One day later, Emerald District.
"Hey, hey, snap out of it, hey."
A finger poked Lin Xiaolu's cheek from the side, pulling her out of her thoughts. She looked dully in the direction the finger extended from, only to find Mint squatting beside her, looking at her suspiciously: "The exam has already started. If you continue like this, you might not even react if someone ambushes you later. Are you really okay?"
"Ah, oh, I see."
Lin Xiaolu nodded belatedly, though her gaze remained somewhat unfocused: "Sorry."
"Huh? Sorry? Since when did our Lady Bai Mei learn to apologize, did losing once the day before mess up her head?"
Mint, shocked by the word "sorry," stood up and looked at Bai Jingxuan beside her: "What's going on? Has she been like this since the day before?"
"Not really. Actually, the incident the day before didn't have that big of an impact. Bai Mei was pretty normal yesterday morning..."
Bai Jingxuan seemed slightly troubled: "But later she went out again, talked to the teacher about something after returning, and then turned into this again."
"Ohβ"
Mint rubbed her chin, prolonging the sound, and turned her head towards Lin Xiaolu again: "What's up? Care to share?"
Clearly, her curiosity was intensely piqued.
"...Nothing worth mentioning, just some private matters."
Lin Xiaolu turned her gaze away, not looking at Mint's face: "Let's go, don't we have an assessment to attend? Staying in such a conspicuous place is not great, is it?"
Although it was clearly an attempt to change the subject, Lin Xiaolu wasn't wrong. They were currently in an open area where anyone could pass through at any time. Or rather, to use a more precise term:
"Airspace."
They were now amidst a sea of clouds.
This was the examination venue for this test. "Cloud Realm" was its real meaning, covering the entire exam location amidst a sea of clouds. In such a venue, candidates had to rely on flying for most movements, landing only when finding a "Sky Island" to rest and recover Magic Power.
What's called a "Sky Island" wasn't a real island but a series of stops formed by shaping clouds using Magic Techniques and Magic Power. These stops, known as Sky Islands, varied in size and topography. Some could really be called islands, as big as tens of football fields, while others were only a few square meters, barely just a platform.
But big or small, to the candidates traversing this airspace, Sky Islands were important strategic resources. Wanting to recover Magic Power and rest, Sky Islands were the best choice. If they couldn't find a Sky Island and were forced to fly for long periods, their Magic Power might run out before even encountering an enemy.
Before this, Lin Xiaolu and her companions had just entered the venue and found a very small Sky Island. Mint claimed she needed to do some "preparations," so the three of them temporarily stopped there. But Lin Xiaolu had been in a daze since before entering the venue, leading to the earlier scene.
Of course, Lin Xiaolu had her reasons. She was lost in thought because she had concerns on her mind.
It was about the conversation with Purple Diamond yesterday and Purple Diamond's final request.
Lin Xiaolu actually didn't agree with Purple Diamond and even instinctively refused at first, but Purple Diamond didn't get angry or disappointed. She just arrogantly said: "You don't have to rush to give an answer. You can think it over, even contact Cornflower through the Magic Mirror, to ask for her opinion."
"I don't have a Magic Mirror."
"Hmm... then cell phone? You have a cell phone at least, right?"
"My phone doesn't have cross-realm service; I can't contact the Material Realm." Lin Xiaolu tightly remembered the setting "Cornflower is still in the Material Realm," answering flawlessly.
"Such a hassle. Then try to find a way to contact her first. I'll come back to you in a few days."
Then the conversation ended.
If things ended there, Lin Xiaolu wouldn't need to be troubled. The problem actually arose when she returned to the inn and relayed this matter to Emerald Sparrow.
"It seems like this Purple Diamond really doesn't get along with you, Emerald Sparrow. Does that mean I won't have to see her in the future?" This was the conclusion Lin Xiaolu reached after recounting everything.
"In theory, that's correct."
Emerald Sparrow, after a slight thought, still had a serious expression: "However, I would be somewhat concerned. Wouldn't that be a bit unfair to you?"
"To me? Why?" Lin Xiaolu was puzzled.
"Purple Diamond is telling the truth. The secret of Authority is indeed knowledge that only they can master."
Emerald Sparrow sighed: "I certainly appreciate your desire to stand by me, but doing so might really prevent you from reaching your full potential. Is that really okay?"
"Hmmβ¦"
Lin Xiaolu paused after hearing this: "But anyway, Emerald Sparrow, you're preparing to take up the position again, aren't you? Once you become a Gemstone Scepter, wouldn't you be able to teach me just the same?"
"The Kingdom knows this too."
Emerald Sparrow helplessly said: "If they wanted, they could completely use contracts and promises to restrict me, preventing such things from happening."
"I hadn't thought that deeply." Lin Xiaolu admitted: "Why would they do that?"
"Because there's only so much power at the top of the Kingdom. It's too much for four Gemstone Scepters but too little for six. No one wants to hand over power they've already grasped."
Emerald Sparrow answered: "Moreover, you are my disciple, which naturally makes us closer. If one day you became the unprecedented sixth person, the gain and effort in winning you over would be disproportionate. In Purple Diamond's eyes, it means there would be two extra competitors in the Magic Kingdom vying for power, and these two 'competitors' are natural allies. She naturally wouldn't welcome such a situation. This is likely true for the other Gemstone Scepters too."
"Including that Green Gemstone Wand you mentioned before?" Lin Xiaolu asked.
"Her... I'm not entirely sure." Emerald Sparrow thought for a moment: "But even if it's Emerald, as a Gemstone Scepter, there's a basic need to maintain power. She might not oppose you and me, but she wouldn't fully side with us either."
Lin Xiaolu fell silent.
After a while, she hesitantly spoke:
"Then, it doesn't matter if I don't become a Gemstone Scepter."
"Not become?"
"Mm, not become."
Lin Xiaolu nodded: "After all, Emerald Sparrow, you are more capable than me. You becoming a Gemstone Scepter will certainly accomplish more."
"...That's not it." Emerald Sparrow shook her head.
"Why not?" Lin Xiaolu asked.
"Because you are still young, you have a future ahead, you will definitely be more..." Emerald Sparrow hesitated to continue: "Besides, didn't you tell me before? You want to be someone who can fight alongside me."
"Ah, that..." Lin Xiaolu scratched her cheek: "That's true."
"If you give up your potential future for this kind of thing, wouldn't it be equivalent to me stifling your future?" Emerald Sparrow looked at her intently.
"No, it definitely wouldn't be because of you, Emerald Sparrow!"
Lin Xiaolu immediately retorted: "If there's a problem, it's with Purple Diamond and the others. It's an unavoidable thing..."
Her voice grew quieter, and the two fell silent again.
"I understand your intentions."
After a long time, Emerald Sparrow spoke again: "But if this matter concerns your future, I certainly cannot accept the current outcome."
"Recently, I've been contemplating a question, and I think if everything goes as predicted, I will find my own answer after this assessment."
"If you trust me, then leave it to me. After I find that answer, we'll decide what to do next. Whether to agree to Purple Diamond's terms, or how to negotiate if refusing, can be decided then."
This weighty declaration, mixed with certainty, gave Lin Xiaolu a strange premonition in her heart.
"Are you referring to Claw Mark and the Black Ash Dawn's conspiracy? You're not planning to do anything dangerous..."
β"It's okay, there won't be any danger."
And once more, Emerald Sparrow firmly stated:
"We won't let dangerous things happen."
