338 Ice Elf Statue
‘Is that the formidable centaur from before?’
“Hello,” said Tristana as she bowed. “I’m Lady Tristana from the Ice Empire.”
She didn’t know why the hero was here at this hour, but it was essential to show basic courtesy. As an aristocrat, etiquette was everything.
Ferula shyly walked into the room and stared at Tristana.
“Sister Tristana, I’m Ferula.”
Ferula couldn’t contain her curiosity anymore. “Are you really from the Ice Empire? Mother said it always snows there! Is that true? What does snow look like?”
Tristana was a little stunned by so many questions. The centaur was like a young, curious child.
“It does snow all the time,” said Tristana kindly. “The snow is like… cotton, except it’s very cold to the touch. When it falls on the ground, it covers everything in white. Like a… cotton blanket.”
Tristana knew that elves lived for a long, long time. So, they only reached adulthood after living for two or three hundred years. ‘Is it the same for centaurs?’ she wondered.
“That’s great! I’ll ask Father and Mother to take me to the Ice Empire to see the snow that looks like cotton blankets!”
“Who is your father?” asked Tristana. She assumed that the centaur referred to Su Wan as her “Mother”. She hadn’t seen a man beside Su Wan when she had dinner with her.
“The Dark Demon Dragon. He is my father.” Ferula nodded as though this was common knowledge.
Tristana was surprised. Lord Su Wan definitely knew how to live her life to the fullest! ‘Su Wan and a dragon…’
Tristana was confused. How could a dragon father a centaur? Who was Ferula’s biological mother? ‘Maybe Ferula is adopted and Xu Yuan and Su Wan aren’t really her biological parents…’
Tristana talked to Ferula at length. She realized that the centaur had the mind of a child. She was simply too young.
Ferula was too flighty. She jumped up. “Sister Tristana, I’ll meet you some other time. I completely forgot about the class. I need to leave, or I’ll be late!”
“That’s alright. Is it a private teacher?”
“Teacher Mahn teaches everyone. If I am late, I won’t be able to find a good seat in the square.”
Tristana was stunned. The hero with unlimited potential and strength went to study in a class with other people…
She recalled Zorro’s words. He had said that the territory was unlike anything he had seen before.
“Can I come with you to class?”
“Sure!” said Ferula eagerly. “Teacher Mahn’s lessons are very interesting. You’ll like it. Let’s go!”
Tristana made her way downstairs with Ferula. They walked out of the Dark Castle toward the small square packed with people.
Ferula pulled her along to find a seat near an old, white-haired man, a middle-aged woman, and a burly man with calloused hands.
Tristana was stunned. The “students” were from all walks of life and of every age. They were well-dressed and always polite.
In the middle, there was a raised platform. A middle-aged man scribbled something on a blackboard.
He then turned around and looked at his audience. “Today, I’ll teach you these words. I hope it’ll be of use to you in the future. Repeat after me…”
The man read the words aloud and the audience followed suit.
Tristana looked at the people who were seriously participating and jotting down notes.
The faces of people, who were so different from each other, were united in this lesson. They read aloud and helped their peers who were having difficulties.
Tristana finally understood what made this territory so different from others. The Lord of the territory treated everyone like sentient beings and not only as cannon fodders to be used when needed.
The Lord made it so that the residents would have an opportunity to gain knowledge, no matter what age or race they belonged to.
Tristana thought about the Frostwolf Territory. Only members of noble families were given an education. They didn’t think the poor would need it.
When Tristana saw the eagerness and seriousness with which the residents were lapping up the knowledge offered to them, she had a revelation. It was no wonder that the Lord of this territory had advanced and developed so much!
Tristana was honored to be here. She participated in the class and felt good about it. She had no doubt that this territory would be famous throughout the world one day.
…
During lunch the next day, Su Wan realized that Tristana looked a little tired as though she hadn’t slept well.
When she asked her if everything was alright, Tristana just smiled and nodded.
Su Wan thought that Tristana was still unfamiliar with this environment so she might not have slept well.
After lunch, Su Wan left to place the ice statue somewhere in the territory. She placed the statue in the square in front of the Dark Castle.
[Do you wish to place the Ice Elf Statue here?]
[Note: If you do, the statue will return to its original size and cannot be moved again.]
Su Wan made her choice. The small statue grew in size. It grew into a 5-meter-tall statue of a beautiful woman in a long dress.
The blue light radiated from the statue in all directions.