Chapter 41: Establishing the Wizard Academy

That night, Fulade unusually did not go to tease Sainren again.

The two simply reclined on a large rock, leaning against each other, watching the fireflies filling the sky while the cool night breeze brushed them.

They exchanged some interesting anecdotes, and of course, Fulade did most of the talking.

It was evident that both were enjoying the tranquility of the moment.

Sainren's eyes never left Fulade the whole time.

Perhaps knowing they would part again tomorrow, Sainren clearly cherished this time.

But the time together is always brief; no matter how reluctant Sainren is, time will not halt for anyone.

The sun rose and the moon shifted, and the first morning light gradually spilled a soft glow, illuminating the land.

Fulade eventually left.

Sainren stood dazed on the large rock where they had stayed all night, watching the figure fade into the distance, unable to recover for a long while.

Two days later, Saji Town.

It is a border town very close to Wallachia; a half‑day's ride further and crossing the Danube brings one into Wallachian territory.

Continuing upstream along the Ort River basin for about three days leads to the capital of the Kingdom of Walachia: Dracula Castle.

At the town's entrance, two carriages were parked.

"Sister Malisika, Uncle Fulade, are you coming back today?"

Beside the carriage stood four adults and two children, four women and two men.

They were Malisika, Mina, and the family of the white Witch Alide'anna.

The one who spoke earlier was the little girl Gret.

Malisika looked down at the young Gret, whose large eyes sparkled brightly, and couldn't help a sly smile, teasing slightly:

"Huh, Gret, you really want to see Uncle Fulade that much?"

"Of course, Sister Malisika, you didn't see how impressive Uncle Fulade was—just standing there with a gentle smile, then saying: 'Did I let you go?'"

"Guess what happened in the end."

Gret waved her arms, vividly describing the scene as if she herself were there, as though she were the hero who waved a hand and vanquished the great villain.

The comically cute scene made everyone nearby smile.

"If I grow up, I want to be just like Uncle Fulade," Gret clasped her tiny hands together, dreaming naively.

"Hmm, I believe you will fulfill that wish someday."

Suddenly, a voice full of magnetism rang out.

A thick, strong hand gently brushed the little girl Gret's tiny head.

"Master~" "Fulade~"

Malisika and Mina exclaimed with surprised faces.

Gret, startled, first stared blankly at Fulade behind her, then, under Fulade's smiling gaze, for some reason shyly ran to hide behind her mother Alide'anna.

Fulade saw this, was unperturbed, just gave a slight smile, then looked at Alide'anna and her husband.

Fulade first greeted Alide'anna's husband.

Then he said to Alide'anna, "Madam, has the journey been smooth these past few days?"

"Thank you for Prince Fulade's concern; we have been fine all the way," Alide'anna said after solemnly performing a wizard's salute to Fulade. "That's good; I will still need to rely on the master in many matters later," Fulade smiled, appearing very modest and courteous.

This gave Alide'anna's family, who previously knew little about Fulade, an excellent impression of his demeanor.

It also relaxed Alide'anna and her husband, easing the tension of the past few days' uncertainty about the future.

After a brief chat, they did not linger and headed straight toward the capital of Wallachia.

The carriage's pace was not fast; by the third day, the party finally reached the vicinity of Duanyashan via a tributary of the Ort River.

From Duanyashan, at most a day's travel ahead lies the capital of Wallachia: Dracula Castle.

At this point, both carriages stopped in a fairly sizable grove.

A campfire was lit in the middle of the carriage, and the group sat together, discussing the procedures for establishing a Wizard Academy in the future, the atmosphere relaxed.

"Prince, I am not good at managing an academy; you should let others handle it," Alide'anna said after a brief thought, then slowly shook her head to refuse.

Fulade could see that Alide'anna was indeed not a talent for administration, but resembled a scholar devoted to research.

Nevertheless, Fulade declined her suggestion, telling her, "No one is born a manager; I believe you will be capable."

Seeing Alide'anna still seemed inclined to refuse, Fulade added, "Don't worry, I will have Mina assist you; this time you must not refuse again," Fulade declared decisively.

Alide'anna, seeing this, swallowed the words she was about to refuse.

After all, she was not someone who couldn't be flexible; having come this far, she forced herself to accept.

"Uncle Fulade, may I also join the academy?"

Nearby, Gret, upon hearing about establishing a Wizard Academy, immediately looked at Fulade with excitement, asking.

After several days of contact, Gret had become familiar with Fulade, no longer the shy child who, at first, hid behind her mother upon seeing him.

Seeing Gret's pure little face, her big hopeful eyes, Fulade immediately nodded and replied:

"Of course you may, but the procedure still needs to be followed."

"Yay, Uncle Fulade, you're the best."

Gret jumped up excitedly, partly because her mother did not want her to become a Wizard.

Watching Gret proudly flaunt herself before her mother, Fulade couldn't help but find it amusing.

Thinking about it, the future famed Witch Hunter becoming a Witch now is quite an amusing twist.

With a hint of a dark humor only he understood, Fulade turned to the slightly dejected Hansel: "Hansel, what about you, do you want to go?"

Hansel, who had been envious because his sister could become a Witch, looked up in surprise at the smiling Fulade and asked in disbelief:

"Uncle Fulade, could I also go?"

"But Wizards have always been something only women could cultivate, haven't they?"

Needless to say Hansel, even Alide'anna and the others all looked at Fulade with puzzled faces, not quite understanding what he meant.

"Oh, is that so? Then look at what this is."

Fulade extended his right index finger, and under the gaze of the several people, with just a slight tremble of his fingertip, a cluster of blood-colored blazing flame suddenly rose from Fulade's fingertip.

"Magic~!!"

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(End of this chapter)