The freshman competition drew to a close, and dusk was approaching. At that ti the professor handed out the prizes to the winners.
First place, Sylutia’s prize was a large jar of candy, containing 108 pieces of Second Tier · Excellent quality Iridescent Violet Candy.
Second place, Spencer’s prize was a small jar of Iridescent Violet Candy, totaling 54 pieces.
Third place, Xavier’s prize was 27 pieces of Iridescent Violet Candy.
Fourth place and fifth place received 18 pieces.
From sixth to ninth place the prize was 10 pieces each, and from tenth to seventeenth place it was 5 pieces each.
[Iridescent Violet Candy] (Second Tier); candy like pale violet crystal that refracts many sheens under sunlight. Under the influence of another Aspect, it can quickly transform itself into a one-rank-lower candy of that Aspect. It is used to replenish consumption, cast spells, or as an alchemy ingredient, but it cannot be used for rituals or ordinary-tier secret arts.
This was the product awarded when the iridescent fairy Finiore won a bet with the other Fairy Monarchs during the Fifth Epoch. The Hours allowed her to create this universal candy as compensation for pranks on other beings, but they agreed the candy could not be used in important occasions and its contained power could not exceed Second Tier. Afterwards this kind of candy beca a circulating currency among lower-tier fairies.
Although in the Sixth Epoch the Dragons of Law replaced the Fairy Monarchs and beca the main Hours of the world, they did not overturn this inter-Hour agreent’s reward product. Instead they took a keen interest and used it as inspiration to create new rare items.
Those beca symbols of worldly wealth and the favorites of all True Dragons: brilliant crystalline coins forged by dragon flas, later called Dragon Coins. It is said that every dragon-summoning ritual requires Dragon Coins as a primary ritual material, and dragons determine identity and status by how many Dragon Coins they possess.
Under the sunset, Sylutia accepted the jar of candy handed to her by the professor, eyes full of curiosity.
First place’s prize turned out to be candy, and even the kind used as currency among fairies. But it probably didn’t co directly from the fairies; perhaps mages in recent years had researched thods to manufacture such candy and distributed surplus products as student prizes.
Although very versatile, their rank could not exceed Second Tier. Once transford their quality would drop by one grade. If used to make high-quality crafted items, they could actually drag down the overall quality. So the positioning of this candy can be awkward at tis.
It really suits fairy style and temperant—fun and whimsical, but sotis not very useful. It’s like the blessing Sylutia carries: she treasures and loves it, but for most Transcendents who pursue power, simply remaining forever youthful is a waste of such a precious blessing.
After offering thanks, everyone returned to the restaurant for free dining. Tonight this place was no longer reserved for freshn; many upper-year students could be seen.
Compared to most freshn who remained at Second Tier, upper-year students here were generally Third Tier or above, with Fourth Tier appearing frequently and occasional graduated Fifth Tier elite mbers. To them, these chatting freshn who ca in to eat were not much different from kindergarten children.
“Freshn?”
“Yes, a new sester has begun. I didn’t expect ti to fly so fast.”
“I wonder if any interesting people will appear among this year’s freshn.”
Upper-year students glanced at the group of freshn gathered and discussing energetically, appreciating their youthful vigor, while so found them annoyingly loud.
“Give them so ti, their good days won’t last long, haha. In a year or two they’ll be holed up in labs and libraries, living two days’ work in one.”
But these words did not register at all with freshn still in the swelling phase of ambition; they were simply imrsed in the novelty of enrollnt.
At the wide dining table, Sylutia sat again at the head, surrounded by a crowd of students. Many freshn ca forward to introduce themselves, express their admiration, and describe their skills and strengths, hoping to gain the girl’s approval and attention.
Of course, so students were more proud. Although they admired Sylutia’s strength, their pride would not let them flatter her so obsequiously. They simply expected to grow rapidly after entering Tetis College, catch up to this Chief, and make her see them in a new light.
“Chief, would you drink? I’d like to have a cup with you.”
“I don’t drink,” Sylutia said. She only occasionally drank low-proof fruit wine.
“Ah.”
In this world alcohol was not labeled harmful; nobles and Transcendents took pride in drinking. Being able to drink signified certain standing, and the quality of wine often reflected one’s social rank.
Sylutia preferred sweet fruit juices and had little taste for alcohol, only sotis sipping to match friends’ get-togethers. But tonight was different; if she agreed, many people would co to toast or use it as a chance to network. So she simply said she didn’t drink.
“Bring a glass of chilled raspberry sparkling water.” Sylutia asked the waiter for another drink.
Sparkling water was a new-style beverage available only through the Mage Alliance, popular mostly with young people.
Seeing Sylutia hold the lightly pink, bubbling drink, other students wanted to try it too and many ordered it. As a result, the sparkling water, normally low in demand, sold out in the restaurant tonight.
During dinner, Sylutia remained the center of attention. Almost every bite she took was watched; in such circumstances every subtle action was magnified. Fortunately, the etiquette and posture Sylutia had cultivated since childhood had beco subconscious habits, never showing impropriety. Even occasional small girlish gestures made many people fall for her.
After dinner everyone finally dispersed, and Sylutia returned to her residence, Black Rose Palace. The streetlamp in front of the little house was already lit, and in the garden ahead a few fireflies drifted, while insects chirped in the grass.
She looked at the house—quiet but not desolate. Continuing along the path another hundred ters brought other teachers’ residences; further on were the clustered student dormitories, where many freshn now lived, each with their own room.
A peaceful spot in the midst of bustle. Sylutia thanked the college instructors again, then took out her key and opened the door, returning ho.
She placed the full jar of candy on the bedside table. Feeling a bit tired, she lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, and dozed for a few minutes before opening them to take a bath.
Tetis College’s first day of term had passed in an unforgettable way, and the na “Hedra” spread with astonishing speed.
Perhaps soon wherever Sylutia went, people would recognize her distinctive black hair and her nearly flawless features and figure.
And legends about her slowly ford into two starkly different versions: one calling her the gentle, captivating Black Rose Palace fairy, the other calling her the prideful and untouchable Black Lion Heron.
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