Chapter 61: Divine Technique! (4K)
Playing with the exquisite and sturdy bracelet on her wrist, Xue Fei hopped down from a stone, placed one hand on her hip, and turned back to glance at Livra, who was sitting elegantly on a large rock.
“I’ll accept the bracelet.”
“Mm-mm!”
“Well done! And I’ve also received your thanks.”
“Uh…! Thank you, Miss Shaya!”
“However, I still suggest that you should try to come to see me less often.”
“Mm-mm…! Ah…? Um… okay… I understand… I’ll try to come less in the future…”
No, no, no, you clearly don’t understand!
Upon hearing Xue Fei’s sudden words, Livra’s previously excited demeanor felt doused with cold water, revealing a fragile sadness akin to a small cat stuck in the rain, as if she was about to burst into tears and run along the lakeside at any moment.
Xue Fei sighed in silence. Sometimes Livra was clearly quite clever, so how could she suddenly become so dense and miss this point?
“I didn’t mean it like that. When I said you should come less, I meant because of your identity. You are, after all, the princess of Aulus Kingdom. If someone discovers that you often come into the deep mountains to meet with a Demon Princess, don’t think public opinion is so easy to control. You might end up being accused of treason, and then it’ll be too late for you to be shocked.”
“Is that so…? But isn’t Lord Xialet also with you every day?”
“Xiya is different, ahem… she is different.”
The first time she mentioned it, an image of Xiya, panting and drenched in sweat from lying on top of her last night, inadvertently flashed through Xue Fei’s mind.
When she said Xiya was different, her first reaction was to think of that.
It made her want to slap herself!
Just because her tone was too soft and lacked a certain presence during her first explanation, Xue Fei said it again.
Different… does not refer to emotional matters!
“It’s normal for me to be with Xiya. Don’t forget my current identity; I am the ‘Peace Ambassador’ from the Demon Territory, while Xiya, as a hero, is the kingdom’s executor monitoring me, this ‘Peace Ambassador.’ Besides, when I’m usually with Xiya, I take on Shaya’s appearance. Can your situation be compared to hers?”
“Um… yes… right now, I definitely can’t compare to Lord Xialet…”
Livra fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
Xue Fei felt that she had made her point clear, and Livra should certainly understand.
However…
What Livra said next completely surprised Xue Fei!
“I understand… So if I can avoid being accused of treason, I can come close… cough, get close to Miss Shaya, right?”
“You really have to come looking for me, don’t you?!”
Unexpectedly, Livra nodded firmly.
Her momentum suggested she would not back down no matter what.
Not only would she not back down.
She leaned closer, her forehead nearly touching Xue Fei’s!
“Ah, stop, stop, stop…! I get it! If you truly have that capability, then go ahead, but I must remind you, if you really encounter any public opinion issues, don’t come looking for my help. I’m not that free.”
“Okay… I will cherish this opportunity!”
“Opportunity…? Ugh… where did you get this energy from…?”
Xue Fei had no idea why Livra’s eyes sparkled like pearls, filled with excitement as she looked at her, almost like a lovesick girl seeing her lover return after a long absence.
But that possibility shouldn’t exist~
After all, she and Livra had only met once, and now they were just barely friends, with their relationship having only recently gotten less stiff. It was unlikely she had such absurd thoughts~
Uh… speaking of which, what was she doing?
Livra, who had been laughing and excited just a moment ago, suddenly became serious and took a few steps back.
She slowly pressed her left hand against her modest chest, took a small step back with her right foot, and bowed to Xue Fei.
— This was the highest etiquette of the Aulus Kingdom.
In the common folk, this etiquette symbolized submission and respect.
Within the Aulus Royal Family, this gesture was a sign of respect for elders or teachers.
And the third princess of her kingdom performed this grand gesture toward me, a Demon Princess…
Oh no, this princess might really be a traitor.
“Miss Shaya.”
“What’s up?”
Livra did not raise her head; instead, she pressed it down even lower.
Her words carried more humility.
“Before leaving… I would like to ask you for something. This might seem very presumptuous… I don’t know if it’s too much to ask, but but! It’s you, Miss Shaya, who taught me to become strong, to face my true self, so I think being greedy is not wrong!”
“Stop, stop, stop! Just tell me what it is. Even if you keep praising me, I won’t give you half a donut.”
“Mm! Then I’ll say it…”
Livra took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Then she held her breath and suddenly bowed deeply, her sweet voice bursting forth!
“Miss Shaya, could you… could you take me as your disciple and teach me magic!”
“Ha… oh no, it seems I haven’t woken up yet. I’m out, I’m out.”
Xue Fei wasn’t really bothered, right?
She genuinely felt like she wasn’t awake yet and couldn’t quite make out what Livra was saying.
I can’t hear; I can’t hear~
Just as Xue Fei turned to sneak away, Livra was quick to pounce forward, intending to hug her waist.
However, the road by the lake was already rugged, and in her urgency, Livra tripped over a stone and fell hard.
“Ah wow!!”
“I asked if you’re okay…? Um… why are you still so energetic?!”
“Please take me as your… ow ow ow… I want to be taught magic by Miss Shaya!”
Can’t we have a normal conversation? You don’t need to hug my leg like a clingy kid just because you fell!
Thankfully, there were no other people around. Otherwise, the scene of the third princess rolling on the ground, hugging my leg and whining with teary eyes, would have made it so she’d never be able to lift her head again in this lifetime.
Xue Fei tried to shake her short legs to escape the binding, but it was useless; Livra was holding on too tightly.
But soon, what Livra was tightly grabbing turned into air.
Xue Fei used a kind of teleportation magic, flashing into the space between them and standing behind Livra.
Livra blinked her big eyes at her empty arms and, turning around, saw the reflection of Xue Fei in her eyes, with increasing admiration.
Miss Shaya… has always been so powerful!
Taking advantage of Livra standing up to brush off the dust and not coming at her again, Xue Fei closed her left eye and raised her left hand, inquiring, “What do you want to learn magic for…? By the way, don’t you need it? The Aulus Royal Family is protected by the Light Family. It’s not like you’re the only weak one; there aren’t many who can fight in your royal family. Isn’t that normal?”
“Is Miss Shaya testing me…?”
I’m not!!
I’m genuinely trying to persuade you to slack off and just relax, okay? At the very least, don’t cling to my leg like that!
Nevertheless, Livra clenched her fists in front of her.
Looking at her powerless fists, the resilience reflected in Livra’s eyes could no longer be shaken.
“I always remember your words, to become strong… strong enough to protect the ones I care about. This time made me understand even more. If it weren’t for your help back on that platform, my parents, my siblings, and I would probably have been killed by then… I know I am powerless… weak, but I always feel I can do better, at least better than now, better than the me today… instead of always thinking about asking for your and Lord Xialet’s protection. Otherwise, I would be no different from my past self.”
“You could easily sit back and enjoy life as a carefree princess, and you think like this?”
“Mm, this has nothing to do with my identity.”
The sunlight reflected on the emerald, and the waves shimmered like ink.
Livra’s innocent yet thoughtful smile tilted her head.
It seemed to let Xue Fei see the self from years ago, who wanted to rescue Xiya yet felt powerless.
“Just like you, Miss Shaya. You are clearly the daughter of the Demon Race, but you always stand at the forefront, silently bearing everything. Someone like you… makes me admire you. Compared to me, you are the real princess.”
“Is… is that so…? Th-thank you?”
“Mm!”
Xue Fei rarely felt her face flush as she glanced aside.
Livra’s words… made her feel a bit embarrassed.
Very few people would recognize Xue Fei.
No matter how hard she tried, it was difficult to receive even a simple compliment.
It was because she was born with great talent… and as a daughter of the Demon Race, everyone thought her excellence was natural, and any slight flaw would be met with countless criticisms.
Xue Fei silently expressed gratitude for Livra’s recent evaluation.
You call me the real princess…
Thank you, but I still have a long way to go.
As for Livra’s request earlier.
In her heart, Xue Fei finally came to a conclusion.
“Well… it’s fine; I’m not short on sleeping time.”
“Eh…? Miss Shaya, are you implying…!”
“Teaching you some magic isn’t a problem, but I must insist, don’t go back to bowing and calling me ‘teacher’ like earlier. I can’t handle that; it’s tiresome just to think about.”
“I understand! Teacher Shaya!”
“Ugh, I’ve realized you have a bad memory.”
Titles should depend on who calls whom.
Xue Fei originally thought she would dislike that title, but it strangely felt quite good being called “Teacher Shaya” by such an innocent and lively Livra.
At this point, Xiya was probably about to wake up.
Teaching Livra magic wouldn’t be an overnight task.
So, Xue Fei planned to ask her a few questions today to understand the situation.
“I say, Livra, haven’t you specifically learned magic before? You have third-tier strength, right?”
“Well… heh heh… this is a bit embarrassing to say, but I haven’t slacked off in learning magic since I was young, but… I haven’t stood out much. The teachers who have taught me magic always said my talent wasn’t bad, but whenever it came to practice, I was always just average. My assessment of being third-tier mostly came from close combat… If it’s about casting magic, I probably can’t even handle the simplest spell.”
As she spoke, Livra raised her hand to show her current situation.
【Low-tier Water Element】.
A small water ball gathered in Livra’s palm as droplets formed, but just this much made her expression become serious; it was clear she was straining.
Sizzle——
The water ball failed to form, becoming increasingly irregular before bursting apart.
— Splashing water all over Xue Fei’s face.
“Ah… I’m sorry! Miss Shaya, are you okay?!”
“It’s fine, I’m not so easily defeated by some trivial water magic. Just a bit unlucky.”
Xue Fei slapped her palm on her face, wiping away the water droplets covering her cheeks.
Her damp silver hair clung to her cheek, and she didn’t notice Livra suddenly swallow nervously because Xue Fei was deep in thought.
“That shouldn’t be… Just now, when you used magic, the magic concentration was quite high; why couldn’t you cast it?”
“Ugh… I’m not sure either. I can’t do attack or defense magic…”
Livra never had a lazy day.
Every morning, she would practice low-tier 【Fireball】 at the target behind the sleeping quarters without ever skipping a day.
Yet after over a decade, that target still looked brand new.
Xue Fei mumbled something softly.
“Could it be… the direction was wrong? By the way, Livra, you said you can communicate with birds, right?”
“Not communicate, but I can sense their intentions.”
“That’s close enough; language is originally for communication. If you can directly understand their intentions, then language loses its meaning. Have you tried talking to any other creatures besides birds?”
“I have, I have…! I even looked for snails!”
“Such a big leap between species?!”
“Mm, I tried to get a snail that was far away to come back; in the end, the Mr. Snail really returned, even if it took a long time…”
“Word Spirit Technique…?”
“Salt… what about salt?”
“Livra.”
“Mm?”
Xue Fei suddenly stood up.
Her slightly widened eyes filled with expectation seemed to hold a flicker of hope.
Xue Fei eagerly pointed at the lake surface and guided Livra to the lake’s edge.
“Quick, try it! Livra, just think that you can speak to the big fish in the lake, and then tell them to jump up from the lake! Give it a shot!”
“Ah…? Will this really work… Alright, since Miss Shaya says so… I’ll give it a try.”
Livra calmed her heart.
She clasped her hands in front of her, facing the calm lake surface, still as if making a wish.
With Xue Fei beside her, it was rare for Livra to feel so at ease and focused.
The wind blew through the girl’s dark hair, merging her enchanting visage with the lake’s glimmer, creating a beautiful scene.
It seemed as if no matter how long she stood there, the beauty would solidify, extending the tranquility.
However…
Xue Fei squinted her eyes.
She noticed changes starting by the lakeside.
At first, ripples appeared on the calm surface of the lake.
Then bubbles began to rise from the water.
Finally…
A big fish leaped from the water and flopped onto the shore, struggling and flailing…
Following that, one by one, dozens, then hundreds of big fish surged up wildly.
The scene was spectacular!
In what seemed like a shower of fish from the sky, Xue Fei jumped up high.
She gave Livra a thumbs up, her joyful expression impossible to conceal!
“Livra, you seriously underestimated yourself; this is definitely a divine technique!”
“Eh?!”
