The Rebirth of Evelyn Knox

It didn't take long before it was already the day of the deadline to submit their choice of class.

Evelyn didn't know if Cecilia really didn't have anything to do, or if she just wanted to make sure everything went off without a hitch on her side, but she showed up at her door today as well, just like she had done so every morning since she started living in this White Lily Palace.

"Good morning, Evelyn~! Are you ready to submit your choices?"

The pink haired girl nodded as they exited the White Lily Palace and headed towards the Hall of Merits.

Cecilia bit her lip and hesitated for a while, recalling the choice Evelyn had told her she intended to make earlier. She knew she shouldn't push her friend too much, but in the end she couldn't help but ask what was on her mind. "Is it still the same as before?"

Evelyn nodded. "Right. I'm still going with the artifact formation."

It was not that the artifact formation class was unpopular. In fact, within the maker's mansion, the artifact formation class received the most students in the first year, even exceeding alchemy!

But the demographic of the students in these classes differed greatly.

This was because most of the students who ended up picking the artifact formations class were commoners who didn't know any better.

After all, wasn't it a no brainer when they considered how expensive and amazing the artifacts were when compared to pills and potions? Why would they go with anything else?

Unfortunately, reality would slap them in the face soon after, as they would fail to create even a single grade one artifact in an entire year. 

It was still fine while they used the academy's resources to learn, but once each of their failures started costing them money once they left the academy, wouldn't their future be truly bleak?

So it was no wonder that almost everyone who picked this class ended up regretting it deeply, and they made no secret of their regret, to the point where even Cecilia had heard dozens of students moan and groan about how they would happily sell half their soul just to switch to design or apothecary.

The ash blonde decided to make one last effort to steer her friend off of the harsh path she intended to take. "I mean, there's still some time. It's not too late yet! Once you really apply for artifact formation, there's no going back!"

Evelyn knew why Cecilia was so 'against it', but she had only made her choice after careful thought. Even if she couldn't bear the consequences later, she would blame no one but herself. "Don't worry about it so much, Cecilia. I won't regret the choice I made."

Cecilia could only groan tiredly as she watched them get closer to the hall of merits with dread.

The pink haired girl sighed, deciding to try and cheer her up a little. "Since my best friend is already going to be a master in alchemy, won't she be able to help me with any pills and potions I need anyway?"

Cecilia's earlier disapproval immediately disappeared as a smile bloomed on her face. "Ehehehe, when you think of it that way, it makes sense! Don't worry, no matter what you need in the future, as long as I can make it, I'll do it for you for free! No, even if I can't make it, I'll help you get it!"

Evelyn chuckled. "Fufu… Alright. Then, in exchange, how about I make you an artifact perfectly suited for you?"

The ash blonde stared at her in surprise. "Ehh, are you so confident, Evelyn?"

Although there was no way for her to be really sure, Evelyn decided that the added pressure from such a 'commitment' would only motivate her to grow faster, so she made the promise without hesitation. "Of course, just look forward to it."

Cecilia smiled. "I will, then. You better not forget!"

After arriving at the hall of merits, Evelyn's submission was promptly processed, and she was informed of her class timing as well as the names of her professors.

Evelyn sighed in disappointment as they headed back to the White Lily Palace. 'There's no 'Aurora' among the list of my professors. Shame, she was the one I was most curious about after Cecilia mentioned her. But I guess it's not strange, considering she's supposedly one of the oldest and strongest ones here, probably.'

On the other hand, Cecilia felt a lot more relaxed after Evelyn's choices were made final. Perhaps she really had been worrying a bit too much. 

Anyway, despite all her warnings, she believed that Evelyn would do well in whatever field she picked. After all, it was her belief in her talent that drew her to befriend her in the beginning, and that belief had never once been shaken.

Cecilia did sometimes wonder if she was too arrogant. After all, in all these years, only Evelyn had managed to meet her 'minimum' requirements to becoming friends. Which was to have the same or higher level of talent as compared to herself, and also be someone pleasant to be around.

Of course, once she did befriend Evelyn, her sincerity to the pink haired girl was as genuine as can be. Even if later her friend couldn't bloom fully in terms of talent, they would still remain friends forever. Although there would always be a thorn in Cecilia's heart if she could never see Evelyn's talents realized.

Cecilia hoped that she would shine as brightly in the sky as the moon and the stars, but who can tell what the future holds?

==========

That night, two dark, cloaked figures stealthily headed out from the southern forbidden city and entered the canyon protected by the sentinels. If anyone had spotted them, they would surely commend them for their daring to enter that horrific place when it was already dark.

Even one of the cloaked figures was having her own doubts about their venture. "Are you sure this is a good idea, professor Dane?"

The taller figure snorted in contempt. "Hmph. The headmaster may use the academy's resources as he pleases, I don't have any complaints about that. But can he prevent us from doing things on our own?"

His companion shook her head. "I'm not saying we're in the wrong. Not putting enough effort to recover the Helion Chain as well as our student… it pisses me off as well. But we'll be breaking the rules if we really go against the headmaster's orders, right?"

The man's voice remained nonchalant. "So?"

The woman couldn't help but get a little nervous as she looked around, making sure they weren't being followed before speaking. "I mean… when students break the rules, their punishment is decided by the professors, but if we professors break the rules, the one to decide our 'punishment'… wouldn't it be Aurora?"

The man nodded. "Of course, but so what? Since when has she cared for anyone or anything but herself, anyway? All she does is stare at that lake, day and night. I don't even know why she meddled in this matter to begin with." 

The female professor also agreed with his statement, and felt a lot calmer when she thought about it. "Right… she probably won't care…"

The man smiled as they finally crossed the valley protected by the two sentinels. "Anyway, we're just going to try our luck and see if we can find either the Helion Chain or Craig before dawn. There's no punishment even if someone finds out. Let's just—"

Just as they had stepped barely a foot into the 'Wonderland of Doom', however, they felt a presence behind them that sent chills down their spines.

With the two sentinels standing guard, it definitely couldn't be an enemy, but for a moment they really wished it was.

The two of them turned around stiffly, and as expected, a petite platinum blonde haired girl was staring at them coldly. 

"M-Miss Aurora…"

"W-What a coincidence. Professor Dane and I were just taking a stroll—"

There was no sneer on her face, nor did use a condescending tone of voice, yet, her words somehow made the two professors feel like lesser beings. "Is this a place you come to relax often?"

The two of them stared at each other, perplexed. With their level, it really wasn't hard for them to survive in this forest, or they wouldn't so confidently go out to look for Craig and the Helion Chain by themselves.

But to call the 'Wonderland of Doom' a nice place to take a stroll was really too big of a stretch.

Seeing how they remained silent, Aurora tilted her head, as if curious. "Are you dissatisfied with the academy's instructions?"

The two professors gulped. When Aurora remained silent and aloof, the professors would often express their dissatisfaction with her, but when she really confronted them… How could they face her on equal terms, knowing that they hadn't even been born when she was already at the peak of her strength?

The two of them shook their heads hurriedly in denial. "N-No…"

Their behavior was quite similar to the daring students who could badmouth their professors behind their back, but once their deeds were discovered, they became as meek as a mouse, apologizing endlessly.

Aurora frowned, and the two professors felt like things were about to get worse. "Would you like to fight and see if the two of you together can last for more than ten seconds against me? If you can, I'll let you go."