Chapter 167

Chapter 167: The Unyielding Bridge Piers

Two days later, at Emanas, early morning.

The morning wind carried with it the dew, still a bit cold. In front of the large bridge over the Blue Brook River, many students had gathered according to their student numbers, lining up in designated areas. Teachers and staff then proceeded to verify each student’s identity, badges, and documents one by one.

Once the verification was complete, each new student received a small booklet with their student number and name, serving as a temporary pass. Following this, the iron locks slid, and the tall city gate slowly opened, revealing a wide road ahead.

The spacious bridge could easily accommodate ten carriages side by side, stretching all the way to the opposite bank. Morning mist floated on the river surface, enveloping the latter half of the bridge, only allowing a vague outline to be seen.

“Please line up in order,” some staff members pulled ropes to orderly separate the new students and then allowed them to board the carriages according to their student numbers.

Due to the length of the bridge and the inconvenience of walking with luggage, there were special magical vehicles to transport the new students.

These magical vehicles were about five meters high and over ten meters long. There were steps on the side that led directly to the second floor, where passengers could sit. The first floor below was filled with complex power systems and machinery but was not for seating.

Lolan Hill carried her suitcase onto the second floor of the vehicle and found a window seat. She glanced around briefly.

Since she arrived early, there were still many new students from her group waiting in line. There were only a few students on the carriage when Lolan sat down. The student in front turned around and greeted her.

“Hello, I’m Bumansa.” This new student had wavy chestnut hair and a slightly round face, giving off a friendly older sister vibe.

“Hello, I’m Lolan,” the young lady nodded in response.

“Mm, you’re so pretty, Lolan. Are you from the House of Plantagenet?” Bumansa asked.

“No, actually, I’m from Clancisia. Maybe I have some Eastern bloodline,” Lolan explained. Her appearance had been less obvious before, but now with black hair, her Eastern-like serenity became more apparent, leading people to suspect she might be from the East.

“Oh, I see. I come from the verdant eastern coast. Sorry for guessing. I’ve seen quite a few merchants and travelers from the East when I was little, which made me think so,” Bumansa replied.

“It’s fine. Actually, I grew up under my teacher’s guidance, so I don’t know exactly what lineage I have,” Lolan shook her head. Her silky black hair fluttered slightly in the river breeze. They chatted for a bit before the carriage gradually filled up.

“Is anyone sitting here?” A young lady hurriedly boarded the carriage and carefully asked after looking around.

“No, you can sit here,” Lolan responded kindly.

All the passengers on the carriage were girls, chatting softly among themselves. It seemed that student numbers were divided by gender. Although Lolan had toned down her appearance, she still stood out, making many girls feel inferior and hesitant to sit next to her. Only when there were a few seats left did a new student approach.

“Thank you. My name is Nia,” said the girl wearing a hat, her voice somewhat relieved as she placed her luggage and sat on the wooden seat.

After everyone was mostly on board, a staff member came up to count.

“One person is missing,” he murmured hesitantly.

“Are we ready to depart?” the middle-aged man operating the magical vehicle asked from below the stairs.

“Let’s wait another ten minutes. Otherwise, if we miss someone and have to write a report explaining it, it would be troublesome,” he continued.

“Ugh, what a hassle. I wanted to go back for a drink,” complained the middle-aged man before heading to rest elsewhere.

Time passed, and just as the staff was about to call for departure, a girl in a golden dress approached, followed by a group of attendants carrying luggage.

“I knew it, the school’s magical vehicle wouldn’t leave without me. I’m right on time,” she said smugly, waving her fan and instructing her attendants to load the luggage.

“The rule is that only new students can board,” the uniformed staff member blocked her path.

“What am I supposed to do with all this luggage? Can’t ask me to carry it myself,” the wealthy girl complained.

“According to the school rules, new students are allowed to bring only two suitcases.”

“I never heard that before. Are you trying to trick me?”

“This should have been mentioned when you got your recommendation letter,” the staff member frowned and continued.

They argued for a while, and the guards helping with the luggage quickly stepped in to advise their mistress not to cause a conflict with the staff. After all, they weren’t official students yet, and such actions could lead to serious consequences. Emanas was the world’s top institution, and their family’s influence wasn’t enough to sway things.

Finally, the young lady had to compromise, selecting the two most crucial suitcases for the staff to carry, while the rest were left behind, to be kept by the guards until a later date when they could be sent to the school.

With everyone present, the magical vehicle started moving slowly.

The bridge’s road was smooth. The vehicle used mainstream magic furnaces, similar to electric motors, producing a low hum and steady speed.

As the sun rose higher, it was around 10 AM. Fresh river breezes blew through the windows, filling the carriage. Bright sunlight shimmered across the vast river surface, dispersing the morning fog and revealing distant scenery.

Since the other end of the bridge was ahead, only a small part could be seen through the window. As they neared, passing through the long tunnel, a cool air rushed in. It was then that the new students realized how grand the bridge’s entrance was.

After exiting the tunnel, it took a considerable time to move away from the shadow of the imposing structure. Some new students turned back and gasped in awe.

Rather than calling it a bridgehead, it should be described as a war fortress. Massive towers and high walls loomed over the riverside like a ferocious beast, its mouth being the tunnel. Above the towers, rows of gunports and watchtowers glinted grayish-blue in the sunlight.

“This fortress is one of the four major divisions of Emanas, the Unyielding Bridge Piers. It was also the main battlefield during the Chaos War. Students specializing in the War Sequence and Ocean Sequence will come here.”

The staff explained in detail, describing it as a sturdy bridge pier amidst turbulent waters, emphasizing that the school excelled in cultivating resilient warriors and military leaders.

End of Chapter