"Debbie, are you sure you can't come?"

Gwen watched her friend's face contort in pain. She had petitioned Deborah to attend Elvia's Christmas dinner, but Debbie's response was negative.

Although Gwen did not expect it, Deborah's parents were devout followers of the Nazarene. For the family, Christmas Mass is a sacred ritual. This year in particular, Archbishop Anthony Fisher tended to the flock at St Andrew's Church (St Andrew's), a rarity for devout Christians in Sydney.

"Are you not religious yourself?" asked Gwen.

"I was religious out of habit. Deborah smiled and the family always went to church, so I grew up with it. There was never a choice in this matter. I even attended all Sunday services until high school. ”

Most likely just in time for puberty, Gwen nodded in understanding. When H School starts, Deborah begins to wear short skirts and tight shirts and becomes part of the "popular" crowd, while Gwen competes with her family drama.

For Gwen, her mother worshipped only one true god, called the Social Ladder. As for Moyer, considering the number of girlfriends he passed by on his bike, this person could be a follower of Eros. As a result, Gwen's religious education still does not exist.

But that doesn't mean Sydney is a secular city in its own right.

In a world of mermaids and monsters, belief in magic is real, even if it is rare and highly mysterious. According to the compulsory scripture classes prescribed by the school, all the major religions were established by the ancient Maggie, and their accomplishments could be miraculous. However, Gwen never met a single religious person. Sydney's faithful, divided among Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans and Pentecostals, usually stick to their affluent suburbs.

As for the tower itself, modern magicians look at ancient religion with ambivalent skepticism. After all, the social cost of challenging mature orthodontics is measurable. Historically, however, the church, the state, and the Magow regime have enjoyed almost two centuries of marriage. For believers, the church teaches that the wilderness is the domain of the devil and that the cities of man are candles in the darkness. Some sects even teach that mages are part of God's ineffable plan, and that those who wake up are anointed.

"I'm sorry," Deborah said sullenly, saying that I've been a little kid for the past few years, but my mom has always been nice to me. Believe it or not, I have to go and pray with them. ”

"Very well, Debbie, I'll have enough for both of us!"

"Ahh

"I'll miss you, too, Debbie," Gwen said earnestly. She thought so too, and for a whole summer, the two girls made love in an old oak tree like two kookaburra. "Stay safe. ”

Deborah leaps out of Gwen's bed. Her friend's eyes sparkled before she pouted in an exaggerated, sultry manner.

"One for the road?" Deborah whispered, pointing a finger to her lips.

Gwen leaned over and kissed Deborah on the forehead.

"Let's go, Debbie, I'll have to get up at sunrise tomorrow, and I'm six hours away from Pogalbin. ”

Deborah sighed and walked to the door. "See you at school. ”

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. ”

"You too, Gwen. ”

The door closed.

Gwen set up her clothes. She picked out a high-waisted skirt, a white sleeveless top, and a pair of ankle-strap heels from her closet. She also double-checked her transportation card and student ID.

Gwen Song

Sid: 0043598

Evoke: 3

Elemental Affinity: Quasi-Elemental Lightning (3)

For a 16-year-old girl, her temporary ID card shows an impressive statistic. Over the next year, she will train for a future of fame, wealth, and influence. This is the pie in the sky that her master painted.

It's an admirable path for the mage, but at the same time, it's a future full of heart-wrenching anxieties. Being a magician or a tower master with thousands of lives is not at all like running a consulting firm. Real people, full of flesh and blood, whose lives can be enriched or reduced by her whims. Is this a responsibility she is willing to take?

Gwen pulled her t-shirt over her head and stepped out of her pajama pants.

Sixteen-year-old Gwen had no answer.

Thirty-year-old Gwen was equally ignorant.

The only thing she could do was to keep stomping and putting her head on the murky water.

The next morning, Tess drove Gwen to the station, where she boarded the first train into town. She took a taxi from Central to Avalon.

Elvia's haunt is one of the richest areas of the Sydney Frontier, located deep in the coastal waters known as the Northern Beaches. As far as Gwen knew, this area was reserved for mages, especially those who were close to their rule. Their peninsula, Avalon Beach, is a headland that stretches all the way to the deserted Joy Station, a major shield tower to the north of the city.

The driver, a young man in a turban, was talkative and friendly, and he praised Gwen's attire before talking about the pain of working on a public holiday. The driver, who explained all too familiarly, that he had two daughters, almost 7 and 10 years old, recounted in detail his anxiety about them waking up.

"You're so lucky. "When Gwen said that she came from an ordinary family and that she didn't know why she was a lightning mage, the man became dizzy.

"You must have done something great in your previous life. "The driver laughed and said karma, huh?"

When the taxi finally arrived at Elvia's address, Gwen was deeply moved. While not as exaggerated as Uncle Kwan's Kiribali Manor (Kiribali Manor), Avia's home is much more modern. Viewed from the hill, Lindholm's multi-storey residences are stacked on seven floors leading up to a private marina.

Due to Gwen's stylish late arrival, the parking lot was already packed with cars that looked expensive.

"Happy holidays!" the driver waved to her, then carefully pulled away from the driveway.

Gwen was alone for a moment, straightened up, and corrected her attire. She combs her hair naturally to complement her pale skin and striking eyes. In the reflection, she can see that her mother's gifted heels exaggerate her attire, elevating her calves and giving her long legs shape and definition.

"Whew-"

Gwen exhaled, let go of her arms, and strode to the door. She rang the doorbell, and with a jingle the front door opened, revealing a young blonde woman with bright blue eyes, perhaps in her early twenties.

"Oh my God!" the woman shouted, you must be Gwen!

"Hello. "The two of you are trembling, I'm Gwen Song, you must be?"

"I'm Elvia's mother, Elaina. ”

Gwen was shocked and surprised. "Miss Lindholm, I could swear you're Elvia's sister!"

Her compliment was entirely serious. Elvia is sixteen years old! If so, when did Elaine give birth?

Elaina's laughter filled the doorway.

"Welcome. Elvia's mother smiled, revealing her white teeth, which shined in their own dental commercialsCome in, come in. The whole time we were on that cruise, Elvia was talking about you. ”

They shook hands. Elaina has a rare gentlemanly demeanor that some women influence without much effort, and when Gwen walks into Elvia's house, she is impressed.

"Elvia!" her mother shouted, guess who's coming!"

Gwen held her breath, the sound of her heels approaching musically. Her friend, and the only Eve, appeared at the top of the stairs, a little out of breath.

Avia, as Gwen expected, wore a lace and frilly one-piece outfit. In the two months since meeting her, the girl has grown up and bent a little, suggesting that she has a buffet-like indulgent lifestyle.

"Eve!"

"Gwynnie!"

The two embraced, and Elvia slammed Gwen's torso and buried her face in Gwen's chest. Gwen likewise put her arms around the petite blonde girl, squeezing it tightly.

Gwen immediately felt like she was finished.

"You two are so nice," Elvia's mother muttered as she brushed her daughter's hair, come down when you're ready, and Elvia can introduce you to the rest of the family. ”

"How are you, Eve?"

"Gwynnie—so much happened! Uncle took me to a meeting, we went to some refugee camp to look for the wild people, it was terrible! What about you? Did you do anything interesting?"

"Ahh By the way, I love your clothes. ”

"I like you too. ”

"Ah......h

The two walked down the stairs.

"Did you get any news from Yue?"

"Nothing, I wish she could come today. ”

"Damn, it's a shame. ”

"Where is Yue?"

"She's training with Alesia," Gwen said possibly kicking her ass somewhere. I'm sure Alesia will take good care of Yue. ”

They soon reached the second floor, where a huge living room led to a multi-level deck that connected the middle and lower levels.

Impressively, her friend's house even has a private pier.

There were already people everywhere, 30 to 40 adults, and a dozen children. However, despite being crowded, the unusual design of the house offsets the limitations of the space.

"She's there!" said Elaine, toasting.

Attention in the room turned to Avia and herself, with several people raising their glasses, others tilting their heads, and then starting to talk again. As a whole, Elvia's family walked towards them from their respective circles.

Out of the group, Gwen recognized only Elvia's uncle, Hans, a high-ranking medical mage who had been mentoring her friends.

Elvia's father introduced himself as Frederick Lindholm, the patriarch of their small family. Soon everyone shook hands with each other, but when she walked up to a young man with typical Lindholm blue eyes, he laughed at her.

Gwen was surprised to make a double choice.

"Erik! courtesy!" Elvia's father snapped.

Gwen felt Eric's eyes gauge her. Eric's gaze was filled with hostility rather than interest. In retaliation, Gwen gave the young man the biggest, brightest smile she could.

Like Elvia, Eric is also a handsome young man with delicate facial features and deep eyes. However, the boy's appearance was clearly childish. Gwen grinned, thinking to herself that Avia could have been a cute guy.

"I'm sorry. Eric bowed and put a hand on his heart I was just in awe of the serious presence of my sister's idol. Lightning Summoner, Song of Gwen. ”

Frederick looks as if he wants to punch Eric, but Elaina gives the young man a reassuring smile and lures Elvia's father away.

"I'm glad to see you, too," Gwen replied, her voice a little cautious about this hostile development. "We haven't met before, have we?"

"No," Eric admitted, but I've heard a lot of good news about you from my friends. ”

"Oh?" Gwen was even more confused now. She certainly has no friends outside of her circle.

"Patrick and Derek," Eric said casually.

"Who?" Gwen was genuinely confused.

"Patrick and Derek. ”

Gwen shrugged. Who exactly are Patrick and Derek?

"Patrick ... "Derek......" Eric repeated, feeling her indifference, the boy's face became flustered They had seen you at a party in Kiribili. ”

Gwen ruined her memories. She recalls that when she went to Uncle Guan's house, some of the boys wanted to get some touch. She couldn't remember their names, though, and she kept trying not to erase them.

He was referring to idiots and Emo. ”

A voice shouted from behind. From the swear words that came all over the place, Gwen knew it was her cousin.

"Richard!" she spun. Behind her stood a bespectacled young man, handsome, dressed in semi-formal oxfords.

"Cousin," Richard said blankly, without any particular emotion, but Gwen sensed that her cousin was happy to see her. They hugged and exchanged cheeks. Richard's hug was a little wooden, but it felt good, like opening her body into a groove.

"You smell good," Richard said. He looked at the red-faced Eric and then pointed to the cheek that Gwen had just kissed him. "Are you jealous, little Eric, Gwen didn't caress your cheek, did you?"

"What!" Eric's face was the color of pork liver. "What are you talking about, Richard? What does it matter?"

Richard's eyes sparkled, and his glasses refracted dangerously from the midday sun.

"Gwen, mind you, Eric is furious because he's physically attracted to you, Gwen," Richard said coldly, hormonal attraction is often confused with hostility. ”

Elvia was also red, but unlike Eric, she couldn't hold back her laughter.

Gwen turned to Eric, lifted the hem of her skirt, and curtsied, showing her long, shapely white legs.

"Is it true, Eric?" she teased, do you like me?

"No!" Eric snarled at Elvia-she-! Why should I explain this!

At the expense of Eric, the trio burst into a hyena-like laugh.

"Gwen, there's something on your clothes. Strangely, Richard reached for her dress and picked something out of the sleeve of his shirt that might have been lint.

"You may have to show him a thing or two later," her cousin continued, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, and according to rumors, you are dishonoring the juniors of the prince's school. ”

He then turned to Elvia, apparently pleased with Gwen's spotless clothes for now.

"Not to mention, according to Elvia, you're going to kick his ass in a second. If you come from Blackwater Bay, you are really boasting. ”

Gwen glared at Elvia, and she looked away with guilt.

"Eve, is this true? Have you been nagging?"

"Eric is laughing at my school, our school!" Elvia was furious.

Gwen stroked Elvia's forehead.

"Troublemaker Eve," Gwen cheerfully admonished her friend before turning to Richard, then, how did you end up here?"

Her cousin looked at Eric, who was with the other prince's friends. Now, they're giving Gwen's group a stinky eye.

"Your friend invited me here. She heard about me from her brother. ”

Elvia smiled.

"She also told me that I was the only person in the family that you could put up with. ”

Elvia languished.

“... And my father was a fat man. ”

"Tully is right, right? As far as I can tell, she's sincere," Richard asked his question in what seemed entirely academic.

"Yes, Aunt Tully is a good woman," Gwen agreed, and it was Uncle Kwan who scared me even more. ”

Richard said coldly: "Guan Yu is just doing what he thinks is best, whether it is best for you or me." ”。 When Richard mentioned his parents' names again, she felt a certain sense of detachment in the young man's voice. "However, I digress. Have fun, cousin. ”

"Thanks, Richard, I think I will," Gwen said to her yellow-haired companion.

"Eve?"

"Show me around the house? I want to see your room!"

"Of course!" Elvia stuck an arm into Gwen's elbow. "Hurry up!"

Richard walked from the prince's house to his third-graders.

"Advanced. ”

"Advanced. ”

"Magistrate Huang. ”

All hostility aside, the boys behaved politely when dealing with their elders. As a school, Prince University is very particular about etiquette.

"Gentlemen. Richard tilted his head to them and answered their greeting. He saw Elvia's brother, and his face immediately turned red several times. "What's going on with Eric's horrible show?"

The other two took a step away from Eric

"You're embarrassing me," Eric angrily accuses Richard.

"You've embarrassed yourself. There was neither hostility nor mockery in Richard's tone.

Eric looked depressed. This is his house, and he should be able to tell Richard to go away. However, he did not dare. Richard is the head of the four. At the same time, he was only a rudimentary confessor. Speaking unkind things about Richard can damage his standing in the school hierarchy.

"Do you want to take it?" asked Gwen's cousin without warning.

The boys looked up at their elders suspiciously.

What is Richard doing now?

"The pride of Prince College was trampled on, but you fled like a little bitch. Then, you're both sitting here, licking each other's wounds like milk, instead of thinking about how to make things right. ”

"Do you want us to be in front of your cousin?" Eric asked carefully, don't you mind if we embarrass her?

"Do you think you can embarrass Gwen?" Richard scoffed, and you should be glad she didn't "kick your ass." Do you think Elvia is lying to you?"

At the mention of his sister's blood, Eric gets angry.

"Lao Huang, are you sure?" another boy interjected. Lightning is rare, but it's not illusory magic. Prince's students are also proficient in quasi-elementalism, and they are almost indomitable.

"Eric, this is your party, your mission, brother. The other black-haired young man, with a smug look, pushed Elvia's brother without needing to be serious. We can throw her in the harbor and behave well. That kind of thing. ”

Eric tries to imagine a ragged Gwen crawling out of the water, water pouring down her clothes. He'll love it. If his arrogant sister cried too, it was an added bonus.

"Let me ask you again, Senior Brother Huang, don't you object to us challenging your cousin?"

"Not at all. Not only that, but if you do defeat Gwen, I will personally vouch for you in the next student council election. ”

"Alright!" Eric's expression was full of anticipation. "Lionel, Todd, are you coming with me?" the other two boys nodded.

"Great, I'm going to talk to my father. Let's see if we can duel on the dock. I need a place with water. ”

Richard watched as his juniors were gone.

"Ah, be younger. The county magistrate muttered to himself.

In his unchanging heart, Richard felt a sudden anticipation. From the moment Gwen walked into the room, he felt that she radiated the aura of a familiar magician. In addition, according to her experience, Gwen also left clues of crystalline residues left behind by feeding acquaintances. For most of his life, Richard was undoubtedly aware that his conjecture had to be correct.

If Gwen really possesses a familiar - then her talent will be incredible!