A Mentor's Fragrant Skirt

"My mage tower has five floors."

"The first floor contains the reception hall, meeting rooms, and quarters for apprentices and servants."

Solarian led Orendo into the mage tower and ascended the central staircase.

As they went, the Astromancer introduced the functions and purposes of her mage tower.

"The second floor is my private library and treasure vault."

Orendo noticed that there were actually not many books in the private library, perhaps only a few hundred.

The treasure vault's door was closed. He decided he would find a chance to take a look inside.

After passing the second floor, Solarian led him farther up.

"The third floor contains my arcane laboratory and other laboratories. I usually study magical principles, experiment with lesser magic, and explore the world here."

The third floor was much smaller than the first and second floors. This was a typical tower structure, with each level shrinking as it rose. The third floor had only two rooms: one laboratory and one meditation chamber.

"The fourth floor is my magical testing ground. Whenever I have a new idea or am learning magic, I usually stay here."

The fourth floor was even smaller and emptier. There were no rooms, only one vast open space, with runes covering the surrounding walls.

Solarian brought him only this far. In the empty spell chamber, she said, "The fifth floor and above are where I rest, as well as the observatory. I won't take you up there for now."

Orendo nodded to show that he understood.

The observatory was understandable enough. But women's bedrooms, regardless of race, always held more secrets and a softer, pinker air.

He completely understood why she did not want to take him there.

"Sit." Solarian casually pointed toward the center of the fourth floor. There were no chairs or tables, only a floor covered in an unknown fur rug.

Seeing him inspecting the rug, Solarian specifically explained, "The floor is very clean. My rug is made from the hide of a sea crocodile from the Stranglethorn Sea, processed through a special method and heavily enchanted. It has a certain resistance to magic and can clean itself."

Orendo nodded, followed her over, and sat cross-legged in the middle.

Solarian sat down as well, preparing to sit across from him.

Then, a small problem arose.

Solarian was not wearing mage robes today. She wore a thin, light skirt. Orendo thought it looked somewhat like the Robe of Quicksand, except with more fabric.

The Robe of Quicksand was famous for how revealing it was!

Solarian looked fine standing or walking, but once she sat down, the space between her two slender, long, straight white legs became a little difficult to conceal.

The young lord immediately caught sight of the silk undergarments beneath his mentor's skirt—light blue, with lace trim around the edges.

Little Orendo showed signs of rising, while Big Orendo's usually calm eyes widened as well.

Solarian noticed something was wrong with him. Following his gaze, she quickly understood why. The beautiful mentor immediately changed her posture, using the limited fabric of her skirt to block his view of her undergarments.

Yet by doing so, her two slender, long, lean, straight, white legs became even clearer to Orendo.

Orendo felt even worse.

Solarian frowned.

She had actually just returned from Quel'Thalas. She had received the prince's message while attending a ball in Silvermoon City and had rushed to Dalaran at once.

After arriving in Dalaran, the prince assigned her a task—one that surprised her, but also interested her greatly.

The task was to observe Orendo Seferosa, to observe this young human noble who had deep ties to both Quel'Thalas and herself.

The prince had not intended for her to become Orendo's mentor. Taking Orendo as her student had been an impulsive decision. The thought had arisen uncontrollably when she saw his smile.

That was why she was still wearing the formal dress she had worn to the ball in Silvermoon City.

That was why there was so little fabric.

That was why Orendo had seen her undergarments, and why she could not hide those slender, long, lean, straight legs.

That was why Orendo's eyes were still somewhat unfocused.

"On the path of exploring the arcane and truth, you cannot casually indulge in other desires. Withdraw your gaze, my student," Solarian finally could not help warning him.

Having looked his fill, Orendo also knew his teacher was unhappy. Amid the Eye of Truth's mockery—

[Detected that the host has a strong desire to reproduce with the female elf before him...]

—he withdrew his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Mentor..." For the first time before his beautiful mentor, Orendo lowered his head. "You are too beautiful. I cannot control my eyes..."

He did not see the faintly smug little expression that flashed across Solarian's face at his small compliment.

"My mother and your mother's mother were first cousins. Your mother and I are cousins, so when I say I am your aunt, it is not a fabrication," Solarian said softly as she looked at him.

"And I am also your mentor. So, Orendo, you should know what to do."

Orendo nodded.

In this situation, he would have nodded even if he had not known what to do.

"Very well. Let us leave this matter at that," Solarian said at last.

"Next, let us discuss the exchanges that should take place between mentor and student."

When it was time to discuss serious matters, Orendo naturally did not remain immersed in the temptation from before. He raised his head and looked seriously at Solarian.

The young lord had to admit that his mentor was truly beautiful.

Solarian wore a serious expression as she asked softly,

"I can already see it. Orendo, you have stepped across the threshold of the Arcane Sanctum. As someone who has walked the path of the arcane, I believe the next thing you should do is choose a path of your own."

"A path of my own?" Orendo frowned.

"That's right. A mage's path that belongs to you."

"What do you mean?"

"Every mage has a mage's path they have chosen. For example, my mage's path lies between the stars and the void, which is why I became an Astromancer."

"And take Antonidas, the one you are interested in. I am not entirely sure of his mage's path, but I would guess it is related to frost, time, and space."

Solarian tried to explain the so-called mage's path to Orendo in the simplest terms possible.

Orendo understood a little.

What she described seemed to be mage schools.

"Do you mean mage schools? In the books I read at the library, there were some discussions of mage schools," Orendo said softly.

"You may understand it that way." Solarian nodded. "Magic in all its splendor can be used to achieve many purposes. Long ago, mages discovered that the simplest and most effective way to deeply understand the fundamental principles of magic was to divide this mysterious discipline into various subfields."

"Dalaran calls these subfields magical 'schools,' while Quel'Thalas calls them different 'mage's paths.' Their names differ, but their essence is the same."

"Choosing a school or mage's path one likes or excels at makes it easier for mages to study them one by one and select one school as their primary direction of research."

"Of course, many mages have also tried to master every school of magic, but very few have managed to achieve that grand goal."

"As your mentor, before guiding you to begin exploring truth, I believe you should first find the mage's path you like or are suited for."

Solarian looked at him seriously.

"Back when I was still a little girl on Sunstrider Isle, that was how my mentor taught me. And now, I am using the method my mentor taught me to teach you."