Chapter 248: Each Their Own Path

Chapter 248: Each Their Own Path

Pushing open the door of the Herbal Medicine Shop, Madame Ellen was greeted by the familiar herbal aroma. Yet the shop felt eerily empty, devoid of Liliya’s usual bustling presence.

The medicine bottles lined the shelves neatly, the counter spotless, yet something felt off—a palpable absence.

Madame Ellen strode directly to the back room, pulled open a hidden drawer, and retrieved a yellowed map.

It was a detailed topographic map of the Emerald Great Forest, its regions marked with notes on terrain traits and key locations. Along its edges were her own handwritten annotations, detailing hazardous zones and rare medicinal herb distributions.

“Emerald Great Forest…” she murmured, her fingertip tracing the vast green expanse. Her gaze softened, thoughtful:

“A land rich in natural mana and bountiful potion materials. Yet the apprentice competition here isn’t as fierce as in the Crystal Spire.”

This wasn’t merely an escape—it was a meticulously calculated plan.

On this land beyond the Crystal Spire’s influence, she could pursue her research freely while offering Liliya a nurturing environment for growth. The forest’s ambient mana was gentler than the Central Lands’ overwhelming potency, sparing Liliya’s body undue strain, yet far richer than the Black Mist Jungle to support her gradual cultivation.

Madame Ellen’s mind began drafting the journey plan.

From the Black Mist Jungle, crossing the Snake Scale Swamp would take roughly five days.

Beyond lay the outer territories of the Falu Kekingdom—a peaceful stretch for rest and recovery.

Then, heading southeast, they’d traverse the Dragon Spine Mountains to reach the Emerald Great Forest’s edge.

The entire expedition would span months. Accounting for unexpected delays, she’d prepare six months’ worth of rations and potions.

Sufficient crystal coins and Mana Shard Fragments would be essential for emergencies.

As for precious potion-making tools and materials, she’d take what she could carry and seal the rest for retrieval once stability returned.

Most crucially, Liliya’s safety had to be guaranteed. Though the girl’s current aptitude was merely passable, her growth rate was exceptional.

And just as Luo En had returned a Boon to her, perhaps Liliya, too, could become a source of solace and strength in her twilight years.

A rare softness flickered in Madame Ellen’s sharp emerald eyes—a tenderness seldom seen on the stern old witch’s face.

As she pondered supply logistics, the doorbell jingled softly.

Madame Ellen lifted her head sharply, hoping for Liliya, but it was Youni who stepped inside.

The violet-eyed witch wore a simple gray robe today, her silver-white hair pinned neatly at her nape—quieter, more composed than usual. The elegant smile that typically graced her face was absent, replaced by uncharacteristic solemnity.

“Forgive the intrusion, Ai Lun,” Youni said from the doorway, her gaze shadowed with complexity.

“Before you leave, we should speak.”

Her eyes flicked to the open map, comprehension dawning:

“The Emerald Great Forest—a wise choice. Removed from the Central Lands’ strife, yet rich in resources.”

Madame Ellen’s brow furrowed, but she gestured for Youni to sit. Their relationship was cool but respectful; among the few female mages at this remote academy, camaraderie was a quiet necessity.

The two witches sat in silence, the only sound the fragrant tea’s gentle steam curling between them.

“You and Soren seem recovered,” Madame Ellen broke the quiet, her tone probing as she studied Youni’s unusually rosy complexion. “The Boon from Luo En?”

Youni nodded, gratitude warming her violet eyes:

“That pure power… indescribable. Years of spiritual contamination melted away like snow under the sun.”

She paused, seeking words, fingers grazing her now-flawless cheek—a once-permanent mark from contamination now vanished:

“It was as if warm sunlight had cleansed me entirely. Every fiber of my being feels revitalized. I haven’t felt this unburdened… this pure in years.”

Her voice trembled with longing—a sentiment every mage trapped by spiritual contamination understood.

Spiritual contamination was a soul’s shackle, heavy and inescapable. The Boon was the key—a liberation.

Madame Ellen’s impatience flickered, then vanished beneath practiced detachment:

“The Primordial mage’s Boon has always been purer, more potent than ordinary mages’. No surprise there.”

Her tone was clinical, yet her eyes betrayed pride.

Conversation lapsed again as the wind stirred the Black Mist Jungle’s canopy outside, rustling leaves like whispers.

“Actually,” Youni ventured, cautious, “when do you plan to depart? The academy could offer some… assistance.”

Madame Ellen calculated silently:

“In three days. I need time to organize herbs and equipment, stock supplies.”

Her finger tapped key points on the map:

“If all goes smoothly, we’ll reach the Emerald Great Forest’s edge within a month.”

Youni nodded:

“The academy will assign apprentices skilled in earth-element spells to accompany you. They’ll be useful in swamp terrain.”

She hesitated, adding softly: “Our final gesture of support.”

Madame Ellen’s brow lifted—a flicker of suspicion in her sharp gaze:

“Hayaek’s generosity? No strings attached?”

Youni sighed, weariness edging her voice:

“You always complicate things. Fuyuanzhang bears no ill will. Quite the contrary—he’s long admired your talent. Without his alliance with Master Valen, Crystal Spire would’ve imprisoned you in their secret dungeons to study your… ‘accident’.”

Her tone turned chiding, like a friend gently correcting a stubborn elder:

“They intended to lock you away, Ai Lun. Until they understood what your anomaly might unleash.”

Madame Ellen fell silent. She knew the truth—pride alone had kept her from acknowledging debts owed.

Her emerald eyes darkened, reflecting past choices and present crossroads.

“As for the cost,” Youni continued, teasingly shifting gears to spare her discomfort, “perhaps Fuyuanzhang hopes your prized apprentice’s future Boon might someday repay him. After all, who wouldn’t crave that pure power?”

Madame Ellen allowed a thin smile:

“Then I’ll accept your generosity graciously.”

Madame Ellen fell silent for a moment before offering a rare word of gratitude, her voice lacking its usual sharpness:
"I’m just worried about Liliya now. The child’s been missing since morning, and I fear she might do something reckless."

A knowing smile crossed Youni’s face:
"Don’t fret. I saw her sitting alone on the East District Rooftop. Once she sorts through her emotions, she’ll return."

Madame Ellen gave a slight nod, the weight in her chest finally lifting. At least Liliya was still within the School’s grounds—her safety wouldn’t be an issue.

Youni rose to her feet, her violet robe whispering softly as she moved: "I should be going. There’s still much to handle."
Her gaze settled on Madame Ellen, filled with complex emotions: "Whatever happens, may your journey proceed smoothly, Ai Lun."

Madame Ellen simply nodded, offering no further words.

Once Youni left, the Herbal Medicine Shop fell silent once more. The old woman stood by the window, watching the gradually darkening sky, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She’d spent over a century here—now, on the verge of departure, she felt an unexpected pang of reluctance.

………………

As night fell, within the newly constructed Simple Meeting Room, Hayaek sat at the head of the room, a deep-red stimulant drink placed before him. His face appeared more haggard than usual, dark shadows beneath his eyes betraying many sleepless nights.

Soren sat to his left, holding a scroll of parchment marked with the School’s latest observational data. Though his wounds had healed, the exhaustion from brushing death’s edge had yet to fully fade.

Youni sat on the right, her white-streaked-with-purple hair tied back. She was now intently studying the mana projection hovering above the table’s center. It showed a three-dimensional map of the Black Mist Jungle, with clusters of glowing points in various colors marking different types of mana anomalies.

"The situation’s worse than we anticipated", Hayaek sighed, using his fingers to gently adjust the projection and zoom in on an especially bright red zone. "Mana leakage from the Altar area has already affected the outer defensive arrays. The mana Barriers in the South and West Zones have begun developing cracks."

Soren nodded gravely: "I’ve ordered reinforcement teams to secure critical nodes, but this is only a temporary fix. The Bloodline Altar’s seal has completely ruptured—Abyssal mana now pours in endlessly. We can’t resolve this at its root."

"How’s the evacuation progressing?" Hayaek asked, shifting his gaze from Soren to Youni.

"We’ve evacuated about eighty percent", Youni replied, her voice tinged with weariness. "We anticipate needing another week to complete the basic evacuation, but even then, we won’t be able to take all accumulated knowledge and equipment with us."

She paused, regret flickering in her purple eyes: "Centuries of accumulated knowledge… lost like this."

Hayaek’s expression grew heavier, yet his tone remained firm: "Preserving lives remains our priority. Knowledge and equipment can be rebuilt, but once we lose our people, they’re irreplaceable."

Soren suddenly interjected, his tone shifting unexpectedly: "Speaking of talent—Ai Lun’s preparations to depart for the Emerald Great Forest in three days."

Hayaek raised an eyebrow slightly, though unsurprised: "I’ve already approved her request. The School will dispatch an escort team to ensure her and the female student pass through the Snake Scale Swamp safely."

His voice remained calm, yet complex emotions flickered in his eyes: "Ai Lun’s advanced age warrants proper protection."

Soren’s gaze turned probing: "You still harbor compassion for her, even after all this time."

"Back then, Ai Lun grew too arrogant—her innate talent clouded her judgment", Hayaek mused. "She believed her brilliance alone could defy rules and challenge authority directly. But I admired her talent and courage, even if it was a recklessness bordering on self-destruction."

"Yet she never expressed gratitude for your help", Soren added softly, a hint of resentment in his voice. "She even consistently maintained hostility toward you."

"Ai Lun’s pride wouldn’t allow her to admit past mistakes, much less express gratitude to anyone", Hayaek said, shaking his head slightly, his tone devoid of blame. "It’s simply her nature—like flames forever burning upward, strong ones always yearning to challenge greater heights. This unchangeable trait defines her."

Youni coughed lightly, inserting herself into the conversation: "I visited Ai Lun this afternoon. She’s already preparing for departure."

A flicker of concern passed through the witch’s purple eyes: "She deeply cares for that student, Liliya—as if seeing her as some sort of bloodline heir."

"Speaking of bloodlines", Soren continued, a rare smile appearing on his face. "Before leaving, Luo En left Holt a gift—a vial of improved Artificial Star Dew. It might soon push him past the spiritual energy critical threshold for High Apprentices."

"Such impeccable character is exceedingly rare among today’s mages", Hayaek marveled, admiration gleaming in his eyes. "This quality of gratitude and reciprocity might be even rarer than his innate talent."

The three mages exchanged smiles, each seeing the same admiration and anticipation for Luo En reflected in the others’ eyes. In the hundred-year history of the Black Mist School, few apprentices had ever received such unanimous recognition from multiple Mentors.

"How should we arrange this School migration?" Youni returned to the main topic. "Which apprentices are worth taking with us to the Central Lands?"

Hayaek pondered briefly, his gaze resting on each glowing point representing an apprentice within the projection: "We must take the top ten of the Backup Mage Sequence. Especially Holt—his earth-element innate talent ranks among the best in the School. Others with unique specializations could also be brought along."

"Then let’s decide this way", he concluded, seeing no objections from the others. "The top ten in the Backup Mage Sequence, plus High Apprentices excelling exceptionally in their disciplines—no more than thirty total. The remaining personnel will be dispersed locally, but we’ll ensure proper arrangements so everyone finds a destination. After all, though the Black Mist School is a frontier institution, it has always upheld the magical world’s fundamental principles."

He paused, a flicker of complex emotion crossing his eyes: "As for knowledge and equipment we can’t take, we’ll seal and preserve what’s possible for future retrieval. What’s truly beyond preservation… we’ll have to abandon."

This decision weighed heavily on all three present, but they understood—under current circumstances, this was already the best choice. The Abyssal contamination of the Black Mist Jungle had become irreversible. Clinging to saving material wealth would only cost more lives.

"By the way, Soren", Hayaek suddenly recalled, turning to the colleague on his left. "Earlier, you mentioned using merit points and a life-debt favor to exchange something for Luo En—what exactly did you give him in the end?"

Soren coughed once, suddenly turning mysterious: "That item… I’ll only say it’s an old, long-unused device from the School. As for specifics—you’ll just have to guess."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end