The spacious hall was packed with people. The wizards all wore crisp black robes and pointed ceremonial hats, while the witches competed in splendor, dressed in lavish gowns of every color.
It was a ball.
Mistletoe branches stretched out from the corners, densely covering the entire ceiling. Yet growing amid their leaves were not their yellow blossoms or pearl-like berries, but clusters of purple-red flowers shaped like inverted pyramids. Zheng Qing tilted his head back and studied the layers of translucent petals for a long while before recognizing them as lupine flowers. He had no idea why this plant was growing from mistletoe branches.
Elegant, lively music drifted through the air. Milky white mist rolled beneath their feet, while cold moonlight fell from somewhere unseen. Diffused by the fog, it became hazy and indistinct, twisting and overlapping the guests' shadows. Together with the tapping dance steps, it created a strange, fantastical atmosphere.
"...Graduating early would be good for you, for me, and for Dongdong."
Su Shijun's voice drew nearer and gradually became clear in Zheng Qing's ears. He came to his senses and realized he was holding the witch's hand as they spun beneath the mistletoe. The Senior Councilor of the Under the Moon Council was not wearing her glasses, and her lovely face looked even fairer beneath the cold moonlight. She seemed not to have noticed the wizard's momentary distraction and continued speaking to herself:
"...Since Dongdong was born, she has always lacked enough love from her family. My work is too busy, and you have to focus on your studies... We've practically left her to fend for herself... It was fine when she was little, but now she is already capable of going out on her own. This cannot go on... If you graduate early, you'll have more