The Vastness of Magical Destiny

As the wonderful strains of "Springtime in Prague" began, Komer naturally became the first choice of dance partner for Princess Vero, the birthday girl. While everyone watched with envy and admiration, the country bumpkin who had been a non-entity leaped to stardom at the banquet, and the bloodshot eyes of Knight Sate seemed ready to choose someone to devour.

The fox-trot was the most popular social dance among the high society of the Blue Continent. As a noble, you might not be able to do anything, but at the very least, basic noble etiquette and social skills were indispensable, else you would find yourself utterly incapacitated. And a proficient grasp of social dances was the most fundamental of social skills. Although Komer, one of the Three Wolves of Cyprus, learned nothing during his reckless youth, he mastered these symbols of nobility so well that they became the fundamental tactics for seducing respectable young ladies. In any situation, social dances were essential.

Komer’s proficient and masterful dance moves led the silver-haired girl gliding effortlessly across the hall, from feather steps to the triple step and finally to the Bruce. From light and graceful to firm and practiced, Komer fully displayed the high culture and standards expected of a noble, while the silver-haired girl’s supple body changed dance poses continuously under Komer’s guidance. Their harmonious cooperation earned them rounds of applause from the Galleian nobles watching, and from the admiring and entranced looks in the eyes of the ladies, it was clear that Komer’s generosity and elegant demeanor had completely won them over. Although the unmarried men were somewhat begrudging, the married gentlemen were full of praise for the performance of this young noble from the Homer region.

"Your Baron, I’m curious, don’t you feel any pain at gifting such a magical wonder as a present to me? Is it because of etiquette that you feel embarrassed to take back a gift once given?" Even amid the melodious music, the girl’s gentle voice still intoxicated Komer, her subtle fragrance not seeming like any expensive perfume but more like a natural body scent, wispy and enveloping around his senses, even inducing a dream-like daze.

"Oh Miss Vero, as one of the Seven Spirit Rings of the Goddess of Nature that she always carries, the Essence Spiritual Ring might indeed be a precious treasure to many, but in Komer’s heart, rather than having the ring worn by a mage to perform meaningless magic, it is better suited on Miss Vero’s hand to fulfill its intended purpose. If Miss Vero can always maintain the peerless grace that outshines the continent, then Komer believes the ring will truly have served its purpose. Even if Komer had another such ring, he would make the same choice." Perhaps entering some kind of time-space tunnel, Komer found himself unconsciously returning to the state of those noble banquets in Cyprus City years ago, sweet and cloying words flowing effortlessly without thought, surprising even himself with this reaction.

Facing such sweet nothings from a noble young man, the silver-haired girl seemed somewhat lacking in the necessary immunity. As the music echoed, their common language seemed to grow, from the refugees’ tragic fate to the harsh conditions of relocated life, from the daily lives of the nobles to the hard-earned livelihood of the common people. The girl found that the speech of this so-called country bumpkin was always filled with a hint of self-deprecating humor, giving an inexplicably agreeable feeling.

Seeing his daughter conversing pleasantly with the baron, the silver-haired elder’s face grew even more sullen. What was supposed to be a pleasant birthday banquet had become a stage for that fellow’s performance, a single ring had built up his good reputation among the Galle nobles. Zellin thought resentfully that Sate really was good for nothing and prone to ruining things.

"Mr. Mundell, is the ring that Vero is wearing really one of the Seven Spirit Rings of the Goddess of Nature? I am quite skeptical about whether there is some trick to this." The silver-haired elder finally turned his gaze away from the dancing couple and asked in a lowered voice.

"There should be no problem, I can feel the strong and vivid magic breath from that Spiritual Ring. Although I have never had the chance to witness the Seven Spirit Rings of the Nature Goddess, there is no doubt that this is a genuine treasure. And my friend Mr. Rebury, who has traveled all over the continent, is particularly focused on the research and search for such wonders. His judgment is infallible; he just told me that if the ring finds a suitable buyer in Jazair or Marco, it could be worth at least 300,000 gold coins! I can hardly believe it!" The mage’s gaze did not hide the envy and regret that such a magic wonder had become a beauty-maintenance accessory for a girl, it seemed too much of a waste.