“Yes. This is the famous Guota Ring, an exceptionally rare spatial storage ring that can be used without magic.” A strange light gleamed in Aisha’s silver eyes.
The king truly valued Sperien. He had even given him the Guota Ring.
As its name suggested, the interior of the Guota Ring was shaped like a tower with as many as one hundred floors. Like the three legendary harps, it had been crafted by the dwarf Loki.
Master Loki had forged seven rings in total and given them to four friends.
Two of those rings were in the Elven King’s possession.
Aisha had no idea what kind of magic the king had used to shrink the Guota Ring until it was small enough for a Little Fairy to wear.
Once Shu Li understood the ring’s origins and purpose, his tiny jaw nearly dropped.
Whatever Guota Ring—it did not matter what it was called. What mattered were the words “spatial storage” and “no magic required”!
He had just been worrying that his belt pouch could not hold all his notebooks, and the beautiful, powerful Elven King had sent him a spatial storage ring.
Did he have to be this considerate?
Boohoo—
Wasn’t this far too touching?
To borrow a popular internet phrase: seriously, he loved this man!
Shu Li wished he could thank the Elven King in person.
Right, what was the Elven King’s name again?
Fre... Freyut?
No, no. It had been long and awkward, and he had needed to curl his tongue to pronounce it.
Shu Li pointed at the signature on the card and looked up at Aisha. His watery green eyes resembled a clear mountain spring.
“Freyus Estel,” Aisha said slowly. “The Elven King’s name is Freyus Estel.”
“Freyus Este...” Shu Li repeated after her.
“Estel,” Aisha corrected.
Shu Li repeated it silently three times, then enunciated clearly, “Freyus Estel.”
Aisha praised him. “Very good.”
Shu Li grinned happily. He had memorized the Elven King’s name faster than anything else in his life.
He had to remember it forever!
The Elven King was his cheat—no, his mentor who would help him become a hero. As his nominal disciple, Shu Li naturally had to engrave the name upon his heart and never forget it.
Impatiently, Shu Li put on the storage ring. He tried it on several fingers, but only his index finger fit properly.
He raised his right hand high and admired it over and over in delight.
The silver-white ring was set with a clear red gemstone. It was absolutely beautiful.
The other Fairy cubs gazed at his new storage ring and voiced their envy in unison.
“The storage ring is so pretty!”
“I want one too! Waaah!”
“I saw lots of storage pouches, storage rings, and storage bracelets in the armor shop yesterday... Let’s go look after school!”
“Silly, we can’t use them yet.”
“Then... then I’ll work hard at learning magic!”
“Aisha, Aisha, when will you teach us magic?”
“That’s right! I want to learn magic quickly so I can use a storage ring!”
The cubs crowded around Aisha, all speaking at once. Every soft, adorable little face was filled with anticipation.
Aisha’s heart nearly melted from their cuteness. She stroked one cub’s head, then ruffled another’s hair. “Once you learn to write Elven script, you {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} may begin studying magic.”
“Are we learning Elven script today?” Redhead Disio asked.
“You’ll have to ask Siet.” Aisha turned and pointed at the brown-haired Fairy who had just entered.
At once, every cub changed targets. Flapping their tiny wings, they swarmed toward Siet.
“Siet, we want to learn Elven script—”
“Siet, we want to learn magic!”
“Siet, hurry and teach us how to write!”
“Siet...”
“Siet...”
Suddenly surrounded by enthusiastic cubs, Siet was overwhelmed by the attention. Their childish voices filled his ears until his head nearly spun.
He looked to Aisha for help, but she merely spread her hands and smiled mischievously.
Shu Li was the only Little Fairy who did not join them. He stood obediently beside Aisha and watched Siet become completely encircled by the other cubs.
Fairies truly were pure-hearted creatures.
The Elven King had given Shu Li a precious storage ring. After envying him, the other cubs had immediately decided to obtain rings through their own efforts. Once they learned that they needed magic to use one, every last cub became eager to study.
They were all good children.
Touching the storage ring on his index finger, Shu Li suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Compared with them, was he not receiving something without earning it?
Whenever he played games, he hated players who used cheats the most.
They gained rewards without effort. It was unfair.
Only a few minutes ago, he had been smugly delighted about receiving an incredibly powerful “cheat.” Now, after comparing himself with the other cubs, he was ashamed.
The blond cub lowered his head. The tips of his ears reddened, and his wings folded tightly against his back. All his earlier excitement disappeared, leaving him listless.
Noticing that the little fellow beside her had fallen strangely silent, Aisha looked down. Seeing him quietly touching the storage ring, she asked with concern, “Sperien, what is wrong?”
Shu Li looked up hesitantly. “I want... to return... the ring to the king.”
Although the Elven King had called him “my little disciple,” Shu Li had done nothing to deserve such a reward.
Aisha’s gaze softened. “Why?”
Shu Li raised his hand and pointed at the cubs surrounding Siet. His spirits low, he said, “I want to be... like them!”
Something he liked would carry far more meaning if he earned it through his own efforts.
When he played games, he hated cheating players the most.
Receiving rewards without effort was unfair.
Only minutes earlier, he had been delighted with his incredibly powerful “cheat.” Now that he had compared himself with the other cubs, he felt terribly ashamed.
Aisha looked at the Fairy cubs crowding around Siet, then at Sperien standing alone beside her, and more or less understood.
What a sensitive little fellow.
Aisha bent down and smiled gently. “The next time you meet the king, why don’t you ask what he thinks?”
Shu Li considered it, then nodded. “All right.”
He simply did not know when “next time” would be.
Wait. Siet had said that the annual Midsummer Festival would take place in half a month. All the Fairies in the forest would travel to the Crystal City in the Elven Kingdom for the celebration.
He would be able to meet the Elven King then.
Shu Li’s expression brightened, and his worries disappeared.
Siet finally learned why the cubs wanted to study Elven script. Smiling, he soothed them and promised they could begin today, but everyone first had to return to their seats.
The cubs instantly scattered like startled birds. Their wings fluttered as they hurried back to their places.
Siet straightened the clothing they had pulled askew and shot Aisha an aggrieved glare.
Aisha hid a smile, spread her wings, and flew gracefully out of the classroom. Siet watched her leave, then turned and found twenty-five pairs of sparkling eyes fixed upon him.
“Ahem.” After clearing his throat, he spoke unhurriedly. “Since all my little darlings wish to learn Elven script as soon as possible, I suppose I shall follow the majority—Sperien, can you manage?”
Called upon individually, Shu Li rose and nodded seriously. “I can!”
Even if he could not, he had to.
He refused to let the other cubs leave him far behind. He had to summon the same determination he used when studying music, accept Elven, study Elven, and master it until it became his second native language.
He believed that as long as he possessed determination and perseverance, he would eventually overcome every difficulty and succeed.
Seeing the little cub’s resolve, Siet’s gentle expression suddenly became serious. “Even if you cannot keep up, fail to complete your assignments, and receive severe punishment, can you still do it?”
Shu Li clenched his fists. His right thumb pressed against the storage ring on his index finger. Gritting his teeth, he repeated, “I can!”
The little cub’s voice was soft and childish, yet it held an unquestionable determination.
Siet’s expression softened once more. A warm smile appeared on his face, and his tone gentled. “Very well. I look forward to seeing what you can do.”
Shu Li sat back down, a raging fire blazing within his heart.
He was not stupid!
His parents had excellent genes, and all three of his older brothers were outstanding. There was no reason for the genes to suddenly mutate when it came to him.
He was good at music and had possessed a keen ear since childhood. Every teacher who instructed him praised his talent. Yet talent alone was never enough to master a skill. Diligence was also required.
He had performed terribly in English only because he had never devoted himself to it.
Now, as long as he focused entirely on studying, Elven would be no problem!
Shu Li made grand declarations to himself and enthusiastically cheered himself on. He could almost see his future self mastering Elven, speaking eloquently and persuasively, writing with bold and flowing strokes, and becoming one of the finest Fairies of his generation.
Unfortunately, he had been daydreaming for only a few minutes when reality struck him a crushing blow.
Siet gave every Fairy cub an introductory Elven textbook, a quill, and a notebook.
The cubs found everything novel and could not stop examining their supplies.
Shu Li declined the quill and accepted only the textbook and notebook.
Filled with ambition, he opened the book. The instant he saw the vast expanse of unfamiliar writing across the page, his vision went dark.
It was over. It was over. It was over!
Why did all those twisting black symbols look exactly the same to him? Each one trailed a long, wavy tail like a swarm of tadpoles searching for their mother frog.
Was Siet certain he had handed out the correct book?
Then Shu Li remembered that the Elven King’s letter had been written in the same tadpole-like script. He painfully resigned himself to his fate.
He had raised this flag himself. Even if he had to crawl, he would see it through!
Grinding his teeth, he threw caution to the wind.
Siet caught sight of the grief and indignation on the blond cub’s face, and amusement flashed through his blue eyes.
Asking Sperien, who could barely speak the language, to begin writing immediately might indeed be difficult.
However, a Fairy’s potential was limitless. A little pressure could always draw it out.
He believed that as long as Sperien worked hard, he would certainly become an outstanding Little Fairy.
Siet kept the first academic lesson simple. He taught the cubs only ten characters, repeating them many times until most of the class had mastered them.
He did not expect quite as much from Sperien.
The little fellow himself worked desperately, filling four pages with notes.
Siet had no idea what the square-shaped symbols meant, but they were beautifully formed and possessed a distinct style of their own.
He did not interfere excessively with the cubs’ habits. As long as their methods worked and they learned successfully, he allowed them to proceed naturally.
After assigning the day’s homework, Siet left the classroom at an unhurried pace.
The moment he was gone, Shu Li’s taut nerves relaxed. He collapsed across his desk, his eyes swimming with tears and his face a picture of utter despair.
Waaah—his brain’s CPU was about to burn out!
To memorize those ten tadpole characters, every cell in his body had entered combat. His brain cells had charged onto the battlefield, dying in wave after wave. Only after a brutal life-or-death struggle had he finally emerged victorious.
Unfortunately, he knew that he possessed one enormous flaw.
The moment class ended, he completely forgot everything he had understood perfectly during the lesson.
He had already demonstrated this particular talent without fail while studying spoken Elven.
“Sperien, let’s go eat lunch.” Disio poked Shu Li’s shoulder with one finger. When Shu Li did not move, he leaned closer to inspect him. “What’s wrong?”
Shu Li replied weakly, “I want some peace and quiet...”
Disio looked confused. “Who is Quiet?”
Shu Li: “...”
Angel also leaned closer and whispered, “I know who Quiet is.”
“Who?” Disio asked curiously.
Shu Li lifted his head and stared blankly at Angel.
Even he did not know who “Quiet” was. What could Whitehead possibly know?
Angel blinked mysteriously. “He’s a Fairy older than us. I heard someone calling him ‘Quiet’ in the dining hall this morning.”
Shu Li’s eyes went unfocused, his expression vacant.
Really?
Why did he have no memory of that at all?
No—there was no person named “Quiet” in the first place!
Angel rubbed his little belly and said pitifully, “I’m hungry.”
Disio immediately grabbed Shu Li’s left hand. “Come on. Let’s go eat lunch in the dining hall and find Quiet while we’re there.”
Angel caught Shu Li’s right hand in perfect coordination.
“No... wait...” Before Shu Li could object, his two companions dragged him out of the classroom.
With wings, Fairies could carry someone while flying with ridiculous ease!
They were the last cubs to reach the dining hall. As soon as they entered, they saw Fairies of every age seated around the long tables.
Shu Li struggled slightly and made his two companions release him.
Angel, however, looked around eagerly. His sharp eyes spotted a black-haired adolescent Fairy seated at one of the long tables. He raised a hand, pointed, and shouted excitedly, “Quiet—”
Silence.
Every Fairy in the dining hall stopped talking and turned in unison. Their bright, piercing gazes all landed on the three cubs standing in the doorway.
Shu Li’s mind went blank. His face flushed scarlet, and he died of social embarrassment on the spot!
Brother, I really have to thank you for this—
Author’s Note:
Equipment obtained:
Phanis Ring—A weapon capable of creating illusions
Guota Ring—A spatial storage ring