Chapter 14: The First Lesson: Motes and Methods

Jasmine remained seated beside Su Xinxin, rather than approaching the podium like a traditional teacher. With a light touch to the tabletop, the vibrant floral vista on the glass curtain wall dissolved, giving way to a concise presentation interface.

Several lines of glowing text materialized in the air:

[Jacaranda Division • New Recruit Training: Lesson One]

[Instructor: Jasmine (First Tier • Budding Bloom)]

[Trainee: Jasmin (Zero Tier • Apprentice)]

“Welcome to the Jacaranda Division,” Jasmine began, her voice steadying as she consciously tried to find her rhythm as an instructor.

Although this was her first time acting as a mentor for a new recruit, and many procedures were still unfamiliar, she had once sat in the very seat opposite—she had, after all, witnessed how lessons were taught and explanations given.

“According to protocol, I must first confirm: are you aware of the nature of our organization and the basic duties of a magical girl?”

“I know a little,” Su Xinxin replied truthfully. “Purifying the ‘Erosion,’ maintaining reality’s stability, and keeping our identities secret.”

“Yes, but there’s more to it,” Jasmine said, leaning forward, her eyes brightening. “The ‘Erosion’—those monsters or magical creatures we fight—what exactly are they? They are emotions, memories, obsessions… all negative things that, when accumulated over time, transform into tangible pollution. And our work as magical girls isn’t simply ‘slaying monsters’; it’s more like…”

She paused, searching for the right word. “Mind sanitation workers. Cleaning away those stagnant, negative emotions to keep the city’s heart beating healthily.”

This analogy startled Su Xinxin.

Sanitation worker. A very plain term, yet it felt strangely apt.

“So, our power is essentially a kind of… cleaning ability?” she asked, following the thread.

“You could say that!” Jasmine nodded vigorously. “But everyone’s ‘cleaning method’ is different. For example, me—”

She spread her palm. A soft white light coalesced within it, gradually forming a miniature glowing jasmine bud. The bud slowly unfurled, each delicate petal so intricate that even its veins were visible.

“My method leans more towards ‘covering’ and ‘purifying,'” Jasmine explained, withdrawing her hand as the flower bud dissolved into specks of light. “I cover the filth with pure fragrance and dissolve negativity with gentle light. Other magical girls, however, specialize in ‘slaying,’ some in ‘sealing’… you’ll gradually encounter these later.”

Su Xinxin listened intently, yet her gaze involuntarily drifted back to Jasmine’s dazzling hair.

It was silvery-white. Under the soft classroom light, it truly resembled moonlight, shimmering with a faint, pearlescent luster.

Jasmine noticed her gaze and instinctively touched her own hair. “Ah, this color… it’s how it looks after transformation. The main impression color of jasmine flowers is white, so my hair and magic light effects tend towards white tones.”

She spoke with a touch of embarrassment. “Although your Jasmin flower is also primarily white, its center has a hint of goose yellow, right? So your hair might also be a very gentle goose yellow, and your magic light effects too—it would suit you very well.”

Su Xinxin felt she should return the compliment. After a moment of hesitation, she began:

“But in my younger days, I rarely saw anything like this—”

‘Stop, stop, stop!’

Xiao Ming frantically interrupted in her mind, but the words were already halfway out. Su Xinxin, who could normally continue unflustered, found herself abruptly stuck. She merely pursed her lips, scratched her head, and offered a somewhat sheepish smile.

Jasmine paused, bewildered.

‘My younger days’? That phrase… was a little peculiar. Was this Jasmin in front of her deliberately feigning maturity? Or was she genuinely older?

Suppressing her doubts, she smiled. “Perhaps it’s because we’re magical girls; our hair color is influenced by our source flower. It just so happens I became this white, and you became goose yellow. Of course, in reality, I still have black hair.”

Su Xinxin nodded, saying nothing more. She felt that if she continued speaking, she might truly reveal too much.

Jasmine returned to the main topic, her finger lightly swiping the tabletop to bring up a new presentation page. The display was clear and concise, though a closer look seemed to hint at a slight rush in its preparation.

Soon, several lines of text and simple diagrams arranged themselves in the air:

[Simplified Classification of ‘Erosion’ Contamination Levels]

[N Motes • R Specters/Aggregates/Phantoms • SR Calamity Seedlings/Calamities/Disasters • SSR Cataclysm • UR Annihilation]

[Corresponding Magical Girl Ranks]

[Apprentice • Budding Bloom • Flourishing Blossom • Guardian • Floral Lord • Floral Steward]

“Shall we officially begin Lesson One?” Jasmine’s voice regained its cheerful tone. “Today, we’ll cover the ‘Erosion’ contamination levels and our corresponding magical girl rank system. Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep it simple and clear—”

She pointed to the most basic level, “N Motes.” “You actually encounter this level every day. For instance, waking up in the morning feeling inexplicably irritable, or suddenly feeling a sense of oppression when passing a certain place… that might be the influence of Motes. They have no physical form, like dust in the air; a quick sweep and they’re gone.”

Su Xinxin seemed lost in thought.

She recalled the swirling grey mist she had first purified in the consciousness space—the sobbing, the dim light, the atmosphere that made one feel low. Was that Motes? But Xiao Ming had said it was a simulation for testing purposes…

“The one I purified during my initial test…” she asked cautiously. “Was that also Motes?”

“Ah, that one,” Jasmine chuckled. “That was an enhanced simulation. To give new recruits a ‘complete’ first experience, the Floral Whisper Department—that’s the department responsible for publicity and cultural development—exaggerates the appearance of Motes a bit. In reality, true Motes are quite inconspicuous, just a wisp of grey mist, without such obvious crying sounds.”

She paused, then added, “However, your purification method was very standard. Gentle, peaceful, without forceful dispersal—that’s the typical style of the Purification Faction.”

‘Wait, she also saw the contents of my test? Doesn’t that mean she knows my true identity?’ Su Xinxin’s heart tightened, and she quickly asked Xiao Ming.

‘Don’t worry! When test content is made public, any identity-related parts are hidden or processed. Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone be able to see it?’ Xiao Ming’s reply came swiftly.

Su Xinxin breathed a sigh of relief, timely adopting a thoughtful expression, and naturally followed up on Jasmine’s words:

“Purification Faction? What’s that?”

“Right, that’s what we’re covering next.”

Jasmine seemed pleased that she’d grasped the key point. She swiped her finger through the air, and the page switched.

Three terms appeared side-by-side:

[Purification Faction • Annihilation Faction • Harmony Faction]

“These are the three major factions within the organization, or rather, three different philosophies of work,” Jasmine explained, her tone becoming more serious. “The Purification Faction advocates for enlightenment, guidance, and healing, allowing the ‘Erosion’ to dissipate peacefully; the Annihilation Faction champions efficient, rapid extermination, destroying their forms; and the Harmony Faction… well, they adapt to the situation, doing whatever is most effective, prioritizing personal safety above all.”

Su Xinxin listened quietly.

The mysterious person who had broken through the door that night, those cold eyes, those sharp words, resurfaced in her mind—

“Facing monsters, what you need is the ruthlessness to slay them, not the lukewarm sentimentality of the Purification Faction!”

Now she understood. That person… was most likely from the Annihilation Faction. So that was their underlying intention.

Jasmine didn’t notice Su Xinxin’s distraction and continued. “I lean towards the Purification Faction. I always feel that these ‘Erosion’ entities are born from human suffering, and if we can send them off gently… perhaps it’s better.” Her voice softened. “But that’s just my personal opinion.”

“Then during the initial test,” Su Xinxin asked, “why was I arranged to perform ‘purification’ rather than other methods?”

This question gave Jasmine pause.

“Well…” she mused, “it might have been a judgment based on your source flower type. The Jasmin flower’s language is gentle and approachable, suited for the purification route. It’s also possible…” She hesitated. “The Floral Whisper Department tends to promote the Purification Faction’s ideals, so they designed the test process with a bias. Of course, that’s just my guess; I’m not entirely sure of the specific reasons.”

She quickly added, “However, factions are just different philosophies; everyone’s goal is the same—to protect this world. So even if there are disagreements, they are always based on cooperation.”

Su Xinxin nodded.

Having lived for seventy years, she understood “different philosophies” all too well. Like the debates she used to see on television and in newspapers, no matter the ideology or the path taken, ultimately, weren’t they all for the betterment of the land beneath their feet?

Seeing her understanding, Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief and continued explaining other content.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

I’m Not the Saintess! I’m a Good-for-Nothing Young Master!

Female ProtagonistGender BenderReverse Pursuit

Read Now →
Not interested