The sweet afterglow of the Rose Garden still clung to Laxana’s senses.
That warmth, that softness, that suffocating sensation that made one’s heart race… It did not belong to Laxana, yet it echoed so vividly within her.
The flames of envy licked at her heart, but deeper thoughts rose from the ashes.
Unbidden, the image of Astreia’s heroic, beautiful face surfaced in Laxana’s mind—those emerald star-eyes that instantly lit up whenever she mentioned Wendy.
‘Love? Obsession?’
‘Is there anyone in this world more qualified as a sacrifice than Astreia?’
‘Her infatuation with Wendy has long exceeded normal emotional bounds, turning into a near-pathological paranoia.’
‘With that twisted love, to fulfill the eternity of Wendy and myself… what a perfect closed loop! It’s killing two birds with one stone!’
This thought was so tempting, so logical, that Laxana almost couldn’t control the smile spreading across her face.
But at that moment, a communication crystal in the corner of the room suddenly lit up, and Layana’s voice sounded within the dormitory.
“Laxana, come to my office immediately.”
The transmission ended abruptly.
Laxana closed her eyes, suppressing all madness and paranoia deep into the recesses of her heart.
Then she walked to the mirror, looking at herself in the reflection—eyes still red and swollen, but with a terrifying light hidden deep within her pupils.
‘No, this look won’t do.’
She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the madness had vanished, replaced by a mask of exhaustion, emptiness, and resignation—like a poor daughter broken by cruel reality, abandoning all unrealistic fantasies.
‘Yes, that’s it.’
Laxana tugged at her cheeks in the mirror, confirming the disguise was flawless, then dragged her “weary” body toward the headmistress’s office.
When she pushed open the door and entered, this was the sight that greeted Laxana.
The boy she loved and her childhood friend stood side by side, still holding hands.
Astreia lowered her head, cheeks flushed, immersed in happiness.
Beside her, Wendy wore a look of complete satisfaction and comfort.
This scene stabbed fiercely into Laxana’s eyes; a burning sourness rose to her throat—but on her face, she bloomed a weak, relieved smile.
“Astreia… you look much better.”
She stepped forward, looking at her dear friend with concern.
“I’m relieved to see you’re okay.”
Then she turned to Wendy, bowed slightly, with a humble and sincere manner.
“And Wendy, thank you for your concern earlier… I was too willful then.”
This performance was sincere and impeccable.
Astreia was indeed moved; guilt filled her emerald eyes.
“Laxana, I’m sorry, earlier…”
Wendy, on the other hand, was a bit uncomfortable with the young lady’s obviously contrived act.
He waved his hand.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re all friends.”
He felt something was off about Laxana, but seeing her red-swollen eyes and pale face, he figured the headmistress must have given her a severe scolding.
He didn’t think much of it.
Only Layana, seated behind her desk, watched her daughter’s performance with a cold eye, her expression showing not a ripple.
She completely ignored this little drama and directed her gaze at Astreia.
“Astreia, with the [Goddess Veil] on you now, can you still actively mobilize the power of the ‘Witch’?”
The topic suddenly turned to business.
Astreia immediately became serious.
She closed her eyes to sense it, then answered truthfully:
“Yes, Headmistress. But only a very small part. It feels… like there’s a thick barrier. It’s very strenuous, and I get tired quickly.”
“Hmm, just as I expected.”
Layana nodded, interlocking her fingers and resting them under her chin, striking a scholarly pose.
“Based on this phenomenon, I’ve conceived a brand new purification plan.”
Purification plan?
Both Wendy and Astreia showed focused expressions.
Laxana also looked over with feigned curiosity.
“To thoroughly study and eradicate the source of your Witchification, I need to temporarily remove the [Goddess Veil] and directly observe the original state of your soul without any external suppression.”
Layana said slowly.
Remove the [Goddess Veil]?
Astreia’s expression instantly changed.
‘That would mean…’
“I know what you’re worried about.”
Layana raised her hand to stop her from speaking.
“To prevent the Witch personality from violently resisting after the holy relic is removed, causing you to completely lose control and go berserk, we need to use a Deep Calming Spell first.”
“That way, I can safely observe and purify.”
“In this state, the soul will be in its most stable, harmless state. I will plunge your and Wendy’s consciousness into the deepest sleep.”
Hearing this, Astreia sighed in relief.
As long as she wouldn’t go berserk and hurt Wendy, she was willing to cooperate with anything.
But Wendy sharply caught a blind spot.
‘Wait…’
‘Purifying Astreia… what does it have to do with me?’
‘Why did Layana just say…’
Before he could speak, Layana’s gaze fell on him, as if she saw through his confusion.
“Of course, to ensure absolute rigor in the experiment, Prince Wendy, you need to undergo the Calming Spell as well.”
Wendy: “Huh?”
‘I’m just a bystander! Why drag me into this?’
Layana gave an academically impeccable explanation.
“Prince Wendy, your constitution is very special, like a magnet that easily attracts and amplifies abnormal energy around you. Astreia’s Witchification intensifying when she is near you is the best proof.”
“When conducting such delicate soul observation, any tiny external variable could lead to catastrophic consequences. Therefore, you must also be in the most stable, disturbance-free mental state. This is the basic requirement of controlling variables.”
This speech was clear and logical.
Wendy opened his mouth but couldn’t refute a single word.
‘I’m just a walking Wi-Fi hotspot that attracts all kinds of abnormal signals, huh?’
‘Besides, it’s just sleeping. Not like I’ll lose anything.’
‘Fine, you’re the academic big shot, you call the shots.’
“I understand.”
Wendy nodded helplessly.
“I’ll leave everything to the Headmistress’s arrangement.”
Side-lined, Laxana frowned on the surface, watching them with a concerned expression, but inside, she was overjoyed.
‘Perfect!’
‘Heaven helps me!’
‘If Astreia really gets “purified” and turns back into that clumsy-in-love, blushing-only innocent clumsy lion… then what does she have to compete with me?’
‘By then, with my experience from reading “countless manuals” and mastering all sorts of manipulation techniques, snagging Wendy will be like picking a flower from a vase.’
‘Mother, oh mother, you’ve done me a huge favor!’
Thinking this, Laxana decided to stay silent and watch, even mentally applauding her mother’s plan.
Seeing that everyone had reached an agreement, Layana wasted no more words.
She stood up and began chanting a complex incantation.
A soft, moonbeam-like magical energy gathered in her palm, then split into two streams of light, flying toward Wendy and Astreia respectively.
“This is the highest-level Mental Soothing Incantation. It has no side effects. Have a good sleep.”
Almost instantly, both lost consciousness and were gently lifted by invisible force, laid down on two couches in the office.
The entire office fell silent again.
Layana walked slowly to Astreia’s side and quickly and precisely unfastened the [Goddess Veil] from her neck.
Sacred light shimmered on her fingertips.
However, the Headmistress did not begin any so-called “Purification Ritual.”
She turned around and directly handed the necklace, radiating sacred light, to Laxana.
Her movements carried an irresistible authority, and her words were like a command.
“Laxana, wear it!”
“The [Goddess Veil] might be able to sever the connection between you and Prince Wendy!”