People · Sylvia (Part 3)

The world of wizards was on the brink of destruction.

Flames.

Necromancy.

Storms.

Endless calamities descended upon this land like falling stars, ushering all things into their final demise.

Yet within the Tower of Salvation, a small sanctuary remained.

Abundant sunlight, pure water, fresh air, and lush greenery.

The wizard tower, transformed by Xu Xi, had become a unique microcosm.

Flying through the apocalypse, it sustained its own cycle of peace and tranquility.

"Lady Servia, you shouldn’t be doing this," said one of the mortal farmwives in the tower’s cultivation area, watching as the beautiful figure bent over to trim the plants, nurturing the supernatural flora with her soul.

Behind Servia stood several worried mortal women.

They were survivors rescued by the tower, living within its walls, grateful to Xu Xi and Servia, and voluntarily tending to the chores.

In her spare time, Servia often helped them.

Using her powers as a wizard, she assisted the mortals as much as she could.

But the people were reluctant to accept her kindness.

"You should rest, Lady Servia."

"Yes, yes! We’ve already received too much from you. We can’t let you—ah!"

Some fidgeted nervously.

Others sighed in distress.

They believed the beautiful Lady Servia deserved a life befitting her grace, not toiling alongside them in mundane tasks.

"It’s alright, everyone. This doesn’t trouble me at all."

The girl smiled and shook her head.

Her radiance effortlessly dispelled the unease in their hearts.

Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, glimmering at their edges, carrying the breath of life.

Amidst the dreamlike swaying, the voices of the young woman and the farmwives rose in discussion.

"Lady Servia, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"The ring on your left hand… is it on the wrong finger?"

At the girl’s startled expression, the women eagerly voiced their long-held curiosities.

Their words came fast.

Their topics would make even a hero blush.

Questions like: When did you and Lord Tower Master get married? Why is your wedding ring on that finger? How many children do you plan to have?

Servia squeezed her eyes shut, waving her hands frantically. "W-wait! I’m not married!"

"Huh?"

The crowd froze.

"But… Lady Servia and Lord Tower Master married long ago, didn’t you?"

Someone voiced their confusion.

The words only baffled the girl further.

"Why would you think that?" Servia stood by the flowerbed, her emerald eyes shimmering with pure innocence.

"Lady Servia, who do you usually eat meals with?"

"Of course, with Lord Wizard."

"Lady Servia, who do you spend the most time with?"

"Also Lord Wizard."

"Lady Servia, don’t you see? That’s exactly how married couples live!" The women burst into laughter, their faces bright with amusement.

At that moment, the hero stood utterly stunned.

Hesitant, dazed, her thoughts scattered in an instant, her voice grew tense.

"Then… does cooking for him count?"

"Of course it does!"

"And… and tucking each other in at night!?"

"Hahaha—"

Their laughter grew even merrier. "Lady Servia, we’ve never heard of a sweeter married life than this."

!!!

Under the sunlight, amidst the flowers, the girl’s eyes widened.

Her mind grew foggy.

Was it true? Were she and Lord Wizard already like an old married couple?

"I—I have things to do! I’ll go now!"

Amidst their cheerful voices, Servia fled in a fluster, dashing straight to the tower’s peak where she and Xu Xi resided.

Only when she was alone, with nothing but lazy sunlight streaking across the corridor tiles, did she finally stop.

Silence enveloped her.

Servia took a deep breath, pressing her hands to her chest.

Her temporary heart pounded wildly.

Her cheeks burned inexplicably.

Hot. Dizzy.

"Were they telling the truth?"

"Are Lord Wizard and I… already married?"

"No, wait—"

"Servia, don’t let your thoughts run wild. You and Lord Wizard are pure comrades…"

Slap!

She smacked her cheeks.

The hero desperately tried to clear her mind.

Rubbing and patting her face over and over, she barely managed to steady herself.

"Calm down, Servia. You must stay calm. Don’t let Lord Wizard laugh at you."

"But… but!"

"If what they said is true, then Lord Wizard and I…"

At this moment, Servia felt as if she had fallen ill.

Her forehead burned.

Her cheeks flushed.

The rosy hue of her face contrasted vividly with her jade-green eyes, dazzling and radiant.

She couldn’t help but fantasize, recalling unnoticed details from the past.

Yet the more she thought, the more tangled her logic became.

A flame called "embarrassment" scorched her entire being.

How could she possibly stay rational?

A long time passed.

Servia finally snapped out of her thoughts: "I can't keep daydreaming like this. Lord Wizard is waiting for me, and I shouldn’t waste any more time here."

She quickened her pace, hurrying along.

Soon, Servia arrived at Xu Xi’s study.

In the past, the Hero had to remove her armor so Xu Xi could study her undead-transformed body.

But as time passed,

their original goal had been achieved.

The Hero no longer needed to shed her armor—instead, she became Xu Xi’s assistant, occasionally handling supernatural materials or preparing meals for him.

"Servia, why is your face so red? Is there an issue with the Flesh Regeneration spell?"

"...M-maybe."

"Once we finish today’s experiment, I’ll readjust it for you."

Xu Xi was deeply concerned about the Hero’s physical condition.

Fourth-Circle Sorcery: Flesh Regeneration.

This was the miracle that had transformed Servia from a skeletal revenant back into a human.

Xu Xi wanted to perfect it as much as possible, allowing the girl, who had endured so much hardship, to have a brief respite.

"Thank you, Lord Wizard."

Hearing Xu Xi’s voice, Servia found herself inexplicably calmed.

Even though the very source of her nervousness stood just a short distance away, the warmth swelling in her chest was gentle and comforting.

Sunlight streamed through the study window,

its golden hue reflected in the girl’s gem-like eyes.

"Lord Wizard, let me help you process today’s materials."

"Thank you, Servia."

A faint smile graced her lips as she followed Xu Xi into the adjoining laboratory.

Amid the dense array of bottles and jars, she deftly began handling the day’s tasks.

"Lord Wizard."

Servia suddenly spoke up: "Let me prepare dinner tonight as well."

"Alright, I appreciate it."

The man was buried in his work, not even lifting his head from the piles of materials. To ensure everyone’s safe survival, he was researching a way to escape the Wizarding World.

The girl watched quietly,

her expression softening into a smile.

Perhaps influenced by people’s words,

Servia suddenly felt that Xu Xi resembled a husband tirelessly working for his family.

"And me…"

"Could I ever be a proper wife?"

The Hero’s thoughts drifted far away, soaring toward an unknown tomorrow.