Flora didn’t know how long she had slept.
When she woke up, her whole body felt limp, as if she had been soaking in warm water for a long time.
It was soft and comfortable, completely relaxed, as if every muscle was saying, “I’ve rested enough.”
She opened her eyes.
The curtains were drawn, but it seemed the window behind them was open.
A gentle breeze blew in, stirring the curtains slightly, and Flora could feel a bit of chill.
The room was quiet now, except for the sound of her turning her head.
She turned her head.
Ilya was still lying beside her, eyes closed, breathing light and steady.
She was curled on her side, facing Flora, one hand resting near her face, the other… still resting on Flora’s waist.
Flora paused.
That hand rested lightly on her waist, soft and weightless, but she could feel its warmth.
She looked at Ilya’s sleeping face.
When she was asleep, the usual cold distance was gone, her features relaxed, slow, even a little gentle.
Her eyelashes were long, casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes.
Her lips were slightly pressed together, looking very relaxed.
Flora stared at that face for several seconds.
Lately, she couldn’t quite describe what that feeling was.
Just seeing Ilya so relaxed made her feel happy and comfortable.
Watching Ilya sleep was truly special.
That feeling in her heart—slowly, as if suddenly she became clear and awake.
Then she moved slightly, turning her body around.
With that tiny movement, Ilya’s eyes opened.
When those eyes opened, they were completely different from when she was asleep.
In an instant, she was wide awake, looking at Flora.
“You’re awake?”
Ilya took a deep breath before asking, her voice still a bit groggy from sleep.
Flora nodded.
“Mm.”
She acknowledged, then added, “I slept a long time, it was really comfortable.”
As she spoke, she stretched her arms upward, and halfway through, she accidentally brushed against Ilya’s head.
She paused, then gave a helpless little smile and lowered her hands.
Ilya sat up, leaning against the headboard.
Flora sat up too, leaning beside her.
The two of them just sat there, neither speaking.
Sunlight leaked through the gap in the curtains, dragging a long strip of light across the floor.
Occasionally, sounds drifted in from outside—people chatting on the street, a dog barking—but none of it seemed to penetrate, as if they were in a world isolated from everything.
And so, as if in a paradise removed from the world, Flora leaned there for a long time.
After a long while, she spoke.
“Mother.”
“What is it?”
“I was planning to go back tomorrow.”
Ilya turned to look at her.
Flora didn’t look at Ilya; she stared ahead at the beam of light on the floor.
“But with Eileen like this… I want to stay a few more days, see her more, take care of her. She’s like this now, I can’t feel at ease.”
Ilya didn’t speak.
Flora waited a few seconds, got no response, and turned to look at her.
Ilya’s expression was still calm, unreadable.
But as she looked at Flora, those silver eyes seemed to be thinking something over.
“It’s fine,” Ilya said.
Flora was startled.
“Really?”
“Mm.” Ilya nodded. “But…”
She paused.
Flora watched her, waiting for her to continue.
“I can’t stay here with you,” Ilya said. “I have to go back on schedule tomorrow. There are things to do.”
Flora felt a pang in her chest.
She knew Ilya was telling the truth.
Ilya was the demon queen. After being out for so many days, there must be countless things waiting for her to handle.
Being able to come with her this time was already…
Already…
She didn’t know how to think about it, or how to say it.
“Okay,” she said. “Then you go back first.”
Ilya looked at her.
“Stay another three days,” Ilya said. “After three days, I’ll have Lena come pick you up.”
Flora was surprised.
Lena coming to pick her up?
That would be nice—at least the journey back wouldn’t be boring.
“Sure,” she said with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I saw her.”
Ilya nodded.
“You’ll be alone here for these three days, so be careful,” she said. “I trust you. If something important comes up, use the ring to contact me.”
Flora looked down at the ring on her finger.
It was still the same—silver, with a faint luster in the light.
“Mm,” she replied.
Both of them were silent for a while.
Flora leaned against the headboard, staring ahead.
Her mind started wandering.
Eileen.
The gash on her head, the two wounds on her body. The bleeding had stopped, but when they would heal, she didn’t know.
Eileen had woken up, but she was still very weak, just like when she was seriously ill before. Her face was pale, her voice soft.
She remembered what Eileen had said that morning.
“The things I remember… they don’t connect. They’re just fragments.”
That happened when someone was badly injured or severely frightened—she knew that, but hearing it still hurt.
She thought of the necklace again.
That silver, round necklace.
When Teacher Xia Li had given it to her back then, she said: “When you’re in danger, it can protect you a little.”
At the time, Flora had thought it was just a comforting remark—the kind of blessing and care a teacher gave to a student, just words.
But last night, that necklace had glowed.
It was very faint, flickering, but she had seen it.
It really had protected someone—protected Eileen.
Flora’s heart tightened.
Teacher Xia Li.
That woman who always smiled so gently. The one who would secretly give her snacks and ask if she understood the lesson.
The one who said she had made too many pastries and couldn’t finish them, when really it was so Flora could have more.
Where was she now?
Was she still at the academy? Still teaching? Was she doing well?
Flora remembered those years.
Remembered sitting in the corner of the classroom, and Teacher Xia Li coming over, bending down, and asking softly, “Did you understand?”
Remembered how when she nodded, Teacher Xia Li would smile, so happy, as if she was genuinely glad for her.
Remembered when she left the academy, Teacher Xia Li stood at the door to see her off and said, “Come back to visit when you have time.”
But she had never gone back.
Not even once.
And then… it had become what it was now.
Flora looked down at her hands.
These hands were now pure, white, and beautiful—completely different from before.
But she remembered how those hands had once received the pastries Teacher Xia Li handed her, remembered how they trembled slightly when she took the necklace.
Her hands had changed, but her heart hadn’t.
She ought to go see her.
If she didn’t go see her, she would be letting her down.
Not just a little—she would feel terribly guilty.
Teacher Xia Li had helped her so much, taken such good care of her, and she had never once gone back to visit.
She lifted her head and looked at Ilya.
“Mother.”
This time, as Flora spoke, she reached out and took her hand.
“What is it now?”
“There’s one more thing I want to say.”
Ilya turned to look at her.
Flora opened her mouth, then closed it again.
She hesitated.
She wanted to go see Teacher Xia Li.
To go see that person who had been so good to her.
To tell her, “I’m Owen”?
To tell her, “I’m still alive”?
To tell her, “Thank you for everything back then”?
She didn’t know.
Maybe none of that was appropriate.
But she just wanted to go.
So she would go. She’d figure out the rest later.
“I want…” She started, then paused. “I also want to go see someone.”
Ilya watched her, saying nothing, waiting for her to finish.
“She was one of my old teachers,” Flora said. “Back when I was at Silver Academy, she was especially good to me. She was like…”
She paused, searching for the right word.
“She was like family,” she said.
Ilya’s eyes moved.
A very slight shift—barely noticeable if you weren’t paying attention.
“What’s her name?” Ilya asked.
“Her name is also Xia Li,” Flora said. “She teaches at Silver Academy.”
Ilya fell silent.
Flora watched her, waiting for her to speak.
But Ilya didn’t say anything.
She just sat there, leaning against the headboard, staring ahead.
Sunlight fell across her face, softening her profile, yet she looked very calm.
Her eyelashes drooped, motionless.
A long time passed.
So long that Flora thought she wasn’t going to say anything at all.
Then the corner of her mouth twitched.
Just like always—cold, calm, as if nothing had happened.
And yet it felt like a smile.
Flora watched her, a strange feeling rising in her heart.
She couldn’t put it into words.
“It should be fine,” Ilya finally said, her voice slightly softer than usual. “But…”
She paused, then turned to look at Flora.
“First, look after Eileen,” she said. “Spend these few days thinking it over carefully. Whether you really want to go, what you’ll do when you get there—make sure you’re clear on that.”
Flora listened and nodded.
Ilya said, “When you come back, we’ll discuss it in detail. Then you can tell me your thoughts and your decision.”
“Okay,” Flora said.
Ilya looked away and continued staring ahead.
The room fell quiet again.
Flora leaned against the headboard, also looking ahead.
Her mind was still on Teacher Xia Li—on those years, on that necklace, on the faint light it had given off when Eileen wore it.
She ought to go see her.
No, she had to go see her.
She silently repeated it to herself.
Then she also thought of that expression Ilya had just made.
That slight quiver at the corner of her mouth.
Barely visible, as if it hadn’t happened.
But it seemed like a real smile.
And yet it seemed like more than just a smile.
What had it meant? What was she trying to say? What emotion was it?
Flora thought about it, but couldn’t figure it out.
‘Forget it. I won’t think about it.’
A moment later, Flora suddenly moved.
“Mother, let’s stay together a little longer today. You have to go back tomorrow, so let’s just be together for a while~”
Before she finished speaking, Flora climbed onto Ilya, wrapping both arms around her body, lying sideways on top of her.
Watching Flora cling to her like this, Ilya smiled inwardly.
“Alright, alright. I’ll stay with you today.” Ilya wrapped her arms around Flora too, holding her a little tighter, letting her lie comfortably on her. “But you’ll be back in a few days.”
“Then the rest of today is all ours.”