Chapter 49
"Virgil, besides me, who else would you dare say is 'strong' to a lady?"
"I'm really sorry, but I really can't think of a suitable word, besides the supervisory committee, where else would you find... gosh, where else would you find a magician with muscles near their shoulders?"
Xerath and Sylas burst into laughter at the same time. Xerath winked at Sylas and said, "I must apologize for my previous doubts. I think you're right, this is quite an effective method. My neck hurts much less now, and my back feels much more comfortable."
"You are too kind. I am glad that you appreciate my research achievements," Sylas gracefully bowed to her.
Sensing Virgil's confusion, Xerath briefly introduced Sylas's small research accomplishments to him and proudly announced, "I think she already possesses the qualities of a junior researcher, thanks to you, Virgil."
"So you mean she has already surpassed Uncle Virgil's level in writing research papers?" Virgil appeared a bit reluctant to accept it, his handsome face wrinkled, gesturing to his waist. "She seemed so tiny just yesterday."
Xerath spoke gently, "Time is always passing by. Alright, Sylas, please read Diego's letter for me."
"Okay." The water-soaked leather paper was easy to tear. She opened the envelope, cleared her throat, and read aloud:
"Dear Xerath:
There is something I can finally proudly tell you. The person responsible for leaking the name of your paper before the review three years ago, which caused it to not pass, has been apprehended. I am sorry for the negative impact and harm this has caused you, but from now on, you don't have to worry about similar scandals. By the way, say hello to Sylas. I hope both of your studies and work are going well.
Love you, Diego."
"So that's it..." Xerath half-squinted, her hazy gaze seemingly unfocused.
Even Sylas remembered a rainy night three years ago when Virgil also read a letter from Diego. In the letter, he mentioned just joining the Supervisory Committee of the Guild.
So that's what he went to do.
Even Virgil grew quiet, and after a while he softly said, "Diego is a good older brother."
Diego came from a prestigious noble family. After graduating, he didn't even have his own mage tower. Instead, he had a vast estate. He also didn't continue his research work, but took on administrative work at the Mage Guild to pursue greater benefits for his country and family. This was indeed the career path he had initially set for himself, but it's hard not to feel grateful when you discover someone is protecting you.
Xerath herself couldn't quite understand what happened three years ago. Suddenly, her paper didn't pass the peer review for no reason. Suddenly, her paper and name spread throughout the entire continent overnight, and all mages knew she was idle, dabbling in mithril craftsmanship.
These seemingly unrelated events connected one after another, and even Xerath in the distant desert could feel the currents within the guild.
"Yes, I should really thank him."
Virgil smiled and said, "I see that everyone loves you. Why are you always feeling sad?"
Xerath tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "I'm not feeling sad."
"Your senior brothers and sisters should have been sending you letters and praising your research results, right?"
"Yes, they should understand."
"So you definitely shouldn't..."
Xerath cried and laughed, "I really haven't... I'm not feeling sad. I'm actually doing well and happy. I don't feel lonely, and I don't want to become a Lich, I promise."
"That's great!" Virgil said happily, "When will you teach the little beast to write scrolls? Apprentice-written scrolls should be cheaper, right?"
Sylas still remembered the dim look in Xerath's eyes when she received Diego's letter back then, but now she understood what kind of comfort Xerath needed the most at that time. Unfortunately, she didn't understand back then and didn't have the ability to provide that kind of comfort.
But it will come in the future.
So when she came back to her senses, the topic suddenly turned to her, and she became helpless, nervously looking at Xerath. The Water Lord stood behind her and gently put his hand on her shoulder, which calmed her down a lot.
Xerath turned her head and said to her, "Virgil needs a magic scroll. I ask if you are interested in taking on this business. He thinks my price is too high."
Virgil smiled and said, "Let's first finalize the intention. The scrolls that Xerath gave me are two gold coins each. Considering that the market price is generally one gold coin, can you sell me thirty scrolls at a price of seventy silver coins per scroll? It's a big deal worth twenty gold coins! I only spent ten gold coins to buy Titus back then. It's the best breed, obedient and loyal." Virgil made a small circle with his hand and said in a tempting and coaxing voice, "Twenty gold coins, there are so many of them."
"Virgil, don't deceive the children."
Fortunately, Sylas was already used to Virgil's way of speaking and could only laugh and cry, saying, "But, I don't need money."
Virgil said, "You don't need it now, but you will need it in the future. You will definitely need to buy a piece of land, hire people to build a mage tower for you, buy a lot of books, a lot of experimental equipment, a lot of magical devices, and even buy a Portal... It's a big expense! So you should start saving money from now on."
Seeing that Sylas was not moved, Virgil became firm and said, "I heard that you destroyed a lot of Xerath's things. Shouldn't you repay that money?"
Virgil's words were so reasonable that Sylas instantly agreed in her heart, "Teacher, I think I do need this money... I broke a lot of things, and if there is something of equal value to make up for it..."
Xerath gently touched her hair and said in a warm voice, "I told you before that you don't need to compensate. These are all necessary expenses for your development, and I can afford them. But I also suggest you take on Virgil's order. It's a good training opportunity. Of course, you should save some money so that you won't have to ask me for things in the future."
She turned her head, her expression completely different from before, and pointed sharply at Virgil, saying, "Virgil, stop teasing her all the time, she'll take it seriously."
Virgil lifted Titus up and hid him behind a cushion, quietly defending himself, "Children need to encounter some bad people to understand how dangerous the world can be, and to know that you are good..."
Titus protested with a woof, not sure if he was objecting to being lifted off the ground or simply believing that Virgil was not a bad person.
Honestly, Sylas didn't really think Virgil was a true bad person. She had encountered bad people before, ones with greedy eyes, evil eyes, and wicked eyes. She had relied on distinguishing these eyes to escape death many times. However, after seeing Virgil so many times, he hadn't tried to capture her and sell her.
"Virgil is not a bad person," Sylas couldn't help but share her opinion.
Xerath held her forehead with a headache and said, "Some bad people may seem harmless at first glance. They don't do bad things for their own gain, they just enjoy seeing others in turmoil."
"Hey! How can you say that about me! I'm not like that! Right, adorable little Titus?"
Titus lay flat on his lap, with the white cushion facing upward, helplessly wiggling his four short legs.
A gentleman with a tray walked over, holding a transparent cup filled with a dark brown liquid that Sylas recognized as something Xerath always gave her when she felt cold.
Virgil exaggeratedly thanked, "Oh, dear Elvis, you are so thoughtful, thank you!"
The kitchen flickered with bright flames, and Elvis curtly replied, "No thanks!"
"Lava ginger tea, ah, a beam of warmth in the winter!" he praised, taking a sip. "Authentic Fire Lord craftsmanship, being a magician is truly fortunate."
"Virgil, drink up and go to sleep."
Despite being good friends, Xerath always used sarcastic words towards Virgil, occasionally even teasing him. At this moment, she didn't plan to greet him properly either. She simply gave a short explanation, asking the two elemental lords to welcome the guests before pulling Sylas out.
To Sylas's surprise, Xerath pushed her back into the bedroom. Sylas protested, saying, "Teacher, it's only a few o'clock!"
"Then let's go to the library."
"What's gotten into you today? Usually, when Virgil comes, you would chat with him until late."
"I don't want to see anyone today."
In fact, Xerath herself felt angry for no reason, but the Elemental King had the right to be capricious, and even the surrounding "wind" whispered in agreement.
"This is the territory of the Elemental King."
"She has the power of life and death."
"Besides, it's just hanging out."
"She has the right to ignore anyone."
Sylas used to think these friendly elements spoiled her, but now she realized that Xerath was the one who was spoiled. However, she had no authority to blame the other elements, and she herself didn't want to unreasonably indulge her ruler.
Xerath had already pulled her back to the library, where she sat in her seat, took a sigh of relief, and the lighting above suddenly brightened. Xerath picked up a book from her desk, read a few pages, and then put it down.
She didn't look at anything else, as if she was just daydreaming, but the "wind" around her was always disturbed and agitated, running back and forth.
This can only mean that Xerath was also very upset, to the point of disturbing this most lively element.
Sylas asked tentatively, "Teacher, if you're tired, can I read for you?"
After listening, Xerath took off her glasses and threw them aside, opened a book herself, and it flew in front of Sylas.
"This one is in Kaiboren language, you can read this, it's the translation of Setis language."
Sylas took the book, and it flew and hovered in front of her, flapping its wings slightly. Xerath touched the Sunstone embedded in the armrest of the chair, softly recited the Illumination Spell, and a light ball suddenly flew up and hovered behind Sylas.
"I feel like I can be compared to the gods in the sky,
Being able to sit face to face with you,
Listening to you speak is so delightful..."
Direct and passionate, even if it's not in the common language, but in the more reserved Setis language, it's hard to hide the shyness that emerges along with the words.
