Chapter 3: The Mushroom Bird

“Master Russell, please give me the reins.”

“Master Russell, let me take off your cape.”

“Good day, Master Russell. The lady asked for you earlier and wondered if you had returned.”

Along the way, the servants of Fluorescent Castle greeted Russell warmly, taking his horse, removing his cloak, and offering him a towel to wash his face and hands.

Once inside the castle hall with the fireplace burning, it felt as if he had instantly transitioned from winter to summer.

He shed the weariness of his journey, appearing once again as the Baron’s radiant, handsome second son.

“Master Russell, the Master is upstairs in his study. The lady is teaching Miss Rora bookkeeping. She’s heard you’ve returned and asked you to visit her,” the old butler Carter said, bowing politely with a string of keys in his hand.

Carter, the butler, was always meticulous with his manners.

“Very well, I’ll go right away,” Russell smiled, bowing to Carter in return, of course.

The angle of his smile, the depth of his bow, and the precision of his movements were flawless, as if measured by a caliper.

A true gentleman!

This was what nobility aspired to.

While his predecessor might not have excelled in martial arts energy, he had never neglected his lessons in noble etiquette. Russell, having fully absorbed these lessons, handled them with ease.

As he watched Russell ascend the stairs, the smile on Carter’s face did not fade. It was a genuine smile, like that of an old father watching his child grow up.

He had never married and had served the Fluorescent Mushroom family since he was a child. The young masters and misses were like his own children, and he had long considered Fluorescent Castle his home.

Once Russell’s figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Carter’s smile faded and he resumed his role as the stern butler. He held his string of keys and began to inspect every corner of the castle, where the servants were working.

“Clean higher up, don’t leave any dust on the high places,” he instructed a male servant who was polishing a column.

The servant immediately replied, “Yes, Butler Carter.”

“Move aside, move aside,” a young scullery maid named Daisy hurriedly said as she carried a basin of water around the corner.

Upon seeing Butler Carter, she was startled and nearly spilled the water.

Carter frowned and scolded her, “How many times have I told you? Once you’re employed at Fluorescent Castle, you must get rid of your bad habits. Daisy, this is Fluorescent Castle, the most prestigious place in Dusklight River Valley. No more fumbling around!”

“S-Sorry, Butler Carter, I’ll make sure to improve,” Daisy shrank back and apologized softly.

Then she quickly dodged and hurried past Carter.

Carter shook his head at the sight. The quality of the newly hired maids was worrying.

On the second floor, Russell entered his mother’s room and saw her instructing his younger sister, Rora, on how to keep accounts.

“Master Russell,” the maids serving nearby greeted him.

Russell nodded at them and then turned to his mother, “Butler Carter said you wanted to see me. Is there something you need?”

“Come, sit down and let’s talk.”

“Sure.”

Russell sat down in a nearby chair and a maid brought him a cup of tea.

His eleven-year-old sister, Rora, smiled at Russell, but only with her lips pressed together. She had recently lost a tooth next to her front one and was hesitant to open her mouth wide.

Russell returned her smile.

Looking at her grown-up youngest son, his mother said, “I’ve discussed it with your father several times. You mentioned moving to the Black Waist Snake estate. We think that it can be delayed for now. First, we have to make sure that the servants and your retinue are properly arranged at the estate. It’s not too far, but it’s not too close either. It takes about two hours on horseback.”

“I can travel back and forth daily; it will serve as my martial arts energy practice,” Russell said.

Moving out of Fluorescent Castle was Russell’s goal. Not only did he feel awkward living with his family, but the constant attention from Ross also made him uncomfortable.

“Are you that eager to leave home?” his mother asked with a hint of resentment.

“Um…”

Seeing Russell at a loss for words, his mother suddenly smiled. “Never mind, kids have to leave the nest sometime. If you want to move out, then do it.”

“Okay.”

“Come back for lunch every day from now on.”

“Sure.” Seeing the faint wrinkles on his mother’s face, Russell nodded solemnly.

His older brother Roland served in the Dragon Blood Knights at Shadowflame Castle, and his older sister Rowena had already married and moved out. Only he and his younger sister Rora were left at home.

Now, he was also about to leave.

For Meryl Rainflower, this was indeed another painful parting. As a noblewoman, however, she understood that fledglings must face the storms to grow into eagles, so she did not try to stop Russell’s decision.

The three of them, mother and children, chatted for a while.

Soon the butler Carter entered. “Madam, Master Russell, Miss Rora, dinner is ready.”

“Where is the Baron?” Meryl asked.

“I have already informed him, madam. He will be down shortly.”

“I wonder what could keep him in his study all day long.” Meryl stood up and complained, “Mr. Carter, don’t tell me he’s really reading those thick books. I don’t believe it.”

Butler Carter maintained a polite smile, but did not reply.

The dining room was also on the second floor, with no electric lights but many wall lamps. These wall lamps were embedded with glowing gems that gave off a soft and steady light that kept the dining room bright without hurting the eyes.

It was getting dark outside.

Looking out of the dining room window, one could see the nearby tower where Clay Dragon Ross was perched on the roof. It could maintain this posture and sleep through the night.

The Baron had not yet arrived, but two unexpected guests had entered the dining room.

One was a palm-sized, plump green bird with patterns similar to those of the Fluorescent Mushroom. The other was a palm-sized cartoon-like doll with transparent wings on its back and a cluster of blue flowers on its head.

At that moment, the cartoon doll pointed at the green fat bird, wiped away tears, and wailed loudly.

“Rora, you’re bullying Thess again!” Meryl scolded.

The green fat bird named Rora was the reason for the Fluorescent Mushroom’s family name – a mushroom bird, a magical mushroom-type creature.

The other, the bullied Thess, was a Rainflower sprite, also a magical plant-type sprite.

They were as wondrous as the wyverns, born of plants and mushrooms and able to plant their respective magical herbs at any time and place, providing a constant supply of magic for the baron’s family.

“Chirp chirp chirp!” The fluorescent mushroom bird Rora landed on Meryl’s shoulder, chirping in protest.

The Rainflower sprite Thess landed on Meryl’s other shoulder, her chubby little hand on her hip, pointing at the mushroom bird Rora and crying loudly.

Russell couldn’t understand them.

No one could understand the language of the sprites, for their chirps were not real words.

He watched in amazement as Rora and Thess argued.

Even after accepting the existence of dragons and sprites, he still marveled at the beauty of these magical little creatures every time he saw them.

Dragons produced metal and gems.

Sprites produced magic herbs, various plant and fungal herbs.

“Unfortunately, the family only has two sprites, and Father has only promised me three sprite grubs. If I want more sprites, I’ll have to breed them myself,” Russell said with a hint of regret.

Sprites evolved from sprite grubs.

However, the probability of a sprite grub evolving into a sprite was very low. The Fluorescent Mushroom family had only managed to breed one mushroom-type sprite, Rora, in this generation.

As for Thess.

She was part of Meryl’s dowry when she married into the Fluorescent Mushroom family.