Chapter 221: Erphet’s Help.

Eunomisis, can I increase the intensity of the purification?

Shu Li asked the Mother Tree through his mind.

'Yes.' The Mother Tree clearly understood what he intended. 'I expanded my storage capacity not long ago. You can send me more light elements, and I'll speed up the process of clearing the dark power from my roots.'

Really? That's wonderful!

Delighted, Shu Li immediately began casting purification spells in rapid succession. Tiny spheres of light shot into the main trunk of the Mother Tree's branch like beams of energy.

The purification work usually took only two or three minutes, but this time he spent a full ten minutes on it.

After ten minutes, the Mother Tree informed him that her storage capacity was full.

Shu Li lowered his magic staff, fluttered his little wings, and flew to another branch to cast purification spells on the fruits he'd selected.

Previously, he'd been cautious about stealing too many fruits. Things were different now. Rather than risk further complications by waiting, he'd decided to increase the number.

"Efit, I want to purify five more fruits," he said into his wind chime, addressing the Dark Elf who had remained beneath the tree, watching him.

"Mm."

Efit showed no surprise. He took out his record book, turned to a particular page, and crossed out five numbers with his quill.

"Won't that cause trouble for you?" Shu Li asked worriedly.

"No. I've already made allowances for it," Efit replied calmly.

Ever since he'd begun cooperating with the Little Fairy, he had never submitted the true figures to his superior.

Technically, anyone could come and count the fruits. However, Dark Elves weren't particularly inclined to meddle in other people's affairs, and most looked down on such tedious work.

Consequently, Efit's word was effectively the final authority on how many fruits the Mother Tree had produced.

Every day, he deliberately underreported the total by ten fruits, leaving a reserve that would allow the Little Fairy to transfer them without raising suspicion.

Learning that Efit had planned so far ahead, Shu Li felt both admiration and gratitude.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Determined not to let Efit's efforts go to waste, Shu Li hurried to purify the fruits.

Fifteen minutes later, he'd finished purifying every fruit he'd selected.

"Efit, I'm heading back," he said, lying on a branch with the wind chime in his hands. "Do you need any medicinal herbs? I'll be returning to the Elven Kingdom every day, so I can help you buy or gather them."

Efit hadn't purchased any new herbs from the Little Fairy for more than a month. His supplies were running low, and it really was time to replenish them.

He tore a blank page from his record book, quickly wrote out a list, and leaped onto the branch where the Little Fairy was resting.

Crouching down, he handed over the paper.

The sheet was larger than Shu Li himself. He struggled to take it, then skimmed through the list.

Most of the herbs could be gathered in the Yage Forest in the Elven Kingdom. There was no need to make a special trip back to the Faerie Forest.

"All right. Give me two days."

He pulled out the storage ring hanging around his neck and touched it to the paper, which immediately disappeared inside.

Efit lowered his gaze to the Little Fairy.

Looking at Shu Li's disguised black hair and grayish-blue eyes, he suddenly found himself reaching out to touch his little head.

"Huh?"

Shu Li tilted his head back in confusion, blinking his bright eyes at him.

Efit quickly withdrew his finger and jumped down from the branch.

Shu Li scratched the spot Efit had touched, utterly bewildered.

After finishing his count of the fruits, Efit didn't linger. He pulled up the hood of his cloak to shield himself from the scorching sun and left the courtyard.

Seeing him go, Shu Li slipped into the Mother Tree's trunk and returned to the magic academy.

At the courtyard entrance, Efit glanced back at the flourishing Mother Tree.

He gently rubbed the finger that had touched the Little Fairy.

The sensation had been... unexpectedly pleasant.

Fairies really were remarkable creatures.

Efit withdrew his gaze and continued toward the courtyard where he lived. Whenever he passed other Dark Elves along the way, he regarded them with complete indifference.

His thoughts were elsewhere.

Ever since he'd begun cooperating with the Little Fairy, he'd been studying the Mother Tree's purification progress.

As the Mother Tree underwent more and more purification, the number of fruits she produced continued to decline. Once she had been purified to a certain degree, she might stop producing Dark Elf fruits altogether.

Conversely, once the Mother Tree's main trunk in the Elven Kingdom possessed sufficient power of light, it would be able to produce new white Elf fruits.

When the branch was completely purified and the Mother Tree's main trunk had recovered to its peak condition, she might simply withdraw the branch from Vanaku.

At that point, the Dark Elves would have no more cubs.

A race without offspring could not perpetuate itself. Extinction would only be a matter of time.

As far as Efit was concerned, a race that willingly allowed itself to be controlled by darkness had no reason to exist.

What he needed to do was everything within his power to help those Dark Elves who refused to be corrupted by darkness remain clearheaded and live as their true selves.

"Efit's back!"

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, a group of Dark Elf cubs came running over, happily gathering around him.

Efit lowered his hood, revealing his silver-white hair and handsome face, then reached out to pat each cub on the head.

Every little cub he touched broke into an adorable smile.

Efit looked down at them, his gaze gentle.

Eight years ago, it would have been impossible for Dark Elf cubs to smile with such innocent delight.

Others mocked him for raising a group of delicate flowers in a greenhouse.

Efit didn't agree.

Even flowers raised in a greenhouse could withstand wind and rain.

Just look at the Little Fairy named Sperien.

Protected and cherished by Fairies and Elves, he'd grown up healthy and strong. Despite his young age, he possessed an extraordinary sense of conviction and fought fearlessly against darkness.

Sometimes, the desire to protect and cherish something could inspire greater courage in battle than slaughter and hatred ever could.

Efit looked around.

"Where are Lanno and Lujia?"

One of the cubs answered, "Lanno and Lujia sneaked away!"

"Sneaked away?" Efit frowned.

"They left you this letter."

Another cub produced a sheet of paper and stood on tiptoe to hand it to him.

Efit took the paper and quickly scanned its contents.

Lanno and Lujia belonged to the first group of cubs he'd taken in eight years ago.

They were now eleven years old and had both reached the rank of Intermediate Mage. One specialized in potions, while the other excelled at magical formations.

Half a month earlier, they'd asked for permission to leave Vanaku and travel to the Woba Grand Canyon to gather medicinal herbs and magical crystal ores.

Efit had refused.

The Woba Grand Canyon was far too dangerous for eleven-year-old children.

Unfortunately, Lanno and Lujia were stubborn. Convinced that they were strong enough, they'd insisted on going.

They'd been at an impasse with Efit for half a month.

And today, without even saying goodbye, they'd left a note and secretly run off.

Efit gripped the paper, his expression shifting unpredictably.

Rationally speaking, he shouldn't stop them.

Dark Elves learned independence from an early age. Once they became mages, they were permitted to leave Vanaku and travel the continent.

Emotionally, however, he was worried about their safety.

Eleven was far too young. They were inexperienced and easily deceived. If they encountered criminals and were captured, he might be too far away to rescue them in time.

After considerable hesitation, he put away the letter and addressed the remaining cubs.

"Be good for the next couple of days. Don't go wandering off."

"Efit, are you going to look for Lanno and Lujia?" one of the younger cubs asked.

"Mm."

Efit patted his head.

He couldn't simply leave Lanno and Lujia out there on their own.

He had to bring them back.

And then he was going to give their backsides a thoroughly deserved beating.

"Achoo!"

On a rugged mountain path, two young boys wearing hooded cloaks sneezed at exactly the same moment.

"Are you cold?" one boy asked his companion.

"No." His companion shook his head. "Are you?"

"I'm not cold either."

The first boy rubbed his nose and looked up at the sky.

"The sunshine in the Kingdom of Cecilia is wonderful. It's not scorching at all."

"Yeah, and the temperature's really comfortable too," his companion agreed.

"So..." The boy sounded certain. "Someone must have been talking about us just now."

"Efit?" his companion asked quietly. "Do you think he'll be angry when he reads our note?"

"Definitely!"

The boy immediately quickened his pace.

His companion didn't dare hesitate and broke into a run after him.

At six thirty in the morning, Shu Li returned to his dormitory bedroom.

He assumed his larger form and changed into his Mage Apprentice uniform.

A streak of red light shot out of the Fire God's Mark on the back of his hand, landed on the bed, and transformed into a round little magical beast.

Falm stretched, opened his mouth wide, and yawned.

"Sperien, are you going to get up this early every day from now on?"

Shu Li gathered his hair into a ponytail, and his little flower crown transformed into a hair clip.

"That's right! If you're sleepy, just go back into the Fire God's Mark."

"No, no."

Falm flapped his batlike wings, flew onto Shu Li's shoulder, and settled there.

"I've already slept for several days. I don't want to sleep anymore."

It wasn't every day he got to visit the Central Court. He certainly wasn't going to waste the opportunity sleeping.

Contracted magical beasts weren't prohibited in the Central Court. Mages were free to take their contracted magical beasts wherever they pleased.

Shu Li glanced at him.

"You're really just thinking about food, aren't you?"

Falm was a glutton with a bottomless stomach. Whenever he spotted something delicious, he couldn't resist rushing over to take a few bites.

He'd devoured four third-rank magical beasts in the Amitai Mountains just yesterday, yet he was already thinking about his next meal.

"Hehehe!"

Falm rubbed his round belly.

"The more, the better!"

Who would ever complain about having too much food?

Shu Li sighed and left the bedroom with him.

Half an hour later, the Light Squad assembled in the dining hall.

When Xidi and Hector saw Falm, their eyes widened in astonishment.

"He's... he's so cute!"

Xidi's eyes practically turned into hearts, and her hands itched to reach out and pet him.

Hector swallowed and asked Shu Li, "Is that your contracted... baby beast?"

How impressive!

He was only a Mage Apprentice, yet he already had a contracted magical beast.

As expected of those formidable mountain folk!

Falm was crouched on the dining table, happily munching on a fruit held between his forelegs.

Hearing Hector's question, he immediately protested.

"A contracted magical beast is a contracted magical beast! Why do you have to call me a 'baby'?"

What was so babyish about him?

Hector's jaw dropped.

"He... he... he can talk?"

Only high-ranking magical beasts could speak!

Shu Li introduced his "contracted magical beast" using the lie he'd already repeated countless times.

"Falm's mother was a high-ranking magical beast, so he was born as a fourth-rank magical beast. Unfortunately, he has a developmental defect, and his mother abandoned him when he was little."

Playing along, Falm lowered his head and put on a pitiful expression.

Xidi desperately wanted to scoop him up and cuddle him against her chest.

So cute! So pitiful!

Hector looked shocked.

"A defect? Is it serious?"

Otherwise, why would his mother have abandoned him?

"Yes," Shu Li replied. "He grows very slowly. It's been three years, and his body hasn't changed at all."

"I see!" Hector said regretfully.

Such a tiny magical beast couldn't possibly have much offensive power. No wonder he'd been abandoned.

Sperien really was a kindhearted boy, making a contract with a defective little magical beast like that.

Under normal circumstances, mages only formed contracts with powerful, high-ranking magical beasts to strengthen their combat abilities.

Kumandi glanced at Falm, who was eating with obvious relish, then leisurely took a sip of milk.

A "little baby beast" capable of swallowing third-rank magical beasts was certainly no defective weakling.

Nasha had traveled with Shu Li and the others for a month and had seen Falm several times along the way, so she wasn't nearly as excited as Xidi and Hector.

She cut off a piece of roasted meat and offered it to the little magical beast.

"Here, you can have this."

Falm's eyes lit up at the sight of meat.

He swallowed the rest of his fruit in one gulp, accepted the roast with his short, chubby claws, and his pupils narrowed into vertical slits of delight.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

Shu Li couldn't approve of Falm's shameless habit of pretending to be an innocent baby to get people to feed him.

Seeing that Xidi and Hector were both preparing to share food from their own plates, he hurriedly intervened.

"He has a small stomach. He can't eat very much."

Falm extended one little paw.

Shu Li shot him a warning glare.

Falm sheepishly withdrew his paw and concentrated on gnawing his roasted meat.

After breakfast, the Light Squad left the magic academy and headed to the Cotrin Temple to accept everyday assignments.

However, when they reached the assignment counter, they were informed that they'd already exhausted their quota for the month.

"Exhausted?" Shu Li stared blankly.

"Yes. Each mage can only accept and complete ten everyday assignments per month. You completed all ten in a single day, so you'll have to wait until next month before you can accept any more."

The staff member behind the counter delivered this explanation with a cheerful smile.

"There's actually a limit?"

Shu Li was utterly dismayed.

He'd thought he could make a fortune by grinding everyday assignments!

But it turned out the money they'd earned yesterday was their entire monthly allowance.

Sure enough, there was no such thing as easy money.

"The temple introduced this restriction to prevent a small number of people from monopolizing the assignments," the staff member explained. "If you're looking to earn money, you can accept assignments from the Adventurers' Guild instead. They don't have a limit on how many you can take."

Shu Li turned to his companions.

"Shall we go?"

"I have no objections," Ace replied.

Kumandi nodded. "We might as well take a look."

Dixio shouted impatiently, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going!"

Before long, the ten Mage Apprentices were hurrying toward the Adventurers' Guild on the neighboring street.

"You want to accept assignments? Have you registered as an adventuring party?"

Inside the Adventurers' Guild's main hall, the receptionist behind the service desk greeted them with a pleasant smile.

"No."

The Mage Apprentices shook their heads.

Although they called themselves the Light Squad, they hadn't formally registered as an adventuring party.

The receptionist raised a hand and pointed toward another counter.

"If you haven't registered yet, please go to that counter and complete your registration first."

"Thank you," Shu Li said gratefully.

The receptionist's gaze swept over the magical badges pinned to their chests.

Then, with a helpful smile, she added, "Oh, and remember, your party must have at least one Mage among its members to qualify for registration!"

Shu Li and his companions instantly went blank.

Every single member of their party was, officially speaking, just a Mage Apprentice!!