Academic gathering with a lich

Bloody Rose Bar.

Beatrice was directing the staff to tidy up the chaotic bar. She’d only stepped away for a moment, and it seemed like a terrible incident had occurred. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Hearing that the mess was caused by her own employees’ antics, Beatrice finally let the matter go.

Rubbing her temples, Beatrice slowly returned to her second-floor room.

Compared to the dazzling first floor, the second floor was left with dim, decorative lights casting a sunset-like red hue on the drapes and curtains.

Beatrice was a vampire; she did not need light, possessing the ability to see at night. Walking back to her desk, she stretched her limbs and took a bottle of wine from the cabinet behind her.

"This is the second time you’ve come in through the window, Anna. The last time was several years ago."

Succubus Anna stepped out of the shadows and approached Beatrice.

"Lady Beatrice, I would like to take a leave of absence for a while."

Beatrice lifted her head and saw the beautiful pendant, saw the enchanting face tinged with sorrow.

"Your pendant has returned, Anna. It was you who asked me to sell it before."

"Yes, Lady Beatrice, this is my... destiny."

"Destiny," Beatrice’s lips drew near the rim of the glass, her fangs gently touching the edge. "Destiny should not make my employee show such an expression."

"Gurellia, I hope this vacation isn’t a farewell."

Gurellia’s head hung low, her pale arms crossed in front of her.

"I would like to ask Lady Beatrice to look after Candy for me."

"I will naturally look after my staff. Gurellia, you are also my staff."

Gurellia bowed deeply. "Lady Beatrice, thank you for your care over the years, but I do not wish to impose any further risks upon you."

"Is that so," Beatrice’s face showed a tinge of sadness. "Are you returning to your clan, Gurellia, to the War Demon Clan...?"

"No," Gurellia’s gaze was determined. "I am not from the War Demon Clan, I am a succubus, the daughter of Sara Nightwish. I must hide away, elude that man’s pursuit of me."

"Will you hide like this forever, Anna? Just give yourself to me, and I will take care of everything. If I can’t, Naslan is behind me, and so are my sisters, my clan."

Gurellia walked over to Beatrice, took her hand, and pressed it against her own skin.

"I do not deserve to let you, who have been so kind to us siblings, suffer any more loss."

"Anna, I’ve long regarded you as my sister."

"Then please take good care of Candy for me, Sister Beatrice."

Ignoring Beatrice’s attempts to retain her, Gurellia vanished into the night.

The next day, William learned of Anna’s leave of absence at the Bloody Rose Bar.

With Beatrice’s explanation, it seemed like a normal rest period. Although Candy was skeptical about Anna’s arrangements, she did not do anything unusual after the persuasive boss’s encouragement.

Candy was taken upstairs by Beatrice, causing William, who had intended to inquire further from Candy, to give up on his plan.

Today, William had another engagement.

After reconciling with Anna, William thought carefully about the Arcanists’ invitation. It was an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Just as William worried about how to find the Arcanists, the man in the purple robe appeared out of thin air, timely as the rain, with the magic of time and space dissipating into the air and seeping into the ground beneath his feet.

It was as if this man had always been watching over him, no, protecting him.

Giving William a token that represented the Arcanists, he disappeared like a gust of wind.

This token, used to display the identity of an Arcanist, ended up being used by William for the first time to pass through the portal of the Light Five District.

Yes, William had a date today, with Fannila, an agreed-upon date.

"There shouldn’t be a problem with Anna, after all, she usually pops up out of nowhere."

William had been to the Light Five District a few times as well. But it was always with Candy, under the guise of business. Therefore, William was familiar with the scenery here. Those ancient trees that shimmered like jade and glass, those mysterious lights and shadows filtering through the leaves from unknown sources.

Softness was the melody that dominated this area. The homes of the Elves nestled among these picturesque plants, intertwining with the sprawling roots.

Even the Elves who passed by, when they saw a stranger like William, would just stop and smile at him.

The scenery of the Light Five District was beautiful, but for the Elves, the truly beautiful existence was Drumwood, their home that no drawing could surpass.

Heinz’s dwelling was tucked away in a secluded corner of this lush vegetation. Even among the Witherer group, he was the one with a more solitary personality.

William did not meet Heinz again, although the tall male elf had indeed extended an invitation. But William, with ulterior motives, always struggled to figure out how to face him on this first visit. He was prepared, ready to face the eccentric gaze of that elven elder.

With the gift in hand, William stood outside the door, knocking gently. The solid wooden door made a knocking sound that triggered a new noise inside the house. However, the nervous William did not hear those strange noises.

"Ah!!! He’s here! He’s here! Quick! Heinz, hide with me."

A voice with a somewhat awkward emotion replied, "Respected Irason, I am Fannila’s uncle. I am her elder. I have no need to hide."

"No, old thing. Leave some space for the young ones, solitary Heinz, don’t disturb such loveliness."

"In terms of age, respected Irason, there is no part of me that can be associated with being an old thing, I am a middle-aged elf."

"So it’s only me who’s the old thing?" The soft voice cried out plaintively.

A sigh.

"I understand, I will hide with you. Respected, eternally youthful and beautiful, Lord Irason."

Noises of rummaging and two women nagging a man came from the room.

When the noise settled down. Light footsteps approached the door. The wooden door opened slowly. Greeting the first ray of sunlight outside was Fannila’s smiling face.

Her alluring face was flushed with a tender red like an apple. A sweet smile, like a gentle breeze, tranquilized William’s restless heart.

"Fannila..." William called out the name he had repeated hundreds of times in his heart.

The elven girl, just as he had imagined in his dreams, responded to him.

Her youthful fingers took hold of William’s arm.

"Come in quickly, William. Welcome to my uncle’s house."

Led by Fannila, William entered the simple room. The treehouse was divided into two floors by partitions. Morning glory vines sneaked in like a burglar, poking their heads through the windows of each room from outside.

The air carried a hint of floral scent and humidity. It was a bit cool but couldn’t quell the heat in William’s heart.

"Is Mr. Heinz not here?"

Fannila’s smile seemed to twist for a moment. She cocked her head and covered her mouth with her hand for a second, then turned back, responding seriously.

"He’s not here, Uncle Heinz happened to have some things to do today. So, today I’m the only one at home."

There was a mischievous glint in Fannila’s eyes. Those beautiful eyes looked at William, as if waiting for something.

William suppressed his ever-intensifying heartbeat, but still could not help himself from speaking.

"That’s really great."

"Hmm?"

Realizing his slip-up, William was about to apologize. However, he realized that the voice did not come from Fannila but from behind him, a white wardrobe.