Chapter 72
“This sword… as long as it’s not unsheathed, nothing will happen. Bring it here, I’ll demonstrate for you, Fei’er—”
I shook my head and kept backing away. Hearing her say that made it even more impossible for me to give it back. She’s really drunk.
“Sigh…” Sister put a hand to her forehead and sighed deeply. “Forget it. You take it. It’s useless for me to keep it anyway.”
“Sister, this is your magic,” I said helplessly.
Seeing her look like she wanted to cry but couldn’t, my heart ached for her. It’s already been four years. Has Sister still not escaped from ‘That person’s’ shadow?
“Xubai went mad. After killing all the teachers at the Magic Tower, she went on to hunt the Platinum-ranked adventurers at the peak of the Adventurer’s Guild. Tell me, isn’t she completely insane?”
As far as I know, the death hunt targeting top-tier adventurers lasted for a whole year. Back then, every adventurer lived in constant fear. This is why even ‘Sword Saint’ Sister Liwei is terrified at the mere mention of the Demon King. Everyone was afraid that if they encountered the Demon King while out adventuring, they would never return.
“Sister, it’s all in the past, let it go, okay?”
I gently patted Sister’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. She took the opportunity to pull me into her embrace. Although her chest was squeezing me to the point where it was a little hard to breathe, I quietly chose to endure it, just letting her hold me quietly.
If a hug can heal the wounds in Sister’s heart, I’m willing to be held by her for as long as it takes.
Sometimes I can’t help but fantasize… if only I, as the Saintess, truly possessed some miracle that could heal people’s hearts. Besides acting cute, that is.
After being held by Sister for a long time, I felt like I was the one being healed instead. Because Sister’s hug is really warm, and more importantly, it gives me a great sense of security.
I am the Saintess, born from the Holy Light. Since I was little, I was different from other children. They grew up with their moms and dads, while my “mom and dad” were just the murals on the church’s stained-glass windows. But that’s okay. The warmth of a family must be this feeling that Sister gives me, right?
Sister held me for a long time, so quiet it seemed as if she had fallen asleep. I carefully helped her lie down. Unfortunately, there were no blankets or anything in the Headmaster’s office, so I couldn’t cover her.
“Fei’er.” —Just as I laid Sister down, she softly called my name.
“You are… the Saintess of the Church of Holy Light. Even for the sake of your past friendship, Xubai shouldn’t have… hunted the Holy Paladins of the Church of Holy Light…”
Sister is still thinking about ‘That person.’ Even though her words made my heart sink, I have to be strong. If even I become sad, then I’d have to make my drunk sister comfort me in return, which would be just ridiculous.
“It’s all in the past, Sister. We should look forward. Hasn’t the person prophesied to defeat the Demon King already appeared?”
After muttering that last sentence, Sister completely passed out. Seeing her this drunk, how could I bear to leave her? I can just explain to Lian Qi later, right? I’m sure she’ll understand.
I took the magic cloak that Sister usually wears from the coat rack and covered her with it. I then pillowed my head on my arms, quietly studying Sister’s drunken face. My thoughts unknowingly drifted back to four years ago…
… … …
It was a beautiful, sunny day. In the empty park, only Sister Xubai and I were on the swings.
I looked at Sister Xubai on the swing next to me. She was petite, wearing a miniature black trench coat, its hood pulled up, covering her black twin-tails. Beneath her delicate eyelashes, a pair of pitch-black eyes revealed a deep melancholy.
“Sister Xubai, those people won’t let you be a Transmutation/Illusion teacher?”
“Mm,” she said, dejected. “Headmaster Larnitis thinks my magic is nothing but a toy, that it will lead students astray.”
I felt puzzled and asked, “How can that be? Sister Xubai, your magic is magic that can bring everyone happiness! I really like your merry-go-round, Sister.”
“As long as you’re happy. But Fei’er, this world is one where the strong reign supreme. Headmaster Larnitis believes that anyone holding a teaching position at the Magic Tower must teach students how to become stronger, not how to bring people happiness.”
“What’s with that? Those mages just love to fight all the time,” I said with a pout.
“Only through constant fighting can stronger mages be screened out, and only then can magic progress.”
Sister Xubai tilted her head up slightly, looking at me sideways. “But Fei’er, you must remember what I say. A truly strong person is one who firmly believes in love in their heart.”
“Believes in love…?”
“Mm. Remember what I said. If you fight only for the sake of becoming stronger, you’ll be left with nothing in the end.”
“Mhm! I’ll remember what you said,” I told her with a smile.
Sister Xubai let out a soft “hmph,” a faint smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. Sister doesn’t usually smile much. She only shows a rare smile when she’s with me.
“To hell with the Transmutation/Illusion teacher position! It’s enough for me to teach just one student: you.”
…
“Eh?” I pointed at my own nose and said weakly, “Student? Me?”
“Mm. Don’t forget, I’m the one who taught you how to play the Whack-a-Mole game.”
I stuck out my tongue and said, embarrassed, “I love playing with both your Whack-a-Mole magic and your merry-go-round magic, Sister!”
“Hmph. Why else do you think I created that magic?”
Sister Xubai turned her face away, muttering to herself. I hopped lightly off the swing and went over to study her. She was surprised by me suddenly getting so close.
“What’s wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?”
“Mm… about that…”
I deliberately used a mysterious tone to keep her in suspense, then, catching her off guard, I pulled down her hood. A pair of cute, black twin-tails popped out.
“Don’t be so gloomy…! See? You look much better with the hood off.”
“I know, you’re so annoying.” In response to my prank, she just turned her face to the side impatiently.
I thought, wouldn’t it be great if Sister Xubai just stopped wearing a hood from now on?
… … …
The swing, ‘That person’… they all vanished.
Was it a dream?
I opened my blurry eyes. It turned out I had accidentally fallen asleep while leaning next to Sister Aijieliya.
Mm… What time is it now? I yawned, rubbed my eyes, and glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window in the Headmaster’s office. The pitch-black night sky was gradually lightening, showing a hint of blue.
Oh no, I actually slept for so long!? Is Lian Qi going to make me kneel on the washboard again?
I glanced at Sister Aijieliya. She was still fast asleep, but she should be fine. I quietly tucked the cloak in around her and tiptoed out of the Headmaster’s office.
The temperature difference between day and night really is huge. It’s almost dawn, but it’s still so cold. The moment I stepped out of the office, I couldn’t help but rub my hands together from the cold. I really want to get back to my warm bed quickly.
I walked toward the dorm, my mind replaying the dream I just had. Although it was a dream, it was a memory I can never forget. That phrase, “A truly strong person is one who firmly believes in love”… I still remember it. But Sister Xubai, have you already forgotten?
Out of nowhere, someone covered my mouth and nose from behind with a towel!?
“Mmph…”
I struggled a few times, smelled a pungent odor, and then… I didn’t remember anything else.