Let's rewind time slightly and shift our perspective to Hyacine. The commercial district was much closer than the Library, and she arrived after only a short walk. What's noteworthy is that Anaxa was also on his way at the same time, allowing Hyacine to clearly sense their simultaneous journeys.
For every step Anaxa took, she needed one and a half, or even two steps.
In other words, if their phones had step-counting apps, even though they covered the same distance, Hyacine's final step count would inevitably be several thousand steps higher than Anaxa's. Alas, her short legs forced her to take such tiny strides.
Upon reaching the commercial district, the number of pedestrians noticeably increased, and they seemed less hurried, with an average age that appeared younger than those on the outer streets.
This was likely because the outer streets were primarily populated by working adults rushing to their jobs, while those strolling here were either students or people on vacation, naturally more relaxed.
The moment Hyacine appeared, she immediately drew attention. After all, she was irresistibly cute, possessing an appeal that transcended gender. Who could resist the charm of a strawberry shortcake come to life?
Another reason for the stares was the Arcane Federation's northern location, which made it relatively cold. While everyone else was bundled in thick Mage Robes as warm as down jackets, Hyacine wore a pink, frilly dress paired with white stockings, looking as out of place as a Japanese schoolgirl wearing a miniskirt and bare legs in winter.
She stood out like a sore thumb.
Ask any Japanese schoolgirl if she's cold in such attire, and the answer is undoubtedly yes. But for the sake of looking cute, they'd freeze their tails off and still insist on dressing that way—a truly absurd devotion.
Of course, Hyacine's situation was different. As a Demigod, she felt no cold whatsoever and could wear whatever she pleased.
As Hyacine surveyed her surroundings, a gentlemanly dressed man approached her, bowing slightly. "My dear lady," he began, "would you be interested in learning more about the Magical Idol Project?"
Hyacine paused, tilting her head slightly with a puzzled expression. "The Magical Idol Project... what is that?"
She understood the meaning of the words themselves, but she couldn't fathom that the Arcane Federation, with its intense academic atmosphere, even had the concept of idols.
Seeing her adorable confusion, the man felt even more confident that he had found the right target. He began to explain: at its core, it was about singing, becoming an idol, and making money.
The Arcane Federation's intense academic atmosphere had created immense pressure on its citizens. Day after day, their minds were consumed by studying, studying, and more studying, leaving little room for anything else. The man before Hyacine, this Merchant, saw an opportunity. In such an environment, if he could create a relaxing and entertaining diversion, wouldn't he stand to make a fortune?
The answer he came to was simple: find a cute girl, make her an idol, and have her sing!
No sooner had this idea taken shape than he discovered Hyacine, feeling as if fate had delivered this opportunity right into his hands. It felt like wealth was within his grasp. The Merchant continued, "If you agree, trust me, becoming a sensation across the entire Arcane Federation will be no problem at all..."
The merchant's words had barely left his lips when Hyacine decisively refused, "No."
The merchant looked utterly bewildered. "Ah... ah?"
After rejecting him, Hyacine strode past him without hesitation. Aside from whether she even wanted to become an idol, why would she work for someone else when she could leverage Okhema's vast resources?
Still, the idea of becoming an idol did sound rather intriguing. Perhaps she could give it a try in Okhema later, if she ever had the time. After all, Okhema now had the World Wide Web, making it incredibly convenient to upload videos or even live-stream.
Lost in thought, Hyacine entered a shop. It appeared to be a staff shop, with rows of staffs displayed on shelves lining both walls. There were long ones and short ones, black ones and white ones, and even some with retractable blades for close-quarters combat.
Hyacine dismissed the last type as impractical. You couldn't seriously expect a wizard to fend off an assassin in melee with such a weapon, could you?
Hyacine browsed through the shop, carefully examining each item before finally selecting a short white staff for herself and a long black staff, undoubtedly for Anaxa.
Her trip to the commercial district was for stocking up on supplies—buying items that might prove useful for her studies, aiming to make herself and Anaxa look more like aspiring wizards.
As Hyacine approached the counter with the two staffs, she found a young, bespectacled girl engrossed in a book. So absorbed was the girl that she didn't notice Hyacine's arrival.
Hyacine tiptoed closer and peered inside, asking in an utterly adorable voice, "What are you reading?"
A sudden, sharp noise can easily startle someone deeply focused, but a gentle, soothing voice rarely has the same effect.
The girl snapped her head up, startled to find Hyacine standing so close. A flustered expression crossed her face. "O-oh, I'm so sorry! I was just reading and didn't see you there!"
Hyacine smiled and shook her head reassuringly. "It's okay~"
Hearing Hyacine's gentle tone, the girl's mood gradually calmed. As she glanced at the two staffs Hyacine offered, mentally calculating their prices, she remarked, "Isn't school starting soon? I was just reviewing the new student handbook."
Hyacine couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, what a coincidence! Are you a freshman this year too?"
The girl looked equally surprised. "Oh, you are too?"
Realizing Hyacine was her age and a fellow "schoolmate" in the same year, the girl immediately became more talkative. "Are you buying these staffs for school? If so, I actually wouldn't recommend this model."
With that, she left the counter and led Hyacine to another display case. "Check this one out! It's prettier, lighter, and more suitable for girls like us who aren't very strong. Plus, it's cheaper!"
"Is that so?" Hyacine didn't object, readily switching the plain white staff she had casually picked out for the recommended alternative.
The girl then continued, "By the way, I'm Pela. What's your name?"