"Pay attention to this structure. This whole area usually gets mistaken by students as a gathering structure resulting in them making the wrong decision that led them to failure every time they tried to undo the barrier. In truth, this structure here will not be triggered when you are undoing the barrier. It will only be triggered to reset AFTER the barrier is undone..." There was plenty of drawing and runes that was drawn in the air using Baiyi's Mana as he pointed out the detailed artwork of the barrier on the wooden door while explaining every single detail of the formation and the theory behind the operation of the barrier.
Initially, even though Mia had to put lot of effort into it, she was still able to understand what he was saying but as the lesson continued to go in depth, circles started appearing in her eyes again. It was obvious that she was in a state of confusion.
Look at this fellow! Her foundation is still a little too weak... Baiyi said to the Voidwalkers as he growled inwardly.
"During my time, a person with average innate aptitude would need at least 5-8 years of learning and training to reach the Intermediate Level. Mia only had her first introduction to magic not more than two years ago. Adding to the fact that Magical Formations are much harder to learn than Magical Runes, it’s no surprise that she is not making much of a progress at this stage," the Archmage tried to reassure him.
But this is for her own good... Baiyi sighed as he shook his head. Fine then. Since this is just an extra lesson, I guess I'll just have to take things slowly for now... Baiyi thought to himself as he erased the multiple drawings in the air. He took the notes that Mia made and went through it another time to make sure that there was no mistakes.
"Let's just call it a day," Baiyi announced.
Embarrassment instantly crept up on Mia's face, she knew that Baiyi ended the lesson because she could not catch up to his speed. Dropping her head, she squeaked, "I'm sorry Mr. Hope. I-I-I know I'm really stupid... I'm s-sorry for letting you down..."
"It's alright Mia, there's no need for apologies. Learning is a long and tedious process. I'll be happy as long as you don't give up," Baiyi comforted gently as he handed her the detailed notes that he had made about the barrier earlier. "If you have time, read about it first. Believe me, mastering the Magical Formations will do you a lot of good in the future."
If Mia could reach the state where she was completely well versed in using the Magical Formations, she would not have to worry anymore when it came to magical spells. In these thousand of years of imprisonment, the Voidwalkers had invented many new and powerful spells out of boredom, such as the
Taking the notes from Baiyi and carefully inserting them to her file, she promised obediently, "I will make use of my time to study this. Don't you worry, Mr. Hope."
Having said that, she looked over to the magical hourglass on her table. Seeing that there was still quite some time left before her bedtime, she stood up and went outside to fetch a pail of water before getting a brand new towel from the wardrobe next to her bed. As she was wiping herself by the pail, she asked Baiyi, "Since there's still some time left, how about I help you wipe your armour, Mr. Hope? I used to wipe it quite often but ever since you came, I've not cleaned it even once..."
Puffing up her cheeks in concentration, she wrung the towel dry and walked towards Baiyi to help him wipe his armour.
"It's really alright, Mia..." Baiyi turned her down.
But somehow, Mia refused to give up and she asked him in a dejected tone, "Errr... Mr. Hope, a-are you mad at me?"
"Of course not. What makes you think that?"
"Then, let me service you! You can also see it as a token of my gratitude for helping me today. It was all thanks to you that I was able to go up to the second floor!" Mia beamed as she continued to wipe down every single rattan that made up Baiyi's body. Even though Baiyi's somatosensory system was not fully restored, he could feel Mia’s soft little hands all over his body. Hmmm... this is quite comfortable actually… Because of that, he stopped refusing her good intention.
After a while, he proceeded to ask, "So, what happened on the second floor earlier today?"
"Oh, I met a friend whom I have not seen for ages. A very important friend of mine who has always been my role model..." As she was wiping, she continued telling Baiyi of the story between Tisdale and her.
That was something that happened three years ago. At that time, Mia who was only 12 years old followed her parents to Arfin city, where Celestial Fortress Academy was located, for a holiday. Unlike the peaceful and tranquil Celestial Fortress Academy, the city of Arfin was a flourishing and busy town that contained many dark and dirty secrets…
On that fateful day, Mia was dressed in a white strapless dress and had her hair tied up in pigtails. She looked as pretty as a little angel. But because of that, she drew the attention of a few pedophiles. They waited until there was an opening when her parents had their attention on something else, that was when they seized the opportunity to kidnap her.
Mia who had never been in that kind of situation before was so in shock that she even forgot to cry and so, she was easily taken away by those pedophiles to a quiet and deserted corner of the city. Just as those perverts were about to strip her off of her clothing, she regained her senses and she started to cry out loud. Unfortunately, they brought her to the outskirts of town where very few people would pass by. And that was why despite her cries, nobody heard her at all… except for Tisdale, who was passing through the area.
At that time, Tisdale was only 14 years old and she was not as beautiful nor was she as powerful as she was now. She was at that age where she had just entered the Celestial Fortress Academy but nevertheless, she was still as brave and smart. Despite the fact that she only had a simple rucksack on her, it did not stop her from coming to Mia's rescue. Just by using a simple illumination spell, she was able to temporarily blind those pedophiles. She used that short window of opportunity to grab Mia and run away.
Grabbing onto Tisdale's hand tightly as they ran, the sight of Tisdale’s dazzling golden hair that was swaying as she ran-- just like the warmth and brightness of the Sun-- and her slender body that gave off a feeling of dependability and trustworthiness was so deeply rooted in Mia's heart that for a moment she had even forgot to cry and absentmindedly followed Tisdale’s lead.
Even though it had been three years since that had happened, that image of Tisdale leading her to her escape was still deeply ingrained in her mind.
The situation at that time was actually a lot more dangerous than she remembered. At that time, the sun had already set and the two young girls were running along a deserted street, with a long way ahead of them before they could reach somewhere safe. It wasn’t long before Mia was dead on her feet and all she could do was cry as she knelt on the floor gasping for air.
Tisdale was feeling drained as well and looking at Mia's situation, she knew that Mia was already at her breaking point. Because of that, she had no other choice but to bring Mia into a deserted house nearby and hid her inside a dilapidated wardrobe while she pondered upon their next course of action and where she could look for help.
However, when she was about to leave, Mia willfully grabbed onto Tisdale's shirt as she pleaded pitifully, "P-P-Please don't go..."
Sensing the fear in Mia as she trembled, Tisdale immediately hugged her gently and placed her forehead onto Mia's. She stroked Mia's back as she gently coaxed, "I'm going to look for help. Just wait for me here, alright?"
"I-I-I'm s-scared..." Mia sniffled as she grabbed onto Tisdale's neck with no intention to let go at all.
"Don't worry. You don't have to be scared. Can you tell me your name? I'm Tisdale. What's yours?"
"M-mia..."
"Alright. I'll remember your name. Mia, just wait for me right here, okay? I swear I'll be back in no time," Tisdale consoled her tenderly and slowly unclasped Mia's hands from her neck. She took out a piece of handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the tears off Mia's face before opening her rucksack to take out a fluffy hammerhead doll.
She put the hammerhead doll against Mia's face before placing it into her arms, she continued saying, "Now that he is accompanying you, it's not that scary anymore right? Don't cry alright? Be strong and brave!"
Just like that, she risked her life becoming bait for the pedophiles as she went out all alone to look for help. As for Mia, she held onto the hammerhead doll tightly and bit down on her lips to stop herself from making any noise until there was light and the sound of footsteps could be heard coming from outside. It was no other than Tisdale who had brought Mia's parents and the teachers from Celestial Fortress Academy to rescue her.
"As expected, you stopped crying. Well done, Mia!" Tisdale praised while she stroked Mia's head. Smiling widely, she continued, "As a reward, I'm going give you this doll, okay?"
"T-Thank you, Big Sister Dale," Mia sniffled as she walked a few steps forward and gave Tisdale a big hug, unwilling to let go even when her parents came over.
It was only until Tisdale said this to her that she finally let go, "It's alright, Little Mia! You can enroll in the Celestial Fortress Academy when you’re older. We would be friends once again and go on another adventure together!"
"Yeah..." She nodded her head as she finally released her hands reluctantly and left with her parents.
And just like that, a year later, hugging the hammerhead doll to her chest and recalling the promise that they had made to each other, Mia finally stepped into the Celestial Fortress Academy.
The only thing was that Tisdale seemed to no longer be the little girl who held her hand when they were running together, the sister who gave away her own doll to comfort a little girl nor did she seemed to be the person who made that promise with her. Her presence was as dazzling as the Sun and it attracted the attention and admiration of countless people. It made the weak and small Mia to feel ashamed of her ungainly appearance. It was not until today on the second floor of the library that she realised that not only had Tisdale become more beautiful and powerful, she was actually still the same person that she was on that night three years ago. She was still the same gentle sister who would hug her gently and wipe away her tears.
"What a warm and beautiful story that does not lack suspense," Baiyi mused after listening to the story. "Well then Mia, do you think you are capable of becoming Tisdale's partner now?
"N-not yet. I'm still too weak... I would just drag her down like how I did last time," Mia said as she cleaned Baiyi's nails.
"Don't worry, I'll assist you," Baiyi consoled her. As a matter of fact, he liked this little adventurous story so much that it made him decide to help Mia in fulfilling that little promise between them.
Isn't this a wonderful thing?