Early May mornings were no longer quite so cold.
There might still have been a trace of chill in the air, but the budding flowers on the branches and the rising and falling birdsong in the woods shattered that chill, somehow giving people a little more courage to face life.
Jiang Yu still got up very early today.
But unlike before, she did not spend much effort on her appearance. Like the other students of Jiuyou Academy, she wore a bright red academy robe, cinched at the waist with a three-finger-wide black belt. No pendant ornaments, no jade accessories, no hairpins or clasps, nor any long gloves made of Mermaid Silk.
Such an overly plain outfit was extremely rare for any witch born into an aristocratic family.
But today, it was absolutely necessary.
Because Jiang Yu had promised Ilena that she would take part in a Gypsy witches' Magic Ritual today as an observer. She had to ensure that no one at the ritual site could identify her by her attire.
The curtains had not yet been drawn, so the room was somewhat dim. Li Meng's soft snores came from behind the bed curtains, contented and peaceful. Usually, Jiang Yu would rudely yank open the curtains, throw back Li Meng's blankets, let the cold wind and sunlight wake the sleeping Little Witch, then drag her off to the library to do homework.
But today, Jiang Yu pressed her fingers against the test tube of pink blood in the corner of the vanity, sighed softly, and decided to give Li Meng a day off.
"Just this once. No next time."
The witch muttered soundlessly to herself as she tucked the test tube into the inner compartment of her handbag. As she withdrew her hand, her fingers brushed against a piece of