Chapter 87: The Legacy Slot
With the pact concluded, the atmosphere in the pavilion seed to relax a little, though the undercurrent of cold, calculating interests still simred beneath.
Cecilia’s mood had clearly improved, and she signaled to Ilis beside her.
The girl stepped forward silently, placing a plate of fruit tarts topped with sparkling icing gently onto the table in front of Ryan. Her movent was quiet, as devoid of unnecessary emotion as she herself was.
Cecilia leaned back in her chair, picking up her now-warm cup of tea and taking a sip.
"Well then, to celebrate our cooperation," she put the cup down, her fingers tapping lightly on the table, "let share so intelligence with you, as the first small gift."
Her gaze sharpened again, focusing on Ryan’s face.
"Regarding the upcoming Whispering Forest Selection Tournant within the academy, you’ve signed up, correct?"
Ryan nodded. This was no secret, as the list of participants was posted on the bulletin board for all to see.
"Good." Cecilia leaned forward slightly.
After the simple but aningful handshake agreent, it seed that the princess had forgotten the concept of "social distance." She moved so close to Ryan that the gap between them, which had been maintained by the round table, was reduced to less than thirty centiters—almost intimate.
Ryan could even clearly sll a faint, fresh scent like freshly blood gardenia, mixed with the warmth of the tea, lingering around him.
"Then, do you truly understand why this selection... is being held?"
Before Ryan could respond, Cecilia continued, her sapphire eyes sparkling with light, so close that it almost seed to reflect in Ryan’s pupils.
By convention, or rather, by the tradition of the past years, the academy’s internal selection tournant each sester had a clear purpose—to select representatives for the ‘National Youth Martial Arts Festival’ hosted by the Empire in the second half of the sester.
The tournant allowed almost every skill to be used, showcasing individual strength and talent. It was essentially a stage for the Empire to display the power of the younger generation, for various factions to observe and recruit talent.
Those who perford excellently, especially those who made it into the top eight nationwide, would gain the precious qualification to enter the Saint Roland Advanced Departnt, and even an opportunity to et the Emperor and acquire a position in the royal court.
Thus, the academy’s internal selection had always been about arena battles—intense, direct, in line with public expectations, to select the representatives for the major competition.
But this year, the rules changed. It was suddenly turned into a wild survival and relic contest in the Whispering Forest.
The surface reason was to assess comprehensive practical ability more thoroughly, which sounded reasonable and intrigued many students.
"This ti, however, the selection isn’t for those slots to the national tournant, as you might think. Or rather, not entirely. It’s for another kind of qualification—a ticket to a different stage."
"Recently, the Empire discovered a new ancient ruin in the Black Forest Mountains along the border, naming it the Starfall Ruins."
She paused, watching Ryan’s reaction, then continued:
"The entrance to the ruin is protected by a powerful and strange ancient barrier, only allowing young transcendent beings under eighteen years old, with mana not exceeding elite-level, to enter. The ancient knowledge, technologies, and possibly resources inside have attracted the attention of all factions within the Empire. To that end, the Empire allocated a limited number of exploration slots: the royal family, dukes, marquess and count alliances, the academy, the church… all have their share."
Her finger tapped the table lightly.
"Saint Roland Academy’s five slots will be decided through this Whispering Forest Selection Tournant. This, truly, is the selection’s real and only purpose—to choose the academy’s vanguard for exploring the Starfall Ruins."
Ryan’s eyes flickered with realization. This explained many of the anomalies. No wonder Minister Morris had recomnded him to participate in the selection, and mysteriously ntioned that there would be resources waiting for him.
Reliable, damn reliable.
"But," Cecilia changed the topic, "there’s another layer to this. The discovery of the ruin has also stirred so... long-hidden eyes, buried deep in the dust of history."
As she spoke, a mysterious and complex smile appeared on her face, her gaze casually sweeping over Ilis, who stood motionless beside her, before refocusing on Ryan.
"Ryan, have you ever heard of... Elves?"
The two words, like pebbles thrown into a still lake, created invisible ripples in the pavilion.
Ryan visibly froze. Deep in his gray-blue eyes, a flash of silver mory passed—hair drifting down in the night, a figure swift as the wind under moonlight.
And almost simultaneously, Ilis, standing silently behind Cecilia, though still in a perfect standing posture, like a lifeless, exquisite statue, could be seen to subtly tense her shoulders beneath her dark green cloak. If one could see through her stiffened stance, they might notice a slight, concealed shudder.
Her violet eyes seed to hold a suppressed turmoil, only barely controlled by her extraordinary composure, without the slightest trace of an outward anomaly.
Only she herself knew that, the mont the word "Elves" left Cecilia’s lips, her heart had involuntarily thudded heavily, as if grazed by an invisible arrow.
Cecilia caught both of their reactions, the curve of her lips deepened but she no longer teased.
"Elves, the darlings of ancient natural magic, a race that, according to legend, can naturally resonate with all the elents of nature. However, during the age of the demon race’s dominance, they suffered devastating blows, almost vanishing, becoming legends in ancient texts. Yet, according to so confidential surveys, deep within the Starfall Ruins, there might be areas related to the Elf race, possibly even remnants of their creations or knowledge."
She looked at Ryan intently:
"What does this an? It ans that this ruin exploration isn’t just about seeking ancient imperial heritage. It may also touch upon the mysteries of a lost race. Its value is incalculable. The Empire’s high officials, the church, and all factions are eager to claim a share. And the academy’s change in selection format, throwing you all into an environnt that resembles wilderness survival, might also be an early screening of those who have the ability to adapt, luck, and... perhaps even a sensitivity to ancient auras."
"So, Ryan, I need you to win the selection and secure the academy’s slot. And I will use the royal direct recomndation slot that I, as a princess, can obtain." Her gaze briefly flicked toward Ilis, "I will ensure that my people also enter the ruins."
"Inside, our people can support each other, cooperate in exploration. You, as an academy elite, will act, while my people... can provide you with guidance or assistance, particularly regarding areas in the ruins that may be connected to the Elves. We need to gather substantial findings—whether it be ancient technology samples, rare materials, or... verified information about the Elves. These will be our capital for the future, and an opportunity to prove to my father that I am not a useless canary."
Finally, she laid out her entire plan.
The pavilion fell silent, the distant birdsong in the garden sounded exceptionally clear. Ilis remained as silent as ever, her lowered eyelashes hiding all the emotions that surged within her.
The phrase "Elf relic" was, in itself, an imasurable goldmine.
It explained many of the seemingly unusual behaviors—breaking with tradition in the academy’s selection format, Cecilia entering the academy early, her careful planning, even the recruitnt efforts that cost two viscount families… all of the motives beca crystal clear in that mont.
In this world, humanity’s exploration and construction of magic was like building towers on a solid but limited foundation, or digging tunnels down into mines—every step required precise incantations, intricate models, and long-term accumulation.
Elves, a race that had already blurred in legend and texts, were depicted as beings naturally inhabiting the clouds or deeply rooted in the earth.
They did not need to chant lengthy incantations or understand complex mana circuits. According to legend, their connection with natural elents like wind, water, and light was as effortless as breathing. Whatever they willed, the elents obeyed.
They were the natural darlings of magic, and the brilliance of their peak era was enough to make all future magicians look up to them.
However, just as even the hardest diamond has its destined nesis, the appearance of the demon race, with its terrifying ability to consu mana, beca the end of the Elves’ glorious age, driving them to the edges of history, eventually becoming re legends.
But because of this, anything left behind by the Elves—even a stone tablet inscribed with unknown runes, a brick from their ancient halls, or a fragnt of a manuscript with only a few words—held unimaginable value for the current magical civilization, which constantly faced bottlenecks.
That could be a key to a whole new dinsion of theory, a foundation stone that could establish a school or even shift a nation’s magical military strength.
A verified piece of Elven legacy, presented to the Emperor of the Empire, could earn rewards far beyond ordinary gold or renown.
It could grant a commoner a hereditary title, revive a declining family, or even… allow a marginalized princess to re-enter the center of the power ga.
And if it were kept secret and studied, it could beco the most hidden and powerful foundation to support ambitions and a future far beyond the present.
What Cecilia wanted was nothing more than one of these two paths, or... perhaps both.
The exploration of the ruins was her best, and possibly only, chance to escape her canary fate and seize capital.
She needed a blade capable of cutting through the thorns of the selection tournant and bringing back spoils from the unpredictable environnt of the ruins.
And she had chosen Ryan Velt.
Ryan was silent, processing the cold logic and burning desire behind this massive amount of information.
He looked at the princess, her sapphire eyes burning with unmasked resolve and calculation.
He glanced again at Ilis, who stood perfectly still, seemingly detached from it all, but her perfectly still posture now seed to be a controlled tension.
"It seems, Your Highness, that what you want isn’t just an academy slot, or a simple adventure partnership."
Cecilia’s lips curved into an ambitious smile.
"Of course not. The Whispering Forest Selection is just the ticket. The real stage lies deep within the Starfall Ruins. I need you to secure that ticket, Ryan. Then, together, we will explore possibilities that could change everything."
Ryan nodded slightly. "Then, Your Highness, I will take my leave."
"Pleasure working with you, Ryan." Cecilia responded softly.
Ryan turned and walked down the path, his deep brown coat soon disappearing into the dense tree shadows.
Only when his figure had completely vanished did the tense atmosphere in the pavilion finally ease.
Cecilia’s straight back collapsed, and she nearly slumped against the cold chair, letting out a long, trembling sigh.
She pressed her fingers to her forehead. They felt cold.
"Your Highness..." Ilis stepped forward.
"I’m fine." Cecilia waved her hand, her voice fatigued but oddly excited. "I just... didn’t expect it. Really didn’t expect it."
She had noticed Ryan Velt’s abnormalities long ago, had investigated everything about him, and thought she held all his weaknesses and desires.
She thought the web was flawless, that he had no other choice.
She had even planned how to handle him when he yielded or hesitated.
But he had chosen the most unlikely option—he struck back, and it hit the mark.
"This man..." Ilis gazed at the direction Ryan had disappeared, her violet eyes filled with complex emotions. Her guard was still up, but there was a deeper seriousness there. "…He is truly dangerous."
"Yes," Cecilia murmured, her lips curling into a genuine smile, "dangerous, but... so hard to resist wanting to get closer."
She turned to look at Ilis. "It seems our previous plans need to be revised. We can’t rush. We must take it slow."
Ilis silently nodded.
"However," Cecilia straightened herself again, her face still pale but the cool light in her blue eyes had reignited, "at least... the cooperation is already in place, isn’t it?"
She picked up the already active contract scroll from the table, her fingers brushing lightly over the glowing signature of Ryan’s na.
User Comments
0 comments from readers