Chapter 104
Xerath sat on Earth Child again, nodding thoughtfully. Sylas obediently sat beside her, noticing that they were both silent, she suddenly interrupted, "I have an idea..." She looked a little shyly at the two adults, "Could it be someone intentionally spreading this rumor? To prevent the use of shadow magic... those shadow mages—aren't they actually low-level Liches, teacher? If it was intentional, could there have been someone who knew about it secretly helping me back then? Perhaps we can find this person."
Xerath nodded, "Good idea. It seems Raphael has been keeping some things from you, Virgil."
"My relationship with him isn't good enough for him to tell me everything."
The answer is not important, Virgil guessed, because Xerath was already focused on telling Sylas whether the main users of shadow magic were truly Liches or not.
Virgil was thrown to the back, walking side by side with Hyectra. The gentleman in the vibrant blue outfit adjusted his cufflinks and said, "The weather here is not too good, my body feels so sluggish."
"The other side of Doloru Town used to be the desert border, but it has improved a lot now. Luckily, the wind has always been blowing from the west, so the east side of the desert keeps getting eroded by sandstorms. If it weren't for a few mountains that melt snow, the entire desert would keep moving towards the east."
"That's why there are often mountains around deserts," said Hyectra, then she floated a little and looked out into the distant silver desert from the road down the mountain.
"Hey, buddy, there's actually something I'm a little concerned about."
"Hmm, is there anything I can help with?"
Virgil lowered his voice, "I think you're a reliable water lord, and we've known each other for so many years. I have a small, confusing matter about women. If it's resolved, it would make my relationship with your master more enjoyable. Would you keep it a secret for me?"
"I will."
"These past two days, I feel a bit... unusual. Sylas has been showing some interest in me, which surprises me. At the same time, the archmage has been showing a bit more friendliness towards me, almost as if afraid that Sylas would snatch me away." He even spread his hands to express his astonishment, "Of course, I like girls very much, and I like it when girls like me, but I don't think I am Xerath's type."
The gentleman with the deep blue color smiled amiably, "The lady is just worried that your 'roguish behavior' would influence the young lady. She is very concerned, you know."
"I know she's worried. She has a strong possessiveness towards the little beast. In my eyes, she always emphasizes that it's 'her little beast,' not mine, and not something we share."
"There should be no disagreement regarding both the ownership of the contract and the effort put into raising the young lady, right?" the water lord asked.
"I also put a lot of effort into her growth. We have a special connection, otherwise how could I become the hunter of the demon beast that unleashed the Keatler Elemental Chaos?"
"As long as you're happy, that's good. Maybe I don't really understand it. I've seen many humans, and young girls are often attracted to charming wanderers who have been around for years. But Miss isn't that kind of young girl who fantasizes about love. She's more like a scholar, just like my master, easily drawn to the sense of achievement brought by elements and breakthroughs."
"Are you suggesting that her friendliness towards me might have another reason?"
"I tend to think so because if she really had any feelings for you, it would be a big blow for me."
"...That statement also hits me hard."
"Or do you want me to tell my master and let her personally deal with you?"
"I'm afraid it might be such a situation. The archmage would probably face Sylas's resentment and send me straight to the Lich King." The Lich King is already dead, it is said that his soul was trapped deep in hell and undergoing purification by the gods before being completely destroyed or vanquished.
"It's better not to be," the Water Lord gave him a warning look.
Virgil felt really wronged. Being admired by such a beautiful young girl might satisfy his vanity to a great extent, but when he thinks about the troubles that would follow, Virgil prays that he will never have to experience such things and pleads to the Dragon God.
"I would love to be friends with Sylas, just like I am with the archmage. We have been maintaining our friendship for thirty years and it will last even longer."
Hmm... I haven't observed anything yet. It's even harder for the water lord to understand human thoughts, which humans themselves don't understand. I am not even a living being, just relying on my accumulated observations to find solutions. See for yourself." Hyectra opened its hands, making Virgil feel a sense of guilt as if it was saying, "How could you trouble me?
When they finally reached the center of Doloru Town, it was already dark. Virgil was exhausted from walking, while the two elemental envoys only had their hair messed up by the strong wind. Everything else seemed like they had just planned for a trip.
Xerath's face had a slight pink color from the sun, and tiny beads of sweat appeared on her nose. She wiped it off and turned to Virgil, asking, "Why are you staring at me? Do you have something to say?"
Virgil quickly nodded and said, "Let's eat, get some rest early, and start camping or finding shelter tomorrow morning."
During dinner, a strange scene repeated itself. Sylas insisted on sitting next to Virgil, while Xerath sat across from him. After finishing his meal with a trembling heart and feeling the unusual enthusiasm from the two ladies, Virgil locked his room door. He still had many things to do, like counting tools, sharpening weapons, and preparing things to escape.
Traveling as a mage seemed much easier. Xerath was already sitting in front of the dressing mirror, letting her hair loose. Sylas came over for some reason and picked up a comb to help her with her hair.
Sylas cherished Xerath's fine and soft platinum hair, which slipped away between her fingers with just a slight carelessness. Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't even hear Xerath calling her.
A fair hand covered hers gently, calling out to her, "Sylas, what are you thinking?"
Sylas's face turned red, she was thinking about the person in front of her, her teacher.
"Are you thinking about your mother?"
"No... I've said it before, I don't really care about seeking revenge, I don't have any feelings of hatred. I'm even afraid that you will make me have to seek revenge and it's creating a sense of fear within me... So I..."
"Are you actually still worried about being a cold-blooded bad person? Don't worry, I will respect your choice."
"...Um..."
She was still holding onto Xerath's hair, and the archmage took the comb from her hand, soothingly patting her arm. "Go to sleep, these past few days have only been an outing, the real difficult journey is ahead. I'm afraid you won't be able to adjust."
Sylas reluctantly watched as Xerath stretched out her long limbs and lay on the bed, her vision blocked by the covers. These past few days, she had been wanting another goodnight kiss, but Xerath's attitude that night already made it clear that this seemingly effortless act had become a burden for her-- Xerath didn't want to bear it anymore.
Sylas couldn't force Xerath to do something she didn't like, she feared the Elemental King's disapproval. If she insisted on making Xerath do something she didn't like this time, then next time Xerath would simply avoid her.
Since the dispute about whether or not to go to school last time, she understood that Xerath would never back down for her. Xerath's avoidance easily shattered her heart into pieces, and Sylas didn't even want to think about how she would be able to handle it a second time.
The archmage never pleases others, anyone who wants her favor must try their best to win her heart.
But the things we can't get are always more troubling than the things we can easily obtain. The goodnight kiss last time - even though it was just a kiss on the forehead - was so different, making my whole body tremble with joy, as if happiness would burst from my eyes or mouth.
Next time, if there is a next time, I also want to kiss her -
Will she be as happy as me? Or even more unhappy?
The light went out, separating the starlight and moonlight from outside. In the darkness, Sylas could see things clearly, so she could also see the archmage's long eyelashes rhythmically trembling as she breathed steadily.
Several times, Sylas wanted to ask if she had fallen asleep, but as time passed, this possibility became lower and lower.
But even if she wasn't asleep, what could she ask? "Teacher, I also want to kiss you"?
Several times, she also wanted to simply go and share a bed with Xerath, to be closer to her, to smell the gentle fragrance wrapped in old parchment that nobody else knew, to be pressed against her soft and slender body. If not possible, just holding her hand would be nice too.
But would that scare her away? She definitely wouldn't like it.
"Sylas... not sleeping yet?" In her restless state, Xerath's calm voice pierced the dark night.
"Teacher...?!"
Xerath intentionally turned around, "Did I hear you sigh? Nervous and unable to sleep?"
"...a little." If Xerath continues to ask, should she say "she can only sleep well with a goodnight kiss from the teacher"? She widened her eyes, anxiously watching Xerath's lips.
Xerath looked at her, lips slightly parting as if about to speak, but suddenly she laughed, "Let's review vocabulary instead. Considering that as soon as I speak Gustavian language, you fall asleep, I think it's a good idea."
"...???" She laughed mischievously just now, Sylas thought.
"'Light'?"
Sylas stared at her for a while and reluctantly answered, "...prabha."
"'Thought'?"
"...tired." Strange, feeling a bit sleepy.
"'Shadow'?"
Sylas stubbornly didn't answer and eventually fell asleep for real.
The sky had just brightened when Xerath woke Sylas up and pulled her up to eat. In a daze, she was dragged onto Earth Child, with Virgil leading the way up the mountain.
They reached the mountaintop, and the sunlight poured in without holding back. The view became exceptionally wide, with white sand shimmering beneath their feet. A river was embraced by two green corridors, stretching together with the white sand to the ends of the earth.
Sylas suddenly woke up. The desert in front of her was the "Elemental Gate". The deeper they ventured into the center of the desert, the more difficult it became to control the elements, and the more unexplainable phenomena there were.
