Chapter 11: Is a Magic Teacher, Not a Magical Teacher

Xia Zhi didn't know how he had fallen asleep.

Probably because the bonfire was truly warm, the heat of the night wind blowing over was truly comfortable, and the smoke made him inevitably a bit drowsy...

Vivian's voice was like babbling flowing water, gently reverberating by his ear; she confided those stories and emotions deeply hidden in her heart, making people feel pity for her while also seeming to touch the soft corner of her inner heart...

Although his eyelids were heavy as if hung with lead blocks, Xia Zhi still tried his best to stay awake, knowing that the girl needed a listener at this moment. But as he listened, he inevitably gradually immersed himself in this comfortable and tranquil atmosphere.

The temperature carried by the bonfire just right offset the slight coolness of the night wind.

That wonderful feeling of fervor and tranquility intertwined was like a lullaby, letting his consciousness drift between comfort and haziness.

Coupled with the fatigue accumulated over the past few days, he had almost not gotten sufficient rest... this was an obvious fact. After all, seeing Vivian's muddled state, how could he really dare to rest assured, having almost never truly closed his eyes.

Until this moment, as if a ray of dawn breaking through the gloom...

The girl's condition finally improved, showing rare signs of improvement...

Xia Zhi's always taut mental defense line quietly loosened, and it was precisely this moment of relaxation that the long-accumulated fatigue, like a tide, silently swept over and drowned his wakefulness.

Under the gentle blowing of the night wind and the flickering bonfire, they chatted with one sentence here and there...

Unknowingly, his consciousness began to become hazy, and his sight gradually sank into darkness...

「... 」

「... 」

The night wind gently brushed past, the bonfire was quiet and blazing, only the faint crackling sound of firewood bursting quietly bloomed in the firelight.

The vast and boundless forest extended to the skyline; the contours of the distant mountain ranges, under the reflection of the dense night color, were like a giant beast sleeping in the embrace of the earth.

Vivian also slowly stopped.

She gently pursed her lips, seeming to still want to say something, but turned those words entirely into silence, merging into the boundless night color.

Although the girl still had so much to say, emotions still accumulated deep in her heart, those unspoken thoughts... but the person who could listen had already fallen into a deep sleep; she hugged her knees, separated by the jumping flame, quietly staring at the other's peaceful sleeping appearance.

Unable to continue confiding, but for some reason, she did not feel disappointed.

That jumping flame was like a warm heart in the night, constantly emitting a warm and soothing power.

This heat was like a dose of healing medicine, penetrating the body, almost directly reaching the deepest part of the soul, gently smoothing the torn, stinging wounds, bringing her unprecedented tranquility and comfort.

「... Thank you. 」

After a long time, a voice of thanks so light it almost drifted away with the wind sounded.

Like the night wind whispering, gentle and sincere.

Consciousness woke up...

But he didn't really want to move...

He didn't want to see that familiar ceiling, that familiar bedroom, nor face that same another day, nor face that monotonous and boring morning of June 21...

Xia Zhi didn't even open his eyes, but habitually reached out sideways, extremely proficiently lightly swiping on the phone screen, without looking, able to precisely time it, turning it off at the moment the alarm clock rang—

This should have been a common scene in a rigid life.

But reality broke expectations; his hand did not touch that familiar cold screen.

Even more puzzling was that even though he missed the scheduled time, the phone alarm actually did not ring as expected.

「... Huh? 」

Xia Zhi instantly woke up; he abruptly opened his eyes, and what entered his eyes was not a familiar scene, but a magnificent and grand starry sky dome.

Above that vast horizon was a galaxy seemingly extending to the end of the universe, ancient and vast, shocking and romantic.

「...!! 」

He abruptly straightened his body, sat up at once, and quickly examined everything around him. He was not in that familiar and tiresome bedroom at this moment, but in the center of a barren wilderness.

The bonfire not far away was still quietly burning.

Opposite, the golden-haired pigtails girl sat silently on the ground, hands hugging her knees.

Under this profound and quiet night covering, like an oil painting of the night. In short, everything seemed exactly the same as before, without any change.

Xia Zhi looked at this scene, as if suddenly waking up, and deeply exhaled a breath—it was not fake, not a dream—he had indeed escaped that hopeless cycle and struggled out of the time vortex.

It wasn't strange for him to have such a thought; after all, his experience in the Fairy Kingdom was only a few days, while the cycle he experienced had repeated countless times; the weight of the two on the time scale was simply like the difference between stardust and a star, incomparable.

——That countless repeated time cycle, in the clear pain that could not be measured by numbers, engraved this deep-rooted cognition bit by bit into the depths of his soul.

——In contrast, although the experience in the Fairy Kingdom was more magnificent and revealed a more wonderful world, it was only a few short days, like an unreal brief dream.

In contrast, Xia Zhi naturally instinctively tended to believe in the reality of those countless cycles; that was originally a reflex formed by countless cycles. Moreover, this was his first time waking from a dream since coming to the Fairy Kingdom.

「If you're awake... eat something first. 」 A calm voice came from beside.

Vivian lightly reached out her hand and took down the piece of meat being quietly roasted beside the bonfire. I don't know what method was used; the aroma of the roasted meat had seemed blocked before, not a bit could be smelled.

Until she moved now, the aroma suddenly emitted.

And appearing along with it was the slight crackling sound of firewood cracking as the bonfire burned.

Was it some special magic power that could block both sound and scent molecules? Xia Zhi touched the blanket that had inexplicably appeared on his body, thoughtful, but didn't dwell on this aspect.

「Thank you... 」

He reached out to take the roasted meat the girl handed over, collected his thoughts, and while not showing it on his face, glanced at her and asked casually.

「By the way, how long did I sleep? Is it not dawn yet... 」

At least on the surface, Vivian had calmed down, no longer listless and muddled as before. Although her expression still looked somewhat sorrowful upon careful inspection, he also didn't expect Vivian to completely get over it all at once.

That was unrealistic.

He didn't need to continue comforting the other party either, because that would be like holding on tightly, repeatedly making the other party recall this painful experience.

The most appropriate approach was not to deliberately do anything, just let nature take its course, firmly believing time would let emotions settle, just as time would quietly heal wounds... although it was somewhat strange for him, a victim of time, to say such things.

「It has already dawned... 」

Vivian looked at him, her tone still very calm: "You slept for a whole day."

"..."

"..."

Xia Zhi's movements directly froze; he had originally thought he hadn't slept long, after all, when he fell asleep the night was deep, and when he woke the stars and moon still hung in the sky, so he naturally estimated it had been at most a few hours.

Although judging by his state, having stayed up for several days and nights straight, nearly half a week without closing his eyes, sleeping a day and a night was also normal.

But...

He doubtfully reached out to touch his chest and belly, as if seriously sensing something.

If he had slept that long, he shouldn't have failed to perceive it, because the body's state would intuitively tell you.

"It's best not to trust your physical sensation too much during this time; your past experience may not apply anymore..." Vivian's voice sounded, "Because your body has already ignited the Magic Furnace Core and begun converting Magic Power."

The girl seemed to know what he was thinking, and calmly explained.

This was also one of the intuitive changes happening on him in her eyes; at the very beginning, he was fundamentally a Magic Power insulator. Like ordinary Humans, unable to perceive and utilize Magic Power.

But he could strangely survive unharmed in an environment filled with high-concentration Magic Power; even if thrown directly into the Age of Gods, he wouldn't be killed by the Magic Power environment.

Anyway, he just appeared contradictory and strange.

However, this person also couldn't remain an ordinary person forever, because his essence is a completely heterogenous existence, an outsider that fundamentally does not belong to this Planet, does not belong to this World, from the root attribute.

Even if he himself hasn't yet grasped any means of "exercising Mystery," it doesn't change the fact that he himself is the "greatest Mystery"... and according to Magecraft principles, Mystery falls before a Mystery more powerful than itself.

As of now, Ether has already begun to submit to him.

"What Magic Furnace Core? What thing is that?" Xia Zhi listened in a daze; there was still this kind of thing inside his body?

"Just a general term; I'm also not clear on the specifics of your situation. Just like Humans have Magic Circuits, Fairies have Fairy Patterns, and even Dragons have their own unique Dragon Furnace Core..."

Vivian shook her head—

"In the end, it's just an analogy, referring to a concept-like thing inside creatures capable of utilizing Magic Power, something that functions like a dynamo able to convert and produce Magic Power."

"Then mine is Magic Circuits?"

Xia Zhi raised an eyebrow, saying with great interest.

That's not necessarily so...

Vivian wanted to say something, but stopped. Although she had inherited much intelligence entrusted by another self, much of the Magecraft Knowledge within it also hadn't had time to be fully digested and integrated; it was merely a simple acceptance of Data Transmission.

In terms of Magecraft right now, she was also just a rookie who had just entered the door; despite having an absolutely unparalleled top-tier talent, she had also only just stepped onto this Road.

Thinking it over, the girl also didn't express an opinion, merely looking at Xia Zhi inexplicably.

Unexpected visitors from beyond the heavens always symbolize higher-layer Mystery; they don't follow this World's Common Sense and physical/Magecraft laws, just like the origin of the South American Gods—clearly just the result of extraterrestrial bacteria landing on Earth.

—Fiber-type information Memory Chips attached to the Meteorite that fell to Earth, existences fused with Earth Plants.

—Plants continuously grew vigorously and flourished, finally forming a gigantic network covering seventy percent of the Surface World.

Although this also had a long evolutionary process, not achieved Overnight, this typical case is enough to explain many things... if this person before my eyes has sufficient growth, just how far could he walk?

"Right!"

Researching the changes on his body yet discovering nothing, unable to sense any existence of Magic Power either, Xia Zhi, slightly disappointed, immediately thought of something and clapped his hands.

"You seemed to say yesterday you wanted to do some Heroic Spirit Summoning? It wouldn't have already started, right?"

If he really had slept a day and a night, Vivian had ample time to prepare and fiddle; she probably definitely went to try and conduct it, right?

"..."

"..."

"I tried, but didn't succeed..." The girl pursed her lips, a hard-to-disguise disappointment in her pupils.

"Didn't succeed?"

"Didn't succeed; it seems not that simple..." Vivian shook her head, "Heroic Spirit Summoning is a very high-level Jutsu; I... I might not have thoroughly understood it."

"Spirit Summoning Ritual · Heroic Spirit Summoning" was originally a decisive battle Magecraft used to save the Primate World; Humans, for their own convenience, degraded this Magecraft into a Summoning system, which is the Holy Grail War—

This is also the most complete Magecraft Knowledge among the intelligence entrusted by another her of Pan-Human History.

Xia Zhi, hearing this, also frowned; is Heroic Spirit Summoning that troublesome?

In last night's chat, he had also heard Vivian focus on explaining the advantages of this Summoning system, knowing it was an important way to pull people in, and naturally held no small hope for it.

Just, looking at it, this doesn't seem to be a plan that can be carried out very simply.

"It's fine, it's fine; then we'll take it slow, anyway it's not urgent for the moment..." Seeing the girl's disappointed expression, he still spoke to comfort her, "You didn't say; if there's no rate-up banner, wanting to pull a specific character from the standard pool is almost impossible, right?"

Supposedly Heroic Spirit Summoning also depends on fate/affinity.

Without a karmic connection, wanting to pull a specific SSR, you can only utilize Holy Relics related to the Heroic Spirit as a Catalyst to have a chance at a targeted Summoning.

Otherwise, Summoning is completely down to luck; countless heroes and outstanding figures from ancient times to present all share probability in the same pool; one can imagine how deep that pool is, and how toxic; estimated there's not much hope.

"Rate-up banner? Standard pool?"

Vivian blanked for a moment, looking at him uncomprehendingly; what is this person saying, how come I don't understand a single word?

"That is the Magic Array used for Summoning, right?" Xia Zhi ate the roasted meat in his hand in a few bites, then stood up, looking toward a certain direction in the distance; over there a large empty area seemed to have been specially leveled.

He reacted extremely fast, immediately understanding that should be the venue Vivian specially used to test Heroic Spirit Summoning.

"Yes..."

The girl replied in a low voice; seeing this person walk over there in high spirits, she could only stand up and follow.

Arriving at that empty ground, Xia Zhi looked around with interest; the ground was engraved with a pattern that looked very lively, full of Mystery, like a Magic Array.

"Completely followed the steps; the Mystic Code was also adjusted by 'me'... specially, the Materials also had no special Requirements, but for some reason there was just no Reaction."

Vivian stood to the side, sighed, and said.

"Is that so—"

Xia Zhi thought for a bit, didn't say anything; he was completely clueless in this area, so he'd better not randomly spout opinions.

"You said you wanted to find a teacher, right? Have you decided who you want to Summon?" he asked casually, his gaze sweeping over the formation patterns on the ground, and he immediately frowned; how much blood did Vivian spill? Surely not all her own, right?

"I don't know either... it'd be best if it's related to Britain, that would be more suitable for summoning in this Fairy Kingdom." The girl's voice was somewhat low; she also didn't know who she should summon.

There was no suitable candidate in the Fairy Kingdom's history.

And she wasn't very familiar with Pan-Human History either.

Although the intelligence entrusted by the other self mentioned the relationship between Heroic Spirits and the land, however, for that "Merlin" who could be confirmed as related to Britain, she seemed to particularly loathe him.

"Related to Britain, huh... Merlin? If he exists, that would be quite suitable."

Xia Zhi crouched down, examining the summoning formation, and simultaneously answered the question offhandedly.

He knows Merlin too?

Then he seems to be a quite outstanding Magician... but thinking of this name, instinctive disgust and rejection welled up in her.

Vivian said in a low voice: "Any others?"

"Merlin isn't suitable either? Then it's troublesome, let me think again, a Magic Teacher related to Britain..." Xia Zhi frowned, while gently reaching out to touch the bloodstains on the summoning formation's pattern, wanting to confirm something.

"It's a Magecraft Teacher, not a Magic Teacher..."

The girl spoke up to correct, the other party still lacked clear classification and cognition on this concept.

"Let's not talk about this first..."

Xia Zhi pulled at the corner of his mouth, watching the formation patterns under his fingertips gradually light up.

"Vivian, look, is this thing glowing?"

The next moment, he felt his arm grabbed by a hand, directly dragging him back and rapidly pulling open a distance.

Vivian shielded the youth behind her, vigilantly watching the front.

Gale howled, thunder roared and lightning flashed.

A phantom from another spacetime appeared in the center of the front summoning formation after a burst of dazzling special effects.

Silver long hair, a pure white silk gold-thread embroidered one-piece garment draping to the ankles, a petite figure appeared in the night wind, looking around in panic, seemingly completely unable to react to her situation.

"Who are you?" Vivian frowned, what Heroic Spirit was this summoned?

"I... I am..."

The silver-haired petite girl froze for a moment, seemingly not knowing how to answer this question.

And at this time, another voice sounded—

"Related to Britain, and a Magic Teacher... it really matches."

Xia Zhi's expression appeared quite strange, carefully sizing up the summoned girl, pulled at the corner of his mouth: "The manager of the Anglican Church's 103,000 Grimoires, Index, right?"

(Chapter End)