The crisp morning air was alive with excitement as the students gathered at the grand pavilion, its towering spires casting long shadows over the expansive training grounds. Beyond the pavilion lay the dense expanse of Forest, its towering trees and shrouded pathways promising both challenge and mystery.
Blanche stood near the edge of the crowd, her composed demeanor contrasting with the animated chatter around her. Beside her, Yuxin adjusted her gloves, her sharp eyes scanning the forest as though gauging its depths.
"This is absurd," Yuxin muttered, her voice low but laced with annoyance. "All this for some pointless ranking points."
Blanche glanced at her, her expression calm yet thoughtful. "Perhaps. But think of it this way: even pointless endeavors can reveal something valuable."
Yuxin arched an eyebrow. "And what's the value here? Watching people trip over themselves chasing trinkets?"
Blanche smiled faintly, turning her gaze to the forest. "Adaptability. Observation. And maybe… learning to trust the right people."
Yuxin snorted softly, crossing her arms. "Trust? That's rich coming from a noble."
"Not all of us," Blanche replied, her tone steady. She turned to face Yuxin directly, her voice dropping slightly so only she could hear. "For what it's worth, I trust you. That's why I asked you to join me."
Yuxin blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sincerity in Blanche's words. She looked away, a faint flush coloring her cheeks. "You're too good at this persuasion thing, you know."
Before Blanche could respond, the chime of a bell echoed across the pavilion, signaling the start of the event. The Student Council President, Silas Caelum, stepped onto a raised platform, his commanding presence immediately quieting the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Silas began, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Welcome to the Annual Newcomer Event. As you know, this tradition celebrates the arrival of our newest students while testing their skills, creativity, and resilience. Beyond the gates of the Myrdvawein Forest lie countless artifacts, each marked with the crest of the academy. Your task is to retrieve them and return them here before the bell tolls at noon."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembly.
"Remember the rules," he continued. "While competition is encouraged, we are Asterblume students—act with honor. Do not let ambition cloud your judgment. Now, let the hunt begin."
The gates to the forest creaked open, revealing a narrow, winding path that disappeared into the shadows. The students surged forward in groups or pairs, their excited chatter filling the air.
Blanche placed a hand lightly on Yuxin's arm, stopping her before she could follow the crowd. "Yuxin," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I know this isn't your kind of event, but your strength and focus are unmatched. Just remember—we're not here to outshine anyone. We're here to succeed, together."
Yuxin frowned, her usual sharpness dulling slightly. "You're annoyingly good at making sense, you know that?"
Blanche chuckled, her smile warm. "Someone has to keep you grounded."
With a reluctant nod, Yuxin adjusted her gloves again. "Fine. Let's get this over with. Don't treat me like a dog."
The two stepped through the gates, their footsteps swallowed by the forest as the dense canopy above cast dappled shadows on the path ahead. Though Yuxin remained skeptical, Blanche's quiet confidence seemed to steady her resolve. Together, they ventured into the unknown, ready to face whatever the forest had in store. Thirty minutes are all they have to finish and compete with formidable competitors that also participated in the event.
The underbrush rustled as Blanche and Yuxin moved quietly along the forest trail. The towering trees above cast shifting shadows, the filtered sunlight creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. But the serenity was short-lived—every sound, every movement hinted at potential danger.
Blanche held up a hand, signaling Yuxin to pause. "Wait. Don't rush," she said, her tone calm but firm. "Charging headlong into every group we encounter will wear you out faster than you realize."
Yuxin frowned, crossing her arms. "I can handle it. It's not like these amateurs stand a chance against us."
Blanche shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "Even so, this event isn't just about power. It's about strategy. We need to conserve your energy for when it truly matters. Let them waste their strength on each other—we'll focus on the artifacts."
Yuxin sighed dramatically, clearly unimpressed. "Fine, fine. You're the planner. I'll stick to your boring strategy. But don't expect me to sit quietly if someone comes at us."
Blanche's lips curved into a small smile. "I wouldn't dream of it. Just trust me—we'll get through this efficiently."
As they continued deeper into the forest, the distant sounds of combat echoed around them. Students shouted commands, Astraga roared, and magical explosions lit up the canopy in flashes of vibrant light.
Suddenly, the foliage ahead rustled violently, and four students emerged, their expressions sharp and determined. Their leader, a tall boy wielding a glowing staff, pointed it directly at Blanche and Yuxin.
"You're carrying an artifact, aren't you?" he demanded. "Hand it over, and we won't have to make this difficult."
Blanche took a step forward, her composure unshaken. "We have no intention of surrendering. I suggest you reconsider."
The boy sneered. "Four against two? I think we like our odds."
Yuxin's sharp eyes gleamed as she stepped beside Blanche, shadows already pooling at her feet. "Odds don't mean much when you're up against someone like me."
The boy barked a command, and his group sprang into action. One summoned a fiery beast, its molten claws slashing toward them, while another conjured earthen walls to trap them.
Blanche reacted instantly. With a graceful motion, she summoned her Astraga—a radiant figure whose shield of light deflected the fiery beast's attack with ease. "Yuxin, the one on the left. I'll handle the defenses!"
Yuxin smirked, her shadows erupting like a tidal wave. "Finally." She surged forward, her tendrils slicing through the air and smashing into the earthen wall with a force that sent one of their attackers sprawling.
The fiery beast lunged again, but Blanche's Astraga intercepted it, its radiant sword cleaving through the flames. At the same time, Yuxin's shadows coiled around another student, lifting them off the ground before slamming them into a tree.
Within moments, the group of four lay defeated, groaning in the dirt. Yuxin stood over them, her hands on her hips, a sharp smirk plastered across her face.
"Pathetic," she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. "Four of you, and you couldn't even handle two people? What a waste of effort."
Blanche shot her a pointed look but said nothing as Yuxin crouched down slightly, her smirk widening. "Next time, try not to embarrass yourselves, hmm? Or maybe just stay out of the forest entirely. Leave this kind of thing to the competent ones."
She straightened, letting out a low chuckle as she glanced at Blanche. "You were right—this strategy thing isn't so bad when it makes fights this easy."
Blanche sighed, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Let's move on before they recover. We still have artifacts to find."
Yuxin snickered, throwing one last glance at the defeated students as she followed Blanche into the shadows of the forest. The tension between them eased, a strange camaraderie forming amidst their vastly different approaches.
"Admit it," Yuxin said with a sly grin. "You're glad I'm here to keep things entertaining."
Blanche chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Perhaps. But only if you can keep your boasting to a reasonable level."
"No promises," Yuxin replied, her laughter echoing through the trees as they pressed onward.
The rustling leaves and distant sounds of combat were a constant background as Blanche and Yuxin moved cautiously through the dense forest. Their collection of artifacts was steadily growing, but Blanche remained focused, her sharp mind piecing together a strategy to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
"Two more artifacts, and we'll secure a solid rank," Blanche said calmly, glancing at their map. "There should be another one just ahead."
Yuxin smirked, her hands tucked into her coat pockets. "Easy. Let's grab it before someone else gets any bright ideas."
As they rounded a bend in the trail, a figure emerged from the shadows—a slender elf with Blond blond hair that glinted in the filtered sunlight. She moved with an eerie quietness, her steps almost blending into the forest floor. A simple dagger rested in her hand, its edge gleaming faintly.
Without warning, Yuxin's shadows surged forward like a tidal wave. "She's alone. Let's finish this quickly!"
The shadows struck like a serpent, aiming to snare the elf, but to Yuxin's shock, the figure sidestepped with effortless grace. The elf's dagger flashed green, those twin blades slicing through the shadow tendrils with precision with asymmetrical patterns as she leaped through trees and jumps.
"What—?!" Yuxin exclaimed, taking a step back as her shadows dissipated.
The elf's calm, neutral expression didn't waver. She adjusted her grip on the dagger, her voice soft but steady. "Attacking without thought is reckless. Don't waste your strength on me."
Blanche stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on Yuxin's shoulder. "Wait. She's not attacking us. Let's not escalate this unnecessarily."
Yuxin frowned but nodded reluctantly, retreating to Blanche's side. "Fine. But if she tries anything"
The elf tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes locking onto Yuxin. "You're quick to strike but slow to think. That will cost you."
Yuxin bristled, her temper flaring. "What did you just say—"
"Enough," Blanche interjected firmly, her tone soothing yet authoritative. She turned to the elf, her expression calm. "We don't want trouble. You're clearly capable, but we'd rather avoid unnecessary conflict. Let's move on."
The elf's gaze lingered on them for a moment before she nodded. "Wise words. But this forest isn't kind to hesitation. Stay sharp." With that, she stepped back into the shadows, her presence fading almost instantly.
As soon as the elf disappeared, Yuxin let out an exasperated sigh. "Who even was that? She's way too smug for someone who barely has any backup."
Blanche chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're not upset because she blocked your attack, are you?"
Yuxin crossed her arms, scowling. "I'm just saying she got lucky."
"Or maybe you underestimated her," Blanche replied evenly, her smile faint. "You're usually so composed in battle. Letting your temper get the better of you won't help us here."
Yuxin muttered something under her breath, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Cool my head, stop being reckless. You sound like a schoolteacher."
Blanche gave her a knowing look. "You're smarter than this, Yuxin. And besides, if we do run into her again, we'll need to be at our best."
Yuxin's lips quivered into a smirk, though it lacked her usual sharpness. "Fine. I'll behave—for now. But if she comes at us again, I'm not holding back."
"Fair enough," Blanche said with a chuckle, gesturing for them to continue.
As they pressed deeper into the forest, Yuxin's earlier recklessness gave way to a renewed focus. The elf's skill had stung her pride, but it also reignited her sharp instincts. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she was determined not to repeat her mistake.
Blanche and Yuxin pressed deeper into the forest, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. The silence was almost unnerving, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. As they approached a clearing, their eyes locked onto the faint glimmer of an artifact nestled in the crook of a gnarled tree.
"There it is," Blanche murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Finally," Yuxin said, her shadows writhing at her feet in anticipation. "Let's grab it and move before anyone else shows up."
But as they stepped into the clearing, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows—the elf they had encountered earlier. Her blond hair shimmered faintly in the dappled light, and in her hand was the same dagger, its edge glinting ominously.
"You're trespassing. Get out from this place, stat," the elf said sharply, her voice calm yet commanding.
Blanche furrowed her brow. "You again…"
The elf's neutral expression didn't shift. "Leave now, this is not a place where people can come in and out."
Yuxin scoffed, her shadows curling tighter around her. "She's bluffing. We're taking the artifact, whether she likes it or not."
"Wait, Yuxin—" Blanche began, but Yuxin was already in motion.
Her shadows lashed out like serpents, aiming to ensnare the elf. But in an instant, the elf vanished, her presence dissolving like mist. Yuxin's shadows struck empty air, and her eyes widened in confusion.
"Where did she—"
The elf leaps within trees, vanishes even at the slightest moment, as soon as Yuxin tries to lay her eyes on the elf's figure. Those dashes, those swift movements, clearly confuses everyone with such trickery.
Before she could finish, the elf reappeared behind her, the dagger slicing cleanly through the tendrils of shadow. Yuxin spun around, summoning more shadows to block the strike, but the elf's movements were too fast, too precise.
Blanche, realizing the gravity of the situation, summoned her Astraga. The radiant figure appeared beside her, its shield raised to deflect the elf's next attack. "Yuxin, fall back! She's not someone we can underestimate!"
But Yuxin, her pride wounded, refused to back down. "I'm not running from her!" she snapped, her shadows surging forward in a massive wave.
The elf didn't flinch. With a swift motion, she deflected the shadows, her dagger glowing faintly with an unfamiliar energy. Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like, as she dodged and countered every attack.
Blanche stepped forward, her Astraga creating a barrier of light to shield Yuxin. "We need to rethink this," she urged.
Yuxin growled in frustration but relented, retreating to Blanche's side. "Fine. What's the plan?"
"We need to draw her out, force her to engage on our terms," Blanche said, her mind racing. But before she could elaborate, the elf darted forward, her speed blinding.
Within moments, Yuxin was disarmed, her shadows dissipating as the elf's dagger hovered inches from her throat. Blanche's Astraga intervened, blocking the finishing blow, but the elf stepped back, her expression unchanging.
"You've lost," the elf said simply. "Like I said, leave. This place isn't suited for people like you."
Blanche raised her hands in a gesture of peace, stepping forward cautiously. "Wait. Please. We misunderstood. We thought you were another participant in the academy's event. We didn't mean to intrude."
The elf's sharp eyes flicked to Blanche, her grip on the dagger tightening slightly. "This forest is my home. I care for it. I won't let it become a playground for your games."
Blanche's tone softened. "I understand. We're truly sorry for the disturbance. All we need is the artifact, and we'll leave immediately."
The elf studied her for a long moment, the tension in the clearing palpable. Finally, she lowered her dagger, though her posture remained guarded. "Take what you need and go. But remember this—Myrdvawein, is not yours to claim. Respect it, or face the consequences."
Blanche nodded, her gaze steady. "We'll respect your wishes. Thank you for your understanding."
"Myrdvawein…?", Blanche mutters softly, analyzing the situation while she glances over Yuxin. "I never saw that name, on maps, on papers."
As the elf stepped back into the shadows, Yuxin muttered under her breath, "Who even is she? And why is she so strong?"
Blanche offered a small smile. "I think we've met the true guardian of this forest. Let's honor her warning and finish this without any more mistakes."
Yuxin glanced at Blanche, her usual sharpness dulled by embarrassment. "Yeah, fine. I might have… overdone it back there."
Blanche chuckled softly, placing a reassuring hand on Yuxin's shoulder. "We all make mistakes. Let's move forward—together."
With the artifact in hand, Blanche and Yuxin turned to leave the clearing. The tension in the air had dissipated, replaced by an uneasy silence. But before they could take another step, Blanche hesitated, her eyes lingering on the elf who still stood among the trees, her dagger lowered but her posture guarded.
"Wait," Blanche said softly, turning back. Yuxin frowned, confused.
"What now? We've got what we need," Yuxin muttered, but she stopped, following Blanche's gaze.
Blanche stepped forward cautiously, her tone gentle. "Have we met before?"
The elf tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"
Blanche hesitated, searching her memory. "I… I'm not sure. There was a time, in the main city, the park, where we're in Sonnefield. I saw an elf with hair as bright as the sun and a presence that stood out among the crowd. It was brief—you vanished before I could see or witness anything. But looking at you now, I feel as though I've seen you before."
The elf's expression remained unreadable, though her grip on the dagger relaxed slightly. "Sonnefield? Ah, so that's the name of the city." she echoed, her voice low and contemplative. "I've passed it once. Unsure if I will have future business to do there."
Blanche nodded, her gaze steady. "It must have been you. That memory stayed with me. At the time, I didn't know what to make of it—an elf in the heart of the city was a rare sight. But I didn't forget."
Yuxin, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "So you've been stalking elves now, Blanche?"
Blanche shot her a mild look before turning back to the elf. "I never had the chance to ask back then, but now that we've crossed paths again… may I know your name?"
The elf studied her for a long moment, her expression finally softening just a fraction. "Vilaphine Nhrfreya. Most people call me Vila, I'm fine with that, too."
Blanche offered a polite bow, her composure unwavering. "It's an honor to meet you properly, Vilaphine. My name is Blanche Van Equinox, and this is Zhen Yuxin."
Yuxin waved a hand dismissively. "Yuxin's fine."
Vila's gaze flicked between them, lingering slightly longer on Blanche. "Blanche Van Equinox. A noble name for someone who treads where they don't belong."
Blanche straightened, her tone careful but firm. "We didn't know this forest was your home. I apologize for the intrusion. If we'd known, we would have acted differently."
Vila's lips twitched faintly, almost a smile. "Apology accepted—for now. But this forest isn't just my home. It's the last remnant of my people. What you see now is all that remains of Myrdvawein."
Yuxin frowned, her sharp tone breaking the quiet. "Your people? What happened?"
Vila's expression darkened, her voice dipping lower, before she jumped from the branches of trees and landed on the ground with her feet. Fixing her posture, she glares over Blanche and Yuxin, with a detailed and skeptical look.
"They're gone. My people were taken by god who knows.", Vila leaned against the tree trunk beside her, those sharp eyes never leaving the two students.
"Smugglers, bandits, whatever. Many years ago, they came here uninvited and took everything from me. Ten died, all dismembered and lost a few of their limbs and their attached heads. And the other twenty, they're completely gone. Never had the chance to recover their existence.", Vila stopped with a heavy sigh, escaping her lips.
"That's why I protect this place—I won't let it be defiled, even by well-meaning fools."
"I'm the only one left. Surely those poor thirty souls are just numbers to you, Lady Equinox..", Vila replied with a mixed expression etched on her face.
Blanche's gaze heavily perplexed, trying to understand the weight of such revelation formed in front of her eyes. These things have never been a good one for an afternoon joke, as this turned out to be even more complicated.
"I see. That's why you were so adamant about us leaving.", Blanche replied with a straightforward tone, keeping emotions to her words minimum.
"I don't care about your academy or your games. This forest isn't part of your world.", Vila nodded, her eyes bored to the noble lady. Such a stoic expression doesn't leave her features.
Blanche stepped closer, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "We'll respect that. We've taken what we came for, and we'll leave immediately. But… if there's anything we can do to help you or your forest, please let us know."
Vila regarded her silently for a moment before finally nodding. "-don't need that. Just don't come back unless you mean it. This isn't a place for wandering."
With that, she turned and began to disappear into the shadows, her presence fading like mist.
Yuxin let out a low whistle. "What a charmer. And I thought I had issues with a complex woman."
Blanche shook her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. "She's remarkable. Her strength, her resolve—it's admirable."
"Sure, if by 'admirable,' you mean terrifying," Yuxin muttered, but there was no heat in her words.
As they continued deeper into the forest, Blanche's mind lingered on Vilaphine. Their encounter had been brief, but she had no doubt that this was only the beginning of their connection to the enigmatic guardian of Myrdvawein.
"There, I found it.", Yuxin's voice echoed slightly through the vast woods, and Blanche shortly walked to her with interest. They've been up for nearly twenty, close to thirty minutes and finally found and secured the artifact they need.
"Splendid, the time is running out, and we did a good search. We beat a few teams earlier, too. And, perfect.", Blanche mutters to herself, enough for Yuxin to hear what she had to say. Fifteen artifacts were surely a strong number, while others simply managed to get four or five the most.
"Time limit, let's wrap ourselves up or this fifteen junk won't even value a scratch.", Yuxin's urgent voice called as she tapped Blanche's back in a casual way.
"Understood, let's go back before we actually get lost in these woods.", Blanche replied with a consistent pace, they both are slowly preparing to jet their way back into Eurandel, the place where this event, everything started.
"Can you say something else, before we actually jinx it?", Yuxin casually rebukes Blanche's words with an annoyed look on her face.
"Definitely not, hustle up then.", Blanche sternly replied without wasting any breath.
The two students finally walk past the gate, confirming their finished attempt and collectively exchanging each other a smile. Sacks of artifacts were on Yuxin's back, she's holding its weight carefully not to spill any of them to the ground as she moves.
"Now, we just need to submit these to the-", Yuxin's words cut short. She knows that the corresponding party needs to submit their catch on the artifacts to Professor Elyra. The professor is also there to handle any turns of events, and handle the result of her students' outstanding performances.
That familiar scent, long and silky blond hair, pointy ears, and unbearably tall figure. Vila casually catches the eyes of many students there, both participants and spectators as she walks through the crowds while holding a large sack on her hip, filled with numbers of artifacts that potentially lead into the whole event's objective.
"Hey, we're only caught five of them!"
"Ugh, my team is going to lose because we only managed to get four!"
"We only got two! Are you sure that the artifacts are scattered throughout the woods?!"
The culprit, that elf clearly outdid everyone. Blanche and Yuxin look at each other confusedly, processing quick events that unfold in front of their eyes.
The only thing that they found out, simply that these artifacts they obtained are just small numbers compared to more of them that spread in the wild. Myrdvawein has them buried on its grounds, like treasures waiting to be found.
But Vila, she walked alone with sheer confidence, looked up at Professor Elyra with no sense of remorse. She throws her sack, filled with numbers of artifacts, gold and silver, some of them have their gems attached.
"This, that you need?", the amount of artifacts spilled to the ground immediately brought disbelief and a little tinge of anger, boiling in their blood. Vila gave no context, and regardless of what she had done, she simply stated how she found this useless event as irrational and a waste of effort.
Blanche and Yuxin shoves some students away, trying to get a better look at the scene.
"Hey! Is she out of her mind?!", Yuxin's voice formed a whisper, and Blanche caught her voice completely.
"Watch it! We better watch first, don't act rash, Yuxin.", Blanche's response caught Yuxin's feet with a full stop, she refrains herself from pushing it too far. At this point, Vila handles herself all alone with all this commotion she caused.
The students watched the scene in front of them with a mesh, juggled with various emotions as their response. Anger, disbelief, confusion, shock, discomfort, disgust, and more. Vila's doing caused a crash in their afterparty, as at the exact same moment Blanche and Yuxin also wanted to submit their result.
"Your students are pathetic." Vila said it without batting any expression, her voice sharp yet there's no slight of mockery and distaste beneath her words, even if it was imbued with some disdain.
"And who are you, elf? Are you lost, or did you come all the way here just to mock, with that presumptuous tongue of yours?", Professor Elyra replied those words with the same amount of challenge, before taking a deep breath and trying to end this dispute with a clear mind.
"State your intentions.", The professor calmly said, analyzing the elf and her features.
"Nothing, seeing your students unable to notice my presence in the woods already explained everything. And these artifacts, there are hundreds of them scattered on my home, looking at them struggle to find one was just a hindrance to my sight.", Vila's eyes locked at the Professor, the immaturity of many students couldn't possibly find the real meaning behind her words.
Blanche found no malice beneath Vila's words, and Yuxin seems to know where that is coming from. But these students, those who managed to not know the full context, seem lost. Vila stated her opinion as a warning, and a sign of her rebuttal to such an event.
Thus, at the same time, Professor Elyra watched the elf with total interest. She's no longer focused on how everyone else directed their displeased feelings towards the blond elf in front of her. "Young lady, if apology is what you seek, then I humbly apologize if this event caused such trouble in your stead. We're planning to-"
"I don't. And you're about to leave, I just don't need people to barge into my home uninvited. Myrdvawein, is a place where my kin lasted for an entire century, until they're no longer here.", Vila said with a huff, before she turned around and tilted her head to others, students that circled around her and the professor herself.
"I suggest you don't trespass my land anymore. And you, professor, I'm older than you. Don't call me young lady, remember that.", With an abrupt end, Vila walked away and left the artifacts that were worth 45 Gold Rells each.
"Hey, wait!", Yuxin tries to call for Vila, but she doesn't listen and proceeds to vanish with her usual call of goodbye. Even though the students were dumbfounded by that stunning step, the professor sighed heavily and let some of the council members collect whatever that's left by that mysterious elf.
"What a way to introduce yourself, Vila.", Blanche thought at the back of her mind. Nevertheless, the two of them decide to let the scene play along and everything subsides into a total peace once more.
"Things escalated too quickly, I suppose. So, as I was saying, the victor of this event goes to…Blanche Van Equinox and her ally, Zhen Yuxin!" The professor's voice cheered, rounds of applause coming in waves as Blanche walked to the professor, after catching a signal by her stare and moving fingers right beside her left hip.
But then, Blanche's right hand instinctively grabs Yuxin's left wrist, catches her off guard by the sudden pull and respectfully follows her regardless. "W-Wha? Hey, don't you just-"
Yuxin stumbled over her feet, but quickly regained her composure as she snatched her hand away from Blanche's grip. "Tch, I can walk by myself jackass"
A smile tugged on her lips, Blanche gave her a nod before letting Yuxin walk on her tail, both students slowly closing in front of the professor, a medal to commemorate their accomplishment, enough to create the base floor of their merit.
"I could say this isn't half bad.", Yuxin bowed her head, letting the medal tangled on her neck, the shining silver of pure mineral, reflected in her eyes with a little spark.
"Agreed, this is pretty clear, expected.", Blanche proudly bowed her head for the same thing, the medal also brought joy to herself. Another one to put in her room, one more for her many achievements that she referred to as her own personal collection.
They both lift their heads up, their medals glistening with the reflected light from the sun above their heads. Facing the crowds, many students let out another wave of applause, congratulating them as they won the event fair and square, ignoring the minor occurrence that just happened earlier.
"What are you, a genius? Heh, I let you have it your way this time.", Yuxin lightly chuckled, before she smiled at the blissful feeling that was caused by the scene in front of them.
Something stirs Yuxin's heart, as getting herself acknowledged surely isn't in her plans, but it left quite an impact on her as a person. "This is nothing, It's not enough for me anyway."
But her voice trails over into a small whisper, Blanche was unable to actually hear what Yuxin has to say. "Excuse me, did you say something? The cheering is too loud-"
"No, yeah. Get it over with.", Yuxin briefly replied, she huffed while trying to fix her own composure.
Getting flustered isn't suited for her tough demeanor, as she quickly shifts away her embarrassment back into her usual brashness.
With that, concludes the end of their meaningful start. A win for both Blanche and Yuxin, while the Professor had something in her mind left unanswered. A spark of merit, and an unexpected encounter with the mysterious elf that claimed the southern forest of Eurandel as her home, which the elf confirmed as Myrdvawein.
At the exact same moment, at the back of many students filled with tall figures and groups of people.
"Yuxin, she's with a noble. Amazing…it's our first day, and she's already-", a timid voice escapes her lips, mixed with contours of shyness and awkward clash of words.
"N-No! I can't think of that, she did fine, unlike me. If I could be a better use for anyone, they already picked me to j-join…or even be able to make a grand scene in their clubs! Yes! But, it is the opposite…", the girl sighed with dismissal. Her doll hanging its head heavy, its body hugged the girl's left arm steadily.
Someone who escaped everyone's eyes and interest, the one and only person who barely gets any clubs to join.
Bravery escaped her mind, even applying into clubs would be a total hassle for a person like her. To get to know people, is to expose and be true to oneself, and she doesn't know who exactly she is.
"Haha, at least I can spend my time in the library. Books can be better friends than real people, they don't talk back, they don't call you names, and they don't stab you in the back…", Her shyness slowly replaced with a calmer voice, she left the crowd and walked silently back to the empty road.
"Now I just need to go back.", The girl eventually leaves with a horse cart, heading to the capital city, Sonnefield.
The short figure walked through the hallways of the academy, heading to the library with pure intrigued expression on her face. Steps were steady, but her frail arms hugged herself in order to cover herself from exposing oneself too much.
She evades people, not because she doesn't want to, but because she's afraid to make such any forms of contact.