Chapter 1054 – Mo Lan’s Travel Diary 7

“Tomorrow the sunrise here will be amazing!” Lilith and Dorella stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the moon rising from the edge of the coastline.

Sylvia turned around and threw herself into her mother’s arms, her voice muffled against the fabric: “Mama, today was the best day ever!”

Mo Lan lowered her head and placed a gentle kiss atop Sylvia’s hair.

Vasida was carrying a giggling Tessa on her shoulders: “Let’s go! Time for dinner!”

Sylph gently combed through Evelyn’s long hair, asking softly: “Are you cold? Do you want to put on a jacket?”

The night wind swept across the cliff, carrying with it the breath of the tides and the lingering fragrance of roses. The lights inside the castle flickered on one by one, and the rooftop garden grew quiet.

The next day, after watching the sunrise, the mobile castle set off once more.

It strode with steady steps through Sunset Forest, crossing ancient paths carpeted in moss; spread its magic wings and glided lightly over Greenvale Highlands; and finally walked at a leisurely pace through Gloom Valley.

This canyon, perpetually shrouded in twilight, might seem eerie to others, but for Vasida it was a homeland full of memories.

The lamplight from atop the castle tower dispelled the mist, illuminating the ghost vines that wound along the rock face.

Tessa peered curiously at the dusty grey vine and asked Vasida beside her: “Mama, is this the thing that grabbed you when you were little? It doesn’t look very sturdy!”

Vasida pinched her daughter’s little cheeks and corrected her: “I wasn’t grabbed by the ghost vine—I fainted from hunger while picking it!”

On the evening of the seventh day, the castle came to a stop at the edge of Poison Mist Swamp.

It was an entirely different landscape.

Thick grey-purple fog rolled slowly above the swamp like a living thing, occasionally revealing the eerie gleaming puddles and twisted dead trees below.

The air was tinged with a faintly sweet, coppery smell. Even through the castle’s protective barrier, one could sense that heavy, dangerous atmosphere.

In the garden, the young witches crowded around the observation deck, staring out at the dark purple miasma.

“This place… doesn’t feel right.” Dorella’s small hand unconsciously clutched the corner of Lilith’s clothes.

Sylvia nodded: “The magic map says, ‘Poison Mist Swamp—perpetually filled with corrosive toxic miasma, home to numerous magic creatures adapted to the poisonous environment. Entry not recommended unless absolutely necessary.'”

Tessa, on the other hand, was eager to try: “Will there be really powerful poison beasts inside? Can I—”

“No.” Vasida clamped a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, her tone unusually stern: “The toxins here are too much even for some advanced Witches!”

Evelyn had already retreated to Sylph’s side: “Then let’s not go in…”

Sylph patted her daughter’s head, then turned to Mo Lan:

“We’ve pretty much covered all the scenic spots in the Wilds over these past few days, haven’t we? From here on, you’ll be heading beyond the Wilds, and it’s time for us to head back.”

Sylvia was very reluctant to part. She looked at Tessa, Evelyn, and Dorella: “Why don’t we all travel together! There are so many fun places beyond the Wilds!”

Tessa scratched her head, her tone frank: “There are lots of fun places out there… but honestly, I’d rather go back and learn how to knock out an iron-armored boar with one punch from Mama.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Vasida. “Mama, you promised me last time—once I practiced a bit more, you’d take me out for real combat!”

Vasida laughed heartily and ruffled her daughter’s hair: “You remember that clearly, huh? Alright, we’ll set it up as soon as we get back.”

Dorella spoke up too: “Mama, the castle is super cool, and the scenery along the way was really beautiful… b-but I kind of miss my little garden.”

Evelyn was already leaning against Sylph, stifling a small yawn: “These past few days have been so full… but right now, I really want to go home and have a good long sleep. When I grow up, I’ll take my time seeing the outside world!”

“Alright then!” Sylvia quietly tightened her grip on her mother’s hand. “Tessa loves strength, Dorella loves growing flowers, Evelyn loves sleeping… and I love ‘journeys into the unknown.’ We should all do what we love!”

The four young witches looked at each other, then suddenly burst out laughing together.

The next morning, the moment of farewell arrived.

Vasida, Lilith, and Sylph each summoned their broomsticks. The brooms transformed and unfurled in their hands, turning into three large, comfortable flying carpets. The carpets rose gently into the air, hovering level with the garden railing of the castle.

“Sylvia,” Tessa waved in the morning breeze, her voice bright and cheerful, “remember to take lots of pictures! And if you find anything delicious, taste it for me!”

Evelyn smiled: “Sylvia, stay safe out beyond the Wilds! We’ll be waiting for you to come back!”

Dorella waved too: “Sylvia, have a wonderful journey! If you see any beautiful flowers, be sure to tell me!”

Mo Lan held Sylvia in her arms, standing by the railing, waving to them.

The flying carpets rippled outward and drifted leisurely away in different directions toward the depths of the Wilds.

Sylvia leaned against the railing, watching the departing carpets for a long, long time without moving.

“Hard to let go?” Mo Lan asked softly.

“…Yeah.” Sylvia buried her face in the crook of her arm and said in a muffled voice, “But I know Tessa will be happier going back to practice her punches, Dorella’s flowers are waiting for her, and Evelyn misses her soft bed.”

She raised her head. Her eyes were a little red, but she managed a smile: “And Mama, you said that the best friends are the ones who, even when they head in different directions, know that each of them is becoming a better person!”

Mo Lan’s heart softened, and she pulled Sylvia into her embrace.

In the distance, the last trace of the flying carpets vanished into the sky.

In the garden, only the two of them remained—mother and daughter—along with Zhizhi, Clack, and Sentai.

Sylvia gripped her mother’s hand, her voice clear and resolute: “Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

Sylvia unfolded the magic map: “Let me see… the closest place from here is the Tatari tribe. We can go visit, and then continue west to the City of Chaos to watch the beast fights!”

Mo Lan smiled: “Sounds good!”

The castle’s wings spread once more. Its great legs slowly retracted as the castle lifted steadily off the ground and climbed upward.

This time, it flew straight west toward the Land of Chaos.

Sylvia gripped the railing tightly, looking back toward the Wilds one last time, then eagerly turned her gaze to what lay beyond.

Mo Lan stood behind her, resting a hand gently on her shoulder:

“Scared?”

Sylvia shook her head.

“Excited?”

She nodded vigorously.

“The Tatari tribe is a great spot for our mobile general store’s grand opening. Let’s go pick out some suitable goods to stock the shelves!”

Mo Lan took Sylvia’s small hand and headed toward the castle’s first floor.

There, several extendable shop cabins could be deployed outward, making it easy for them to do a little business along their travels.

Sylvia was bursting with excitement, pumping her little fists: “I’m going to earn tons and tons of Gem Coins! And when I graduate, I’ll ask Mama to build me a big mobile castle so I can drive it on my own adventures!”

Mo Lan promised Sylvia that during their journey, any Gem Coins Sylvia earned on her own would be loaded onto a Gem Coin Card and given to her. (End of Chapter)