Chapter 128
"I'm so happy... I'm so happy..."
"I just said no more next time, didn't you hear?" Xerath sighed, emphasizing the point of this conversation.
"Of course, of course, there won't be a next time." If she didn't go out and provoke a storm, there wouldn't be another reckless adventure, Sylas thought to herself, and immediately agreed.
Xerath had been cooking for Virgil for two days, and Fire Lord Elvis finally appeared. Sylas had originally speculated that Xerath had lost some kind of power, but she didn't dare to ask, afraid of touching Xerath's sore spot (after all, her position, power, and even her youth came from her magic), but now with Elvis appearing, this main contradiction proved her assumption wrong.
Sylas felt happy but also annoyed. It made her happy that Xerath was okay, but she was mainly annoyed because she felt that Virgil and Xerath were hiding something from her.
When the researcher brought lunch, Virgil let out a heavy sigh of relief, as if all his strength had drained and he collapsed onto the table.
Xerath sarcastically remarked, "You just threw some things into a pot and cooked them, what's so tiring about that?"
"Of course, it's because I have a lot of mental stress. Look at me, I'm a slave to an evil sorcerer in a tower in the desert! I cook every day! If I don't cook, who knows what inhumane treatment I'll face! I'm constantly threatened to have my throat cut, oh, it's so terrifying."
Xerath laughed and said, "Is the only comfort in your life as a prisoner a beautiful maiden?"
"Exactly!"
Sylas started to laugh too.
"Ah, enough joking around. I plan to leave this afternoon and give you back your time. Sylas, you should start writing your lab report, right?"
"Actually, I've already written a part of it."
"Oh, it's so fast! The evil archmage will definitely like this about you."
Sylas turned her head, seeking Xerath's opinion. Without saying a word, Xerath quickly and accurately understood her meaning. "Yes, exactly. I really like this about you. In fact, some people would rather procrastinate their whole lives than do something properly." She glanced at Virgil, implying something. "It's just the two of us in the tower, so you don't have a similar experience."
"Why?"
Xerath shrugged. "I don't know. No one has studied it. But it's a terrible habit, and it's best not to develop it."
Sylas's face revealed a look of fear, while Virgil went downstairs to pack his belongings.
"Teacher, is Virgil planning to go back the same way?"
"Yes."
"Isn't he afraid of danger?"
The archmage chuckled softly. "Without the two of us slowing him down, he will be much safer. Have you experienced how amazing Pegasus is?"
Sylas nodded unknowingly.
"When can you give me your experiment report?"
"Hmm... tomorrow? I think I still need to make some slight modifications..."
Xerath suddenly put away her faint smile like ripples, her almost shaved hairstyle made her face look particularly cold and rigid, even Sylas thought she was angry and quickly changed her words, "Um, um! This afternoon is fine!"
Xerath furrowed her brow in confusion, "No, tomorrow is fine, I only have time to read your experiment report tomorrow. I have something to do this afternoon. I'm going to the library, do as you please."
After she finished speaking, she got up and walked out of the living room. The walk caused a slight breeze, not only making her robes stick to her body and appear even colder, but also making Sylas directly feel a chill.
After the door closed, Sylas whispered to Leunen, who had been floating behind her the whole time, "I thought she was angry just now!"
"Maybe it's just because of her hairstyle... Her previous hairstyle did suit the archmage, making her appear neither too cold nor too weak, hmm..." the water lord quietly commented, while Sylas used a vortex to gather the plates and bowls together and in no time, the vortex spat them out, neatly arranged on the dish rack.
"But I want to see her smile, it would be great if she could always smile at me." Sylas pouted, while Leunen followed her and whispered, "That is indeed a beautiful wish, but the archmage is not someone who smiles a lot. Perhaps you need to do something to... "
"No, it's not..." Sylas said quietly. "I can feel that she used to smile at me a lot..."
"She still smiles a lot now too."
"But she smiles less often now, and sometimes she even deliberately puts on a serious face..." As they walked to the library entrance, Sylas's voice became much quieter. She rested her hand on the heavy library door handle and whispered to herself, "You have to... you have to act like you normally do and stop paying attention to Xerath."
The water lord agreed, "Hmm, by doing that, you can focus on your studies and get good grades. Then the archmage will automatically start paying attention to you."
"Shut up, I know," she angrily scolded the water lord, who was so close to Xerath and had just revealed her thoughts. The water lord obediently silenced himself, and a fountain sprayed out from the top of his head.
Sylas changed her expression, keeping a smile as she pushed the door open cheerfully and sat down at the table. When she saw Xerath looking at her, she greeted her with a smile.
"Teacher."
Xerath nodded gently, then lowered her head to focus on writing something. Her slender and fair fingers appeared almost transparent due to the light, gripping the pen with such force that they lacked color, making one wonder whether they would feel cold to touch.
The water lord softly reminded her, "Miss, you should start working now."
Sylas quickly looked down. In fact, Xerath had already said that she needed to write a paper after finishing this experiment report. If she finished it quickly, she could move on to the next step, and Xerath would be happy. Maybe she would even get a reward. Sylas held back her frustration and wrote all the way to the end. Although there weren't many changes, she managed to overcome the parts where she used to hesitate. All she had to do now was make some small revisions.
After lunch, Virgil rode away on Pegasus. Sylas and Dvořák, who had planned to have a meal together, were reluctant to part. Pegasus had tears in his eyes as he neighed and walked away.
Xerath couldn't help but ask, "You really know how to please animals. Do you have any special skills?"
"Really? I don't think so," Sylas said. "It's just natural for me to play with my little friends. Isn't it the same with humans?"
Xerath thought for a moment. She realized that Sylas seemed to become familiar with elements and Titus all of a sudden. It wasn't strange that she became friends with Dvořák after spending some time together. Sylas could make friends immediately with humans too, not to mention with herself and Virgil. With this understanding, Xerath suddenly felt a sense of unease.
Maybe this feeling is the same as what all elderly people feel... She comforted herself, but deep down she knew it was different.
It's just a fear that arises from the fear of not being able to have someone all to yourself.
But in reality, she couldn't be like that, she couldn't have Sylas all to herself... She retreated to the tower, hiding in the depths of the library, with Hyectra silently writing beside her. Without Xerath around, Sylas's efficiency noticeably dropped. It was only close to dinner time that she finally finished modifying the experiment report. And to prove that she didn't don'thing, she reluctantly wrote some plans for tomorrow's research.
The bell rang, and the sound of crisp footsteps grew louder. Xerath walked out of the depths of the library without looking back, and said to Sylas, "Let's eat."
After dinner is resting time. Xerath has a strict daily routine: she wakes up at seven in the morning, around seven thirty she goes downstairs, and while waiting for breakfast, she reads a book or checks the news. If Sylas is late, she will go find her. She has precise work plans for both noon and afternoon, with a two-hour break at noon. Dinner is served at half past six, and after dinner, like right now, she chooses to sit in the warm and lively living room, putting her feet on a footstool and leaning against the couch while reading a leisure book.
The history book about the undead war written by the elven scholar seems to have been read through. Now Xerath has a completely different book. Noticing Sylas's gaze, Xerath makes the book fly in front of her, showing her the name on the cover.
"Springs in the Mountains: Origin of Words and Gu Gaoboren Literature."
"Teacher, you seem very interested in Gu Gaoboren's affairs in the past two years."
Xerath nods slowly. "It's very interesting. In fact, I feel that I can't directly understand poetry, so I need to read more widely."
"Um... I don't quite understand. Haven't you already been able to read the original texts without any barriers?"
Xerath thinks for a moment. "Let me give you a simple example. When I call you Sylas, it's a very neutral term. What do you think?"
"Um..."
"But when I call you 'little beast'... I think that's a more affectionate term. What do you think?" As she says this, the book flies back in front of Xerath, blocking her face. Her voice sounds as cold as usual, maybe her expression too.
Sylas lowered her head shyly and said, "Hmm... I think so too."
"But actually," she took the book down, "'beast' is not usually a very positive word. It is often associated with savagery and fierceness, and usually brings about fear."
"Oh...right." Stories about "beasts taking away human children" appear more often in fairy tales or local legends, which Sylas rarely comes across. Unlike other teenagers who are influenced by fairy tales and legends, Sylas reads more of their analytical texts. These texts analyze and compare various myths and legends, often running over a hundred pages. They are more informative and entertaining than thin stories.
