"I forgive you. Just do not be so impulsive next time," Nolan said with a smile.
The Glintstone Dragon nodded obediently, then let out two cheerful cries, beat her massive wings, and flew off into the distance.
Watching the Flying Dragon's figure gradually disappear into the horizon, Nolan slowly turned around and looked toward the troll beside him.
"By the way, Iji, where is my teacher? I asked Latenna, but she did not know either."
"You mean Sellen?"
The troll raised his head, glanced southward, then pointed toward a towering spire in the distance.
"She should be in the Mage's Tower right now. That is the residence Her Highness gave to Sellen. She usually stays there."
Nolan paused for a moment, quietly surprised.
If he remembered correctly, that tower had originally belonged to Seluvis.
But Seluvis had already been killed by him. He had not expected his teacher to end up taking over the place.
"Thanks."
After thanking the troll, Nolan immediately started toward the Mage's Tower.
In terms of closeness, Nolan's relationship with Sellen was no less than what he had with Ranni, perhaps even deeper.
Especially after the two of them had once slept side by side, their bond had become even closer and more unusual.
After that small interlude, Nolan took Melina with him and headed toward the Mage's Tower below.
Along the way, he kept glancing down at his clothes from time to time.
He smoothed every crease and straightened every edge again and again, as though he wanted to make sure he looked absolutely perfect.
Once he had finished, he straightened his back, lifted his chin, and stepped onto the lift with complete confidence.
As time passed, the night grew darker and darker, like an enormous sheet of black silk draped over the whole world.
And yet the moonlight somehow seemed even warmer, while his heartbeat grew faster and faster.
That was simply how students were when going to see their teacher.
Nolan could not help but laugh. He calmed the ripples in his heart, then steadily climbed the spiraling staircase.
One step, two steps... until at last he passed through the door at the top of the tower and immediately saw a familiar figure sitting quietly at a table.
It was Sellen, but at that moment she looked rather unusual.
Bright Glintstone lamp light streamed down from above, illuminating most of her face.
That pale face looked somewhat youthful, like a girl who had not yet completely shed her immaturity.
Not only that, even her figure seemed to have shrunk considerably. She no longer had the tall, slender body she once did.
"Teacher, what happened to you?"
Nolan's eyes widened as he stared at the Sellen before him, who looked almost like a completely different person, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.
Where had his elegant, refined, mature, dependable teacher gone? How had she turned into a little brat?
"Hmph. You foolish apprentice, why are you always making such a fuss?"
Faced with Nolan's shock, Sellen helplessly shook her head and let out a soft sigh.
"This is only a recent result of my research."
"I condensed Primal Glintstone and conducted deeper research into Seluvis's puppetry."
"By combining the two, I attempted to give myself an entirely new body."
As she finished speaking, a faintly smug smile appeared at the corners of Sellen's lips.
In her hands, the so-called flesh was indeed no different from a tool.
Sellen rose from her seat and walked toward Nolan with light steps.
Once she drew close, she stopped and fixed her gaze directly on him.
"Since you are here, help me judge it. Well? You seem to prefer this type of figure, so I imagine you must know quite a bit about it."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Who started that rumor? That is slander, isn't it?"
Nolan let out an annoyed snort.
Sellen merely glanced at him without answering. Her conclusion had been drawn from two examples, Saint Trina and the petite Ranni.
She had forgotten that this disciple of hers also seemed very interested in her original shell.
After glancing at Melina beside Nolan, she silently made a small adjustment to her theory.
Just as Nolan was about to defend his innocence, Sellen gave him a light wave of the hand.
Understanding at once, Nolan immediately crouched down, full of anticipation for what might come next.
But as the seconds passed, nothing happened.
Finally unable to hold back any longer, Nolan lifted his head and looked at Sellen with eager eyes.
"Teacher, no matter what, we are meeting again after such a long time apart. Aren't you going to give me a warm hug?"
Meeting Nolan's hopeful gaze, Sellen blinked playfully and asked in return, "Do you really want one that badly?"
"Of course I do. It just feels a little strange when I have to say it out loud myself."
Nolan pressed his lips together slightly, a helpless smile appearing on his face.
But as he looked at that deeply familiar face before him, his gaze remained gentle.
Sellen's long black hair fell over skin as white as snow, creating a striking contrast.
Her crystal-bright eyes shone with deep light, revealing endless reason and wisdom, like the brightest stars in the night sky.
She was not easily flustered like Ranni, nor did she like to put on an air of majesty. Nor was she dull and adorably slow like Melina. She only had a calmness that made people want to sink into it.
"Mm, not bad. Disciple, you are more reserved than before, but your eyes are more direct. It makes one want to explore further. I like it very much."
A soft curve lifted the corners of Sellen's lips. She raised one slender hand and gently touched Nolan's cheek.
Her fingers slowly traced along his skin, leaving behind a faint tingling sensation.
From the corner of his eye, Nolan glanced to the side and signaled to Melina, telling her to go amuse herself somewhere else and not interrupt his time alone with his teacher.
Melina acted as though she had not seen anything. She only stood there blankly, eyes wide, staring straight at them.
Watching the strange interaction between the little teacher and the clearly ill-intentioned student, she was filled with confusion.
Was this really how a teacher and student were supposed to get along?
Melina tilted her head and sank into deep thought.
"You still have not changed. I have told you many times already, do not care too much about what others think."
Sellen's voice was gentle, with a slight trace of reproach.
"At a time like this, I should care at least a little, should I not?"
Nolan lightly licked his lips, unable to hide the joy on his face.
After four years apart, now that they had met again, he realized his teacher seemed a little different.
Was it because he had "died" once? Or had time itself made their feelings grow thicker?
Sellen curled her lips, suddenly turned around, walked to the corner, and dragged out a human-shaped object.