Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva
Chapter 967 - 89: The Tavern's Minstrel Songs_3

Even in that era, Transcendents had plenty of ways to heat water without all this hassle.

"Should Ores bathe first?" She turned back and saw Ores sitting on the edge of the bed, flipping through photos taken today, including scenes of some people battling wild boars, fighting wolves by the roadside, and running away chased by a hippo.

"Did Ores take these photos?" Tilan asked curiously.

"Ah, no. Blanchi took them. Then I asked her to send them to me."

"It didn't feel this way back then, but looking at the pictures now, it's actually quite amusing." She slid her fingers across the screen and spoke softly.

"I was always busy with the Songstress stuff before, singing and attending events. To be honest, this is probably my first time being this 'wild'." She paused and carefully chose a term she seldom used.

"Although the process felt a bit embarrassing at times, it was still very fun." After saying this, she raised her head.

"What about you, Tilan?"

"It was fun too," the girl answered softly.

Though both said they were happy, Tilan felt her reaction was different from Ores'. Such playfulness was fresh but not entirely unusual for her. She had plenty of childhood moments with classmates role-playing and playing monster-slaying games, so it didn't particularly surprise her.

But Ores seemed a bit different. Her background was exceptional, likely receiving strict etiquette training and status-related constraints since childhood. She hadn't experienced the uninhibited kind of fun Tilan had in her younger years — a side effect of her aristocratic identity, perhaps. No wonder Ores seemed more reserved.

With that thought, Tilan began recounting stories from her childhood to Ores.

"Back then, some friends dragged me along to play, asking me to act as a Princess captured by a Giant Dragon..." Thinking about the innocent and simple scenes from elementary school, Tilan couldn't help but laugh.

At the time, she was actually a bit scared, being directed by everyone to take up various roles. But fortunately, Yilin was always by her side, protecting her, which made her feel quite reassured most of the time.

Listening to Tilan narrate her past, Ores quietly took in the story, imagining Tilan's timid appearance back then. A smile unconsciously spread across her lips.

"That's wonderful. Tilan had so many friends as a child," she said with a touch of envy.

"As for me..." She thought for a moment.

"I might've had some peers I was familiar with but still felt distant compared to the 'friends' Tilan described." In truth, there were many people around her during childhood, but her family always taught her to be polite and to understand others' reasons for approaching her.

Unlike ordinary families, her family's social interactions were inevitably intertwined with interests. Even for children playing together, her companions were screened by their parents beforehand.

She gradually came to understand these dynamics after growing up, making it hard for her to view past acquaintances through a pure lens.

Additionally, being born into a prestigious family meant that she was under constant scrutiny, making it impossible for her to be as carefree as Tilan and her friends. Casual remarks or behaviors were often magnified by the media or embellished by competitors and others, forcing her to develop habits of maintaining her etiquette and image from an early age.

Over the years, she'd slowly learned how to use a polished persona to handle the media and outsiders. Yet, as an individual, there was still a part of her that felt lonely and yearned to truly connect with someone.

In the past, most people around her were ordinary, making it difficult to share much, but since entering university last year, she'd found a few fellow Songstress companions. Only then did she begin to express parts of herself she had kept bottled up inside.

The two chatted like this until the time gradually approached ten o'clock at night.

"Oh no, if it gets any later, we won't be able to wake up tomorrow morning." During this period of intense training, Idrylia always demanded they wake up at six.

As the two stood up, they remembered there was no training tomorrow. They exchanged smiles and let out a sigh of relief.

"Who's going to bathe first?" Tilan asked.

"Would you like to go together, Tilan?"

"We can't — the wooden tub is too small." Tilan chuckled and shook her head, suggesting Ores go first instead.

"Maybe we'll take a bath together some other time," she added.

Ores felt a bit disappointed by this but grew cheerful again at Tilan's suggestion for the future.

Come to think of it, this might actually be her first true friend—the kind of friend she could discuss anything with, a real friend.

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