Chapter 848: Fiery Maple Forest
After spending a busy period in Solande, Lolan Hill finally flew toward the courtyard she remembered.
Crossing through Clancia’s vast territory, over Ti Xilam’s towering mountains and forests, she finally arrived at the familiar crimson maple courtyard.
Though autumn had not yet arrived, the scenery here was already ablaze with red. Sunlight filtered through the light red maple leaves, dyeing the world in warm hues. Beneath each red maple tree lay layers of accumulated fallen leaves, reflecting the same color onto both the earth and sky.
As she walked through the maple forest, the sound of crisp, curled leaves breaking underfoot could be clearly heard. Her fingers brushed against the trunk beside her, and the brown-black bark felt like deep ravines, hard and rough, evoking images of cracked rocks.
Glimpses of blue sky peeked through the maple leaves, and the chirping of birds from an unknown distance added a sense of tranquility and vitality.
“Is this where Lolan Sister lives?” Night Ling asked as she and Lolan Hill walked through the maple forest, glancing around curiously.
“Yes, I lived here for a long time before moving to Hope Lane and Emanas,” Lolan Hill stopped and placed the wicker box by her side, opening it.
Chirp chirp, cheep cheep~
Two birds flew out of the wicker box, chirping curiously as they perched on branches.
During their return journey, these two birds often stayed in the box, saving them much trouble. Perhaps passersby might think the girl’s box contained clothes and accessories, but in fact, Lolan Hill stored her clothes in storage space; only living creatures unsuitable for storage space remained in the breathable wicker box.
Watching the two birds happily flying and chirping among the trees, Lolan Hill felt a sense of joy and relaxation.
Even though the Red Jujube Palace’s maids took good care of her and Night Ling, she still preferred this unrestricted life.
“Let’s go.” Lolan Hill climbed onto a rock in the forest and waved at Night Ling behind her.
“I’m coming!” Night Ling called out, running over lightly and landing beside the girl with a happy smile.
Turning several corners lined with red maple trees, they emerged from behind a large boulder, revealing a wide and beautiful world before them.
A splendid red flower sea covered the open ground, delicate petals revealing pale gold stamens that swayed gently in the breeze. Amidst this flower sea stood a towering giant tree over fifty meters tall. The fiery red canopy overhead occasionally shed a few red leaves into this serene world.
Beyond the flower sea, a small round-roofed house faintly appeared. Compared to the towering giant tree behind, this house was tiny but peaceful, exuding a mysterious and distant aura.
Circling around the blooming flower sea, Lolan Hill led Night Ling toward the dusty little house. The gray stone path was already overgrown with weeds, and the closed door was covered in dust.
Unlocking the simple door, a soft click echoed as the wooden door opened, revealing the interior of the house.
The furniture and wooden planks made of red maple wood blended harmoniously, creating a beautiful scene.
“There’s quite a bit of dust,” Lolan Hill remarked softly.
“Do you want to clean up? I can help,” the little dragon maiden volunteered from behind.
“Sure, let’s start then,” Lolan Hill replied. They put down their simple luggage and opened the door and windows, allowing gentle breezes to flow in, continuously circulating and sweeping away the dust.
Once most of the dust was cleared, Night Ling fetched water from the well in front of the house and began washing the floor.
Splash—
Water splashed from the bucket, hitting the wooden planks, creating a cool sensation. Then, the air currents circled and spun, continuously washing the ground, walls, and furniture before exiting through the window.
The slightly damp house was temporarily unsuitable for entering, so while they were airing it out, they floated to the tall red maple trees and sat on the branches to cool off.
Wind passed through their bodies and feet, bringing a refreshing sensation. Lolan Hill introduced the various facilities to Night Ling.
“On the southern side of this red maple forest, there’s a river valley with a stream running through it. You can go there to fetch water or fish. It seems nice to soak in the summer, since the water isn’t deep and is very cool.”
“Great!” Hearing about fishing, the little one became excited.
“I’ll make you a small bed later. The bed in the original room was for Keti,” Lolan Hill said, suddenly feeling nostalgic for Keti.
They discussed various plans for staying in the forest, such as fishing, mountain climbing, planting flowers and grass, and looking for small animals.
It was still late June, and Lolan Hill planned to accumulate strength during this time before going to Emanas in August to handle any unexpected situations.
However, before going, she should check with Tides first. She hadn’t informed her about being back in Clancia for so long, and she wasn’t sure if the phantom witch was still active, perhaps even sleeping somewhere.
Witches were like this; after enduring long years, their interests gradually diminished. Some witches would immerse themselves in certain pursuits for centuries, while others might feel bored and lie in their hidden shelters, sleeping for decades before emerging to see new changes.
Thus, although many witches still existed in this world, ordinary people rarely heard about them because they appeared infrequently.
As they talked, Lolan Hill recalled a familiar friend.
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to visit a friend.”
“Oh, are there other people living here?” Night Ling widened her eyes, and her dangling legs came to a stop.
“She’s a neighbor, living in the north in Fog Bu, beneath the ice lake. She’s a very beautiful elf.”
“And she planted many beautiful flowers by the lake. We’ll get to see a very beautiful sight.”
“What kind of elf is she? Elves always seem so mysterious.”
“Well, how to describe her? Imagine an elf with an ice-blue umbrella, walking through her favorite meadow, appreciating the blooming scenery, reminiscing about the past,” Lolan Hill said, recalling the image of Princess Yixuegelin, the ice elf.
“As long as you don’t trample her flower field, she should be easy to get along with.”
“If we have free time later, we can also visit the south. There’s another neighbor who has lived there for a long time, though I’ve only heard about her from the red maple tree. She apparently likes fire and lava.”
“The red maple tree we’re sitting on is alive. It’s been neighbors with these two for a long time.”
“That’s great! It feels so interesting. Following Lolan to the Western Continent was definitely the right choice, heheha.”
With that, Night Ling happily leaped from the branch, her tiny dragon wings spreading behind her, circling among the fiery maple trees, emitting clear laughter. As the little dragon maiden cheered, Lolan Hill felt the red maple tree transmit a joyful emotion, and the maple leaves and tree trunks emitted a faint, hazy glow in the evening.
In this light orange glow, the maple leaf courtyard in this forest seemed like a fairy realm, dreamlike and beautiful.
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Currently, the update speed is a bit slow, which the author acknowledges. Since the outline for the upcoming civil war in the Empire is still under construction, progress is slower (aiming to write more next month).
End of Chapter
