Chapter 5: She is like a knight!

She had now arrived at the most pivotal stage of her life: the moment she would forge a contract with a Spirit Race and gain her very own Companion Spirit Weapon.

Just like her idol, the Radiant Knight!

Standing before the grand doors of the Contract Hall, a nervous Melina offered fervent prayers, knowing that once the student inside concluded their ritual, she would be next.

“May the Tree of Life bless me,” she murmured. “Please, let my contract succeed! It would be truly wonderful if I could form a bond with a companion from the Radiant Clan! Of course… if not, that’s fine too; I… I won’t push it. Please, please.”

Her eyes closed, head bowed, she clasped her hands tightly before her chest, her prayers a soft whisper.

No sooner had her words faded than the grand doors of the Contract Hall swung open, revealing a beautiful, golden-haired, blue-eyed maiden who emerged with an air of haughty triumph.

Her face was alight with smug satisfaction, carrying herself like a proud swan.

Her gaze flickered towards Melina, who seemed to shrink like an ugly duckling in comparison, and a sneer of disdain marred her otherwise flawless features.

“Oh, isn’t this the young la~dy of the Esbell family?”

She drew out the words ‘young lady’ with deliberate mockery.

After all, the Esbell family had once commanded the respect of nobility, thanks to a Titled Knight emerging from their lineage.

Yet, the present-day Esbell family consisted solely of a widowed mother and her orphaned daughter, their former glory having long since faded into obscurity.

Beyond a mere Viscount title, the mother and daughter possessed little more than an aged butler, a slightly younger head maid, and a villa that, when compared to the grand estates of other nobles, was hardly noteworthy.

Indeed, even this modest villa had been granted to them by the City Lord himself, an act of charity rather than a right.

“Sephilia, I don’t believe I’ve ever given you cause for offense,” Melina stated, her tone carefully neutral despite the resentment simmering within her. At such a crucial moment, she wished to avoid any unnecessary conflict.

However, like a tree desiring stillness while the wind ceaselessly blows, trouble found her regardless.

Sephilia strode purposefully towards Melina, then, with a dismissive flick of her finger, she tilted Melina’s chin upwards, her eyes glinting with contempt as she stared into the younger girl’s gaze. “Ugly duckling, do you even know which Spirit Race I’ve contracted?”

Leaning in conspiratorially, she whispered into Melina’s ear, “It’s none other than the Radiant Clan, the very one you’ve been pining for!”

With a flourish, she stepped aside, revealing a young girl who had been trailing silently behind her.

The girl was petite, with striking white hair and crimson eyes, appearing to be no older than ten by human estimation.

“Allow me to introduce you,” Sephilia announced, “This is Huiyao, from the Radiant Clan, and my very own Companion Spirit Weapon.”

Sephilia then gently took Huiyao’s small hand and guided the girl forward, presenting her to Melina. “Come now, little Huiyao, say hello to this big sister. She, too, longs to contract a [Radiant].”

Huiyao, with an air of delicate politeness, curtsied deeply to Melina. “Hello, beautiful big sister,” she chimed, “My name is Huiyao, and I am the last descendant of the Radiant Clan. Um…”

Little Huiyao scratched her head, a blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “Um, while I’m truly delighted that you admire us [Radiant], the truth is… the next [Radiant] won’t be born into this world for at least another three years. So…”

Melina froze, utterly dumbfounded.

The meaning behind little Huiyao’s words was undeniably clear to her.

“Precisely!” Sephilia crowed, her laughter sharp and triumphant. “So… hahaha, how terribly unfortunate for you, isn’t it? Perhaps you can contract a [Radiant] in your dreams. Why don’t you run back to your mommy’s arms and dream of it, my dear young~ lady?”

With a triumphant flourish, Sephilia scooped Huiyao into her arms as if she were a prized doll, then swept out of the hall, basking in her victory.

In truth, Melina was not alone in her disappointment; a great many students harbored the fervent hope of contracting a [Radiant].

Even though news of the Radiant Knight’s betrayal of humanity had long since spread through every street and alley, what did that truly signify?

What connection did the Radiant Knight’s treachery bear to the inherent power of a Radiant Spirit?

Indeed, ever since Melo ascended to the title of Radiant Knight, her heroic deeds and illustrious military achievements on the front lines had become household knowledge, thereby elevating the renown of the Radiant Companion Spirit Weapon itself.

Prospective knights universally regarded the Radiant Knight as their ultimate idol.

They, too, yearned for the day they could contract a [Radiant] Companion Spirit Weapon of their own.

Naturally, the subject of an ‘idol’ was now taboo, at least in public discourse.

Nevertheless, the aspiration to form a contract with a [Radiant] Companion Spirit Weapon persisted as a profound hope within every aspiring knight.

Regrettably, [Radiant] spirits were exceedingly rare; among the tens of thousands of new knights commissioned each year, those who succeeded in contracting a [Radiant] Companion Spirit Weapon could literally be counted on one hand.

What was more disheartening was that little Huiyao had just openly declared that no new [Radiant] spirits would manifest for at least the next three years.

A wave of dejection swept through the assembled students, and Melina’s spirits, too, sank considerably.

Yet, she quickly composed herself, her resolve hardening, and stepped inside as the nun presiding over the contract ceremony beckoned to her.

“Stand at the center of the ritual circle, face the Tree of Life, and offer your silent prayers,” the nun instructed. “You’ve memorized the incantation, haven’t you?”

Melina nodded with unwavering solemnity.

Upon seeing her affirmation, the nun simply stated, “Proceed.”

She had presided over countless such contract ceremonies, as it was her duty to do so every year.

Her reminders and questions were, for the most part, simply a matter of routine.

Melina closed her eyes, silently reciting the sacred incantation within her heart, just as she had practiced at the hall’s entrance.

To avenge her father, to provide for her mother, and to restore the Esbell family to its former glory—she was acutely aware of the immense burden that rested upon her young shoulders.

Thus, this contract absolutely had to succeed!

However, the nun observing from the side felt a subtle furrow appear between her brows.

Her gaze fell upon the small sapling, a delicate branch of the mighty Tree of Life, which pulsed with a soft, golden luminescence.

This branch, which typically maintained a steady, gentle glow, now flickered erratically, its light waxing and waning.

“Do not allow your mind to wander during prayer,” the nun stated, her voice firm. “Concentrate fully.”

Her stern voice, though sharp, was intended as a benevolent warning.

While she was well aware of Melina’s tragic history and the Esbell family’s decline, she had no intention of becoming embroiled in their affairs; her warning was merely an act of pity.

Melina instantly reined in her wandering thoughts, dedicating her entire focus to the silent recitation of the prayer.

Yet, due to her momentary lapse in concentration, the ritual could not proceed to its successful conclusion.

The light emanating from the Tree of Life on the dais gave a few final, weak flickers before extinguishing entirely.

The nun sighed, a hint of resignation in her voice. “The contract has failed. You will have one final opportunity next year. Do not allow yourself… to harbor any regrets.”

She had almost added ‘and your mother’ to her sentence, but ultimately, she bit back the words.

Melina stood motionless, her gaze fixed vacantly upon the Tree of Life, her mind reeling.

‘How could this be…?’

‘Because of a moment’s distraction, the contract… failed?’

Oblivious to the nun’s concluding remarks, she wandered out of the Contract Hall, utterly distraught.

The waiting students outside watched her emerge, and seeing no Spirit Race companion by her side, they instantly understood that her contract had failed.

Immediately, a chorus of mocking whispers erupted, swiftly escalating into open derision.

From the side, Sephilia, who had clearly been lingering, approached with Huiyao in tow.

“What’s this, then?” Sephilia taunted, a cruel smile playing on her lips. “Could it be that you disdain all other Spirit Races apart from the [Radiant], and so you deliberately failed your contract? Hahahaha!”

“I didn’t!” Melina stammered, her voice thick with emotion. “I… I just… for a moment… for a moment…” Her words trailed off into a choked sob.

“Oh, look at that, everyone!” Sephilia exclaimed, feigning innocence. “You all witnessed it, I certainly didn’t bully this young lady of noble birth.”

With that, she scooped Huiyao into her arms and took a deliberate step back, adding, “Come on, little Huiyao, let’s keep our distance from her, lest she try to cling to us.”

Little Huiyao blinked her large, innocent eyes, clearly not believing that the beautiful older girl was the type Sephilia made her out to be.

Just as a tear trembled at the corner of Melina’s eye, poised to fall, a gloved index finger gently brushed it away.

Simultaneously, the jeers and whispers of the surrounding students abruptly ceased.

Melina slowly lifted her head, her gaze fixed on the newcomer.

What met her bewildered gaze was a cascade of white hair elegantly coiled at the back of her head, and… a pair of luminous golden eyes, sparkling with the brilliance of polished gemstones.

“Greetings, my Lady,” the figure announced, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “My name is Melo, and I have just recently joined the Esbell household as your maid.”

As she spoke, she tenderly wiped away all of Melina’s tears, her face alight with a soft, reassuring smile.

“Furthermore, this humble being is a Spirit Race known as [Radiant],” she continued, her voice imbued with profound reverence. “Might I be granted the honor of becoming your Companion Spirit Weapon?”

With a graceful lift of her maid’s skirt, she knelt on one knee like a devoted knight, taking Melina’s right hand and speaking with utmost solemnity.