I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom - Chapter 80

Chapter 80 – Ten-Year-Old Shushu

Five years later—

Ten-year-old Shu Li had grown an inch taller, officially becoming a young fairy in the Fairy Clan.

It was another day to study with the Elven King in the Elven Kingdom. He woke early, grooming himself until he looked fresh and tidy.

His waist-length hair was tied back in a ponytail, and his Little Flower Crown had transformed into a simple silver headband. He wore a smooth, light white robe fastened at the waist with a golden belt embroidered with tiny golden pearls. He wore light, airy shoes with golden laces that wrapped around his calves, and a finely decorated metal ring adorned his right thigh, holding a sheathed dagger. As he walked, the robe’s hem swayed, making the dagger peek in and out of view.

Morning sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of the Divine Tree, casting dappled patterns of light onto the dormitory roofs of the Little Fairies.

Adult Fairies, tasked with gathering “nourishment” for the Divine Tree, began knocking on doors, family by family.

Shu Li, having finished getting ready, heard a polite knock and opened the door with a cheerful smile.

“Good morning, Vitt.”

“Good morning, Sperien.”

Shu Li stepped aside to let Vitt cast his spells. “I’ll be troubling you again today.”

Vitt snapped his fingers. “It’s no trouble at all.”

Quickly, wind and water magic alternated, flushing away the “nutrition,” cleaning the bathroom, and refreshing the water in the tank.

After finishing, Vitt flew off to the next Little Fairy’s home with his bird cart.

Standing at the gate, Shu Li stretched lazily, arms raised to the morning breeze, breathing in the fresh air, feeling refreshed.

After three days of continuous rain, the sun had finally emerged.

“Good morning, Sperien! Are you heading to the Crystal Castle today?” Little Fairies passing by greeted Shu Li enthusiastically.

“Good morning—” Shu Li replied to each one. “Yes, we won’t see each other for another half-month.”

“We’ll miss you!”

“I’ll miss you too.”

The doors of the two neighboring houses opened, and Angele and Decio flew out. Spotting Shu Li, they quickly approached.

“Sperien, please come back soon! The new Fairy Babies are about to leave the Nursery. Don’t miss it!” Angele said.

“Mm, I know,” Shu Li nodded.

The Fairy Nursery nurtures flower buds that bloom into new cubs every ten years.

Two and a half months ago, eight new Fairy Babies were born.

When Shu Li learned of the number, he was quite surprised. After all, his own cohort of Little Fairies numbered twenty-five!

Aisha explained that the number of cubs born in each Nursery cycle varied greatly, ranging from two or three to twenty or thirty. Typically, it hovered around ten. A batch of twenty-five cubs, like his cohort, was exceedingly rare.

The moment when Fairy cubs leave the Nursery after their first full moon is a significant event. All the Fairies gather outside the Nursery to welcome them. Therefore, Shu Li needed to return by the end of the month.

“I’ll copy the class notes for you,” Decio said earnestly.

Touched, Shu Li hugged him. “Good brother!”

Every time he left the Divine Tree to study Magic in the Elven Kingdom, he missed half a month of classes. To catch up with his peers, he had to frantically make up the work upon his return. His three close friends took turns copying the class notes for him, which moved him to tears.

“Sperien—”

Budno’s voice called out from a distance.

His home was some distance from theirs, and his love of sleeping in meant he was always the last to leave.

After Budno, now ten years old, controlled his eating and grew taller, he finally shed his “Little Fatty” nickname. His figure became as slender and graceful as the other young fairies, easing the burden on his wings.

Flying up to Shu Li, he blinked his bright brown eyes. “The Rommy Fruit you brought back last time was so delicious!”

The moment he spoke, Shu Li understood everything.

“You want more?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes!” Budno nodded earnestly. Since losing weight, the fat on his face had diminished, revealing his delicate features.

Seeing Budno’s eager expression, Shu Li couldn’t bring himself to refuse. “Alright, I’ll bring a few extra Rommy Fruits, but you have to ration them.”

“I promise I’ll only eat one a day!” Budno raised four fingers, his eyes sparkling with suppressed delight.

Angele clapped Budno on the shoulder and turned to Shu Li with a sincere expression. “I’ll keep him in check.”

Budno’s face froze.

Shu Li’s lips twitched twice.

Angele had been cunning since childhood, and he had Budno, the glutton, completely under his thumb.

“Well, I’ll be off then.” Shu Li waved goodbye to his companions, flapped his wings, and soared toward the small plaza. He pinched his thumb and forefinger together, placed them to his lips, and blew gently, sending a crisp whistle echoing across the sky.

“Chirp—”

A hawk-like cry echoed through the air, growing louder as a massive black Sekern Bird descended from the sky, watched by a crowd of young fairies.

“Wow! It’s a Sekern Bird!”

The young fairies exclaimed in awe.

Sekern Birds are high-tier Magic Fowl, known as the “Gale Wind” and lords of the sky. The most famous among them, Dekleret, had “kidnapped” Sperien ten years ago and dropped him at the edge of the Faerie Forest.

The Sekern Bird before them was a long-time resident of the Divine Tree, hatched and raised by a Taganya Bird five years prior. It was a friend to the fairies.

The small plaza was spacious for the fairies, but rather cramped for the Sekern Bird. After landing carefully, it folded its broad wings and crouched down tamely.

“Dore, I’m troubling you again today!”

Shu Li joyfully threw himself onto the Sekern Bird’s broad back, burrowing into its feathers and rolling around.

Dore was one of the five giant eggs from the original batch.

The gift from Mr. Big Snake had nearly been mistaken for food for the Little Merfolk and Young Dragon, but the Elven King intervened in time, revealing them to be Sekern Bird eggs that could hatch into chicks.

To uncover their origins, Shu Li had specifically written to Mr. Big Snake. The serpent replied that the giant eggs were discovered in an invader’s Storage Pouch, originating from the Monster Forest. Their parents were likely slain by the Adventurer’s Guild, who specialize in hunting magical beasts.

Deeply sympathetic to their plight, Shu Li had entrusted the Big Fat Bird with incubating the eggs.

Five years passed, and the five Sekern Birds had grown into adults.

Once their feathers had fully grown and they could soar through the sky, Shu Li gained a new “mode of transportation” to the Elven Kingdom.

Dore, being the closest to Shu Li, always escorted him.

Chirp~

Dore responded, signaling the little fairy on his back to settle in as he prepared to take flight.

Shu Li immediately burrowed into Dore’s thick feathers, leaving only his small head visible, while clutching a few feathers with both hands to prevent being flung off.

Dore spread his broad wings and with a gentle flap, generated a powerful wind that rustled the nearby leaves.

In an instant, he ascended dozens of meters, and after a few more wingbeats, he left the Divine Tree’s domain.

The massive Magic Bird soared through the skies of the Faerie Forest, other Magic Fowl parting to make way for him. Dore flew straight east, completely opposite the direction of the Elven Kingdom.

However, he hadn’t flown the wrong way; flying east was Shu Li’s intention.

Before heading to the Elven Kingdom, Shu Li needed to make a stop on the eastern edge of the Faerie Forest.

Ever since he had advanced to the rank of Intermediate Mage and gained Dore as a safe and swift “mode of transportation,” he had frequently delivered gifts to Mr. Big Snake himself.

Half a month prior, while Shu Li was still studying in the Elven Kingdom, Mr. Big Snake had sent him a gift, entrusting it to Mr. Messenger. Upon his return to the Divine Tree, Mr. Messenger delivered the gift to him.

To express his gratitude, Shu Li decided to visit Mr. Big Snake today and reciprocate with a gift of his own.