Chapter 53: The brave Sperry only has a water magic apprenticeship...

Although Elves and Fairies were peace-loving peoples, they had never been weak, incompetent cowards sheltered from the hardships of the world.

The longer they lived, the more clearly they understood it.

They drew close to nature, became one with nature, and followed its ways.

Natural selection and survival of the fittest were nature’s laws.

It was because they were powerful that they stood at the pinnacle of the forest, and even high-ranking magical beasts dared not encroach upon their territory.

Friendliness was founded upon peaceful coexistence.

Since the Elves had not had any cubs for a very long time, their approach to education was not as well developed as that of the Fairies.

Adult Fairies were very tolerant of young cubs, creating a warm and wonderful environment in which they could grow up free of worry.

However, that only lasted until they turned ten.

By the age of ten, Little Fairies had generally mastered two or three languages and developed strong self-awareness and critical thinking skills. The adult Fairies would gradually guide them toward a comprehensive understanding of the entire world, including the laws of survival in the forest, the social structures of various countries, the customs and traditions of different races, and the diversity of all things.

It was a little early for five-year-old children to accompany them on this mission, but since there was something they wanted, they had to pay a price for it.

For example, they had to learn about the cruel side of the world ahead of time.

The adult Fairies patiently waited for the children to calm down. Not only did they refrain from rushing them, they even offered them some comfort.

After Budeno finished vomiting, he was weak all over. Anna let him lean against her chest and gently patted his back, soothing him as though he were a tiny baby.

Ivy put an arm around Disio and Angel on either side of him and explained in a relaxed tone that magical beasts got hungry too. When they were hungry, they had to eat, and hunting was their natural instinct. It was nothing serious, so there was no need to panic.

Under their soothing reassurance, a little color finally returned to the three children’s faces.

Sill’s pale golden eyes shifted toward Sperien. To his surprise, Sperien had neither panicked nor burst into frightened tears. His little face was merely pale as he silently clutched the corner of Kumandi’s clothes.

Sill frowned slightly.

Compared with the three terrified children, Sperien seemed almost too calm. He neither cried nor made a fuss, behaving so obediently that it made him all the more lovable.

Sometimes, venting one’s emotions was not a bad thing. Bottling everything up and refusing to say a word was more likely to cause problems.

After listening to the quiet top student’s explanation, Shu Li became absorbed in his own thoughts, completely unaware of Sill’s concern.

Why didn’t magical beasts attack Fairies?

Because this forest was called the Faerie Forest.

The Fairies were the true rulers of this forest. Any magical beast that dared attack a Fairy would be courting death.

Back then, the stupid bird had accidentally carried him to the edge of the forest. Once it realized it had inadvertently “stolen” a Fairy cub, it had fled in terror. It had not even dared return to its nest and had run straight to the Magical Beast Forest to lie low.

When Mr. Serpent first appeared before him, his entire body had radiated a terrifying pressure. If Shu Li had not been a Fairy, the grass over his grave would already have grown three feet high.

Thus, there was only one reason Fairies could travel freely throughout the forest: their race was so powerful that the magical beasts feared them.

The magical beasts they had encountered along this route were actually not very high-ranking, nor were they anywhere near as enormous as Mr. Serpent. Aside from the bloody spectacle of their hunts, they had not interfered with the group in any way.

Shu Li took several deep breaths and adjusted his state of mind.

The Fairies had cared for him meticulously for five years. His life had been so comfortable that he had overlooked many things.

This other world was nowhere near as peaceful as his original one.

The Black Knights he had encountered five years ago had been violent and tyrannical, treating human life as worthless.

After learning the Continental Common Language, he had discovered that the various countries possessed low levels of production, backward ways of thinking, feudal societies, and rigid class divisions. They even still sold slaves.

The nobles lived in luxury, the commoners languished in poverty, and the slaves suffered beyond endurance. Injustice was everywhere.

If a country happened to have a good king, its people might live and work in peace. If not, they would be plunged into misery.

There were over a thousand countries of various sizes across the Austin Continent. From ancient times to the present, war had never ceased. Every year, some countries fell while others rose.

They split apart and reunited over the course of ten thousand years. Countless nations vanished into the long river of history, leaving behind nothing but a few moving poems for later generations.

Once this generation of Little Fairies came of age, they would all leave the forest to gain experience on the continent.

If their hearts were not strong enough, how could they face the cruelty of the world?

If merely witnessing the bloody sight of magical beasts hunting left them stricken with terror, would they flee back to the forest in horror when they encountered something even more inhumane in the future?

That would be far too humiliating!

It would be the behavior of a coward!

Since they themselves had chosen to travel to the amethyst tree and ask it for a branch, they ought to persevere to the end and press bravely onward.

It was merely the sight of magical beasts eating. There was nothing particularly serious about it.

Hadn’t he given Mr. Serpent a toothpick just a few days ago?

Clearly, some part of him had always known that Mr. Serpent was a carnivore who hunted for food.

Otherwise, what was the toothpick supposed to be, a decoration?

He could not idealize Mr. Serpent simply because he had never witnessed him eating. In essence, he was no different from the magical beasts they had just encountered.

If Shu Li could accept Mr. Serpent eating, why couldn’t he accept other magical beasts hunting?

Once he had steadied himself, Shu Li released the quiet top student’s clothes.

Kumandi lowered his head and watched him walk resolutely toward Ivy and Anna.

After taking a few steps, Shu Li stopped and looked at his companions, who were still huddled in the adult Fairies’ arms seeking comfort. He took the five-stringed harp he always carried out of his storage ring and lightly plucked its strings with agile fingers. A beautiful melody rang out, and he began to sing in a voice that was still childish yet filled with strength—

“In the beautiful Fairy orchard,

A brazen Sekern bird appeared.

It stole away a Fairy cub

And dropped him at the forest’s edge.

Brave Sperien

Feared no hardship or danger.

He vowed to cross the forest

And return to the divine tree...”

Hearing the harp and Shu Li’s singing, Disio, Angel, and Budeno all raised their heads at once, their eyes sparkling.

“...Brave Sperien

Sat atop the magical serpent’s head...”

They began singing in unison, leaving the adult Fairies’ arms and walking toward Shu Li.

“Facing the setting sun,

He found the divine tree’s direction.

Please remember,

The magical serpent’s name is

Bazien Bulgareth,

Bazien Bulgareth...”

The four Little Fairies sang louder and louder, growing increasingly excited. Their fear of the magical beasts vanished with their song.

When the song ended, Shu Li continued plucking the strings and began again from the beginning.

“In the beautiful Fairy orchard, a brazen Sekern bird appeared... Brave Sperien feared no hardship or danger. He vowed to cross the forest and return to the divine tree...”

The cubs’ bright voices traveled from the high branches down to the ground. When the magical beasts in the middle of hunting heard the mighty name “Bazien Bulgareth,” they tucked in their tails and quietly slipped away.

Sill and the other two adult Fairies exchanged glances, seeing their own surprise reflected in one another’s eyes.

Just as they had been racking their brains for a way to comfort the children, the children had unexpectedly dispelled their fear in their own way, drawing upon the power of song to awaken their courage.

Ivy gave the song’s composer, Kumandi, a thumbs-up.

Unperturbed, Kumandi took out his own little harp and joined them in playing and singing.

At the sound of his clear adolescent voice, Shu Li turned around in delight and beamed at the quiet top student.

“...Please remember, the magical serpent’s name is—Bazien Bulgareth! Bazien Bulgareth!”

For the final line, Budeno unleashed his lion’s roar. Birds throughout the forest took flight in alarm, their wings beating furiously and knocking countless leaves from the trees.

As a “rain of leaves” showered down upon their heads, the Little Fairies burst into laughter.

“That was such a beautiful song!” Anna applauded, gazing at them tenderly.

Budeno waved his arms and danced, twisting his chubby waist. He looked like a completely different child from the one who had been sprawled across a branch vomiting moments earlier.

Disio clenched his fists and fluttered his cicada-like wings, flying up to Sill before declaring resolutely, “Captain, let’s keep going!”

If their leader was not afraid, then neither were they!

Although magical beasts had a cruel side, they also had a kind one. The children should not judge them all by a single example.

“Sperien, I want to be as brave as you!” Angel wiped his face, removing the traces of his remaining tears.

That had been so embarrassing. He had actually cried from fear.

They had sung “Brave Sperien” so many times. Why had he forgotten it when it mattered most?

Shu Li put away his harp and reached out to hug Angel. “You will. You’ll be just as brave as I am.” Angel was a scheming little thing, after all. Once he grew up, he was certain to become a profoundly inscrutable adult Fairy. It would probably be very difficult to see him show weakness again.

Once the children’s emotions had stabilized, Sill asked, “No matter what you encounter on the road ahead, you won’t retreat?”

“We won’t!”

The four Little Fairies shook their heads in perfect unison.

“Good. Then we’ll continue toward the amethyst tree.” After a brief pause, Sill added in a deep voice, “Whoever gets frightened and cries again will be sent back to clean the school grounds.”

“We won’t cry!”

Compared with cleaning the piles of bird droppings from the school grounds, they would rather face terrifying magical beasts.

Without magic to help them, cleaning the school grounds was an extremely, extremely, extremely grueling task. Every Little Fairy who was punished with that chore suffered terribly.

When Ivy saw the children’s horrified expressions, he could not suppress a quiet laugh.

Even the corners of Kumandi’s mouth curved upward slightly.

Anna wished she could scoop up every one of the little ones and give them a thorough cuddle.

They were just too adorable!

The rest of the journey went very smoothly. Whenever they encountered magical beasts hunting, the Little Fairies were no longer afraid. If they did feel frightened... they simply sang “Brave Sperien.”

At first, Shu Li sang along with them. After the seventh or eighth rendition, however, he resolutely closed his mouth.

Singing a song once or twice was inspiring. Singing it three or four times bolstered their courage. Singing it more than five times was simply embarrassing.

They did not encounter any more frightening sights afterward. Those three Little Fairies had clearly become addicted to the song and burst into it at every opportunity, whether there was a reason or not.

Two hours later, they reached a stream and stopped for a short rest.

It was noon. Time to eat.

The adult Fairies found a large rock in the shade beside the stream, pitched a tent, and spread out a soft blanket for everyone to sit on and rest together.

Budeno flopped onto the blanket, too exhausted to move.

Angel poked his raised little bottom and asked, “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Hungryyyyyyyy...” Budeno painfully dragged himself upright, took a pile of fruit from his storage ring, and sank his teeth fiercely into one.

He had not eaten much breakfast. He had finally managed to eat a little along the way, only to vomit it all up. After that, he had relied on sheer willpower to hold out until now.

He held a fruit in each hand, taking several bites from the one on the left before biting into the one on the right, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Seeing the ferocity with which he devoured the fruit, Anna finally understood why the chubby cub could never lose weight.

Afraid that he might choke, Shu Li reminded him, “Budeno, your stomach will hurt if you eat too quickly.”

Binge eating could easily damage the digestive system.

“Mm-hmm, I know...” Budeno replied indistinctly, slowing down.

Seeing that he had listened, Shu Li took a wooden box from his storage ring.

After learning that they had to bring their own food on the mission, he had specifically bought six wooden boxes to use as lunch boxes.

The box was lined with a layer of fresh, broad leaves. An assortment of washed fruit, boiled bird eggs, raw edible greens, crisp baked pastries, sweet cheese, and other foods had been arranged neatly inside. It was a balanced, nutritious selection that immediately whetted the appetite.

When Ivy saw his lunch box, he raised his eyebrows appreciatively. “Oh, not bad!”

The little fellow certainly had ideas. He had even prepared one box for each meal, ensuring he had enough to eat without wasting food.

Shu Li noticed him staring at his lunch box and assumed he wanted some, so he took out a baked pastry and offered it to him. “Here.”

“Uh.” Ivy blinked and waved his hands. “No, no. Keep it for yourself. I have my own.”

With that, he took a baked pastry from his storage pouch and ate it unhurriedly.

Shu Li returned his pastry to the lunch box and ate some fruit first.

He had finished the water in his waterskin during the journey, so he could only eat fruit to quench his thirst.

After flying all morning, everyone was starving. Even the adult Fairies ate more quickly than usual.

Once Kumandi finished his meal, he picked up his waterskin and flew toward the stream.

Seeing this, Shu Li called out to him. “Kumandi, wait.”

Kumandi lightly fluttered the dark purple wings on his back and turned to look at him.

Shu Li took a stove and kettle from his storage ring, walked out of the tent, and placed them on the rock. “I think it would be better if we boiled our drinking water ourselves.”

The water they normally used was created by water magic condensing the water elements in the air, so it was relatively clean. Wild stream water, however, contained microorganisms and certain harmful substances. Drinking it was not good for the body.

Fairies were close to nature and did not care about such things. When they ran out of the drinking water they had brought on a journey, they simply collected water from streams, lakes, dew, and other sources.

Kumandi had traveled this route many times and knew that a clear, swiftly flowing stream lay along the way where they could replenish their supply, so he had not brought much drinking water.

Now that the cub had called him back, he flew over to the rock and waited to see what Shu Li would do next.

Shu Li removed the kettle’s lid, took out his magic staff, cleared his throat, and recited an incantation. “Great Water Goddess Hildani Getty, I am Sperien of the Faerie Forest. I ask you to command the water elements to gather around me... and bring me clean drinking water...”

He pointed his magic staff at the kettle and waited for a moment, but not a single drop of water appeared.

Sweat beaded across his forehead.

Had... had he failed?

Siet had said that spellcasters needed to be adaptable. The beginning of an incantation remained similar, but its ending could be changed freely.

That was why he had altered the latter half of the Water Ball incantation.

Yet after waiting for what felt like forever, nothing happened.

With so many pairs of eyes watching him, Shu Li was utterly embarrassed. “Um... I’ll try again.”

In front of the quiet top student, he earnestly recited the incantation once more.

This time, the great Water Goddess heard his prayer, and the water elements finally gathered.

“Drip—”

A tiny droplet like a raindrop fell into the kettle.

“Pfft—” Ivy could not hold back his laughter.

Shu Li’s face flushed scarlet. He was so mortified that he wanted to dig a hole with his toes and crawl into it.

Anna reached over, pinched Ivy’s arm, and glared sidelong at him. “How can you laugh at a child?”

The five-year-old cub had only just begun learning magic, yet he could already apply what he had learned and adapt it to a new situation. That was quite impressive. Although he had condensed only a single tiny droplet, something was better than nothing, wasn’t it?

As expected of a Little Fairy blessed by the Elven King. He was brave, clever, and utterly lovable.

Ivy opened his mouth to yelp when she pinched his arm, but then he suddenly met Sill’s murderous glare and obediently closed it again.

“Sperien, I’ll help you!” Budeno gripped his magic staff, pointed it at the kettle, and recited, “Great Water Goddess Hildani Getty, I am Budeno of the Faerie Forest. I ask you to command the water elements to gather around me... and bring me clean drinking water...”

“Drip—”

Another tiny droplet fell.

“Huh?” Budeno scratched his head and said in confusion, “I don’t think I can do it either.”

Both little water-element Mage Apprentices had fallen in battle.

Disio possessed the fire element, while Angel possessed the light element. They wanted to help, but there was nothing they could do.

Shu Li looked apologetically at Kumandi. “I’m sorry. My... my magic is terrible.”

Kumandi replied unconcernedly, “It’s fine.”

He possessed the wind element, so he could not help either.

Shu Li turned toward the three adult Fairies. Was there a water mage among them?

Meeting the child’s pleading gaze, Sill said calmly, “I possess the light element.”

A small flame appeared above Ivy’s fingertip. “I possess the fire element.”

Anna held a seed between her fingers and winked at Shu Li. “I possess the wood element.”

Shu Li’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

So their entire team did not have a single proper water mage.

No wonder Kumandi had gone to fetch water from the stream. He had never expected the two little novices, Shu Li and Budeno, to manage it in the first place.

Shu Li hung his head in dejection. Even the hair clip formed from his little flower crown seemed to lose its luster.

If only he had known, he would have brought more water.

“Oh, come now. Don’t be sad, little fellow!” Ivy reached into his storage pouch, took out an enormous barrel of water, and generously set it on the rock. “Here, use as much as you like!”

How could anyone travel without bringing plenty of drinking water?

Shu Li’s stove finally had a chance to prove useful, and the water was soon heating.

He sat before the stove and waited for it to boil. The afternoon breeze drifted past, making him drowsy.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss—”

Thinking the water had begun to boil, he perked up and prepared to turn off the stove. Suddenly, the enormous head of a bizarre insect appeared before him, its face no more than four inches from his nose.

Shu Li’s eyes widened in horror.