Nighttime, in the club activity room.
Thilan sat at her designated desk, one hand propping up her cheek, the other holding a pen, which she occasionally twirled. Every now and then, she would draw a stroke on the paper, unconsciously sketching the outline of a flower.
At this moment, she wasn’t pondering any profound life questions—she was simply relaxing and daydreaming. The flower she was sketching was the "Thilan," the namesake flower named by the elves.
It seemed like it had been a long time since she last wrote in her diary. Thilan twirled her pen, and beneath the black ink strokes resembling a flower’s calyx, she wrote the current date: June 2nd.
Since the start of this semester, she had been busy with many things—some related to the academy, others concerning her classmates and companions. In contrast, her own personal matters had taken a backseat.
Thinking back to this time last year, she should have still been working at Crystal Dream. It had to be said, top-tier academies like Edess Academy were truly paradises, shielding students from many worries and allowing them to focus entirely on their studies and advancement.
Recalling her time at Crystal Dream, vivid and lively figures flashed through her mind.
Standing up, she walked to the cabinet in the corner of the room, unlocked it, and took out a small black walnut violin.
Holding the violin, she returned to her seat and began to play Canon in D. This was the first piece she had ever practiced and the one she was most familiar with.
The melody wasn’t particularly complex, but each violinist played it differently depending on their mood and thoughts. It could sound light and uplifting, sorrowful and melancholic, or calm and soothing. The sheet music was just a standard template, but the fingers and voices of people were fluid. Even the same piece, when performed by different people, could reveal different kinds of beauty.
In the softly lit room, the black-clad girl sat on her chair, her slender back straight, her shoulders gently rising and falling with the movement of the bow. Her closed eyes fluttered slightly, and the blue ribbon in her hair swayed like a dark blue butterfly fluttering its wings in the night, slowly flying, immersing one in a serene dream.
After a long while, the music stopped, and the girl slowly opened her eyes, setting the violin down. Her fingers brushed over its cool surface, feeling the smooth and polished wood.
Picking up her pen again, she wrote in her notebook.
“Today, I played Canon again and remembered many things.”
“Mom, please don’t worry. Thilan isn’t as timid or insecure as she was when she was little.”
“But I still feel a bit nervous performing in front of many people.”
“It might take a few more years before I can become as amazing as my sister.”
After finishing her diary entry, she closed the notebook, hopped off her chair, put the violin away, and took one last look at the quiet room before turning off the lights and leaving.
By now, the club activity room was empty. After locking the door, she took the elevator down.
Once outside the building, she checked her personal terminal. The time read [20:31].
It wasn’t too late yet. Thinking that there wasn’t much to do back at her dorm, she suddenly felt like taking a walk outside. Although she had been in Southern 1st District for a while now, most of her time had been spent within the academy. The academy’s facilities were comprehensive, and the environment was beautiful. Plus, her studies and training had kept her busy. She wasn’t much of a shopper, so she hadn’t even walked the entire length of the main street outside Edess Academy.
Today, she decided to explore it.
She hailed an automated hovercar from within the academy and soon arrived at the main gate. Since the academy’s hovercars only operated within the campus, she got out and began walking.
The tall arched gate stood before her, flanked by statues of angels holding water jugs, their eyes closed. The statues faced each other, their robes entwined with vines, leaves, and flowers.
There weren’t many people coming in or out of the gate. Occasionally, she saw small groups of students heading out, but few were alone like her.
Once outside the academy, the main street stretched before her. On one side was the tall, transparent wall of the academy, and on the other were various shops, their lights bright and inviting. Occasionally, vehicles sped by, splashing water as they passed.
A light drizzle fell from the sky, dampening the ground. Some pedestrians carried umbrellas, while others used rain-repelling spells, walking effortlessly through the rain.
As she walked down the street, Thilan occasionally glanced at her personal terminal. The area near the academy was peaceful, and the shops along the street weren’t densely packed. She could see the offices of various companies and research institutes, and the night was quiet.
She would need to walk about two kilometers east to reach the more bustling commercial district.
After deciding on her destination, she put her terminal away and continued walking calmly through the rain, in no particular hurry. The sound of the rain and her footsteps were soothing.
With light steps, she occasionally glanced at the shops and the night scenery, walking at a leisurely pace until the golden, glittering buildings of the commercial district appeared at the end of the street.
This commercial area was much livelier. It housed not only the offices of many companies but also a variety of dining and entertainment venues. Standing at the base of the buildings, she could see men and women in suits or fashionable dresses riding the spiral escalators, slowly ascending the shopping mall. People passed by her, entering the mall.
As she stepped into the shopping mall, a wave of noise and activity greeted her, pulling the ethereal girl into the bustling world. Advertisements played, music echoed, and announcements from the staff mixed with the chatter of adults and children, the coughing of the elderly, the cries of babies, and the occasional bark of a pet.
Joining the crowd, she stood on the massive spiral escalator, slowly browsing the shops along the way. If something caught her eye, she would step inside for a closer look.
The first shop that caught her attention was a dessert and cold drink store.
- T5-grade "Xilan Fragrant Red Rice Cake," 300g, 99 Federation credits.
- T5-grade "Swirl Tri-color Ice Cream," 128g, 65 Federation credits.
- T5-grade "Crystal Green Pomelo Tea," 300ml, 42 Federation credits.
- ...
Most of the items in the store were T5-grade premium foods. The few T4-grade items were displayed on the top shelves of the cabinet.
- T4-grade "Yellow Maple Aroma," made from "Tisilan Maple Leaves," "Ice Essence Honey," and "Lulan Cream," was sweet and refreshing, capable of softening magical energy and alleviating the aftereffects of magical exertion.
- T4-grade "Orange Chiffon Cake," made from "Red Fragrant Oranges," "Foxfire Bird Eggs," and "Lulan Cream," could relieve fatigue and alleviate symptoms of blood deficiency.
- T4-grade "Jade Emerald Cake," made from "Heart Bamboo," "Qina Snow Beans," and "Moonlight Dew," could stabilize mental states, enhance magical perception, and increase the likelihood of success during advancement and training.
Compared to the T5-grade foods that ordinary people could still afford, the T4-grade foods with magical effects were much more expensive. The cheapest one costs 1,000 Federation credits.
In the past, Thilan would have been like most people passing by, admiring the exquisite T4-grade foods on the top shelves but ultimately settling for a T5-grade item.
Now, she could afford the T4-grade food boxes, but her ingrained spending habits still made her hesitate.
Seeing the girl lingering at the counter, a clerk walked over. Upon closer inspection of Thilan’s appearance, he was slightly surprised but then shook his head. He had worked here for years and had seen this situation many times. Many people admired the beautiful and effective products but were deterred by the high prices. Most wouldn’t buy them.
At this moment, the store manager noticed the situation and walked over. He glanced at Thilan and then at the food boxes on the top shelf.
"Which one do you like, miss? I can give you one as a gift."
"Huh?" The girl was slightly surprised and turned her head.
"Such a beautiful girl like you shouldn’t be troubled by something like this," the manager said as he took down a few of the food boxes and placed them in front of her.
"Pick one."
"For free?"
"Yes, just take a photo with the food box as a memento."
"Well, I think I’ll pass," the girl patted her chest, understanding the manager’s intentions.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I’ll pay for it myself," she said, picking up a box of "Orange Chiffon Cake" and heading to the checkout.
"Paying for it yourself? That’s fine too," the manager said, not particularly concerned. In his eyes, such a beautiful girl couldn’t possibly be short on money.
After paying, Thilan walked out of the store with her first self-purchased T4-grade food box. She found a quiet observation deck to sit down, placed the box on her lap, and opened it, revealing the brightly colored and enticing cake.
Using a fork, she carefully cut a small piece and placed it in her mouth. The smooth sweetness and orange fragrance spread, making her smile.
Swinging her legs lightly, she enjoyed the chiffon cake while overlooking the night scenery below, feeling a sense of melancholy.
In truth, she had eaten quite a bit of T4-grade food over the past year, but most of it had been given to her, treated by others, or provided for free. This was the first time she had bought it herself, which was why she felt a bit reluctant.
Perhaps it was because she hadn’t officially started earning money yet. The funds in her account mostly came from academy rewards—some for her advancements, some for her student council duties, and some from the club’s activity fund.
Although the amount seemed astronomical to her, it didn’t feel real since she hadn’t earned it herself.
If her sister were here, she would probably laugh at her, saying she was still too sensitive and advising her to read fewer psychology books.
But people are different. Now, she was beginning to understand the simplicity and depth of this statement. Everyone has their own preferred pace. She was, after all, herself, not Themisia.
Now, she no longer doubted or exhausted herself because of others’ opinions. She listened to her own heart, did what she wanted and believed was right, didn’t twist or deceive herself, and didn’t deny herself. She was becoming a frank and sincere person.