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Join the ServerGern’s hairs stood on end, a profound alarm blaring in her heart.
“Xiao Ying, come quickly!”
“Mm-hmm!”
Xiao Ying obediently hid behind Gern. In an instant, a black mist once again enveloped the two of them.
From a distance, the black serpent observed this scene. A flicker of human-like doubt crossed her serpentine eyes.
Due to the considerable distance, she could only discern two figures, one tall and one short.
According to her intelligence, the two individuals ahead should be Quade Turner and the little girl.
Yet, she hadn’t witnessed Quade Turner employing such an ability. ‘Could it be the girl beside him?’ she wondered.
However, this was no time for contemplation. It was clear the two were attempting to escape.
Displeasure flickered in Evelyn’s eyes. She had expended considerable effort to finally obtain information about Quade Turner, and she certainly wouldn’t allow them to escape so easily.
Evelyn accelerated once more, charging directly into the black mist. Yet, when she emerged on the other side, no trace of anyone remained.
“How… how is this possible?!”
Evelyn reverted to her human form, scanning left and right. Still, there was no sign of them.
It was as if the two individuals from moments ago had never existed. Only the lingering black mist offered proof that two figures had once stood there.
Anger and frustration welled up within Evelyn. This was the first time Quade Turner had managed to outwit her so completely.
Nevertheless, the fact that she had found traces of him indicated that Quade Turner was not in mortal danger. He was simply trying to avoid her.
Such situations had often occurred in the past. However, each time, Quade Turner had been the one utterly defeated.
She wondered what method Quade Turner had employed to escape this time.
She refused to believe he could hide from her indefinitely. The next time they met, she vowed to make him pay.
****
A considerable time passed after Evelyn’s departure. Suddenly, from beneath the sandy earth where the black mist had dissipated, a jade-white arm emerged.
Bathed in the dawn’s early light, it presented an eerie and terrifying sight.
A moment later, another pale arm pushed through the sand. Slowly, a silver-haired girl, with emerging dragon horns and a mound of sand piled atop her head, crawled out of the earth.
Immediately after, a small figure burrowed out from under the sand. Countless grains of sand cascaded into a surprisingly spacious cavern of sand and rock below.
****
Rewind to before Evelyn had charged in. Gern, a look of anxiety etched on her face, paced back and forth within the black mist.
She knew the disparity in strength between herself and the Serpentwoman. If she were to fight head-on, especially with a little loli by her side, defeat was certain.
However, it was already too late to flee. Moreover, she still needed to follow this contingent to locate the entrance to the secret realm.
After a brief deliberation, Gern opted for a safer approach.
This involved using earth magic to create a small, narrow space capable of accommodating two people. Thus, the previous scene unfolded.
Regaining the light, the two slumped onto the sand, gasping for fresh air.
Had Evelyn lingered there any longer, both of them would have been trapped.
After dawn, the sun hung high in the sky. Once the little loli recovered her spirits, she continuously circled Gern, who had transformed into the Silver Dragon Girl, her eyes filled with both envy and curiosity.
“Big Sister, is this a disguise spell?”
Gern nodded reluctantly, considering it a white lie.
To her surprise, Xiao Ying’s spirits instantly lifted upon hearing this. Her greyish-white vertical pupils sparkled, brimming with anticipation.
“Big Sister, I want to learn this! Can you teach me?”
“This… I’m sorry, you haven’t even begun to learn magic yet. I can’t teach you.”
Gern affectionately patted Xiao Ying’s head. Xiao Ying pouted, feeling a little wronged, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Big Sister, I want to become a mage too!”
“Not yet.”
“Please, please! I want to be as strong as Big Sister! That way, I can chase away those who bully me.”
Gazing into the little girl’s bright eyes, Gern felt a deep inner conflict.
Originally, she hadn’t planned to teach Xiao Ying anything. After all, magic crystals and Stones of Discord were expensive.
Yet, seeing the little girl before her always reminded her of her past self—the one who had struggled just to survive.
A flicker of internal struggle crossed the Silver Dragon Girl’s golden eyes. It was as if two tiny figures were wrestling within her mind.
Having lived alone from a young age, Xiao Ying had long mastered the art of reading people. Naturally, she took in all of Gern’s reactions.
The black-haired Serpentwoman smiled faintly. A fleeting expression of melancholy crossed her face.
“Big Sister, I’m sorry. Xiao Ying was too willful.”
Gern cast a complex glance at the little Serpentwoman. Ultimately, the inherent kindness in her heart triumphed over habits cultivated over many years.
She leaned down, her golden dragon eyes meeting the girl’s serpentine pupils. Her expression was profoundly serious.
“Xiao Ying, do you truly wish to learn these things?”
Xiao Ying was initially taken aback. As she grasped Gern’s meaning, her eyes once again sparkled with anticipation.
“Mm-hmm! Xiao Ying wants to become strong too!”
“Alright. I have two types of stones here: a Stone of Discord and a magic crystal. Which one do you want?”
These two stones were essential materials for awakening a knight or a mage, respectively. If Xiao Ying lacked the corresponding talent, the awakening stone would be rendered useless.
This was why Gern had hesitated earlier. She wasn’t exactly short on magic crystals right now.
However, there was also a high-grade Stone of Discord, partially used, which Snow had given her when she saved her.
It was too precious; she had never used it.
Xiao Ying gazed at the two stones before her. She extended her small, tender hands and clasped both stones in her palms.
“Big Sister, I want to try both.”
Gern let out a wry chuckle, her heart aching slightly as she looked at the high-grade Stone of Discord.
Nevertheless, she said nothing more. After instructing Xiao Ying on how to absorb the energy from the stones, she sat beside her to act as her protector.
Time ticked by, second by second. The sun hung high in the sky, and in the distance, the army set off once more, marching towards their destined battlefield.
Gern glanced at the marching army in the distance, a flicker of anxiety stirring within her.
She turned to look at Xiao Ying, realizing that the girl was at a critical stage of her awakening. Gern had no choice but to patiently wait.
A short while later, Xiao Ying abruptly opened her greyish-white eyes. An aura of a First-Order Knight and a First-Order Mage emanated from her.
Gern was slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected Xiao Ying to possess the dual talents of both magic and knighthood; no one capable of awakening both powers simultaneously had ever been of low talent.
However, she wondered if Xiao Ying would excel in both knighthood and magic, or if she would specialize in one, like Sina, with the other talent remaining mediocre.
Having just awakened, Xiao Ying was incredibly excited. She felt as if she had opened the door to a new world, clearly sensing the energy flowing within her.
“Big Sister, I…”
Just as she was about to share her joy with Gern, she was interrupted by Gern’s words.
“Xiao Ying, they’ve gone far ahead. We need to catch up quickly.”
“Mm, okay.”
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