Chapter 17: Enrollment

Description

The golden light released by the guardianship contract gradually subsided, finally transforming into an utterly ordinary parchment scroll.

An Lin carefully stored the guardianship contract inside a specially made crystal case.

The dignified and proper demeanor she had forced herself to maintain in front of the staff vanished without a trace, replaced by a triumphant, scheming grin that was more fitting of a capitalist… no, more like a “doting mother” who had just pulled off a successful plot.

“Whew~ Finally finished the official business. Sister Tunzuo, let’s go home!”

An Lin stretched lazily, then wrapped an arm around Tunzuo’s shoulder in an intimate gesture the young witch couldn’t refuse.

“Once we’re home, your big sister is going to pack your luggage for you, a little witch about to step into the Witch Academy! This is a major event concerning your bright future!”

Listening to An Lin’s words, Tunzuo obediently nodded.

Although she didn’t really care much about worldly possessions like luggage, the thought of restarting campus life filled her with a small sense of anticipation, mixed in with her worries and fears.

Returning to the cozy little nest on the Flowing Crystal Coral Island, An Lin seemed to transform into a completely different witch.

She dug out a huge black suitcase with metal trim from some forgotten corner and began packing for Tunzuo with a frantic, moving-day level of intensity.

“This is a defensive talisman, you must carry it on you at all times! That’s a mana recovery potion, it tastes awful but can save your life in a pinch! And this, it’s a special alchemical first-aid kit I made myself. It has… uh, well, it has all sorts of ointments that can stop bleeding and regenerate flesh!”

Chattering away like a mother hen, An Lin stuffed all sorts of strange bottles, jars, amulets, and several sets of pajamas in Tunzuo’s size into the suitcase.

Her movements were so fast they were a blur, as if she was trying to cram the entire house into the open maw of that black beast.

“Sister Tunzuo, once you’re at the academy, listen to your instructors. Don’t skip class. I know you get sleepy often, but you absolutely must not sleep during lectures! Also, don’t bully your classmates just because you have high mana reserves. Even though witch society respects the strong, school bullying is strictly forbidden by the Council. If you’re caught, you could get a major demerit or even be expelled! If you run into trouble you can’t solve, go find an instructor, or send me a message. I might not have the money to hire you a top-tier enforcer, but I can call in quite a few high-ranking witches!”

“And also, you must build good relationships with your classmates. Your fellow students at the Witch Academy are your future connections. Who knows, you might need their help someday…”

Tunzuo sat somewhat helplessly on the sofa, listening to An Lin’s nagging while watching her bustle about.

Tunzuo’s ears were stuffed full of An Lin’s various admonitions, feeling like they were about to grow calluses.

Tunzuo silently complained to herself, ‘This isn’t going to school, this is more like forming political alliances.’

“Sister An Lin…”

Tunzuo timidly raised her hand, trying to interrupt An Lin’s endless lecture.

“Um… the Witch Academy teaches magic, not social studies, right? Shouldn’t my main task be learning magical knowledge?”

“Socializing is part of magic too! In witch society, connections are a form of power!”

An Lin said without turning her head, vigorously stuffing the last item into the suitcase—a pure white pillow made of angel feathers.

According to An Lin, hugging it brings good luck to witches.

“There! Done! Perfect!”

An Lin slammed the suitcase shut with a thud, let out a long sigh, and wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead.

She looked as exhausted as if she had just finished a grueling battle.

“Finally finished packing. Do you want anything else, Sister Tunzuo? Your big sister will do her best to fulfill it!”

“Yes!”

Tunzuo’s eyes lit up, thinking she had finally caught An Lin during a free moment.

Eagerly, she pulled out the black-covered grimoire from her embrace and held it out to An Lin with both hands.

Her urgent expression was like that of a traveler who had finally found an oasis after a long trek through the desert.

“I want to register a MagiNet account! Now! Immediately! Right away!”

“Alright, alright, my good sister, don’t be in such a hurry.”

Seeing Tunzuo’s eager and adorable look, An Lin felt an itch in her heart.

A mischievous thought to tease Tunzuo popped into her mind.

Taking the grimoire from Tunzuo’s hands, An Lin didn’t start the process immediately.

Instead, she looked Tunzuo up and down with a meaningful gaze, a sly smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

“Sister Tunzuo, why are you in such a hurry to get online? Could it be you want to browse those ‘special websites’ only adult witches are allowed to access? Like ‘The Mysteries of the Witch Body’ or the ‘Flirty Witches Forum’… hehehe~”

“Huh? What special websites?”

Tunzuo looked utterly confused, completely failing to follow An Lin’s jump in logic and veiled hints.

“Ah, you’re not that young in real age, right? It’s that kind of… hehehe, you know~”

An Lin leaned close to Tunzuo’s ear, lowered her voice, and spoke in a suggestive tone.

“Those websites are strictly forbidden for young witches to visit~ And once the MagiNet system detects a young witch trying to access them, it immediately sends a red alert to the corresponding guardian. I really don’t want to wake up tomorrow morning and see a bright red notification in my official reminders, discovering my cute little sister has turned into a naughty girl~”

An Lin’s blatant teasing finally made Tunzuo realize what she was talking about.

Tunzuo’s face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple.

Although she didn’t know the specific content of the websites An Lin mentioned, just hearing An Lin’s lecherous tone was enough to know they were definitely not proper!

“Sister An Lin! What nonsense are you talking about! I’m not that kind of bad girl!”

Embarrassed and indignant, Tunzuo raised her little fists and unleashed a flurry of “kitty punches” on An Lin’s shoulder.

“Ow, ow~ It hurts, it hurts! I was wrong, okay? Your sister admits she was wrong!”

An Lin pretended to beg for mercy while laughing heartily, seeming to thoroughly enjoy Tunzuo’s utterly harmless counterattack.

However, just as An Lin was laughing uncontrollably, the Antuxi genes in Tunzuo’s bloodline activated once more.

Seeing that An Lin showed no sign of repentance, Tunzuo stopped her fists, narrowed her eyes, and put on Antuxi’s signature fox-like smile.

Imitating An Lin’s tone, she asked in a pure yet teasing voice.

“Wait a minute~ Sister An Lin, how do you know so much about those ‘special websites’? Could it be… Sister An Lin, you were the kind of bad girl who frequently browsed ‘special websites’ when you were little? Maybe even got your guardian a red alert or two?”

“Ahem, pfft—”

An Lin choked violently on Tunzuo’s retort, her laughter cutting off abruptly like a duck being strangled.

Her face flushed red, her eyes darted around nervously, and she stammered for a long time without forming a complete sentence.

“I… that… I did that… to… to understand the psychology of young witches! Yes! It was for work! As a guardian, I must understand these potential risks to better guide you!”

An Lin’s excuse was weak and unconvincing, the logic so muddled she couldn’t even convince herself.

Ultimately, this little episode was glossed over with awkward yet polite smiles from both sisters.

An Lin cleared her throat twice and quickly changed the subject, beginning to seriously register a MagiNet account for Tunzuo.

After a series of tedious verification procedures, Tunzuo finally had her own MagiNet ID—Salty Fish Ghost.

She eagerly opened the grimoire, found Antuxi’s account, clicked on that thunderously famous, lofty name in witch society, and with trembling fingers typed out a line of text.

[Mom, I’ve arrived safely in the Dunayala world.]

Send successful!

Tunzuo stared at the screen with bated breath, not blinking, hoping that familiar profile picture would light up, or that she would at least see a simple “Read” mark.

However, one minute passed, then two, then ten…

The grimoire’s screen remained dead silent.

Antuxi’s profile picture stayed gray.

There was no reply, as if silently mocking Tunzuo’s wishful thinking.

The light of anticipation in Tunzuo’s eyes gradually dimmed.

A sense of loss welled up in her heart, like a heavy stone pressing down on her chest.

“Sister An Lin…”

Tunzuo put down the grimoire somewhat dejectedly and asked An Lin in a small voice.

“If you send a message to those big-shot witches on the MagiNet, will they reply?”

An Lin was busy dragging the huge suitcase to the door.

Hearing Tunzuo’s question, she stopped, shrugged, and said in a tone that suggested she was long accustomed to it.

“It’s very difficult. After all, those big-shot witches have thousands upon thousands of matters to handle every day. Where would they find time to look at messages from small fry like us? Not to mention, well-known accounts like theirs receive a flood of private messages daily, mixed with plenty of harassment and fan confessions. So, aside from specially marked accounts, those big-shot witches don’t read their other MagiNet messages. Some even set up auto-replies or block them outright.”

An Lin paused, then added.

“But it’s not completely absolute. Occasionally, you might run into a kind-hearted big-shot witch who’s bored enough to reply. It’s just that the probability… winning the lottery jackpot might be more realistic.”

An Lin’s words were like a bucket of cold water, completely dousing the last flicker of hope in Tunzuo’s heart.

“Of course… a legendary witch like Mom wouldn’t pay attention to a newly registered little account like mine…”

Tunzuo sighed gloomily.

Her heart felt hollow, as if abandoned by the whole world.

She had originally fantasized about establishing some kind of connection with her mischievous mom on the MagiNet.

Now it seemed it was just her own wishful thinking.

“Alright, alright, don’t look so glum. We have to report to the Witch Academy tomorrow. Get some rest early.”

An Lin walked over and ruffled Tunzuo’s hair, trying to comfort her.

Tunzuo nodded, feeling depressed.

Burdened with disappointment and fatigue, she climbed into bed early and burrowed under the covers, trying to use sleep to escape reality. Perhaps only in her dreams could she see her mischievous, prank-loving mom.

---

The next morning, as dawn was just breaking, An Lin led Tunzuo to the Witch Academy in Han Hai Cheng.

The Han Hai Cheng Witch Academy was a magnificent complex of buildings constructed on a massive floating island.

Azure-blue spires stood tall, magical light shimmered across the sky, and everything within the academy was steeped in a strong academic atmosphere and a sense of historical weight.

A huge magical barrier enveloped the entire academy, protecting its teachers and students from outside interference.

Since An Lin had contacted the Han Hai Cheng Witch Academy while still on the airship, a witch was already waiting at the academy gates for Tunzuo and An Lin’s arrival.

She was a witch with white hair cut just past her neck, a pair of fluffy ear tufts on either side of her head.

She wore a crisp scholar’s robe and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, appearing intellectual and elegant.

Her name was Shirley, a Snowy Owl high-ranking witch, and she was to be Tunzuo’s mentor at the Witch Academy.

“Hello, are you Miss An Lin, the guardian of student Tunzuo?”

Seeing An Lin and Tunzuo approaching the academy, Shirley stepped forward with a smile.

Her voice was clear and pleasant, and she carried an aura that felt reassuring.

“Yes, I’m An Lin. This is Tunzuo.”

An Lin quickly stepped forward to shake Shirley’s hand, a smile plastered on her face.

“Hello, I’m Shirley. I will be student Tunzuo’s mentor here at the academy. I’m also a Snowy Owl witch. Pleased to meet you.”

Shirley warmly chatted with An Lin for a bit.

Then she turned to Tunzuo with a gentle smile.

“Student Tunzuo, welcome to the academy. If you encounter any problems with your studies in the future, feel free to come find me anytime.”

“Thank you, Mentor Shirley.”

Tunzuo nodded obediently.

She could sense a gentle, kind aura from her new mentor, which eased much of her initial nervousness.

After some pleasantries, Shirley briefly inquired about Tunzuo’s situation from An Lin—things like Tunzuo’s magical affinity, personality traits, and any special learning needs—to help prepare lesson plans later.

An Lin naturally told her everything she knew, even exaggerating a bit and boasting about how exceptionally talented Tunzuo was.

Shirley listened, nodding frequently, growing quite curious about this new student.

The small talk ended, and it was time to part.

Since the Witch Academy implemented a semi-closed management system, with students boarding from Monday to Friday and only going home to reunite with family on weekends, it was time for Tunzuo to say goodbye to An Lin.

Looking at Tunzuo, who was about to start boarding, An Lin’s face showed reluctant affection.

She pulled a small handkerchief from her pocket, waved it dramatically, and shed crocodile tears from the corners of her eyes.

“Sister Tunzuo, you must take good care of yourself! Send me a message if you miss me! I’ll definitely be here to pick you up on time Friday afternoon! Boo hoo…”

Watching An Lin’s theatrical performance, Tunzuo’s mouth twitched.

She thought her sister’s drama queen attribute was a bit too strong, but she still played along.

“Sister An Lin, you take good care of yourself too. Don’t spend money recklessly… Oh, and when you come to pick me up, don’t forget to bring me some tasty food.”

“I will! I will!”

An Lin wiped her tears as she watched Shirley lead Tunzuo through the academy gates.

Only when Tunzuo and Shirley’s figures had completely disappeared from sight did An Lin put away her handkerchief, a relieved smile spreading across her face.

“Finally sent the little ancestor off… Now I can properly enjoy my free, single life. Should I go have a good drink at the bar, or check out the newly auctioned alchemical gems? So hard to decide~”

An Lin chuckled mischievously, stretched, and turned to leave.

But at that moment, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

An Lin stiffly turned her head to look.

On a huge LED bulletin board at the Witch Academy entrance, a striking red slogan was scrolling continuously.

[Guardians are strictly prohibited from abusing, abandoning, or maliciously withholding living expenses for young witches! Violators will face severe sanctions from the Witch Council! If you witness such behavior, please call the 24-hour hotline…]

An Lin: … ( T﹏T ).

“Do I really look like the kind of witch who would withhold a young witch’s living expenses?!”

An Lin cried out indignantly to the sky, drawing puzzled glances from witches passing by.