Eros raised an eyebrow. So this is the legendary Miss Mary? He had heard of this "experienced mentor" for a long time, but never had the chance to meet her. Without further hesitation, he tore open the invitation and began to scan its contents.
After reading it, Eros murmured thoughtfully, "A masked ball this weekend? This must be the kind of 'gathering' I suspected. After all, the letter explicitly invited only me as a man. It’s impossible for everyone else to be cross-dressers, right? Surely not."
Next Wednesday was the Sin Realm practical assessment. Rumor had it the Academy students had a tradition: a final bout of indulgence before the exam. In the worst years, the survival rate was only fifty percent. Precisely because they couldn't guarantee their return, the students chose to live without regrets. Furthermore, this assessment wouldn't take place in the familiar Martigordon Mountains, signaling a far higher level of danger.
Indeed, coming to Indiles was the right choice, Eros thought. What a delightful place.
On Friday afternoon, Eros accompanied Undine back to the Ducal Mansion in the city. The moment they stepped through the door, he suddenly turned to her and said:
"I have to go out and investigate something regarding the Lunar Sect’s Divine Descent. It might take some time. Don’t worry about me; I’ll be careful."
Without waiting for Undine’s reply, he dashed out of the mansion. Undine stood frozen at the entrance, her mind still trying to process that long, hurried string of words.
Meanwhile, Eros skillfully returned to the Academy. Following the address on the invitation, he arrived at a villa. He paused at the door, donned a silver mask he had prepared, and pushed his way inside.
He crossed the courtyard to the main hall, adjusted his formal suit, and opened the doors. Instantly, he felt the weight of dozens of gazes from eyes of every imaginable color.
Scanning the room, he saw dozens of young women in various styles of ball gowns, either sitting or standing. Their figures varied, but every single one was alluring. They all wore masks, revealing only their beautiful eyes and crimson lips.
Upon noticing his entrance, a girl with pink hair—barely reaching 1.4 meters in height—suddenly shouted:
"Let the ball begin!"
As her voice fell, girls holding instruments struck up a lively, rhythmic tune. Eros wasn't surprised by their talent; what noblewoman didn't learn such things from childhood? Even a brat like Undine, who hated studying, played the violin and piano beautifully now.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
As the music played, side doors opened. Fair-skinned maids in revealing attire carried in trays of exquisite food. The ball had officially begun.
At first, things were relatively normal. Despite the masks, everyone was somewhat reserved, sticking to socially distant dances. But as the wine took hold, one girl’s provocative move ignited the entire hall. A mask fell during a particularly vigorous dance, and soon, everyone discarded theirs.
Beneath the masks were faces Eros recognized and many he didn't. Some genuinely surprised him. Of course, if he had used his "Vision," the masks would have been transparent, but that would have spoiled the fun.
Time blurred. It wasn't until Monday morning that Eros finally stepped out of that villa. Heaven knows how he survived those two days and three nights. He was suddenly very grateful for his Elven heritage. During that time, no one had left; food and drink were brought in by maids.
Stepping out, Eros looked at his wrinkled suit and decided to head back to his own villa to wash up. Just as he approached his residence, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. He turned but saw no one.
"Behind you! Look down!" a huffy female voice barked.
Eros turned and looked down, finally spotting the petite girl with pink hair. He was surprised, wondering what she wanted. The pink-haired girl grinned and introduced herself:
"Mary Shawn!"
"Huh?" Eros was stunned. He never expected the legendary "Old Driver" to be a pink-haired "Legal Loli." Moreover, he clearly remembered that she had bled during the party—meaning the famous mentor was actually a novice herself.
"You look quite surprised," Mary said with a wicked grin.
"Yes, a little. I’ve heard rumors about you," Eros answered honestly.
Mary huffed, "Having experience doesn't mean having experiences."
Eros nodded in agreement. Some people’s theoretical knowledge could fill a thick book, even if their practical experience was a blank slate—perhaps their fetters were even "indescribable."
Seeing him nod, Mary looked suspicious but remained cheerful. "Since you know that, why the shocked face?" She even mimicked his expression.
Eros shrugged. "Who could have guessed that from the start?"
Mary nodded in realization. "Fair enough!" She skipped ahead of him, walking backward with her hands behind her back. "I feel the first time is special, so it must be saved for a special person."
Eros was taken aback. "Am I a special person in your eyes?"
Mary’s eyes widened. "As the first Elf on the Croatian continent in tens of thousands of years, are you not special enough?"
"Just because of that?" To be honest, Eros was a bit disappointed.
Mary gave a bashful smile. "Not entirely. I’m also quite interested in you as a person. It’s just a pity..." Her expression slumped. "It's a pity that if I’m lucky enough to survive this assessment, I’ll be graduating and returning to Hydaram. I was hoping to maintain a relationship with you that goes beyond friendship."
Eros had heard of Hydaram—a coastal city with the largest port on the continent. In terms of commercial prosperity, it might even rival the imperial capital, Indiles. Looking at her, Eros truly couldn't believe Mary was a sixth-year student. If he didn't know the Warlock Academy was for adults, he would have believed she was a middle schooler.
After a moment of silence, Eros spoke, "During the Sin Realm assessment, if I get the chance, I’ll do my best to help you."
Mary’s eyes lit up. "Thank you so much! Truly a man worthy of my gaze." Then, she remembered something. "Oh, almost forgot! I stopped you because I wanted to borrow your bathroom. My apartment is too far from the villa area."
"To bathe?"
"Yes!"
"Together?"
"Sure! I still have plenty of 'knowledge' from the party that I haven't put to use yet."