Xia Zuo watched as Moben and Keli embraced their respective families, unexpectedly finding that Anju, like himself, had no one bidding her farewell.
"I'll board first." Anju flashed a playful smile, seemingly accustomed to living alone, lifting a heavy leather suitcase into the carriage.
So, she's an orphan like me...
Xia Zuo sighed silently, carrying a box brimming with books as he ascended the steps.
The carriage interior boasted simple decorations and spaciousness. Four beds were fixed to the walls, with a ladder by their side.
Below the beds were two rows of soft seats and a long table, all securely fastened to the floor, impossible to move casually.
At the end of the carriage stood a wooden door.
Xia Zuo opened it and discovered the washroom—equipped for both using the toilet and showering.
A pipe extended from the carriage's ceiling water tank, splitting into two faucets—one for the sink and the other for the shower.
The wastewater streamed directly through a leak in the center of the floor.
Compared to the circus's wagons, the Starry Night Academy's carriage was luxurious.
Nodding contentedly, Xia Zuo placed the box on the table and stood by the window, gazing towards the end of the street.
That was his dwelling for the past month.
He carried the deed for the small house and duplicated the key, leaving one with Audrey.
It served as Xia Zuo's connection to the circus troupe; any letters from the capital would be delivered to that house.
"It's time to depart," Mars urged from beneath the carriage.
"Mom, Dad, if the workload at the mill gets too much, hire more people. I'll write back," Keli's voice trembled. After bidding farewell to her parents, she closed the second carriage door.
"Dad, go easy on the drink. Mom, I'm leaving," Moben uttered two sentences, then turned and boarded the carriage, leaning against the doorframe, tears streaming down silently.
Mars shut the door, jingling the brass bell on the wall.
The wheels turned. The carriage smoothly rolled out of the city gates, aided by stationed mages from various regions, ensuring an unobstructed journey.
Daily meals were passed through a window at the front of the carriage. Apart from stops to change drivers and horses and restock supplies, the journey remained consistent.
...
On the third morning, as the carriage journeyed north, it reached the border between the provinces of Rosac and Sbriel.
Xia Zuo sat at the table, perusing books on alchemical poisons.
Melodious, exotic flute tunes wafted into the carriage.
Snek's custom-made flute!
He hurried to the window, tears welling up.
Snek played the flute while a green snake danced before him.
The clown siblings made comical expressions.
Pole Pie ran his fingers through his creamy hair. "Hey, I knew Xia Zuo would cry."
Audrey wiped away her tears, smiling without words, but her eyes held profound reluctance.
The carriage passed by the four circus performers.
Xia Zuo leaned against the railing, watching their figures recede into the distance.
Suddenly noticing a graceful figure standing behind them—a stranger with faint golden shoulder-length hair.
Looks like Big Sis found a new fire breather.
Xia Zuo grinned through his tears, wiping his face with his sleeve, then turned to find Mars standing behind him, wearing a playful smile.
"That's my sister, Miffy Morton. With her around, the circus will be safe. Business will flourish."
Xia Zuo furrowed his brow. "Is your sister a student at the Starry Night Academy or a fire breather in Starry Night City?"
"She's a tier above me. Already an apprentice mage. Though spellcasting isn't smooth for her, becoming a full-fledged mage is a matter of time. Her joining Audrey's circus was specially arranged by the academy."
An apprentice mage traveling with a circus in the Rosac Province...
Xia Zuo recalled the contents of "Introduction to Meditation Techniques," a book that was mandatory for academy students.
As described in the book, students at the Starry Night Academy served as mage apprentices.
Upon mastering alchemy and passing the tests of the four alchemical branches, they could delve into basic meditation techniques.
Meditation enabled practitioners to enter unique realms, seeking wild elements roaming between heaven and earth.
Using their minds to communicate with these elements, successful practitioners could absorb them, taming them into obedient ones.
For an apprentice mage to advance to a full-fledged mage, there was only one path:
Absorbing more elements until they could practice intermediate meditation techniques with their aid.
This required apprentices to travel around, meditating in various places, tracing the traces of wild elements.
Mars's sister joining the circus was a win-win choice indeed.
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