School Festival Day

The morning sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a warm golden glow on the main avenue of the college.

(The next 11 chapters feature many extra characters, and since some readers may not recognize them, it might be a bit difficult to read. Therefore, I will update this part more frequently each day. Also, I'd like to ask everyone, how many of you want me to finish this as soon as possible, and how many of you want me to write more? (⊙o⊙))

The roadside was already set up. Colorful tents and stalls stretched along the road, and colorful flags fluttered gently in the breeze.

There were quite a few people, but it wasn't crowded. Students walked in twos and threes, chatting and laughing quietly, or pausing in front of the stalls. There were no noisy shouts, only a subtle, restrained liveliness, like a warm undercurrent, making this autumn morning exceptionally peaceful.

Passing by a slightly open grassy area, I saw several students setting up a makeshift stage. The backdrop featured an exaggerated castle and forest, painted in vibrant colors.

In a corner of the stage, Feibi sat at a small table.

She had long, golden, curly hair styled in a half-ponytail with neat, straight bangs framing her face. Her face was soft and slightly chubby. She wore a large, white, wide-brimmed hat adorned with a blue laurel wreath on top.

In front of her was a large bowl of vibrant green salad. The leaves were fresh and tender, adorned with tiny white flowers and some kind of dark green herb.

Feibi held her fork slowly, picking up a leaf and putting it in her mouth. After chewing a couple of times, her brows furrowed, her lips turned down, and her eyes quickly reddened.

"Waaah..."

She sobbed softly, her fork unconsciously stabbing at the salad in her bowl.

"Goddess... do you really like this kind of thing...?"

Her voice was soft and tearful, filled with grievance.

She forked another sprig of herbs, popped it into her mouth, chewed it, and her expression grew even more bitter. Tears streamed down her face, falling onto the salad leaves and spreading dark, damp stains.

"It's so bitter... it doesn't taste good at all..."

She sobbed as she mechanically continued to put the salad into her mouth. With each bite, her shoulders twitched slightly, as if she were waging a fierce battle.

Around the other end of the meadow, behind an old oak tree.

Another girl— Cartethyia— was there.

She also had dazzling long golden hair that shimmered like honey in the sunlight. Her hair was tied up with a red ribbon, revealing pointed elf ears. She wore an exquisite crown of thorns, with silver thorns twisted into elegant arcs.

She wore a specially made ceremonial gown, composed of three wide satin ribbons on the left, center, and right. The design was intricate and exquisite, revealing her slender arms, legs, and part of her chest and abdomen. In the morning light, her skin was almost translucent white.

She was also holding a small bowl of the same laurel salad, taking small bites. Her emerald eyes were slightly narrowed, as if she were savoring some delicacy.

Hearing Feibi sobbing, she looked up and glanced in that direction.

Then, she lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, and laughed silently. The curve of her lips widened, and her emerald eyes curved into crescents. She raised her hand and gently covered her mouth with the back of her hand to prevent her laughter from spilling out.

She laughed for a while before she could stop herself, then forked another leaf and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly. Her gaze remained fixed on Feibi, who was crying and eating in the distance, her eyes filled with undisguised, mischievous laughter.

Not far away, Sandrone walked briskly ahead, arms crossed, wearing his signature Bonnet hat, with shoulder-length brown hair and a blank expression on his face, but his slightly tense jawline and hurried steps exuded an aura of "don't mess with me".

Columbina followed half a step behind her, her steps light and quick. Her long hair swayed slightly with her movements, and her face wore that usual calm smile, as if she were immersed in some distant thought. She hummed a song softly, the melody melodious and ethereal, standing out clearly against the not-so-noisy background.

Sandrone abruptly stopped and turned around.

"Don't follow me, Columbina!"

Her voice rose slightly, and her brows furrowed.

Columbina stopped too, blinked her large, clear eyes, and looked innocent.

"No." She shook her head, her voice soft. "Lowell said you loved hearing me sing."

Her smile deepened, and a sly glint flashed in her eyes.

If you don't listen...

She deliberately dragged out the tone.

I'll smash your head in.

Sandrone: "... Huh!?"

Her eyes widened instantly, her expression froze for a moment, then ignited with clear anger. Her cheeks flushed slightly, whether from anger or something else, it was hard to tell. She opened her mouth, as if to retort, but was choked by this outrageous "threat" and couldn't utter anything harsher.

"Columbia!" she said, enunciating each word clearly, her voice forced through clenched teeth, "Say it again!?"

Seeing her so angry yet helpless, Columbina suddenly burst out laughing. The laugh was bright, with a hint of smugness.

"Hehe, I knew it." She said softly, taking a step closer and looking up at Sandrone's puffed-up face. "You look so funny."

She reached out, made a small fist, and lightly punched Sandrone in the face.

"Heave-ho, Meow Meow Punch~"

Sandrone's head tilted slightly as she was hit, her anger still lingering, mixed with a bewildered "What on earth is this guy doing?" She opened her mouth, but only clicked her tongue, forcefully turning her face away, her ear tips faintly redder.

"So annoying! Columbina, you're so annoying!"

She muttered something under her breath, but didn't shoo anyone away. She turned and continued walking, though her pace was a little slower than before.

Columbina followed with a smile, continuing to hum a song.

"Sandrone, would you like to try this?" Arlecchino appeared beside them unnoticed, her steps steady and elegant. She wore a small red bear headdress and held a brown cat and a white dog headdress in her hand. Her expression was calm, as if offering the headdresses was the most natural thing in the world.

Sandrone looked at her, then at the headdress.

"... Arlecchino, you're so annoying!" she complained, but her gaze lingered on the cat headdress for a moment longer.

"Hmm..." Arlecchino thought for a moment, then calmly handed over the cat headband. "Here, take this. It matches your hair color perfectly."

"Whatever." Sandrone awkwardly took it, held it in her hand, and didn't put it on immediately.

"Then I want the puppy one." Columbina chose the remaining one and put it on her head naturally. The white puppy ears trembled slightly in her light-colored hair.

"Woof woof~"

Arlecchino straightened her red bear headdress again, and the three of them continued walking along the stall in a wonderfully silent yet not awkward atmosphere.

A stall was filled with crystal-clear sugar sculptures. They came in various shapes, including flowers, small animals, and even miniature castles, refracting rainbow colors in the sunlight.

Yakoda stood behind the stall, deftly sculpting a new sugar blank with special tools. Her expression was focused, her fingers steady, and sugar crumbs fell in a soft patter. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, which she simply wiped away with her arm.

Beside her, Felut was shouting loudly.

"Baked apples! Sweet and fragrant baked apples! Come and buy some!"

On the small oven in front of her, a row of apples were sizzling, their skins golden brown and oozing sweet juice. Felut picked one up, skewered it with a small stick, and handed it to a little girl in front of the stall.

"Here, be careful, it's hot!"

The little girl took it and ran off happily.

Felut wiped the sweat from her brow, picked up the large cup beside her, and gulped down several mouthfuls of milk. Then, with lightning speed, she grabbed a sugar sculpture of a pony that Yakoda had accidentally ruined, which was now split in two, and took a big, crunchy bite.

"Would you like one, lovely lady?"

When she saw someone approaching, she immediately greeted them with a smile.

It's Linié.

Linié stood in front of the stall, her pink gothic dress standing out in the crowd. Her icy blue eyes were fixed on the caramelized apples on the oven, her small face expressionless, but her eyes unblinking.

"It smells so good."

She spoke softly, then raised her finger and pointed to the oven.

"All."

"Huh!?" Lupa next to her was startled. "There are too many! We can't carry them all!"

"Linié can finish it." Linié turned her head, looked at her seriously, and said matter-of-factly. "And you can share some with Lupa."

Felut's eyes lit up instantly.

"A big customer!" she cheered, quickly using tongs to pick up the apples from the oven one by one.

"Yakoda! Come help me wrap this up! This lady is taking it all!"

Yakoda put down the sugar sculpture in her hand, with half a piece of candy in her mouth, and ran over in a flurry.

"Coming, coming!" she replied, deftly grabbing the oil paper. "Oh dear, today is so busy! Just a moment!"

"Hmm." Linié nodded, then took out a bright red apple from her small bag and quietly took small bites, her eyes still fixed on the apples being packaged on the oven.

Beside Yakoda, Aino was clutching the hem of Yakoda's clothes, looking up at the sugar sculptures with longing eyes, her toes unconsciously rising onto her tiptoes.

"Yakoda! Yakoda! Quick, give me one more... just one..."

Beside her, Ineffa calmly gripped her other sleeve, her voice steady but unwavering:

"Aino, your snack allowance for today is all gone."

"Ah!" Aino wailed, her little face falling. "It's the school anniversary today! Please make an exception! Ineffa is the best!"

She shook Ineffa's arm, her eyes pleading.

Ineffa remained unmoved, simply repeating calmly:

"No. Too much sugar will affect the magic tuning this afternoon. You already ate an extra serving of pudding yesterday."

Aino pouted, but didn't press the matter further. She just glanced at the sugar sculptures a few more times with lingering reluctance, then muttered to herself:

"That stingy Ineffa..."

Ineffa seemed not to hear her, but simply released her sleeve and instead helped her tidy her slightly unruly hair.

"Your hair's a mess. Watch your appearance, Aino. You're First-Class Mage, and you'll be exchanging ideas about magical creations with First-Class Mage Lairen later."

"I don't care about that stubborn old man..."

Dori's stall was also surrounded by a crowd. In front of her was a chessboard with intricate grids, and she was enthusiastically explaining the rules to several curious students, her abacus clicking away.

"Simulanka Flying Chess! Fun and exciting! Win prizes! Want to try your luck? Only ten copper coins per game, and the winner gets fifty copper coins, or magical items of equivalent value!"

A shrewd glint shone in her small eyes.

"It's okay if you lose, you can buy some other souvenirs! Look at this magic lamp, and this self-cleaning magic broom model! Don't miss out! These are the same magical tools that the legendary Great Mage Frieren loves! Today's school anniversary special offer, not 99,999, not 9,999, just 999 copper coins!"

On the other side, Edel wasn't setting up a stall; she simply strolled leisurely between the various stalls with her hands behind her back. Beneath her pink mushroom-shaped haircut, a relaxed smile graced her face. Occasionally, she would stop at a food stall, buy a serving, and nibble on it.

"Oh my god... I finally have some free time... Lady Serie is such a devil..." She sighed contentedly and put a small piece of honey-drizzled pastry into her mouth.

Duncan and Rabiñe happened to be passing by and sat at an outdoor table offering simple meals, with grilled meat and fruit tea in front of them. Duncan was carefully dividing the grilled meat onto Rabiñe's plate with his fork, muttering, "It needs to be eaten with lettuce, not just meat."

Rabiñe crossed her arms, looking helplessly like she was saying, "I'm not your granddaughter," but she didn't refuse. She simply picked up a lettuce leaf and roughly rolled up the meat.

Kanne, standing not far away at a stall selling handmade jewelry, picked up a feather hair clip, held it up to his hair, and hesitated. He glanced furtively at Rabiñe, seemingly imagining how she would look wearing it, before quickly looking away, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the feathers on the clip.

Laufen sat not far from them, a plate of donuts in front of her. She ate them in small bites, taking only a tiny bit each time, holding it in her mouth for a while before swallowing, until her cheeks were bulging, like a hamster storing up food.