproach and understanding flickered in her ice-blue eyes.
‘Hmph… Teacher is lying again. Still unwilling to tell me your true identity. You’re clearly that loli teacher leading Oselenka’s group, and you’re still lying to me.’
Versie had actually known for a long time.
Back when Teacher “Holmes” was still her private tutor and hadn’t been wanted, Versie once had a whim and wanted to surprise her teacher, so she secretly visited her teacher’s temporary residence in the capital city.
Unfortunately, the teacher wasn’t home at the time. While waiting, driven by curiosity and a desire to know her teacher better, she carefully observed the teacher’s residence.
It was then that Versie discovered a strange phenomenon: in the teacher’s wardrobe, there were clothes of two completely different sizes.
One set was the teacher’s usual size. The other was clearly meant for a young girl or a “loli” build. At that moment, the discovery struck Versie like a thunderbolt.
The first thought that popped into her mind was—Was the teacher living with another woman?! A wave of bitterness and anger surged within her.
But Versie quickly forced herself to calm down and examined more carefully. She found only one set of toiletries and only one bedroom showed signs of long-term occupancy. That meant… those small-sized clothes were most likely also Teacher Holmes’s own!
This discovery shocked her deeply. Faced with these contradictory phenomena, a bold guess formed in her mind.
She began to pay closer attention to her teacher’s movements and details, using her intelligence and resources to investigate quietly, making sure not to be discovered.
Finally, on an extremely coincidental occasion, Versie witnessed Teacher “Holmes” removing her disguise—the snow-white hair faded, revealing the original blue; her figure shrank, returning to a petite and delicate young girl.
At that moment, the shock in Versie’s heart was beyond words, but what followed was an even stronger interest and affection… So this is Teacher’s real appearance… Although petite, it seems… quite cute. Versie couldn’t help thinking at the time, her face slightly flushed.
Of course, Teacher Holmes’s current appearance was also beautiful, with a kind of cool and distant elegance; she liked both.
Now, looking at the teacher beside her who was still fobbing her off with carefully crafted lies, the small “resentment” that had been suppressed by their long-awaited reunion began to stir again in Versie’s heart.
‘I already know everything, yet you still lie to me… I need to give Teacher a little “punishment”.’
So, Versie still wore a calm smile on her face, but suddenly, as if she had noticed something, she softly said “Eh?” in a tone of surprise and concern:
“Teacher, there seems to be a bit of cream still on your face.”
She pointed near the corner of Sefina’s mouth.
Hearing this, Sefina instinctively let out a “Hm?” and tilted her head slightly, reaching out a hand to touch her face in confusion.
However, in that moment of her slight daze—Versie, with lightning speed, suddenly leaned in!
“Mwah—!!”
A soft and warm kiss, like a feather brushing past, landed lightly on Sefina’s cheek.