The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

“You know how much I yearn for the memories left at Long Taro Castle.”

“I have already packed my luggage to go to Coral Island, Fresh Flower Town, in search of you. My maid Luya can vouch for me, for she was in charge of the packing.”

“But my father has stopped me, because I am about to marry the son of a Marquis, with whom I have no emotional foundation. This is my fate, from which I cannot escape. From the moment I was born a woman of the Hyacinth Family, I knew that this day would eventually come, to accept the nurture of the family and become a tool for family alliances through marriage.”

“Yet, I still hope to see you again before getting married, to indulge in a moment of passion, to dance gracefully to the sound of ‘Für Elise.’”

“Dear, you will come, won’t you? You know I am waiting for you here.”

“Eagerly awaiting.”

“Yours, Duniko.”

The knight who was rushing to the castle brought such a letter to Li Si Te, sent from Red Crab Island by Duniko Hyacinth.

After reading the letter, he fell into a silent contemplation.

Duniko obviously still harbored old feelings for him, and the complete version of ‘Für Elise’ he sent had intentionally provoked her, igniting her passion all at once.

She even wanted to come to Fresh Flower Town to play the piano and dance.

Thinking of the stimulating scene from that night, a sudden fire ignited in his heart, full of respect, and he almost wanted to immediately take a boat to Red Crab Island to rekindle their past romance with Duniko.

However, he did not do so.

“Let it remain a memory, the passion without feelings has passed, this is not the life I want.” If he wanted passion, Fresh Flower Town was not without it. Paris, Little Lily—they were women of good looks and figure, and he could indulge if he wished to.

There was no need to go to Duniko.

Therefore, after putting down the letter, he did not reply, nor did he plan to go to Red Crab Island, but instead slipped the letter into a knight’s novel that he was certain he would never read again.

“It was my fault for taking the initiative, sorry Duniko.”

The passion had faded, and not even the Smoke Mission could hold it.

Moreover, he did not have the time to go, for in four days, it would be March 9th, meaning he would turn seventeen years old. Last year on March 9th, he was ennobled as a Baron, and the next day he ate the poisonous fruit from Thorn Ridge and completely changed from the inside out.

…

“Master, this is the luncheon menu listed by Mrs. Abbie, please review it.” Butler Carter had already begun preparing for the birthday party.

For him, each banquet was a battle comparable to a knight’s charge, requiring full preparation.

Li Si Te simply glanced at it and handed it back: “Just arrange it according to this menu, it’s only my seventeenth birthday, not a significant one, and there’s no need to invite anyone. It’s just a gathering with the followers from the town to celebrate. Mr. Carter, keep it casual.”

Butler Carter smiled: “Your birthday, Master, is the most important festival for us.”

Li Si Te smiled and did not say anything more.

It was both a flattery and a truth; in the castle, he was the most important person, and all the servants lived their lives around him.

…

“Brother, is it almost your birthday?”

“Yes.”

In Shell Wood Tower, the intrigued Sea Sprite Ake asked, “Will there be many people gathering for the birthday party? It must be a very interesting event.”

“Does Ake remember her own birthday?”

“Hmm…” Ake tilted her head, “I’m not sure, I only remember that when I first woke up, I was inside a shell, and then I was so hungry, I went to find something to eat, and that’s how I began to live in the ocean. Whenever I had the chance, I would listen to the sailors speaking on the passing ships.”

“Then, let’s take the day we met as Ake’s birthday, how about that?”

“Yes, that’s January 11th, no, January 12th, it was already past midnight on that day.” Ake remembered it very clearly, so her birthday was set on January 12th, “Ake is already looking forward to her birthday next year. Will Brother celebrate it for Ake?”

Liszt said, “We must celebrate it. By that time, Ake will have become Acherloides Truth.”

“In fact, Ake can already be called a true magician now,” Ake suddenly said slyly, stretching out her hand, as two water arrows miraculously appeared.

She aimed at the window and gave a gentle push.

The two water arrows instantly transformed into over a dozen water arrows, shooting into the sky and disappearing from sight.

Only magicians were capable of mastering the Water Arrow Barrage, which she had already learned how to use, and she did so effortlessly, without needing a charging process. Liszt had seen Granney and Elkerson perform magic, and while skilled magic was also quick, there was still a rather noticeable charging up.

Those less adept at magic required even more time to charge.

That was also a factor as to why magicians couldn’t win against knights, who ruled the world; by the time a magician had readied their spell, a knight had already charged in close.

But for Ake, the Water Arrow Barrage was practically instantaneous.

This made him curious, “Ake, do you not need to charge when you release magic?”

“I don’t need to,” she replied, “Ake has engraved the magic array into my body, so I can release water arrows at any time through the magic array, very easily and simply.”

“That must be the so-called genius magician,” was the only way Liszt could understand it.

If other magicians found out, they would probably die of shame; the magic that took them several years to master, for Ake, it was merely a few days of pondering. Instant casting sounded as natural as can be for her, summoning countless water arrows with just a wave of her hand.

The only downside was that Ake could only attune with water system mana and was unable to learn other types of magic.

It made her combat abilities seem somewhat monotonous.

However, considering she was a sea creature, the ocean was her vast stage, and specializing in water system magic was actually an advantage.

“Study hard, Lady Acherloides Truth, being a magician is just the beginning of exploring the truth. The future is still vast, and you can appreciate the true extraordinariness of magic only after becoming a grand magician. By that time, you might not need my help, and you could slay Dulu Miqita yourself.”

“Yes, Ake will definitely become a powerful grand magician and defeat Dulu Miqita!”

That being said.

Dulu Miqita had not appeared between Fresh Flower Town and the waters of Black Horse Island and had likely left the sea long ago due to the sea serpent, making it untraceable before returning to its own habitat.

…

Time flies as swift as an arrow; in the blink of an eye, the day of the birthday arrived.

His sister Li Vera had the retainer knights deliver a batch of vegetable seeds. The climate in Falcon Town was pleasant and the soil relatively fertile, which was great for planting vegetables.

This gift was quite modest, perhaps because she was still put out by the fresh flower soap birthday gift Liszt had given her.

Lady Penelope, his grandmother, sent a potted plant, perhaps hoping that since Thorn Ridge had nurtured the Dragon Hollyhock Bug, she was expecting Liszt to produce another.

However, after examining the potted plant, Liszt found no signs of magic power.

His brother Levis had his family tutor Frank deliver a piece of magic equipment, a Flame Bracelet. Made with red crystals carved and linked together, it contained red crystals with fire attribute mana, which could amplify the fire attribute Dou Qi. It was a rather valuable birthday gift, probably prepared before he left for Golden Island.

But what surprised Liszt the most,

Was the gift from the Earl, and considering that the Earl had left long before, it was probably prepared by Lady Marie — a brand new piano was delivered by carriage.