Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3393

"Thanks to these fountains located in every city block, our people can easily and quickly draw water during winter and refresh themselves during summer. We have built public bathhouses to allow everyone to enjoy a hot bath all year long, improving general hygiene.

"Also, our soldiers now have better equipment, and the arrays protecting the city are in the process of being reinforced."

"That’s wonderful, Mirias, but please, call me Kamila." She was already receiving enough looks for the stroller. Just the mention of the name Verhen made people stop talking and start listening.

"I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m so grateful to you and your husband and calling you by your first name feels disrespectful." The Baroness said.

"No, it isn’t." Kamila replied. "Can we go to a bakery? I have a fond memory of Jambel’s pastries and all this walking gave me an appetite."

"Seconded." Solus nodded.

"I must say, your babies are a bit too quiet. Did they fall asleep?" Mirias asked while leading the way.

"No. They feel embarrassed from earlier and are trying to make a good impression on you." Kamila chuckled, shocking the Baroness to the bone.

"Embarrassed? At that age?"

"They are very smart." Kamila nodded. "Maybe, if you forgive them…"

"I’m not angry with you." Mirias bent down, meeting the doubtful eyes of Elysia and Valeron. "Everything is forgiven. Please, relax."

The two babies smiled and cooed at the Baroness who melted like every mother in front of a happy child. She started making so many baby noises and praising them so much that the passersby thought she was the mother of the babies.

’By the way, where’s Ripha?’ Kamila asked via a mind link.

’With Lith.’ Solus replied.

’You mean inside the Void Sigil?’

’No, inside his shadow.’ Solus said. ’She can’t get far away from him anyway and I thought they could use spending some time together.’

’Doesn’t she practice with you two every morning?’ Kamila asked.

’That’s different.’ Solus shook her head. ’My mother has spent years watching Lith lying and manipulating the people around him, even his parents. She knows he can act nice when it suits him.

’Like when he can earn the opportunity to learn Forgemastery from a Ruler of the Flames and maybe inherit her legacy. What my mother missed are all the times he was good with me, you, and his family.’

’How could she possibly have missed that?’ Kamila was flabbergasted. ’Didn’t Ripha always stay by your side?’

’She did, but back then she looked at everything through the distorted lens of her obsession and regret.’ Solus replied. ’My first interaction with Lith was cold at best and by then Mom already had a bad opinion of him.

’Now that she’s in her right mind again, she needs to observe how he acts when he has nothing to gain or lose. No matter what I say to her, words are cheap. Actions are expensive.’

***

The three groups met at the arrival spot at noon when the summer sun was high and lighted the woods from above, robbing the hunters from the cover of the shadows and making them sweat bullets

On top of the game caught by Lith, Raaz and the others brought back a stag and a small boar.

Leria and Senton returned with three brown bunnies and a flying bird the size of a turkey.

"Nice catch!" The Baron said. "Tricksters are really hard to spot. How did you do it?"

"You should have seen my Dad." Leria puffed her chest out with pride. "He moved and struck like a professional hunter. That… Trickster never saw us coming."

"No, because they fly on a tree and camouflage again." The Baron shook his head. "And while you turn around like an idiot looking for them, they glide to another tree. During winter it’s even worse. Their feathers turn white and waterproof. _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}