章 27: Beauty and The Beast
Kate had been taking care of the baby hill myna bird for almost 24 hours a day since she found it. She could do her job at the animal shelter, Eden, without anyone's help. She felt a sense of fulfillment in taking care of the little bird, and it made her forget about missing Pond. She fed the bird, cleaned its cage, and taught it how to fly. It was almost like having a child of her own, and she cherished every moment with it.
Kate had been completely devoted to taking care of the baby hill myna bird. She would wake up early in the morning to feed it, and then take it with her to the animal shelter, Eden. She would keep the bird with her at all times, making sure it was always comfortable and well-fed. Throughout the day, she would clean its cage and teach it how to fly.
The bird had become Kate's constant companion, and she felt a deep sense of satisfaction in taking care of it. She no longer felt the same longing for Pond that she had before. Her focus was on the bird and its needs. Whenever she looked at the little creature, she felt a sense of warmth and joy. It was almost like having a child of her own, and she cherished every moment spent with it.
Kate would often carry the bird with her wherever she went. She would place it on her shoulder, and it would perch there contentedly, chirping and cooing. When she was at work, the bird would stay in its cage, but she would make sure it was always within sight. She had become so attached to the little creature that she couldn't bear to be apart from it for too long.
As she went about her day, Kate would often talk to the bird, telling it about her experiences and sharing her thoughts with it. She found that talking to the bird helped her process her emotions and made her feel less alone. Sometimes, when she was feeling particularly overwhelmed, she would confide in the bird about her feelings for Pond. Although the bird couldn't understand her words, it seemed to sense her emotions and would chirp and coo in response, offering her comfort in its own way.
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Pim and Pond woke up a bit late today, with their "late-night business" last night.
Pim rubbed her sleepy eyes as she sat up in bed. "What time is it?" she asked Pond, who was lying beside her with a big grin on his face.
"Late," he replied with a chuckle. "We had a lot of 'business' last night."
Pim blushed and playfully hit him. "You're terrible," she said with a laugh.
As they got ready for the day, Pond teased Pim about her "panda eyes." Pim rolled her eyes and playfully swatted him away.
After closing their bakery, Pond and Pim logged back into the game and were surprised to see a message from the Mages Council. "We've been invited to meet with them tonight," Pond said, reading the message aloud.
"But it's still morning in-game," Pim pointed out. "What are we going to do all day?"
Pond shrugged. "I guess we'll have to find something to do at the academy. Maybe we can explore some more and see if we find anything interesting."
Pim nodded in agreement, and they set off for the Velsharoon royal academy, ready for a day of adventure.
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As they arrived Professor Luovizt led them to the waiting room, telling them to make themselves at home. As they entered the waiting room, the party noticed several chairs and tables where they could sit and relax. "Wow, this is really nice," Anastasia said, as she looked around the room. "It's like a five-star hotel lounge."
Xiao Ming quickly went to sit at one of the tables and pulled out a book from his backpack. "This book is amazing," he said to the party. "It's full of ancient magic spells that I've never seen before."
Palm was intrigued by the history of Velsharoon City and its rich background. "This city has such a complex history," he said, flipping through the pages of a book. "It's amazing how the AI system could create such a detailed and intricate world."
Pim yawned and stretched out on one of the chairs. "I think I'm going to take a nap," she said. "I'm still so tired from last night."
Pond, on the other hand, was curious about the academy's facilities and decided to explore them. He wandered through the corridors and halls, admiring the architecture and the magical decorations. As he was exploring, he stumbled upon a high tower with a breathtaking view, as Pond reached the top of the tower, he was amazed by the breathtaking view of Velsharoon City. The city was surrounded by mountains, with the sun shining brightly in the clear blue sky. He felt the cool breeze and smelled the scent of flowers from the garden below. It was a peaceful and serene place, and Pond felt like he could stay there forever.
However, his peaceful moment was interrupted by the sight of an injured owl lying in the corner of the balcony. As he picked up the owl, a young girl wearing a black dress suddenly appeared and ran up the stairs, calling out for Samuel. Pond asked if she meant the owl and showed her the injured bird. The young girl confirmed that it was indeed Samuel, and tears started to well up in her eyes.
Pond used his Grooming skill to heal the owl's minor injury, and within a minute, the bird was fully healed. The owl flew to the young girl's shoulder, and she asked, "Are you okay now, Samuel?" She smiled through her tears, and Pond couldn't help but notice her striking red eyes.
Pond knelt down and used his napkin to gently wipe away the girl's tears. "You have really beautiful eyes, young lady," he said. "Crying will make your eyes swollen. The owl is healthy now, I guarantee." He gently patted the young girl's head, feeling a sense of protectiveness towards her.
"Thank you, mister...," she shouted as he walked away. "You can call me Pond, young lady, if we meet again," Pond replied with a smile.
As Pond walked back to the waiting room, he couldn't help but wonder who the young girl was. He had never seen someone with silver hair before, and her red eyes were quite unusual. Little did he know, the young girl he had just met was Archmage Sylphrena, the founder of the Department of Research and Development and the older sister of High Mage Zephyrus. But she didn't have time to tell him her true identity before he left.
Pond sat in the waiting room, lost in thought. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the young girl he met on the tower was someone special. Her silver hair and red eyes were so rare, and her dress suggested she might be of noble birth. "I wonder who she really is," he said to himself, lost in thought.
Anastasia, who was sitting next to him, noticed that he seemed distracted. "What are you thinking about, Pond?" she asked curiously.
"I met this girl on the tower earlier," Pond replied, "and I can't help but wonder who she really is. She had silver hair and red eyes, and I have never seen anyone like her before."
Anastasia raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's quite intriguing. Did you talk to her?"
"Yes, just briefly. She was looking for an owl that was injured, and I helped her heal it. I think she might be someone important, maybe even a princess," Pond said, a smile playing on his lips.
Anastasia smiled knowingly. "Well, you never know. Maybe you did become her hero today," she said, giving him a playful nudge.
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The party walked into the Council meeting room, which was an imposing space with high ceilings and intricate magical runes carved into the walls. At the head chair sat the young girl Pond had met at the tower, who greeted him warmly. "Welcome, Pond. I'm glad to see you again," she said with a smile. Pond was surprised to see her there and wondered what her role in the Mages Council was.
The young girl, who was actually Archmage Sylphrena, introduced herself and explained that she was the head of the Department of Research and Development. She was interested in Professor Luovizt's discovery of the 5th ring and his hypothesis about the Old God and the Supreme One being the same identity. "This discovery could have far-reaching consequences," she said. "We must investigate this matter thoroughly and see if there is any truth to Professor Luovizt's hypothesis."
Professor Luovizt then introduced each member of the Mage Council to Pond's party, and they introduced themselves in turn. They discussed various topics related to the Xylo world, such as magical medicine, justice, and defense. High Mage Zephyrus, in particular, caught the attention of Anastasia and Pim, who whispered to each other about how handsome he was, likening him to a Hollywood superstar.
As the conversation went on, Archmage Sylphrena couldn't resist teasing Pond about their previous encounter at the tower. "Seems like you love the view on the top of our clock tower, Pond," she said, trying to hide a smile. Pond grinned back at her and replied, "Yes, the view up there was beautiful, but it can't compare to your teary red eyes, my lady." Even the Archmage Sylphrena blushed at his teasing remark.
The council members discussed how they needed to be prepared for any consequences that might arise from Professor Luovizt's discovery. High Mage Zephyrus agreed, and Archmage Celeste added that they must investigate the matter thoroughly. They all nodded in agreement, and the meeting continued on, discussing other important matters in the Xylo world.
As the meeting ended, Pond realized that the Mages Council was a group of powerful and intelligent individuals who were dedicated to protecting the magical community in the Xylo world. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and respect for them.
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