Star Apprentice

A month later.

Hekate's Magic Level successfully broke through to 6-Star Apprentice Mage, making her and Sweet the two freshmen with the highest Magic Levels at the Meditation Academy.

Of course, only she knew about this. Her brother's nursery rhyme had pushed her into the spotlight. If outsiders learned that she truly was as gifted as the song claimed, the people Starlight had mentioned would most likely come looking for her.

To keep trouble from finding her, Hekate used Eternal Moonlight to maintain the mana fluctuations around her at the level of a 3-star Apprentice Mage, so no one knew she had broken through three more times in a single month.

After waking up today, Hekate performed her customary draw.

Duang~

Gift of Fate: Apprentice Mage-level Meditation technique cultivation knowledge upgraded to mastery level. Height reduced by 1 centimeter.

Seeing the result of the draw, Hekate silently declined it.

She was already short enough. She absolutely could not get any shorter.

Then she glanced at her attribute list.

Name: Hekate Noah di Calilans

Age: 12/∞

Race: Witch

Magic Level: 6-Star Apprentice Mage

Magic: Fire Curse Technique (Apprentice Level · Mastery)

Equipment: Eternal Moonlight (Legendary · Necklace)

Talent ①: Gift of Fate

Talent ②: Star Witch (Max Mana Affinity) (Star Speech) (Star Guard) (Star Chain)

Talent ③: Immortality

Her race had completely changed into that of a Witch. The overall outline of her former appearance could still be seen, but she had nevertheless undergone considerable changes.

Children naturally changed in appearance as they grew up, so Gina and Raman took the changes in her as a sign that their young master was growing up. They had no idea it was actually caused by her Witch Bloodline.

The Star Witch talent had fully matured, giving birth to a total of four abilities.

Max Mana Affinity: Your affinity for mana has reached its ultimate limit.

Star Speech: Starlight will tell you things you do not know.

Star Guard: Your identity will be hidden among the stars and cannot be locked onto by prophecy-type abilities.

Star Chain: Resonance with Starlight to receive its assistance.

"Star Chain's resonance ability is quite powerful. I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to build a Star Chain Network, then modify magic crystals into phones that can receive Star Chain data."

Hekate lay on her bed, thinking.

To modify magic crystals, she would need to study at the Magic Crystal Research Academy. There should be relevant research materials there.

Grants Academy offered quite a lot of subjects. If it were Mason Academy in Yarn City, it might not have those study materials.

Hekate got up, washed, and changed clothes. Ever since a certain part of her body had naturally disappeared, she no longer needed Gina's help with these things.

After finishing breakfast downstairs, she stepped outside and saw Princess Betty.

"Good morning, Mr. Hekate." Betty greeted her politely, then lightly furrowed her brows.

For some reason, whenever she saw Hekate lately, an inexplicable sense of dread rose within her. Though it quickly subsided, she still found it strange.

Could Hekate be harboring dangerous thoughts toward me?

That shouldn't be possible.

Teacher Emand and Teacher Ivin both said she was someone who could be trusted.

Betty thought in confusion.

"Good morning." Hekate replied with a smile.

The princess had transferred to the Meditation Academy a month ago. Since there was no way to avoid meeting her, Hekate simply went with the flow.

The two entered the Academy and found seats.

Puli arrived later and sat beside Hekate. The quirky girl immediately stuffed a small cake into Hekate's hand and giggled. "This is a limited cake I snatched from the cafeteria. I got one for you."

"Thank you," Hekate said.

Refusing was useless. After spending more than a month together, she had already gotten used to it.

Betty was quite displeased by this, but she could not say anything. Hekate was not yet her Personal Knight, so she could not demand that Hekate refuse Puli.

"Hmph. Fighting commoners for food is beneath a noble's dignity," she snorted.

Puli rolled her eyes. "What's it to you?"

At that moment, Teacher Ivin began the lesson, and the two of them quieted down.

"You have already been here for a month. It is time to appoint a Class Monitor as the representative student of this Meditation Studies class. Hekate, you broke through from 1-Star Apprentice to 3-star Apprentice within a month. Are you interested in becoming Class Monitor?"

Teacher Ivin asked with a smile, and everyone's gazes toward Hekate changed.

She had only been a 1-Star Apprentice Mage when she enrolled, yet now she was already a 3-star Apprentice Mage. Breaking through twice in a month meant she had not simply accumulated enough to make a sudden leap. She truly was as talented as the nursery rhyme had sung.

Lundria's nursery rhyme had already spread throughout the Academy. As the person involved, Hekate had long since been recognized. She simply did not like wandering around, and after keeping quiet for a month, the rhyme had not continued spreading.

Betty sneered inwardly. If you knew she was only an 8-Star Apprentice three months ago, would you be even more shocked?

Hekate immediately forced a smile. She had always wanted to keep a low profile, but she had not expected Teacher Ivin to expose her so directly. If she had not known Teacher Ivin liked her, she would have suspected the teacher was doing it on purpose.

Fortunately, Eternal Moonlight concealed her true Magic Level. Otherwise, she would have been even more embarrassed right now.

"Teacher, a representative student should naturally be chosen based on strength. It is easy to break through during the early Apprentice Mage stages, but that does not mean the later stages will be easy as well. Compared to Sweet, I still fall far short," Hekate hurriedly said.

At that, Sweet snorted and gave Hekate a look that said, At least you know your place.

Teacher Ivin said, "All right, then Sweet, you will be the representative student."

Sweet rose to his feet with satisfaction and bowed. "I understand, Teacher."

After settling the matter, Teacher Ivin continued explaining Meditation cultivation knowledge.

After class, Hekate had both hands grabbed by two people.

Puli said unhappily, "Why do you always walk so fast? Let's go together."

Betty smiled. "Hekate and I are neighbors. I should be the one walking with her. You don't need to."

Puli widened her eyes and said angrily, "I want to visit Hekate's home. Is that not allowed?"

At that moment, Sweet walked over, patted Hekate on the shoulder with satisfaction, and said, "You know your place. I appreciate that. I'll give you the chance to become this young master's follower."

Puli instantly flew into a rage and shoved Sweet away. "You trash from the Digabul Family! You actually want my friend to be your follower? Are you worthy?!"

"You barbaric girl from the Crofts Family, what the hell does it have to do with you? Get lost!" Sweet said irritably, while several followers behind him began jeering as well.

Puli shot those followers a fierce glare, and they instantly fell silent.

Hekate immediately refused. "Sorry, Sweet. I only want to focus on cultivation."

Whenever people from the Royal Capital argued, they used their families to pressure others, as if they would fight to the death for family honor the next second. To prevent the conflict from escalating, she could only quickly step forward to explain.