After a week's wait, Sylutia's evening gown was finally completed. During this time, when Madam Grace visited " Wisteria Moon," she discovered that Yingzi was rushing to finish a high-end gown, which was quite unlike her usual lazy habits.
Under Madam Grace's interrogation, Yingzi had no choice but to tell the truth. Upon learning that Sylutia was going to wear this dress to the Silver Bell Festival, Madam Grace, a tailoring expert, couldn't resist the urge to join in.
So, with the two working together, the dress was quickly completed. As a reward for Madam Grace's help, the style of the dress was slightly adjusted, with more lace ruffles and trim, giving it a fusion of East and West. However, the two blended together harmoniously and not at all jarring, instead presenting a rare kind of beauty.
"Alright, Hedra, why don't you try this on today?" The two makers lifted the garment and unfolded it in front of the girl.
As she watched them walk towards her, Sylutia suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before the two older women helped her into a chair and made her change into this elaborate gown. During the process, she not only had to put on specific black pantyhose, but also adjust the bow at the back of her waist, the delicate choker, and the ring-shaped hair accessories. It took half an hour before she was fully dressed. (The general style can be referenced from the Yu-Gi-Oh! card, Aboaku.)
After the makeover was complete, the girl in the mirror exuded a beautiful and delicate charm. The black dress accentuated her shapely waist, and the wavy hem, shorter in the front and longer in the back, revealed her shapely thighs encased in black stockings. This made the somewhat dignified aura that Sylutia had developed over the past two years recede again, giving her a sense of youthful innocence.
"Indeed, this outfit makes her look much cuter, Hedra," Madam Grace commented with a smile, gently unfolding her folding fan.
"I think it looks good too. If I have a daughter in the future, I'll probably dress her up like this too." Yingzi took out a thin blue ribbon and tied it up to adorn the hair beside Sylutia's ear.
"Everyone will definitely love this dress at the Silver Bell Festival. I reckon Hedra will become the most beloved little princess of the ' Mithril Clock ' school," the two praised again.
Listening to their various effusive praises, Sylutia couldn't help but shake her head. She wasn't a child; how could she be fooled by their words? When these two were making clothes, it was as if they were plotting some earth-shattering scheme, as if they had inexhaustible energy for doing something naughty.
Although the outfit was indeed very beautiful, it differed somewhat from the dignified temperament she had envisioned, appearing rather too cute, to the point that it made one question her ability to shoulder certain responsibilities.
However, there's no time to order a second outfit, so I'll have to wear this to the Silver Bell Festival.
Silently criticizing the two for being unreliable, but unable to get angry, Sylutia gently shook her hair and stood up.
"Alright, alright, you don't need to say anything more, I accept it."
"Really? Hedra absolutely must wear this to the ceremony." The two gave him a few more instructions before finally feeling relieved.
After finishing their fitting, they sat around the tea stove chatting and recounting how they met.
"Back then, a customer took the clothes I made to Yingzi. After Yingzi altered and modified them, the customer proudly wore them back to me," Grace recounted.
"I couldn't stand it anymore. After finding out which tailor had done this, I went to their shop."
"Back then, Yingzi had only been open for a short time, and her oriental-style clothing attracted a lot of people. When we were arguing in the shop, many customers came over out of curiosity to watch the show."
"To avoid damaging the reputation of both parties, we held three competitions. Each of us cut and made clothes according to the same theme, and then our familiar VIPs evaluated and voted on them."
"The result was a tie; the vote difference between the two sides remained small. Because of these events, we gradually became more familiar with each other and eventually reached a reconciliation."
"However, Yingzi became a bit lazy later on. She probably started making money and lost the motivation to keep working hard. She rarely designed new styles, so the shop gradually became deserted," Grace commented with a hint of mockery.
"There's no end to making money, Grace," Yingzi nonchalantly as she sipped her tea.
"Where there are endless desires, there are endless toil," she said, gently shaking her finger, reciting some ancient philosophy.
After spending some time together, Sylutia had received into a special box and said goodbye to the two of them.
Before leaving, another familiar person came to see him off.
"Lord Hedra." The girl had purplish-red hair and wore a simple, thick dress, standing at the station.
" Anali." Sylutia uttered her name, looked at the other's barely changed height, and patted her head.
"How have your studies been these past six months? Have you been happy?" Although she's gone, Anali has the protection of the two big bosses, so she shouldn't be bullied.
"My studies are alright, but I probably can't keep up with Lord Hedra." Speaking of her studies, she lowered her head slightly. There was no way around it; her foundation was too weak, and keeping up with her classmates was already a struggle.
"But I'm very happy because I can see my own gains and growth." After saying that, she looked up again.
"I've made some friends at school now; we're all Orc, and we get along really well."
Are they all Orc? Sylutia had wanted to suggest that Anali try dating some human classmates, but considering Anali's social anxiety and weakness, it would be too much to ask her to do that. She decided to let her take it one step at a time; she couldn't force her.
"Yes, while relationships are important when getting along with friends, it's also important to have your own ability to distinguish right from wrong and not be easily swayed by others." She was worried that the other Orc students in the Asura District might have some prejudices and problems that could lead the girl astray.
"I'll remember." The other person nodded again.
Seeing how obedient she was, Sylutia didn't have any more instructions. She thought for a moment and handed her the sapphire she had just received.
"Keep this gem. In case you need resources for advancement, or if you're short on money, you can exchange it for something else."
"This..." The other person looked at the gem in the girl's hand, hesitating whether to accept it.
"Take it." Sylutia grasped her wrist and placed the gem in her palm.
"I have plenty of things, this won't make a difference." She touched Anali's face.
"It should be different for you; it will be of greater value to you."
"I might not be able to return to the Asura District for long, so please take good care of yourself."
"When I have some free time, I can also learn something from ' Fire Pig ' or ' Four-Eyes '," she thought for a moment.
"This world is vast and beautiful, but also complex and ever-changing. If you can understand the relationships and connections within it, you'll probably be able to live a freer and more enjoyable life."
Finally, you must establish your own system of judgment in your heart, so that you can go to various distant places with clarity and without regret.
"Go for it, Anali!"
With a wave, Sylutia boarded the train, waving goodbye as she departed. This scene was etched in the memory of the girl on the platform, a memory she would never forget.