Chapter 212 : Mutual Gift Exchange
Chapter 212: Mutual Gift Exchange
The wind howled, and snowflakes rushed by.
As night deepened, the temperature in Turin City dropped even lower.
Having returned to Turin, Janna quickly found the location of the Rose Family’s vast wizard castle, based on the address Vivian had given her earlier.
“It’s a bit late.”
It was already around ten o’clock at night, a time when most people in Turin were getting ready to rest.
“I should just ask Hermes to deliver it for me tomorrow, but…”
She let out a silent sigh.
But from tomorrow, Vivian would be going into seclusion. Moreover, Janna didn’t know exactly what time the seclusion would begin. So if she waited until tomorrow to deliver it, there was a high chance they would miss each other again.
“Forget it, I’ll just give it to her after she finishes her seclusion———”
“Janna?”
Just as Janna decided to turn back, a slightly surprised voice called out behind her.
“It really is you!”
After confirming it a few more times, Vivian’s tone quickly shifted from surprise to joy. She practically ran to the gate and opened the iron door outside the castle.
“I was just about to head to the dorm to look for you. I didn’t expect you to get here first.”
Two days ago, when Vivian had gone to find Janna, she’d learned from the Door Spirit that Janna was expected to return today.
By checking the schedule of the two train departures for today, Vivian had estimated that Janna would arrive at the dorm no later than ten o’clock.
So she had intended to make a quick visit tonight while there was still time.
“It’s cold outside, come in and sit for a while.”
“No need, Vivian. It’s late, I won’t intrude.”
“Why are you being so formal with me? Even if you stayed here tonight, it would be totally fine!”
Seeing how serious Vivian looked, Janna still smiled and shook her head. Then, she took out a delicate gift box and a purple paper bag from her Thorn Bracelet.
“Happy New Year, Vivian. This is a gift for you.”
Vivian, who had been insisting Janna come inside, paused when she saw the items in Janna’s hands.
Then, visibly moved, Vivian looked up and pointed to herself in disbelief.
“You came all this way tonight just to give me a gift?”
“The gift is secondary—I mainly wanted to see you again before your seclusion—”
Hearing that, all the gloom Vivian had felt about starting seclusion tomorrow instantly vanished.
“I’m so happy!”
As she took the gift, Vivian hugged Janna tightly. Even her feet couldn’t help but bounce with joy.
“Open it! Open it!”
Releasing Janna, Vivian couldn’t wait and started unwrapping the gift right there despite the wind and snow.
“I want to see what kind of gift someone as stingy as you would give me. What’s this?”
Seeing Vivian open the purple paper bag first, Janna chuckled and explained:
“That’s blueberry wine. It’s a specialty from Watermarsh City. I brought it back especially for you on this trip.”
“Oh, wine—... not bad.”
After a perfunctory compliment, Vivian eagerly tore open the other gift box.
“This one is…”
As Vivian opened the box, she found a necklace lying flat at the center. It was shaped like a snowflake, with a deep blue gemstone embedded in the center, surrounded by intricate silver filigree.
“This is a Snowdrop Necklace. It’s an ice-attribute magical accessory. When worn, it enhances the wearer’s affinity with ice elements. It also has a calming effect, which can shorten the time it takes for you to enter meditation—...”
Cold wind blew, snowflakes drifted. Gazing at the snowdrop necklace gleaming with icy blue light in the box,
After a long pause, Vivian finally said:
“Janna—....”
“What is it?”
Seeing the other girl about to get emotional, Janna—giving a gift for the first time—felt a bit shy for some reason.
“I think we’re really in sync.”
Saying that, an equally exquisite gift box appeared in Vivian’s hand.
“This is a gift for you.”
As Vivian handed over the box, Janna suddenly felt as if the snowflakes falling on her had a trace of warmth.
“This is a Lily of the Valley Earring———also a magical accessory I specifically bought for you. Do you like it?”
The Lily of the Valley Earrings enhance resistance to Mental Witchcraft and Soul Witchcraft. They also have a calming effect and improve the efficiency of Deep Meditation.
“They’re beautiful. I really like them.”
Just one glance at the two delicate earrings, shaped like white jade lilies of the valley, and Janna fell in love with them.
“But… I don’t have pierced ears yet—”
“You don’t need them.”
Anticipating this, Vivian picked up one of the earrings and said:
“They’re clip-on earrings. They don’t hurt and are very secure.”
As she spoke, Vivian helped Janna put on the Lily of the Valley Earrings herself.
“See? Didn’t I tell you?”
After helping Janna wear them, Vivian considerately conjured a Silver Mirror and handed it to her.
“They really are secure.”
Black hair cascading like a waterfall, delicate features like a painting.
With the white jade Lily of the Valley Earrings accentuating her already graceful neck, the image in the mirror was enchanting.
“My turn to put yours on.”
Handing the Silver Mirror to Vivian, Janna then fastened the Snowdrop Necklace around Vivian’s neck.
“Mine’s beautiful too! We both look amazing!”
Vivian couldn’t stop smiling at the ice-blue necklace on her neck.
“We can’t just keep standing out here in the cold. Come in, I’ll make you that bitter coffee you love—...”
“Really, it’s okay, Vivian. It’s late, and I should be going.”
The moon above was completely obscured by thick clouds due to the snowfall, casting no light at all.
Hearing Janna refuse again, Vivian didn’t insist. Instead, she switched tactics and volunteered to escort Janna back to her dorm.
“All right then——”
Janna, unable to refuse Vivian anymore, walked with her through the ankle-deep snow in the dark night, heading toward White Coral Academy.
“This is far enough.”
As the snowstorm worsened and they reached the edge of Misty Forest, Janna decided to fly back the rest of the way.
“All right, just be safe on your way back. And next time I invite you over, you’d better not say no!”
“Okay, got it. You go get some rest too.”
“Mm——you go first, I’ll watch from here.”
Seeing how worried Vivian looked, Janna smiled and shook her head. Then she quickly chanted a spell and transformed into her butterfly-winged form.
Flap—
Wings spread, soaring into the sky.
As Janna swiftly disappeared into the forest, she glanced back at Vivian still standing there. In that moment, she truly felt a little guilty for refusing so many invitations to visit her home.
“Forget it. Once the semester starts, I’ll find time to visit her—”