Chapter 1048 – Mo Lan’s Travel Routine 1

In the blink of an eye, the day of the little ones’ third birthday had arrived.

The backyard of the cottage by Spring Sight Lake, quiet for so long, was bustling with life once more. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of cake and the smoky aroma of roasting meat.

Tessa was dragging an iron-horned bull several times larger than herself, her little face flushed red with excitement as she pointed at her “trophy” and showed off to her friends:

“Look! I took it down all by myself! Mama was watching from the side — I didn’t use any Magic, just my fists and dodging! It was super strong, but I was faster!”

After finishing her boasting, she gave a grand wave of her hand, letting her mother Vasida haul the “quarry” off to be prepared, transforming it into the most anticipated dishes of the day — whole roasted bull and meat skewers.

Dorella had prepared a pot of flowers for each of her friends — even the four mothers — each one a different variety in full bloom, planted in adorable painted ceramic pots and tied with ribbons she had woven herself.

“These are flowers I grew myself! A gift for everyone! They give off a lovely fragrance, and at night they glow softly too!”

Evelyn was no longer the perpetually drowsy child she had been as a baby. She sat quietly on a picnic blanket, listening as Sylvia animatedly described — with wild gestures and dancing hands — the travel route she had meticulously planned:

“…We’re going to the City of Chaos to watch the most thrilling magical beast fights; to Moon Harbor to see the real ocean and drink Auntie Melis’s new wine; then we’ll dive down to the Merfolk Kingdom to browse their underwater markets and hear the most beautiful Merfolk singing; we’ll go to the Durin Volcanic Cluster to watch volcanoes erupt with a huge ‘boom-boom-boom,’ then visit the Dwarven Kingdom — Mama promised to buy me a special sharp magical dagger suited for children; we’ll cross the Beastmen grasslands to see all kinds of Beastman tribes! We’ll go to the Elven Woods to play with the really pretty Elves with their pointy ears; and then we’ll head all the way north to the Far Northern Snowfields, climb the tallest snow mountains, and search for traces of the legendary Ice-Snow Tribe…”

A dizzying string of place names tumbled from Sylvia’s little mouth, her eyes sparkling with boundless longing for adventure.

After listening to this itinerary that spanned nearly the entire Continent of Valen, Evelyn couldn’t help but let out a small yawn and offered her leisurely assessment:

“That many places… wouldn’t it take years and years? It sounds so tiring.”

Sylvia nodded vigorously. “My mama says we’re in no rush — wherever we walk, we look around; wherever we look, we play! If we haven’t finished before I start school, then I’ll pick up where we left off and keep exploring after I graduate!

But Mama says that at the speed of our mobile dwelling, ten years is more than enough for us to leisurely tour the entire Continent of Valen!”

“Mobile dwelling…” Tessa, who had been listening with her ears perked up the whole time, seized on the key phrase. She leaned in curiously. “What does the mobile dwelling that Senior Moira made actually look like? My mama has mentioned it several times — she says Senior Moira tinkered with it for years and wouldn’t let anyone see it. Super mysterious! She’s dying of curiosity!”

Sylvia spread her hands helplessly. “I don’t know what it looks like either! Mama says she won’t take me to see it until tonight!”

“Wow!” Dorella crowded in too, her eyes sparkling. “Then can we… can we go see it together? I heard my mama chatting with Auntie Lilith about it — she said Senior Moira planted lots of flowers inside the dwelling! It must be absolutely gorgeous!”

Sylvia nodded generously. “Of course you can! My mama said that for the next week, the mobile dwelling will be doing a ‘trial voyage’ in the Witch’s Wilds, and she even told me to invite all of you along! Your mamas have all agreed — we’ll spend a whole week together in the mobile dwelling.”

This proposal immediately drew cheers from the little ones, and even Evelyn showed a flicker of interest.

…

Night finally fell. Under everyone’s breathless anticipation and curious gazes, Mo Lan took Sylvia by the hand and led the group through a teleportation gate to the relatively more open and tranquil front yard of the Emerald Creek Plains Wooden House.

Moonlight flowed like water, spilling over the murmuring stream and the soft grass. The night breeze carried the fragrance of green grass and wildflowers.

“Are you ready, Sylvia? And all you little passengers?” Mo Lan smiled as she looked at her daughter and her friends.

As everyone held their breath in anticipation, Mo Lan drew a card from within her robe.

She gently released the card forward, and instantly it dissolved into countless magical motes of light shimmering in pale gold and silver-white, rapidly converging, spreading, and constructing themselves upon the open ground ahead! The light shifted from ethereal to solid, and the outline of an enormous form gradually became clear under the moonlight.

It was no ordinary vehicle or vessel, but rather… an unbelievable moving castle, as if it had stepped straight out of a fairy tale! Beneath its streamlined base — a fusion of silver-white alloy and warm living wood — were several pairs of stout, powerful “great feet” covered in rock-like textures, standing firmly upon the ground. At the ankles, one could see intricate magical joints.

And at positions slightly toward the rear on either side of the castle, a pair of enormous, elegant, semi-transparent wings unfurled — as though woven from light and wind. They were gently folded at the moment, radiating soft spatial fluctuations.

The main body was a castle formed from all manner of irregularly shaped rooms stacked together.

Each room was exquisitely designed, with lovely rooftops and bright windows.

The castle’s outer walls and roof edges were covered in vibrant, flourishing vines, upon which bloomed exotic flowers of every color.

Under Witch Sight, these flowers were drawing in and converting the power of the stars.

But to the naked eye, one could only see the flowers gently swaying to the rhythm of the night breeze, scattering tiny motes of light.

A small chimney stood on one side of the roof.

At the front of the castle, a heavy yet warm-looking wooden door stood slightly ajar. Beside the door was even a miniature balcony, upon which sat two wicker chairs.

The moving castle stood quietly by the moonlit stream, perfectly blending fantasy, safety, comfort, and the warmth of home into one.

“Wooooow——!!!” The four little Witches let out long, awestruck cheers in unison, their eyes wide as saucers, their little mouths formed into perfect “O” shapes.

Sylvia clutched her mother’s hand tightly, the moving castle reflected in her eyes, filled with boundless joy and wonder.

This was the home she and her mother would share from now on — the moving castle that would carry them across the world!

Tessa bounced excitedly in place. “It has feet! It can walk! That’s so cool!”

Dorella gazed at the flowers on the walls, entranced. “There really are so many kinds of flowers! They’re beautiful!”

Even Evelyn had her eyes wide open for once, murmuring softly, “It looks like… sleeping inside would be very comfortable.”

Even Vasida, Sylph, and Lilith couldn’t help but marvel at this enormous creation, then promptly opened the Card Shop to search for a {Moving Castle Card}.