"You and Deborah have traveled to the hinterland?!" Elvia was amazed at the word.

For the city dwellers, the Inland Frontier is a world of horses, cows, and chickens. At that moment, there were also the fallen bears—monsters hiding among the branches, waiting for the wayward lumberjack to wander underneath, only to pounce on them with their hard butts.

"Yes," Gwen replied inland with a seductive smile! an ancient place, a country tanned by the sun, full of sweeping planes, rugged mountains, drought and flooded rains, with its white ring-shaped bark forests, all as miserable as the moon, sapphire-misty mountains and the tranquility of hot golden afternoons!"

There was a dreamlike romanticism in Elvia's eyes.

"There we wrestle with a cruel terrestrial shark that craves human flesh! Deborah and I, two young girls thrown into battle, were ambushed by a terrible beast in the dead of night!"

"Wow..."

"But the shark is terrible! for the cunning Deeber made us a pillar of stone to escape from our misery! The discouraged shark came, gritted his teeth, and drooled. Listen! I summon a thunderous hammer and strike our enemies with lightning! Alas, it was the diamond scales that repelled the lightning!"

"Oh, no!" Elvia gasped, so what?

"Do not be afraid, for even as the wrath of the beast is transferred to me, the faithful Deborah jumps to the flanks of these creatures, like ...... Belch... Drumming!"

"Huh-?"

"Listen, don't expect me to stick to a few lines of poetry, I'm not Scandi Bart Scard. "Gwen shrugged his shoulders and we were lucky enough to defeat Deb with the main force of the earth. ”

"Nothing?" Yue exploded. "A ghost?!"

"Yes, a mid-level sand elf. ”

Xiao Yue looked thunderous. The girl risked her life by wading through the shadowy bowels and only got PTSD. Deborah and her best friend go on a wilderness adventure and just find a random mid-level element?

"She worked hard for it. Gwen coughed, she was a good ally. ”

Xiao Yue's eyes narrowed.

"What's her affinity now??"

"The first... Five floors?"

". Xiao Yue squirted two puffs of air from her nostrils. She looked Gwen up and down, goosebumps all over her body. "We should find some time to hunt. ”

"Of course. There are always more roosters roaming around the area. ”

"We'd be the best," Yue sighed Okay, let's sleep for a while. ”

"You sleep here?" Gwen pouted, her eyes glazed.

"Aren't you?" Yue glanced at her.

Gwen looked at the two girls. Although the little girl didn't care about her companion, Little Yueyue's delicate figure surrounded Avia. As for her ego, she felt a strange sense of self. For some reason, she remembered Deborah's blushing face.

"Come on, will you sleep?" Xiao Yue patted the place beside her.

Gwen felt her resolve be tested. It should be no problem to sleep next to Xiaoyue. If she slept next to Avia, she might wake up something terrible.

Gwen took all thoughts out of her mind and quietly climbed up from the foot of the bed and slipped into the silky sheets.

"Yes," she replied calmly, let's go to sleep. ”

She closed her eyes and tried to stay motionless, one leg dangling from the edge.

Before she could feel comfortable, two soft pillows pressed against her arm. Soon, a thigh followed. Before she could protest, there was a snoring.

Gwen shoved her best friend, but the girl was already asleep like a log.

"Did you guys have fun last night? What did you do? Board game?"

Frederick laughs happily at the girl's expenses, when Gwen appears, her eyes puffy and bloodshot. In Elvia's bedroom, the others were still counting sheep, tangled in piles of linen.

"Good morning, Mr. Lindholm," said Gwen, to the Bishop and his wife, good morning, Mrs. Lindholm. ”

"Call me, Fred," the bishop replied cheerfully.

"Again," replied Elaina, "it's all right. ”

"That's right. Gwen politely declined with her hands raised, I didn't want to make Avia uncomfortable. ”

"Whatever you want. "Frederick handed the coffee cup to the maid who was preparing breakfast for the girls, Beatrice, can you make a cup of coffee for Miss Song?"

"Yes, sir," said the maid, turning on the machine.

In the morning and evening, Gwen researched Elvia's parents. Elaine looked like she was supposed to be 30 years old, but she seemed to be only slightly older than her friends. Unfortunately, Gwen sadly points out that if Elaine were any indication, the angelic Elvis is unlikely to become more "feminine".

"Oh yes, your cousin left this for us. Frederick handed over a card.

"I think it's an invitation. ”

Gwen took the card and opened it. Inside there is a family portrait of Richard, Aunt Tully, and Uncle Wong, with "Happy New York" written in Chinese and English.

Gwen, come to this year's New York Family Gathering. I know that Guan Yingshan was a bastard a few years ago and didn't invite you, but this year Su Ya is coming. Something big is happening. Your mom is coming too. You should be here.

-Richard. ”

Gwen snapped and closed the card. She should give Opa a piece of advice.

It seems that Yue and Avia will still be a little longer.

"I'm sorry. "I need to get a message across," Gwen apologized, walking barefoot onto the bay view terrace. She saw the scenery in front of her and felt the salty breeze of the sea brushing her skin. At the mention of her mother's name, she felt a chill that dissipated the heat she had suddenly felt.

Helena Wong.

Gwen felt sick every time she tried to recall her memories of her mother. Old Gwen's fragmented memories are filled with anxious moments of contempt, both purposeful and negligent. Ever since Alt Gwen was ten years old, he has been fascinated by Gwen's appearance. In terms of memories, all she has is a vague montage of quick food, name-calling, and malicious criticism of the girl in front of others.

As for Gwen herself, she hated her instinctive desire to please Helena. Whenever she thought of her "mother," there was an old Gwen's ugly head standing up.

She faces the sea and is determined. If she was going to confront her mother, the last thing she wanted to do was leave some terrible memories to paralyze her at a critical juncture. She wasn't sure about the other side of herself, but she rarely let her wounds fester.

When she used to meditate on her memories, it felt like a torch falling into a deep well. At the bottom of that well there was an ancient stream of water that festered in decaying memories.

She recalls that in her past life, the day before she told Helena to fuck, she moved into a shared room provided by the government and her part-time job. Since then, Helena has completed college in just four years working as a waitress in a fashion bar, by which time Helena has all but disappeared from her life. When she later questioned her father, Moyer told her that Helena and her new husband had left Australia for China.

But the Gwen people of this world can't count on government assistance, nor can they count on welfare to provide a safe bed. She is only useful to society as a mage. Gwen would tremble if her family had simply abandoned her, and she had seen so much in Blackheath that she knew she wouldn't last a week.

That is why her former ego had no choice but to trust her mother's words. Alt Gwen must have considered herself lucky to have a mother who was so motherly and caring, and she was too fat, too thin, and too casual.

"Wow-"

A chilling shock awakens Gwen from her inner.

"Oops," Yue apologized, taking back a bottle of ice water, he didn't expect you to be out like that. Good morning!"

"Good morning," Gwen replied with a smile, one hand stroking the damp dent left by the ice bottle.

"Elvia should be up soon. ”

"Good, did you sleep well?"

"Oh yes, it's comfortable. Man, I'm going to have to buy that thousand thin wires. It was like I was sleeping in a cocoon. ”

"yes, that's good. ”

Half an hour later, Elvia joined them.

"Hey, you. ”

"Good morning," Eve yawned and made an angelic expression, energizing the sleep-deprived Gwen.

Gwen shows her friends her invitation.

"Need support?" Xiao Yue punched her palm. There's no way to know that under this sweet expression, a battle maniac now has a four-digit kill counter.

"Nope. Gwen shook her head, I have to face reality sooner or later, I'd rather be sooner. ”

Xiao Yue shook her phone.

"You know where we're going to be. ”

Elvia agreed, offering her willingness to support Gwen.

"Thanks, guys," Gwen admits she was happy to let me call. ”

Leaving the girls, she sent a text message to Suya.

"Opa. ”

"Gwen, my girl!

"It was a pleasure. ”

"What's wrong?"

Gwen wasn't quite sure what to do with this, so she mentioned Richard's note.

"Ah, did you hear that?" said Suriya that Richard was a good man, yes? who would have thought? Well, you should thank your master. I talked to your host and he wants to distract your family. ”

"You're not going to tell them about my talents, are you?" said Gwen's chest.

"Not exactly, no, that's the problem, you know? Kwan is a real job, even though he's my son. God knows what stupid things he did for you. I have to make it clear that you are a line that they cannot cross, because you are the pain of communication with your ex. ”

"Do you think I should come, Opa?"

"You don't have to. "I know you and Helena—" Surya stopped suddenly, as if something had touched his heart as he said the middle of the story, don't you blame me, Gwen? I don't know what Helena is up to. ”

"It's okay, Opa. "How could she be mad at Sua? In her old world, she hadn't even seen her Opa company a dozen times before he passed by. In this world, she is very happy that someone like Surya exists.

There was a sound of relief and a giggle.

"Well, you can come if you want. You might see something amazing. ”

"What's wrong, Opa?"

"Hehe, you'll understand. Her doctor said to himself, "See you on the 31st." Remember to wear formal clothes. Impress everyone! Are you going back to the manor in the next few days?"

"I should be. ”

"Good, I have something for you. ”

Gwen blinked. Her heart beat faster, it must be Almuji's scales!

"Alright, Opa. I'll be over in a moment. Can I bring a few friends?"

"Of course! Any friend of yours is welcome to our estate. ”

"Thanks, Opa, you're the best!"

"I know, dear. I know. ”

The light of divination stopped.

She wanted to go back to the manor right away. What can Opa create from the snake's scales? It's an exciting prospect, but it's far from once inviting her friends to "hers."

"Guys! Listen, I just got approved. You haven't been to my apartment yet, have you?

"Nope. Xiao Yue drank her orange juice.

Elvia shook her head. She drank the milk very sweetly.

"Do you want to come and visit in the next few days? We can hunt, see the town, ride through the interior – hot golden, quiet noon, and so on. ”

"Horse!?" Elvia's blue eyes lit up.

"Oh yes, I have a mare named Beatrice, a spotted mare," Gwen explained the deal with her mare and how Sulya kept it on her estate for Gwen to read.

"Ruth?" Yue's spirit burned. "The three-meter-tall bastard wants to deal with you?"

"Thousands of people," Gwen assured her.

"Let me ask Dad. ”

"I need to make a phone call. ”

Her friend came back in a moment. Frederick was very happy that Elvia had more time to spend with Gwen. After all, one can never build enough early social capital because there is a future magician waiting.

Xiaoyue's doting mother didn't like this impromptu vacation, but she knew that even if he tried to stop his stubborn daughter, she couldn't.

"Okay, when are we leaving?" Yue asked. Gwen also has all her gear. She would love to go.

"I need to pack! Give me an hour! No, thirty minutes!"

The journey back to Polkobin involves heading back to the city and then taking the train to the plateau. The three girls talked for a whole while, attracting curious glances from the other passengers on the train.

Coming out of the station, it was Tess who picked them up in the rumbling old car.

"Opa!" Gwen ran to Surya and hugged him.

Yue and Avia were amazed at the country estate and its spaciousness,

"Gwen, my girl!" Surya was delighted that the shampoo scent of his granddaughter's hair filled his nostrils. "- Welcome, I'm Suya, Gwen's grandfather. ”

"Thank you for having us, Master Huang. Avia bowed gracefully, a strand of blonde hair falling down to one eye. Surya nodded approvingly, recognizing the healer from Gwen's story.

"Hello!" Master Huang, thank you for the invitation," Yue casually greeted Su Ya. She bowed awkwardly, her noodle vest testing its limits, and Surya grinned, her mouth full of white teeth.

Grandpa Gwen's eyes almost fell out of their sockets. Gwen had told him about the Asian girl who was a student in Asia, but in his opinion, the girl was greater than life.

"Gwen—" Surya whispered to Gwen that your friend is impressive. ”

"Oh yes," Gwen nodded, she was a fourth-level affinity fire. She had seen real well-drilling. ”

"That's pretty impressive. Surya couldn't take her eyes off.

"Gwen. Yue coughed, turned around and left the stunned grandfather, he didn't mean that. ”

"Opa!" Gwen kicked Suriya in the shin.

"Ah, come and see me on the workshop. ”

Surya fled.

Gwen takes her friends to the guest room and assures Avia and Yue that her Opa company is good, and then promises her to be back soon.

In the West Wing, her female anchor sits in her usual place. This time, he placed a small silver box in front of him and placed it on a pedestal.

"Are you ready?" asked Gwen, her heart in her throat.

"Ready," Surya affirmed.

"May I?" asked Gwen carefully.

Surya nodded.

Gwen carefully retrieved the box and opened it. She was greeted by a spectacle with colored scales the size of her fingernails. At this moment the scales rose into the air and began to circle her head, shining with the gasoline sheen of the pigeon's neck.

"A borrowed stone?!" Gwen was shocked. She had expected her grandfather to make her a brooch or another ring, but it was nothing more than a borrowed stone!

Essentially, such items are appendages tied to the image of a powerful mage. Before the materials used to make the stone were formed, a witch polished herself with a number of effects, from increased protection to higher damage output to quick casting. The rarer stones even provide the ability to understand and comprehend the arcane language!

Gwen's eyes flickered on the scale.

"And what's the use of it, Opa?"

Surya rubbed her chin.

"Gwen, do you know how magic works?"

Gwen examined her mind for any remaining knowledge that old Gwen might have left behind, and found nothing. She never had formal training in magic, and she didn't know any details other than basic high school theory.

"Well, you should know that even the best materials can only add some effects to one item. The scales you brought me have a unique ability to tap into the natural elements, or what we call the main elements – fire, water, air, earth, you understand?"

Gwen nodded. Surya continued.

"What do you think you need most right now?"

"Positive energy?" said Gwen hopefully.

Surya grimaced.

"I'm afraid it's not for me. I mean, what's your weakest talent?"

"Defense?" asked Gwen. She knew that her counterspell didn't exist. Even her non-Newtonian plagiarism of the Gunther barrier requires amazing concentration to maintain and manifest.

"In fact, in the face of the coming international competition, I consulted with Henry, and we decided that you should first get a defensive and protective item. ”

"Oh?" said Gwen, almost disappointed. She had always thought something was going to make her even angrier.

"You can't afford to lose a single battle with Gwen, and you can be sure those kids will be targeting the team's main caster. If you're a glass cannon, how do you do damage?"

Gwen had to admit that Suya's words made sense.

"After much deliberation, I've injected the passive effect of absorbing primary elemental damage into the scales. ”

Surya snapped her finger off, and a ball of fireball flew towards Gwen, hissing in the air and hitting her skin. Gwen screamed and pulled her hand back, expecting severe pain. Instead, she felt nothing but warmth as the flame slowly seeped into her skin. The dial flashed and accompanied by resonance, humming softly.

"This scale significantly reduces the impact of low-affinity elemental effects," Surya explains. "Give me your hand. ”

Gwen held out her hand in confusion. Surya pulled out a variety of tools from the stand on the wall.

He pointed the first hand at her and channeled the mana into the device. When a jagged shard appeared and shot at Gwen's palm, there was a crackling stone sound.

Gwen felt the impact bite into her hand.

"Ouch!" she pulled her hand and flinched.

"That doesn't stop the physical effects. Surya pulled out another wand, the core of which was a sapphire blue.

"Look at this, though. ”

Surya turned around and threw a block of ice at Gwen's palm. Gwen felt the ice being pricked into her flesh by needles, but there was no trace of coldness on her skin.

"Strange, isn't it?" Su Ya smiled, I don't know how it works. I think now we know why Alexia's flames didn't peel a single scale from the rainbow serpent. ”

Gwen asked Surya to try some of the elements of his tuning symbolizer again, accumulating the effects of the scales as she went. As a novice, Gwen could deduce that the "scales" absorbed the heat and cold. While the kinetic apparatus is not affected, it inhibits entropy and thermodynamic damage.

Gwen thought about it for a moment.

Self-defense is not her forte. According to Alesia, dodge spells with high mobility become unselectable once the damage is upgraded. In the school of magic at her disposal, all she excels at is summoning and magic, as a person who can do anything will not benefit her team, especially since she portrays herself as an offensive expert.

From now, she has three months until the start of the competition. Of all her alternative talents, escaping the Transmutation School made the most significant contribution to her tactical choices.

But then again, confession provides resistance and protection...

Divination can detect and prevent...

Across from Gwen, Sulya looked at Gwen with glazed eyes.

It's like his cute pumpkin has a sudden attack.

Did he break her? Is it too big? It does absorb elemental damage, after all, it's as unique as a mid-tier item.

Slowly, his eyes stared down on her long white legs sticking out from under her skirt. He picked a popsicle from the table and pointed to the copper stool, a feeling of mischief suddenly filling his old heart.

What is life for a wizard who has no entertainment?