novelraw Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Chapter 50: The Language of Flowers in the City of Romance
Crossing the shimmering Rubis River and passing through dense जंगल, the view suddenly opened up. A vast expanse of wilderness stretched endlessly before them, while the winding river vanished at the edge of the plain.
In the distance, ring-shaped structures reflecting a metallic sheen stood upon the plains. Each soared a hundred meters high, pierced at their bases by silver रेल tracks. At regular intervals they repeated, extending all the way into the depths of the distant mountains, like a silver necklace encircling the earth.
Those gigantic rings, lined up like sentinels, were the “track accelerators” of the magitech train.
They had been constructed along the main جریان of the earth veins, using leyline magic extraction pumps to circulate magic power within magitech bodies. Different directions of magical flow would generate repulsive force fields in corresponding directions—of course, these only acted upon the magitech outer shell of the train.
Beneath the train’s surface lay a layer of magitech metal mesh, which shielded against external magical repulsion fields, ensuring that those inside the train were unaffected.
After traveling for some time, the group finally arrived at the outskirts of Gaul City before nightfall.
The stars hung low, the plains stretched wide, the moon rose with the waves, and the river flowed eastward. At the end of the horizon, the brilliantly illuminated Gaul City came into view.
The three followed the поток of people through the grand city gates adorned with exquisite reliefs, and were immediately swallowed by the bustling scene within.
Along both sides of the broad streets stood rows of shops. Bright magic crystal lamps lit the display windows as if it were daytime, showcasing all kinds of magitech devices, beautiful fashions, and exquisite works of art.
Street performers played lively tunes on small wind-type magical instruments. Under magic, the notes transformed into multicolored points of light that danced in the air. There were even painters using light-and-shadow magic to create paintings midair, drawing bursts of amazement.
What surprised Lina the most was that from time to time, stylishly dressed young girls with sweet smiles approached them and pressed flowers into their hands.
“Here, for you—may you have a wonderful night in Rubis!” A girl with a ponytail handed a pale purple iris to Annie.
“Welcome to the City of Romance!” Another girl placed a vibrant red rose into Sibyl’s hand.
Lina somewhat flustered caught a white flower suddenly handed to her. Its petals layered upon each other, giving off a faint, elegant fragrance.
She looked down at the white flower in her hand, then curiously glanced at Sibyl’s red rose and Annie’s purple iris, unable to resist asking, “Uh… is it common here to just give flowers to people?”
Seeing Lina’s bewildered expression, Sibyl couldn’t help but smile. She gently raised the red rose in her hand and explained, “This is a tradition of Gaul City, called ‘Flowers for Distant Guests.’ Girls present flowers to newly arrived travelers as a way of expressing welcome and blessings. Different flowers also carry different meanings.”
She pointed to the purple iris in Annie’s hand. “The iris is the city flower of Rubis. It symbolizes light, freedom, and an elegant greeting.” Then she gestured to the rose in her own hand. “As for the red rose, it naturally represents a warm and joyful welcome.”
Then her gaze fell upon the pure white flower in Lina’s hand. A trace of sly amusement flashed through her eyes, and her tone carried a hint of teasing. “And the one you received, Lina, is a white lily. Here, it usually symbolizes…”
She deliberately paused, watching Lina lean closer with curiosity, before chuckling softly and saying, “Purity, and… love at first sight.”
“Ah?!” Lina’s cheeks flushed bright red with a “whoosh.”
Clutching the white lily, she stammered, “L-love at first sight? W-who gave this to me? How did I not notice?”
Annie covered her mouth and chuckled softly at the side. “Lina, didn’t there just happen to be a young lady in a blue dress who smiled at you and then ran off?”
Sibyl looked at Lina’s rare moment of embarrassment and gently patted her shoulder. “No need to be so nervous. It’s more of a beautiful wish and a reflection of this city’s romantic atmosphere. Come, let’s find a place to settle in first. The true night of the ‘City of Romance’ has only just begun.”
The deeper they went into the city, the more Lina felt that something was off.
Compared to Annie’s elegant iris and Sibyl’s passionate rose, the flowers being stuffed into her arms seemed unusually numerous. Their colors and varieties were also far more vibrant. Aside from that white lily with its special meaning, she soon received delicate pink roses and mysterious blue-violet irises… Before long, a small bouquet of colorful flowers had accumulated in the crook of her arm.
“Huh? Why does it feel like I’m getting so many more?” Lina muttered quietly, instinctively lowering her head to look at her outfit.
Is it because I look the most like a traveler in need of help? The first thing she thought of was her witch’s uniform, which had been damaged in the earlier battle—the dust-stained hem and the faint scuffs at the elbows of her shirt.
Mm, that must be it. Everyone probably thinks I look travel-worn, so they’re giving me extra flowers as comfort. Having found a reasonable explanation for herself, she stopped dwelling on it and instead happily leaned down to smell the mingled fragrance of the flowers in her arms.
However, as they ventured deeper into the bustling streets, Lina noticed that the number of gazes directed at her not only failed to decrease, but actually grew more frequent.
She frowned slightly, her golden eyes carrying a hint of confusion as she discreetly glanced around.
She saw several fashionably dressed young women looking at her while huddling together in quiet conversation, their faces showing expressions of envy. A girl who looked like a painter sitting at a street-side café even picked up her sketchbook, her gaze lingering around Lina’s legs and waist.
Before Sibyl could respond, a passing breeze just happened to carry over the conversation of a few girls not far away with perfect clarity:
“…Look at that young lady’s outfit! Torn black stockings paired with a uniform—so creative!”
“Yeah, the damaged parts are just right, revealing just a little bit of skin—cool and sexy!”
“That kind of casual, broken aesthetic doesn’t look artificially cut at all, it has so much character!”
“Such beautiful long black hair, and that tear mole under her eye—could she be a model from the East?”
Lina’s steps halted, and she truly examined herself for the first time—
The tear in the hem of her witch’s uniform shirt did indeed reveal glimpses of her toned abdomen and cute navel as she moved; the few holes in her black stockings, accidentally snagged during battle, had slightly frayed edges, yet they perfectly allowed the fair skin beneath to become an accent, like some deliberately designed hollow pattern.
Lina lowered her head, clutching the increasingly conspicuous bouquet in one arm while hurriedly grabbing Annie with the other, urging in a low voice, “Q-quick, let’s go! I can’t stay here any longer!”
Sibyl and Annie exchanged a glance and burst into laughter, matching Annie’s pace as they jogged forward.
However, just as they were about to turn into a relatively quiet side street, a clear female voice called out from behind them.
“Please wait a moment, ladies.”
The three stopped and turned around. They saw a woman in a smoke-gray long coat striding quickly toward them, her light purple bob-cut hair swaying.
Her makeup was refined, her demeanor sharp and capable. She held a leather notebook in her hand, her gaze firmly locked onto Lina.
“Good evening, three beautiful ladies. Pardon the interruption,” the woman said with a smile. Her eyes swept over the bouquet in Lina’s arms and her “distinctive” attire, before settling on her face. “I am Isabella Venn, a fashion designer. I have my own studio on Fontainebleau Street.”
As she spoke, she gracefully handed over a business card.
Lina took it somewhat blankly. On it, in elegant lettering, were the words “Isabella Studio” along with an address.
Isabella continued, “I noticed you just now, beautiful lady. Your style of dress—this highly expressive ‘damaged’ aesthetic—is incredibly captivating! And your appearance, which combines Western boldness with a hint of Eastern subtlety, is simply perfect! I’m planning to launch a new collection themed ‘Conflict and Fusion,’ and your image and temperament are exactly the muse I’ve been searching for!”
Lina’s face grew even redder. She quickly waved her hands, stammering as she clarified, “Um… Ms. Venn, I think you’ve misunderstood! These clothes… were actually torn accidentally earlier. It’s not some kind of fashion style, it’s just… an ordinary witch’s uniform. I just haven’t had time to change yet…”
Hearing this, instead of disappointment, Isabella’s eyes lit up even more. “Oh? Genuine accidental marks? Wonderful! This kind of unrepeatable, story-filled randomness is far more valuable than deliberate design! It only proves your innate charm—being able to turn these accidents into the focal point of fashion.”
She stepped forward, her tone growing more earnest. “So, I would like to formally invite you to be the exclusive model for my new collection. You don’t need to change anything—just maintain your current state and qualities. As compensation, I can offer 100 gold dragons, and you may also choose any two ready-made outfits from my studio.”
“100 gold dragons?!” Lina sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening instantly, nearly dropping the bouquet in her arms.
I only get 70 gold dragons for killing a Plant fiend!
Is this the world of the rich?
“Oh? Are you two her companions as well?” Only then did Isabella notice Annie and Sibyl beside Lina, and her eyes lit up immediately. “My heavens… such a gentle and virtuous older-sister aura, and such a fresh, adorable younger-sister vibe! Lady Vitalis, the Goddess of Harvest, bless me—today is truly my lucky day!”
After each of them was enthusiastically handed a business card by Isabella, the three finally left the main street.
However, when they began looking for lodging, they ran into a problem.
The World Expo preview was even more popular than expected—almost all the decent hotels in Gaul City had been fully booked a month in advance!
In the end, the three found a uniquely styled hotel at a street corner. White walls, dark green tiles, upturned eaves and painted pavilions, with two red lanterns hanging at the entrance—it exuded a strong Eastern charm.
“Qingqiu Pavilion… it’s a chain hotel under the Tushan Group,” Sibyl said, looking up at the plaque above the entrance. “Let’s go in and take a look.”
Pushing open the carved wooden doors, a refined sandalwood fragrance mixed with a faint tea aroma drifted through the air, instantly shutting out the noise from outside.
The hotel lobby wasn’t large, but it was exquisitely arranged. Warm yellow palace lanterns cast a soft glow, illuminating dark wooden furniture and ink-wash paintings hanging on the walls.
And the most eye-catching sight was the graceful figure standing behind the pearwood counter.
She was a woman with a captivating figure, dressed in a moon-white qipao. Silver threads embroidered intricate cloud patterns across the silk fabric, and the high slit faintly revealed her straight, fair, and well-rounded thighs.
Her waist-length hair, like flowing moonlight, was partially pinned up, secured at the back of her head with a jade hairpin. A pair of fluffy white fox ears peeked out from her hair, and behind her, a soft, voluminous white fox tail swayed lazily.
Hearing the door open, she raised her head, revealing a face capable of toppling kingdoms.
Her slightly upturned fox-like eyes shimmered with a hazy, intoxicating light. With the accent of red eyeshadow, they became even more soul-stirring.
Her vermilion lips needed no paint, naturally curved into a faint, suggestive smile.
“Welcome to Qingqiu Pavilion, honored guests,” she said with a charming smile, her voice soft and sweet, making Lina feel a faint tingling through her bones. “After your long journey, are you here for a meal, or to stay the night? Or perhaps…”
She lightly touched the tip of her teeth with her tongue, narrowing her eyes. One hand, seemingly casual yet deliberate, rested upon the deep curve of her chest. “Would you care to admire this autumn moon with me?”