124 Temporary Rest
The Magic Association’s temporary lockdown of the teleportation station quickly spread like wildfire among all the key figures and informants. The arrival of the siblings, Tedria and Pedia, was promptly reported to every person of considerable influence, thrusting the two—and the Aubryon family behind them—into the keen scrutiny of countless factions.
Arman Serstan gently set down the intelligence report in his hand. Though only two thin pages, the possibilities contained within stirred endless speculation. Standing quietly by the window, he gazed out at the springtime scenery, silently pondering for a long moment before finally speaking. “Send for my wife.”
A faint gray shadow slipped out from the corner of the room’s darkness, then vanished. Less than five minutes later, Laura Serstan softly pushed open the door and asked, “Arman, is something wrong?”
“Laura,” the Duke of Serstan greeted her warmly, taking her hand and guiding her to the desk. He handed over the two-page report, gesturing for her to read. “I recall you had a good impression of that girl, Teresa, and that you once had some acquaintance with her parents?”
Laura carefully read through the entire report. Understanding her husband’s meaning, she said, “Tess is a very intelligent and sensible child. Though young, she is remarkably composed—Nini adores her. Since returning to the capital, she often talks about Tess, complaining that Tess hasn’t come to the city yet. She even asked me how to knit a scarf as a birthday gift for Tess! You know how sensitive Nini is to people; if she likes someone so much, it must be genuine.”
“As for Tess’s parents… we met them over a decade ago. Do you remember when I returned from the Ice Plains and was attacked by the Void Beasts? It was Tess’s parents who saved me. Her father left a deep impression—he was upright, powerful, and had profound knowledge of the Void Beasts.”
Laura emphasized the word “profound,” and her meaning needed no elaboration.
The Duke of Serstan pondered thoughtfully before asking, “How likely do you think it is that they are connected to ‘that place’?”
“About sixty to seventy percent,” Laura replied. “Their disappearance coincides too closely with the time of the ‘Magic Tide’!”
Her certainty lifted a heavy weight from Arman’s heart. He exhaled slowly, then said, “Tell Nini about her visit to the capital. The elders shouldn’t interfere too much—let the younger generation grow closer.”
“That’s wonderful,” Laura smiled gently. “Nini will be overjoyed.”
The older couple exchanged a few more lighthearted words before Laura, in good spirits, went to convey the news to Benita. After she left the study, Arman’s smile faded, and he sighed softly, murmuring, “Amos Aubryon… what a pity…”
***
Tedria and Pedia had no idea the impact their arrival was having on the capital. Once they were ushered onto the carriage, a drowsiness overcame them. Even when Mu separated from them midway with several other mages, the two children barely noticed. They had been unable to resist the bodily urge to sleep since boarding, despite knowing it was unusual. Gradually, they drifted into a deep, sweet slumber—this was their bodies’ way of adjusting after crossing through the alien dimension. Compared to their first entry into the Void Realm, this time’s adjustment was noticeably milder.
When Teresa awoke again, the sky outside was a blanket of stars. Warm bedding and soft, comfortable pajamas greeted her—a welcome luxury after nearly a month without proper rest. She stretched languidly, rolling around in bed until hunger’s sharp insistence finally roused her. Dressing in her robe, she gently pulled the bell cord by her bedside—
Within a minute, a fragrant dinner was laid before her, and to her delight, every dish was one of her favorites!
Starving beyond reason, Teresa paid no mind to formal dining etiquette and devoured the meal with gusto. When she finished, she even licked her lips in satisfied anticipation, eyes still lingering on the now spotless plates.
A maid standing nearby quickly cleared the table, then handed her an invitation. “Miss Benita from the Aslam family wishes to visit at 4:25 PM. You were resting, so Miss Aslam left this invitation, stating she will return tomorrow.”
“How does that girl have such quick news? I just arrived in the capital, and yet she already knows? Strange…” Teresa muttered, flipping through the invitation. After confirming the time and place, she looked up and asked, “What about my brother?”
“Master Pedia is still resting,” the maid paused before continuing, “The master said he is different from you and requires more time to ‘digest and absorb.’ Please do not worry.”
“Oh… alright. What about Master Mu? Is he available to see me now?” Teresa inquired further.
“Master Mu instructed that you may see him anytime if you wish.”
“Good, then let’s go.”
***
When Teresa found Mu, he was standing before a bookshelf, reading. Upon noticing her, he looked up, and Teresa immediately bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Master, for your efforts. I’m sorry to trouble you.”
Mu’s gaze was cold as he scrutinized her for several seconds before closing the book and replying coldly, “‘Magic Devour’ was my mistake. You need not apologize. Since you have just returned from the Void Realm, long-distance teleportation is inadvisable for now. Rest here in the capital for a while, then proceed to Valenda in due time.”
“Understood, thank you, Master.”
The brief exchange fell into silence, the atmosphere growing somewhat tense. Suddenly, Mu seemed to recall something, a faint smile touching his lips as he said, “Are those two thousand-petaled roses Lambert gave you?”
Teresa instinctively glanced down at the two beautiful thousand-petaled roses pinned to her chest and replied, “Yes, Lambert… said he and the thousand-petaled roses don’t get along. Better to give them to me—at least the roses like me.”
“That brat…” Mu muttered indistinctly, then explained, “The thousand-petaled rose nurtures the soul. Though it cannot heal your soul’s shadow wounds, it helps balance your energy, preventing any spiritual backlash. Therefore, you need not be overly cautious about suppressing your spiritual power—doing so might hinder your future cultivation.”
This unexpected revelation made Teresa lift her head sharply, her eyes sparkling like two emerald gems.
Mu cleared his throat lightly. “Enough. It’s late. You should rest now.”
Teresa hesitated but could not resist Mu’s authority. She departed with many backward glances. Though she left the room, her heart remained restless, filled with dreams of those endlessly blooming, beautiful thousand-petaled roses…
(To be continued)