The tranquility in her eyes, seemingly innate, could not be shaken by any difficulty. The faint silver light reflected within was like a star flower, quietly blooming.
Just by looking at him, Miya gave Fang Hong a sense of calm, as if a quiet poem was playing in silence.
On the other side was a silhouette in black, with a question mark on it—the default system avatar indicating the other side didn't have a camera on. Below that avatar was a striking name:
R.
"Oh?"
R made a soft "Oh" sound, and Light Page turned towards that direction, asking: "This voice?"
Miya also looked in that direction, with a hint of surprise in her starlit eyes: "Is that you?"
"Sea Witch," R smirked: "I just remembered, you appeared at the Elf Ruins too. So there's something between you and this silly boy. Let me guess, is there a secret between you two—"
Miya replied coolly: "Ade is not silly."
Fang Hong was so moved he almost cried—though the situation wasn't quite right for it, it was the first time he'd heard someone say he wasn't silly, and it felt so heartwarming. He suddenly felt that Miss Miya was truly kind.
Miya then asked: "Is Ade your student?"
R, uncharacteristically, did not deny it: "Yes."
Fang Hong was so delighted he almost burst into tears—not that he was about to cry again, of course, it was the pain from earlier when he pulled out the crossbow bolts. He knew well how skilled the other was. R didn't actually teach him much, just gave him a hint or two, and he reached his current level.
He always wanted to formally take him as his teacher. Such a relationship was not unusual in Eteliria—no famous Invoker was without an excellent Mentor. Even today's Ten Kings are the same.
Even a Lone Wanderer like Loofah had a good mentor like Nether.
As for him, although he learned a bit here and there from Nether, Odin, Handwasher, Miss Leia, and even Virus and a few Native teachers, he hadn't truly systematically studied the Knowledge of an Invoker.
There was a reason for his numerous blunders.
But what caught him off guard was that R agreed so casually on such an unexpected occasion.
R added: "Though I haven't taught him much, this kid is a genius. When I met him, I was a bit lost myself. I didn't want to hold him back because of my own issues, but later on, I felt he had his path, so I let him be."
Miya was silent for a moment: "You think so highly of Ade?"
R chuckled: "Not that high, just don't say I was irresponsible. The kid is a bit goofy, but what's rare is he keeps his original intention intact, makes me see a bit of 'elegance' from his generation."
But Miya shook her head: "You're the expert, I won't comment on this."
The two chatted back and forth, seemingly ignoring Fang Hong. But Fang Hong, listening on the side, couldn't help but open his mouth slightly, never dreaming R and Miya would rate him so highly.
He even blinked, wondering if he was too poisoned or hallucinating.
"Wait, wait," he finally couldn't help but interrupt: "Miss Miya, do you know the teacher?"
Miya finally looked at him, nodded but then shook her head: "I've heard of him but don't know him. I've had some interactions with him in the community, so I remember his voice clearly, after all—"
"Alright," R cut her off: "Don't expect to find out anything from her; I'm professional in confidentiality. When the time comes, you will naturally see me, but with your current level—still lacking."
Fang Hong opened his mouth.
He suddenly thought of something and asked: "By the way, Teacher, weren't you asleep?"
"I went to' sleep," R sounded slightly annoyed: "But there's a term in this world called 'can't sleep,' don't you get it? Who do you think is at fault for that?"
Frightened, Fang Hong immediately shut his mouth.
Miya replied: "I felt an abnormal fluctuation in Starlight," she quietly looked at Fang Hong, concernedly asked: "Ade, you don't seem well."
"An abnormal fluctuation in Starlight?" R's voice rose slightly with a hint of surprise: "Wait, is this... Twins Covenant? This ability...?"
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
Then he spoke with a more serious tone: "Ade, let me see your right hand."
Fang Hong hesitated, looked at Miya. Seeing her nod, he took off his glove, the half-silver crown emblem, still stood out in the dark.
R 'looked' at Miya and then 'looked' at him, eventually said: "Didn't expect you actually got the Hailin Crown under BBK's nose, but what surprised me even more is your relationship with this kid."
"Symbiotic Covenant," R sighed softly: "Kid, did you hack even getting a girlfriend?"
Fang Hong listened, completely baffled, looking at him with an innocent face.
"The Hailin Crown was found by Ade," Miya quietly answered: "I only managed to save it out of necessity, but the Crown remains Ade's, I'm just keeping it for him."
"Second to the Divine Gift, the second best ability, you're pretty open-minded—"