Chapter 81
"Yes, but I have never said that the archmage cannot get involved in the conflicts of different countries, so I gave up my nationality after becoming an archmage." After that, I chose to live in a barren land, as far away as possible from all kinds of troubles.
Sylas unexpectedly developed a liking for Xerath's hometown cuisine. This feeling of love at first sight combined with encountering a childhood friend made her very happy.
The waiter brought milk tea and honey red tea. The sweet drinks made people happy. The breeze lifted Sylas's black hair, and her green eyes sparkled like a highly refractive gem, shining with delightful light.
Those eyes were still fixed on her.
Xerath sighed, imagining what kind of plot might happen if such a little girl appeared on campus.
"Have you rested well? Can we continue walking?" Xerath looked up at the sun and the distant Laparel.
"Rest?" Sylas slightly widened her eyes. "I'm not tired... I mean..." She completely didn't realize that sitting down was for resting.
Xerath nodded, indicating that she didn't need to continue speaking.
She herself is not tired, just that the sun is warm and the wind is comfortable, so she pulled Sylas to sit down and enjoy together.
The wind pushed the leaves and branches of the trees, whispering softly, as if welcoming the arrival of the two elemental envoys. Xerath pulled Sylas up, and they returned to a slightly wider and brighter road. There were a few shops here, but most of them were closed, not as lively as the streets of Withered Leaf City.
"The restaurant we just passed by had a lot of delicious things. You can explore them yourself."
"Hmm..." Although she replied like this, Sylas couldn't think of any opportunity for herself to come here.
It was the atmosphere just now that made her sit down, but after Xerath left, where would there be such a good opportunity?
"Many shops on this street sell magical items. You can find great things if you're interested in looking. But I'll take you to buy what you need. Where there's a school, there will be stores selling student supplies around. You can come here if you need anything."
She pushed open the door of a shop. Inside, there were Illumination Spells lit up. The owner was a thin middle-aged person, probably entering their old age soon. After hearing the sound, they politely said "Welcome," but when they looked up, they still showed a strange expression.
"Hello?"
Staring at the lady was not a polite behavior, Xerath frowned and asked.
"Oh, sorry, have I seen you somewhere before?"
Xerath shrugged, "I studied here about twenty years ago, used to come here often to buy things. I remember you, but do you remember me?"
"I remember... of course, and that chubby guy in blue..." He gestured and then smiled friendly.
Hyectra appeared from a rift in space and bowed.
"Yes! That's it! Madam, are you bringing a child? Forgive me for being blunt... you look too young, doesn't seem like your child."
"No, it's not, I'm just taking her to buy some paper and notebooks." Even though revisiting familiar places, Xerath still coldly rejected most nostalgic behaviors. She no longer spoke to the store manager, who had no choice but to stay silent and occasionally glance at them.
Looking around is also good, pleasing to the eyes.
Xerath followed behind Sylas, occasionally directing her to buy some necessities. The things here were diverse and Sylas would approach anything she liked to take a look. Xerath would casually say, "If you like it, buy it."
"Really? I always feel like it's too wasteful..."
"Yes, once you buy it, you have to use it all."
Sylas was just being polite, but she received a harsh blow and pouted sadly.
"If you like it, go ahead and buy it," Xerath smiled, raised her chin, and asked softly with her bright and mesmerizing eyes, "Can you really?"
Xerath said again, "If you buy too much and can't take it home, you'll have to throw it away. Remember, you'll be staying here for three years, right?"
"Oh..." Sylas slowly put the delicate and cute little box in her hand back.
"Are you really not buying it?"
Sylas said dejectedly, "But... what's the use of buying it?"
Xerath looked at the tiny box and said, "This is a box for storing letters. I'll write you a letter, and you can write back to me."
"Can I?!"
"Of course." Sometimes, Xerath thought Sylas was too easy to please, as if anything she said would make her happy for a long time. Many people on the mainland admired her, the youngest and only female archmage. But Xerath felt distant from those admirers. Sylas's open and unashamed love, however, made her feel overwhelmed yet unable to resist.
"Then we'll need to buy envelopes and stamps," said the archmage, standing quietly behind Sylas with her hands on her waist. She affectionately leaned over her shoulder and said, "There are many pretty stamps to choose from. You can pick the ones you like."
Sylas reached out for the stamps but suddenly remembered something. She turned to her and said, "Can't you just let Shamodial come directly to find me?"
After thinking for a moment, Xerath said, "No, that would make Shamodial fly for a long time. My friends are all in the north, and we are currently on the east side of the desert."
"Oh..."
"Your letter will be sent to the mailbox in Withered Leaf City. That way, when Shamodial returns, they can bring your letter with them."
"Oh..." She reached for the stamps again, but it was clear that her enthusiasm was lacking.
Everything was in Hyectra's hands, and the huge gentleman followed behind the two empty-handed ladies. It was a understandable picture when one thought about it.
After leaving, Xerath took her to buy a blanket and a mattress. Hyectra couldn't carry these things anymore, so Leunen came out to help carry them.
Xerath was clearly familiar with the place, casually crossing a small path between two houses to reach another road, being able to choose her destination almost instantly without needing to figure out the direction.
This time, they entered a clothing store, just like before, standing behind Sylas and letting her make her own choices. Sylas was dazzled and looked around for help, while the salesperson kindly came over to assist, picking out outfits for her one by one. Seeing that Xerath didn't object, Sylas also felt eager to try them on. With her tall and beautiful figure, she looked good in almost anything. Xerath leaned against the wall and watched as she tried on clothes other than her usual pantsuit and black robe, finding it quite refreshing.
Sylas walked toward her with the clothes in her arms, and she pulled Sylas closer until their foreheads almost touched.
"Do you like anything?"
"They, they are all pretty good..."
"Is there anything you really want?"
Sylas's face suddenly turned red, she looked down and couldn't meet Xerath's gaze. Xerath had to gently lift her chin and stared into her eyes, saying, "You can have anything, I'll buy it for you. What do you want?"
Sylas just kept shaking her head, so Xerath had to say, "Then there's no chance."
"There's really nothing in particular that I want."
"Okay then," Xerath called the shop assistant, "I need help buying... underwear, bras, can you help her choose?" She paused for a moment to find the right words.
Sylas was puzzled for a moment, these two words were unfamiliar to her. She looked up at Xerath. Xerath smiled, but didn't look at her. The shop assistant indicated that they needed to take measurements. Sylas had no idea what they meant, but Xerath smiled at her and led her into the fitting room. She felt reassured and followed along.
"Take off your clothes," the shop assistant politely gestured. Sylas looked uncertainly at Xerath, even though she had received her approval, she hesitated. Xerath walked behind her, turned her towards the full-length mirror, and reached behind her, gently gripping the waistband clips on her pants, and released them.
The clips made a soft clicking sound as they popped open. Xerath pulled out the shirt tucked into her pants and slowly unbuttoned it, one by one.
The girl's tender body was faintly visible between the shirt's buttons. She remembered that it had been a long time since Xerath had helped her dress or undress like this. She blushed and turned to look at Xerath, who gave her a teasing look.
"To measure your size, you need to take off your clothes, come."
Although Xerath said, "come," Sylas had no idea how to cooperate. She stood there stiffly. Xerath swept away the thin shirt from her shoulders and revealed her entire shoulder. The linen fabric, although lightweight, had its own weight. After losing the support of her shoulders, it easily slid down and piled up around her wrists.
Even though she had seen herself in the mirror many times before, she still felt instinctively shy. Her body didn't have the same beauty as Xerath's, so why should she have the audacity to show it to her?
"Teacher..."
"Hmm... One moment not paying attention and you're already grown up," Xerath exclaimed with a smile, gently pressing her chest where the bunny-like trembles could be felt.
A shiver ran from her feet all the way to the top of her head, making her face, neck, and even chest turn a faint pink color. Her heart suddenly started pounding fast, as if it wanted to leap out of her chest. Her breath became quick, but in this nervous moment, she could still clearly smell Xerath's scent.
But Xerath seemed unaffected by this unusual nervousness. She calmly began her explanation, which was somewhat tedious, "I've mentioned the topic of female chests before, and now I'll give you some technical details. In order to protect this area... there is a specific type of functional clothing that provides support, protection, um... and possibly other functions. It's time for you to wear it..."
As she spoke, her attitude and manner were no different from when she introduced other ordinary things. Her fingertips habitually traced patterns on the "sample." However, now it was in front of Sylas's chest, and her nervousness only increased. She could even feel Xerath's touch trembling as her fingertips moved.
