The blonde girl hurried to Kiet's side and gently helped him to his feet. He was still unsteady, his legs trembling as if they might give out at any moment. Kiet signed something quickly with his hands.
The girl nodded, understanding at once.
She turned to Long. Her expression was calm — not cold, but composed.
"I apologize for the trouble Kiet caused," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "I'll compensate you for the bread. If that isn't enough, you may come to my home in the city. My name is Mai."
There was something unmistakably noble about her — not arrogance, but quiet authority.
"I'm Long," he replied. "It's fine. I don't hold grudges… and I don't need compensation."
He glanced at Kiet, confusion still written across his face.
"What's wrong with him? Is he injured? Why was he stealing?"
Mai exhaled slowly, her brows knitting together.
"Kiet is an orphan. He was taken in by a kind man named Lam. But recently, Uncle Lam has been struggling. His work is unstable…" She paused. "Perhaps Kiet had no choice. Perhaps he was simply hungry."
She met Long's gaze steadily.
"Still, I will take responsibility. Please charge the cost to me."
Then she crouched beside Kiet and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"As for the headache… I believe his condition has relapsed."
Her eyes shifted to Dreamy — and brightened.
"Oh! You have an AI Witch too? How adorable!"
Before Long could react, she bent down and wrapped Dreamy in a quick, affectionate hug. Long stiffened slightly.
"Yes, his name is Dreamy," Long said quickly. "He's been with me since childhood."
"What a lovely name." Mai smiled warmly, as though the earlier tension had evaporated.
She reached into her pocket and took out several blue EN coins, placing them into Long's palm.
"This is what I have at the moment. If you need more, please visit my home. I can provide additional EN… even gold EN, if necessary."
Then she called out clearly:
"Miki! Please come out and give him our address."
A small golden dragon popped out from her pocket. At first, she was no larger than Mai's palm. But within seconds, she expanded gracefully until she stood nearly the same size as Dreamy.
Her scales shimmered like polished gold. Her long tail swayed elegantly through the air. Her diamond-bright eyes gleamed with quiet intelligence.
She was magnificent.
An AI Witch in the form of an Eastern dragon — noble, refined, and powerful.
Long had never seen an AI Witch radiate such an aristocratic presence.
"Yes, Mistress," Miki replied, her voice calm and resonant.
Her eyes flashed once.
A glowing slip of paper materialized above Long and drifted gently into his hand.
It bore Mai's portrait, her home address, and a delicate signature:
Le Noble – Lady Le Mai
"Now I'll take Kiet back to Uncle Lam," Mai said. "Goodbye."
She turned back briefly.
"There's also a training center that uses AI Witches to help teach children in difficult circumstances. Kiet studies there. I volunteer when I can. If you and Dreamy are interested… you're welcome to visit."
She handed him another slip of paper with the center's address before he could respond.
Then she walked away, holding Kiet's hand gently.
Miki followed — the small golden dragon circling once in the air before dissolving into the fading light like the last shimmer of sunset.
Long stood there, watching until they disappeared behind rows of towering buildings.
Later, he and Dreamy climbed to the rooftop of a nearby high-rise.
A gentle breeze swept across the city.
Below them, Puresight glowed — vibrant, magnificent, alive.
Long lay back beside Dreamy, watching the sun sink beneath the skyline. Delivery bats still darted across the sky in the distance, their movements tireless.
He thought of Mrs. Huong. Of his hometown. Of the day he would finally find the AI King Witch.
The longing felt endless.
His eyes began to close.
But Dreamy nudged him awake.
The AI Witch held Mai's business card carefully between his teeth, his tail wagging with unusual excitement. Long rarely saw him like this.
Long took the card and flipped it over.
On the back was the address of the AI Witch Training Center.
Dreamy's eyes flashed with a strange, unreadable golden light.
Long stared at the card for a long moment.
His first day in Puresight had not gone as he expected.
But it had not been bad.
Inside one of the tallest towers in Puresight, three figures stood before a massive 3D projection of the city and its surrounding districts. Their shadows stretched long across the illuminated floor.
"Ah. Found it."
The tallest figure pointed toward the holographic map.
A red dot pulsed at the location of an AI Witch training center on the outskirts.
"Good," another voice replied. "We'll track that AI Witch down and eliminate it."
The red dot blinked steadily.
Moments later, the three shadows vanished into a descending elevator.
Far from the glittering skyline, a storm was gathering.
And it was heading straight for the center.