The Magic That Creates a Field of Flowers (Part 2)

"Snort!"

He snorted again at his disciple, Serie, but said nothing more.

She leaned back slightly in her chair, and then, the vast, ocean-like Mana instantly receded into her body. Almost at the same moment, everyone in the city of [Äußerst], including the old man, felt much lighter, as if something that had been pressing down on them had suddenly disappeared.

"Don't say things like that in front of me again. I don't need anyone to worry about my safety."

"Yes, teacher."

The old man knelt on the ground with his eyes closed and bowed slightly.

"Get up. You're already so old. Don't kneel like that when you see me anymore. Humans are truly a pathetic species. For me, only a short time has passed, but among humans, you've already lived to a very long age."

Serie looked at her disciple, whose hair had turned completely white, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart, just like when she saw the human disciples she had taken in in the past who had long since passed away. A look of bewilderment flashed in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

"Teacher, there's something about the Demon King's Army —a scout has reported that Demons have appeared in the forest not far from [Äußerst]."

"And elsewhere, the remnants of the Demon King's Army, which we defeated a few years ago, have recently begun to stir again, capturing several villages and towns."

The old man slowly stood up, patted his robe, and said this.

"The battle between us and the Demon King's Army is becoming increasingly tense, but if you, teacher, were willing to step in and defeat the Demon King..."

We will undoubtedly win the war and usher in an era of peace.

He looked at his teacher with expectation, hoping from the bottom of his heart that Serie could take action in this matter. After all, if she wanted to, she could even go to the Demon King's Castle right now and kill the Demon King.

But Serie's answer to him was the same as it had been countless times before.

This isn't the first time you've brought this up with me. You've been with me for so long; you should know me well in this area. I'm not interested in these things, and if it's just a remnant of a gang, you should be able to handle it."

"As for the Demon King Serie's meaningful, drawn-out tone, 'Of course, I could easily eliminate him if I wanted to, but what would I gain from that?'"

"Teacher, don't you ever hope for a peaceful era to come?"

The old man remained undeterred, despite having engaged in such conversations countless times over the past decades.

But each time, he hoped that Serie could change.

"You are truly my foolish apprentice. You should know that magic can only develop most rapidly in war."

"Both humans and Demons will constantly research and create new and more powerful magic in order to turn the tide of the war, and that's what I want to see."

"Of course, I won't stand idly by and watch humanity be slaughtered by the Demons, but I will never personally take action to deal with the Demon King. Without the Demon King's leadership, the self-centered Demons will once again fall into disarray. How many times have you heard the same answer from me? You're really stubborn."

Serie said, her face showing displeasure.

He seemed somewhat helpless about his disciple's stubbornness.

"Stubborn? Teacher Ming, you're quite a stubborn person too!"

The old man said nothing more, just as he always had, only sighing to himself.

"This main hall is still rather empty..."

Seemingly feeling there was nothing more to say, Serie glanced listlessly over her disciples, surveying the grand hall that had been built for her.

Although it was built for herself, nothing here moved her. Whether it was the jade pillars, the gems inlaid throughout the hall, or the precious ornaments and artworks, these items and decorations that were incredibly luxurious in the eyes of the world were worthless to Serie and could not arouse her any interest.

Or should I order someone to build another statue of the teacher and put it here?

The old man pondered for a long time, wondering what was missing, and finally came up with this idea.

He was among the most outstanding Mage knowledge of countless profound and unfathomable magics. In addition to magical theories, he was also well-versed in ancient and modern history, even reaching the Mythical Era. Yet, despite his extensive knowledge, he could not fathom Serie's thoughts or understand what she truly desired.

What would I need that thing for? It's just an eyesore here.

Serie gave him a warning look, seemingly speechless, wondering how her foolish apprentice had come up with such an idea. Then she stepped down from her chair and stood on the red carpet in the center of the hall, gazing at the dome for a long time.

"A peaceful era?"

Serie murmured, as if those words had pulled her back to a distant past, reminding her of her first human disciple.

After a brief pause, Serie stretched out her hands to the empty ground on either side, and then, under the old man's astonished gaze, softly spoke:

"[The Soil-Creating Magic]"

For a moment, most of the hall's floor, covered with smooth earth, made the old man feel that it was more like a field than Palace. "Teacher? What are you doing here?"

He was somewhat confused, wondering what Serie's intention was in turning the Palace into fields.

Perhaps you want to experience farming life?

That's too plain; it doesn't seem like their style.

Serie ignored him, seemingly lost in thought, and made no further move for a while.

"After studying with me for so long, what's the most boring magic you know?"

"The most boring magic?"

The old man was caught off guard by Serie's sudden question and couldn't quite answer.

The most boring magic ever... Is this a test for me? Or...?

Seeing her disciple lost in thought, Serie shook her head, as if she saw through his thoughts, and felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

"For me, the most boring magic is this: Serie gently flipped her palm, and the soil she had just created instantly bloomed with all sorts of flowers." Is this [the magic to create a flower field]?

The old man said it with some surprise, never expecting that the most boring magic Serie had mentioned would be this.

"Yes"

Serie crouched down and approached the nearest patch of flowers.

Reaching out, as if stroking someone's head, I gently caressed the flowers.

"[The magic that conjures a flower field] - Even after all these years - it's still an incredibly boring magic..."

Even so, I still don't understand why she likes this magic so much.