Chapter 190: Youth is a Battlefield, the Ball is War
Deep night.
Quiet people.
Dreams broken.
Morning arrived.
St. Marian welcomed the last day of the first semester.
The weather on Friday was perfect, with a hint of warmth in the sunlight.
Professor Jones no longer lectured on profound theoretical knowledge in dueling class.
She waited until all the students had gathered in Battle Hall No. 2, then picked one student from each house to be a leader, and had the students line up in four columns, jogging out of the Battle Hall following their leaders.
The last class.
Professor Jones planned to take them for a run around outside the castle.
Also to let these first-years, who spent all day cooped up inside the castle, breathe some air outside the castle and understand just how large the castle really was.
Dark glanced at Emma, Sara Swati, and so-and-so on his right.
Emma and Sara Swati both looked rather displeased.
They already found it difficult to keep up with the running group, and now being singled out as leaders, wasn't that public humiliation?
Dark and the Fool's House leader on the far right exchanged glances, and both slowed their pace.
The four columns slowly advanced at a relatively leisurely speed.
Professor Jones, for her part, didn't urge them on.
The area outside the castle was unexpectedly vast, dotted with various small buildings.
Among the first-years, there were some who liked to peer out from inside the castle, but very few actually went to investigate on site.
If they had the time, most people would choose to head straight for Traveler's Street.
"We're here."
After some time, Professor Jones stopped somewhere.
The students followed her gaze in that direction.
Then, a two-story building in the style of a Roman palace came into view.
"What's that?" someone asked in surprise.
Then, a student who already knew replied: "That's the entrance to the dungeon."
The dungeon existing within St. Marian was a multi-layered structure, much like a large labyrinth.
The dungeon's monsters refreshed once a week and was only open to certain students from Friday noon to Sunday night.
Most of St. Marian's core materials originated from here, making it a completely self-sufficient source.
Learning.
Adventuring.
Dueling.
These were the three indispensable elements in the daily lives of upper-year students.
As first-years, however, they currently only had access to "learning."
"Next semester, your Magic Beast class teacher might take you on a tour of the dungeon."
Professor Jones stopped here for about ten minutes, then started moving again.
"Let's go, continue!"
So the students continued running, groaning and sighing.
The last class of the first semester for first-years concluded amidst the endless running.
Relying on the physical fitness gained from persistent morning exercises, he finally preserved his noble dignity. Looking down at most of the students bent over and gasping for breath, his resolve to continue morning exercises was further strengthened.
Before dismissing the class, Professor Jones discussed some safety matters regarding the holiday, then announced "dismissal."
At that moment, even with aching legs, the students instantly erupted in cheers!
For students who had little concept of "winter break" duration, a nine-day holiday was simply exhilarating.
What's more, it also included the "Christmas Ball"!
Although the Christmas Ball didn't feature hunting activities like a "masquerade ball," the single Christmas stocking for each person still brought a lot of anticipation.
For them, having already experienced a hunting activity, a Christmas event centered around the "ball" element held an even stronger appeal.
It was now December 22nd, with two days remaining until the Christmas Ball on the evening of the 24th.
The main focus was dance partners.
The secondary focus was Christmas gifts.
Just thinking about the embarrassment of having no dance partner at the ball, or receiving no gifts other than a stocking,
the young mages' gazes gradually sharpened!
Next, it was war!
"Hiss, what's going on?"
Dark rubbed his cheek, feeling a stinging pain.
Who was carving into his face with blade-like gazes?
Unlike other students.
After dueling class ended, Dark went straight to his dormitory to continue researching the [Fusion] spell.
Thanks to the decisive breakthrough he made last night, his subsequent research became a little smoother.
Around noon, he stopped to eat some takeout brought by DemiDevimon, then immediately left, finally arriving at the Dragon Taming Platform before Professor Claire's departure.
The Dragon Taming Platform was located near the teacher dormitories. Despite its name, it was actually a place similar to an "airfield."
Most professors entering and leaving the academy would do so by riding flying mounts.
Most professors' mounts were their own Magic Guide Spirits, while a small number, like Claire, had tamed actual Magic Beasts!
Claire's wyvern was a sub-dragon species with thin dragon blood, originally the mount of a minor leader in the Demon King's army, but it later became her spoils of war.
When Dark arrived at the Dragon Taming Platform, Claire was saying farewell to a few familiar professors.
So he didn't approach, but instead stood a little further away, watching.
After this parting, they would probably not meet again until the summer holiday.
Dark felt a little sentimental.
"Hey, Dark!"
Dark suddenly perked up.
He saw Claire waving vigorously.
He quickly smiled, raised his arm high, and waved back with force!
"Auntie Claire, goodbye!"
Great winds rose.
Dragons soared through clouds.
Claire put on her goggles and, riding her wyvern, soared into the sky.
Professor Sarah, who had come to see her off, drew a circle with the keycard in her hand, and a round door appeared high in the sky.
Claire abruptly turned her head as she passed through the doorway, her light brown sideburns flying up with the wind, covering half her face.
Dark watched her back until it completely disappeared, then took a small step back and turned to leave.
Since it wasn't a parting of life and death, there was no need to be overly sad.
Alvit was alone, and it was precisely when she needed company.
With Claire joining, the Ducal Residence would gain some warmth.
Dark wouldn't have to worry too much about unfavorable news concerning his mother popping up every time he looked through the "Great Sage Daily."
He quickly returned to his dormitory, resuming his work on perfecting the [Fusion] spell.
Another two hours passed, and Dark finally produced a [Fusion] spell that seemed plausible.
"Phew~"
He drank a cup of apple juice to refresh himself, then quickly packed his things and headed to the library.
Senior Pandora also had her own matters to attend to; this afternoon was the last chance before the Christmas Ball.
When he arrived at the library, Pandora exchanged a few words with Mrs. Bella beside her, then walked out from behind the counter under Mrs. Bella's warm gaze and headed to the laboratory with Dark.
The castle's corridors remained quiet.
Dark asked curiously: "Senior, do you still have work?"
Pandora shook her head: "I have holidays too, you know? I just came to keep Mrs. Bella company. And, to wait for you, by the way."
Dark scratched his head, wondering if giving Mrs. Bella a Christmas gift would make Senior Pandora even happier.
This time, there wasn't much time.
After entering the laboratory, the two immediately got to work.
Under Senior Pandora's guidance, Dark first tested the [Fusion] spell. Once he felt all indicators were met, he began the alchemy experiment.
The first half of [Fusion] alchemy was actually somewhat similar to [Curse Cage], both requiring the creation of a base for Magic Guide Spirit Cards.
The essence of [Fusion] was akin to using two or more Magic Guide Spirits as core materials to alchemize a brand new S-rank Magic Guide Spirit on the spot!
It could be said to be a form of "on-site alchemy."
Therefore, using a [Fusion] card required a massive amount of magic power!
Consequently, very few people used [Fusion] series decks.
Most mages would, at most, use [Fusion] as an auxiliary method, not a core one.
The entire experiment started after 3 PM and continued until 4:30 PM.
The experimental result was not unexpected, ending in failure.
However, the post-failure experience summary and problem-solving were the main focus of this afternoon.
Dark certainly couldn't have done these alone.
But with Senior Pandora's meticulous guidance, everything went rather smoothly.
An hour passed in a flash.
Although Dark didn't fully understand, he had already taken notes on all the key points, and now it was up to him to continue poring over books.
He gradually relaxed and began tidying up the experimental residue.
Once tidied up, the two left the laboratory together.
Dark had originally wanted to invite his senior to dinner at a restaurant in Traveler's Street, but she regretfully said she still had things to do in the evening.
So the two went to the dining hall, and under the meaningful smiles of the halfling chefs, ordered a small table of dishes in a corner of the hall.
Dark then discovered that his senior was also a carnivore, preferred sweet flavors, and liked the kind of taste that was salty with a hint of sweetness.
"If it were dishes like sweet and sour pork ribs, braised carp in vinegar sauce, or shredded pork with garlic sauce, she should like them, right?"
This thought involuntarily crossed Dark's mind.
In fact, those were also flavors he liked, and he could even cook them a little.
However, offering dishes as a Christmas gift might seem a bit unrefined.
And she wasn't a little foodie like Diana.
Table manners in this world actually discouraged talking while eating.
But as long as it wasn't a formal occasion, they weren't so particular.
The two ate their dishes and chatted softly.
Pandora was very interested in Dark's occasional shyness and pressed him about funny childhood stories.
But what amusing childhood stories did Dark have to tell from this life?
He lowered his head slightly, appearing a little awkward.
Pandora's interest grew even stronger.
Dark really didn't want to recount his past life's experiences in this one, so he tried to change the subject.
"You can't keep asking me, can you, Senior? What about yourself?"
Pandora smiled mysteriously: "Have you heard of dancing with wolves?"
Dark had naturally heard of it, so he honestly nodded.
Pandora then began to talk about her childhood experiences.
Hmm.
Under the bright moonlight, stepping on wolf heads, dancing with wolves.
After listening, Dark couldn't help but open his mouth, a look of astonishment on his face.
Pandora chewed quietly, smiling like a lady.
Pandora's appetite was a bit larger than Dark's.
But all the nutrients went to where they should.
Dark felt that she and Diana should have a common language.
Although this dinner wasn't as atmospheric as Wednesday night's, as long as both parties were happy, it was the best dinner.
Pandora wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth with a napkin and whispered: "Don't forget our agreement."
Dark nodded slightly and couldn't help but say: "So, we'll see each other at the ball next?"
Pandora assented: "Yes. These two days, I need to make preparations for my journey."
Dark: "Where are you going?"
Pandora smiled mysteriously: "I'll tell you when I get back."
Dark was twelve years old, 1.59 meters tall.
Pandora was fifteen years old, 1.68 meters tall.
They were three years apart in age, with a height difference of nine centimeters.
Dark had just begun to develop and felt that catching up wouldn't be a problem.
Although Pandora was already considered tall among girls, she was actually still in a developmental stage.
So, who would win and who would lose was actually still unknown.
They walked side by side, chatted about daily topics, and then parted ways at the crossroads.
Both smiling.
But not long after, Dark could no longer smile.
He realized that he still hadn't figured out what Christmas gift to give.
Instead, he began to anticipate what Christmas gift his senior would give him.
Shaking his head.
Dark pushed open the tower door of Noble House.
A blast of warm air immediately swept over him.
After entering, he quickly closed the door.
He saw the common room filled with people.
On the first night of the long holiday, so many students from all six years of Noble House, except for a few who chose to go home, were either in Traveler's Street or in this common room.
Moreover, the lines between boys and girls were clearly drawn.
With the fireplace as the dividing line, the area near the door was the boys' territory, and the other side was the girls' territory.
Both sides held their ground, eyeing each other covetously.
As soon as Dark entered, he saw an upper-year student holding a letter, attempting to break through the girls' territory. He ended up retreating ignominiously amidst a burst of laughter.
Not long after.
A girl mustered her courage and walked towards the boys' camp, instead receiving a collective welcome from the boys.
The difference in treatment between boys and girls was so obvious, it was tear-jerking.
However, the upper-year boy who received the girl's invitation politely declined.
The girl then clutched the invitation, wiping her eyes as she ran back.
"What's all this commotion about?"
Dark watched for a while and found himself laughing and crying at the same time.
He scanned briefly and discovered first-years Doron and others cowering and trembling in a corner.
Clearly, like him, they were experiencing this kind of spectacle for the first time.
St. Marian actually had such a custom before the Christmas Ball?
Dark's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he suddenly noticed Diana and Rose in the inner part of the girls' camp winking at him, both playfully sticking out their tongues.
It seemed.
They were like protected fledglings.
And the upper-year girls were like protective hens; any boy wanting to invite a lower-year girl to the ball first had to pass their scrutiny!
This was just too… interesting!
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