"I'll go right now QAQ"
Mentioning the orange tree, Yu Yu wilted. She'd promised to handle it, but with everything piling up, she forgot.
Glancing at her, Felix said, "At the dawn of the Dark Era, an exceptionally unique anomaly appeared, called Plague of Flora."
"It could wither plants. Caught off-guard, the magic circle couldn't locate its core and had to let it rampage."
"This anomaly caused incalculable damage to the continent," Felix continued, "its poison lingering to this day."
Her eyes dimmed slightly. "It cost the lives of several Legendary to finally find its core."
"Even then, the damage was irreversible."
"Though Plague of Flora died, the Curse of Flora persists."
"Possessing sentience, it focused its final curse on edible crops," Felix said, popping the last fry into her mouth. "The magic circle studied it for centuries but couldn't break the curse. Our greatest efforts paled against the curse's natural fading over time."
Felix gazed out the window. "The magic circle predicts that in the next millennium, some of our inherited crops may be freed further. The two we cultivate now won't decay or mutate as easily, and with luck, yields might improve slightly…"
She paused, eyeing the empty plates. "As for trivial things like flavor, that's for the millennium after next, or beyond."
Yu Yu caught one term—
[Plague of Flora]
The magic circle found its core!
They even killed Plague of Flora!
Yu Yu blurted, "Senior, can the magic circle kill anomalies?"
Felix wasn't surprised by her reaction, remaining calm. "Yes, but it's difficult."
"Will is crucial."
Yu Yu leaned over the table. "Senior, how did the magic circle find the anomaly's core? How did they kill it?"
She looked at Felix eagerly. "We have something similar back home, called Withering Curse."
Felix sighed, glancing at her. "This is sensitive, involving several Legendary and the Crowns who sacrificed themselves."
She pushed the plate aside, her slender fingers interlaced, thoughtful.
"I can tell you, legendary matters are half-taboo. Silver Moon has no records of this."
"To learn more, you'd need to visit magic circle headquarters."
Yu Yu frowned. "Can't I already go?"
Felix shook her head. "Not Silver Moon's headquarters."
"The true magic circle headquarters is in a pocket dimension."
"Otherwise, the stubbornly resisting magic circle would've been eroded by covetous evil gods and anomalies long ago."
Felix shared the magic circle's hidden secrets like casual dessert, her tone unchanged. "But because of this, headquarters' vetting is strict. Many seniors only visit once—after becoming high-tier spellcasters—to leave their soul emblem."
"If you can sway the higher-ups then, you might have a chance."
Felix mused, "It's just records, not critical."
Yu Yu: "Any other way? Like, earlier access?"
Felix glanced at her. "Yes."
Yu Yu's eyes sparkled.
Felix: "Sleep and swap bodies with a magic circle councilor."
Yu Yu froze.
"Senior! That joke's not funny!"
Felix sipped hot water leisurely, squinting contentedly. "Just a suggestion."
Yu Yu took deep breaths to steady her spiraling emotions.
Moments later, she frowned. "When did Senior get so trendy?"
Felix: "Trendy?"
She set down her cup, coolly saying, "Silver Moon Daily recently had some amusing stories."
"You should check it out."
She rose slowly, as always, calm and elegant. "I'm satisfied. Thanks for the hospitality."
Then she did something less elegant—ruffling the head of the little spellcaster still slumped at the table.
Yu Yu: "???"
Felix added, "Unprotected seeds rarely grow into viable crops."
"About 70% rot, 29% mutate, 0.99% die. The rest might succeed."
"Like your potatoes, your…" Felix softly said, "oranges."
Seeing Yu Yu's accusing stare, she took pity and added, "You can trade for protection methods at the Pioneer Camp."
Yu Yu grabbed Senior's robe, stopping her teleport.
Felix: "?"
She turned, looking down. "What?"
Yu Yu: "Where's the Pioneer Camp?"
Felix casually said, "The frontlines. Ask Wind Singer to take you—she's a regular."
Fearing Yu Yu would grab her again, she teleported away while Yu Yu was distracted.
Yu Yu stood stunned, then helplessly patted her face.
"Whatever, hope's always good."
Time to discuss with Zi Shu and the others. Should she tell the Federation?
Yu Yu's head ached. She touched her hair, realizing Senior had mussed it.
Fine, call it interest.
She'd been confident about her potatoes, but now she wasn't so sure.
Could she make it to the Pioneer Camp in time?
Wind Singer? Wind Singer?
Yu Yu pondered.
Her bandit-clearing task needed Lynn's help—perfect for multi-tasking.
But where was she? Where to find her?
Yu Yu had an idea.
Hearing noise downstairs, she rushed to the balcony. "Who's back?"
Zi Shu, sweaty in hemp clothes, looked up. "Me. What? Senior gone?"
Yu Yu: "Yeah, but I'm digging up the orange tree at the magic circle later. Wanna come?"
Zi Shu was actually a little hot, she thought for a moment, "Sure. I saw a saddle at the magic circle shop last time. I'll buy it."
"By the way, I heard Xiang Qin and Qing Qian's teams have set out. Their guilds rallied a few hundred each, grilled by guards for ages at the gate."
"When do we start the bandit task?"
Yu Yu: "I've got a plan. We'll talk on the way."
She was already heading downstairs.
Spotting a newspaper, Yu Yu grabbed it. "You bought the Daily?"
Zi Shu, washing her face, said, "Yeah, it's got good info. I'm buying it daily now."
She'd always wanted to, but couldn't part with the cash. That was her hard-earned brick-moving money. Now she could afford it. Hopefully Xiang Qin's team visits again, cough.
"Don't summon your phantom steed. Check out my unicorn."
Eyeing the "unicorn" styled like her phantom steed, Yu Yu fell silent.
"I get it, but… where's its horn?"
Zi Shu patted her foal proudly. "Doesn't matter. It'll grow one when it's older."
A sleek black foal, glossy and spotless. Its ruby-red eyes gleamed, hooves faintly burning with crimson flames, tail flicking lively, blinking at Yu Yu.
Zi Shu beamed. "Well? Cool or what?"
Yu Yu: "…It's cool."
"That's enough!" Zi Shu ruffled the foal's head. "I checked—inner circle beasts are tamed by the Duchess. Even the weakest reach high-tier."
"I'd never get a full-grown one. Only juveniles. If not for that captain's help, I wouldn't have found this."
"I fell for it at first sight," Zi Shu said. "It fights, it rides—perfect."
Yu Yu sighed. "As long as you're happy."
"…So, no phantom steed because you want to ride it?"
Zi Shu stored the foal, serious. "No, just showing off."
Yu Yu: "…"
After a stare-down, Yu Yu said, "You're livelier lately."
Zi Shu, profound, said, "Manual labor fries the brain. Once I ditched heavy lifting, I came alive."
She meant dockside brick-moving.
Yu Yu: "I've got leads on jobs for you all."
Zi Shu nimbly hopped onto Yu Yu's phantom steed. "Oh? Do tell."
Yu Yu: "Keeping it hush for now."
Zi Shu: "Fine."
At lightning speed, they had arrived at the gate of the inner city.
Yu Yu was an old acquaintance of the guards, so the door was opened before she arrived, and Yu Yu rode straight in.
Zi Shu couldn't help but complain again, "Why can you come in at will? I just saw a spellcaster complaining on the forum that the guards were cruel and ruthless?"
Yu Yu: "…Maybe she should grind some Duchess favor?"
Zi Shu: "How do you grind Duchess favor?"
Yu Yu smiled faintly. "Gift her a lint roller."
Meng walked by slowly and suddenly stopped, "Oh? Overheard that?"
Yu Yu nearly fell off. "S-Senior?!"
Meng put her hands behind her back and said,, "What's a lint roller? Or should I tell the Duchess you're gifting her one?"
Yu Yu: "…It's, like, it sticks… fur?"
Meng drawled, "Ohhh. Get me one."
Yu Yu: "…Don't have one yet."
Meng: "Next time, then."
"Got it, Senior." Yu Yu dismissed her phantom steed, obedient.jpg
Meng: "You've been busy, but don't forget to study."
"Think of the elemental lord you missed. Can you bear not learning?"
Yu Yu's heart ached. "I will, Senior!"
Meng nodded, satisfied, floating off.
Flight's banned, but which high-tier spellcaster walks?
No wonder Wind Singer gripes about the magic circle.
Watching Meng drift toward the Grand Archon, Yu Yu slumped, entering the magic circle with Zi Shu. Since Senior granted access, Zi Shu and the others were rare non-spellcasters at Silver Moon's magic circle headquarters.
Yu Yu used her privileges to buy Zi Shu a saddle, though Zi Shu paid. She'd also repaid her gear debt.
Zi Shu muttered, "Magic circle stuff's pricey."
A size-adjusting saddle cost 20 gold. Did they know how many bricks she'd move at the docks for that?
Damn capitalists!
Yu Yu, skimming the Daily, said, "Quit grumbling. Someone might hear and jack up prices next time."
Zi Shu switched gears. "The magic circle's so kind, generous, dreamy. I love it."
They navigated to the back garden, spotting the lone sapling.
Yu Yu stood before it, chin in hand, pleased. "My little sapling's growing well."
"Maybe it hit that 0.01% success rate?"
Zi Shu, shovel in hand, said, "Step back."
Yu Yu read the Daily. "After Crossing to Silver Moon, I Swapped Bodies with the Duchess?"
Pupils quake.jpg
"Who's the genius behind this?!"
"Didn't Senior Chang send it to the Duchess's desk?!"
Yu Yu murmured, "No way, no way, no way?"
"The Grand Archon doesn't want a sequel, right?"
Zi Shu, digging, chimed in, "Honestly, not just Silver Moon folks—I want a sequel."
Yu Yu paused. "Next one: After Crossing to Silver Moon, I Swapped Bodies with the Grand Archon?"
Zi Shu laughed. "Sure the Grand Archon won't kill you?"
Yu Yu thought. "Nah, boring. What's fun about the Grand Archon?"
Swapping with Wolfy—now that's the dream.
Waking up as Wolfy, staring in the mirror.
Self-admiring, self-obsessed, drowning in Wolfy's beauty daily.
Such bliss exists?!
Yu Yu ecstatic.jpg
Zi Shu: "The plant's attacking!!!"
Yu Yu dropped the Daily, looking up as Zi Shu charged.
Behind her, the sapling sprinted, leaves rustling wildly with each step.
Zi Shu, shielding her head, yanked the stunned Yu Yu and ran.
"Check it! What's this monster?"
"Can we fight here?"
Yu Yu yelped, "Stop dragging! I haven't cast feather fall!"
Zi Shu: "No wonder you're so heavy!"
Yu Yu cast feather fall on herself, then flung a detect.
[Mutated Garbled Tree]
[Tier: Mid-tier
Attack Method: Unknown
Attributes: Unknown
Traits: Unknown
Corruption: 5]
Yu Yu: "Don't stop! It's mid-tier!!!"
"Wait, I'll summon an elemental to smack it!"
"Come on, fire elemental!"
Zi Shu sprinted, blazing fast.
In a blink, they left the garden, circling back, but the sapling kept pace, forcing Zi Shu to keep bolting.
Yu Yu: "Crap, the fire elemental can't outrun the sapling!"
Zi Shu: "Great spellcaster, think of something! We're gonna alert the magic circle!"
Yu Yu: "Thinking, thinking!"
She racked her brain. "Got it, I'll try."
[Feather Fall!]
Hey! Feather Fall works on elementals!
Yu Yu cast gust of wind.
Good news: The fire elemental was blown forward.
Feather Fall actually worked on elementals, sparking tactical ideas.
Bad news: The magic circle was definitely getting alerted…
Zi Shu glanced back, flames reflecting in her pupils, forgetting to run.
Done… we're done…
They set the magic circle on fire…
Zi Shu clashed with the sapling.
The sapling unleashed its ultimate—[Spray].
Zi Shu got a faceful of fresh orange juice.
The air filled with citrusy aroma. Zi Shu wiped her face, grappling the sapling's slender branches. "I'm so dumb, really… I only knew it was mid-tier…"
Yu Yu: "Is call rain too late now?"
She stared, dazed, as the fire elemental's flames sparked the sapling, igniting patches of greenery.
A low voice sounded behind her. "Afraid it is."
Felix, rarely opening her window, stared at Yu Yu, wondering how many laws she'd break this month. Simultaneously, windows in Felix's building flung open. High-tier spellcasters, with keen Spirit, were alerted by Yu Yu's antics from the start.
Crowd enjoys the show.jpg
Speaking of, they kinda wanted After Crossing to Silver Moon, I Swapped Bodies with the Grand Archon. Should they trick the little spellcaster into writing it?
Yu Yu, teary, wailed, "Senior, I didn't mean to!"
The black-robed spellcaster snatched the sapling, hands behind her back. "Yu, you broke the law."
Yu, the magic circle's most infamous little spellcaster. Yu Yu didn't marvel that this senior knew her name. Like a led lamb, she followed glumly. Her hands, behind her back, signaled Zi Shu—run.
She was a spellcaster; she'd be fine.
Zi Shu might not.
Zi Shu wiped orange juice off her face, hesitated, then slipped out of the magic circle.
No one cared.
"Why're you back?"
Qiong, sensing the flood of high-tier spellcaster Spirit, peeked out.
Spotting glum Yu Yu, she was shocked.
High-tier spellcaster: "Let her explain."
Yu Yu: "F-Fire… fire elemental started a fire…"
High-tier spellcaster: "Hm?"
Yu Yu shut her eyes. "I used feather fall and gust of wind on a fire elemental in the magic circle and burned it! A little!"
Her last words were a whisper, peering pitifully at Qiong, voice like a sad puppy. "Senior…"
Qiong stared, stunned, before saying, "You're something."
A unique way to court disaster.
"Come on, usual spot."
The high-tier spellcaster blinked. Yu Yu had a usual spot?
Other spectators: Oh, snap!
Yu Yu, teary, squatted in the corner, clutching her head. "Senior…"
Qiong hummed leisurely. "Want a bigger dose?"
Yu Yu: "Can we close the door?"
Qiong nearly laughed. "Sure."
The door closed, but Qiong didn't block other Spirit probes.
Yu Yu, satisfied, lowered pain sensitivity, squatting defensively.
No need to elaborate—Senior Qiong's skills were top-notch; Yu Yu's health bar didn't flinch.
Learning from last time, Yu Yu briefly raised pain to let tears well, then dialed it back.
Pitiful, weak, helpless.jpg
"Senior…"
Qiong said with a straight face, "Hope you don't… never mind, come back later."
Yu Yu, catching her tone, protested, "No way, I'm never coming back!"
Qiong raised a brow, her stance clear.
Stung by her look, Yu Yu wobbled out, slinking from the enforcement office.
Stepping out, she gasped, "Lynn?"
The green-eyed woman, haggard, her sleek hair a frizzy mess, stared back, instinctively scanning. "Why're you here?"
Yu Yu wiped tears quickly. "Did… you break the law again?"
Lynn fell silent. "You too?"
They stared at each other.
Qiong's voice rang out. "Not leaving? Wanna sleep here?"
Yu Yu and Lynn, like startled antelopes, bolted.
Seeing Lynn vanish around a corner, Yu Yu fumed, "Lynn, give me a hand!"
Lynn zoomed back, grabbed Yu Yu, and they disappeared.
Lynn was cool now. A khaki trench coat, flaxen hair in a ponytail, flawless except for a stubborn tuft from her punishment. Emerald eyes, gentle yet fierce. Leaning against a silver wolf statue, she strummed an elven lyre, music graceful and captivating. Above her head, a blood-red exclamation mark glowed.
Yu Yu and Zi Shu hid in the shadows. Zi Shu whispered, "This'll work?"
"It will," Yu Yu said, energized by Lynn's experience-based potion, feeling spry. "I trust players' professionalism."
She added, "Lynn's so talented. She actually plays music. I was gonna have her drum."
"She's an elf, isn't she? Not the same," Zi Shu said. "Why not have her at the gate? More players there."
Yu Yu: "Dumb, right? A high-tier warrior's task at the gate? No class."
Zi Shu cut her off. "Look, players coming."
Lynn spotted them, recalling Yu Yu's instructions, and kept strumming elegantly.
Her emerald eyes, stunning features, and pointed ears screamed high-class.
DishNoWash: "Lovely NPC, how can I serve you?"
Lynn glanced up.
Not a warrior, out of scope.
She recited, "Outsider, you cannot aid me."
DishNoWash wasn't giving up. "Trust me, name your terms. I'll meet them!"
"Outsider, you cannot aid me," Lynn repeated.
Yu's NPC Rule: If stumped, repeat the last response.
DishNoWash persisted, but Lynn stuck to one line.
Not just DishNoWash was stunned—even the nearby NPC guard was baffled.
Lady Wind Singer… must have a grand plan?
DishNoWash, rare to see such a classic NPC in-game, was moved to tears.
This is a proper NPC!
Gorgeous, finely modeled, melodic voice, those emerald eyes like spring blossoms~
Those cold, gloomy NPCs freezing players? Garbage! (Outraged)
DishNoWash logged off, posting on the forums—
[Sisters, hidden NPC at Wolfy Plaza, drop-dead gorgeous, come quick!]
Seeing the outsider vanish, Lynn glanced behind the wolf statue.
Two heads poked out, one above the other. Yu Yu said, "Keep going as I said. I'll cue you if needed."
Zi Shu raised a blank poster, while Yu Yu held paper and pen, ready to prompt.
Clear bandits? Hmph, why not ask the almighty players?
Lacking a guild, Yu Yu resorted to this. Players were so useful! Just give her an NPC!
Since Wind Singer was a warrior, Yu Yu targeted warrior players.
The only hitch: could Wind Singer actually trigger a magic circle task?
If not, Yu Yu would pivot to cosmetics, skins, or favor—aka, plan B.
Lynn mechanically repeated her tune. At one point, she looked up. A flood of outsiders poured from every street, eyes gleaming, charging straight for Wind Singer. Lynn nearly bolted but held firm.
She, Wind Singer, high-tier warrior, had seen bigger scenes.
The guards, however, tensed like it was war.
Wind Singer soothed them. "No worries, they can't hurt me."
In a blink, she reverted to a robotic expression, looping the brainwashing melody like she knew no other.
The outsiders weren't fazed, swarming her. "Lovely lady, how can I serve you?"
Armor, greatsword—target confirmed.
Lynn switched to a sorrowful look, her emerald eyes dimming. "Bandits razed my hometown…"
"Mighty warrior, can you help me crush those brutes? I'll gift my prized longsword to the strongest hero."
She played a stirring chord, and a screen appeared beside her exclamation mark.
[Limited Event: 'Wind Singer's Homesickness']
[First-Ring Task: Investigate Bandit Camp Location
Reward: Shop Points 100]
DishNoWash, in the crowd, yelped, "Oh yeah!"
Only warrior players could unlock it!
Checking her task list, she frowned. "Weird, is it bugged? One second it's Wind Singer, the next Wind Leaf?"
Guards: "???"
The magic circle, sensing the outsider surge: "???"
What's Wind Singer cooking?
Yu Yu plastered the magic circle's vague message on the screen.
"Charge! The reward's mine!"
DishNoWash: "Teaming up, teaming up! Sounds like a monster fight! DPS spellcaster, turret mode, 1 for 3, DM me…"
The plaza erupted in a familiar yet bizarre scene—players formed parties on the spot, then charged toward the vague clue, buzzing with excitement.
An NPC task!
With a badass title, drop-dead gorgeous—how could it be fake?
Lynn kept her pose, handling wave after wave of players, voice nearly gone.
Yu Yu took notes.
She'd ask Senior for a spell to loop Lynn's voice.
She and Zi Shu discussed, jotting down ideas.
"I heard you want to swap bodies with the Grand Archon?"
A sudden voice from behind made Yu Yu's neck hairs stand.
Chang, arms crossed, stared eerily. "What're you up to now?"
Her fingertips sparked with electricity. "Or, fancy a second trip to the enforcement office?"
Yu Yu's first thought…
Thanks, I'm way past my second visit!