Blueberry Cake

Li Yue slowly walked into the hall of the main building. A few students occasionally emerged from the classrooms carrying books, perhaps because some lectures had ended early. Li Yue watched them, her heart feeling no great stir. She had said goodbye to yet another identity, just like the many others she had assumed during her long journey—all of them had ended in absurdity.

The only remaining connection was perhaps the objects she had left in her room. Previously, she had always kept them in the ring Clo had given her, but perhaps because she had finally found a place where she belonged, she had placed these items—which she regarded as treasures—in spots where she could see them.

“At some point, I should take a photo with Clo too.” Li Yue lowered her head and thought for a moment, then shook her head. She gazed at the drizzling rain outside the window, momentarily speechless.

“Forget it... I’m afraid she’ll be overcome with sorrow upon seeing my things,” Li Yue murmured. She didn’t know if the “she” in her words referred to Clo or herself.

“Let it be.” Her eyelids lowered as she walked forward in silence.

“Ah, Li Yue, are you feeling better?” A voice caused Li Yue to pause. She looked toward the source and parted her lips, but for a moment, she couldn’t recall the person’s name.

“Zijing... it’s me...” Zijing blinked. To her, Li Yue’s condition was somewhat expected. After all, many magic users who researched this field often experienced brief amnesia or the permanent loss of small fragments of memory after suffering severe injuries.

However, Li Yue had simply failed to remember her, and that was all. Li Yue’s emotions toward others had thinned considerably. Aside from Clo, who could still stir her feelings, she felt a sense of disdain when looking at most people, as if she were peering down from above. Perhaps this was the arrogance of a god.

But in her memory, gods were never arrogant creatures... which was also quite strange.

“My apologies, I didn’t recognize you just now. I’m fine. I’m doing well.” Li Yue thought for a moment. “So far, I am doing well.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Many of my classmates who study this kind of magic often lose their memories.” Zijing glanced toward a corner, a flash of sadness appearing in her eyes. “After all, most memories aren’t that precious and are often forgotten. I’ve grown used to it too.”

“Did they also suffer a backlash of divinity?” Li Yue was slightly curious. She looked at Zijing, her tone wavering slightly as if her mood had shifted.

“No, no. They simply use their memories as bargaining chips, offering them to the gods in exchange for their power.”

“Offer them to the gods?” Li Yue was stunned.

Me?

“Will the God of Death respond?”

“Very rarely.” Zijing thought for a moment. It seemed this deity was the most aloof of all, yet it was precisely when one was closest to death that the strongest response could be obtained.

“Perhaps you could try a different sacrifice next time.” Li Yue’s lips twitched. She had barely been able to look after herself all these years; how could she have gone around blessing strange individuals? Could it be that her god’s remains were responding automatically?

“Since you’re so strong in the domain of ‘death,’ Miss Li Yue, what do you use to communicate with the god? Or rather, if I may be so bold, what does She actually like?” Zijing propped up her somewhat chubby chin, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

“Hmm... what does She like...” Li Yue imitated Zijing’s posture, pinching her own cheek as she struck a thoughtful pose. “Perhaps you could try... blueberry cake.”

“Really?”

“Really. No one knows Her better than I do.” Li Yue recalled that afternoon when a small cake had been placed before her. Though she had only taken a tiny bite, that delicious flavor had been etched into her memory.

“Do you need to catch up on your coursework now that you’re back, Miss Li Yue?” Zijing secretly noted down this method, though she was ninety percent skeptical.

“There’s no need. I’m no longer a student of the academy.” Li Yue pulled out a parchment scroll. “Principal Albert has hired me as a professor, and I’ve accepted. My apologies, but I am actually a Great Mage.”

“Ah...” Zijing’s mouth hung open, though she wasn’t particularly surprised. As early as that day, she had felt a mana within Li Yue that far exceeded the level of a normal Mage.

“It was just due to some special reasons before. In short, I have a reason to stay here.”

“Then is it true, as the rumors say, that you are a noble of the Royal Court?”

“That’s a lie. My connection with the Royal Court...” Li Yue originally wanted to say she had nothing to do with them, but after a moment’s thought, she stopped herself. “The connection was severed long ago. I don’t have much of a relationship with them.”

Zijing nodded thoughtfully, still not quite understanding these strange relationships.

“Will you still come to the cafe in the future?” Zijing wondered why she had suddenly asked such a strange question. She covered her mouth, feeling as though she had misspoken and been somewhat impolite.

“It depends on my mood and schedule.” Li Yue pursed her lips and left a mysterious smile.

In truth, she quite liked blueberry cake.