"Lady Mystoria, I have long heard of your great name. I am Faust, a prince of Qingxi, and this is Viviana."
After they had introduced themselves, Faust smiled as he poured tea for Mystoria.
"The scenery of the Qingxi Kingdom is indeed quite beautiful. I have enough confidence in that even when compared to the elflands."
The elf martial saint picked up her teacup and took a light sip. "Mhm. Perhaps. I have been away from my homeland for a long time, but it is true that I have not felt this relaxed in other human kingdoms."
"Lady Mystoria, why did you leave the Zhexuan Kingdom?"
Viviana asked suddenly. Upon learning the identity of the elf martial saint, her hostility and wariness had mostly dissipated.
After all, a person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree; given Mystoria's status and strength, it was impossible for her to harbor ill intent. Even if she did, they wouldn't be able to resist.
However, the woman's presence before her still filled the pale-blonde girl with confusion.
"As far as I know, the Zhexuan Kingdom was invaded by demons twenty years ago and suffered heavy losses. To recover its strength, it is currently in a state of isolation."
The implication was clear: why was a powerful figure as vital as a martial saint traveling to a remote backwater for tourism instead of guarding the precarious elven kingdom?
Upon hearing this, Mystoria’s eyes—which had remained calm and clear since they met—suddenly filled with sorrow.
"I am... in exile. Self-imposed."
"Exile?"
Faust clicked his tongue in wonder.
"What could possibly convict a martial saint? Are the laws of the elven kingdom so strict that even you lack immunity?"
Mystoria shook her head.
"No one sentenced me. It is simply that I cannot forgive myself. Until I find a way to achieve redemption, I have no intention of returning home."
The elf martial saint's voice grew lower as she spoke. The hairpins and tassels pinned to her flaxen hair trembled slightly with the movement of her head.
It sounded quite complicated.
However, Faust did not intend to pry into the reasons, especially since Mystoria clearly projected an aura of 'not wanting to talk about it.'
After finishing the refreshments, Mystoria placed her hands on her lap and thanked them solemnly.
"Thank you for the hospitality. We shall part here. It is time for me to continue my journey."
Wait, just like that?
Faust was stunned. He hadn't expected Mystoria to truly just show up for a free meal and then leave. He quickly tried to persuade her to stay.
"Lady Mystoria, do you not plan to stay in Qingxi for a while longer? Please, let us show you some proper hospitality."
"There is no need. I am used to a life of asceticism."
Mystoria brushed aside the flaxen hair near her ear and turned her head.
"Furthermore, I have no interest in participating in the struggles between humans. You do not need to do anything unnecessary."
Clearly, during this period of 'self-exile,' many people had tried to recruit her. After all, she was a legendary hero of the elven race; it was impossible for others to resist the temptation.
Faust had originally planned to take things slow, but seeing that Mystoria truly intended to leave, he cast aside his sense of decorum and said:
"I do not harbor such lofty expectations. I have merely heard of your deeds and hoped to receive some guidance."
Compared to her brilliant combat record, what was even more astounding about the elf martial saint Mystoria was her ability to teach apprentices. Before the Zhexuan Kingdom closed its borders, Mystoria frequently traveled to various countries to participate in competitions, claiming championships in all sorts of grand tournaments.
During those times, she often made friends through martial arts and was passionate about passing on her skills.
While one couldn't say she had students all over the world—since Mystoria had never formally recognized a master-disciple relationship—it was undeniable that the juniors she had guided and taught almost always became top-tier experts.
Mystoria glanced at Faust. Her bright golden pupils flickered for a moment before she spoke bluntly:
"Your talent is mediocre."
"I have taught many students, but they were already warriors with extraordinary natural gifts and deep foundations. They were merely stuck at bottlenecks. As a martial artist, I simply used actual combat to guide them across the threshold."
The elf martial saint looked at the pale-blonde girl sitting upright and still as a painting.
"If it were a matter of taking a disciple, I would be more inclined toward this knight. But with her talent, she doesn't really need any guidance at all."
"However, your face is very handsome. Rare is the human who can astonish me. Have you ever considered following the priestly path?"
Faust: "..."
Wait, how is this right?
Shouldn't the elf martial saint have seen his potential at a glance, found it terrifyingly divine, and then insisted on taking him as a disciple while he graciously accepted after a moment's thought?
How did she end up looking down on him!
【Sigh, what a superficial view. Do not be sad, Faust. In my eyes, your talent and constitution are rare throughout the ages. Not only are you one loved by a witch, but you also possess the wisdom to see through the tracks of destiny, and more importantly, the most precious thing of the son of man: fearless greed.】
'Saying all that is useless! Mephistopheles, you promised to find me a teacher!'
Faust attacked the fairy in his mind for his incompetence. Was this how the promised blessing was supposed to go?!
【Faust, my dear Faust, your accusation is quite unreasonable. Did you truly think that a small amount of merit from practicing the path could directly make a legendary hero, an elf martial saint, teach you with her whole heart?】
To be fair, it really couldn't.
Faust thought about it and realized that such an exchange was indeed unbalanced, but he also knew Mephistopheles wouldn't mess with him on purpose.
'Then tell me, what exactly do you mean by "surprise"?'
【The surprise is that you can borrow my prestige to make her stay. In the elven kingdom, I am somewhat famous.】
Mephistopheles taught Faust a few lines, saying that this would allow him to completely handle Mystoria.
Fine, fine. So it’s the old "fox borrowing the tiger's power" trick. I’m wide awake now.
"Wait, Lady Mystoria."
Just as the elf martial saint was walking on the water, prepared to leave, Faust pulled up his sleeve to reveal the contract sigil he shared with Mephistopheles.
"I have formed a contract with a fairy named Mephistopheles. Are you familiar with him?"
Splash—
Accompanied by the sound of surging waves, Mystoria, who had almost reached the shore, returned to the pleasure boat in an instant. Her speed was so fast the naked eye could not track it.
The elf's almond eyes, which looked like molten gold, widened in shock.
"Is it... is it Lord Mephistopheles?"
Faust was startled by the excited elf martial saint. Her beautiful, delicate face was almost touching the bridge of his nose.
"That’s right. Judging by your reaction, Mephistopheles is very famous? I had never heard of him before."
"How could the shallow history books of humans know of His existence? Especially since your nations are constantly collapsing and overthrowing one another; who knows how much of the past has been lost."
Mystoria placed a hand over her heart.
"In the ancient legends of my kingdom, Lord Mephistopheles is the fairy who guided our ancestors out of the wilderness to establish civilization. It was not just the elves; in the primordial era, most of the initial kingdoms were founded under the guidance of Lord Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles is a true primordial fairy."
Good grief, talk about seniority!
Rate on N.U.
