Chapter 14: The Seven-Day Crucible

A wave of emotion washed over me from below. ‘Who would dare to sleep during meditation?’ I wondered. If not for my special dispensation, I would be panicking right now.

Yet, a new problem loomed. Qieluo undoubtedly saw me as exceptionally talented, but I knew my own limits. The pressure was truly immense.

On the podium, Qieluo waited until every eye was fixed upon her before she spoke again.

“This class is about to end, and there’s an important announcement to make,” she began. “The reason I’m telling you now is to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed during meditation. It’s simply too difficult to succeed when you’re meditating under duress.”

“Now, I must tell you something crucial. Do you recall what I said before? I mentioned that you would only have seven days for the Introductory Meditation Method. Those seven days include today.”

“The Introductory Meditation Method is called ‘introductory’ because its primary purpose is to help you condense your very first wisp of spiritual energy. That is its essence—a single thread of spiritual energy. It’s a simple task, one you can quickly achieve once you cross the threshold of meditation.”

As she spoke, Qieluo’s gaze involuntarily drifted towards me. I, in turn, did my utmost to minimize my presence, trying to evade her attention.

Everyone else, however, assumed Qieluo was looking at Kereiya.

“Seven days is the absolute limit,” Qieluo continued, her tone sharpening. “Because within those seven days, what you *must* do is use that wisp of spiritual energy to resonate with the Witch’s Heart! This means you need to complete the condensation of your spiritual energy in an even shorter time.”

Her demeanor shifted dramatically as she reached this point. “On the seventh day, which is this same day next week, any student who has not successfully resonated with their Witch’s Heart will have it forcibly stripped away and be expelled from the academy. I trust you understand the consequences, do you not?”

After Qieluo swept her gaze across the room, a chill ran down everyone’s spines. Seven days—it was far too short! Those who had been nonchalant moments before were now instantly gripped by a sense of urgency and danger.

“For these seven days, our two other classes can be set aside to make way for your meditation practice. However, meditation incense can only be used during my second lesson. This means if you’re utterly lost, you will only have one final free opportunity remaining.”

“Teacher! Isn’t seven days too short?” someone finally dared to ask.

Qieluo merely scoffed. “It is not short. These seven days are a screening process. The Witch Academy has no use for the incompetent. Seven days is the academy’s ultimate bottom line.”

Qieluo sighed faintly after her declaration. Even students with slightly lesser talent could remain through sheer effort, but that would require other means. Incense, audio, and many other methods within the academy could aid meditation. After today, the official chance to use the incense for free would be the last.

However, incense could be traded for academic credits within the academy, though it would be very expensive, and even more so due to the start of the semester. It remained to be seen if these new students possessed the courage to spend all their academic credits, or if they’d earn more through their own means, borrow from senior students, or even seize them from their peers through strength or deception. Those with a strong foundation would surely find their advantages here.

Did they truly wish to become a witch, only to hesitate now?

Any means could be employed; at worst, they could repay their debts slowly over time. The academy only expelled students when their academic credits reached zero. Loans between students were personal matters, unrelated to the system, which offered no such option. Essentially, a senior student would transfer credits to them, and they would simply repay her later.

From beginning to end, the system’s record of academic credits would never hit zero.

‘The academy’s rules must be used resourcefully,’ she thought. ‘This should be obvious, shouldn’t it?’

It merely depended on whether their minds could grasp it. Of course, for those truly lacking talent, no amount of effort would suffice; these were the individuals the academy sought to eliminate. Perhaps some might find such individuals commendable for their spirit, despite their lack of talent. But so what? There were countless legendary figures, untalented yet whose spirits were celebrated, but what did that have to do with becoming a witch?

Witches selected exceptional bloodlines from all races to integrate into their own. There was no room for sympathy.

“Therefore, this week, you may use any means necessary, and the academy will only look at the final result. Similarly, ‘any means’ refers to actions within the academy’s rules, understand? Otherwise, violating school regulations and being expelled will not end well for you.”

After delivering her warning, Qieluo spoke again. “This class concludes here. If you have any questions, come find me in my office. Of course, you may also seek out other teachers. Class dismissed!”

As Teacher Qieluo dismissed the class, everyone’s hearts remained heavy. Seven days was simply too short, especially for those who had been dozing off and slacking during the lesson; they were now in a desperate rush.

“Yang Yuehan, tell me, were you sleeping again? Aren’t you worried?” Kereiya nudged me with her elbow.

“Worried? Wait… don’t you know why I was sleeping?” Before I drifted off, I had heard Teacher Qieluo’s voice, quite loudly too—loud enough for the whole class to hear, at least.

“How would I know? Can you even have a reason for sleeping?” Kereiya’s tone was questioning, but tinged with anger. After all, she was the class representative, and her deskmate had been sleeping. Wouldn’t others laugh at her?

“Alright, alright… my mistake. What’s there to be anxious about? At worst, I’ll just drop out.” Since she didn’t know, it must mean that Teacher Qieluo’s words were only audible to me. Otherwise, speaking so loudly at that moment would have disturbed others’ meditation. So, I decided not to explain.

“‘At worst, I’ll drop out’? Do you not understand our current situation?”

“Situation?” I realized I might have underestimated my circumstances and spoken unwisely, especially since I lacked my past memories.

“You don’t know? We are almost all wandering races taken in by witches! If we didn’t possess extraordinary potential, we would be forced into the Witch s*ave Army! If we’re expelled, where do you think you’d go? You’d only end up in the Witch s*ave Army, becoming cannon fodder for witches conquering other worlds!” Kereiya explained in a hushed, exasperated tone.

[”]

I was genuinely speechless. This beginning… I truly hadn’t expected it. “My apologies, I wasn’t aware of any of this. Since we have no retreat, I will strive my hardest.”

“Alright, as long as you recognize your mistake. Hmph~ Anyway, I’m not bothering with you anymore. It’s just as they said, I shouldn’t play with you boys.” With that, Kereiya joined a group of girls and headed out, presumably for lunch.

It seemed I should probably go eat as well.

I clutched my stomach; I felt quite hungry. Should I try a new dish?

After a moment of deliberation, I dismissed the idea. It would be troublesome if I got sick, and I didn’t have much time to waste this week.

However, from now until evening, my time was free. After eating, should I visit the Everything Store?

After all, I had already condensed my spiritual energy. As long as I resonated with the Witch’s Heart, I wouldn’t be eliminated.

This amount of time seemed quite ample.

It was decided!