The Uninvited Guest

“What? You’re leaving right away?”

Lydia looked somewhat surprised at the Dragon Tribe girl’s farewell.

“Yes, there’s a problem with the Dragon God Cult, and as a Saintess, I must return.”

Aurelia nodded, her expression serious.

“But we just found some clues, and our agreement and plan haven’t yet…”

At this, Lydia’s mood became a little downcast.

‘I finally got a clue about Master, and I finally found a comrade with a common goal. Our comradeship hasn’t even been established for long, and now she’s leaving.’

And judging by the situation, this wouldn’t be resolved in a day or two. She might even end up taking a long-term leave.

“You don’t have to worry about this. I will definitely return. As a Saintess, if I can’t even handle such a small problem, then I would be a terrible Saintess.”

Considering Lydia’s feelings, Aurelia offered a slight smile, her tone softening and becoming much more relaxed.

“Is it an internal problem?”

The girl tentatively asked.

“Yes, every group has more or less some parasites, and once there are too many parasites, it will cause obvious diseases. This time, I’m going back to eradicate these parasites.”

“Do you really not need help? If you truly do, I…”

“I can help you…”

“No need.”

Aurelia refused her politely, but even in her refusal, it was clear that the expression in her eyes had softened considerably.

She could tell that the girl’s words just now were not hypocritical. If she had agreed, Lydia might really have taken leave to accompany her back and help.

‘Truly worthy of being my husband’s disciple. Her character and temperament are exactly like his.’

‘But it’s still the same sentiment: it’s just my internal problem. I have no reason to let my husband’s disciple take this risk.’

“But you don’t have to be disheartened. After I leave, you won’t have nothing to do either. Didn’t you say you already asked your friend to investigate your Master’s whereabouts before he went to the Elf Forest?”

“Yes, I remember you mentioned you’ve entrusted your friend to investigate…”

“I’ve also made some progress these past few days. I know that a first-year student at the Academy, a girl named Selina, is very likely related to your Master. During my absence, you can try to get in touch with her. You might be able to get some clues from her.”

As she spoke, Aurelia pushed a pre-prepared envelope towards the girl.

“Inside are all the useful materials I’ve gathered over the years concerning Conde. Though not much, when combined with the information you’ve investigated, it should help uncover the truth. I am now entrusting them to you.”

Lydia took the envelope, weighing its contents. Her previously somewhat dim eyes immediately brightened.

“Thank you! Oh, right!”

The girl first thanked her, then, as if remembering something important, opened her travel pouch. After rummaging inside, she pulled out a crystal necklace of ordinary design.

“Take this. It might help you with what you’re about to encounter.”

“This is?”

Aurelia looked at the crystal necklace handed to her, her eyes filled with confusion.

“I’ve named this crystal necklace ‘Anti-Eavesdropper No. 2.’ My Master and I researched this together years ago. The magic runes inscribed on it are a bit rough, but its practicality is what matters.”

Speaking of past events, Lydia recalled that time, and her pale blue eyes couldn’t help but brighten a few shades.

“You know, Master was a thief in his lifetime, so he detested mages who specialized in mental magic. Therefore, he bought and crafted many magical items specifically to deal with such situations. This ‘Anti-Eavesdropper’ is one of them.”

“Its specific function is that when someone nearby uses mind-reading, mental eavesdropping, or similar magic and abilities on you, the Anti-Eavesdropper will block your inner voice, and at the same time, it will steal the inner voice of the person using the ability. In short, it’s a very useful item!”

A warmth spread through her heart. The seemingly weightless necklace in her hand felt heavier now.

She tightly clasped the necklace, gently placing it over her chest, a reassuring and comforting smile curving the corners of her eyes.

“Thank you, Lydia.”

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing! You gave me such an important item, I don’t even know how to thank you. This necklace can be my farewell gift to you. Helping each other—that’s what friends do, right? Oh, and finally, I wish you a safe journey.”

Lydia smiled carelessly, her intimate words seeming to fully acknowledge the friend before her.

“Mhm, a safe journey.”

Yesterday, Selina, who clearly hadn’t slept well, covered her mouth with one hand, yawning, and lazily opened the dormitory door with the other.

Crispin had an elective class this afternoon and wasn’t in the dorm.

The moment the door opened, the figure of the white dragon girl, silhouetted against the orange glow of the sunset, entered the girl’s eyes.

Selina, who had been somewhat sleepy, instantly sobered up. She noticed a faint smell of paint on Aurelia, and looking down, saw that the Dragon Saintess’s skirt was still stained with not-yet-dry paint.

“Senior Aurelia, you are…?”

“I apologize, Junior Selina, though it’s a bit abrupt, I’ve come to bid you farewell.”

With the twilight sunset as her backdrop, the Dragon Saintess, in her white dress, appeared even more serene and gentle.

She stood at the door, her white dress swaying lightly, like a butterfly about to embark on a long journey.

“Wait, did something happen?”

Selina frowned, a little surprised.

“Yes, something came up at home that I need to go back and resolve. To keep you from worrying unnecessarily during this time because you can’t find me, I came to say goodbye.”

Towards Selina, Aurelia did not reveal more specific details about her situation as she had with Lydia.

After all, in her eyes, Junior Selina was merely a young girl with some connection to Conde, and there was no need to involve such an innocent girl in her troubles.

“Why don’t you come in and sit for a while? I’ll make you some tea, and we can deal with the paint on your skirt first…”

Selina was still trying to coax Aurelia into the room to extract more information from her, but unexpectedly, such a simple and reasonable request was met with rejection.

Aurelia glanced at the gradually setting sun outside the dormitory window, smiled, and shook her head.

“No, it’s getting late. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning. I should go back early to prepare. So, we’ll meet again someday.”

As she spoke, the Dragon Saintess smiled and waved at her, then turned and left without looking back.

Selina stared at the girl’s retreating figure, a little stunned, and also numbly raised her hand in response.

“See… you again someday…”

For some reason, watching the Dragon Saintess’s figure grow distant, an inexplicable urge welled up in her heart to rush forward, grab her hand, and leave with her.

Selina stood dumbfounded at the doorway for a long time.

Only when the Dragon Saintess’s figure completely disappeared did she return to her dormitory, somewhat glumly pulling the door shut.

Aurelia’s departure and farewell felt as if it had inexplicably carved a small void in her heart. Now, she felt a strange emptiness inside, as if she had lost something…

“What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel like this?”

The girl whispered weakly, looking at her palm.

“Why don’t you just go back with her and see? Anyway, if you let her go back alone, you’ll feel uneasy inside, won’t you?”

Suddenly, a seductive voice appeared inside the dormitory.

Selina whipped her head around and saw a familiar figure, who had sat down in her desk chair at some unknown point.

A mature body, enveloped and concealed by black robes, whose perfect contours outlined a primal urge that made one’s blood surge. Her smile was a poisonous flower hidden in mist, carrying an implicit danger within its mystery.

The mysteriously appearing person was none other than the Vice Principal she had encountered during the entrance test—the Witch, Hecate.