Chapter 148

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Chapter 148

"There’s no way she can write that fast. But I heard that this bookshelf is specifically for… um… this type of teacher-student romance novels. Even the books borrowed from the underground bookstore in Blue Star Castle are her most popular ones."

"Wow."

"What kind do you like? Here, with ten dollars, you can watch it all afternoon."

"Uh…" Sylas hesitated to reply, "The one we watched today."

"A teacher-student romance? That’s great, I am too. I didn’t expect the little fairy to be just like everyone else. This genre has been very popular in recent years."

Sylas couldn’t quite understand and asked, "But why does it have to be so secretive? And why do we have to enter through a hidden door?"

"Because… don’t you know?"

Sylas hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do I really need to know?"

Luna said, "It’s quite a sensational thing, I think all the schools have heard about it."

"What happened? If it’s something big, Rost siblings should have told me."

"Well… it’s like this, there has been a scandal at Blue Star Castle, an actual teacher-student romance happened. It’s considered unethical, so the school cracked down on nearby bookstores, prohibiting the sale and borrowing of any teacher-student romance novels. Since they can’t ban publishing, you can still find them in the big bookstores far away from the school. But not many people go to those big bookstores."

"Oh… wait, why is it not moral?"

"You wait too, do you think it’s moral?"

"No, no, I mean, is there anything naturally immoral about it?"

"Hmm… Actually, I didn’t think it was particularly bad. Just imagine, having a handsome and indifferent tutor who silently observes you. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps of excitement! Who cares if it’s moral or not!"

Sylas nodded with a sense of sorrow.

"But why would a middle-aged person like a student who is ordinary in appearance and figure…" Luna said disappointedly.

Sylas also felt disappointed.

Luna slumped on the nearby sofa, "Ah~ I really want to date someone like that…"

"Dating?" Sylas asked, "What does that mean?"

"You don’t understand this?"

Sylas shook her head and said, confused, "The literal meaning seems to be about ‘love’ and ‘romance,’ but… with who? What exactly is it about? Are you talking about it with me? But I don’t seem to know anything related to it."

Luna laughed uncontrollably, "Alright, alright, you are a little fairy who is not interested in earthly matters."

"I…" Sylas said in frustration, "Is this common knowledge…?"

"Yes, ‘falling in love’ refers to a process where two people cultivate love through communication. Do you want to talk about it with me?"

Sylas quickly waved her hands and said, "Ah, no, no, no… not at all."

Luna laughed uncontrollably, "Have you never read a novel like this before? These are novels that describe the process of falling in love." After spending these few months together, Luna had already understood how to communicate with the little fairy who wasn’t interested in earthly matters: describing definitions is much more useful than using a term or describing a phenomenon that everyone understands.

"Oh, no, never." She smiled shyly, "It’s quite exciting."

She casually picked one from the nearby bookshelf and Luna said, "Oh, this one, ‘Untouchable,’ I think it’s very interesting and thrilling, and the age difference is a bit greater."

Age difference. Sylas’s heart skipped a beat secretly.

"You stay here and read this, I want to read this one."

"What’s that? ‘A Step… A Step Away’?"

Luna’s expression became slightly unnatural. "Well, the process of accepting things is gradual. These ones might not be suitable for you yet… How about you read the one you have with you first?"

"Oh… Oh."

The story she had with her was very simple, but it was also very shocking to her: The application letter of a young apprentice who lost both parents was mistakenly delivered to a secluded and evil magician because of one wrong word. The entire atmosphere of the story was very oppressive, the secluded and evil magician was just as secluded and evil as the literal meaning, making the reader constantly worry with the young apprentice about being taken away by the evil magician… "To take away virginity."

"What does that mean?"

Luna nudged her, saying, "Oh, you can understand it by combining the context yourself. Some vocabulary only appears in the context of novels. Once you read enough, you’ll understand."

"Oh…"

Under these confusing circumstances, Sylas’s heart felt very… very… excited. She vaguely understood that these were some very forbidden things. Luna bringing her to see these forbidden novels was an act of taboo itself. The stories in the books, where love was not supposed to happen but still did, perfectly resonated with the feelings that had been growing in her heart for a long time but she didn’t know how to classify.

She quickly read the book, unknowingly finishing it. After finishing it, she sighed with a sense of lingering satisfaction and even felt sweaty on her back.

The room was not very bright. The eccentric novelist walked over and asked, "Young ladies, I heard that today is the last day of the exam? Don’t delay going home. If you can’t bear to leave, why not rent or buy a book to take with you?"

Sylas glanced at the clock, feeling a bit nervous. Xerath didn’t inform her when she would come to pick her up. If she didn’t want to miss the archmage, it would be best to go to the Mage Guild’s teleportation station and wait.

"Um… I…" She hesitated, but Luna generously said, "This book, this book, and also this one and this one, they’re all really good! Borrow them and read them at home. I’ll treat you. Just make sure you don’t get caught by… um, your parents, or they’ll definitely confiscate them!"

The book covers were relatively simple, with dark leather covers and gold-stamped titles in fancy fonts.

"’Forbidden Relations… Melting’?" It seemed to be a series. "’Forbidden Relations… Inferno’?" No wonder Luna insisted on wrapping them with covers of world history books. Having the book titles exposed really made one feel embarrassed.

"Yes, yes, yes, I’m also about to leave. In fact, I made an appointment with my brother, and I’m already late…"

Fenika said, "Then, go this way. It’s a bit closer to the Mage Guild, no need to go around in circles." She recited a spell towards a not-so-obvious doorway, and the door opened. Abundant flowers in the garden extended their branches, forming a high path. Luna held her hand and they walked across the beautiful garden. When they stepped on the ground, the flowers retracted, and all that could be seen was the iron fence enclosing the entire garden, looking desolate.

After Luna left, Sylas became aimless again. The worst thing she could imagine was Xerath abandoning her at school without a care, so she had once inquired about how to apply for a dormitory during the holidays. Unfortunately, the holiday dormitories were not open to lower grade students, so she had to leave the school.

Maybe she should stay at the twins’ house for a while? But that might lead to questioning, and she shouldn’t reveal too much about the archmage to others.

In the end, she decided to stay at the Mage Guild in Withered Leaf City for a while, until Xerath herself said, "Don’t come back."

She completed the application and paid the fee, then was transported to Withered Leaf City. She sat near Aimekotes’ teleportation array, bored and waiting. A staff member even came to ask if she had forgotten her keys, so she had to admit that she had.

But who knows if Xerath would appear? She had some money with her, and if possible, she wanted to board herself at the shop Titus often frequents.

When the sun was about to set, she felt hungry. She had to carry her suitcase and leave the guild, hoping to find something to eat in a familiar shop. As she walked and thought about what to have, she nearly bumped into someone.

"…Sylas？"

Xerath’s voice appeared in her mind at the perfect moment. Sylas even suspected it was an illusion or some sort of trick, but she couldn’t help raising her head with hope.

The archmage’s hair had grown long, so she wasn’t wearing a hat. Her messy, pale golden short hair was loosely tied, and her gray eyes were embedded in a face as white as marble. She stood before Sylas against the light.

She suddenly remembered Luna’s words, "There’s a handsome and cold family tutor silently watching you alone, just thinking about it makes me excited, who cares if it’s moral or not!"

… Just like how it is now?

The deep gray made her feel like she was drowning inside an illusion, and she couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

"Why did you come back on your own?"

Sylas opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

– Do I hope that she loves me?

Xerath grabbed her arm, "Didn’t she write a letter to you saying she will come pick you up tomorrow?"

"…？"

– Damn it, I hope so.

"Did you not receive the letter?"

Sylas shook her head.

Xerath reached out her hand, frowned and paused for a moment when their eyes met. Eventually, she still extended her hand and straightened Sylas’s collar, smoothing out the wrinkles on her back, shoulders, and hips.

— Hoping she could… touch more places…

"I’m not sure if the letter got delayed, I’ll have Shamodial deliver it directly next time." Xerath’s tone was calm, as if she hadn’t been the one who didn’t write any letters to Sylas for a whole semester.

Sylas turned her head slightly.

Xerath lightly pressed her shoulder and half of Sylas’s body leaned against Xerath. This proximity made her shiver, but Xerath’s urging distracted her. "Since you’re back, let’s go home."

The archmage didn’t bring anything, didn’t hold anything in their hands, wearing a plain wizard robe, even without any embroidered threads on the collar. Hyectra was also absent. Sylas couldn’t guess what they were here for and why they suddenly appeared at the Mage Guild today. Xerath also seemed unwilling to explain, firmly holding her shoulder all the way and leading her into the teleportation array.

Squeezing her tightly, almost causing her pain.

She was wrapped in familiar parchment paper, it smelled like the library she knew so well. But another warm scent was lingering around her, distinct from the cold and lifeless smell.

Unlike others, she could clearly feel the restlessness inside her. But this restlessness confused her, she couldn’t determine if it was a hint from the forbidden novels in her trunk, or if she really… really had an unspoken attraction to her beautiful, handsome, and indifferent teacher.

"Sylas."

"Hmm? Teacher?" Sylas was startled, for a moment she thought her thoughts had been discovered.