NOVPUBThe next day.
Under the clear morning sun, a Magic Power Rail Train roared into the Ichrite Central Station.
This station, with its roof made of ochre bricks, was the transportation hub for the entire Hutton Kingdom. A fusion of classical and modern styles, its towering arch ceiling, marble pillars, beautiful murals, and stained glass windows left a deep impression on first-time visitors.
Only after the mechanical behemoth on the platform came to a stop and the announcement was made, the doors of each carriage opened after a few seconds.
From the luxurious first-class carriages, a group of young students who exuded an air of calm maturity emerged, their looks belying their years.
They passed through the station’s hall, avoiding the hustling crowd and those tourists who hesitated in front of the Hutton Kingdom’s specialty goods stores.
They attracted attention in the station hall, drawing the gaze of many among the station’s crowd.
Aside from the leading professor, the young men and women were all dressed in well-fitted suit jackets. Their ties bore the emblem of the Royal Arolan Academy, a combination of flaming red and black checkered design. Their double-breasted jackets, sans military insignia and flower sleeves, were decorated with different colored edges on the cuffs, hems, and pocket edges to represent their year and division.
In this group of students, the locals of Ichrite saw the vigor and confidence unique to young geniuses, as well as the maturity and steadiness of powerful individuals.
The academic delegation from the Arolan Kingdom consisted of over twenty people. Among them, several third-year students exhibited extraordinary combat prowess, amounting to formidable force in the real world.
Compared to the comprehensive Ichrite Academy, the Royal Arolan Academy focused more on real-world and Shadow World combat, excelling in cultivating combat professions.
Consequently, the number of scholars and magic artisans they’d cultivated was not as balanced as that of Ichrite Academy.
In past years, the visiting delegation from the Royal Arolan Academy would bring more potential logistical-type students to study at the Alchemy College and the Magic Engineering College.
But this year was different. They included more students with specialized combat abilities, seeming ready to throw down the gauntlet.
One reason was the bitter rivalry between the Knight Captain of the Arolan Kingdom, Lady Juliana, and the Dean of the Sage Academy at Ichrite Academy, Loren.
Furthermore, the Royal Arolan Academy, traditionally weak in the field of magic engineering, had recently enrolled a rare genius. He obtained his Southern Continent Gold-Level Registered Card Maker’s license in just his second year.
Even in the current Ichrite Academy, there were no second-year students at the Gold-Level Card Maker level, and even among the third-year students, Gold-Level Card Makers were few and far between.
This visit seemed to bear some semblance of a show-off.
All in all, the relationship between the two academies had always been very good over the years. It was only in recent years, with changes to the leadership, that a sense of rivalry began to emerge.
"Ever since Duke Migaya, the Hutton Kingdom has not produced such an astonishing card-making genius again."
"Who knows if Duke Migaya has disappeared or defected? There were earlier rumors that the mysterious Night Bishop of the Rebirth Church is Duke Migaya. Although it was always taken as a joke, it now seems increasingly plausible."
"Don’t say such things in someone else’s country."
"No worries, I heard that the style of Ichrite Academy is to not be too sensitive. They are even harsher on their own than on foreigners."
The students in the delegation chatted casually.
From the platform, they arrived at the central hall of Ichrite Central Station, welcomed by the fresh air of Ichrite and the warm sun.
"This is Ichrite?"
The leading tall youth had neatly trimmed hair. The sunlight shone on his head, causing the ends of his hair to flicker. His eyes were clear and bright, like stars.
"As Lady Juliana’s sword, I’m going to seek some pointers from the best students under Dean Loren."
The vibrant youth seemed very confident, and his purpose for this trip was also very clear.
He was indeed strong. At the time, he barely lost to the Saint of Decay.
The sworn enemy of Lady Juliana, the Knight Captain of the Arolan Kingdom, was the Archbishop of Decay, Fa Mo.
And the High Priest Loren of the Church of the Goddess of Destiny was the sworn enemy of Bishop of Destruction Ivanos.
So far, quite a number of clergy from the Church of the Goddess of Destiny have tragically died at the hands of the Goddess of Destruction, while Loren has never cultivated a young person who can stand up to the Goddess of Destruction.
Due to his excessive indecisiveness and soft heart, Loren, who is unable to be strict, is a failed educator.
Not everyone has Loren’s monstrous talent. With Loren’s gentle and relaxed teaching method, even a good seedling could become useless.
Such a person can only stay in school to receive accolades.
Judging from the aspect of education alone, Lady Juliana has already won over Loren too many times.
The young man thought to himself.
"But don’t worry, Carlen. I will be tactful and won’t cause any problems for Dean Loren."
The young man turned around and spoke to a fair-haired, green-eyed, attractive young girl behind him.
"If possible, I hope you, Adams, won’t start any fights. Although I know you are doing it for Lady Juliana, I... just don’t want you to get hurt."
This girl named Carlen was a genius Magic Artisan who became a Gold-Level Card Maker in her second year at the Royal Arolan Academy. She spoke with a soft voice, her eyes sparkling with innocence.
Suddenly, the surrounding students let out a cheer. Regardless of gender, their hearts were nearly melting.
"I’m sorry... Carlen."
"Carlen is too gentle."
"An angel has descended upon the earth."
Listening to the voices of everyone, Carlen just smiled.
But she was cursing inwardly:
Damn fool, knowing that I’m going to observe the [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind], he still finds someone to spar with.
Since Magic Artisans were scarce in the Royal Arolan Academy, excellent Magic Artisans were in high demand.
While Carlen is just a second-year student, her status was clearly higher than anyone else’s.
Indeed, she quite enjoyed the sensation of being admired as a queen.
If she were in Ichrite Academy, with her talents, everyone would also gather around her like stars surrounding the moon.
She was the epitome of innocence; no one would dislike her!
Just as the front of the line was praising Carlen.
Small groups at the back of the line were still discussing among themselves.
"I’ve heard the Fighters in the Knight College of Ichrite Academy are quite formidable. We can challenge them in a battle wagering the Spirit of Martial Combat."
"However, I heard that last month, Cervini, the strongest Fighter and Gold-level challenger in the Knight College, suddenly switched to the law specialty in the Alchemy College. It seems she has given up on the Spirit of Martial Combat and is willing to double her course load to earn enough credits. She would rather torture herself with heavy study than become a lawyer."
"Really? Since when could a Fighter be studious?"
" If she dares not accept our challenge, we’ll teach her apprentice a lesson. Then she will certainly regain her Spirit of Martial Combat!"
Several Fighters from the Royal Arolan Academy were even more eager than Adams, the strongest third-year student at the front of the line.
Anyway, everyone had their own thoughts.
Suddenly, the professor leading the team found the faculty members and student representatives from Ichrite Academy who were in charge of receiving them at the station hall and began to talk to them.
"...."
A pair of young siblings had been silent for a long time since they got off the train.
"What’s wrong? Didn’t you get enough rest?"
The Paladin brother asked, looking at his cleric sister whose face was not looking well.
"I’m sorry, I’ve been having nightmares since that Shadow World."
The young girl closed her eyes and shook her head.
Two months ago, just after they had been promoted to the second year, they challenged a Demon World-themed Fourth-Order Shadow World at the beginning of the school year.
For them, both Fourth-Order Silver-Level Challengers, the Shadow World was dangerous, but not insurmountable.
As it turned out, the impact of that Shadow World was too profound and even left a psychological shadow on the Cleric sister.
In that desperate situation caused by the outbreak of the Shadow World, they confronted an ancient Great Demon Clan that shouldn’t have appeared in a Fourth-Order Shadow World.
And just when they thought it was the end.
The terrifying Radiant Demon forced them to come with him.
They spent a whole two hours with that Radiant Demon.
In those two hours, they sat with the Radiant Demon in the principal’s office, experiencing intense fear and mental torture every moment, as if they were sitting on pins and needles.
What was even more bizarre was that the Radiant Demon actually let them go!
They could hardly imagine just how high the status of the principal from Purgatory Corridor Academy was, as they didn’t feel his Magic Fluctuation at all.
Such restraint only indicated that the gap between the two sides was unimaginable.
Even when facing Lady Juliana, they had never felt such fear. Perhaps, that Radiant Demon was at least an extremely evil being of the same level as the Cardinal Bishops of the Rebirth Church.
Just the thought of being in the same room with the Cardinal Bishop of the Rebirth Church for two hours is enough to drive any normal young person insane.
Because they considered protecting the privacy of the challengers, it was impossible to explore the information of other challengers matched after a challenge from the South Continent Shadow World Management Association.
"I hope this trip to Ichrite can alleviate my inner turmoil."
The Cleric sister whispered.
The brave Paladin brother was fine, but she was now too scared to go to the Shadow World anymore.
SIster Cleric remembered that there were six people in the Shadow World called [Purgatory Corridor Academy].
However, for some reason, it felt like from beginning to end it was just the two of them. They never encountered any other challengers.
Then the world went haywire, and then they inexplicably cleared it.
They had never encountered such a ridiculous Shadow World!
They should have celebrated their survival, but the extremely terrifying Principal Radiant Demon from the Demon Academy has left an indelible impression on them.
But on the bright side.
They don’t have a chance to come across that kind of demon in real life.
That Radiant Demon is just a projection of an ancient Great Demon Clan by the Shadow World, it has long since disappeared into history.
And the shadow in her heart will gradually wear away with time.
