"Welcome~"
Before the newly-opened aquarium, the crowds bustled to and fro. The spokeswoman, her hair restyled into long blue waves and her body clad in an aqua-blue uniform, was greeting the guests.
She wore a gentle yet warm, business-grade fake smile as she welcomed the visitors pouring endlessly into the venue, bowing fifteen degrees with each greeting—conveying respect for the guests without coming off as cheap.
Considering the outrageous price of three gold coins for a single can of cola, Li Fei had assumed the aquarium was positioned for the high-end market—but evidently, she was wrong.
A ticket price of twenty copper coins was already very wallet-friendly; ordinary families could perfectly well bring their children over to play on a holiday, and it was entirely fine for a couples' date too. Of course, only part of the area was open to the public—places like that long, narrow tunnel that had left such a deep impression on Li Fei required an additional fee.
The merchandise sold inside ranged in price too. The cheapest fruit drink cost only five copper coins, but there was also a golden pull-tab can of cola printed with the spokeswoman's portrait, bearing Li Fei's personal autograph, priced at one hundred eighty-eight gold coins.
All in all, the facilities and level of service here were quite good, and combined with the novel environment, it was enough to make the aquarium a recreation spot for many common families—while the nouveau riche who could slurp instant noodles and drink cola in the public areas would become objects of gawking spectacle.
Of course, with enough money, one could unlock even more paid experiences, such as a mermaid girl teaching you artificial respiration, bathing together with a Siren miss, the octopus girl's asphyxiation—
Suffice it to say, some of these less-than-decent attractions, while outwardly flying the banner of "aquatic creature husbandry, exhibition, and science education," and even pledging to "donate one-tenth of ticket revenue to fund aquatic resource conservation and research projects," were in fact harboring filth and vice—utterly contemptible!
——Then again, once work is over, why not go have a little exchange with the ♀ma♀rine ♀life♀ and grind up the completion rate on my Witch of Pleasure ritual?
The spokeswoman seemed to be working focused and enthusiastic, but in truth her thoughts had already drifted off beyond the ninth heaven.
"Big sister, you're so pwetty!"
A milky, childish voice tugged Li Fei's thoughts back.
She lowered her head and found a little girl with horn-shaped pigtails gazing up at her, asking expectantly: "Can you give me an autograph?"
——You've got to be kidding. If I sign for you for free, who's still going to buy the commemorative-edition iced cola priced at one hundred eighty-eight?
Li Fei's smile was sweet, and she said with a touch of apology: "Sorry, big sister's working..."
But in the next instant, she winked her right eye and, as if performing a magic trick, produced a milk candy from her person and pressed it into the girl's palm: "Hurry on in."
"Thank you, big sister."
The little girl's disappointment vanished in a sweep. Her two mothers thanked Li Fei again and again, and the family, in cozy harmony, walked into the aquarium.
The visitors beside them took in this scene in full, leaving an even deeper and more wonderful impression of this recently risen-to-fame "Angel of the Forbidden Isle" and "Miss Spell-Encyclopedia."
From noon until the sky turned a yellowish dusk, Li Fei finally patted her somewhat numb cheeks, bid farewell to the several other greeter girls, and hurried off to complete her next task.
For the first hundred customers who signed up for membership and topped up at least 18,888, besides being gifted a golden cola, the spokeswoman would also—shake their hand in thanks; at 28,888, they could take a "photo" with the spokeswoman, producing a spell-portrait; and at 38,888...
And Li Fei had fully inherited the conduct style of her good sister-from-another-father-and-mother, Irena.
The Morning Star miss, on ordinary days, would warmly and gently clear up her fellow students' confusions about spells—but when facing male classmates, she always kept her distance and gave verbal guidance only; when female classmates asked questions, however, it was soft-voiced, tender whispers + hands-on, body-to-body close instruction.
"It's only been a few hours, and the membership count has already passed one hundred..."
The spokeswoman let out an envious voice in her heart, while very professionally scooping up a noble young lady in a princess carry, her gentle and radiant smile making the girl in her arms blush all over.
A moment later, the customer—who had already settled on what to name the daughter she and Li Fei would have—carefully tucked away the spell-portrait, then quietly slipped a pink note to Li Fei, and only then bashfully said her goodbyes.
Smiling as she watched off the last member she had to personally receive, Li Fei tucked the twenty-third note she'd received today into her bosom.
"You've worked hard."
Kalida's voice came from behind.
When her long skirt covered the writing on her legs, this mature, voluptuous woman always seemed wise and elegant, with a certain domineering air about her.
She handed Li Fei a glass of amber champagne, a cherry set at the rim, her eyes full of undisguised approval: "Miss Spell-Encyclopedia's work ethic is truly impressive."
"Looks like I can look forward to the endorsement fee at our next signing."
Li Fei smiled impishly.
She had many faults—she was a wicked woman who wouldn't be wronged even if she were shot—but she never lacked a professional attitude. Back when she was carrying plates for a few dozen coppers a day, she'd hustled harder than anyone.
"Rest assured, choosing you as my spokeswoman is the wisest decision I've made in recent times."
Kalida's smile deepened as she lightly raised her glass: "To a pleasant partnership."
"To a pleasant partnership."
Amid the crisp clink of glasses, the gazes the two women exchanged kept heating up.
But Li Fei still, with difficulty, declined the offer to "go to a VIP private room and experience the aquatic services," and, taking the packed-up deluxe seafood feast with her, flew off toward the outskirts of the city.
...
"Ahh——"
Li Fei lay lazily on the bed at Miss Grace's home, enjoying a life of being fed with her mouth open.
The poker-faced miss also greatly enjoyed the process of feeding her food; that pink, tender, delicate mouth was, to her, a peerless sight she never tired of looking at.
"I want that one."
Li Fei pursed her lips, her gaze aimed at the extra-large lobster.
She wasn't all that interested in sashimi—sampling it for novelty now and then was fine, but its appeal was far inferior to the firm, salty-sweet, big shrimp-tail meat that could stuff her cheeks full and bulging.
"Is the new equipment good to use?"
Li Fei chewed the springy shrimp meat, well-soaked in sauce, and asked indistinctly.
The full-moon-grade equipment Grace had chosen was a ring. Besides decent attribute bonuses, it could also imbue physical and spell attacks with a "frost effect"—which turned the Chaos Archer miss, in one stroke, into a high-mobility, high-output Ice Archer.
"Mm."
The poker-faced miss was still sparing with her words.
"So when are you planning to advance to Sequence 7?"
"I'm preparing now."
"Pretty quick on your feet… Keep it up, try to sprint into the middle Sequences before the second academic year, and turn the Twin Stars into the Triple Stars."
Li Fei encouraged her with a beaming smile.
As for herself, she was, of course, in a class entirely of her own.
"Mm… And what about you?"
"Me? …My Ascension Ritual is pretty difficult."
Li Fei pointed at her fair little belly, where several charm-marks had surfaced: "I have to get the number of these things up to a thousand strands."
"..."
A thousand hats suddenly clapped down all at once, making Grace's head feel heavy.
"Will you find me distasteful?"
"No."
The poker-faced miss answered in a split second, and even turned it around to try to comfort the witch miss: "It's not your fault…"
The lobster meat plugged up her mouth.
"Eat more."
Li Fei curved up the corner of her mouth, her eyes glistening: "Once you're full, you'll have the strength to collect your reward."
Clearly, she had come here to make good on the "personal championship reward" she'd promised during the exchange match.
As for why she'd chosen Grace's home as the venue for the award-presentation.
Suffice it to say, although the villa was large, the bed was soft, and Lady Zhihua wasn't home, Li Fei—who had studied the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars thoroughly—still felt gratitude toward the foster mother who had raised Grace.
She intended, while the memorial hall had not yet been taken down, to prove to that lady that Grace had already found a good home to belong to, so she need not worry.
Hee hee.
Though it was a three-person team, one person was absent at the award presentation.
The bright, pure moonlight pooled across the spotless floor tiles of the church, looking soft and gentle.
Lilith stood within the church, the interlacing light and shadow seeming to carve her apart—one half bathed in pure white moonlight, the other half swallowed by shadow.
"It seems you have already resolved yourself."
The woman draped in pure white nun's adornments stood with her back to Lilith, gazing up at the statue of the Goddess of Life.
This church differed somewhat from other Life churches—there was only the solitary statue of the Goddess of Life, with no assortment of angel statues.
It was not that the church's master was impious, but rather that the angels were not worthy to bear her prayers.
"Yes, Lady Maria."
Her stepmother's face flashed through her mind. Lilith raised her voice, staring straight at the back of the woman in the shadows: "I wish to receive the inheritance of the [Life Reaper]."
"As you wish."
Maria did not turn her head; her voice was soft and gentle, carrying a note of tender affection.
And yet the statue of the Goddess of Life moved—her exquisite, sacred face split apart to either side, and within the cracked-open skull appeared a clay figurine.
The figurine flew soundlessly toward Lilith, and bobbed slowly up and down before her face.
The figurine's form was exceedingly eerie—it was a skeleton wielding an enormous scythe, the chilling white bones enough to make one shudder; yet it was, of all things, draped in black nun's vestments, and the pitch-black, hollow eye sockets actually held a hint of pity and serenity.
Lilith reached out a trembling hand, and the instant her scallion-white fingertip touched the clay figurine, a stream of information flashed forth in her mind.
[Cultist]
Ascension Requirements: Master Intermediate Life Magic and Intermediate Death Magic.
Secret Medicine Formula: Hellhound's blood, the tears of a kind-hearted one...
Ascension Ritual: Create a forbidden life.
...
[Trickster Mage]
[Shadow Priest]
...
"Without touching death, one can never understand the true essence of life."
Maria gazed at the divine statue whose skull was slowly knitting back together, and murmured: "There must always be someone to guard the light within the darkness."
Lilith, sensing the vast amount of transcendent knowledge that could only be described as evil and twisted, said in a quavering voice: "Just how, exactly, can one hold fast to the light you speak of along this path…"
"A faith, or an anchor point."
Maria answered: "This can keep you from losing your way."
Lilith bit her lip and raised yet another puzzlement:
"With my aptitude, cultivating two schools of magic at once and the like—is that really possible…"
"Aptitude can be changed, and moreover your affinity for the Law of Death was already outstanding to begin with."
Maria's voice remained as gentle as ever, like a handmaiden of the Goddess of Life parting the mists for a lost lamb: "Most importantly, you are the chosen one."
"Originally, the one the goddess statue chose was your mother, but she failed, and even I could not save her; fortunately, when you first stepped into the church, the goddess pointed to you as well."
"This path is very dangerous. You will have to struggle against all sorts of unexpected darkness…. Now, you still have one last chance to turn back."
"Make your choice—release the Life Reaper statue, or, like Alice... no, like Diana, call me teacher."
Lilith's lips pressed into a tight line, her left hand subconsciously touching her chest, caressing the necklace her stepmother had given her.
She had her answer. Her five fingers closed in, gripping the clay figurine tight, her aqua-blue eyes carrying a forward-charging resolve:
"Teacher."
"Go back and bid your mother farewell. Set off tomorrow; I'll send you to the Shrine of Death. This can refine your aptitude and elevate the realm of your Death Magic—you'll be back in about half a month."
Maria was not surprised by the girl's choice: "Once you complete the subsequent trials, the gateway of the Shrine of Life will also open for you."
"All right."
Lilith nodded, then hesitated a moment and posed one final question:
"Teacher, what is a forbidden life?"
Maria's silhouette trembled, as though she were smiling:
"Back in those years, I took a sliver of an alien god's divine power from the Inquisition... Later, a pair of forbidden angel sisters was hatched in the angel pool of the Sacred Altar of Light."
"Your mother, meanwhile, accepted the Embrace of the vampire clan, putting to death the human self she was, so as to create forbidden new life with her own body…"
"Of course, a mere Sequence 6 Ascension Ritual would not be so high in difficulty as all that. Our choices were merely going along with the flow."
Maria paused slightly, then gave clearer guidance:
"What is called forbidden is the immoral, the world-shocking and outrageous, that which cannot be tolerated by oneself or by the world."
"You must seek out the forbidden thing that belongs to you, break your own principles, and in that process hold fast to that sliver of light—only then can you truly master this inheritance."
Amid that patient, guiding tone, Lilith's gaze began to grow hazy.
She suddenly thought of the mother who had been with her day and night, and of the young stepmother who had abruptly burst into her life, baring teeth and brandishing claws like a little beast, unbridledly unleashing her charm.
But in the span of an instant, she found her own forbidden thing.
"No, I can't…."
Before the thought she shouldn't have surfaced from the lake of her heart, Lilith abruptly raised both hands and clamped them desperately over her head, straining to recall the scenes of Lady Annie comforting her through painstaking hardship, along with her haggard and wretched appearance while bitterly awaiting that other mother, and her sweet, happy appearance after falling in love with Li Fei—trying to snuff out the forbidden notion, lest she do something she could never forgive herself for even in death.
But she discovered, in despair, that she was, from start to finish, unable to drive that one voice after another of the delicate, radiant "Senior Lilith" out of her mind.
Under the moonlight, the scythe at the figurine's shoulder bloomed with a chill gleam, while in Lilith's memory, Lady Annie's embrace brimming with maternal love, and her stepmother's every frown and smile, also played out like film reel within her mind.
The reel scrolled faster and faster, the images growing blurred, until at last they burst apart, and everything—every single thing—shattered to pieces.
Creak——
A ringing rose in her ears, and Lilith's brain sank into chaos, her sapphire-like eyes utterly hollow.
She still had not made a decision—but that was precisely the problem; she was unable to completely tear apart that blurred, forbidden notion she did not dare contemplate deeply.
"Go back. Time will give you your answer."
Maria's voice startled Lilith awake.
From beginning to end, she had never turned her head; her gaze had remained fixed upon the statue of the Goddess of Life.
"Mm…."
Lilith even forgot to bid her teacher farewell. Soul-lost and spirit-scattered, she grasped the Life Reaper clay figurine and turned to leave, one foot deep and one foot shallow.
Her other hand, however, quietly covered her own lower belly.
As if the seed of the forbidden had already been sown here—it would not wither, nor would it vanish; it would only, amid the silent stillness, sprout, until it bloomed into an enchanting flower that nonetheless flowed with venom.
____
________________________________________
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 20 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉