Chapter 93
When Sylas entered the library again, she noticed many unusual things. Many objects had been moved slightly, especially her own seat. Everything was in disarray, indicating that Xerath had touched it. But clearly, her teacher didn't have the habit of casually touching other people's things. She herself didn't have anything secret enough, except for the archmage side portrait medal that was still in the trunk.
The moose on the wall saw her and walked over arrogantly, spraying a gust of air towards her. Sylas waved at it with a smile and turned to Xerath, saying, "It's cute, isn't it?"
Xerath used to think that she bought the moose because it reminded her of herself. Now she says the moose is cute. Archmage inevitably felt confused and couldn't help asking, "You once said in a letter that seeing it reminds you of me, so does that mean..."
"You're cute too!" Sylas's expression was sincere. "Just like the moose."
Unlike before, Xerath sensed her pause and felt that she was hiding something. In the past, she would always present an argument and provide a small piece of evidence to support it, rather than answering in a loop like this.
But that's not the point. Xerath glared at her discontentedly but returned a big smile.
Like a baby magic wolf, Xerath thought to herself, trying to mask some irrational emotions - those silly little magic wolf babies that can gain a lot of trust and love just by being treated well. No wonder they could become friends with Titus.
"I can tell you more about the Earth Veins on the way, Virgil will be coming with us this time. I hope your animosity towards him won't last too long. Um... can I ask why you have animosity towards him?"
Sylas furrowed her beautiful eyebrows in confusion, "I think you've misunderstood, teacher. I was just surprised to see him in the tower. After all, usually it's just the two of us at home, or no one at all."
"He reports the news about the Earth Veins to me. Maybe he was waiting for my response on whether or not he should go. It's also possible that he's really in a desperate situation and came to me to seek refuge, but he didn't mention it so I didn't ask. I'm not interested in his personal affairs."
The last sentence clearly reduced a lot of the hidden animosity in Sylas, and she nodded.
Xerath then started discussing the main topic, "The place we're going to is in the west, but it's a bit special for you. If you've studied maps in recent years, I think you should already know that the place where you were originally imprisoned is the same place we're going this time, the Keatler region."
Sylas was stunned, fear overwhelming her before reason, and she could clearly feel each hair standing on end, a tingling sensation from the base of her spine to the back of her head.
Xerath walked up to her, gently patting her shoulder and said, "So if you don't want to go, just wait for me at home, alright? I'm worried you might feel uncomfortable."
"No... I'm not... I'm not that afraid, teacher. I want to be with you."
Xerath sighed and then explained, "We need to go to Tabletop Mountain City, the place that left a mark on you. Then we will go to Doloru Town, but we won't go to the Sunny Town, the place that kept you captive. Of course, if you want to see it, I can go with you. We have plenty of time."
"Just follow your plan."
Although Sylas still found it a little strange, Xerath rarely took her out before, except for necessary outings like shopping for food, clothes, and new books. And even then, they only went to Withered Leaf City to the north.
Sylas raised this question, and Xerath answered naturally, "Instead of letting you go out with someone else for the first time, it's better for me to personally guide you. Practical activities will be a part of your academic journey. For example, phenomena like earth veins, which cannot be moved, require mages to leave their towers and go outside."
"But teacher, you have also..."
"I have gone out," Xerath cunningly argued, "It's just that the direction of my research doesn't require much going out. It doesn't mean I lack skills for going out."
How can I win an argument against my teacher when she's being cunning? Sylas thought and stopped trying to argue further.
"Going to Tabletop Mountain City is not just because the capital has a Portal that directly leads to Withered Leaf City. I plan to get the reading instruments directly from the Mage Guild there. They are heavy and I need to take several."
"Why do you need to take several? Oh, I understand now."
This is not good, Virgil doesn't understand yet! He hoped to eavesdrop on something from your conversation! Virgil screamed in his heart, but neither of them intended to explain further.
The archmage nodded contentedly, "We will start from Doloru Town and head east towards Aimekotes. But it's far from here." She pointed it out on the map.
"Are we going into the desert?"
"Exactly, Virgil knows the way, we will follow him. You can also observe how he handles things when being away from home."
"Alright." The young man didn't seem very willing.
When they returned to the living room, Virgil was jumping around and Titus was standing on its hind legs, jumping with it.
Virgil was trembling with a paper in his hands, "I've already written the checklist, I can't wait any longer. When are you guys going to pack up and leave?"
Sylas summoned Leunen, who stretched lazily and used its tentacles to stick the paper to it. Leunen handed it to the archmage and then greeted its cousin Hyectra.
"I can't even appear in public at school!" It complained, "Every time I appear, I have to disguise myself as a silly water child and I can't wear my beautiful jewelry."
Xerath quickly glanced at the list and handed it to Sylas, saying to Leunen, "Once Sylas is enrolled in advanced school, you can come and go as you please. You can also come out during this vacation."
Leunen rolled his eyes dramatically, raised his hands above his head, and flopped his entire body forward, "Hooray, long live the great Elemental King!"
Xerath smiled and asked Sylas, "Is there anything you want Virgil to explain?"
"Why do we need to bring a tent? Do we have one at home?"
"Camping, we always need it."
"Blankets?"
"Same as above."
"Hats?"
"Sun protection and wind protection."
"I can make a dark cloud for you, Uncle Virgil."
"...Thank you, then cross out this one."
"You're welcome. A pair of soft but sturdy shoes?"
"We have to walk."
"Isn't Dvořák coming with us?"
"Alright, you guys have to walk."
"I have Earth Child, in a large size. Do you want one?"
"...No thanks, then cross out this one and replace it with shoes that won't get sand in them. Either way, you can't wear leather shoes, you little rascal."
"Okay, I will pay attention," the ink rose up from the ink bottle like a snake, making changes on this piece of paper by itself.
Xerath slightly bent over and whispered in her ear, "Take an extra pair, just in case something happens."
Virgil frowned and stared at the calm and arrogant archmage behind Sylas, the archmage responded with a smug smile. Virgil suddenly realized that this arrogant and strange archmage was using Sylas to undermine him, and at the same time show off his own apprentice.
It's really terrible.
"Sunstone？"
"Used for lighting."
"Oh, that's definitely needed, but I don't remember seeing you bring it back then."
"You still remember what happened back then?"
"I have always remembered clearly about your weapon."
"It's a good thing." Virgil equated this behavior with "holding a grudge," "I have other lighting options, this one is for you to prepare."
"I can do it."
"But esteemed archmage, when will we leave? Tomorrow?"
The archmage looked at him in surprise, "What are you saying? Sylas just came back, she needs to rest, right? Exams are quite draining. We will leave the day after tomorrow."
After the two of them left the living room, Virgil picked up a stool and whispered, "In other places, guests are often esteemed, but in Aimekotes, esteemed guests can only be ranked behind little beasts."
"Grr... Grr... Grr..." the stool harshly criticized his intentions, it seems it also found no problem with this order.
Before going to sleep at night, Xerath went to Sylas's room again, helping her find places to put the things she brought back from school. They chatted aimlessly, but it was always Sylas doing most of the talking while Xerath simply nodded silently.
However, often when she wished Xerath would speak a little more, she would conveniently launch into long speeches. The archmage had too many thoughts, jumping from one book to another, not even stopping for the time it takes a sand timer. Sylas picked up where she left off, halfway through packing, both of them instinctively stopped. Sylas sat on the edge of the bed, and Xerath sat on a chair, until time pointed to the start of a new day.
Leunen peeked from underneath the door, "Ladies, it's twelve o'clock."
Xerath suddenly stood up, "I should go." She walked over to Sylas, patted her, hesitated for a long time, then turned and left. Sylas grabbed her clothes, "Teacher..."
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Her jade-like eyes sparkled and seemed to speak, as if she was a puppy looking for food from its owner. It made Xerath want to hold her and comfort her, but that would not be appropriate.
However, Sylas didn't say what the teacher owed her, she just kept looking like that.
"...Sylas, what's wrong?"
Actually, Sylas just wanted Xerath to stay and keep her company for a while, just like that night when she left Aimekotes and could hold the teacher's hand while sleeping. But when Xerath came back today, she made it clear once again that she didn't like too much physical contact with others.
So she didn't dare to hold hands, she only dared to tug at Xerath's clothes.
She wanted a goodnight kiss, but she wasn't sure if Xerath would give her one. It was too demanding, so she hesitated to ask.
Xerath wasn't in a hurry, standing by the bed, waiting for her.
Under the gaze of Xerath's gray eyes, Sylas slowly blushed, feeling embarrassed, she lowered her head, leaving only the top of her head visible to Xerath.
Xerath's first reaction was to reach out and touch her chin, but immediately she felt that this behavior was not appropriate. What does it mean to casually touch someone's chin?
"Sylas？"
