Chapter 887

Chapter 887: The Approaching Winter Festival

Winter arrived.

Snow fell quietly, delicate snowflakes crystallizing and gathering loosely, drifting down from the sky to settle in this slightly tranquil world.

Inside the Emanas Academy, another Winter Festival was approaching, and it was uncertain which student would stand out this year, becoming the envy of everyone.

Rosadina, a third-year student wearing a scarf and gloves, stamped her feet on the steps, shaking off the snow before entering the warm hall.

Inside the lakeside castle, the ancient Alchemical Array continued to function, providing warmth that gradually relaxed the tense faces.

Rosadina placed her square backpack on the side of a bench and sat down, then took off her hood and removed her gloves, blowing on her somewhat stiff hands.

Although she was already an Extraordinary Being, long exposure to the cold still made her uncomfortable. Using magic to warm herself did help, but it required considerable energy, like multitasking, which easily distracted her.

Therefore, Rosadina preferred to find a warm place when studying or reading.

In the castle’s hall, many students lingered here, some sitting briefly, others chatting in small groups. Despite the lively atmosphere, it wasn’t noisy, exuding a sense of tranquility. The architecture inside the hall was adorned with tiny, multicolored lights that flickered. Apparently, these were some form of alchemical creation; they were simpler and more affordable to produce now, so they had become widespread.

These colorful lights hung not only from the vast dome of the hall but also among the frozen holly branches. The green holly woven into rings, with a few deep red berries, formed enormous wreaths decorating the walls at the center of the hall.

Looking down the wall, there was a circular stage illuminated by lights. There were no people standing on it; instead, extraordinary artifacts played recordings of past events.

Those former graduates, once prodigious seniors and juniors, held blades, bows, instruments, and other items, performing or battling in the recordings. Though silent, their figures still conveyed the beauty of that era.

After sitting in the warm hall for a while, Rosadina remembered something and opened her bag beside her, pulling out a purple checkered stuffed bear and holding it in her arms.

“Huff, you finally remembered me?” The stuffed bear complained softly, though it was accustomed to the girl’s forgetfulness.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Albert. I was too nervous during the assessment earlier,” Rosadina said, referring to today’s ‘Black Lotus’ club assessment.

Though the club had significant influence within the Fortress Academy, its official members were few, mostly dispersed among affiliated clubs.

“Never mind, judging by your appearance, I can guess what happened,” the little bear moved slightly, emitting some heat to warm Rosadina’s hands.

Feeling the warmth between the fur, Rosadina smiled faintly. “Thank you, Mr. Bear.”

“You don’t need to thank me. So, how did the final assessment go?”

“Yes, I passed, though it was challenging. Fortunately, the vice president recognized me and allowed me to join.”

“Really? It sounds difficult.”

“Indeed, it was hard. My family isn’t wealthy. If I were just attending school, the scholarship would be fine. But obtaining rare materials and resources is tough.”

“The ‘Black Lotus’ club has integrated the old ‘True Red Rose,’ and it’s now the strongest club at the Fortress Academy, receiving various sponsorships each year. They have abundant resources, including new experimental equipment and ingredients.”

“I remember there are some in the academy too. Emanas is quite affluent,” the little bear recalled seeing those scenes, where Lolan often borrowed equipment from the academy.

“There are some, but there are many applicants, and it’s always insufficient. I’m not a genius who can succeed immediately,” Rosadina said, rubbing the little bear. She wished she could spend all day in the library and laboratory, greedily absorbing knowledge and putting it into practice. That sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when turning book knowledge into reality pushed her to seek similar things tirelessly. Such behavior far exceeded the limits of ordinary students, so even the academy’s laboratories couldn’t satisfy her.

“Also, I heard that graduates of the ‘Black Lotus’ club get preferential treatment in their careers.”

“Do you know? The current Queen of the Crimson Empire was once a graduate of the ‘Black Lotus’ club.”

“Is that true?” the stuffed bear thought, perhaps someone it didn’t recognize from its slumber, given that Lolan founded the club over a decade ago.

“Yes, apparently, she was one of the first members. She is Lily Aisote.”

“Oh, wait, you mean Lily?”

“I do. Lily Aisote. Although she seems cute, she doesn’t stand out much compared to other prodigious members like Lolan, Bumansa, and Vimya. Besides being a bit lazy and cute, she has no distinctive traits.”

“Mr. Albert, do you know her?” Rosadina asked curiously.

“If she was indeed one of the first members, I probably do know her. Tell me more about Queen Lily Aisote,” the bear said, nestling in Rosadina’s arms.

“Lily Aisote was born in the southern region of the empire, a daughter of a minor noble. Due to her childhood neglect, she led a relatively easy life.”

“That’s her, alright,” the bear confirmed.

Truly incredible, the bear thought, gradually integrating into human society and understanding the immense power the queen represented. With the emperor absent, the queen’s authority would be even more prominent.

“What about the others? Have you heard of Bumansa, Vimya, Ye Ling, or a girl named Lolan?”

“Not really.”

“What about Letis, Alena, Nia, and Kafra?”

“I’ve heard of Letis, a clothing and alchemy master from Clancia. Alena might ring a bell, but I can’t recall clearly. As for Lady Kafra, I know she is the current deputy head of the Imperial Academy and quite famous.”

“Back then, if I couldn’t get into Emanas, I aimed to pass the Royal Academy exams. I researched extensively about that.”

“Unbelievable, she became such a significant figure.”

“So, Mr. Albert, were you in the ‘Black Lotus’ club for a long time?” Rosadina looked at the stuffed bear on her knee, whispering.

“Of course. Back then, someone in Emanas defeated all the clubs and won the ‘Ten Crowns,’ the most challenging one—’Breaking the Army.'”

“That era?”

“When General Darci was still in the academy.”

“Exactly.”

“Who was it? I haven’t heard of anyone.”

“It’s probably because you missed the Temple Academy. If you ask the teachers there about the most memorable graduates in the last decade, they will surely mention her.”

“‘The Pure White Nun Under the Stained Glass,’ Lohil.”

(End of Chapter)