Chapter 195: Dark Demon Dances with Dragons
According to class allocation, senior students sat closer to the stage, while first-years could only sit at the back.
There was a distinction between upper and lower, and order between senior and junior.
This was not just a microcosm of the era.
Dark entered the Great Hall and found a seat at one end of the Noble House long table, then waited for the Christmas Ball to begin with a pleasant mood.
During the Halloween Ball, he had joined midway, so he hadn't experienced this eager anticipation.
All in all, it felt good.
Dark picked up the prepared teapot on the table, poured black tea into teacups, and handed them one by one to Diana and Rose.
Beside the tea set were freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, which, paired with black tea, released a fragrant aroma upon tasting.
Around six fifty.
Suddenly, a large crowd surged in through the main entrance, and the Great Hall instantly became lively!
The piano in the corner of the stage automatically played a melodious tune, and the professors who remained at the academy emerged from backstage, taking their seats at the faculty table one after another.
It was clear that the professors had also dressed up for the evening.
Professor Kazel wore a suit, tie, and leather shoes, like a dashing old gentleman.
Professor Sarah wore a light green long dress, with a fluffy neck warmer around her slender neck, and a golden phoenix hairpin intertwined with wind elements adorning her high-piled bun.
Professor Lily wore a nightgown and yawned, looking half-asleep.
Only when Sister Carian woke her up with a pat did she reluctantly use a transformation card, turning into a cute and charming pixie.
In addition, there were Ms. Bella from the library, Ms. Grace from the instruction room…
But the Principal was nowhere to be seen.
However, senior students were already used to it; Principal Cynthia's thinking on certain matters was truly unimaginably old-fashioned, such as her obsession with "making the final appearance"!
At festive celebrations, she always made the last entrance, adorning the celebration even more brilliantly like starlight.
By the time he came to his senses, all four long tables were filled.
Dark saw Virt and Robert, also in formal attire, at the Knight House long table next door, and a bit further, he could see Emma.
Emma wasn't dressed as formally as Diana and Rose, but she had clearly made an effort.
However, the makeup, which he wasn't sure if she had applied herself, only made her appear more childish; she already looked younger than her peers, and now it was even more pronounced.
Her tender appearance combined with stubborn eyes gave her a unique charm.
Dark had a feeling she might have been used as a Barbie doll for makeup practice by some senior girl.
She herself didn't seem to like this makeup, as she kept frowning.
A little later.
Senior Pandora finally appeared at the main entrance.
In a ball where everyone wore gowns and dresses, her white gauze dress didn't seem out of place; it was the exquisite collarbone revealed by the neckline and her overly prominent bosom that tightly captivated people's attention.
A smile hung on her face, and rare pearl earrings adorned her delicate earlobes; her demeanor was graceful and elegant.
"What a beautiful person. Will Diana be this beautiful when she grows up?"
Diana lowered her head to look at her chest, feeling confident!
Rose, however, slightly changed color.
People's physiques really couldn't be generalized.
Perhaps due to the difference in grades.
Diana didn't seem to regard Senior Pandora as a competitor.
Perhaps she herself didn't quite understand what her affection for Dark truly was.
Perhaps she just simply wanted to be with him.
Whether eating or dancing.
Senior Pandora, entering from the door, swept her gaze towards the Noble House long table and quickly spotted Dark among the crowd.
She raised her arm, waved at Dark, flashed a smile, then turned and walked towards the Magic House long table.
As her figure gradually became obscured by others, Dark withdrew his gaze.
Then he happened to see Virt, who for some reason was looking back at him.
"Virt?"
Robert poked Virt's side suspiciously.
Virt snapped back to attention, quickly turned his head, but his heart was already in turmoil!
"Just now, Senior Pandora was waving at Dark, right?" he whispered.
"Huh? Which senior? Did Senior Pandora pass by?" Robert hadn't noticed Senior Pandora at all.
Virt sulked for a long time, feeling somewhat unhappy.
Dark was puzzled, but Diana beside him whispered, "Dark, do you like bears?"
This question truly came out of nowhere; even if Dark wanted to find context, there was none.
He didn't answer for a while, until Diana urged him, and then he said, "Bears are so cute, of course I like them."
Diana nodded contentedly, then began chatting softly with Rose beside her.
Dark shook his head, wondering if Diana was talking about a Christmas gift.
"She wouldn't send me a teddy bear, would she?"
"No way, right?"
Dark's expression subtly changed, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
That wouldn't be a good gift.
He would rather have a milk candy!
Seven o'clock sharp.
As the clock tower struck, the magical lights in the Great Hall suddenly extinguished in an instant!
Light vanished instantly, and darkness enveloped the hall.
Only the Christmas tree on the stage still emitted a faint glow.
The junior students were startled.
The senior students, however, appeared calm and composed.
Indeed, three seconds later, just as screams began to rise, the hall lit up again in an instant!
Only the light source illuminating the Great Hall had changed from magical lights to candles on silver candelabras!
Thousands of candles floating mid-air illuminated the hall.
Neatly arranged gold and silver cutlery silently appeared on the long tables covered with Christmas tablecloths.
The candlelight reflected off the golden cutlery and silver goblets, refracting a colorful and mesmerizing light, like a dream.
First-year students had never experienced such a sudden surprise.
A moment of silence was followed by a rush of loud discussions.
"Shhh—"
Principal Cynthia, wearing a Santa hat, successfully ascended the stage unnoticed during the transition between light and darkness.
She extended her hand, and a small sprite enveloped in white light flew into her palm.
Then it suddenly transformed into a reindeer with a long, starry tail.
The brown-furred reindeer, with huge antlers, galloped forward, and a sleigh piled high with gift bags appeared from the starlight.
It burst forth from Principal Cynthia's palm, then, dragging the sleigh, it trod through the air, galloping from one end of the stage, crossing the entire Great Hall, pushing open the doors, and disappearing into the distance.
The stardust sprinkled from the gift bags on the sleigh landed on the plates, transforming into turkeys emanating a rich, meaty aroma!
The soft, sliced belly of the turkey overflowed with stuffing, and the fat sliding down the surface of the drumsticks accumulated in a thin layer on the plate.
Dark couldn't help but feel his appetite stir!
During a rare Christmas Ball, excessive restraint was not advisable.
His Gluttony was only around sixty points, with plenty of room to spare.
"Tonight is Christmas Eve!"
Principal Cynthia's voice was full of captivating magnetism.
"It's a day for family reunion!"
"But for me, St. Marian is my home."
"Every student here is my family."
"Every Christmas Eve, I make a wish, hoping to spend one Christmas Eve with my family."
"It seems my wish for this year has come true again."
Principal Cynthia couldn't help but smile.
"As Principal, I have much more to say, but I'd rather leave the remaining time for the ball; I imagine you feel the same, right?"
A cheer rose from the audience.
Principal Cynthia spread her arms, embracing the air: "In that case, my words end here. I wish you all a safe and peaceful Christmas Eve! May peace be with you, my dear family, whenever and wherever!"
As soon as her words fell, the four long tables simultaneously lit up with white light, and exquisite delicacies suddenly appeared on the empty plates around the turkeys.
Roast meat, ribs, sausages, steaks, puddings, potatoes, apple pies, syrup pancakes, chocolate muffins, donuts…
And, of course, the indispensable beans!
Dark glanced at the full box of beans placed right in front of him and couldn't help but recall his early days at the academy, a swirl of emotions stirring within him.
Fate comes and goes, fate is fate.
The piano in the corner of the stage suddenly changed tempo, its melody becoming more lively, just like the students' hearts.
With Principal Cynthia retreating backstage, the ball began as scheduled.
First, naturally, was the customary meal!
Only after eating one's fill could other things be discussed.
The sufficiently sumptuous delicacies were mouth-watering; turkeys were carved with knives and forks, and the rich aroma of chicken filled the Great Hall.
But the even more fragrant items were actually the seasonings inside the turkey's belly!
Dark let go of his restraint, not overthinking, and ate heartily; while Gluttony did increase, it wasn't by much.
After finishing a small half of a turkey, his eating speed slowed, and the "Gluttony +1" prompt disappeared.
While drinking juice to aid digestion, Dark watched Diana beside him, occasionally helping her cut bones and meat finely, and adjusting her napkin to prevent sauce from spilling on her clothes.
The atmosphere in the hall grew merrier, and at half past seven, a small Magic Sprite with flapping wings suddenly emerged onto the stage, followed by a clown in a Christmas costume who entered with somersaults, drawing a round of applause!
The Magic Circus had begun!
A full half-hour of Magic Circus acts pushed the joyful atmosphere to its peak.
Dark was immersed in this atmosphere; apart from occasionally pondering the clown's superb techniques, he, like the general public, showed his enjoyment of the circus performance.
Truly wonderful to watch!
Stripping away all the unnecessary bits, indeed, entertainment was the soul of the circus.
At eight o'clock sharp, as the Christmas clown exited the stage, the students, who thought the evening's program was over, suddenly discovered a clear spring gushing from the stage!
The clear water emerged from the center of the stage, forming a mushroom shape, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom.
A mermaid lady adorned with shells and pearls suddenly appeared from the spring water below; with a flick of her long tail, she leaped to the top of the spring!
She sat coiled on the spring, gently strummed her hand, and an elegant harp appeared!
Then she slightly parted her divine lips, and a song, long and melodious, rang out.
"It's Miss Starlow, the Mermaid Diva!"
The students below suddenly stirred!
While Dark was utterly bewildered, his classmates around him seemed to have a clear understanding of this mermaid lady.
He couldn't help but look at Diana.
Diana averted her gaze; "Don't look at me, Diana doesn't know!"
Rose couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly: "That's the famous Mermaid Diva, Miss Starlow; her singing is as captivating as a nightingale's, and she's incredibly popular in the kingdom. I never expected Principal Cynthia to have such a surprise planned!"
Dark: "In this era, can divas really rise to prominence?"
Rose shook her head: "The rise of musicals has changed a lot, but it's still limited. Miss Starlow receives preferential treatment over human divas because she herself is a rare mermaid."
In the end, the nobility of professions and the relative importance of genders were topics that remained constant throughout changing eras.
In this era, which was approaching a Renaissance, the status of artists had greatly increased, and women's rights were gradually being protected.
The cruel system of slavery had been abolished amidst widespread opposition, and workers had gained wages equivalent to their labor.
But it was still in its early stages.
The Mermaid Diva was not the last surprise.
She merely sang one song on stage, and then a flock of swan-people with pure white wings suddenly flew from the sky, descending like angels onto the world.
Their choreographed ballet, "Swan Lake," then immediately began!
Princess Odette, picking flowers by the lakeside, was transformed into a beautiful swan by the wicked sorcerer Rothbart with a malicious curse.
Only when night fell could the princess briefly return to human form.
Only steadfast love could break the evil magic.
Prince Siegfried, wandering Swan Lake, encountered the princess transforming into human form; the beastly blood deep within his heart surged, and he fell in love at first sight with the princess (swan).
Returning to the castle, the prince held a ball to choose his future queen, and the sorcerer had his daughter, the Black Swan, impersonate Odette to deceive the prince.
Just as the prince and the Black Swan were dancing, Odette appeared at the window, imploring the prince to remember his vows to her, but at this moment, the prince was distracted and enchanted by the sorcerer's spell.
At the sorcerer's demand, the prince swore an oath of love to the Black Swan—the sorcerer's plot succeeded, and Odette cried out in despair and fled.
Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the ballroom was in chaos, and the prince awakened in despair, but it was too late; he had already pledged his love to another.
The deceived prince rushed out to find the real Odette.
Final act.
The prince, returning to Swan Lake, was heartbroken.
The sorcerer created a blizzard to prevent the prince from finding Odette.
But the prince ultimately broke through the blizzard and found Odette, yet infinite true affection and endless repentance could not change the consequences of breaking his vow; the spell could no longer be broken, and the prince and princess were destined to be apart.
At this moment, the sorcerer revealed his hideous true form, turning the princess and her companions into swans drifting on the lake.
The tragic prince and princess (swan) embraced, and with the belief of "rather die than not love," they both leaped into the surging, overflowing lake.
In an instant, a miracle occurred; justice triumphed over evil, steadfast love conquered the wicked sorcerer, the magic shattered, the curse collapsed, the lake waters receded, and the swan maidens were reborn.
The prince and princess bathed in the glow of the rising sun, and a beautiful life began anew.
Although "Swan Lake" actually has multiple tragic endings, here, an illogical comedic ending was clearly chosen.
In the face of the so-called "miracle," the powerful sorcerer was powerless to resist.
However, no one cared about these logical loopholes.
The swan maidens' acting, combined with the thunder and lightning, raging winds and blizzards, and the incredibly moving soundtrack, created an unparalleled sense of immersion, leaving the audience no extra thoughts to ponder those details.
This performance of "Swan Lake" became the most acclaimed program of Christmas Eve.
As the prince and princess happily nestled together in the stage lights, the nine o'clock bells quietly chimed without anyone realizing.
The opera ended.
But the prince and princess did not exit; instead, amidst romantic and elegant music, they began to waltz.
Only then did the students suddenly realize.
The ball had begun!
Diana gazed eagerly as Dark stood up.
Dark could only give her an apologetic look.
Rose held Diana's arm.
Under the confused gazes of their classmates, Dark walked towards the central seats of Magic House.
Virt, excitedly chatting with Robert about "justice will always triumph over evil," suddenly noticed Dark walking past him, and his expression instantly froze.
An ominous premonition floated to his heart.
The keen perception inherited from the brave made him realize that things might be developing in a direction unfavorable to him.
He was always able to anticipate danger in advance.
Sitting in their seats, they could vaguely see a bit of Senior Pandora's back, which was originally a point of slight happiness for Virt.
But now it had an unwelcome effect.
He tilted his gaze and saw Senior Pandora standing up from her seat, then extending her fair, slender fingers, like white jade, towards that blond, blue-eyed Noble House student.
Dark took her hand, bowing his head to lightly kiss the back of it.
The soft touch passed through the white lace, reaching into both their hearts.
The fourth-year students of Magic House around them almost simultaneously showed looks ranging from surprise to alarm.
Several boys who were eager to invite Pandora for a dance but hesitated now watched as the silver Dragon Girl accepted the first-year student's invitation, revealing a rare and captivating smile, and walked towards the spacious stage to the beat of the music.
Many rubbed their eyes, as if dreaming.
It was the fourth year.
Four Christmas Balls, and never once had the silver Dragon Girl, known as the "Ball Iron Wall" BOSS, accepted a dance invitation. Yet now, she willingly, even somewhat proactively, walked alongside someone and ascended the stage.
Tonight truly had a dreamlike beginning.
Dark, holding Senior Pandora's hand and walking towards the stage, had anticipated this, but was still somewhat surprised by the stinging sensation in his back.
"Is this what they call 'daggers in the back'? Literally…"
But he didn't know that the daggers aimed at him weren't just from the boys who admired Senior Pandora.
There were also several girls who had secretly worked up their courage, preparing to proactively invite him to dance when the ball started.
Emma rested her hands on the table, cupping her round face, and through a gap in the crowd, happened to see Diana sitting opposite her.
The two young girls, as if by some strange impulse, exchanged glances.
Diana's heart stirred, and she immediately puffed out her chest!
Expressing the sentiment, "I'm not like you."
Emma averted her eyes.
After the last in-class competition, some unclear feelings had bloomed within her, and after consulting with a senior girl, she had been dressed up like a Barbie doll.
But the effort put into it seemed unlikely to find a reward.
Behind her, at the Magic House long table.
Sara, with a confident curl of her lips, had also failed before even beginning.
Her staunch supporter, Heidi, felt deeply helpless about this.
The opponent was too strong!
As the music's rhythm changed, more and more couples or pre-arranged dance partners stood up from their seats.
They took elegant steps, moving in unison out of the area formed by the four long tables, towards the stage covered with a deep red carpet.
The Waltz of the Swan Princess and the Human Prince was so beautiful.
Dark and Senior Pandora exchanged smiles, and also stepped onto their toes on the stage.
The romantic atmosphere of the Christmas Ball gradually grew richer.
Cute little sprites flitted among the crowd, becoming the best embellishment for the ball.
The number of people dancing on stage gradually increased.
Above them, one brilliant fireworks display after another bloomed.
Senior Pandora blinked, using a dance step to move closer to Dark.
Dark was forced to step back by the glimpse of snow-white.
Senior Pandora happily retracted her toes.
Dark then leaned forward, matching the dance step.
The two spun in a circle, switching positions, and the background in their vision changed.
Dark suddenly noticed Professor Lily drinking alone at the faculty table, and wondered if he should give her the Christmas gift tonight, or wait until Christmas Day tomorrow?
And that bottle of wine for Professor Sarah…
"Hiss!"
The sharp pain made Dark subconsciously retract his foot, and he noticed Senior Pandora's furrowed brow.
He quickly reined in his thoughts, dedicating himself more attentively to the round dance.
Senior Pandora took the opportunity to lean in close, whispering in his ear:
"Do you know how impolite it is to be distracted while dancing with a lady?"
[Lust +1]
Dark's earlobes flushed visibly.
A hint of excitement flashed in Senior Pandora's eyes.
But she suddenly felt a strong pull on her arm, and her whole body was drawn to the side, then she smoothly turned back, leaning with half her body in Dark's embrace.
Dark looked down at Senior Pandora's face,
Her lightly powdered complexion was fair with a rosy glow, her long eyelashes exuded a subtle allure, and her vivid red lips made one feel a sense of thirst.
The small, heart-shaped silver scales beneath her eyes reflected the stage lights.
There was a hint of haziness.
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