Cornflower Witch

Chapter 356 First Arrival in Asura

The train sped along the tracks, passing through perfectly flat fields. The scenery outside the window was exceptionally magnificent, with the fields forming neat squares, alternating between light yellow and green.

A day has passed since departure, and the new students in the carriage have passed their initial excitement. Except for a few who are still chatting with their companions, they have quieted down now.

Some people leaned against the table to sleep, while others took out the books they had brought, leaned back in their seats, and opened them to pass the time.

Hilti had thought that other freshmen would come to her seat, but to her surprise, a day after the train departed, the seat next to her was still empty, as if the ticket for that seat had been given to her alone.

She leaned against the car window, covered herself with a thin blanket, then tilted back slightly, closed her eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The car swayed as it sped along, occasionally making a clanging sound, but this environment helped many new students adapt, and many were able to fall asleep and rest as they would in a normal environment.

Two days later, the train stopped in a town along the way to replenish fuel and food. The new students could also get off and move around. The station was built on a hillside outside the town, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.

After putting on a warm knitted shawl, Hiltiya put on her little leather shoes and got off the train. Stepping onto the stone-paved station ground, she could see various wildflowers growing at the foot of the steps after taking a few steps forward.

"Finally out! I've been going crazy these past two days!" Some freshmen ran to the edge of the steps and shouted to vent their frustration, then jumped down, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Some other freshmen followed suit, jumping off the steps that were more than a meter high and running and walking on the grass below. The station staff did not stop them when they saw this.

Hiltiya walked to the edge of the steps, looked into the distance, and smelled the fresh scent of grass and trees, which improved her mood considerably.

"Hello, my name is Atali. May I introduce myself?" A girl wearing a light green embroidered long dress walked over, accompanied by a male companion.

"Hello, I am Hedra." Hiltiya nodded slightly and looked at the two of them.

Judging from her clothes and her confident and generous manner when she greeted people, Xilutiya guessed that the other party came from a well-off family.

Sure enough, the other party began to introduce her family background and origins. It turned out that she was a noblewoman from the border country of Servis, and her father was the duke of the country. The man beside her was also the son of the count of Servis.

"Where is Miss Hedra from?" the other person asked curiously, scrutinizing the young woman with his deep emerald eyes.

“I come from the commercial capital of the far south, the port city of Quebec,” Hilutia introduced herself softly, placing her hand on her chest.

"So it's such a remote place?" The two were slightly curious, and then began to ask questions and talk.

From their conversation, Hiltiya gradually learned about Servis. It was a country within the Mage Alliance. Although nobles held a higher status than ordinary people, they did not have supreme power like in other kingdoms. They were more like wealthy people with stable incomes. Most of the country's violent institutions and army were directly controlled by personnel from the Mage Alliance. Nobles could also serve as high-ranking officers, but their mobilization and large-scale operations required orders from the Mage Alliance.

"What are the customs and traditions like in the Shangdu Union?" They were very interested in the country that Hiltiya had mentioned.

“There…” Hilti recounted her experiences and feelings over the past six months, gradually integrating information about her background into a familiar introduction template.

The three of them strolled and chatted for a long time by the station, gradually becoming acquainted. Atari even invited Hilti to visit her home during a future holiday.

"Thank you," the girl said. Just then, the departure bell rang at the station, indicating that supplies had been replenished.

The three returned to the carriage, and Hilti noticed that they were all in the same carriage. However, Atari had been sitting behind her, so she didn't recognize her immediately.

The train started moving again, billowing steam as it sped into the distance. In the last few carriages, there was now a small, thin figure. She hid in a carriage filled with miscellaneous items, locked herself in a box, hugged her knees, and slowly fell asleep.

three days later.

"Final destination, Asura Campus, has been reached."

A clear female voice came from the brass microphone inside the carriage. At this moment, the train slowly braked and finally came to a stop, accompanied by a heavy transmission sound.

After the thick steam dissipated, what was revealed outside the window was the bustling station and the tall clock tower in the distance, with many people wearing autumn and winter coats coming and going.

The air was a bit chilly. Just a few days ago, Hiltiya was by the warm Meteor Lake, but now she had to wear a thick coat.

Following the crowd off the bus, Hiltiya stood on the rocky ground, carrying her suitcase. She looked up and gazed into the distance. The sky was slightly gray, and the dense crowd around her made her feel dazed, as if she had returned to the bustling city where she worked in her previous life.

Fortunately, the occasional fantastical creatures flying overhead broke the reverie and memories.

Like countless other new students arriving in Asura, she slowly made her way to the registration area and waited in line with the other expectant and hesitant students.

During the process, I experienced a long-lost emotion, and many forgotten things slowly came back to mind, such as scenes from my school days when I was young in a previous life.

What would it feel like to look back on the past after so much time has passed? What would it be like to relive one's youth? There would probably be some nostalgia, and also a touch of sadness. Even standing amidst a vibrant crowd, there's a sense of knowing that the flowers will eventually fade and wither away.

Ah, why am I being so sentimental? Hilti shook her head, lightly tapping her brow with her finger to focus her attention on the present situation.

Here you can see new students from different places. Some of them, like her, come from distant foreign lands, while others are students from within the Mage Alliance, because their clothing style is obviously similar to that of the locals. There are also many orcs of various shapes and sizes, some tall and mighty, and others petite and thin.

Hiltiya then saw several new students with small curved horns or tails walking by. What intrigued her was that there were very few lizardmen and elves here, quite different from the woodlands in the south.

After waiting in line for half an hour, it was finally Hilti's turn. She took out her letter of recommendation, which the staff checked and handed her a stamped slip of paper and a booklet.

"Room 4, No. 109, Narcissus Street, that will be your accommodation. Please report to the nearby No. 89 school within a week. If you encounter any questions in your life, please refer to this booklet, which contains the answers."

"Okay, next one."

Taking the things handed to her, Hilti walked out, like many other bewildered and curious freshmen, leaving the station and coming out onto the street.

On the road, you can see many steam-powered vehicles coming and going, as well as pedestrians on horseback. Occasionally, you can also see a few special beasts that are similar in size to lions, with curved horns and sharp claws.

“Students heading to Crab Claw Lotus Street, please come here. For just one silver coin, we can take you to your accommodation and even help you carry your luggage.” A man in a shirt called out from a short distance away by the roadside.

"Want to learn the secrets to saving money and avoiding pitfalls for new students? Here's a book for just 3 silver coins, absolutely great value for money."

"Free lessons in standard Mandarin to help you correct bad pronunciation habits and stop teachers and classmates from discriminating against you!"

"A warm wool blanket is an essential item for living in Asura. Whether it's during breaks or at night, it's your best companion. It only costs 10 silver coins."

As she walked out of the park, Hiltiya saw many vendors hawking their wares. She looked around and found a vehicle that could take her to Narcissus Street.

This black steam locomotive is about three meters tall and can seat six people. There is space for luggage in the back and below.

Is this the bus to Narcissus Street?

"Yes, miss, it will only take one silver coin to get you there."

“Okay.” Hiltiya took out a silver coin and handed it to the other party. After putting away their luggage, a few young people of similar age to the girl got into the car not long after.

The six people quickly gathered, and then the driver came over, used the bent connecting rod to crank the engine, started the vehicle, and with a roar, the vehicle drove forward.

They didn't drive fast at first because the area around the station was very crowded. But once they left that area, the view suddenly opened up. Hilti, holding her small suitcase, looked at the various shops along the way, her hair blowing in the wind, and took in the bustling street scene.

This place not only has many luxury clothing and jewelry stores found only in big cities, but also rare bookstores, oil painting shops, flower shops, small alchemy workshops, shops specializing in gemstones, real estate agents who help you find accommodation, perfume shops, and rare flower shops of all kinds, and so on.

The street was filled with a large number of young people, nearly 90% of whom were extraordinary individuals, each radiating their own unique characteristics and power. Occasionally, one could even spot professionals of the third rank or higher. Even some pets possessed different rank characteristics, which was quite intriguing.

Strands of hair, reflecting the afternoon sun, fell on the girl's face, fluttering occasionally. Her beautiful appearance aroused the curiosity of her companions in the car, but at this moment, the group was somewhat reserved like students and did not come up to ask directly.

Half an hour later, the vehicle stopped, and the driver helped Siltia unload her light luggage.

"This is No. 109 Narcissus Street. You can take the letter and go there to report."

"Thank you." The girl bowed in thanks, then picked up her suitcase and walked into the building's lobby.

The ground was paved with polished stone, which was a bit old but still clean, though the overall lighting was a little dim.

Since it's a place for new students to live, it's generally not too luxurious in order to save money.

After inquiring at the front desk, a woman soon came over and led Siltia to the third floor of the building. She then opened the door to a room that housed four people, but the others had not yet arrived.

After receiving the key, Hilti looked around the dormitory. It was divided into four rooms: the middle room was a living room/dining room, which was also used for reading and studying; the right side was the bedroom with four single beds; and the left side was the kitchen and bathroom.

The environment is quite nice, somewhat reminiscent of my old university dorm, but much more spacious, and the bedroom has good natural light.

After putting down her luggage, Hilti made her bed. The sheets and pillows were new, so she didn't need to buy any extra.

Lying in bed, resting with her eyes closed for a while, Xilutiya stood up, wondering if she should go and look around to familiarize herself with the surroundings, when there was another knock on the door. Amidst the familiar explanations of the dormitory aunt, a girl with a cool and aloof expression walked in.

She has beautiful silver-gray hair, with her bangs just past her earlobes, revealing faintly visible mercury earrings, while her hair grows to her waist. She wears an exquisite short dress with indigo as the main color, and holds a plush doll in her arms, making her look slightly cute and preventing her temperament from being too sharp and cold.

"Hedra, this is your new roommate, her name is Aurora. You two should get along well." After explaining for a while, the dorm supervisor handed the key to the newcomer, Aurora, and then left.

Now the two of them sat alone on chairs in the living room, and the room suddenly became quiet.

The other person didn't seem to be the type to be sociable or to initiate conversation, so Hiltiya had to take the initiative and try.

"Hello, I'm a freshman from Southern Business City Union. And you?"

“Aurora, from the Great Elor District.” Her frosty blue eyes stared intently at Hilti, unmoving, as if trying to see right through the girl.

This made Hilti a little uneasy, occasionally glancing down at her clothes to see if there was anything wrong with them.

To be honest, Aurora is a 'Hibernation' type of superhuman. She has had very little contact with such superhumans in the past. Unfortunately, when she took the initiative to speak, the other party's answers were all very brief. She didn't know if they were not interested or were simply indifferent.

The room gradually fell silent until the third new student arrived.

Even before reaching the door, Hilti heard a noisy commotion.

"Yes, yes, that thing takes four people to lift, and we have to be careful not to break it." The voice was pleasant to listen to, like tender flower petals unfolding in a summer breeze.

Upon opening the door, Hilti saw a girl with beautiful blonde hair. She seemed to radiate a certain aura, and the aura emanating from her instantly dispelled the chill of the dormitory, making it pleasant.

This was the second time that Hilti had felt this way. The last person to give her this feeling was Florella, the elven young lady from a distant continent.

"Hello, my name is Luo Weier." She gently pressed her slender white fingers against the large, transparent gold gemstone on her chest, which was about the size of a goose egg. Then she blinked and glanced at the furnishings in the room.

"They're all pretty ordinary, but that's within my expectations."

After that, she stepped aside to let the twenty-odd people carrying luggage behind her walk in.

"Change my bed, and clean the entire dormitory room, replacing the porcelain, tablecloth, carpet, and paintings I brought with it."

"Yes, Miss Luo Wei'er." The people immediately complied.

Faced with the congested environment, Sylvia and Aurora had to back out first, and at that moment, Lowell waved to them.

"You two are my roommates, right?" She moved closer, looked them over carefully, and then nodded.

"They all look great and suit my aesthetic."

"If we live together from now on, just tell me what you need. I'll have 1000 gold coins as pocket money every month, which will allow us to live a very relaxed and happy life."

Upon hearing this, Hilti covered her mouth slightly, opening her mouth in surprise, while Aurora beside her was much calmer, simply nodding and then looking at the doll in her arms, slowly stroking it, lost in thought.

Half an hour later, the three returned to the dormitory. It had been thoroughly cleaned and tidied. Not only were the walls and floors spotless and brand new, but even some old and damaged areas had been completely repaired using some unknown method, making it look exceptionally clean.

The living room was covered with a white carpet with a black frame, and the table was covered with a snow-white embroidered tablecloth. On it was a vase with chrysanthemums and a small gold alarm clock. In addition, the bedroom was completely renovated, especially one of the beds, which was replaced with a luxurious princess bed in pink and gold, decorated with light gauze and pink pleats. A gorgeous wardrobe was also added to one side of the bed, filled with all kinds of expensive and beautiful dresses.

The three of them familiarized themselves with the surroundings once more. With Luo Wei'er joining them, the conversation gradually became more lively. At this moment, Luo Wei'er seemed to remember something and found an exquisite golden cage among the various suitcases displayed to the side. She used the key hanging from her necklace to open it, and then Xilutiya heard a soft meow.

A chubby golden shaded cat, held by Luo Weier, came to the two of them.

"This is my cat. It's a bit lazy, but very cute. Its name is Ranran."

Luo Weier picked it up by its front paws. The round-faced cat let out a lazy meow, then snuggled into Luo Weier's arms and lay down. After rubbing against her a few times and stretching, its slightly open paws hooked onto the chest of Luo Weier's dress. Fortunately, the girl had anticipated this and pressed down on the cat's paws, removing them.

"No, Ranran, thankfully everyone here is a girl. If you did that outside, I'd have to skip feeding the cat one less meal." She scolded the cat while hugging it.

Then she put the cat on the table so it could meet its two new roommates.

"From now on, Hedra and Aurora will be your new roommates. Listen to them as you would listen to me." After saying that, she gently shook one of the cat's paws in greeting to the two of them.

"From now on, we're friends, Hedra, Aurora~" Her sweet voice could melt anyone's heart. If the two were boys, they would probably be captivated by this young lady very quickly. Not only her temperament, appearance, and family background, but this Lady Luo was also a rare find in this world.

(End of this chapter)