Chapter 79: Flora

The next day, when Andy went to class, Martin had already departed.

He left Andy a letter, prompting Andy to grumble inwardly about how much people in this sorcerous world loved to leave letters behind when they left.

The new “Introduction to Sorcery” teacher was a young man, appearing to be in his twenties, who simply read the textbook from cover to cover during the lessons. Andy and the children were bored to the point of drowsiness.

After forcing himself to attend several classes, Andy decided not to return. On his last visit, he left a pile of snacks and sweets for the children, bid them farewell, and departed amid their reluctant gazes.

He planned to self-study using the books Martin had recommended in his letter. After all, his time learning with Martin had given Andy a solid foundation in sorcery; he could proceed methodically on his own, which was certainly preferable to listening to that fellow recite the textbook.

With the decision to self-study made, Andy prepared to borrow books from the “Victoria’s Dream Library,” which he had yet to visit since the term began.

Victoria’s Dream Library was located in the inner court. Andy walked for quite a while to reach it, only to be told he needed a library card to borrow books. The card was issued at the admissions office for the inner court.

Andy soon found himself face-to-face again with the middle-aged woman he’d seen days earlier at the admissions office. He startled, thinking he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

The woman’s face was covered with a thick layer of powder, leaving her deathly pale and terrifying. Andy examined her closely and could see the freckles beneath the heavy makeup.

Andy chuckled inwardly; he already knew who was responsible for all this. He silently mourned for the woman for three seconds, then politely said, “Hello, I’d like to apply for a library card.”

“It’s you!” The woman, who surprisingly remembered Andy, spoke with a lofty tone, “You’re from the outer court, aren’t you? Ten magic stones!”

“I heard that it’s five magic stones for an outer court library card?”

The woman frowned at Andy’s retort. “Are you applying or not? If not, leave.” She pulled out a mirror and ignored Andy, busily touching up her makeup.

Andy felt nauseated; to spare himself further visual torment, he quickly handed over ten magic stones. Taking his library card, he hurried out, afraid he’d vomit if he stayed any longer.

On his way out, Andy nearly collided with a girl in yellow entering the office, but his agility allowed him to dodge aside.

After Andy left, the girl glanced back and muttered, “Weirdo,” then entered.

The middle-aged woman, seeing the girl in yellow, quickly put down her mirror, stood up, and greeted her warmly, “Oh, Miss Caro, what brings you here?” Her appearance startled the girl as well.

The girl’s face stiffened as she replied, “It’s about that matter from last time. I’d like to know if a boy named Andy Charles has enrolled in the inner court recently?”

The woman failed to notice the girl’s discomfort and patted her chest confidently, “Don’t worry, I keep records of all new inner court students.” She opened a register and searched through it.

After a moment, she said, “There’s no Andy Charles at present, but rest assured, if he comes to enroll, I’ll notify you immediately.”

The girl in yellow, Caro, thanked her and left after a few additional instructions. The woman remained, brow furrowed. “Andy Charles… That name sounds familiar. But where have I heard it?”

“Never mind, forget it!” She spotted the mirror on her desk and snatched it up, examining herself repeatedly and muttering, “Terrible, terrible, it’s been over two months and it still hasn’t faded. Looks like I’ll have to use healing sorcery to restore it. I’ll have to face the vampires from the Barov family again. It’s so hard to save any money…”

Caro weaved between the inner court buildings and soon entered a lavishly decorated pavilion. Inside, she was received by a woman dressed in exquisite attire.

The woman was tall and fair-skinned, every bit as youthful as Caro. But Caro knew this was her aunt, Flora Orianna, who was actually older than the woman at the admissions office, though her strength and sorcery to preserve her youth allowed her to retain a maidenly appearance.

Caro dutifully greeted her, “Aunt!”

Flora hurried to help her up. “Child, there’s no need for formalities with your aunt. Sit, sit.” She then inquired about the task she’d entrusted to Caro.

Upon learning that Caro had found nothing, Flora fell silent for a while. She murmured, “Strange. Over half a year ago that old rascal shamelessly sent me a letter, asking me to look after his personal disciple, yet there’s been no news since. What happened on his end?”

Caro, sensitive to her aunt’s emotions, noticed tears shimmering in Flora’s eyes and quickly lowered her gaze, not daring to look further.

With her mental power, Flora saw Caro’s reaction clearly. She quietly opened her clenched left hand, revealing a small porcelain doll with a face identical to Stein’s, though it was now covered in cracks.

It was the heart-linked doll Stein had given her long ago. Stein had one of her likeness as well. She knew that as long as Stein’s heart beat, the doll would remain intact. Now, as the doll was shattered, Stein’s fate was all but certain.

She had once worried that Silly Clark would be displeased if she learned Flora was still entangled with Stein, but now Stein’s letter had become his last will and testament. Flora resolved to fulfill his final request, to care for Andy Charles as she would her own kin, though she had never met him.

A way to mourn her lost youth.

She knew Andy would arrive at the inner court with Stein’s letter of recommendation, so she had her niece check the admissions office periodically. Yet so much time had passed, and still no word of Andy Charles.

Flora wondered if Andy Charles had encountered some mishap on the road to the capital. She decided to wait another half-year; if by then there was still no news, she would risk posting a task in the academy’s mission hall to search for Andy Charles.

Flora would only resort to this if absolutely necessary, for once the matter became public, Silly Clark or his son Peter might find out, and then things would become much more complicated and troublesome.