195: Chapter 195 The Shy Witch! Exchanging Tokens! Returning Home!

The three returned to the previous battlefield.

A faint scent of blood still lingered in the air, but the corpses on the ground had already been cleaned up.

Portia's efficiency was extremely high.

The corpse of the Lord-level lynx had been dismantled and packed, neatly stacked on a makeshift drag-sled.

Rowan swept a glance over it and nodded with satisfaction.

Afterward, the group set out on the return journey.

The team had one less person than when they arrived, but everyone tacitly refrained from mentioning it.

Rowan and Aurora continued to walk side by side.

Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting mottled light and shadows in the forest.

Rowan turned his head, looked at Aurora's slightly melancholic expression, and chuckled, "Aurora, you know so many things; it seems you are not just a simple academy student."

Upon hearing this, Aurora was slightly stunned, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "It is just that my elders have gone further on the path of the wizard... Having been influenced by them since childhood, I just know a little more than others."

Rowan nodded knowingly at her words and did not continue to press the matter.

The two chatted about some other things.

Rowan told her some interesting anecdotes, while Aurora introduced him to various things she had seen and heard in the academy.

Gradually, a smile began to return to Aurora's face.

She looked very beautiful when she smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and two shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks.

Unknowingly, the trees ahead began to thin out, and the light grew brighter.

Finally, as the last shadow of the trees was left behind, the group walked out of the Mist Forest.

Under the long-lost sunlight, vast fields unfolded before their eyes.

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

Their gazes fell simultaneously upon Rowan and Aurora.

Rowan noticed everyone's gazes, his expression unchanged, and he calmly ordered, "Everyone, rest in place."

Then he turned to Aurora and tilted his head slightly to signal, "Shall we go over there to talk?"

Aurora followed his gaze to the large tree in the distance, glanced at her teammates, nodded, and then said to Garrett and the others, "Wait for me."

The two walked one after the other to the large tree.

The canopy was like a cover, casting a large patch of cool shade.

After standing still, Rowan asked, "So, what are you planning to do next? Would you like to go to my castle to rest for a while?"

Upon hearing this, Aurora's eyes flickered.

She looked at Rowan's face, which appeared even more handsome in the shade, and felt a bit tempted.

But reason quickly overcame impulse.

She thought of the trouble she might face next.

The death of Cassius was not a small matter; she knew how much Tutor Aaron valued this student.

If she couldn't return in time to explain clearly, it would likely cause unnecessary misunderstandings and investigations.

So she bit her lip, shook her head with some regret, and said, "No. Senior Cassius was a student that Tutor Aaron valued very much. I need to rush back to the academy as soon as possible to submit a complete report on the mission process to the relevant departments, explaining the course and results of this trip."

Speaking of this, she looked at Rowan with some difficulty, "My Lord, regarding your strength..."

"If you do not wish for the academy to know your true combat power, I can..."

Rowan understood upon hearing this.

He thought for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "It is fine. You may speak the truth."

"I think your academy is not in a position to oversee an Imperial Count."

Aurora looked at him seriously upon hearing this, then nodded solemnly, "Thank you for your understanding, My Lord."

Rowan couldn't help but laugh as he watched her serious demeanor.

He took out a token engraved with the Golden Flame emblem and handed it to Aurora, "Don't call me 'My Lord' anymore; just call me by my name, Rowan."

"Take this. If you have free time in the future, or encounter any trouble, you can come to the Golden Flame Castle in Gino City to find me at any time."

"This is a token; just show it to the guards."

Upon hearing this, Aurora thought for a moment and did not refuse, but a blush appeared on her face.

She then untied a silver badge engraved with a crescent moon and vine pattern from her waist and handed it to Rowan with some shyness, "My Lord... Rowan. This is my personal token."

"If you ever come to Ascalon in the future, you can use this badge to come to the Moon Chant Covenant Wizard Academy to find me."

"Just show it to the guards at the gate, and they will notify me."

Rowan smiled as he took the token, then looked into the witch's beautiful eyes and said softly, "Aurora, you are truly beautiful."

"Ah?!" Aurora let out a low cry, her beautiful eyes widening abruptly, her mind going blank.

Rowan looked at her somewhat flustered appearance, chuckled, and took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her slender waist.

Then, he slowly leaned in.

Aurora's body stiffened for a moment.

But, she did not refuse.

She closed her eyes.

Their noses touched lightly, and their breaths mingled...

After a long while, the two separated.

Aurora lowered her beautiful eyes, panting heavily.

She did not dare to look at Rowan again, and said in a flustered manner, "Rowan, I, I think I should go..."

After speaking, she turned around and walked quickly out of the shade.

Rowan watched her back, smiled, and followed her at a leisurely pace, returning to the entrance of the forest.

Everyone looked at Aurora's flushed face with some surprise, but they all tacitly looked away.

Only Garrett, looking up and seeing Aurora's bright red face, was suddenly alarmed.

He hurriedly took out a small leather pouch from his bosom, rummaging through it while shouting, "Senior Sister Aurora, your face is so red!"

"Did you accidentally inhale the toxic mist from that Nether Mist Wizard earlier?"

"I have an antidote here!"

"I concocted it myself, it's very effective!"

"Do you want a bottle?"

Upon hearing this, Aurora paused, turned her head abruptly, glared at Garrett crossly, and then said directly, "Enough! Let's go back to the academy!"

After speaking, she walked away quickly along the path they had come, without looking back.

The other team members followed silently, only Garrett was left behind, holding a small leather pouch, watching Aurora's back and shouting, "Senior Sister, wait for me! Do you really not want the antidote? I worked so hard to concoct it..."

At the forest entrance, Rowan watched the figures disappear into the distance, then smiled meaningfully, turned around, and said, "Let's go, back to the Mist Castle."