Chapter 126 - The Academy

"So...?"

Aislinn's question ranged through the silence of the cave room where all of them were sitting after dinner.

When Li Ming returned to the dining area everyone had already finished their dinner and they were sharing some funny incidents of their lives.

Within the next few minutes, Aislinn proposed the deal that the mysterious person had notified Li Ming about earlier.

"Do I even have another option? I'm bound to that light bulb now and that means I'll have to stay in touch with all of you guys," Li Ming said with a little pout as her expressions appeared a little tired and frustrated.

"And that means...?" Aislinn pressed her question so that they all could hear the final words of Miss Li.

"And that means I'm ready to accept your proposal..." She didn't even finish her sentence before the entire space was filled with cheers and clappings.

"...First, hear me out!" 

Her loud voice made the room filled with silence. Aislinn's happy expression had turned into one of worry as she fretted over what Miss Li was going to say next.

She had already told Li Ming everything about their own and the Enchanted Forest's history. But there's one thing, one secret that she hadn't shared with her yet.

That same secret was the reason why she proposed the offer to the Young girl. The sups and their little Magik Forest needed a Master and Aislinn couldn't have found someone more deserving than the young girl whose aura shouted her status of a leader.

"Though I'm ready to take over the ownership of this Forest and lead you guys in the future while keeping you all protected, but in return of that I want something from you all." Li Ming told the group of sups.

The sups passed each other confused but curious glances, though none of them spoke.

After a few minutes of silence, it was Aislinn who finally dared to speak.

"What do you want us to do?"

Everyone looked at Li Ming, waiting for the Young Miss to place her requirements on the table.

"First, I want to open an Academy here." Li Ming said in a loud and clear voice which boomed through the room, leaving the sups gaping at her after hearing the words.

"What?" A siren let out a confused and shocked response as everyone stared at Li Ming like she had suddenly turned into a two-headed monster.

Li Ming sighed before telling them about the group of hundreds of children and what she was planning for their future.

"Suddenly opening a sect in this world would bring too much attention to me and right now I don't want that. That's why I can't open an Academy in the outside world. Moreover, the spiritual energy of the Han Empire is nowhere near good. This place would be perfect for the Academy." Li Ming told them.

The sups though understood Li Ming's good intentions but there was still some hesitation in their eyes.

Li Ming already knew the reason behind their uncertainty but she kept quiet, waiting for one of them to voice it out.

"Miss Li, we respect your decision but won't that be dangerous for us?" A mermaid who looked the oldest of their group finally asked the question that was flowing through everyone's mind.

Li Ming smiled softly at the group of supernaturals as she replied with a soft but assuring tone.

"Don't worry. I already have a plan for that. I'll make sure that your identity will not be revealed in front of them...but also, I want you all to teach them that just because you are not the same as them, doesn't make you a freak or an abomination." 

Her words carried so much power and purity in them that the sups immediately broke into soft smiles, nodding their heads as they agreed with her words.

"You all are skilled in different things and different areas. You all have your own perks and I want you all to share your knowledge with your future students." Li Ming said with a soft smile.

"Future students?" A Gnome asked and everyone looked at Li Ming with confused eyes.

"Of course, if not for you guys then who will teach my students?" Li Ming said while shaking her head at the stupid supernaturals who couldn't realize something so obvious.

"What will we teach them? We have no knowledge about this world or the cultivation thing that the people here do. How are we going to teach them something we don't know ourselves?" Aislinn asked with confusion evident in her expressions.

"Gosh! You are really stupid, aren't you? When did I ever say that you will be teaching them the geography, history of this world, or cultivation?" 

Li Ming's question only confused the sups even more as they looked at each other, trying to find if anyone was able to understand what Li Ming was actually trying to say.

"Listen carefully, guys. You are not responsible for teaching them about these things. What you will be teaching them are your mastered skills. I don't want these children to be limited to the option of the future that this world holds open for them. Rather I want them to learn the skill they want so that they could master it and make their own future."

"We will let them choose what they want to do or what excites them, makes them happy as they spend their time doing it? There are limitless options. Of course, cultivation, alchemy, weaponry, and scholarly would be a part of it. If some of them want to pursue these as their careers, I'll make sure to help and guide them. Though at the moment, I don't have any teachers for them in those fields."

"Then come those who don't want to choose any of these fields. We will introduce them to the other options - agriculture, business, music, wood carving, jewelry making, cutlery making, fashion designing, architecture, cooking and there are so many more. Let them find something that they would love to do for the rest of your life and that's where your duty will start."

Li Ming looked through the several faces in the group as she spoke those words.

All the sups looked deep in thoughts and after passing each other hundreds of glances, secret messages through eye gestures, and a few silent hours later...just kidding!

Aislinn finally spoke, "If you can promise to try your hundred percent to never fail us or our trust in you, we are ready to help you in this beautiful idea of yours."

"Perfect! Deal!" Li Ming shouted excitedly as she immediately forwarded her hand out for a handshake.

Aislinn looked at the young girl who was beaming as she waited patiently for her to complete the handshake and Aislinn did exactly that as she clasped her hand around Li Ming's small warm hand, sealing their promises.

"Alright, then. From tomorrow onwards we will start our preparations. First, we will need to start building the Academy. Though there are only a few hundred children at this moment but the number will possibly increase in the future, therefore the Academy should be built by taking this point into consideration. I will also need a proper tour of this Enchanted Forest and the resources that are present here so that I can plan everything perfectly."

Aislinn nodded her head in agreement as they all noted everything down in their minds that Li Ming was speaking.

"Next, I'll need to find a way to connect this place with my mansion. That will sort out many problems." Li Ming noticed the confused gazes of the sups at the mention of her magical mansion but she ignored them for the time being.

"Also, you all will need to show me exactly how you guys work here. How you all have set everything up here? It will take some time for us to prepare the Academy and for that, I'll need your help." 

The sups immediately nodded their heads as Li Ming looked at them and when she got their agreement she continued, "For now continue with your daily life. I'll be busy in the outside world for the coming few days, so we can't start with the Academy plan immediately but I will visit you guys soon to take a look around this area. In the meantime, I will bring some books which could provide you information about this world and how it works. It's necessary to know your enemies or your friends." 

"The children will continue with their basic cultivation training for now. Let's hope by the time the Academy would be ready to be opened, I would have a proper batch of teachers for my students." Li Ming said with a sigh.

Aislinn touched her shoulder as the woman gave her an encouraging nod.

"I'm sure you will find a way to achieve that." The nymph leader said with a soft smile. 

Li Ming only nodded her head and as it was already past midnight, she finally decided to take her leave.

With final goodbyes, the young girl disappeared from the land of the Enchanted Magik Forest while taking the pixies, Snowy and Mallow along with her.