The cold moonlight lazily spilled over the coastline of Han Hai Cheng, casting a bleak pallor on the pristine white sand.
Gentle waves lapped monotonously against the rocks, one after another.
“Big Sister An Lin, are you sure you didn’t take a wrong turn?”
Tunzuo, clutching her broom, followed behind An Lin.
Her deep green eyes darted around, full of doubt.
She glanced at her surroundings—nothing but fine white sand and the endless expanse of seawater.
Aside from the occasional seabird flying past, the place was utterly deserted, not at all like somewhere a witch would live.
“There’s not even a single person here, let alone a house. Is Big Sister An Lin’s home built in the sea? Like a mermaid’s place or something?”
The desolate scene made Tunzuo unable to resist complaining.
She even began to imagine in her mind whether An Lin was some kind of sea witch living in an underwater cave.
An Lin wasn’t angered by Tunzuo’s skepticism.
Instead, she smiled mysteriously, her expression carrying a hint of teasing and an undeniable touch of pride.
“A damp, dark place like the seafloor? How could that befit the noble status of an alchemy witch like me?”
An Lin gave a light hum and slowly raised her left hand.
The unremarkable sea-blue ring on her index finger suddenly erupted with a dazzling flash of light—pure, soft, and brilliant, as if condensing the essence of the entire ocean.
Hum—
A faint tremor passed through the air.
Immediately after, an intricate and beautiful pale blue teleportation circle materialized beneath Tunzuo and An Lin’s feet.
The circle was composed of countless flowing water-element runes, emitting the gentle sound of flowing water in the silent night.
“Little Sister Tunzuo, hold onto your things. We’re going home~”
As soon as An Lin finished speaking, the teleportation circle released a blinding light, instantly engulfing both Tunzuo and An Lin.
A slight sense of weightlessness washed over them.
When the light faded, Tunzuo’s jaw dropped in astonishment at the sight before her, and she forgot to close her mouth for a long while.
Tunzuo and An Lin now stood in the sky, their feet planted on a massive island floating high above Han Hai Cheng.
The tranquil floating island was like something out of a dream.
Its surface was covered in clusters of sea-blue crystals that shimmered with a fantastical luster under the moonlight.
Colorful, dazzling coral trees grew in an orderly yet scattered fashion, their vibrant vines swaying in the wind like elegant dancers performing a silent ballet.
Countless iridescent bubbles drifted through the air, producing clear, bell-like sounds when they popped.
Shimmering streams of water defied gravity, meandering across the island, gathering drop by drop into clear lakes and waterfalls, then cascading over the island’s edge as water curtains, falling into the endless sky.
Amidst this brilliantly colorful natural landscape, many snow-white buildings were scattered about.
Some resembled blooming lilies, others looked like open seashells, yet each one exuded an elegant and sacred aura.
“This… where is this?”
Tunzuo was so stunned by the sight she was left speechless.
This place was straight out of a fairy tale book, a veritable wonderland.
“This, my dear, is your Big Sister An Lin’s home~”
An Lin raised her arms triumphantly towards the sky, her face filled with pride, as if her life as a witch was now complete and without regret.
“This floating island is called the Crystal Coral Island! It’s the property I, an alchemy witch, worked so hard to build! In the world of Dunayala, to become a successful witch, you absolutely must have your own floating island!”
An Lin grew more and more excited as she spoke, even beginning to point out the snow-white buildings on the island to show off to Tunzuo.
“See that? That largest crystal forest is my private laboratory! That seashell-shaped building is my alchemy workshop! And that castle-like structure right in the middle is my personal mansion!”
As Tunzuo listened to An Lin’s grand boasts, she couldn’t help but recall the “inside information” Warner and Liuli had previously mentioned to her—”Most alchemy witches are financially strapped,” “Captain An Lin might need to borrow money to support you,” “She’s a perennial old maid.”
A mischievous, wicked idea gradually took shape in Tunzuo’s mind, causing a sly smile to curl at the corner of her mouth.
The sharp-tongued factor inherited from Antuxi in her blood began to stir.
Tunzuo slowly floated over to An Lin’s side and asked in an utterly innocent yet teasing tone.
“Big Sister An Lin, a successful witch with her own floating island, your wallet must be nice and plump, right?”
“Of course! Ahem… although the liquid funds might be a little… tight, the fixed assets are enormous!”
An Lin puffed out her not-very-full chest, trying to maintain her image as a wealthy witch in front of Tunzuo.
“Oh~”
Tunzuo deliberately drew out the syllable, blinking her big, innocent eyes before continuing.
“Since Big Sister An Lin is so amazing, you must have bought this island outright, right? Surely you’re not burdened with some massive mortgage that takes centuries to pay off?”
Pfft—
An Lin felt as if an arrow had pierced her heart.
She stiffly turned her head, a crack appearing in her perfect smile.
“O-of course… that… an alchemy witch’s affairs, can you call it a mortgage? That’s… that’s a long-term investment!”
An Lin’s stubbornness only fueled Tunzuo’s mischievous interest.
Without mercy, she pressed on, delivering another blow.
“Then, such an outstanding Big Sister An Lin must have lots of pretty witches chasing after her, right? After all, the scenery on this island is so beautiful, it looks perfect for dates~”
BOOM—!
Tunzuo’s final words were devastatingly effective, a critical strike that struck An Lin like a bolt from the blue, leaving her thoroughly roasted.
An Lin’s carefully constructed perfect smile completely crumbled.
She clutched her chest in anguish, tears even welling up in the corners of her eyes.
“You… you rude little brat! Why do you have to bring up the one thing I don’t want to talk about?!”
An Lin finally couldn’t take it anymore.
She reached out with both hands, firmly pinched Tunzuo’s fair, soft cheeks, and began pulling them outward with force.
“Oww… ow ow ow! Big Sister An Lin, I’m sorry!”
Tunzuo cried out in pain, waving her hands wildly, her words slurred as she begged for mercy.
“See if you’ll keep being smart-mouthed! See if you’ll keep stabbing my heart! How can such a cute little mouth have such a vicious tongue! Big Sister really needs to teach you a proper lesson!”
An Lin tugged on Tunzuo’s cheeks while roaring with tears in her eyes.
“Wah… I won’t… I won’t do it again…”
Though Tunzuo’s face was tear-stained on the surface, inwardly she was secretly delighted.
Indeed, Mommy Antuxi was right—a witch’s happiness is built upon the suffering of other witches.
The Otilis mother and daughter reached a profound consensus in this moment.
After quite a bit of commotion, An Lin finally let go with a huff.
Looking at the two red finger marks on Tunzuo’s face, she sighed, both annoyed and amused.
“Such a little devil… I wonder which witch’s blood you were transformed from, to end up with such a personality.”
An Lin grumbled a few complaints, then turned and led Tunzuo towards the largest castle-like building at the center of the island.
Entering the mansion, the interior decor wasn’t luxurious but was full of life.
Automatic devices and clockwork mechanisms crafted through alchemy were everywhere.
An Lin led Tunzuo to a door on the second floor.
“This will be your room from now on.”
An Lin pushed the door open.
The room was arranged warmly and comfortably.
A huge floor-to-ceiling window offered a view overlooking the entire floating island’s scenery.
The bed, in particular, suited Tunzuo’s taste perfectly—soft as a cloud.
“Rest well tonight. Tomorrow we have to get up early to go to the Witch Guardianship Agency to process the guardianship contract. That’s a big undertaking.”
An Lin yawned, as if the earlier boasting and roughhousing had drained the last of her energy.
“Mhm, thank you, Big Sister An Lin.”
Tunzuo nodded very obediently.
After An Lin left, Tunzuo closed the door, lay bored on the bed, and pulled out the grimoire An Lin had bought for her.
As she channeled magic into it, the pages lit up, and Tunzuo began browsing through various pieces of information on the Magic Net.
Through the Magic Net, Tunzuo learned many interesting things about witches.
For example, “A certain water-element witch froze herself into an ice sculpture while bathing because she set the water temperature too low,” or “A certain necromancer witch summoned zombies to help with housework but got reported by neighbors for disturbing the peace due to the zombies’ foul smell.”
Finally, driven by curiosity, Tunzuo clicked on the Dunayala Witch Popularity Rankings.
The witch ranked at the very top was a name that filled Tunzuo with both familiarity and nostalgia.
Antuoxi Otilis
Antuoxi’s profile picture was a photo of herself.
In the picture, Antuoxi sat regally upon the Crystal Throne, swirling a glass of red wine in her hand, her expression one of looking down upon the world, with a backdrop of a starry sky.
“Bad Mommy…”
Looking at that familiar face, a warm feeling surged in Tunzuo’s heart.
She gently touched the screen with her finger, wanting to enter Antuoxi’s profile page to send her a message saying she was safe.
However, a gray prompt box popped up on the screen.
[Sorry, you have not registered a Magic Net account. You cannot leave comments or send private messages. Please complete identity verification first.]
Tunzuo was stunned for a moment, then put down the grimoire with a touch of disappointment.
“Then I’ll wait until after we finish the guardianship procedures tomorrow…”
Tunzuo rolled over, gazing at the dreamlike night view of the floating island outside the window.
Her eyelids grew heavy.
“I wonder if that mischievous, bad Mommy misses me…”
Thinking this in a daze, Tunzuo soon fell asleep.
Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Tunzuo was jolted awake by vigorous shaking.
“Wake up! Little Sister Tunzuo! The sun is shining on your bottom!”
An Lin’s magnified face appeared before Tunzuo once again, her bright, sparkling eyes indicating she was full of energy.
“Mmm… just five more minutes…”
Tunzuo tried to bury herself back under the covers to return to dreamland, but An Lin clearly had no intention of letting her.
“No! The Guardianship Agency opens at nine! If we go late, we’ll have to queue! Get up and wash up now!”
Under the powerful urging of An Lin’s life-threatening, soul-chasing tickling hands, Tunzuo had no choice but to rub her sleepy eyes, change into a neat gothic dress, give herself a quick wash, and follow An Lin out to process the guardianship formalities.
An Lin rode her broom, carrying Tunzuo through layers of clouds, arriving before a grand building at the center of Han Hai Cheng—the Witch Guardianship Agency.
The Witch Guardianship Agency was bustling with activity, filled with adult witches bringing young witches to process guardianship contracts.
An Lin, familiar with the process, led Tunzuo to take a number, fill out forms.
After a series of tedious procedures, it was finally their turn to process the guardianship contract.
The staff member behind the counter was a stern witch wearing thick glasses.
She pushed her glasses up her nose, retrieved a parchment scroll emitting a faint golden glow from the filing cabinet behind her, and gently spread it out on the desk.
“Applicant An Lin, voluntarily applying to become the legal guardian of the lost witch and young witch, Tunzuo.”
The staff member’s voice was efficient and cold.
She pointed to the densely packed text on the scroll and said to An Lin.
“This is the standard Witch Guardianship Contract template, formulated based on Chapter 38 of the Dunayala Witch Rights Protection Act.
Please confirm the following core clauses: First, the guardian is responsible for the ward’s food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and education expenses until they reach adulthood and pass the Witch Qualification Certification; Second, the guardian possesses supervisory authority over the ward’s behavior and the right to magical intervention in emergencies; Third…”
“Understood, understood, I agree to all the above clauses.”
An Lin waved her hand, a confident smile on her face, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused.
Clearly, she hadn’t carefully read the complicated legal jargon and contract terms.
The staff member shook her head helplessly, seeming accustomed to An Lin’s perfunctory attitude.
She picked up a quill pen inlaid with a magic crystal and handed it to An Lin.
“Please sign your true name in the designated location and press your fingerprint.”
An Lin took the pen and wrote her full name—An Lin Heinrich—with a flourish at the end of the scroll.
As the ink settled, the characters seemed to come alive, transforming into tiny runes that merged into the parchment.
“Next, the ward must also sign for confirmation and press their fingerprint.”
The staff member turned to look at Tunzuo, indicating she should do the same.
Following An Lin’s example, Tunzuo wrote the three characters of her name in the blank space in the other column of the contract, her handwriting somewhat childish.
Tunzuo heeded Antuxi’s advice and did not write her surname on the contract. However, the moment Tunzuo finished writing her name, the guardianship contract trembled slightly, as if sensing some special bloodline aura.
“Extend your fingers.”
The staff member commanded.
An Lin and Tunzuo each extended the index finger of their left hand.
The staff member took a sharp silver needle from a drawer and gently pricked each of their fingertips in turn.
A drop of pale blue blood seeped from An Lin’s fingertip, faintly shimmering with the metallic luster unique to alchemy witches.
Tunzuo’s blood, however, presented a deep, dark purple, as if containing endless shadows.
The two drops of blood slowly floated into the air, then dripped onto the emblem in the center of the guardianship contract.
Sizzle—
The moment the blood made contact with the parchment, a faint sound was heard.
Immediately after, the entire guardianship contract erupted with dazzling golden light.
The previously static text began to flow and rearrange, eventually transforming into a complex magic circle that completely absorbed the two drops of blood.
The magic circle spun in the air a few times, then transformed into two streams of light.
One stream drilled into the center of An Lin’s forehead, while the other merged into Tunzuo’s chest.
Both Tunzuo and An Lin felt a warm sensation spread through their minds, as if some invisible shackle had been unlocked, or as if an unseen thread had connected their consciousnesses.
[Guardianship Contract Activated]
As a line of text formed by magic materialized in the air, it signified that An Lin had officially become Tunzuo’s legal guardian.
“Whew… finally done.”
An Lin let out a long sigh of relief, a look of relief spreading across her face.
She turned to look at Tunzuo, her eyes now holding a touch of solemnity and gentleness alongside the original greed.
“Please take care of me from now on, Little Sister Tunzuo.”
An Lin smiled and extended her hand to Tunzuo.
Tunzuo looked at the witch before her—a bit scatterbrained, a bit poor, a bit perverted, and harboring somewhat improper intentions towards her in certain ways, but who was genuinely good to her.
A sincere smile also curved at the corner of Tunzuo’s mouth.
Tunzuo took An Lin’s hand and gave it a gentle shake.
“Mhm, I’ll be causing you a lot of trouble in the days to come, Big Sister An Lin.”
In the future, An Lin’s life would indeed change because of Tunzuo.
However, compared to what An Lin had imagined, this change would be a bit too tumultuous.
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