The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 59: Distinctive Schools, (5)

Arriving at the ice cream stand, the two of them ordered the flavors they wanted, then sat at a table under the parasol to wait.

Camilla lazily rested her chest on the table, propping her chin with both hands as she looked at Sylutia across from her. Time seemed to slow in that moment, and the quiet gaze carried a certain peacefulness.

In the end, because of that fond feeling, she suppressed her vampiric instincts. Even though she had not defeated any powerful opponent just now, a faint pride and satisfaction rose in Camilla’s heart, as if she had made a decision she would never regret in a lifetime.

Sunlight slanted down, part of it landing on Sylutia’s wrist. Even without looking, she could clearly feel the warmth from being sun-kissed.

This summer seemed warmer than usual, Sylutia floated a few thoughts, probably because the wind season had entered a warming phase again.

They said that in recent years, during the wind season’s continuous cooling, there would be a small rebound stage.

In a bright season, sunlight makes colors a bit more vivid, unlike the long winter when everything is gray and hazy.

While waiting, Sylutia’s gaze wandered to the students on the street; they were at that youthful, radiant age—the most beautiful stage of life—walking in twos and threes.

Unlike someone experiencing youth for the first time, Sylutia retained hazy memories from a previous life. So she both sensed and possessed youth simultaneously. The feeling was strange: as if savoring a delicious fruit, she clearly knew when she would finish tasting the sweetest piece of her life, with no second chance to taste it again.

She used to wonder whether she should spend the best years mainly on studying and training. Knowing she possessed the fairy’s gift of blessed youth relieved that anxiety.She was grateful to her mother in this life, who had thought ahead about this dilemma and allowed her to freely explore this vibrant, bustling world.

As her thoughts drifted, Sylutia stared absentmindedly at the nearby street. Under the parasol her eyes were as deep and clear as black crystal, and this quiet picture was imprinted and solemnly preserved in Camilla’s memory.

“Your ice creams are ready.” A few minutes later, the quiet was finally broken when their ice creams were handed over.

“Okay, thanks.” Sylutia’s eyes regained their liveliness. She rose, took the two double-scoop cones at the counter, then returned to the parasol table.

“Camilla, here.” The girl handed one to the other.

“Thank you.”

Camilla took the ice cream Sylutia offered, cradling it in her hands as she slowly tasted it. The cold-sweet flavor spread through her teeth, bringing a measure of clarity back to her mind.

Sipping small bites of ice cream, Camilla glanced at the girl across from her from time to time, but her thoughts drifted to many other things.

It seemed she hadn’t sat demurely at a table eating snacks like this in a long while.

Since the queen mother passed away and she and Catella took over the Blood Clan, no one could restrain or govern her anymore. She no longer needed to maintain a lady-like obedient persona in front of her mother as in distant childhood; many formed habits had slowly faded with time.

She hadn’t expected all those memories to resurface today.

Emotions are really complicated and delicate, she thought, and once more felt the stir of that realization. Her gaze curiously followed the other girl’s movements, doing her best to match the pace of eating so they finished together.

When Sylutia put the last small piece of cone into her mouth, Camilla simultaneously finished the last bit as well.

They rose together, and Camilla followed Sylutia out of the ice cream shop.

They still had a long street to walk along, to places they had never been.

....

A week later, the Asra District gradually welcomed recruitment representatives from the various colleges. They set up exhibition areas in designated zones to demonstrate each school’s characteristics and strengths, aiming to attract fresh talent.

Although the schools’ rankings had long been public, most students only knew the rankings superficially and did not understand the real specialties and strengths of each school. Rather than blindly applying based on rank, it’s better to choose the school that suits your skills and preferences, so you can achieve better growth.

According to evaluations from senior students and instructors, the schools could be divided into four tiers. T1 naturally included the three most famous schools: Mithril Clock, Origin Hourglass, and the Solar Furnace. T2 covered the seven schools ranked fourth to tenth.

T3 had no strict standard, but roughly comprised the ten schools ranked eleventh to twentieth.

Finally, T4 rarely drew attention to differences in strength; anything beyond the top twenty fell into the T4 bracket.

Sylutia learned that the Bionics School currently ranked eighteenth, a relatively late T3 placement. No wonder Instructor Nox suggested she didn’t need to go there.

Actually she quite liked the Bionics School. Many secret arts could simulate the abilities of wondrous creatures, blending realism and fairytale in a beautiful way.

During break, Sylutia, as usual, tidied up her notes and went to the restaurant with her two roommates. Passing Camilla’s seat, Camilla gave a slight nod; that brief exchange was like a greeting.

Although they had happily strolled together last weekend, Camilla didn’t seem to want to appear too close to Sylutia at school. She consciously kept a certain distance from Sylutia, only greeting her unintentionally to show she wasn’t trying to be distant—she simply had other reasons.

Sylutia guessed Camilla might not like being around many people, or was used to keeping a low profile to avoid attention, a habit Sylutia herself had once shared.

Lovier was like a shining sunflower; wherever she went she attracted many eyes. Her lively, carefree manner might make Camilla uncomfortable, because during their walk Sylutia felt Camilla was quiet and gentle in everything she did.

In the school cafeteria, students buzzed about the schools that had recently arrived in the Asra District.

“Did you hear that huge sound that echoed through Asra yesterday?” one student said excitedly.

“That was the work of the Roaring School!”

“The Roaring School specializes in studying sound, waves, vibration, and harmonic resonance. They share an origin with the Opera School; both praise that great melody and believe the world began with a grand chorus. That orchestral melody connected all living things and the earth.

“Historically, during the Fifth Era, the mythical era fairies gathered hand in hand to sing. Their song made the World Tree sprout and grow, shattering countless floating islands and using the World Tree’s root system to gather them together, creating the first continent—what people now call the land foundation.”

Though they shared an origin, the Roaring School and the Opera School differed greatly now. One focused on expanding sound waves’ influence and transforming the world; the other emphasized performance and the power to convey ancient legend.

“Shall we check out the Roaring School this afternoon?” Sylutia asked with curiosity.

The others had no objections. Aurora said she was actually familiar with the Roaring School.

“Because the Opera School and they share origins, some secret arts are closely related at their core, so we often discuss and research together. I occasionally know professors and masters from their faction.”

“However, not many mages study the Roaring School, and their ranking is behind the Opera School.” Hearing this, Lovier’s curiosity and interest were immediately piqued.

“What about the other schools? Which ones do you know about, Aurora?”

“Let me think.” Aurora tapped a finger to her mouth, thinking.

“I’m more familiar with the Key-and-Lock School and the Gem School. When I was young I loved a gift my parents bought from the Key-and-Lock School—a pretty chest only I could open.”

“The Gem School is quite well-known; they specialize in refining Aspect gems. Many mages and Transcendents need them. They currently rank fifth among the major schools.”

“The top schools in the Mage Alliance are known to most people, while the smaller schools aren’t as famous,” she explained.

“Let’s go check this afternoon. I also want to catch up on classes and see if any schools have made new developments in recent years.”

With their plan set, the three left the restaurant together.

....

In the afternoon, the three arrived at the recruitment area designated in the Asra District. The open ground had large circular plots outlined by ring roads. Each school set up its exhibition hall within those circles to showcase their traits and strengths and attract applicants.

As they got off the carriage, they saw the exhibition area full of students in various styles of dress. They’d come from many schools in Asra District and were curiously touring each hall.

“Looks like we’ll need to queue.” Aurora was prepared; she took out her parasol. Its dark-blue border had white ruffled edges like a skirt, and when opened it gave a faint coolness.

“Ah, it’s a Slumbering Winter Aspect artifact.” Lovier examined it with curiosity. She wasn’t afraid of the sun, wearing a pretty golden Floral Breeze hat.

It was a delicate Second Tier Slumbering Winter creation.

Aurora walked beside Sylutia holding the parasol, while Lovier trotted lightly on the other side. The summer breeze unfurled the pink-white and gold petals decorating Lovier’s hat.

They didn’t hurry, chatting as they walked and discussing the arriving schools.

“To keep things balanced, the top ten schools haven’t arrived yet.”

“As for the Mithril Clock school Hedra wants to attend, its subordinate Tetis College won’t arrive until the last month—one month later than the others,” Aurora explained.

“This is to avoid them overshadowing others and depriving other schools of the chance to showcase themselves.”

After more than ten minutes, the three followed the student crowd into a tall domed exhibition hall filled with gold.

Gilded decorations, gilded statues, golden flowers and leaves, spellcasters wearing elaborate golden lace garments, golden mirrors and a revolving stage.

“The Gold Leaf School,” Aurora said. “They are skilled in using gold thread, gold powder, gold leaf, and other golden creations. They aren’t strong in combat, but they can push the uses of gold to extremes. Many royal houses invite them to build palaces and adorn artifacts. Their works are known for delicacy and longevity.”

“So beautiful~”

“Joining this school seems to require wealth.”

“Is everything made of gold? So luxurious.”

“Even though they aren’t a powerful school, if you join them you’ll never go poor.” Students discussed among themselves.

In the Mage Alliance the Gold Leaf School ranks thirty-third, rather low, but it still attracts many applicants because its mages are generally wealthy and don’t worry about living expenses.

Aurora led the two through the hall, occasionally whispering supplementary notes about the on-stage speakers.

“Although the luxury and beauty form most people’s impressions of the Gold Leaf School, they are not useless.

“The Gold Leaf School’s secret arts can create an extremely transparent golden film to block toxins and corrosion. Items sealed with gold leaf can endure erosion and be preserved for a long time.”

“Some of my family’s ancient items were preserved with their help.”

“Also, gold’s excellent malleability makes it useful for precise creations; they often provide products for other schools and have steady income.”

“I see.”

After touring that hall, the three moved on, crossing the outer road into a new exhibition hall.

If the Gold Leaf School’s hall was a golden world, this next venue was a riot of competing colors.

Large folding fans in pure white and cerulean, green vines hanging from the ceiling, deep purple fruit on trees, colorful lizards climbing the branches, bright crimson petals blooming in the shade. The presenters on stage wore clothes as splendid and orderly as peacocks.

“The Color School,” Aurora said. “Ranked thirty-second, they excel at manipulating color changes, easily producing brilliant hues that never existed in the world before. Their best-known products are fireworks, pigments, dyes, and colored paper. Their motto is: Adorn the world with the most beautiful colors.”

Here Sylutia saw vivid, rich colors and carefully blended creations—fans, dresses, paintings, book pages, weird fruits—that left a deep impression.

Leaving that hall, they kept walking.

They entered a new hall shrouded in mist. The three walked through until they could no longer see other students a few meters ahead; sounds from behind thinned out. Even though it was clearly an exhibition space, they felt like stepping into another world.

Along the path they occasionally saw pillars, clocks, owls, small tombstones, and blurry silhouettes passing through them.

“Those are mist spirits, said to be formed from part of a person’s lingering thoughts after death,” Aurora explained softly.

“The Mist Spirit School,” she continued, “ranked thirty-first. They study mist, concealment, mist spirits, mist-formed bodies and other nebulous phenomena. Although they aren’t highly ranked, their combat power is relatively strong. In the past, a powerful Mist Spirit School mage once slaughtered an entire city, and it took a month before anyone discovered it.”

They continued and arrived at another hall filled with plaster sculptures. In the center stood a griffin statue about ten stories tall, wings spread as if about to fly. Each feather was sharp and slightly curved; the statue’s muscular contours were vivid and powerful.

There were also many beautiful humanoid plaster statues in the exhibits.

“The Plaster School,” Aurora said. “Ranked thirtieth, they study plaster, lime, solidification, sealing, and petrified matters. They excel at plaster craft, not only carving exquisite statues but manipulating stone flows to instantly build sturdy castles, freeze and seal enemies, even petrify them. Their motto is: Call me a craftsman of stone.”

The schools displayed their features dazzlingly, overwhelming the students, and before they realized it night had fallen.

“Meow, I’m hungry.” Lovier tugged Sylutia’s hand, looking beseeching. Though she didn’t say it outright, the girl and Aurora understood she wanted to go eat.

“Hehe, wait a bit. Let’s take a detour to the Feast Ritual School ranked twenty-second. They’ll serve luxury food far beyond what’s available in Asra District,” Aurora said, lifting Lovier’s spirits as they followed her onward.