March 15th, Year 164.

Mistblade walked down the street, carrying a paper bag full of fresh bread.

Ever since she struck a deal with Lightchaser, her financial situation had improved significantly. Every seven days, the elf would appear outside her bedroom window, handing over three magical items for her to copy.

Each time, she earned 150 gold. On days when Lightchaser was in a good mood and too lazy to count, she would simply grab a handful of coins and toss them onto the table. On those occasions, Mistblade usually ended up with at least 200 gold.

The only thing that left her slightly regretful and sad was that she hadn't seen Rita again.

Whenever she asked about Rita, Lightchaser's expression was always impossible to read.

Sometimes she'd laugh out loud like she'd remembered something amusing. Other times, she'd click her tongue with annoyance. Occasionally, she'd just look irritated and say nothing at all. And once in a while, she'd even let out a scornful snort.

Last time, Mistblade had mustered up the courage to ask Lightchaser to let Rita attend school. She even offered to pay Rita's tuition.

The look Lightchaser gave her was so complex that Mistblade couldn't make sense of it—it was part surprise, part disbelief, maybe even a little bit amused?

But Lightchaser had no idea how kind and generous Rita truly was...

That old arcade machine had hidden a folded note inside. It contained a beginner-level healing potion recipe, complete with preparation instructions.

On the market, that recipe alone would sell for over 500 gold.

That was enough for Mistblade to commit to paying Rita's tuition.

She could save at least 400 gold per month, and so far, she had stashed away 1,020 gold coins. With more than three months left before enrollment, it would be enough for both of their tuitions and travel expenses.

Once enrolled, they could work together to earn their living costs.

… Assuming her poor friend hadn't already been strangled to death by that brutal elf.

Thinking of the first real friend she'd made in this world, Mistblade sniffled and forced back the tears.

Passing by a jewelry shop, she glanced inside out of habit. Maple Syrup wasn't there—only the elder Owlkin was, busy with her tasks.

Maple Syrup had already left last week with her father to visit Asaein. Rumor was, they were getting her magical aptitude tested early.

That night, Mistblade sat on her bed, counting her coins again. It was transaction day, and she couldn't help but wonder what kind of mood Lightchaser would be in this time.

Just as she was thinking about it, there was a knock on the balcony window.

Her first instinct wasn't to look at the towering elf who nearly blocked out the entire balcony—it was the little figure beside her, trailing behind like a flickering flame.

She rushed over and threw open the door, staring in disbelief before grabbing the little owlet into a hug.

"Oh my god, you're alive!"

The owlet hugged her just as tightly. "Yes, yes! Honestly, I can't believe it either!"

Lightchaser: …?

The elf grabbed her apprentice by the scruff and gave her a shake, pulling the two clingy cubs apart. Then she tossed three magical items toward Mistblade.

"Copy these. She's staying here tonight. You two can stick together all you want."

Mistblade smiled sheepishly at Lightchaser and quickly copied the three items, handing them back with practiced ease.

Lightchaser reached into her coin pouch, grabbed a handful, and dropped them into Mistblade's hands.

Mistblade didn't even count the money for the first time—she just pocketed it. Her attention was fully on her best friend.

She could sense the changes. In just over two months, Rita looked like a completely different person.

Her new outfit fit perfectly. Her hair had clearly been trimmed and cleaned up. Her gaze was steady, filled with a kind of courage and resolve that wasn't there before. She no longer looked hesitant or lost—more like a ship that had found its harbor, a stray creature that had finally found a home.

And yet, Mistblade could feel a new kind of danger coming from her. Like a knife without a sheath, the sharpness was unmistakable. Anyone who got close would have to think twice. Sample from My Virtual Library Empire—read more on M&VLEMPY&R.

But then, Rita gave her another hug—without hesitation.

Lightchaser had no interest in this little emotional reunion. She turned to leave, tossing out, "I'll pick her up tomorrow."

Behind her, Mistblade called out excitedly, "Wait—she doesn't want you anymore?! I can adopt you instead. I've got money now!"

Lightchaser: …

Before Rita could answer, the little moon-fox chimed in, "You didn't go bad, did you?"

This time, Lightchaser heard the response.

Rita looked at her best friend and asked seriously, "Do you mean my morals, or my body and mind?"

Lightchaser didn't want to hear another word. She feared she'd snap and beat the two of them into the floor.

…

Being adopted by Mistblade was never in the cards. This return to Gilane was only a brief stop.

The next day, Lightchaser came to take her apprentice away.

It was time for Lesson Three.

Rita could hardly wait. Lesson Two had been postponed for so long it had haunted her.

No sooner had they left Gilane than she asked, "What's the third lesson?"

"Art."

"Huh? Like the art of killing? Or the art of lying?"

Somehow, anything called "art" in Lightchaser's mouth never sounded like a good thing.

Lightchaser didn't answer. She just led Rita westward, toward Asaein—the place Rita had been dreaming of all this time.

It wasn't a long journey by air, but Lightchaser took her time, throwing in strange lessons along the way.

Sometimes she'd vanish without a word, and Rita would have three days to track her down.

Rita suspected she just went off to do errands, using the whole thing as a glorified game of fetch-the-elf.

Other times, Lightchaser would hand her a dossier on a wild beast and expect her to capture a live one—within a few days, and with a specific age and gender.

Once, she gave Rita one hour to run and hide. After that, Lightchaser would hunt her down. If Rita could stay hidden for more than ten minutes after that, she got dinner. If not, she'd have to hop or handstand her way through the next day's march.

But as long as she finished her learning tasks each day, Rita would spend the evenings reviewing the etiquette she'd picked up in Zanga.

Those lessons needed constant repetition to become second nature.

With so many tasks and side quests along the way, what should've taken three days of flying took over half a month. It wasn't until April 5th that they finally saw the city of Asaein.

Standing atop a mountain, Rita was stunned by its beauty and scale.

She couldn't even see where the city ended. Its gates stretched out in both directions, seemingly without end. Maybe it was because the mountain was so close?

She wasn't sure.

But this was a city of art. A city overflowing with unrestrained beauty and madness.

There were no rules to its design. Every building had its own bizarre, chaotic shape, none of them uniform. Yet, from afar, the entire city looked harmonious and intentional.

Even the colors seemed expertly chosen.

Every single building was a work of art.