Eina's Cleaning Method

Under Liyana's guidance, Xia Lun and Aina arrived at the elven burial grounds.

Located at the roots of a giant tree, the graves nestled close to the thick roots, with some tombstones already fused into the wood. According to elven customs, the departed were not placed in coffins but buried directly beneath the tree… Their bodies would return to the earth as nutrients, becoming part of the great tree, continuing to shelter their kin and descendants.

The tombstones were not made of stone but wood, destined to merge completely with the roots over time—a symbol that the departed had fully returned to nature, urging the living to move forward without lingering in grief.

Liyana's parents had followed this tradition.

"You came just in time, Xia Lun. There’s still a chance to see them," Liyana said, running her fingers over the tombstone inscribed with the names of her and Xia Lun’s parents: Rayar Servi and Kliya Servi.

Xia Lun remained silent, placing a bouquet of flowers before the grave.

After marrying Aina and settling into a stable life away from adventuring, Xia Lun still occasionally brought Aina back for visits… But as he aged, these visits grew fewer. Even with Aina’s magic preserving his youthful appearance, it was clear his vitality was waning.

Yet for the elven elders, decades were but a fleeting moment.

The two did not rise from the earth… They had long become one with the tree.

"Don’t be disheartened, Xia Lun… They passed peacefully," Liyana reassured him, patting his shoulder. "I was with them in their final days, keeping them laughing all the time… Ah, that’s also when I got close to Joli. Back then, he was just a little brat."

A faint smile crossed Xia Lun’s lips. With Liyana around, it must have been a joyful time.

"Thank you," Xia Lun said sincerely.

"Ha! What are you thanking me for? They were my parents too."

After paying respects, Xia Lun returned to the old house.

The property, left by his parents, consisted of two adjacent homes—one for Liyana, the other for Yorid. Xia Lun had grown up here.

Yorid had built a treehouse but eventually preferred the grounded stability of living below.

When Xia Lun returned, Mo Lini hurried over, having been admiring the fields earlier, while Joli was pulled aside by Yorid to recount recent years.

Creak—

The wooden door groaned open, releasing a musty draft.

Aina instantly conjured a barrier, shielding them from the dust.

Liyana rarely visited, and Yorid couldn’t possibly maintain her home daily.

The house, reinforced by elven nature magic, had endured far longer than ordinary wooden structures… Elven homes were costly but built to last.

"Are we staying here tonight?" Mo Lini asked timidly, eyeing the inhospitable interior.

Mushrooms sprouted through cracked floorboards, and cobwebs draped the rafters like veils.

The house was spacious, and cleaning it thoroughly seemed daunting.

Mo Lini would’ve preferred camping outdoors.

"Uh… Maybe we should ask Yorid to put us up for the night…" Liyana doubted she could restore order before dusk.

"I’ll handle it. It won’t take long," Aina said calmly. "Wait outside… Xia Lun, you too."

Puzzled, Xia Lun, Liyana, and Mo Lini stepped out, unsure what Aina planned.

A faint spatial ripple pulsed from within.

Xia Lun’s eyebrow twitched. Since when did cleaning require spatial magic?

"Done. Come in," Aina called from the doorway.

Inside, every speck of dust had vanished without a trace.

"Wow, Aina! How’d you do that? Is there a spell for instant cleaning?" Liyana gaped at the spotless floors.

Aina smiled wordlessly.

Xia Lun knew better. He poked her cheek lightly, prompting an explanation.

"A simple trick," Aina murmured. "I just… banished all the dust into the void."

Xia Lun’s scalp prickled. What she called simple sounded unimaginable.

"I sent you out to avoid startling them," Aina added, sticking out her tongue.

"You startled me," Xia Lun admitted.

It was hard to grasp how powerful Aina had become.

His past vow to surpass her now seemed rash… but he wouldn’t abandon the goal.

"Not just dust," Aina teased, eyeing Xia Lun. "I could banish your clothes too. Want to try later?"

Xia Lun: "…"

"Kidding," Aina laughed, covering her mouth. "It’s exhausting. Burning them off would be easier."

Xia Lun exhaled sharply, then scooped her up by the waist, hoisting her over his shoulder.

"Xia Lun—what are you doing?" Aina weakly thumped his back, her resistance perfunctory.

Liyana and Mo Lini stared as Xia Lun carried Aina upstairs.

"Aina’s tired from cleaning. She needs rest," Xia Lun explained.

Liyana looked skeptical.

"Oh! That makes sense!" Mo Lini nodded earnestly. "Cleaning a whole house instantly must be draining… Rest well, Aina!"

The innocent girl bought it completely.

Aina pressed her lips together. The real exhaustion was yet to come.

"Ah, Xia Lun, take the master bedroom—first door on the left upstairs," Liyana called.

Xia Lun waved without turning.

Aina hung limp over his shoulder, playing dead.

Thud.

The door shut, silencing the room.