The Cornflower Witch

While Sylutia and Amelie sat in the room talking, the various seats and viewing stands of the Silver Bell Festival gradually filled with spectators, including members from different schools and colleges, as well as representatives from various factions.

"Now! I declare this Silver Bell Festival officially begins!" The host's voice rang out across the venue. Colorful meteors rose from beneath the cloudsea, streaking across with brilliant trails, soaring above the venue, and bursting into gorgeous, dazzling fireworks.

Many freshmen attending the festival for the first time watched this spectacle with curiosity, stunned by such a magnificent sight for the very first time.

After that came the customary performances, followed by the exchange matches for the newcomers. A few years ago, when Sylutia first stepped into Tetis College, it was at this same moment that she took the stage to duel her opponent, Spencer.

Years had passed, and now she was a senior apprentice, no longer needing to participate in such matches to show her face.

"Oh, now stepping onto the stage is Heraburo from Errimo College. This eighteen-year-old youth hails from the Western Mountain Range and is the first border-region prodigy to appear at the Silver Bell Festival." The host enthusiastically introduced him, and then a young man with spiky short hair walked into the dueling grounds.

Ever since the Western Mountain Range was incorporated into the Mage Alliance, it had begun sending outstanding young talents to the three major academy districts. This Heraburo was one of them. After receiving education to make up for his foundational gaps, he successfully enrolled in Errimo College this year and made his debut at the Silver Bell Festival.

"Heraburo..." Sylutia murmured the name, catching Amelie's attention. The latter thought for a moment before speaking.

"Heraburo, in the Beastman language, means 'Brave One,' generally referring to someone who courageously fights head-on and often achieves victory." With Amelie's reminder, Sylutia quickly recalled the Beastman language knowledge she had picked up during her time in the Western Mountain Range.

"Thanks, I remember now."

After all, she had only heard it mentioned in passing back then. Nowadays, the word 'Heraburo' was rarely used in Beastman language, having been replaced by the more concise 'Krum,' which in Beastman tongue carried the meaning of 'Overlord, mighty and ferocious,' and was more revered and popular among current Beastmen.

"Has Amelie also studied Beastman language and culture?" Sylutia looked at the blue-haired girl beside her.

"I have. Beastman, Elven, Fairy, Eastern, and Lizard languages." She counted them off on her fingers, then looked up to answer Sylutia.

"Truly erudite..."

Sylutia couldn't help but sigh. Even she hadn't learned that many languages, only mastering Eastern and Fairy languages among them. She had only picked up some Beastman language during her investigation and survey in the Western Mountain Range, but it wasn't in-depth. After all, Beastman language was quite messy—due to the numerous races, several historical shifts, and different tribes evolving their own unique vocabulary and styles, learning it all would be extremely time-consuming.

"I merely committed the knowledge to memory," Amelie shook her head. She indeed possessed an enormous amount of knowledge, but much of it had never been practically applied.

As the two spoke, the young man named Heraburo in the venue began his battle. His opponent was a member of the 'Weaving Rope School.'

'Weaving Rope School' (Verdant Nectar · Secret Word · Gold Steam): Weave threads into nets, knot ropes to record events. This school is renowned for threads, ropes, records, connections, and net-weaving. Its faction emblem is the 'Red Spider threading a rope.' Ranked nineteenth in the Alliance.

This opponent wielded a long whip soaked in special vines. When swung, the whip twisted and grew like a living creature, then split into six strands. Each strand moved with the agility of a venomous snake, spreading out in different directions to wrap around Heraburo's body, binding him tightly.

At that moment, the opponent raised his wrist, and the golden bracelet worn there shook, radiating a golden halo.

Following that, the tightly-wound whip changed texture, transforming from its previous plant-vine appearance into tough metal. Its strength instantly surged. Even though Heraburo possessed Beastman blood and could use the Breathing Technique, he struggled to break free, only to be bound tighter and tighter, unable to move.

"Very impressive. Not only is he skilled at controlling the vine whip, but he also utilizes the power of the 'Gold Steam' Aspect to enhance the vine's toughness." Sylutia praised.

"Hedra, impressive. You see it clearly at a glance," Amelie commented after hearing Sylutia's explanation.

Although she could understand what was happening in the arena, from such a distance, it was difficult for her to grasp the battle details at a glance like Sylutia. First, Sylutia had extensive combat experience, and second, she didn't possess Sylutia's keen perception.

The battle in the arena continued. Seeing that Heraburo was about to lose, he finally calmed down. Instead of struggling wildly, he suppressed his distracting thoughts and the interference of the tightly bound ropes, activating the magical abilities he had mastered.

A surge of blood-red aura rose from his body, then spread outward. After that, his only exposed hand—protruding from the binding ropes—raised and extended outward. A blast of scarlet gale swept forth.

【Bionics School · Blood Wolf Bite】 (Dire Wolf · Tear · Devour · Blood · Erosion)

A massive, agile crimson wolf materialized in the gale, then opened its maw wide, biting down on the ropes binding Heraburo. Dark-red flames spilled from the wolf's mouth, corroding the golden ropes, then tearing them apart.

Before long, Heraburo broke free and finally stood up again.

His opponent in the fight did not interrupt midway but waited until Heraburo was ready before swinging his long whip once more.

"Not bad at all! But the spell I'm about to use next will be much stronger. Are you ready?" As he finished the last word, the long whip in his hand slammed heavily onto the ground, then split into several emerald serpents charging toward Heraburo.

Facing the same attack as before, Heraburo was prepared. He raised his blood-streaked arm, his muscles instantly tensing as blood spurted outward.

【Bionics School · Tiger Blood Claw】 (Tiger · Strength · Blood · Claw · Sharpness)

A massive tiger claw materialized beside him, then lunged downward fiercely, piercing through the incoming vines, tearing them into several pieces that scattered on the ground.

From the distant viewing room, Sylutia saw this scene, and a flicker of surprise appeared in her eyes. This shouldn't be a traditional Bionics School spell. It seemed to incorporate some 'Blood Clan secret arts' along with Beastman Breathing Technique into a new skill. Its power was significantly stronger than the original version, but the side effect was blood consumption. Only someone with Heraburo's abundant vitality could execute it this way. If a frail, weak apprentice tried it, they'd probably become anemic and faint after two uses.

Blood Clan, Bionics School. She silently repeated these two terms in her mind, pondering how they were connected. It seemed she'd have to find an opportunity to visit Errimo College of the Bionics School later.

On the arena stage, the opponent wasn't concerned that his attack had failed. True experts didn't repeat the same moves—unless that move was really effective.

This time, he used the vine attack as a feint to cover his real killing move. After all, many powerful mage spells required preparation time and couldn't be cast instantly.

He had already dropped his whip. Both hands came together in front of him, where invisible golden threads wove. Then he chanted an Incantation to enhance the spell's power. By the time Heraburo had cut down all the attacking vines, he was ready.

His eyes suddenly widened, brilliant light shining from them. Following that, all the scattered vines instantly flew up, weaving swiftly through the air like threading a needle, forming an extremely orderly rope net that spread out before him like a massive wall.

The emerald vines intertwined with each other, forming an incredibly neat rope net, crisscrossing. Golden thread Patterns appeared on the ropes, constructing complex Runic spell structures within the mesh, continuously reinforcing its quality. When the sky-covering net was complete, golden currents occasionally traveled across it, appearing sacred, before pressing down like a cage.

【Weaving Rope School · Sealing Net】 (Rope · Net · Toughness · Isolation · Seal)

The massive net pressed down. Below, Heraburo once again used 'Tiger Blood Claw,' but despite its immense power, it only managed to tear apart a few strands of the net. The enormous net quickly repaired itself under the opponent's control, tightening again. The 'Seal' Rune structure also activated, suppressing Heraburo's Aspect, making it difficult for him to use his abilities or spells.

A few minutes later, with Heraburo trapped and unable to move, the referee declared the opponent's victory. The venue filled with applause.

"Didn't expect him to still lose," some spectators expressed slight disappointment. They had hoped for a turnaround.

"Haha, don't ask for too much. After all, he's a new student from the Western Mountain Range. His foundation is far behind. Just making it to the stage is already impressive. Catching up to his batch's elites at the academy would probably take him until fourth or fifth year," some mages evaluated.

"Speaking of which, the Bionics School has really declined. Rarely having a standout new student, yet he can't even beat the nineteenth-ranked 'Weaving Rope School.'"

"In the last academy competition, the 'Bionics School' ranked twenty-first. If they can't hold that position this time, they might be overtaken by the twenty-second-ranked 'Feast Ritual School.'"

"That would be quite awkward. After all, everyone knows most members of the 'Feast Ritual School' are chefs and gourmands who aren't good at fighting. If they can't even beat them, then the Bionics School really has no attractive strengths left."

"Yes, the current leader of the Bionics School is Master Glandor. He's over ninety now. Though not extremely old, there's no obvious successor within the school. Once Master Glandor and other veterans pass away, it's anyone's guess whether the Bionics School can survive."

"At the very least, they need a Sixth Tier master-level figure to hold things down, ensuring the 'Bionics School' doesn't fall outside the Alliance system and become one of those wandering minor factions."

"Looking at that new student's spells, they incorporate some 'Blood Clan' secret art characteristics. I wonder if this counts as an experiment. Looks like they're really desperate."

"Although the 'Bloodline' Aspect was convenient and effective in the early stages, its source has been contaminated. Nowadays, you almost never hear of anyone mainly cultivating the 'Bloodline' Aspect reaching the Sixth Tier."

"Even those Blood Clan members rely on 'Curses' to suppress the Aberrant Mother Nest's contamination erosion, afraid to lightly step into the 'Seventh Tier.'"

As the second match began, the mages' discussion gradually subsided, their attention and topics shifting to other matters.

Gradually, the newcomers' exhibition matches ended, and the festival entered its second half. Unlike usual, after the silver bell tolled, the attendees did not disperse for free activities or leave. Instead, they remained seated in their positions, because everyone knew that the true highlight of this Silver Bell Festival was just beginning.

"Now, I declare the triennial Academy Grand Competition officially begins!"