Chapter 321

Chapter 321 – Champion Maiden

Students and students were not the same.

This was a saying from a certain sage who tried to implement an ‘unequal’ policy within the school. For example, there were the ‘Ten Crowns,’ various titles and badges, even special and custom uniforms.

Though some were rejected, many were gradually adopted by Emanas during trials.

Human nature inherently dislikes mediocrity and monotony, seeking meaningful and exciting things, which also applied to learning. Under the sage’s proposal, ten most glorious titles were set within the school, known as the “Ten Crowns.” Anyone who obtained one would have their graduation certificate change from plain white to luxurious black-gold, with several sages personally writing congratulatory messages and stamping special seals.

Such honors were fervently pursued by the students. Imagine receiving the highest accolade in the world-renowned sole university; such praise and honor would allow a student, once graduated, to directly enter the upper echelons of the nation and become a figure of real power.

At first hearing, this might seem absurd, but putting oneself in that environment makes it unsurprising.

If you were a king within a kingdom, your top officials—ministers, generals, bishops, nobles—were mostly hereditary, coming from powerful clans, educated by a few private tutors. You knew these people from childhood; their decadent lifestyles, their worldviews, and their worth were generally clear to you.

It was insane to expect these pleasure-seeking and pressure-free individuals to work diligently; only a few elites could be relied upon. Sometimes, you wanted to promote someone you admired, but due to a lack of credible credentials or experience, it was difficult and met with resistance, and even after promotion, they could easily be sidelined.

Therefore, when a genius suddenly appeared in your own country, not only strong in ability but also an outstanding graduate from Emanas, openly praised and recognized by the sages, with a guarantee of character, it was like winning the lottery.

Even if you directly gave them a high position, others would not oppose but instead support or admire, given Emanas’ nearly thousand years of reputation and credibility.

Facing a gradually rigid and lifeless upper echelon, as a king, you would not hesitate to inject this newly emerged, idealistic, and unpolluted talent into the system, maximizing its potential.

If this genius was from a common background, it would be even better, as they would be easier to satisfy and win over.

Thus, the ‘Ten Crowns’ of Emanas had always been the target of pursuit and competition, with each having their exclusive uniforms, badges, dormitories, departments, and members.

Aside from the top few ‘Ten Crowns,’ other championship winners in various competitions also had corresponding exclusive badges and special uniforms.

After Lolan Hill won the ‘Rainbow Neck Bottle’ competition, she naturally received an official badge from Emanas. The badge resembled a tilted hourglass-shaped bottle with seven-colored liquid inside, like a rainbow.

This badge signified that the wearer was recognized by the school as a champion, and their student uniform could also be altered. Although the color still had to be the demon sequence’s red, the style and shade could be freely adjusted, providing a sense of freedom in dressing.

On the opposite side, Bumansa was similar. She wore a light green and white dress, with a badge of crossed red and blue swords on her chest, representing her as the champion of ‘Dance of Scattered Swords.’

The historical sage tirelessly established these interesting titles and special badges, aiming to stimulate students’ competitive spirit while making campus life more interesting and vibrant. Honors gained at school were recognized even after leaving.

Although there was controversy back then, it couldn’t be denied that students truly enjoyed this, and teachers eventually changed their initial dismissive attitude when they saw the positive results.

In the courtyard of the forest, the two champion maidens flew like butterflies among the trees, red arcs and emerald blades flashing continuously. Emerald Wind and Red Crystal clashed, with the light red dress and white-green uniform fluttering, drawing continuous exclamations from the crowd.

Unconsciously, others slowly stopped their practice sessions and began watching the battle between the two.

“Originally, I thought Miss Lolan was just good at alchemy and potion-making, but I didn’t expect her combat skills to be so impressive.”

“Yes, Bumansa, who is across from her, won the championship in the high-grade gathering competition. Some speculate that even among all the students, she ranks in the top five.”

“Are all the newbies this monstrous?”

“I heard about Lolan, Bumansa, and Frosya from the Landsworth family. The freshmen of Fortress Academy are invincible!”

These students’ conversations were heard by Othuna nearby, who felt extremely irritated, as if being mocked. Recently, she had been famous, with everyone discussing and admiring her, but now, no one even mentioned her. This made her feel very bitter.

—

At the center of the forest courtyard, the two maidens fought from the ground to mid-air, darting between the towering trees. Crimson wings and emerald butterfly wings flickered among the branches, and the battle neared its end.

As class ended, Lolan Hill and Bumansa stopped simultaneously, standing on the treetops. Below was a sea of green, with new tender leaves and buds growing under the bright sunlight.

“Bumansa is getting stronger.”

Lolan Hill retracted her crimson wings, placing her sword between the trees, sitting on a horizontal branch as her body swayed gently in the breeze.

Bumansa put away her straight steel blade, shielding her eyes from the sun, and smiled, saying, “But I still can’t beat Lolan.”

“No, if you fully utilized your talent, I would get hurt too,” Lolan Hill said, brushing away the wind-tangled hair and smiling confidently.

“Perhaps, but this is just practice. Using that talent would be like cheating, which isn’t good,” Bumansa shook her head and looked down at the scenery.

“Besides, I feel like Lolan has plenty of room to spare. Who knows what other hidden cards she has,” Bumansa shared her intuition and feelings.

“Oh, right. Who is that child, the girl who came with you?”

“You mean Keti? She’s a bit shy, but she’s a good kid,” Lolan Hill remembered the fire witch left in the courtyard below.

There’s one more chapter, but it will be later, 0 0

(End of Chapter)