Mentor

For the next while, Kalei felt as if he were walking on clouds, so dazed that he couldn't clearly recall when the ceremony ended or how he had followed Lox out of the temple.

By the time he regained his senses, the sky had already brightened. Golden sunlight filtered through the red and purple leaves of the giant trees, casting mottled, brilliant light and shadows upon his shoulders.

Seeing her son emerge from the temple, Velina hurried over, took his arm, and asked, "Kalei, how do you feel? Did everything go smoothly?"

Kalei squinted slightly against the dazzling sunlight and said, "I feel wonderful, Mother. I felt the radiance of the Goddess; She has illuminated the path ahead of me."

Hearing this, the heart that had been hanging in Velina's chest finally settled. She immediately cupped her hands in a gesture of prayer and whispered to herself, "Thank the Goddess!"

Nearby, Evelyn began chatting with Lox. Lox, usually so laid-back, seemed to have received some sort of revelation during the ceremony, as a rare, serious expression appeared on his face.

The four of them chatted softly as they walked slowly out of the temple grounds.

Since it was now broad daylight, most of the people who had gathered in the city had dispersed, with only a few merchants keeping their shops open, waiting for their final customers of the day.

Having been busy all night, the four did not linger. They bought some water and food at a shop, left Astranaar, and boarded a Hippogryph to return to Maestra.

Although Night Elf are a nocturnal race, this does not mean they are incapable of functioning during the day. On the contrary, due to their robust physical constitutions, they can generally remain active for several days and nights without issue.

After arriving in Maestra, Velina, Evelyn, and Lox did not intend to rest and prepared to head home directly on their Saber.

Because Kalei still had matters to attend to in Maestra, he did not go back with them.

As the four parted ways, Kalei recalled the roar he had heard on the road earlier. Fearing that his mother and the others might encounter danger, he felt compelled to remind them once more to be careful.

Velina comforted him, "Don't worry, Kalei. We travel between here and Maestra often and know the surrounding area very well; how could we encounter any danger? Even if we did, with our Saber to help, we are more than capable of handling it. What about you? How long will you be staying in Maestra this time, and when will you be coming home?"

Kalei thought for a moment and replied, "That depends on how my mentor arranges the final assessment. Generally speaking, if things go quickly, it might take half a month; if the assessment is complex, it could take two or three months."

Velina nodded. "I understand. I wish you success in your assessment, and please give my regards to Matt Hardwood."

Kalei smiled. "I will, Mother. I wish you a safe journey. Once you get home, remember to have the village chief write me a letter." He then turned to the other two: "Aunt Evelyn, Lox, I wish you both a safe journey as well."

Evelyn laughed, "We will be fine, little Kalei. Finish your assessment early and come back; don't keep your mother waiting too long."

Lox patted him on the shoulder and gave him an encouraging gesture without saying a word.

The three bid farewell to Kalei, mounted their Saber, and followed the mountain path out of Maestra.

Kalei watched their figures disappear into the jungle, thinking to himself, I hope nothing happens to them.

He shook his head, feeling he was worrying too much, and decided it was better to focus on his own affairs.

His trip to the temple had not only successfully fulfilled a major life milestone but had also unexpectedly earned him the Goddess's blessing, which left him overjoyed.

However, he knew it was not yet time to relax; more trials lay ahead.

First and foremost, he had to face his Druid mentor's final assessment.

His Druid mentor was named Matt Hardwood. Players who had played as a Night Elf Druid would likely find this name familiar—in the game, Matt Hardwood was a Druid trainer in the new Night Elf capital, Darnassus.

However, the War of Mount Hyjal, which would shape the fate of the Night Elf, had not yet broken out, the World Tree Nordrassil had not been destroyed, and Darnassus had naturally not yet been established. Thus, this trainer was still staying in Maestra.

The reason Kalei's father was able to hire Matt Hardwood as his mentor was primarily because Matt Hardwood was his father's classmate.

Yet, this classmate was far more capable than his father. After over a thousand years of cultivation, Matt Hardwood's strength had long since surpassed the level 40 threshold, reaching level 46.

At this hour, aside from the Sentinel patrols performing their duties, most residents had already retired for the night, and there were few people active in the town.

Kalei walked through the town and soon reached his destination: Matt Hardwood's residence.

Like those of other elves, Matt's house was built beneath several large trees. It was a two-story wooden structure with a large courtyard filled with flowers and plants.

Kalei entered the courtyard and knocked on the front door. After a while, a sleepy-eyed Night Elf girl opened it for him.

As the number of Druids among the Night Elf grew, they had established many schools for training them.

However, for the habitually laid-back Night Elf, those who truly went to school to study the way of the Druid were in the minority; most still preferred the one-on-one master-apprentice model.

While Matt's talent for Druid cultivation was average, his talent for teaching was renowned far and wide, which was why many Night Elf families were willing to send their children to study under him.

Matt Hardwood had trained many students, including some who had become famous or even surpassed him in achievement, such as the legendary Druid Fandral Staghelm's later assistant, Mathrengyl Bearwalker.

The girl before him was Matt's newest student after Kalei, named Dinia Moonlight.

Dinia had initially been unhappy about a visitor during the day, but upon seeing it was Kalei, she immediately turned from annoyance to joy. "Senior Brother Kalei, it's you! Please, come in."

Kalei reached out to pat her head and smiled. "It's me. How have these past two days been? Have you been giving the teacher any trouble?"

Dinia pouted. "Not at all, I've been completing the assignments the teacher gave me right on time."

Kalei pulled two bare branches from behind his back, shook them, and teased, "Is that so? Aren't these two branches the teaching tools the teacher gave you to practice your healing spells? Why were they thrown outside the house before you were even finished with them?"

Dinia's face flushed, and she hurriedly whispered, "Shh, don't tell the teacher. It's just that my cousin and I went to a dance at the neighbor's house yesterday, so I forgot."

Kalei shook his head. A green light flashed over his hand, and the two withered branches immediately regained their vitality, beginning to sprout buds and leaves.

He handed the revitalized branches to Dinia. "Take them. Don't be so lazy again in the future."

Dinia beamed with joy, took the branches, and skipped toward the house.

Kalei followed behind her and asked, "Where is the teacher now?"

Dinia found a vase to place the branches in, turned around, and replied, "The teacher went out the day before yesterday and only returned during the day today. He is resting now. Do you want me to go call him?"

Kalei waved his hand. "No need. I just returned from Astranaar myself and have been busy all night, so I'm a bit tired. I'll rest for a while and go see the teacher tonight."

The two walked into the living room as they spoke.

Dinia asked enthusiastically, "Did you just get back from Astranaar? Would you like something to drink? I have Golden-skinned Apple Juice and chilled milk prepared today."

Kalei sat down on a wooden chair in the living room and said, "I'll have a glass of apple juice, thank you."

Dinia quickly poured him a glass of apple juice and asked, "Senior Brother Kalei, you went to Astranaar for the coming-of-age ceremony, didn't you?"

Kalei took a few sips of the sweet, refreshing apple juice and replied, "That's right."

A look of longing appeared on Dinia's face as she said, "That's wonderful. Once you're an adult, you can go wherever you want. Unlike me, I can't go anywhere."

Kalei smiled and asked, "Oh, Dinia, where would you like to go?"

Dinia rested her chin in her hands and said dreamily, "I want to go see Darkshore. I've been alive for thirty years now, and I've never seen the ocean, nor have I even stepped outside of Maestra. My father won't let me leave his sight for even a second."

Hearing the girl's complaint, Kalei only wanted to say, at such a young age, aren't you afraid of being snatched away by the Sea Monster and Murloc there if you go to Darkshore?

In Kalei's impression, Darkshore in the game was not safe, but reality was not a game after all, so it should not be as dangerous as the game.

The little girl complained for a bit before starting to yawn. She waved her hand and said, "Senior Brother Kalei, take your time, I'm going to rest now." With that, she scurried off into her room.

Without the little girl's chatter, Kalei felt a bit sleepy himself. He finished the fruit juice in his wooden cup in one gulp, washed up in the bathroom, and then went to the bedroom where he usually rested.

However, he was in no rush to sleep. He lay on the bed and, for the first time, calmly began to examine the gains he had made today.