Elia softly spoke a greeting to the other side.
A short while later, a response came from the other end of the communication crystal.
The voice carried a hint of a smile, but also a touch of exhaustion and a faint trace of the weight of years.
“Your Majesty Elia,” the woman said.
“Just call me Elia, like you used to,” Elia said with a smile.
“All right,” the woman on the other side replied. “Please tell me what you need, Miss Elia. I will do my best to fulfill it.”
“I found her.” Before Liz could finish, Elia spoke first.
” — !”
Elia could clearly feel the shock and loss of composure from the other side at that moment.
After a long silence, the woman spoke again. “It’s good that you found her… It’s good that you found her…”
Her tone carried heartfelt joy and blessings, yet it was also mixed with a faint bitterness and reminiscence.
“So, I want you to help me forge a sword. Something suitable for her current self,” Elia said. “In a few days, I will send you her data and abilities.”
“I understand,” the woman replied. “I will work hard to forge a sword that both you and she will be satisfied with.”
“Thank you, Liz.”
“It is what I should do.”
*Dong — *
At that moment, the bell struck the hour. The clock tower not far away sent out a crisp and distant echo.
“Speaking of which, after you finish the sword, do you want to come and see her?” Elia asked amidst the ringing bells. “After all… you waited for her with me for so long.”
The other side of the communication crystal fell silent for a long time.
Finally, the other party chuckled softly and said, “I… I think I won’t go.”
“Why?”
“She probably doesn’t even remember me anymore,” the woman said softly. “And the way I look now… it’s no longer suitable for me to appear at the academy.”
She knew very well.
She was not like Elia.
She did not have a powerful ancient bloodline, nor did she have astonishing talent for cultivation.
If not for Elia’s help, she wouldn’t have even been able to break through her realm before the end of her lifespan to live to this era.
And this was already her limit.
There are always people who are young.
There are always people who stay in the golden years of their youth.
But among those people… she was not included.
Elia’s expression couldn’t help but turn a bit somber.
“Are you really not coming?” she asked again.
“No, I’m not coming,” the other party’s tone was firm. “This time, please stay by her side properly, Miss Elia.”
“Don’t worry. This time, I won’t lose her again.”
Elia nodded gently.
Having finally found her again with such difficulty, she would never let go easily.
“That’s all for now, Miss Elia. I won’t disturb you two any longer.”
“Mhm. See you later, Liz.”
Shortly after, the light of the communication crystal dimmed, and their conversation ended.
Elia looked at the crystal, momentarily lost in thought.
‘Should I find a way to let them meet…’
She murmured under her breath.
Liz had also accompanied her through those long years of waiting.
***
At this moment, in the distant Frostwhisper Empire.
the woman slowly put down the communication crystal and sat quietly in her chair, memories surging like a tide.
Unconsciously, she took a dress out of her space ring.
The dress had been well-preserved. Even after hundreds of years, it was still clean and tidy, aside from some slight yellowing.
She placed the dress on her lap and stroked it gently.
This was the most expensive and most beautiful dress she had ever bought.
But she had never worn it.
She had once been waiting for someone, waiting for someone who would invite her to dinner.
But she had never managed to wait long enough for that person.
Should she go find that person and claim the meal that belonged to her?
Or… forget it.
Because now, someone else missed that young woman even more than she did.
As for her…
“I’m sorry, I still became an adult before you did…”
she said softly.
***
Not long after Elia left, Afu also woke up.
Lu Mo naturally didn’t know what had happened on Elia’s end.
“Miss, it’s time to get up… Eh?!”
Afu knocked on the door, but it was pushed open directly.
She found that Lu Mo was not in bed.
Realizing something, she immediately ran to the window.
Soon, she saw Lu Mo in the courtyard.
Lu Mo also noticed her gaze, looked up, and smiled. “Morning, Afu.”
“Miss Lu Mo! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”
Afu bowed repeatedly in apology, her voice sounding like she was about to cry.
“It’s my fault for not waking up earlier. It’s all my fault…”
Instead, it was Lu Mo who comforted her.
“It’s fine, Afu. Just get up a bit earlier next time.”
“Official classes haven’t started yet anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
“It’s just that I’ve been getting up quite early these past few days.”
To some extent, it was indeed related to her waking up early.
In the past, she often stayed up very late and slept until the sun was high in the sky.
Afu had gradually adapted to her old routine.
But in the two simulated reincarnations, waking up early to cultivate had long since become her habit.
This habit had been carried over into reality.
Afu couldn’t adapt to it for a while.
‘What on earth has happened to the young lady lately?’
It was as if she had become a completely different person.
Ever since she ‘failed to make friends with the roof beam,’ she was no longer weak. She had even become firm toward those who used to bully her.
Combined with how hard she had been cultivating lately…
‘Has the young lady been possessed?’
But usually, if someone was possessed, their personality would change drastically.
Yet the young lady was still so gentle to her…
‘Or perhaps, the young lady was actually a powerful person in her past life and is now gradually recovering her memories?’
Afu’s thoughts became more and more outrageous.
But no matter what —
The current young lady was handsome and gentle…
She seemed to have a fatal attraction to her.
Thinking of this, Afu’s face involuntarily turned red.
Realizing what she was thinking, she immediately shook her head vigorously.
‘No… no matter what, I have to work hard too!’
‘I can’t become a burden to the young lady. I must help her!’
‘Brace yourself, Afu!’
‘You can do it!’
She cheered herself on in her heart.
***
Shortly after, Afu began preparing lunch.
Lu Mo left the courtyard, planning to take a walk.
the practical selection for the new students was in full swing, and everyone in the academy was discussing it.
“The Thrassyll family is still very strong this year. Three of their new students made it into the top sixty.”
“It looks like you’ll soon have a few more juniors in the intermediate class, Master Koman.”
“Haha, you flatter me. Your family’s results are also quite good this year.”
Under the shade of the trees, three teenage boys were standing together talking, flattering each other, and laughing loudly.
They walked past Lu Mo.
Lu Mo had an outstanding appearance and easily became the focus of attention.
“Eh, she is…”
One of them noticed her, a flash of amazement in his eyes.
Koman followed his gaze and also saw Lu Mo.
He naturally recognized her.
After all, he knew about the Three-Year Agreement she had made with the Majesty of the Night Ripple Empire.
“Lu Mo?” He was somewhat in disbelief.
Wasn’t it said that after that incident, she had become self-deprecating and introverted, not even daring to leave her house?
So what was going on now?
“Master Koman knows her?” someone asked.
“Of course I do. Lu Mo Thrassyll, she’s from our family,” Koman said.
He cleared his throat and looked at Lu Mo.
“Ahem — “
However, Lu Mo acted as if she hadn’t heard him and walked straight ahead.
“Ahem, ahem!” He raised his voice.
There was still no response.
Koman was suddenly very embarrassed.
“Maybe she didn’t hear.”
“It’s also possible that Miss Lu Mo just doesn’t like to talk.”
The two people beside him quickly tried to smooth things over.
But Koman’s face had already turned a bit ugly.
He frowned as he watched Lu Mo’s back.
‘What is wrong with this girl today?’
‘Is she possessed?’
He was about to call out to her to give her a lecture.
“Wait, the people walking over there are…”
At that moment, they suddenly saw two figures approaching from the opposite direction.
One of them was the Cardinal Bishop who had visited the academy yesterday.
And the other was a blonde young woman.
She was dressed in Saintess attire. Her skin was fair, her eyes were clear, and her entire being seemed to be shrouded in a layer of holy radiance.
“Lord Cardinal!”
Koman was startled and immediately dropped the idea of calling out to Lu Mo.
“Should we go over and say hello to make an impression?”
“Do you think he’ll pay attention to us? That’s a Cardinal!”
At this moment, the Cardinal was talking to Cecilia.
And what was even more surprising —
The Cardinal’s attitude was actually tinged with a hint of respect.
Cecilia merely offered a faint smile.
Soon —
She suddenly stopped her pace and looked ahead, her clear eyes suddenly lighting up.
The Cardinal didn’t notice the change in her.
He only saw a beautiful young woman not far away glance in their direction and nod slightly.
“Hmm?”
He instinctively returned the smile.
But this scene left Koman and the others dazed.
Lu Mo… was actually nodding to the Cardinal and the Saintess?
Who did she think she was?
Would the Saintess even pay attention to someone like her?
The Cardinal was also slightly stunned.
He vaguely felt that Lu Mo seemed to be greeting Cecilia.
But — that was Lady Cecilia!
This was simply too rude!
He even broke into a cold sweat for Lu Mo, fearing that Cecilia would feel offended in the next second and directly purify her.
However —
In the next instant.
Cecilia actually ran toward Lu Mo as excitedly as a little girl.
The ahoge on top of her head wiggled back and forth like a happy little tail.
“Miss Lu Mo — !”
she shouted happily.
At this moment, whether it was the Cardinal or Koman and his group, everyone was stunned.
What was going on?
The Saintess… actually took the initiative to run over and find her?
And — she looked so happy?