The sun was setting low in the west, casting long shadows beneath the city walls.
“Welcome, Miss Witch Apprentice.” Two guards nodded with smiles.
“Thank you,” Hilxi replied politely, then mounted her broom and continued forward.
After traveling for several hours, she finally arrived in the kingdom.
Fortunately, she didn’t encounter any more unexpected incidents like those at the beginning of her journey—truly a relief.
“Oh, there are quite a few people here!”
On the paved stone street, there were ordinary citizens in plain clothes, wealthy-looking people dressed in elegant garments, and Magicians wearing Triangle Hats and Magic Robes. All kinds of people came into view.
Vendors were setting up stalls by the roadside, displaying goods on large cloths spread on the ground or on counters.
Behind them were shops with signs hanging above the entrances.
“Hehe, cute little girl, this necklace would look perfect on you.”
Just as Hilxi admired the surrounding scenery, a man in his twenties approached, holding a silver necklace that glittered as if made of diamonds.
“Wow, it’s beautiful!”
“Right? Such a lovely necklace is definitely perfect for a beautiful girl like you. Want to buy it? Limited-time discount—only two silver coins!”
“I’ll buy it!”
Such a beautiful necklace for only two silver coins! What a steal!
After putting on the necklace, Hilxi soon realized it was actually made of very ordinary materials and wasn’t worth even two silver coins!
By the time she noticed, the seller had already disappeared. She could only sigh in frustration and give up trying to return it.
She’d just entered the city and had already been swindled out of two silver coins, but she really liked the necklace, so she decided to let it go.
Hilxi asked around while walking and soon arrived at the Magic Unification Association.
“Huh? Is the Training Camp already over?”
“Yes, generally it ends by noon. Are you new here?”
“Yes, I just arrived.”
“In that case, please register. Come back at seven tomorrow morning.”
After registering, Hilxi left the Association and began searching for an inn.
The inn definitely had to be close to the Association to save on travel time.
The streets near the Association were relatively quiet—probably because the Training Camp had ended and few people were around.
Hilxi strolled alone, leisurely observing the surroundings.
“The architecture here is somewhat similar to that of the Kingdom of Magicians.”
Looking at the houses with reddish-brown tiled roofs nearby, Hilxi turned her head to look elsewhere and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She slowly walked over to a patch of weeds, crouching down with a smile, gently touching the vibrant flowers growing among the grass with her fingertips.
The stems grew straight from the ground, topped with blossoms more vivid than fresh blood. They were common along the roadside amid the wild grass but still eye-catching.
“Red Spider Lily… the same as the Bianhua,” she murmured. “So beautiful.”
Pinching one of the needle-shaped flowers, she gently stroked it twice before releasing her grip and standing back up.
“I didn’t expect to see Red Spider Lilies here. I’ve never seen them in the Kingdom of Magicians. Huh, they’re exactly as I imagined.”
She shook her head with a smile. Encountering something from her previous life made her feel a little dazed, but she quickly composed herself and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
But just then—
“Ugh! Damn it, damn it, why did you reject my confession! I finally gathered the courage to say it!!”
Following the angry roar, Hilxi looked over and saw an Orange-haired Youth wearing a Magic Robe but no Triangle Hat.
He was not far away, venting his anger by attacking a tree.
Oh—he failed in love? Poor boy.
She hadn’t intended to get involved and was about to leave but stopped because of his next action.
“Annoying, annoying! Fine, you rejected my confession! But you didn’t even split the bill when we ate—making me pay alone! So unfair!”
Shouting angrily, the youth pounded on a nearby Willow Tree until the bark was scraped off.
Apparently, he found the rough bark too harsh on his hands because his gaze then shifted to a small patch of flowers growing by the roadside.
“Hey, are you laughing at me!?”
Hilxi rolled her eyes. How could flowers laugh at you? You’re just upset because your confession failed.
But in the next moment, the youth’s face twisted into a wicked grin as he stepped forward and uprooted several of the bright flowers.
“Laughing at me, huh?”
He threw the flowers to the ground and stomped on them hard until they were crushed flat, their vivid red stained and covered with dust.
Still not satisfied, he tried to pull up a few more Red Spider Lilies, but fate had other plans.
Suddenly, his body froze and he couldn’t move.
Hilxi, clad in her golden-white robe and with deep blue eyes, approached. Her gaze landed on the trampled Red Spider Lilies beneath him.
“You’re starting to annoy me too.”
“Who are you? Is this your magic?” The youth immediately asked when he saw her.
“Ah, I should’ve changed my expression before coming here,” Hilxi thought regretfully, considering what she was about to do.
“What the hell! Hurry up and lift the magic! I’m already annoyed enough!”
“Oh, you’re annoyed, huh? I’ll help you feel better.”
With that, Hilxi clenched her Magic Wand and came beside the youth—but instead of casting a spell, she swung her arm and punched him square in the face!
Bang!
His face twisted, eyes wide with shock, and his body fell hard to the ground due to the magic being undone.
He landed near the crushed Red Spider Lilies.
“You… you…”
The youth tried to speak and struggled to get up, but Hilxi’s foot came down harder, knocking him over again. He rolled several times, his Magic Robe dirtied with dust.
“Are you calm now?”
Hilxi stepped closer. Seeing him reach for his Magic Wand, she kicked it out of his hand, breaking it in two. The youth was knocked down once more.
“Are you calm now?”
“I… did I provoke you?” The youth held his aching stomach, confused and bewildered.
“No, but I’m annoyed. I just want to hit you.”
“Don’t you dare vent on me just because you’re annoyed!”
“That’s exactly what I want to say to you!”
As she spoke, Hilxi gritted her teeth and kicked him again. The youth spat out a mouthful of foam, curling up like a shrimp.
“Are you calm now?” he asked weakly.
Hilxi smiled gently, tilting her head.
“No, I’m still very angry. You didn’t even provoke me, but I still want to hit you. Why is that?”
“…”
How should I know! The Orange-haired Youth felt a swell of grievance.
The anger from his failed confession had been beaten out of him instead.
His bruised lips parted.
“S-sorry.”
“Huh? Why are you apologizing to me? You didn’t do anything.”
“Then what do you want me to do?” The youth’s mindset cracked.
“Hmm, never mind. I’m calm now. You can go.” Hilxi glanced down at him, then turned her gaze to her right hand.
Her knuckles still hurt. As expected, a delicate girl like her wasn’t cut out for fighting.
“Really letting me go?” The Orange-haired Youth was still a bit dazed.
“Of course. We might be classmates in the future. Classmates should get along peacefully.”
Yeah, right. Like I want to get along with you.
The youth opened his mouth but didn’t dare say that. Limping awkwardly, he shuffled away.
Watching his miserable figure fade into the distance, Hilxi couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.
So pitiful—rejected in love and then inexplicably beaten up… And I’m the abuser? Well, never mind then.
Once he was gone, Hilxi bent down and picked up the crushed flowers, placing them back into the uprooted soil.
Then, she drew her Magic Wand and pointed it at them.
Healing Magic.
A ball of green light infused into the flowers and soil, disappearing after a few seconds.
But there was no effect. Dead things do not come back to life.
“Sigh.”
Hilxi sighed, putting away her Magic Wand and using her palm to cover the soil and bury the flowers.
The soil felt cold to the touch.
If only I could use Time Reversal Magic… then maybe the flowers could become vibrant again, grow anew… she thought silently.
But Time Reversal Magic was a skill only Witches possessed—and she did not know it yet.
After finishing this, she suddenly sensed a gaze upon her. Looking up, she caught sight of a Purple-haired Girl.
Before Hilxi could get a good look at her face, the girl turned and walked away.
Hilxi hurried after her, hoping to ask about a nearby inn.
“Hey, don’t go! Could you help me out?”
“…”
The Purple-haired Girl glanced at her but said nothing.
Hilxi, now slowing from a run to a walk, took in the girl’s appearance more clearly.
Her striking purple hair was tied in a bundle at the side of her head, matching her violet eyes. Her expression was shaded with melancholy, as if unwilling to communicate.
“What’s wrong?” Hilxi put away her usual smile. “You look very sad.”
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