Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 billion people

Chapter 176: Iris Returns, Awakening Her Innate Magic, Echoes of Collapse

Dusk falls at the city gate.

"We're finally here!"

Elise lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the magnificent city before her. While she was overjoyed, she was also a little apprehensive.

How will the person she admires, whom she hasn't seen in so long, treat her?
However, the slowly moving carriage did not stop because of her anxiety.

After confirming the identities of the Iris Hughes family members from the wolf head mark on the carriage and the protection of the coachman Thorin's attendant, the extraordinary knight Merlin guarding the gate readily agreed to let them pass.

After all, these are the family members of the now-famous "Howling Wolf" Karen Hughes, who is also the son-in-law of the city lord!
"A lot of people."

As the carriage entered the city-state, Elise looked out the window at the bustling scene of carriages and crowds, her beautiful heterochromatic eyes revealing a deep curiosity.

For a "homebody" who had spent the past decade or so reading in the castle library, the excitement brought by this lively scene temporarily overwhelmed her inner unease.

It's like a depressed young Icelander on Earth who, after sitting in a train station during the Spring Festival travel rush in China for an entire night, miraculously recovered from his depression.

Humans, in essence, are social animals.

The carriage arrived unimpeded at Red Fox Keep, the heart of Dusk City, and was immediately allowed to proceed.

Her father was the first to arrive upon hearing the news.

After verbally praising and thanking Sir Thorin for his escort, Karen looked at her daughter whom she hadn't seen in a long time, and tears even streamed down her handsome face with emotion.

“My daughter, I have been worried about your safety ever since we were separated, but thankfully you are still safe and sound.”

“Father, I was just as worried about you. Being able to see you again is one of the happiest things in the world for me.”

After the father and daughter poured out their hearts to each other for a long time, Karen finally asked Elise why she had come.

"It was Lady Danielle's suggestion that caused my magic to riot several times after the war to attack Nightshade Keep ended," Elise truthfully reported.

As Karen listened, her expression grew serious.

After listening to his daughter's story, hesitation, struggle, guilt, and pain flashed across the man's face like a revolving lantern.

Finally, filled with remorse, he even closed his eyes, unable to look at the girl in front of him, and slowly spoke:

"The Hughes family already owes His Highness far too much."

"This debt of gratitude is something that even if the entire family were to serve His Highness faithfully for hundreds of years, it might not be enough to repay. How could we possibly add another debt of gratitude?"

“We are His Highness’s servants, not creditors, and certainly not a bunch of fools who only cause trouble.”

"Therefore, I cannot ask Your Highness for even a single word or a glance in this matter."

"I can only do my best as a powerless father to protect you from the pursuit of the Church of Storms. I cannot even sacrifice my life for this, because my life has already been dedicated to Your Highness."

"My daughter, I'm so sorry..."

Karen even bent down, wanting to kneel on one knee to apologize to his daughter, but Elise tightly embraced his neck with her slender hands.

"That's enough, that's more than enough."

“Mr. Karen, you are already the best father in the world,” the silver-haired girl said softly in a gentle voice.

"Please let me walk the rest of the road by myself."

"Whether Your Highness grants me protection or banishment, I will accept it with gratitude."

"Because, as you said, His Highness has already given Hughes, or rather, me, far too much."

library.

"Ugh."

Xia Mingyu looked at the complicated and profound magic diagrams on the magic book in his hand, sighing and shaking his head as he studied hard.

These days, due to the intense mental exertion he's been using every day, he's even experiencing phantom pain as if his brain is being burned.

dong dong dong.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the library door.

“Your Highness, Miss Elise of the Hughes family arrived at the castle half an hour ago and wishes to see you. Would you grant her permission?”

The respectful voice of the butler, Seris, came from outside the door.

Elise?
She's come to Red Fox Castle too!
Xia Mingyu was taken aback at first, but his expression quickly turned to surprise.

"Quickly, ask her to come over."

"Yes."

When Elise, led by the kind old butler, pushed open the oak door of the library and saw the dark-haired young man standing in the sunlight streaming through the window, smiling and holding out his hands, looking at her...
Her mind was still considering the right words, but her body had already started moving.

Tapping.

The sound of heels tapping on the wooden floor was particularly crisp in the quiet library.

boom.

The silver-haired girl practically crashed into the black-haired youth's arms, her lotus-root-like white arms tightly encircling his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest.

"Your Highness, I miss you so much." The girl's voice trembled slightly. She had thought of countless words to say when they met again, but in the end, it turned into the purest longing in her heart.

Startled by this unexpected turn of events, Xia Mingyu was momentarily stunned. After recovering, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and a gentle smile appeared on his handsome face.

"I miss you too." He said in the gentlest voice possible, stroking the girl's long, silvery hair that cascaded down her back.

"Welcome back, Elise."

Inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from her hair, the two embraced for a long time before gradually separating.

"Let's go. We can talk about it after dinner. Anlia must miss you a lot too."

Xia Mingyu glanced at the already pitch-black sky outside the window, stopped Elise from saying anything hesitantly, and spoke up.

"Okay." The girl nodded obediently, thinking that it wouldn't be too late to have a meal first before accepting His Highness's judgment.

restaurant.

The crystal chandelier on the ceiling casts a soft glow downwards.

"It's been a long time, Miss Elise. How have you been?"

Wearing an apron, Anlia placed her carefully prepared dishes on the table and greeted the guests with delight.

"Sister Anlia, I'm fine. Thank you for the delicious food." Iris stood up and nodded politely in thanks.

Tonight, Anlia is making her best dish—honey-fried pork ribs, served with a glass of freshly squeezed red juice.

Looking at the tempting caramel-colored, tender and juicy pork chops on the plate, Xia Mingyu's appetite was whetted. He couldn't wait to cut a piece with his knife and fork and put it in his mouth.

The moment you bite into it, the caramelized sugar coating makes a soft crackling sound between your teeth, and the rich aroma of honey, like stepping on a thin sheet of ice, explodes in your mouth, carrying a faint fragrance of burnt bay leaves.

At the same time, a strange magical power rose from his body, making him feel as comfortable as if he were soaking in a hot spring, so much so that Xia Mingyu narrowed his eyes. "Anlia, the effect of the food you made this time should be an increase in magical power..."

After savoring the moment for a long time, Xia Mingyu opened his eyes, but was interrupted by a surging wave of air rushing towards him.

Hua Hua Hua.

A strange magical power, interwoven with crimson and pale white, erupted from the petite body of the silver-haired girl like a surging tide, causing the doors, windows, and chandeliers of the entire restaurant to sway and rattle.

Under the astonished gazes of Xia Mingyu and An Liya, a line of deep purple text gradually appeared above the girl's head—"Magician."

This girl, whose magical talent was hailed by her teacher as an "unparalleled genius" in the magical world, finally became a magician at the age of seventeen after suppressing her magic for many years.

"Iris, congratulations on taking the most crucial step on your path of magic."

Xia Mingyu walked over to offer his blessings, only to find that the silver-haired girl, who should have been happy, now had a smile on her pretty face that was even uglier than crying.

In an instant, he remembered what Elise had mentioned before: once she became a mage and awakened dual-color magic, she would be immediately arrested by the Church of Storms.
Xia Mingyu's expression gradually turned serious. He suddenly realized why Elise had suddenly come to Red Fox Castle.

“Elise, would you like to come to the library with me to talk?” he said softly.

“Mm.” Elise nodded heavily, her head down, gently tugging at Xia Mingyu’s clothes, following closely behind him like a puppy afraid of being abandoned.

library.

Xia Mingyu sat on the ground, while Elise knelt on the floor with her head down, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.

"So, after the multiple magical outbursts, it was Lady Danielle's suggestion that you come to me?"

After listening quietly to her story, Xia Mingyu asked a question.

"Mmm." The girl's voice was barely audible, but she nodded heavily again.

Upon hearing this, Xia Mingyu fell into deep thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the wooden board, making a tapping sound.

Elise felt her heart pounding in rhythm with the sound.

"Elise, is it possible to keep the news of your breakthrough to become a mage a secret from the Church of Storms?"

After a long silence, Xia Mingyu finally spoke.

“It’s almost impossible, because Bishop Rune previously revealed that there is a divination compass in the Storm Church’s holy city of Windbreak that can locate individuals with heterochromatic eyes at the Morning Star level. Once the compass trembles, the Church will send a powerful paladin to capture the person.”

Elise shook her head with a wry smile. If it weren't for this, how could she, who should have been able to easily break the shackles of Morning Star at the age of fourteen, have endured until now?

Xia Mingyu fell into deep thought again, while Iris, sensing the oppressive atmosphere, lowered her head even further.

Her forehead was almost touching her knees, and she was curled up into a small ball. Her fingers, gripping the hem of her skirt, had turned bluish-white from the excessive force.

Even her body trembled slightly.

Xia Mingyu noticed the girl's nervous state of mind. He temporarily set aside his thoughts on how to deal with the people from the Storm Church and instead said softly:

"Elise, do you know what I'll say when I see Lady Danielle again?"

Why are you causing me trouble?

“No, I will tell her that I thank her for advising the girl I cherish, so that she wouldn’t be foolish enough to refuse to seek help from her friend even when she is about to fall into a fire pit,” Xia Mingyu said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the silver-haired girl, whose head was almost touching the floor, suddenly raised her head and looked at the black-haired youth in front of her with disbelief in her eyes.

When she came to her senses, her beautiful eyes were already brimming with tears.

"Woo!"

A long-suppressed sob finally escaped from the girl's tightly clenched lips, and she covered her face and cried as if a floodgate had been opened.

Tick, tick.

One, two glistening teardrops fell onto the hem of her skirt, leaving dark stains.

"Don't cry. I remember you told me that you came into this world because of love, so why do you belittle yourself?"

Xia Mingyu gently stroked Iris's head and said softly.

"Your mother and your father both love you, and so do I!"

“My little teacher Elise, would you like another hug?” The black-haired youth opened his arms and smiled.

What greeted him was yet another embrace that felt like an impact.

"Elise, what is your innate magic after becoming a mage?"

Once the girl's emotions had finally calmed down and he had wiped away the tears on her pretty face, Xia Mingyu asked with curiosity.

According to the research of magicians, the power and uniqueness of one's innate magic largely depend on the magician's own talent.

Taking himself as an example, he awakened a powerful natural disaster magic, such as the Heavenly Punishment Dragon Thunder, which even carries a special attack against evil people.

And Elise, whose talent is only slightly weaker than his, should also have a very powerful innate magic awakened.

"Your Highness, please allow me to sense it."

The silver-haired girl closed her eyes and quietly sensed the information that appeared in her mind after her advancement.

Collapse Echo: When it touches an object or living being, it causes it to disintegrate. The harder the material or the higher the level of the being, the more magic power is lost.

"Your Highness, my innate magic is Honkai Echo." Iris told Xia Mingyu the information completely.

It can disintegrate with just a touch?!
Xia Mingyu was startled. In any anime or novel on Earth, the power of decomposition always resides at a very high level within that worldview, except for a certain clown whose name cannot be reversed.

However, the girl who had awakened such a powerful innate magic looked rather melancholy at the moment.

"Your Highness, are you sure that with my frail body, I can really participate in battle using magic that requires contact to activate?"

Elise raised her slender wrist, which was as delicate as a willow branch, and said with a helpless expression.

Xia Mingyu was speechless for a moment. It seemed that was indeed the case. They couldn't possibly make the girl wear armor and fight bare-handed like a knight in the future!
"Let's try it first."

Xia Mingyu dragged over a wooden table, gesturing for her to get started.

"Echoes of Honkai." Iris silently murmured to herself.

The next moment, a magical power intertwined with crimson and pale emanated from her body, spontaneously outlining countless magical runes in the air, eventually forming an extremely intricate pattern that could make one dizzy at a glance.

At this moment, Xia Mingyu was surprised to find that the complexity of this pattern was no less than that of the demonic pattern of the Extreme Cold Purgatory.

The demonic image eventually dissipated into beams of white light, which converged on Elise's right hand, engulfing it in dazzling light.

Elise extended a finger and gently pressed it against the surface of the wooden table.

Then, starting from where she touched it, countless cracks spread wildly like a spider web, instantly engulfing the entire wooden table and rapidly spreading along the corner of the table to the wooden floor.

"Take your hand away!" Xia Mingyu suddenly realized something and immediately shouted.

boom!
The next moment, accompanied by a huge cracking sound, the floor beneath their feet collapsed.

(End of this chapter)