"Hey, check out this kick!"
On the grass dew-clad, children chased each other as the rotating soccer ball flipped through the air, splattering mud when it bounced, then getting kicked out, hurtling forcefully forward.
High above, the densely packed daylight lamps shone down, making the space station's soccer field as bright as if in broad daylight.
Around the outskirts of the field were several VIP rooms with views overlooking the entire pitch. During matches, these rooms ca at a high price, but since it was just a free training session now, there was no cost involved.
In one of the rooms, Tilan and her companions, along with their teacher, were present. They had played a round of tennis with students who ca for a joint activity from Monthly Command Academy that afternoon and were now resting in this room.
Sitting on a hardwood bench, Tilan untied the sports shoes on her feet and switched to breathable cotton slippers, imdiately feeling much more comfortable. Today, she wore a black sports T-shirt and shorts that allowed for ease of movent, her long black hair pulled up simply, giving off a distinct lively, youthful vibe.
Since it was a friendly tennis match, no one used any transcendent abilities, just a simple back and forth of the ball, moving the body and allowing for so basic exchange.
"Would you like a drink, Sister Tilan?" Wei Ke squatted in front of Tilan, who was bent down, showing her the drinks he was holding. Among them were two flavors of tea, a bottle of cranberry juice drink, and an electric energy replenishing beverage.
"I'll have this one." Tilan casually chose a tea she hadn't tried before, twisted off the cap, and took small sips.
After selecting for Tilan, Wei Ke continued offering drinks to everyone else in the room. Aside from the students from Edith Academy, there were also students from Monthly Command Academy, dressed in white and light green sports T-shirts, three boys and five girls, eight in total.
Monthly Command Academy was one of the top high schools in the Purple Distant Grass Star Domain, roughly akin to one of the Six Renowned Schools of Four-leaf Crystal. Li Qingfei was a student there, and she was also in the room, her legs dangling in the air as she sat on a low cabinet, sipping on green plum juice occasionally glancing at Tilan, who was seated not far away with her back to her.
anwhile, the teachers from the two academies were sitting together conversing, occasionally erupting into flattering laughter. It could be said that the atmosphere was harmonious, full of mutual comndation.
...
"Monthly Command Academy truly deserves its reputation as a school with a history spanning hundreds of years, always visible as winners in various interstellar competitions every year."
"Oh, please, Edith Academy also has deep roots. Even here in Purple Distant Grass Star Domain, I've heard quite a bit of news about your academy."
The adults' conversation was filled with courtesy, while the students were slightly colder toward each other. This wasn't because there were conflicts between the two sides, but simply because they were sowhat unfamiliar with each other and there was no standout individual to break the ice.
"Efnie, it's rare for you to co to the Purple Distant Grass Star Domain, I wonder if you have ti tonight? We could all take a walk around the space station's external corridor. I've heard there's a really nice botanical garden in Sector B3," a blond young man was making conversation with Efnie, wearing a green and white sports T-shirt, clearly a student from Monthly Command Academy.
"I'll have to ask the others about that. Is everyone from your team planning to visit the botanical garden?" Efnie asked while casually brushing her hair, responding comfortably.
Being approached by strangers was sothing she, as a young mistress, had almost grown up with, and she was more than familiar with such situations. While she used to reject such approaches with pride and coldness, she had beco sowhat more amiable.
"Of course, I think the botanical garden is well worth a visit." The blond young man put on an air as if everyone agreed with him, but in Efnie's eyes, several people from Monthly Command Academy already looked disdainful and annoyed, though they refrained from interrupting him due to the image of the school.
"What do you think, Efnie? We're leaving in a couple of days, and since it's rare for us to co here, I think it would be nice to go out and see," he asked again, seemingly eager to secure the plan.
"We'll talk about it later, let rest for a bit first," Efnie waved him off, taking the drink Wei Ke had passed her and walking away to sit next to Tilan.
Compared to Tilan, who appeared neat as if she hadn't exercised at all, Efnie was a bit sweaty. After sitting down, she lifted her collar to let in so air and then took a hearty sip of her drink.
"Whew—" After finishing the drink, Efnie exhaled deeply, feeling much more comfortable.
"So, what do you think about going out tonight?" She might not have liked the blond young man, but she understood that the higher-ups from both schools were eager to use this chance to increase interaction and mutual exchange. After all, there was no rivalry between the two schools, but plenty to learn from each other.
"Let's check it out, I'm a bit curious," Tilan said, untying the hairband at the back of her head to smooth out her hair, mussed from the activity, before tying it up again.
The Purple Distant Grass Star Domain contained three inhabited planets and was considered a large star domain with a population exceeding ten billion, roughly two to three tis that of Four-leaf Crystal. Many were the descendants of Easterners with black hair and black eyes, and Monthly Command Academy was their representative. Of the eight students participating in this exchange, six had Eastern heritage.
"Then I'll just let everyone know," Efnie nodded upon Tilan's decision.
In truth, from Edith Academy's perspective, as long as Tilan agreed, no one else would refuse. Being the student council president, the songstress, the champion, the spiritual figure of the academy, if she decided on sothing, the other students really couldn't find a reason to go against her; moreover, many of them were fans and followers of Tilan.
Once they agreed to go for an informal outing that evening, both groups of students finally found so common ground, chattily setting up the ti and suggesting to dine together first that evening, and subsequently talked about each other's schools.
"In our academy, there is a unique tradition of giving titles to the 24 strongest students in all areas. Qing Fei is the holder of the 'Qing Ming' title."
"The twenty-four solar terms?" An inford Edith student asked.
"That's right. Do you know about it too? I assud only Easterners were familiar."
"I've heard about it vaguely, after all, Dantalion, ahem, has Eastern ancestry."
"Sigh, does Miss Dantalion also have Eastern heritage? I thought there was no relation when I heard the na. Black hair and black pupils aren't exclusive to Easterners; other ethnicities also have them, but in the Interstellar Era, cultures have long since rged, and the differences in ethnic styles are very small."
"Yes, Miss Dantalion is indeed quite knowledgeable in this area." Saying this na always feels sowhat awkward for students of Edith Academy since they wouldn't normally address her that way in private. It's only because there were outsiders present today that they deliberately used this formal title.
After agreeing on a ti and place, this tennis sports exchange ca to a temporary close, and everyone returned to their lodgings to rest.
At night, after changing into casual or attractive clothes, the students of both academies t once again. This ti, the venue was a classical restaurant within the space station.
White marble pavilions and corridors, twining vines and fresh flowers, white checkered tablecloths, and a feast of sumptuous dishes—the restaurant's environnt was quite pleasant.
All seventeen students from both parties sat down at two adjacent tables. Taking balance and atmosphere into consideration, Efnie and Tilan were placed at different tables, though their seats were quite close to each other.
The students' dinner did not involve much formality. Everyone introduced themselves and their skills briefly before the al began.
Using conversation about the restaurant's decor, dishes, and desserts as icebreakers, the two groups slowly beca more familiar with each other during the al.
Discussions of academy life and customs ensued throughout the course of the al.
"The style of Edith Academy is very Western, seemingly a combination of Elf style and rcury style."
"Necromancy and Rose, yes." The Academy's students openly admitted this, as they were already accustod to it, given that few Transcendents study the Withering Sequence.
"Does Miss Dantalion usually interact with skeletons and such?"
The students of Monthly Command Academy asked with a hint of curiosity. To them, the girl dressed in a black evening gown that evening seed as elegant and generous as the daughters of dukes and marquises from ancient tis. It was hard to imagine such a girl experinting with skeletons in laboratories.
"Not often, the direction of the Withering Sequence is vast and skeletal related studies are actually a minority. However, I have indeed studied related subjects, as I once considered attending dical school in junior high." She ate her al in small bites as she answered the question.
"Withering Sequence, I rember many are physicians, wizards, researchers, and few are adept at close combat." A girl across the table remarked.
The conversation shifted to Monthly Command Academy, where, according to the students, their school holds various assessnts and competitions throughout the year. The winners receive corresponding climatic titles.
"Qing Fei is really amazing. She's only in her third year now and has already obtained one of the most prestigious titles, stronger than many fourth-year seniors," one girl said enviously.
"She truly is impressive," Tilan chid in with praise.
"Did Qing Fei learn her swordsmanship at school, or was it through so other ans?" She looked toward the quiet girl across the table during dinner.
"My father taught so, and I've learned a lot at school too," the girl answered, sitting up a bit straighter.
"My father belongs to 'Yanyu Lodge,' an ancient Transcendent Faction from the East and one of the sponsors of Monthly Command Academy. Sotis, a master from them, located in the Purple Distant Grass Star Domain, would co to give lectures at our academy," she explained the origin of her studies.
"'Yanyu Lodge'…" Tilan murmured in thought, feeling as if she had heard the na sowhere before.
Right, Audrey had ntioned it before. 'Yanyu Lodge' is also one of the legacy factions of the White Phoenix Hong Hu, though not as well-developed as the faction Audrey was part of.
It was likely established by the descendants of one of the ancient Thirty-Six Upper Sects, 'White Dew Seven Pavilion Lodge,' but like most descendants of the Upper Gates, its glory had diminished compared to the past.
"Speaking of which, much of the swordsmanship I've learned is inherited from the Qing Luan lineage," Tilan ntioned her swordsmanship lineage, which she rarely does in front of outsiders.
"Qing Luan?" Li Qingfei raised her head, clearly surprised at the ntion of the na.
After all, the Crane Lineage mostly consists of the Natural Sequence, and if Tilan had ntioned an inheritance from the Crane lineage, she wouldn't have been as shocked.
"Yes." Tilan lifted the sleeve of her blue-black dress and dabbed her finger in a bit of water, then simply sketched in the air. A phantom bird made of watery trails took flight.
The spirit and aura of the bird, rare in both its loftiness and freshness, matched the recorded temperant of Qing Luan, allowing recognition at a glance.
"This… then there's no mistake," Li Qingfei said slowly, nodding as she watched the water-crafted phoenix soar.
She then ford her own phoenix from water mist. However, this vapor-ford bird was more ethereal, like wisps of smoke, appearing and disappearing, straddling the line between illusion and reality.
"A legacy from Hong Hu," Tilan acknowledged the other girl's heritage without question.
During the ancient tis, the relationship between the various crane lineages was good, and even now, when separated across distant regions, spotting a kindred lineage still invoked a sense of kinship.
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