Exiting the train station, they found themselves in a vast and deep forest. The entire station roof and its surroundings were covered with fallen leaves, blending seamlessly into the environnt. Apart from the occasional chatter of students and the chirping of birds, there was no other sound.
"If you follow the road ahead, you'll co to the Academy," Yimi pointed down a cobblestone path leading into the woods.
"Thank you."
The trio then followed the crowd and made their way into the forest.
Sitting inside the train, the imrsion wasn't profound, but once on the road, Tilan l saw figures dressed predominantly as witches, with gray-blue or brown-black cloaks, so with witch hats, others with simple hoods, and here and there, an owl perched on soone's shoulder.
The path through the forest was short; the station was only 200 ters from the front gates of Tri-Phase Moon Academy. There stood the arching oak doors, on which the na of the Academy was inscribed in ancient text. On both sides of the gate, dense trees grew so tightly packed they resembled an impenetrable wall, protecting the interior of the campus. On either side of the great doors stood tall statues of knights.
The statues appeared to be a special kind of golem, emitting faint vibrations of magic power, guarding the gates. Inside the visors of the knight's armor, light occasionally swept through, scanning and recording unfamiliar faces.
When they reached the gate, Yimi and the other students stretched out their hands and pressed them against tallic globes on either side of the gate. The space in front of the gate rippled, allowing the students to pass through.
As for Tilan and l, they obviously couldn't enter this way. Instead, they walked to the nearby cabin and found a witch sitting inside, leisurely drinking tea.
"Do you need sothing?" asked the witch, noticing two girls not in the Academy uniform.
"This is the situation. We're here to visit a senior inside the Academy. This is a letter of introduction," Tilan handed over an envelope.
"I see..." The witch sat down her coffee cup, stood up, and took the envelope. She glanced over the writing on the surface and the secret pattern in the corner, then handed it back to Tilan.
"Co with , then. I heard just yesterday that soone would be visiting soon. Didn't expect it to be so quick." She picked up a set of chip cards and went to a nearby room. She instructed the two to stretch out their wrists for identity chip engraving. Afterwards, she handed them two visitor chip cards.
"Just press this against the copper spheres by the gate, and within a week, you'll have access to most of the buildings on the campus."
"Thank you," the two said and then bid farewell to enter the gates.
Indeed, upon pressing the cards against the copper balls, the space before the gate rippled, enveloping them and pulling them in.
After a mont of spatial distortion and a brief daze, they stepped onto the campus grounds. Looking back at the gate, it was now dozens of ters away. Inside the gate was like a whole new world: the sky was exceptionally clear, students walked among the ancient buildings scattered throughout the campus, and occasionally so transford into creatures, darting swiftly and nimbly through the woods.
"Welco to Tri-Phase Moon Academy. We are drears seeking 'fairy-tale fantasy'-like transcendent power, the children of those who admire the legends of the thirteen Great Witches, the 'Original Heart' Faction representing another aspect of spirit—not seeking collective emotional resonance but pursuing the most spirited individuality."
Yimi stood behind the gate, on the stone plaza, bent at the waist, raising her skirt slightly to welco them.
Each Academy has its own motto and welco speech, often reflecting the Academy's essence. After the sowhat formal welco was over, Yimi pulled Tilan and l towards the interior of the campus.
Before them lay a broad plaza paved with interlocking stones, surrounded by various huts selling items that students needed, such as witch hat shops in various styles, mysterious divination props shop, shops for ancient tos and casual reading, pet shops with owls, all manner of cats, crows, snakes, ritual supplies stores, and candy dessert sweet shops, among others.
The shops had a diverse range of decorative styles, each with a fantastical flair. Inside so were antique chanical puppets that moved or store attendants made of silver and gold tal statues, and more.
Walking among them felt like being transported to the distant third epoch, as if plunged into a world of fantasy.
Yimi introduced the shops one by one, enthusiastic about the usual activities, while l asked questions like a curious child, her eyes filled with anticipation and envy as she looked at Yimi, giving the young witch a great sense of satisfaction.
Tilan looked around curiously, taking in the environnt and the students.
Most of the students were around Sequence 4, which was considered exceptional among their peers, second only to the top six Academies and likely ranked within the top ten in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain.
Moreover, observing the transcendent professions and spells the students practiced, it was clear they were quite distinct from the mainstream, giving off an unusual and special vibe.
With so many novel things to see, l lingered, fascinated. However, noticing it was approaching noon, Tilan thought it was ti to find a place to eat. They could rest for a bit, and then visit the director of Tri-Phase Moon Academy in the afternoon.
"A place to eat?" Upon hearing the girl's request, Yimi thought for a mont and then led the two in a direction deeper into the forest.
Soon, they arrived at a 'great tree.' Calling it a great tree was an understatent, as the tree's side was flanked by a wood-columned round restaurant that matched its height. The structure of the restaurant seed as if it had grown right out of the tree but was also distinct and neatly crafted, like a man-made piece, possessing a tidy beauty.
Reviews
All reviews (0)