Chapter 20: A young “girl”

Today was the Canteria Academy’s routine flag-raising ceremony held every Monday.

All students and instructors, unless under special circumstances, were required to arrive at the plaza on time.

As the school anthem, personally written and composed by the founding headmaster, played, everyone raised their heads to watch the flag representing Canteria Academy slowly rise along the flagpole.

Once everything was done, and after the current headmaster and a series of academy leaders finished their speeches, the students were allowed to disperse.

They would either head to breakfast in small groups or go alone to the academy cafeteria.

On the way to breakfast, a girl with a high ponytail and bright green hair stood out.

Though she was wearing the same uniform as everyone else, her presence was noticeably different from that of the surrounding students.

Aside from her height, which made her stand out like a crane in a flock of chickens, her posture and expressions perfectly fit imperial noble etiquette, yet lacked the cold distance that usually accompanied such bearing.

To a casual glance, she appeared no different from those around her.

But upon closer inspection, the difference in essence between her and the others was quite clear.

“Natiavida, have you heard?”

A pair of hands reached from behind to pat her shoulders, but she didn’t stop walking.

Just from the voice, she already knew who it was.

Her best friend—one of the few people in the academy she truly trusted.

“Vivian, I think you should stop sneaking up on people like that.”

“What does it matter!”

The girl called Vivian puffed her cheeks and hopped up beside her, walking on Natiavida’s left.

Her short silver-gray hair and the pointed elven ears on each side clearly showed that she had some close connection to the elves.

“More importantly… I heard that Class Thirteen—the alchemy bunch—blew up Lab Three again during evening practice!”

“Again?”

That word “again” in particular was worth savoring.

“Exactly! I heard the whole laboratory building was almost ignited! If the supervising teacher hadn’t been there, those potion-brewing gremlins would have nowhere left to cause trouble for at least a few months.”

At this point, Vivian’s expression grew visibly frustrated.

She had long been fed up with those nocturnal potion brewers.

Mages were especially sensitive to fluctuations in magical energy.

And when those alchemists messed up their potions, magical imbalance would occur.

Plus the laboratory building was very close to the dormitory…

Over time, constantly having their rest disturbed by those magical ripples naturally caused resentment.

And as everyone knew, Canteria Academy forbade personal or family-targeted malicious conflict between students.

However, it encouraged competition between student groups, as long as no physical violence was involved.

Simply put, the academy openly encouraged students to form factions.

By joining a group and engaging in competition within regulated boundaries, their unity and drive would be stimulated.

When friction occurred between groups, mutual dislike and petty sabotage were considered acceptable within the academy’s rules.

As for why Natiavida was considered different—aside from her noble manner—was because she was the current leader of the academy’s Mage Division student group.

This role was comparable to a university student council president, but her authority and status were even higher.

Even before being elected, Natiavida had already been acknowledged as the most gifted and strongest mage among all students of her year.

Many believed she had the potential to surpass that man—once hailed as the rising star of the Mage Division and the academy’s pride.

But that was only speculation.

As for that man’s true power, Natiavida suspected she might never witness it in her life.

After all, those events happened more than ten years ago.

The man had voluntarily graduated fifteen years ago and had vanished ever since.

“So? Should we take advantage of the night and sneak in to swap their potions?”

Vivian, thinking her friend was contemplating a dramatic counterattack, immediately volunteered herself.

“This time let’s use something really strong! One big blast, send them all flying—”

“Alright, alright, that’s going too far.”

“Ow!”

With Vivian’s yelp, Natiavida calmly withdrew her hand.

The silver-haired girl rubbed her forehead, her lips puffed up dramatically.

“We’re all classmates. Even if we’re competing, we can’t literally blow them into the sky.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know…”

But Natiavida, being her best friend, knew full well how stubborn Vivian could be.

So while they were in the cafeteria line, she warned her once again.

“In any case, do NOT do what you just said. I don’t want you to become the stain on the honor of the Mage Division.”

“I knooow—wait, huh?”

Mid-sentence, Vivian suddenly stopped, distracted by something ahead.

Natiavida noticed her reaction and followed her gaze.

There were two unfamiliar figures in the academy cafeteria—a tall one and a short one.

Neither of them were wearing academy uniforms.

Since the academy was almost entirely closed off, only students, instructors, and a few staff members were permitted inside.

Yet this pair—one man and one girl—were wearing neither uniforms nor staff attire.

So how did they get in?

While Natiavida tried to reason out their identities, Vivian reacted emotionally instead.

“Natiavida, look! The little girl with the golden hair and white dress—”

“What about her?”

“She’s adorable! Her cheeks are so round and pink! Just looking at them makes me want to squish them! They must feel AMAZING!”

…

Natiavida silently side-eyed her already love-struck best friend.

How could someone with elven heritage be this not calm and composed?

Was her bloodline defective?