Chapter 109
Sylas pulled up the rope in her hand and examined the broken stones, saying, "It's much slower here, hardly any changes." She showed the stones in her hand to Xerath.
"Hmm... So the boundary is over there for you."
"I will place a measurement device here."
Xerath nodded eagerly and said, "Let's discuss it later when we go back tonight. This visit is just to confirm if this method works, we haven't even seen the dragon bones yet. Virgil, do you have any ideas?"
Raising her voice in the last sentence, Xerath called Virgil over and grabbed his short hair, saying, "Of course there is, let's walk and talk."
In order to make Virgil speak properly, the archmage summoned an Earth Child capable of carrying him through obstacles.
"Of course, just like before..."
He paused for a long time, and Sylas couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by 'just like before'?"
The wind was strong, and Virgil's voice was loud as he spoke, "It's... Oh my goodness, I can't really say it in front of this young girl, esteemed archmage, would you be offended?"
Xerath shrugged, "I feel like I've already gotten used to it."
"What exactly is it?"
Virgil jumped off the Earth Child (because he couldn't control it), ran to Sylas's side, and said, "Well... it's... sigh, I still can't say it..."
Xerath coldly interjected, "Usually, I would play Virgil's girlfriend."
Sylas's heart sank for a moment, feeling uncomfortable. She stayed silent for a while before asking, "Then what about me? Do I guard the camp?"
Xerath shook her head, as if it was obvious, "No, of course not. You also play the girlfriend, right?"
Sylas opened her eyes wide in shock, took off her headscarf, and asked Xerath, "But teacher... you told me before... that love happens between two people, how can a third person join? Won't it seem fake to the onlookers? I mean... how do we deceive others?"
Xerath hesitated for a moment and said, "theory model I told you about love is just one case, it's just what I consider an ideal situation. But it's not Virgil's. There is a type of people who don't seem to believe that emotions are exclusive, it manifests as..."
"Manifests as?" Sylas's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Xerath was unsure if this was a good phenomenon or not. She liked the idea that anyone could be liked, as long as it wasn't Virgil. So the urgency was to eliminate all possible risks before Sylas had any unrealistic fantasies.
"It manifests as them," she hinted, glancing at Virgil, "developing the 'liking' kind of feelings with multiple members of the opposite sex at the same time, and being willing to develop every connection into..." She wanted to say physical intimacy, but she remembered never mentioning that word before, saying it would surely lead to Sylas questioning and her having to explain it in front of Virgil.
"...love relationships."
"Coexisting?" Sylas widened her adorable eyes, asking in disbelief.
Exactly, coexisting," Archmage emphasized the word "coexisting.
"This... this... 'liking the most,' can't it only be for one person?"
"Some people don't believe that. What do you think? Which kind do you prefer?" She asked like she used to in class, but she immediately felt the hidden thoughts within her, dirty, gloomy, and scheming... leading question.
She lowered her eyelids and looked down at the monotonous sandy ground. But Sylas, unaware of anything, replied seriously, "Of course, it's only one person. I can't imagine having to share my favorite person with someone else." After she finished speaking, she held Xerath's hand and asked sincerely, "Are these people really still waiting to meet their favorite person?"
"...No, they just feel that it's not necessary to only like one person. Although they have a favorite, they can't let go of their second favorite either."
"Besides, who knows if their favorite will appear in the next encounter?" Virgil added, leaning closer. After he finished speaking, he took out a water bottle and drank, only then realizing that both women were staring at him.
"Don't be like this, ladies. We just have different thoughts. Besides, my way of thinking is a major mainstream faction in the world. You didn't tell her, did you?" He pointed at Sylas.
"When her worldview and philosophy of life were forming, of course, I would only speak about what I believed to be right," Xerath said coldly. "There was no need for her to know your thoughts now."
"Oh~ Oh~ esteemed archmage, didn't you always say that we should avoid potential dangers? The heart is the easiest and most dangerous place to get hurt."
The archmage glanced at him coldly, then turned to Sylas with a pleasant expression and said, "So, when you're choosing who to develop a relationship with, you should try to choose someone whose views on love align with your own. When I use the term 'relationship' here, I specifically mean romantic love, but this conclusion applies to any kind of relationship."
Virgil also approached with a pleasant expression and stood next to Sylas, saying, "For example, even if you're choosing a regular friend, would you choose someone who would betray their friend at a critical moment for their own benefit, or someone who would stand by you no matter what?"
Sylas blinked and said, "I think it would be the latter."
"By the way, that's how it is."
The archmage glared coldly at Virgil from a hidden angle where Sylas couldn't see, unsure if he should directly say, "I'm teaching Sylas why she should stay away from you."
Fortunately, the two had known each other for many years, so they had this kind of understanding. Virgil took two steps back, retreating to a safe distance.
With Virgil's help, the camp was quickly built. They set up two tents, started a campfire, and Xerath instructed the Earth Child to build walls around the camp to block the wind and sand. Virgil prepared hot food for them to eat.
Sylas sat in front of the bonfire, and the distant lights shone brightly and warmly after nightfall. Xerath's white figure was dyed with a warm orange glow.
After finishing her work, Xerath walked over to Sylas and rubbed her hands with the water droplets she held in her palm. She whispered, "We won't be able to take a bath tonight, so endure it, okay?"
Sylas smiled at her and said, "Teacher, you shouldn't forget that I used to be a wild beast roaming in the wilderness."
"Don't talk nonsense, you're not. You're a human."
"Unlike you, I can handle being dirty." Sylas flashed a warm smile, trying to soothe archmage's overly nervous reaction.
Xerath looked a little angry at her, but finally smiled. She held Sylas's hand and led her into the tent. The small tent was not tall enough to stand inside, it was even slightly difficult to sit up straight. The archmage took off her clothes, which had been blown by the wind and sand all day, and threw them near the entrance. She signaled Sylas to turn around and quickly changed into her pajamas.
But even though she was the archmage, she didn't have eyes on the back of her head, so she didn't know that Sylas had secretly turned her head to look at her back. Although Sylas was afraid of being caught by her teacher and only glanced for a moment, it was quite astonishing.
Xerath knelt on the ground, with a slender body, fair bare back, and a visual contrast was formed with the black belt gripping the gray thigh-high stockings. Grooves parallel to the spine disappeared into the gray boxer shorts at the narrowest part of her waist, leaving one's imagination to wander.
Just one glance made her blush, but theoretically, there should be no difference between Xerath's body and hers.
Just when she was lost in thought, Xerath came over and patted her shoulder, "Change your clothes and get a good sleep. It might be very cold at night, much colder than you have experienced in the temperature-regulated tower."
The archmage raised her hand and cast "breezy swirl" within a small range. Her precise control allowed the breeze to maintain a suitable temperature and speed. It was already getting cold outside. Fortunately, the slumbering Earth Children only needed a small amount of magic to sustain them. This place was also on the edge of the Elemental Gate, so they wouldn't easily flee back.
Sylas also turned around and quickly changed her clothes. This outfit was the easiest one she had ever taken off among all the clothes she had worn. It had two layers, both very loose, and could be simply pulled off over her head. She didn't sweat much today, even though the daytime in the desert was extremely hot. But with double sun protection, she didn't have the chance to get sunburned, and she didn't even walk on her own.
She obediently climbed back onto the bed, covered herself with the blanket, and felt the soft fur underneath her.
"I hope you won't feel uncomfortable." Xerath knelt in front of her, placing a hand beside her head, tilting it to face her directly.
"Teacher, what about you?" she habitually grabbed Xerath's wrist again, "Do you feel uncomfortable? You don't seem to sleep well outside, have I been bothering you these few days?"
"No," Xerath smiled, "I sleep fine when I'm with you."
"But... what about today? Today we have to squeeze together, the ground is not very even, and it's not the type of bed you are familiar with. Of course, maybe you will feel uncomfortable..."
Xerath lightly pressed his hand on her shoulder, his grey eyes staring directly at her, his lips slightly curved, as if there was a hint of amusement. But what captured Sylas's attention was not just that faint smile, it was the captivating arc that tugged at her heartstrings...
"The times I slept with you, I felt really good. I have reason to believe that you won't disturb me tonight. Come sleep with me."
Nervously and shyly, Sylas moved closer, lying down beside Xerath. He dispersed the nearby light orbs, dimming the whole tent.
Virgil walked back and forth outside, the sound of his shoes on the sandy ground was very distinct.
"Teacher..." Sylas whispered softly.
"Hmm? Do you have any new ideas?" Xerath casually asked.
"Um... Do you worry that I might develop feelings for someone like Virgil after hearing the principles you told me about love and relationships today?"
