If it were anyone else, the chance to obtain a Special Grade Relic would have left them trembling with excitement, lunging for it without a second thought.
Wang Yue, however, was hesitant. Though she realized she might be acting a bit arrogant, she didn’t intend to change her mind. She preferred clear terms over vague, ambiguous favors.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” she said, bowing slightly.
“This is Medeili’s wish. She hopes you will accept the Crow Raiment as a gift between friends.”
Bizlu could only tell the truth, silently cursing his own clumsy tongue for making a mess of things.
“Huh? This… This is far too valuable…”
“I heard you obtained a transcendent item containing the rules of ‘True Vision.’ Perhaps it will complement this relic. There is no other hidden meaning.”
“Oh…”
Wang Yue was momentarily stunned. Since he had put it that way, the gift was practically being shoved into her hands. It would be inappropriate to refuse again.
Though she reluctantly agreed, she made a mental note: if she ever came across a Special Grade Relic suitable for Medeili in the future, she would definitely return the favor.
Seeing Wang Yue accept, Bizlu swung his arm. With a whoosh, hundreds of crows scattered, settling everywhere in the room. As they dispersed, the Lantern-Bearer’s bizarre body was revealed to Wang Yue.
It was a humanoid frame constructed from supple, withered twigs, pale bones, wax blocks, and glowing gemstones.
The most striking feature was a hole the diameter of a bowl in his left chest. It was encased behind vertical bars wrapped in spiral gold wire, resembling a birdcage.
Inside that cage actually lived a thumb-sized, miniature crow.
The little crow’s beak was conical, looking as if it were carved from obsidian. Its red eyes glowed with an intensity that seemed to occupy its entire head, appearing translucent from both sides. It looked as if a cylindrical red crystal had been shoved through its skull, giving it a dazed yet adorable appearance.
Looking at the little crow as it hopped around, tilting its head to peer at her through the bars, Wang Yue felt a strange sensation. Perhaps this was Bizlu’s true self.
Judging by their physical compositions, the Lantern-Bearers didn’t seem particularly human. She wasn’t sure if they were the results of living modification or if they were resurrected and upgraded after sacrificing themselves.
Wang Yue thought of the young, disabled Prima and felt the latter was more likely. Perhaps they were all Heroic Spirits—the lingering shapes of sacrificed Candle-Bearers left behind in the mortal world.
The crows took flight once more, converging from all directions to condense into a heavy black feather mantle.
Wang Yue carried the weight of the mantle back with her. Where her arms touched the feathers, she felt a strange wriggling sensation, as if small animals were nuzzling against her.
The garment was far too large for her petite frame; she couldn’t wear it with the same dashing flair as Lord Cold Swan.
Her thoughts drifted back to Medeili. The orange-haired girl’s behavior always struck her as odd, and she could never quite figure out what was going on in that head of hers.
“Plum” showed a defenseless closeness to her, like a girl who had never seen the world, yet she maintained a natural wariness and distance toward everyone else.
Wang Yue headed for Room 201. Having taken a Special Grade Relic from someone, she felt she owed them a word of thanks.
Pushing the door open, she caught Medeili sitting on a chair, struggling to lift one foot to slide into a crystal shoe.
From the angle of the doorway, she could see blue-and-white striped panties beneath the skirt, even spotting a small fish pattern in the center.
While Medeili’s legs were considered slender for a girl of her stature, they looked somewhat plump and short compared to Lilith’s, especially when curled up. The “baby fat” on those little legs didn’t quite match the elegance of the crystal shoes.
However, the thin, transparent white stockings clung to her hazy, snow-white skin, looking exceptionally enticing.
Ice cream…
Wang Yue’s heart fluttered, and a slight pressure rose in her head. She quickly shifted her gaze to the shoes.
“Glacier Breaker?”
“Yes… Do you want to try them on?” Medeili looked up.
Wang Yue took them carefully. They were heavy. They were the real deal—the authentic Glacier Breaker, a Special Grade Relic. She hadn’t expected the genuine article to be in Medeili’s possession.
Wang Yue sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off her Martin boots, revealing small feet clad in gray wool socks. Her toes curled slightly, her arches were delicate, and the line from toe to heel was elegantly curved.
As the Glacier Breaker met the sole of her foot, the crystal fangs of the relic snapped together, latching onto her instep. It looked dangerous, but they didn’t actually pierce the skin; the gripping force adjusted perfectly to her foot shape.
She moved her ankle; it was a tight, perfect fit.
Wang Yue didn’t dare step on the floor. She kept her foot suspended, fearing that a single step might destroy the entire dormitory.
“Do you want them?” Medeili asked.
“No,” Wang Yue said, taking off the crystal shoes and handing them back. “Don’t just give me everything!”
Medeili stood up and retrieved a box from nearby, placing it on her lap. Its weight caused the skin of her thighs to dimple slightly. With her slender white fingers, she turned a crank, and the compartments of the box unfolded one by one to show Wang Yue the contents.
“Wand materials? Ah, they’re all high-end goods.” Wang Yue’s eyes were instantly drawn to them.
“Yue, help me make a wand,” Medeili said softly.
“No problem, leave it to me!” Wang Yue agreed immediately, relieved to finally find a way to repay the other girl’s generosity.
“The extra materials are for you.” The orange-haired girl’s voice was soft and sweet; the longer one listened to it, the more enchanting it became.
“Don’t give me everything. I’ll feel terrible about it.” Wang Yue shook her head. Even if “Plum” was willing, she couldn’t be thick-skinned enough to take them. She didn’t want to become the kind of person she detested.
Medeili thought for a moment, then said, “Then, if possible, use the remaining materials to make a second one just like it.”
“That I can do.”
The Wand Workshop.
When Donna saw her apprentice take out the materials from the box one by one, she was moved to tears. Her apprentice was finally willing to make a wand.
Dragon Eye Wood, Fairy Fiber… those few pieces of ore looked like ancient biological fossils. She couldn’t tell at a glance and would need to check the records. In short, they were all top-tier wand-making materials.
However, these were all raw materials that hadn’t been processed. Donna couldn’t help but worry if her apprentice had the experience and ability to handle them.
Wang Yue wasn’t in a hurry. Jumping straight into the work wasn’t her style. She would at least write two or three pages of research notes and conduct slow tests and studies first. The whole process would probably take six months before she actually started the craft.
Today, she was here to make a blade.
Wang Yue took out a wooden rod that tapered from thick to thin. One section was marked with a pencil—the perfect grip diameter for Lilith.
After returning, Lilith had complained that her tactical folding knife wasn’t satisfying enough for hacking. Therefore, Wang Yue planned to forge a Bowie knife—a single-handed short sword with a blade around eight inches long. It was excellent for both chopping and piercing, boasting high combat utility.
This wasn’t a toy. She used two pieces of transcendent alloy with exceptional edge retention, hardness, strength, and toughness. She fold-forged them into a Damascus blade featuring patterns of tentacles and eyeballs.
This was her self-created “Cthulhu Damascus.” It served the same purpose as dragon-scale, feather, or snowflake patterns—to increase cutting power.
She operated entirely through witchcraft, manipulating the tools remotely. It required far fewer physical tools than a normal bladesmith, making the process faster and more stable.
Halfway through, Lilith arrived, leaning over the back of the chair to watch her work.
When Wang Yue focused on crafting, her expression was solemn and her lips were pressed thin. Sweat rolled down from her temples, tracing the curve of her rounded cheeks. She looked exceptionally captivating.
Lilith stared at her, her thin lips slightly parted. A small spark of desire brewed in her chest; she really wanted to peck those little cheeks.
The custom Bowie knife was finished. The final product was 14.2 inches long with an 8.3-inch blade. A false edge taking up two-thirds of the spine and a slightly upswept tip gave the knife a smooth, elegant silhouette.
The hilt was made from twisted stainless steel strips, incredibly sturdy. Rhino horn scales created smooth, curved surfaces on the top and bottom. The pommel was slightly thicker, ending in a conical glass-breaker stud.
Lilith took it and gripped it firmly. Since it was custom-made, the handle felt perfect in her hand. She tested the balance point with her finger; it sat right in front of the almond-shaped hollow guard. Perfection.
She pointed it forward; the balance and directionality were superb.
The blade shimmered with the eerie Damascus pattern. Aside from the name “Wang Yue” engraved on the spine, she had inlaid a Witchcraft Rune for the High-Frequency Particle Blade* using iridium.
However, Lilith couldn’t use magic right now, so she couldn’t activate it.
“I really want to cut something.”
Lilith turned gracefully, stepping into the open space ahead. The moment she raised her wrist, over a dozen arcing cut-lines appeared—so fast they were a blur. The blade tore through the air with a piercing, shrill whistle!
