Misplaced Anger

Erin opened her eyes right on time and instinctively looked at the flowerpot on the windowsill.

In the black clay pot stood an elbow-high, verdant winter mallow, graceful beneath the warm sunlight.

Every so often, a mischievous ray of sunlight slipped past the curtains, making the fuzz on its stems and branches sparkle like crystal, soft and endearing.

You did well. If we can confirm that it is non-toxic, it may very well go from being a wild vegetable to a cultivated one. Erin, you have made history.

Remembering the words Mr. Asheff had sent her, a flush of excitement immediately rose on Erin's dark, thin cheeks.

She had never expected the wild vegetable she had cultivated on a whim to receive such high praise from Mr. Asheff.

"Mother, did you see that? I found a mentor in life. He is incredible. Under his guidance, I have finally found the direction I should strive toward. I will keep working hard so that more people can be spared the suffering of hunger."

Erin softly prayed to her mother, then sprang energetically from her couch.

She put on her frayed snow-white mage robe, carefully tucked the Purple Snow Wood Wand Mr. Asheff had rewarded her with at her waist, and only then summoned a Cleansing Spring to wash her face.

Then she hurriedly ripened a small fruit tree on the balcony, plucked a fruit and stuffed it into her mouth, picked up the winter mallow pot, and rushed out of her private dormitory.

She could not wait to see Mr. Asheff and show him the results of her research.

She had a feeling it had to be non-toxic.

Along the way, quite a few Magic Apprentices pointed at her and whispered.

Erin, whose presence had always been practically nonexistent, found it somewhat uncomfortable. Catching fragments such as "Purple Snow Wood Wand," she realized why she had become the center of attention.

Her expression remained calm, but deep down, she could not suppress a trace of shy delight and pride.

Being appreciated by an important figure like Asheff was something to be proud of, was it not?

The breeze brushed past her ears and lifted her hair. The sunlight was so lovely.

Her steps grew lighter, and she even began to skip with joy.

But as she passed a corner, she instinctively slowed down and moved to the side of the path.

A Red Robe Archmage around fifty years old was approaching from the opposite direction.

A closer look revealed that he was Marchie, one of the Archmages of the Willis Magic Plantation Federation.

She had intended to let Archmage Marchie pass first, but he unexpectedly stopped. His sinister face fixed on her like an eagle's gaze. "Purple Snow Wood Wand? Are you Asheff's assistant, Erin?"

"Yes, Lord Marchie." Erin hurriedly placed her right hand over her chest and bowed.

"As a Magic Apprentice, you run and jump about in such a flustered manner. What kind of conduct is that?" Marchie rebuked.

Erin lowered her head and did not dare speak.

She did not know why she had angered Marchie, but her early life had long taught her a truth: when someone held absolute violence, some anger needed no reason.

Just as a child could casually crush an insect to death without anyone blaming him.

Erin's silence reminded Marchie of Asheff's indifferent expression, making him even more irritated.

He sneered, "You do not look like a noble mage at all. You look more like a lowly Farmer!"

Erin remained silent, her dark, thin face as calm as an unyielding stone.

Erin's attitude made Marchie even angrier!

If Erin had argued back or shown anger, even if she had merely clenched her fists, he might have felt much better.

But she was simply too calm!

She looked as though she would accept any beating or scolding without complaint. That made his humiliation feel as though it had struck empty air, leaving him frustrated, stifled, and enraged!

Just like when facing that detestable Asheff.

Just moments ago, he had visited Asheff on behalf of the Willis Magic Plantation Federation, offering to give up a portion of the plantations' profits in exchange for some of the Magic Apprentices Asheff had requisitioned.

Yet Asheff had rejected him without even thinking about it.

No matter how eloquently Marchie spoke, whether he threatened or tempted him with benefits, he received only one answer: Go ask Dendall about this. If he agrees, I agree.

Asheff's words had left Marchie utterly frustrated. He had even begun to wonder whether Asheff was Dendall's mouthpiece.

Or perhaps Dendall was dissatisfied with their offer?

Marchie did not know.

Faced with Asheff, who could not be swayed by threats or inducements, he could only suppress his towering rage and leave with a flick of his sleeve.

On his way out, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He wanted nothing more than to turn around and smash the Magic Forest to pieces!

Unexpectedly, after turning a corner, he encountered Asheff's assistant, Erin.

"Winter mallow? Why are you carrying winter mallow?" Marchie's gaze shifted to the flowerpot in Erin's arms.

Erin pressed her lips together and said softly, "It is Mr. Asheff's experimental specimen. He asked me to take it back and care for it on his behalf."

Erin deliberately invoked Mr. Asheff's name, hoping to escape this inexplicable trouble.

Unexpectedly, her words piqued Marchie's curiosity.

His eyes narrowed. The flowerpot in Erin's hands suddenly became lighter and floated toward Marchie, gripped by an invisible Mage Hand.

After a brief inspection, Marchie's expression abruptly turned savage.

"You are lying?"

"I... I am not."

"This is an ordinary winter mallow, yet you dare call it an experimental specimen? If it really were an experimental specimen, would they allow a mere Magic Apprentice like you to take it out of the laboratory? Do you think I know nothing about Wood Spirit Magic?"

Marchie sneered.

Crash!

The clay flowerpot was smashed viciously onto the ground. Countless shards and clumps of soil scattered everywhere, while the verdant winter mallow was smashed to pulp!

Erin's pupils contracted sharply. Ignoring the fragments all over the ground, she hurriedly dropped to her knees and tried to save the winter mallow.

But Marchie made a grasping motion in the air, and the winter mallow was seized by an invisible force and crushed directly into vegetable mush.

Erin, who had been trying to save it, froze!

She stared at Marchie in disbelief, utterly unable to understand why he had done this.

"Hmph! As a Magic Apprentice, your conduct is so improper. You are a disgrace to Magic!" Marchie rebuked her. Still unsatisfied after scolding her, he added mockingly, "A crooked tree casts a crooked shadow!"

After saying that, he strode away.

In the distance, several Magic Apprentices stopped to watch. Some looked gleeful at her misfortune, while others were visibly frightened.

Some even excitedly posted the incident anonymously on the school Forum.

Erin stood frozen.

She stared blankly at the vegetable mush on the ground. After a long while, she calmly rose, used Earth Magic to clear the scattered dirt into the garden, and then left with an expressionless face.

When she arrived at the Magic Forest, Mr. Asheff was sorting through seeds. They were clearly yesterday's harvest.

Seeing Erin, he greeted her warmly and asked about the winter mallow's cultivation.

Mr. Asheff's gentle manner eased Erin's terrible mood considerably. She gave him a sincere smile, described the winter mallow's cultivation in full detail, then took out the purebred seeds she had deliberately saved the previous night.

"You did well. Later, I will have Doman check whether it is toxic and induce some mutations while he is at it. If we can improve its taste, this may very well become our laboratory's first achievement!"

Yu Sheng'an's words put Erin in an even better mood. She quickly said, "Sir, should I first ripen a batch and save more seeds?"

"No. Let Doman do it. His magic power is abundant, so it would be a waste not to use him. Save your magic power. You have an important task today."

The importance in Yu Sheng'an's words made Erin pause. Her heart suddenly ached, but she forcibly held it back and replied, "Yes!"

Before long, Magic Apprentices began arriving one after another. Their gazes toward Erin carried a strange hint of something.

With Asheff present, no one dared gossip recklessly.

After a while, Doman arrived with his granddaughter Dorothy.

As expected, when the Magic Apprentices learned that Doman was also participating in the magical experiments, they were extremely surprised and became even more convinced that Mr. Asheff possessed profound Wood Spirit Magic.

After assigning the tasks, Doman suddenly leaned close to Yu Sheng'an and said, "Mr. Asheff, I heard that Marchie gave Erin trouble. Do you need my help?"

His granddaughter had told him about it. The moment he learned of it, he had been delighted.

This would be the best opportunity for him to curry favor with Asheff.

Yu Sheng'an looked surprised. "Marchie gave Erin trouble?"

Doman was taken aback. "You did not know?"