The Lunar Gathering ritual—yet another new term. She had already accumulated at least three terms today that she wanted to ask about.
Learn the elements first.
She would worry about the rest after she finished learning.
Sylvia stood up and slowly chanted an incantation.
Calling it an incantation felt inaccurate; it was more like an ancient ballad. Every syllable carried a strange rhythm, like moonlight spilling across a lake's surface or a gentle breeze drifting through the treetops. The surrounding air seemed to grow denser.
It felt like soaking in a hot spring, where every inch of her skin could feel a gentle, enveloping warmth.
The elemental light particles that were usually only visible when she opened the spell structure editing interface suddenly became incredibly clear. It was as if the game world's resolution had been cranked up several times over.
The fire elements were like restless fireflies, tracing chaotic orange-red paths through the air. A few had already eagerly gathered near her hand.
Meanwhile, the water elements flowed and meandered sluggishly all around, occasionally casting off tiny, shimmering droplets of light.
The earth elements settled steadily beneath her feet, appearing completely integrated with the ground. Looking closely, she could even see tiny particles suspended in the air.
The wood elements were concentrated on various plants and logs. Their emerald green light clung securely to living things, radiating a vibrant life force.
The wind elements drifted through the branches, leaving pale blue trails. They swirled and swept past in straight lines, stirring up subtle drafts.
The metal elements were concentrated on a few iron fixtures in the mill, arranged in neat patterns. While fewer in number compared to the other elements, their points of light were much larger.
There were also two clusters of elements that were completely foreign to her.
One was a pure white cluster, like solidified sunlight, hovering lazily at the highest point of the mill, refusing to budge.
The other was a deep black cluster, hidden in the shadows of the stone wall, nearly impossible to spot unless one looked closely.
“Light and darkness,” Sylvia noted, noticing her gaze.
“They are inert elements and very difficult to manipulate, but they are the foundation of the world. Without light, there is no shadow; without shadow, there is no light.”
She sat back down next to Wu Yao. “Alright, you can try to touch them and let them get to know you.”
Wu Yao had already been eager to try.
The first one she reached out to touch was the wind element.
Those pale blue light particles were even harder to catch than the fire elements. They were constantly in motion, always changing direction. Every time Wu Yao's fingers drew near, they would nimbly slip away, as if playing hide-and-seek with her.
“The wind doesn't like to be captured,” Sylvia said with a chuckle. “You must invite it, not hunt it.”
Wu Yao stopped her pursuit, turned her palm upward, and waited quietly.
A few seconds later, a wisp of wind element wrapped itself around her fingertip of its own accord.
It was very light, like the brush of a feather, carrying a sense of curiosity and exploration.
“Is it... smelling me?”
“It is getting to know you,” Sylvia corrected with a smile.
She had witnessed this scene countless times under the Elven Mother Tree and during the Lunar Gathering ritual.
Yet, to witness the initiation of a newborn witch after so many years, how could she not feel delighted?
“The wind is free; it chooses its own preferred traveling companions.”
The wisp of wind circled Wu Yao's finger twice before suddenly dispersing.
In return, something new entered Wu Yao's perception.
The direction of the air currents, scents drifting from afar, the soft rustling of leaves—all of this information became clear and perceptible, as if a new pathway to the sensory world had opened up.
Wu Yao's tolerance for the game's development team rose once more.
Since their technology was so far ahead of its time, she could overlook a subpar game tutorial.
After all, wasn't this the ultimate immersive gameplay?
【Wind element activated!】
【Wind Element Affinity: Lv. 1】
Next were the silvery-white light particles condensed on the iron parts, maintaining a tidy distance from one another.
Wu Yao reached out to touch them. The metal elements did not dodge, but they did not approach her either.
“The metal element values order and precision.”
Sylvia was about to explain further. For most newborn witches, the metal element was one of the more difficult elements to control, often requiring several days of familiarity and contact.
But before Sylvia could offer any words of comfort, the metal elements spontaneously wrapped around Wu Yao's hand, merging into her palm.
【Metal element activated!】
【Metal Element Affinity: Lv. 1】
“Lightning is the most arrogant element and will not heed any summons. Look over there.” Sylvia pointed toward a faint, ephemeral streak of purple amidst the distant clouds.
Wu Yao looked up. The streak of purple was extremely faint, flickering in and out of view deep within the clouds.
“You have already mastered the elements that are easier to interact with. As for the rest, it will depend on your affinity with them.”
Sylvia swept two fingers across her eyes, a pale golden light flashing deep within her pupils before vanishing.
She stared intently at Wu Yao for a moment, then said with some surprise, “You carry the scent of time, space, and knowledge. These elements seem to favor you greatly.”
Wu Yao instinctively sniffed herself and asked curiously, “Are those elements as well?”
Sylvia tilted her head, her blonde hair sliding off her shoulder as the tips of her pointed ears twitched slightly. “We can only perceive them in the form of elements.”
Wu Yao looked at her suspiciously, feeling like she was being humbugged.
“Next, we will discuss elemental application.” Sylvia glanced at the sky. “We must hurry.”
While Wu Yao was cramming basic knowledge, on the other side of Qinghe Town, Benita and Eleanor had already stepped into the town hall's grounds.
The afternoon sun cut diagonally across the lintel, stretching their shadows across the dusty stone floor.
Eleanor paused at the threshold. This was the first time she had entered this place without the identity of Mrs. Morceau, coming to “find Mayor Ohm.”
Lowering her eyelashes, she stepped over the threshold. Her boot heels struck the stone flags, making a crisp, decisive sound.
Benita walked beside her, carrying the Mayor's Seal in her robes. Her stride lacked Eleanor's elegance, but it was equally steady.
The interior of the town hall was even more dilapidated than it appeared from the outside. Most of the plaster on the rammed-earth walls had peeled away, exposing the grayish-yellow adobe underneath. The air was thick with a musty odor and a faint trace of alcohol.
Eleanor frowned in disgust, while Phelin pinched her nose without reservation. “It smells so bad!”
Benita said nothing, merely placing her hand gently on Phelin's shoulder and drawing the girl closer to her side.
A chaotic noise echoed from not far away. Benita and Eleanor exchanged a glance and quickened their pace simultaneously.
Suren followed behind the three. Just a day ago, she was merely an ordinary peasant woman, and today she was setting foot in the town hall. She felt as if every step she took was unsteady.
The door to the side hall was half-open. Shadows shifted inside; someone was cursing under their breath, while others were rummaging through drawers and cabinets.
Benita took a few quick steps and pushed the door open, coming face-to-face with a panicked countenance.
The man was wearing the dark brown robe characteristic of a clerk. He held a stack of account books in his arms, his pockets bulging, and was head-down, about to rush out of the side hall.
Behind him, three or four other people dressed as clerks were busy looting.
Rate on N.U.
