Sylvia was pleasantly surprised to find that Bailu was picking up the art of Cloudhymn magic even more smoothly than expected.
While Sylvia herself had relied on the assistance of a Light Cone to get the hang of things quickly, Bailu, after just a few explanations from Sylvia and a handful of practice attempts, seemed to grasp it as if she'd known it all her life, growing proficient with startling speed.
Those Dragon Elders, hesitating and dithering, had really been wasting Bailu's time—honestly, they were somewhat squandering her natural talent.
Through observing Bailu, Sylvia realized that being a Vidyadhara didn't seem to grant any special advantage in Cloudhymn magic.
In terms of adaptability, Sylvia felt that even when she manifested her draconic features, she wasn't much weaker than Bailu, the legitimate heir.
It seemed Cloudhymn magic truly aligned with the power of the Path of Permanence, after all.
The 'dragon-descendant' category didn't receive any extra perks just for being the progeny of Permanence—at least, nothing noticeably different showed up in Bailu's case.
They practiced until dusk, when Bailu's stomach suddenly let out a loud gurgle.
Holding the plump, bird-shaped water orb she'd conjured, she scratched her head sheepishly at Sylvia.
"Oops… I rushed out in such a hurry today, I only had some snacks to tide me over. Do you have any food at your place?"
Sylvia also dismissed her spell, letting the water flow settle.
They'd been practicing most of the day, and she was feeling a bit tired herself.
The house certainly had some ingredients stocked; usually, either Acheron or she would cook something.
But then the question arose—
"Didn't you say earlier today that you were treating me to a meal? How did it end up with you asking me instead?"
"Oh right! Ahaha… I almost forgot. So, shall we head out? Let's go to… to…"
Bailu trailed off, stumped. Normally, Starskiff Haven, being a major transit hub, was never short on dining options.
But today was special—most of the Starskiff Haven was sealed off, so no restaurants would be open there.
The Aurum Alley was a nice alternative, full of time-honored eateries, but it was less crowded and rather old-fashioned in every way.
If they were close friends, exploring those little shops together would've been fine.
But Bailu felt her relationship with Sylvia wasn't quite at that stage yet; taking her to one of those old, humble establishments for a treat felt a bit rude.
After some thought, Bailu decided on checking out the Exalting Sanctum instead.
"Let's go to the Exalting Sanctum! There are lots of Cloud Knights there, and it's not a transit port like Starskiff Haven, so it definitely won't be locked down!"
Bailu clapped her hands, set aside her water orb, and looked at Sylvia with sparkling eyes.
She seemed to have already thought of something delicious she wanted to eat.
The Xianzhou ships were currently under a lockdown; aside from pre-scheduled returning starskiffs, no one was allowed to leave.
Starskiff Haven was under the strictest martial law, while the Exalting Sanctum was comparatively better off.
Sylvia wasn't picky—when someone else was treating, what was there to fuss about? Having a meal at all was good enough.
Though she had expected Bailu to take her to Aurum Alley.
She hadn't anticipated such a safe, conventional choice as the Exalting Sanctum.
"I don't mind. I just wonder if the entrance to the Exalting Sanctum has changed much."
On second thought, Sylvia recalled that in the game, the Express crew had headed straight to the Exalting Sanctum.
So that area probably was the least affected.
"Then let's go! Come on, come on! I'll think about what to eat on the way."
Seeing Sylvia agree, Bailu immediately hopped off the sofa, grabbed Sylvia's hand, and started pulling her toward the door.
"Hold on, no need to rush."
Sylvia dismissed her magic and, controlling the power of Permanence, withdrew her draconic features, reverting to her ordinary girl form.
Bailu watched in amazement.
"You can actually retract those? Weren't they supposed to be recent growths? Geez, my tail and horns are completely out of my control!"
Other Vidyadhara trained to manifest their draconic forms, and naturally, they could retract them afterward.
Though many chose to keep them displayed as a badge of honor once manifested.
Bailu, however, was born with her horns and tail.
But because she hadn't yet mastered the High Elder's power, her horns and tail were entirely beyond her control, leaving them perpetually exposed.
That was why she'd earned the title 'Medicine-Dragon Girl' in the Alchemy Commission—a respectful nickname from those unaware of the full story, acknowledging her talent and medical skills despite her youth.
After all, manifesting draconic features at such a tender age, before even hitting a growth spurt, surely marked her as a prodigy.
"If I didn't retract them, getting around on the Xianzhou would be quite troublesome, don't you think?"
Sylvia chuckled, giving the smooth horn on Bailu's forehead a gentle pinch, and reassured her:
"Once you gradually master the power of Permanence, you'll be able to retract these horns too. Judging by today, you clearly have the knack—you learn fast."
Hearing the comforting words, Bailu pouted slightly, then broke into a smile at Sylvia.
She was genuinely pleased by the praise, but the thought of those stuffy old men quickly dampened her spirits.
Shaking her head, Bailu's stomach growled loudly several more times.
Seeing her embarrassed, awkward smile, Sylvia decided not to delay any longer and led the way toward the Exalting Sanctum.
--+--
The Exalting Sanctum was much as Sylvia had guessed.
The area was relatively less affected by the crisis.
The streets certainly weren't as bustling as usual, but with many people evacuated from other, more severely impacted zones, the Exalting Sanctum still retained a lively atmosphere.
Moreover, the situation seemed better than when the Express crew had first arrived here in the story.
At least, as Sylvia walked Bailu through the streets, they didn't encounter any Cloud Knights collapsing from Mara-struck episodes.
Though they could still hear plenty of worried murmurs from the populace, overall, things felt relatively stable.
"Hmm… looks like things really are holding up okay here."
Bailu glanced left and right; there was none of the tense, heavily-guarded atmosphere of Starskiff Haven with its checkpoints every few steps.
They did spot some temporary tents set up by the Alchemy Commission along the roadside, however.
Every now and then, they'd see an unwell patient heading over for a consultation.
Bailu eagerly trotted over to inquire about the situation, only to return looking disappointed.
Her first words back were:
"Seems like the portal passage to the Alchemy Commission's zone is acting up."
"Huh?"
"Apparently it happened not long after I slipped out. Good thing the Commission had already dispatched many physicians to various zones earlier, so they're not short-handed for now."
Bailu scratched her cheek, a bit surprised by this turn of events.
Sylvia hadn't expected it either.
She thought things hadn't escalated to that point yet.
Speaking of which, had the Artisanship Commission's furnace already blown?
"So, what's your plan?"
"After we eat, I think I'll stay and help out here in the Exalting Sanctum. I asked around—injured patients from other zones are being sent here, so they're most in need of hands."
Bailu was decisively committed when it came to medical work. She looked up at Sylvia:
"Thanks for today. After the meal, you can head back and rest. I'll just find an Alchemy Commission outpost to settle in."
Just as she was speaking with Bailu, a familiar voice piped up from behind:
"Well, well—if it isn't Sylvia! I told you this was the right way, didn't I? And this… this… this couldn't possibly be your child, could it?!"
March 7th stared in horror at Bailu's bluish, slightly pale hair, along with the dragon horns and tail.
Oh no, Stelle! Your wife has someone else's kid!
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.