"Become your apprentice?"
Xia De looked at him in surprise:
"But I'm not a woman."
"But you can use the power of a Great Witch, and you are proficient in space and mathematics, and Miss Jialinna also praised your excellent abilities and said that she feels very at ease with you handling matters.
I can't think of anyone more suitable to be my apprentice than you."
Miss Sylvia enumerated Xia De's advantages one by one.
What she said made a lot of sense, but Xia De felt that being a correspondence student at Saint Byron's was enough for now.
He still had his sights set on the position of Library administrator.
Not to mention, if he really dared to agree to Miss Sylvia, he couldn't even imagine what Miss Jialinna would do:
"I am honored to be favored by you, but I'm sorry, I don't plan to become a Great Witch's apprentice."
Miss Sylvia was not disappointed either:
"You can consider it for a while.
The Speaker said that I am not yet mature enough, and my own talent still needs to be unearthed, so she told me not to take on apprentices until I reach the Eleventh-Tier.
I can give you time to consider.
The Speaker said that I have the talent to touch the Thirteen-Tier."
Miss Sylvia said, not looking like she was joking; she was genuinely considering Xia De as her apprentice.
"If I'm not mistaken, Princess Margaret is very much looking forward to becoming your apprentice."
Xia De pointed this out, and the Great Witch shook her head slightly, holding her teacup:
"I said last night that that girl has no talent.
I don't mean she's stupid; her Ring術士 talent is very good, and she's also very hardworking.
But she's not suitable to be my apprentice.
The Anjou Family girls are very ambitious, but they are really bad at academics.
Besides, she can't touch the mysteries of space at all.
This world only gives special talents to a few people, like you and me."
This lady was very proud of her talent.
Xia De fully understood her meaning:
"Have you ever told her this?"
"Yes, I told her explicitly, but she refused to give up.
Actually, even if she doesn't become my apprentice, I'm very willing to guide her to go further on the path of a Ring術士, but no talent means no talent; that cannot be changed."
"Is this related to us meeting here instead of at Rothschild Manor where the princess is staying?"
"Yes, a being like you should try not to be seen by too many people.
I have very few followers; some can see you, but Margaret is not among them.
I imagine Miss Jialinna also doesn't let all her followers know about your existence."
This also meant that Xia De could not use his connection with the Great Witch to approach the princess as Xia De Hamilton.
He still had to find his own way to deal with the Guiding Moon and Gray Headed Eagle matters.
"Also, take this."
The Great Witch took a formal invitation from the side and handed it to Xia De:
"Tomorrow night, Rothschild Manor will hold a farewell party.
The great nobles of Huntington City will all be invited to attend, and I hope you can come too."
"Inviting me to attend, is there some special task?"
"No task.
Yesterday, I handed the Pantanal Voodoo Society's Poison Ivy Magis over to the Orthodox Church, but it's currently unknown why they targeted an Earl.
I don't think they would dare to attack the kingdom's princess, but it's better to be safe, so if you can come, my pressure will be less.
But you don't have to worry too much.
The Orthodox Church of this parish will also send people to attend tomorrow night's banquet, and I will, of course, be present.
You just need to appear at the party and pay attention to whether anything strange happens."
Xia De took the invitation:
"No problem, Saturday night?
Okay, I'll postpone my original plans."
Then, he asked:
"Excuse me, what do you think of the Lake Goddess legend around Huntington City?"
Miss Sylvia thought for a moment, then shook her head slightly:
"I've only heard of this legend, but I don't know the specifics.
My followers' influence is mainly active in Weilandale.
My teacher, during her lifetime, also did not operate long-term in the Huntington City area."
Although a bit regretful, Xia De also knew that not everyone could provide information:
"I will consider the apprentice matter, but don't have too much expectation.
Also, my friend here, yes, Mr. Bernhart the Vampire, also mentioned the influence of the Pantanal Voodoo Society.
I don't think such a loosely structured organization would dare to attack the kingdom's Earl.
Is there any other possibility for this matter?
For example, were they hired?"
"Before I handed over that highly wanted fellow, I did interrogate him, but he was very firm and said nothing; even potions didn't work on him.
However, from the current situation, the principalities around the Pantanal region seem to be a bit restless, but it cannot be completely confirmed that it is them.
After all, once it is discovered that a secular regime hires an illegal Ring術士 group..."
Miss Sylvia put down her teacup:
"The Inquisition of the Orthodox Church is no joke.
Especially in the modern era, where the epic of the poems is unfolding, even if the mist of steam covers our civilization, the Inquisition is still the most terrifying organization."
"I hope this isn't the prelude to some grand conspiracy."
Xia De sighed, frowning as he looked out the window.
The clouds of war had left the Old Continent decades ago, and only peaceful times could foster the prosperity of the Steam Revolution.
In the Summer, there was a rebellion within the Cavendish Family, Queen Diana was inexplicably assassinated on the street, and now, the death of a Carson Rick Earl is linked to a strange Ring術士 organization.
It seems some people are unwilling to live in peaceful times, and whether the smoke of war will ignite the Old Continent again is something even an Outsider cannot understand.
All Friday morning, Xia De stayed in the Owl Library chatting with Miss Sylvia.
This young Great Witch with black shoulder-length hair had made significant achievements in contemporary mathematical research, even publishing multiple papers as the first author and having a high reputation in the academic world of ordinary people.
This was also why she could be hired by the royal family as a private tutor for the princesses.
And when discussing the topic of space Miracle, Miss Sylvia also had insights and views far beyond Xia De's scope.
Her attainments in space Miracle were quite high, and a simple conversation could point out many of Xia De's confusions in the application of space power.
Of course, she couldn't understand why Xia De's Raglai's Leap had a longer effect than that of ordinary Ring術士, and for the Miracle of Space Stabilization Aura, she immediately pointed out the key:
"Compared to a Miracle, this is actually more like some kind of wondrous Divine Art.
I suspect it comes from an ancient god, and perhaps after consulting some information, we can find its origin."
Although Xia De refused the offer to become Miss Sylvia's apprentice, he was also happy to communicate more with this Great Witch.
She was willing to share Knowledge with Xia De, even promising that once their group arrived in Tobesk, she could temporarily act as Xia De's teacher and teach him some Knowledge related to the power of a Great Witch.
Compared to Miss Jialinna and Miss Aurora, Miss Sylvia was indeed more like a scholar.
She spoke and acted extremely efficiently, and her admiration for Xia De did not come from his uniqueness, but because she believed Xia De's logical thinking was like that of a rigorously trained scholar and mechanical engineer:
"If you hadn't become a Ring術士, but lived your life as an ordinary person, you would absolutely be able to contribute to the scientific development of this era."
This was a very high evaluation.
Near noon, Miss Sylvia treated Xia De to lunch in the Owl Library's club, and then the two officially said goodbye.
The entire morning also confirmed to Xia De that this Great Witch held no hostility towards him and even had a high degree of goodwill, which put him at ease.
After leaving the Owl Club, Xia De officially began his exploration of the Lake Goddess legend.
According to the information provided by Mr. Edmund of the Hermit Order and Mr. Bernhart the Vampire, sightings of the Lake Goddess did not occur near a specific lake, but rather appeared randomly around many lakes between Huntington City and the Pantanal swamp region.
Because of its proximity to the Pantanal region, the western part of Huntington City has numerous lakes of various sizes, in stark contrast to the low hills and plains of the eastern part, which are covered in vineyards.
The City could not expand into the western swamp area, which led to the old western district of Huntington failing to catch the express train of the Steam Age, but it also preserved the City's old-era appearance.
Steam pipes ran through here, but the ancient buildings also showcased Huntington City's glory in the old era.
Tobesk was a true metropolis of the Steam Age, Coldwater Port was a paradise for adventurers, Middelsburg was a mountain City, and Huntington was a City standing on the dividing line of eras, mixing vineyards, swamps, and steam.
Xia De's first stop was not to rush directly to the lakes outside the City to try his luck.
Mr. Bernhart had contacted a local folklore professor who studied the Lake Goddess legend, and at the same time, the professor claimed to have actually encountered the so-called Lake Goddess.
Actually, Mr. Bernhart had contacted more than just this one eyewitness, but only this one was proficient in delarion, and Xia De had no other choice.
His carson rick was not enough for him to have a very long and professional conversation with the locals, especially since Miss Sylvia had been speaking in delarion just now.
"It seems that whenever I arrive in a new City, my first stop is always to find folklore professors."
Xia De thought in the carriage.
Professor Drake, whom Mr. Bernhart introduced to Xia De, was an Old Professor who had already retired from the local university.
Being unmarried his entire life, he lived alone in a detached house in the Old Town of western Huntington City.
It was not a common street-facing apartment of this era, but a courtyard-style building with a courtyard, garden, and independent warehouse, located in a dedicated residential district.
Although the combined ground area was not as large as the plot of Saint Delan Square Six, it was enough for an elderly person living alone.
Unlike the Old Professor of folklore Xia De had met before, who were clearly old but still full of vitality, Professor Drake, who had worked at Huntington College, was disabled in both legs due to an accident and could now only move around in a wheelchair.
Therefore, when Xia De, holding the business card, found the door of No. 21 Green Algae Street in the western district of Huntington City and rang the bell outside the fence gate, it was a plump maid wearing an apron who opened the door for Xia De.
Inside the fence were shrubs trimmed like squares, and behind the shrubs was a flat lawn.
Although Professor Drake was disabled in both legs, his life still seemed comfortable and pleasant.
