After leaving Loriess's office, Yavi strode lightly down the corridor, sunlight dancing on his shoulders through the stained-glass windows, and quickly reached the Popular Election Faction's activity room. He saw Mel talking with the other officers. When she noticed him, she gave them a few brief instructions before coming over to him.
Seeing Yavi grinning from ear to ear, Mel asked in puzzlement, "What has you so happy?"
Yavi took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm, but he still could not hide his excitement. "I just received a letter from my teacher in the witcher school. He's allowing me to go home for the holidays this year!"
Mel's eyes instantly lit up, and the corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily. "That's wonderful!" Her voice brimmed with unconcealed delight. "Father, Mother, and our eldest brother will be so happy!"
She instinctively grabbed Yavi's arm, her fingertips trembling slightly with excitement. Sunlight streamed through the window onto the side of her face, illuminating the joy sparkling in her eyes. The unexpected good news left her momentarily at a loss. The normally composed, capable officer of the Popular Election Faction now looked like a little girl who had received the gift she had always wanted.
"We only have a few more days of classes before the semester ends. Once we have no classes on the last day, let's buy some things for the family!" Yavi had not been home for years, and now that he finally had the chance, he did not want to return empty-handed.
"All right. I'll come find you then. Once we're done shopping, we'll leave with the caravan. I know a caravan; I'll get in touch with them..." Mel had already begun planning their preparations for the journey home.
After saying goodbye to Mel, Yavi returned to his dorm room and began putting his belongings into his Talisman Space. There was not much, really, just a few sets of clothes he often wore. Most of his belongings were still stored in his Talisman Space. Over the next few days, time seemed to pass unusually slowly for him.
At last, Yavi's final day of the year at Oxenfurt Academy arrived. Early that morning, Mel knocked on his dorm room door. She carried a steaming oilpaper parcel, and the aroma of wheat mingled with the sweetness of honey immediately filled the room. "Freshly baked meat pies and honey tea," she said, deftly setting breakfast on the table. "The caravan leaves this afternoon. We need to hurry."
After eating breakfast together, the two went to the market to buy some gifts to take home. Yavi headed straight for the smithy as soon as they arrived. On the afternoon of the day he had learned he could go home, he had visited the smithy to find Thomas, giving him a sum of crowns and some materials and asking him to forge two longswords as a rush order. Upon learning that they were gifts for Yavi's family back home, Thomas had immediately thumped his chest and guaranteed that he would finish them on time.
When Thomas saw Yavi arrive, he turned and hurried into the back room. A moment later, he emerged carrying two ebony sword cases, handling them as gently as treasures. "Longswords incorporating silver powder and dimeritium powder, just as you requested." Thomas carefully opened the cases. Two longswords shimmering with a dark silver sheen lay quietly on scarlet velvet.
An unusual luster flowed across the blades in the morning light, proof of the perfect fusion of silver powder and dimeritium powder. Although their purity fell short of Yavi's Demon Breaker, the craftsmanship of these two swords had already reached its pinnacle. The dark patterns faintly visible on their blades were excellent proof of their effectiveness against monsters and magic.
"It's a shame Father and our eldest brother can't use magic. Otherwise, replacing the silver powder with mithril would definitely produce better results." Yavi was very satisfied with the two swords. The only flaw was that their users could not use magic; otherwise, the swords would certainly have reached another level.
"I deliberately thickened the spines," Thomas said, his rough fingers stroking a blade. "That ensures resilience without sacrificing sharpness. I guarantee they'll cut through Ghouls more easily than butter!"
"Thanks for all your hard work!" Yavi patted Thomas on the shoulder, and Thomas simply grinned.
After saying goodbye to Thomas, Yavi and Mel headed to a shop selling women's goods.
The moment he stepped inside, Yavi was dazzled by the vast array of merchandise. Exquisite glass cabinets displayed all kinds of jewelry, silk shawls gleamed softly under the lights, and the air was filled with the rich mingled fragrances of various perfumes.
"What are you staring at?" Mel nudged Yavi lightly with her elbow. "For Mother and our sister-in-law, we should mainly look at jewelry, clothes, and perfume." She expertly led him toward the jewelry section, where various hairpins, necklaces, and bracelets were neatly arranged in the glass counter.
"How about this?" Mel pointed to a silver hairpin set with a moonstone. "Mother likes simpler, more elegant designs." She turned to Yavi, only to find that a starstone necklace beside it had caught his attention. The gem sparkled with a dreamlike blue light beneath the lamps, as though it held all the stars in the night sky.
"Our sister-in-law will definitely like this." Without hesitation, Yavi asked the clerk to take out the necklace. The two pieces of jewelry were then placed in lavish packaging, and he put them into his Talisman Space.
The two then moved to the perfume section. After choosing carefully, they finally settled on a perfume with night rose as its main note for their sister-in-law, then selected one with a citrus base for their mother. As far as Yavi remembered, their mother had always loved citrus-scented perfume.
Mel led Yavi to the clothing section, where the dazzling array of dresses once again left him unsure where to begin.
"Let's pick some comfortable, presentable everyday clothes for Mother," Mel said, expertly looking through the racks. "These soft, elegant shades are her favorites." She took down a moon-white dress with delicate, subtle vine patterns embroidered around the hem. It was dignified without being overly elaborate.
When they turned to clothes for their sister-in-law, Mel grew even more enthusiastic. "She prefers clean-cut styles." She selected an indigo coat with a fitted waist, its collar and cuffs adorned with tiny pearls. "This would suit her well."
Yavi, meanwhile, was drawn to a wine-red evening gown and imagined their sister-in-law wearing it at a family banquet. Mel nodded in agreement. "You have a good eye. It would be perfect with that starstone necklace."
Since Yavi thought every garment looked lovely and could not make up his mind, he simply bought them all. They also chose a few everyday underskirts and shawls, ensuring there would be suitable clothes for everything from formal occasions to relaxing at home. The clerk enthusiastically packed their selections into exquisite wooden boxes, thoughtfully lining them with moisture-resistant herb-scented paper.
Mel was just about to turn and leave when Yavi suddenly reached out to stop her.
"Wait." Yavi folded his arms and looked Mel up and down. "We don't come here often. Why not get you a few new clothes too?"
Mel raised an eyebrow with a soft laugh. "What, do you think I look shabby?" She turned in an elegant circle.
Yavi shook his head. "Not shabby. Too rigid." He casually picked up a wine-red velvet coat and held it against Mel's shoulders. "You're the rising star of the Popular Election Faction. You should have some clothes that suit your standing."