Chapter 9: Deepening Night
“Your wind affinity… is excellent. I can feel the strong pull of wind element within your body,” Diluowei praised, her gaze passing over her slightly blurred fingers and settling on Diye’s chest.
“Is that so?” To be honest, Diye hadn’t been able to fully concentrate.
“Next is water. Raise your arms and place them behind your head.”
“Mm… understood.” Diye hesitated slightly, but inwardly chastised herself for her indecision.
She chose to obey Diluowei’s instructions.
“Different parts of the body react differently to elements. It’s best to find the most suitable area for testing,” Diluowei said. A faint blue light appeared on her fingers as she traced along Diye’s curvaceous body, seemingly about to touch yet not quite making contact.
Diye closed her eyes, treating it like a nun’s medical examination. Although Yedi had rarely been seriously injured and had no experience with nuns’ healing, thinking of it this way allowed her to cope.
However, with her eyes closed, she felt as if Diluowei’s fingers, though not touching her, were brushing against her skin with a certain force. Was that the sensation of elemental power?
Diluowei’s fingers reached Diye’s underarm.
“Master Diluowei, how is my water… affinity?”
“Very… impressive. I’ll examine other areas. Perhaps there are places more attuned to water…” Diluowei bent down, her face, illuminated by the faint blue light of water element, appearing cool and focused.
Diye pursed her lips, her knees instinctively bumping together as she endured the examination.
“Water, truly remarkable.”
“Next, fire element…”
“Earth element…”
“Lightning element…”
“This area is most suitable for testing dark element.”
Diye’s facial expressions shifted with each element—wind, water, fire, earth, lightning, dark.
…
Diluowei brought her small hand to her face, inhaling deeply.
“Yalan Diye, your elemental affinity is exceptional. And, even more incredible, your body has excellent affinity for every element except light.” Diluowei placed her hand beneath Diye’s nose again, almost touching her lips. “Can you feel it? It’s as if everything in the world is drawn to your body.”
However, all Diye could sense was Diluowei’s fragrance.
She ignored Diluowei’s somewhat strange remark. The key takeaway was that she possessed excellent aptitude for magic training.
“Was I truly a Temple Knight? To have such potential as a witch? And compatible with every element but light?”
Diye couldn’t feign joy, even though this was undoubtedly beneficial for her plan. Her heart was conflicted.
“If my examination is accurate, then I’ve never encountered such an excellent elemental affinity body. However, just having a good affinity isn’t enough. This is merely the foundation for magic training. To truly utilize this aptitude, you need excellent elemental perception. This step requires your own effort.”
“Next, I’ll teach you the method for elemental perception. But in reality, there’s no absolute method. It’s quite subtle and requires your own understanding. This is where the significant differences between witches emerge.”
As she spoke, Diluowei stepped back, saying softly, “Now, close your eyes.”
Diye closed her eyes.
“Gradually empty your mind and feel…”
“Master Diluowei, what should I feel?”
“Feel your surroundings, feel the world. Try to think of wind, try to imagine water, and at the same time, feel anything in this darkness that might excite you, pique your curiosity…”
However, all Diye could sense was darkness.
After an unknown amount of time, Diluowei asked, puzzled, “How is it? What do you sense?”
Diye, with a melancholic expression, shook her head. “I can’t feel anything, only darkness, endless darkness.”
“Eh? How can that be?” Diluowei pondered, her chin resting on her hand. “Although most people can’t sense anything the first time, considering your elemental affinities, you shouldn’t have gone this long without sensing any element.”
“Diye, truly, not even a single spark of light, not even the slightest stirring of curiosity?”
Diye shook her head again.
“Are my expectations too high? Although this situation is common, many girls with average aptitude take months, even years, to sense even a flicker of elemental light. Perhaps, you have other thoughts on your mind? Try again,” Diluowei suggested.
Other thoughts?
Indeed, although Diye had resolved to learn magic, the beliefs she held for so many years weren’t so easily changed. She felt a sense of guilt, viewing magic as heresy, an evil power that caused disasters. Diye still held these views deep down.
“No, I must calm my mind, dispel these distracting thoughts…”
“But, am I embarking on a path of no return? Is magic truly a sin?”
Although Diye’s resolve grew, completely disregarding her past beliefs wasn’t easy.
Diye tried repeatedly, but her elemental perception remained shrouded in darkness, not a single spark of light in the endless void.
“I’ll try again…” Diye panted, covered in a thin layer of sweat from her mental exertion.
“Let’s stop for today,” Diluowei said. “Success in elemental perception on the first try is extremely rare, a sign of true magical genius. For most witches, failure is normal and doesn’t necessarily affect future magical achievements. Besides, Diye, you already have exceptional swordsmanship talent. We shouldn’t be too demanding.”
“I apologize for wasting so much of your time,” Diye said, her face slightly flushed.
“It’s fine, take your time. We’ll try again tomorrow.” Diluowei stepped forward, reaching up to pat Diye’s soft, smooth shoulder. Her seemingly calm eyes, gazing up at Diye, held a firm, ethereal blue light, as if encouraging her.
This unexpected yet genuine trust comforted Diye.
Why would a witch, described by the world as selfish, deceitful, and lustful, have such eyes?
Diluowei and Diye returned to the cathedral. By now, the candles in the hall had dimmed and dwindled, the night deepening.
“I’ll take you to your lodgings,” Diluowei offered.
“Mm…” Diye nodded.
They ascended the stairs to the second floor, a mezzanine encircling the main hall.
The second floor contained the witches’ dining area, living area, and, furthest inside, the sleeping quarters.
Rows of simple bunk beds lined the area. As they entered, a mix of feminine scents, from alchemically crafted bath oils and shampoos, wafted towards them.
Diye suddenly realized that “lodgings” meant she would be staying in the girls’ dormitory.
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