The July heat in Saint Callen was stifling.
Luo Wei stood at the school gate, surrounded by students carrying luggage and waving goodbye to each other, as it was the first day of summer vacation.
In the midst of summer, the girls' skirts grew shorter, and the lively, youthful scene made Luo Wei pause for a moment to appreciate it.
Of course, he wasn’t standing there just to watch. Today was the day they were setting off for the duke's territory.
“Hey, Luo Wei, why aren’t you going home?”
A classmate greeted him, and he turned to see his female deskmate and her friends.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Could it be your girlfriend?”
“Hmm…” Luo Wei responded vaguely.
“What? Really?!”
The classmates were utterly shocked, as they had never seen him get close to any girl other than his sister.
Immediately, no one wanted to leave anymore, eager to see who Luo Wei’s “mysterious girlfriend” was.
After a while, they finally got their answer.
A stunningly beautiful woman with a perfect figure walked gracefully toward them, clearly heading for Luo Wei.
“She’s coming! She’s coming!” The classmates’ gazes were filled with gossipy excitement.
But when the woman got closer and took off her sunglasses, the students immediately deflated.
“It’s just Teacher Evelyn…”
They had never seen their teacher dressed so youthfully before. At first glance, she could easily be mistaken for a beautiful senior student.
Evelyn glanced at them and frowned slightly. “Why are you all still hanging around the gate on the first day of vacation?”
The students chuckled awkwardly, some already scattering like birds and beasts.
Evelyn put her sunglasses back on and turned to Luo Wei.
“Let’s go home.”
“Oh, okay, let’s go.”
Their exchange left the classmates dumbfounded.
“Home??”
The female deskmate pointed at them in surprise. “Teacher Evelyn, Luo Wei… do you two live in the same place?”
Luo Wei casually explained, “We’re neighbors. Like, really close neighbors.”
The class monitor suddenly understood. “Ah! That makes sense. I was wondering.”
“Well, I’m off. Have a great vacation!” Luo Wei waved and left with Evelyn.
The classmates gradually dispersed.
Only then did the female deskmate, watching their retreating figures, suddenly remember something.
“Wait, hold on!”
“Girlfriend??”
…
After leaving the school and arriving home, Luo Wei found Tilis dozing off on the couch, clearly exhausted.
“Big brother’s back!” Helena was using all six of her hands to pack the luggage for their trip.
Since it was another long journey, there was a lot to bring. Luo Wei walked over and saw the luggage neatly arranged. He smiled and patted Helena’s head. “Good job. I’ll make you something delicious later!”
Helena grinned sweetly. “Big brother’s the best~”
Luo Wei then used the magic pouch Tilis had given him to store all the luggage.
Evelyn watched in amazement. “Now we won’t have to worry about running out of suitcase space on our trips.”
Luo Wei glanced at her. Among them, Evelyn had the most stuff—skincare products, makeup, and a different outfit every day. If he hadn’t stopped her, she would have tried to bring her entire wardrobe...
Every perilous journey turned into a vacation for her. Teacher Evelyn really knew how to enjoy life...
As Luo Wei put away the magic pouch, Tilis woke up.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at Luo Wei groggily.
“Mmm…”
“You’re back… Let’s get going, then!”
Luo Wei looked at the dark circles under her eyes and sighed. “You didn’t sleep last night, did you?”
Tilis had brought the school’s steam engine home and had been locked in her room all night, tinkering with it.
Tinkering in her room wasn’t a problem, but the occasional loud explosions coming from her room were terrifying...
Luo Wei couldn’t help but feel that Tilis was more likely to be blown up by a malfunctioning steam boiler than to die from overworking herself...
Tilis chuckled. “No, I slept a little. I just couldn’t stop working on my new project last night… Since everyone’s here, I’ll send you off now.”
During their previous trip to Brugge, Helena had been traumatized by the three-day train ride and refused to take the train again. Luckily, with Tilis around, Luo Wei’s family no longer had to worry about the hassles of long-distance travel.
Long-distance teleportation consumed a massive amount of magical energy. As Tilis chanted the lengthy incantation, the living room filled with an increasingly bright blue light.
In an instant, the scenery before them changed from the old house in Saint Callen to a vast, desolate northern plateau.
The higher altitude made the previously stifling summer weather much cooler. Helena gazed at the distant, rugged snow-capped mountains and couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
“It’s so beautiful…”
Luo Wei’s eyes also turned to the horizon, where a black castle complex stood among the towering mountains, like a fortress guarding the northern frontier.
That was the Thornflower Castle, where Teacher Evelyn had grown up—the heart of the Abraham Duchy in the north.
“Alright, this is as far as I can take you,” Tilis said with a smile. “Teleporting uses too much magical energy and could attract the attention of the church. If you head north for a bit, you’ll reach a town in the duchy. I won’t accompany you further.”
“Aren’t you coming, Tilis?” Evelyn asked. “You could at least visit my home!”
“I’m very busy, you know~” Tilis declined with a smile.
“Alright.” Evelyn knew that both Tilis and Ophelia were swamped with work.
Tilis was either conducting research or handling matters for the Magical Hermit Society, while Ophelia had been busy lately, hosting the visiting papal delegation. The tension between the two churches kept her running around all day.
“But,” Tilis added with a smile, “don’t worry too much about this trip. Distance means nothing to me. Once you’re in the castle, I’ll be watching over you from the shadows.”
Evelyn couldn’t help but grumble to herself, “In the Thornflower Castle of the Abraham family, on such an important occasion as my father’s birthday celebration, with all the distinguished guests…”
“What danger could there possibly be…?”
Luo Wei silently glanced at her. Could it be… that the Abraham family itself is the greatest danger?
After saying her goodbyes, Tilis still felt a little uneasy about Luo Wei and quietly approached him.
“You’ve got all the magical items I gave you, right? They’re in your magic pouch?”
Luo Wei nodded. “Yeah, why?”
Tilis suddenly blushed. She glanced at Evelyn and Helena, then leaned in closer to whisper in Luo Wei’s ear.
“Among the things I’ve given you, there’s a ring, um... I think it’s much prettier than Ophelia’s. Plus, it can be used for long-distance communication. If you ever miss me...”
Luo Wei immediately gave her a suspicious look.
A ring... for long-distance communication? Why does that sound so familiar?
“Don’t get the wrong idea!” Tilis quickly waved her hands.
“I won’t force you to wear it, and it won’t be impossible to take off either! Don’t worry! I’m not a control freak like Ophelia! This really isn’t for surveillance.”
“Alright, I believe you.” Luo Wei silently extended a hand, feeling like all five of his fingers would eventually be adorned with rings...
After explaining all this, Tilis smiled, waved, and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
When Luo Wei’s group set off on their journey and had traveled a great distance...
Back at the old mansion, Tilis gazed at the magical image of Luo Wei and flashed a sly, triumphant smile.
No surveillance? Yeah, right!
Doubt Ophelia, understand Ophelia, become Ophelia!
Hehe.