What troubled Duwei was little Viviann's farewell.
The naive girl had finally gone to the Mage Guild in Walker Port to complete some formalities.
Her mage's robe was gone, and even her mage's emblem had been lost to the sea.
Viviann had registered at the local Mage Guild, and upon revealing her identity, the clerks immediately consulted the mage level records. Two low-level mages nearly fainted from shock.
In no time, their demeanor became exceedingly deferential. After all, the arrival of a great mage was a rare and significant event.
Within the Mage Guild, renowned grand mages were as haughty as they were powerful. One could not afford to cross them, for even the slightest offense could invite dire consequences.
The Mage Guild branch in Walker Port primarily handled mundane procurement tasks for the guild, and the staff here had rarely, if ever, hosted a grand mage.
Before long, Viviann had donned a fresh mage's robe and received a newly issued golden emblem.
"I... I'm leaving," she sighed.
This was the first thing she said to Duwei after returning.
Duwei was silent for a moment, saying nothing. He understood well that, despite the deep bond they had formed on that remote island, once back to the real world, they would each go their separate ways.
"I... I'm leaving." Viviann's face flushed slightly, her eyes reddened. Her small hands nervously twisted the hem of her robe. "The... the teacher will... be back soon."
Duwei looked up at her and asked, "Where will I find you after this?"
Viviann paused, then looked at him with caution. "The... teacher forbids me... from telling anyone... our whereabouts..."
"…Not even me?" Duwei asked gently.
Viviann's eyes welled with tears, and with a sudden twist of her mouth, she burst into sobs. Throwing herself into his arms, trembling as she cried, she whimpered, "I... I'll miss you so much... I don't want to go back... I... I lost my dragon, my teacher will punish me…"
Duwei smiled softly as she clung to him, listening to her childish lament. "There, there. You can tell me secretly. When I have the time, I'll come to visit you... or perhaps, when your teacher isn't around, you can sneak out to see me! Doesn't that sound good? We've known each other for so long now, and I consider you a good friend. You're not a child anymore—surely, your teacher doesn't expect you to be locked away forever, never meeting anyone. You'll need friends, won't you?"
Viviann hesitated, clearly torn. She had broken quite a few rules already during this brief time, and, after some thought, she figured one more wouldn't matter…
Sadly, we must admit that, in some ways, the innocent little Viviann had already been led astray by Duwei.
For, the old Viviann would have never entertained such an idea.
"I... I live at..." Viviann whispered an address in Duwei's ear. He committed it to memory, then smiled. "Alright! When I have a chance, I'll visit you."
Viviann's face darkened. "That place is... it's hard to find. Getting in isn't easy. My sister, the last time she went, wandered around outside for an entire day before she managed to get in."
Could it be that there was some sort of magical barrier? Duwei thought for a moment and chuckled. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out."
Viviann studied him closely for a moment, then pulled out a piece of parchment from her robe and gently placed it into Duwei's hand. "This... This is what I promised you."
Duwei unrolled it, his eyes scanning the ancient script. The ink was dark and the text was cryptic, as though written in an archaic style...
It was a series of magical incantations!
"There... there are six in total," Viviann said, her face turning red. "I... I promised you."Duwei gazed at the parchment in his hand. "You... must know that, back then, I was deceiving you, right?"
"Yes," Viviann lowered her head, avoiding Duwei's gaze. Her voice grew softer, almost a whisper. "This... these are the six most powerful spells I know... If your magic isn't strong enough, please... don't use them."
Duwei solemnly tucked the parchment into his belongings. His eyes lingered on Viviann, noting the blush on her cheeks and the way her gaze flickered, betraying the subtle hint of shyness in her demeanor. For a moment, Duwei couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart.
Upon realizing this, even Duwei himself was startled by the thought. After having deceived her so thoroughly, could he now steal her heart as well? After all, she was a young, innocent girl.
He shook his head, dismissing the thought. He gently guided Viviann outside and prepared a horse for her.
"I... I'm leaving," Viviann's expression grew even more sorrowful.
Suddenly, Duwei's tone turned serious. "There is one thing you must remember."
Taking a deep breath, Duwei continued, "I know your dragon was left on the island, and I know it pains you. I can imagine you must long to return to retrieve it, but I must ask you not to! That island is dangerous! Your sister, with her considerable magical power, was nearly killed by the creatures there, and her dragon was devoured. If you attempt to return, it will only lead to your death. Please, listen to me—don't be foolish enough to try and find your dragon there. Do you understand?"
Viviann nodded silently. "I... I understand. But... my teacher may still go."
Duwei sighed in resignation.
He recalled something that Chris, the demon's servant, had mentioned: that the enormous creature on the island was mobile, not fixed in one place. It would occasionally move to different locations. This meant the island's position wasn't constant.
Perhaps, by the time Viviann's teacher arrived, the island would no longer be there, only the vast expanse of the sea.
It was also worth noting that Viviann had never revealed the identity of her teacher. Duwei could only surmise that this teacher must be a reclusive master of extraordinary skill, for who else could have trained a young talent like Viviann?
"Then... what are those people doing?" Viviann asked suddenly, pointing to the distance with curiosity.
In the distance, sailors preparing to depart were bidding farewell to their women—some to their wives, some to lovers, and others to fleeting one-night stands with prostitutes.
For those who made their living at sea, danger was a constant companion. And so, before setting sail, the women—no matter their relation—would offer a blessing or farewell, however fleeting.
Several couples were exchanging parting kisses.
"They... are saying their farewells," Duwei answered casually.
A strange expression flickered across Viviann's face, her cheeks flushing bright red. Before Duwei could react, she swiftly leaned in and kissed his left cheek—a quick, fleeting touch like a butterfly's kiss.
Immediately, Viviann's breath quickened, her entire body trembling. She jumped onto her horse, said not a word, and rode off, fleeing in haste.
Duwei, standing there, touched the spot on his cheek where the young mage had kissed him, staring blankly down the long street...
•
Accompanied by a thousand of the Lorin family's private guards, Duwei's party departed from Walker Port, heading north toward the Lorin Plains.
As the procession passed through the capital of the Rill Province, the governor himself met with Duwei, offering comforting words and good advice. Before they parted, the governor presented Duwei with a number of gifts, allowing him a modest windfall.
After all, Duwei's allowance had been suspended during his probation, and without the usual three hundred gold coins per month, he was, in essence, one of the poorest nobles in the empire.
Joanna had left earlier, taking Jolin with her. They had joined Captain Jack Sparrow aboard the ship, resupplied at the port, and then set sail for their "black-on-black" plan against pirates.
Thinking about his future "McDonald's fleet" and the series of mischievous activities that lay ahead, Duwei couldn't help but smile as he lay back in the carriage.
Just imagine... one day, when the pitiful pirate captain introduces himself to others...
"I am Captain Jack Sparrow of the flagship 'Black Pearl' of the McDonald's Fleet!"
If such an introduction were made in the world of his past life, it would likely bring down a wave of laughter.
Lost in these thoughts, Duwei suddenly sat up in the carriage, his heart racing with excitement and amusement.
This world... was like a blank canvas, one he could freely paint upon!
If he could establish a "McDonald's Fleet," there were countless more intriguing things he could pursue!
In that moment, Duwei, our young protagonist, seemed to have finally found a spark of purpose in his life... albeit one tinged with mischief.
Fifteen days later, Duwei returned to the Lorin family's castle by the banks of the Emerald River's tributary in the Lorin Plains.
This time, the welcome was much more subdued. The thousand private cavalry guards who had escorted Duwei did not enter the castle, leaving as soon as their mission was complete.
Duwei once again encountered the elderly steward, Hill, whom he didn't particularly like. However, this time, the old man appeared much more cheerful upon seeing Duwei.
This was only natural—if something had happened to Duwei, the steward would share some of the blame.
"My lord, you've returned." The steward's face bloomed into a wide grin, though Duwei couldn't help but detect a touch of schadenfreude in the smile. "I've received a personal letter from the Count..."
"I already know," Duwei interrupted. "One year of house arrest, and my monthly stipend is temporarily suspended, correct? Now, my dear steward, where exactly do you plan to confine me?"
The steward jumped in surprise and quickly responded, "Ah, my lord, you've startled me! Who would dare imprison you? Within the castle, you may do whatever you please. It's only that you must not step beyond the castle walls—for the next year. This is the command of the family patriarch, the Count."
"Very well!" Duwei laughed heartily, casting a glance at the steward. "As per tradition, I've just returned. So tonight, I'll stay in the study. Dear steward, please make the arrangements."