Chapter 339

Chapter 339: The Harpsichord

Lolan Hill picked up the corroded book cover. Unfortunately, the pages inside had long rotted away, making it impossible to discern any content. She searched the rest of the observatory but found nothing except for more corroded shelves and instruments. It seemed this place had been abandoned, or perhaps no one had visited it for a very long time.

After leaving the observatory, Lolan Hill did not return to her residence but wandered slowly around the High Tower Academy.

She first heard about Night Mistress from Hope Lane at Lady Phyllis’ shop. The teacher had mentioned the Book Mage who lived in the tower. This meant that Night Mistress did indeed exist within Emanas’ school, even though she rarely appeared in public as the headmaster, she still handled some affairs.

Her experiences and memories had never shown any gaps, clearly demonstrating that Night Mistress, as a mage, truly existed. Even Tides had written to her, asking her to deliver a letter to Night Mistress upon her arrival at the school. Power was the hardest thing to fake; both Tides and Keti were undoubtedly Sequence 9s, and Night Mistress had given her a book capable of sealing birds, which she still possessed and which functioned marvelously.

All these memories, physical evidence, history, and experiences told Lolan Hill that Night Mistress indeed existed. This was reality.

However, what she saw in the observatory was also real. The traces were clearly not formed in just a day or two, and under her perception, there were clear historical marks visible. This was also reality.

Now, two realities were overlapping, and a violent conflict occurred at this node within the observatory.

Which one was false?

Lolan Hill found it difficult to make a judgment. She needed more information to corroborate. Thinking about the acquaintances within the school, the image of the former Blue Songstress, Lady Phyllis, surfaced once again in her mind.

It seemed she would have to see this mentor this time.

Just like a student who had skipped classes for a year suddenly going to see their teacher, Lolan Hill felt somewhat nervous but had no choice.

She asked some students for directions and learned where Lady Phyllis’ office was located before heading towards the Wind Sound Tower by the valley.

The lights were on atop the tower at night, visible from afar. The tower was graceful, and beneath its top, there hung beautiful copper wind chimes that gently swayed and chimed in the breeze of the valley.

Lohil entered and climbed the stairs upward. There was no one in the hallway, and it was quiet here. From the top of the tower came sounds similar to piano playing.

The young lady slowly took off the smoky pendant from her neck and placed it in the ring. Then, she untied her hair tie behind her back, letting her silver hair fall over her shoulders. She first combed through it and tied it up again, but this time, her hairstyle resembled how she dressed in Hope Lane, more like a young lady from a prestigious family.

Recalling the etiquette taught by Chelsea, the young lady straightened her dress and continued advancing slowly.

As she approached the top floor, the music grew clearer, resembling the light trembling of brass pipes, bright and clear.

She stood quietly in front of the door, listening to the music, preparing to knock after it ended.

The melody was long and ancient, filled with nostalgia, evoking memories of the past.

After a while, the music slowly ceased, and a voice came from inside the room.

“Come in.”

“Hmm.” Lolan Hill turned the handle gently and pushed open the door. Under the bright candlelight, the person playing the instrument was none other than Lady Phyllis, whom she hadn’t seen in over a year. She was sitting in front of the harpsichord in a light yellow dress, with slender fingers peeking out from the white ruffled sleeves.

“It’s Lacy, finally decided to come see me?” Lady Phyllis recognized Lolan Hill instantly upon her appearance. She didn’t seem angry and teased instead.

“I’m sorry, Miss Phyllis,” Lolan Hill bowed her head honestly, admitting she was late.

“It’s good you’re here. Unfortunately, it’s quite late now, so I don’t have any snacks to offer you. Come sit down here,” Lady Phyllis moved aside, clearing a spot on the bench in front of the harpsichord.

Lohil walked quietly over and sat down obediently. Only then did the teacher ask:

“How has your year at school been? Your clothes suggest you’ve joined the Temple Academy. Why didn’t you come earlier? Were you afraid I might scold you?”

“No, I’ve just been busy and forgot,” Lolan Hill offered a clumsy excuse. She wasn’t good at lying and felt quite ashamed.

“Alright, there’s no need to be so formal. Come, put your hand on the keys.” Lady Phyllis asked Lolan Hill to place her hand on the keys. At this moment, she noticed something unusual about the instrument.

The black, elegant exterior housed a simple yet smooth copper interior. The opened lid displayed faded murals, and the keyboard in front had two tiers, each tier being black with raised white keys in between, contrasting sharply with a piano.

“This is a harpsichord, an older type of instrument,” Lady Phyllis explained, then asked Lolan Hill to try playing a few notes. Clear metal tremors resonated from the body of the instrument.

“Compared to a piano, the sound of this harpsichord is clearer, but it’s not very loud and has a narrower range. With the rise of pianos, it’s rarely used nowadays,” Lady Phyllis said, then asked Lohil to play a simple melody from the sheet music to get accustomed to the instrument.

After a while, when Lolan Hill had played enough, Lady Phyllis allowed her to stop.

“Alright, we’ll stop here today. Next time, we’ll continue learning.”

Upon hearing this, Lolan Hill lowered her hands from the keys and asked about the observatory in the High Tower Academy.

“Have you been there before?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“What is it like?” Lolan Hill asked again, eager to know what the teacher thought now.

“It should be the private library of the headmaster, with many bookshelves and books. Headmaster Night Mistress sits in the chair at the very end. Although it seems unbelievable, that petite-looking girl is indeed a mage who has lived for nearly a thousand years,” Lady Phyllis said reassuringly.

Thankfully, this isn’t just my illusion. So, most teachers and students remember the previous state of the observatory, but what’s happening now?

“Has Lady Phyllis recently seen Headmaster Night Mistress or heard anything about her?”

“Yes, someone notified that the headmaster has been busy lately, and all matters in the academy are handled by the vice-headmaster.”

“Who notified you?”

“I can’t recall exactly, someone strange… I can’t seem to remember.”

Seeing Lady Phyllis’ confusion, Lolan Hill knew she couldn’t recall it. She comforted the teacher briefly and prepared to leave.

“I’ll go back today, Miss Phyllis.”

“Alright.”

But then, Lady Phyllis remembered something.

“You don’t use the name Lacy at school, do you? I couldn’t find you in the roster.”

Lady Phyllis’ eyes suddenly sharpened, like an eagle catching a chick, watching Lolan Hill closely, preventing her from escaping easily.

“Ah, well…,” Lolan Hill hesitated before revealing the truth.

“I feared causing trouble at school, so I made some disguises. Now, I’m called Lohil at the Temple Academy.”

“Such a clever disguise, Lacy has learned some bad habits,” Lady Phyllis said affectionately, looking at the shy silver-haired girl in the candlelight.

“Alright, I won’t pursue past matters. After all, children have their own secrets.”

“But from now on, you must come see me at least once every two weeks, understood?”

“I want to cultivate you as my successor, inheriting the title of the Blue Songstress.”

“I understand, Miss Phyllis.”

Lolan Hill nodded obediently.

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