Bailing

The freshman registration line soon reached Reilo.

Orn, who stood ahead of him, had already received his form. Pointing at Reilo behind him, he said to the male instructor, who looked less than thirty, "This is my friend Reilo. He has the academy's Brocade Flower Contribution Badge."

The dark-skinned instructor wore a loose gray robe—the bachelor uniform Orn had mentioned—the standard image of a magician in commoners' eyes.

The instructor seemed patient and good-tempered.

Upon hearing that Reilo had a contribution badge, the male instructor looked at him and was about to say something, but his gaze immediately shifted behind Reilo, revealing a startled expression.

"Eh? Junior Sister? Why are you here!"

Huh?

Still holding up the Brocade Flower Badge, Reilo turned to look at the senior sister behind him, who was holding a black cat.

So this senior sister was actually the registration instructor's junior sister. Then the person she had been looking for earlier was probably this registration instructor?

The senior sister's round eyes rolled as she smiled mischievously. "Ah, I was bored to death at home alone. Official classes start in a few days. Jiahei told me you were here welcoming the freshmen, so I came with Jiahei to see you. And, well, to take a look at this year's little junior brothers and sisters too."

As she spoke, the senior sister behind Reilo lifted the black cat in her arms and waved its two little front paws, grinning impishly.

Being manhandled by the girl, the black cat waved its paws like a lucky cat, having already lost all desire to struggle. Yet it still muttered, "Don't use me as an excuse. You obviously just wanted to come out and play."

"It's only right for Junior Sister to come out and relax after working so hard every day!"

The dark-skinned young instructor chimed in with a deep voice. He clearly doted on his junior sister and took the initiative to excuse her. Only then did he remember the Brocade Flower Badge Reilo was holding and come back to his senses.

"Ah! Junior Sister, wait a moment. I need to fill out the registration list for these freshmen and arrange their entrance assessments."

"It's fine. Go ahead and do your work."

The senior sister giggled, stepped out of the line, and went over to stand beside the male instructor, curiously looking over the forms.

The dark-skinned instructor took the badge from Reilo's hand and examined it carefully. After a while, he frowned slightly.

The junior sister behind the dark-skinned instructor pulled the black cat back into her arms and muttered, "Honestly, this was supposed to be assigned to the old man, but they made you come instead."

Then she noticed her Senior Brother lowering his head to study the badge with a puzzled frown. Confused, she asked, "What is it, Senior Brother? It's just a contribution badge. The academy takes some back every year after freshman registration. What's so strange about that?"

"This badge seems a little different."

After scratching his head, the dark-skinned instructor looked at Reilo again and said hesitantly, "This badge is made from Ink Silver and Thunder Iron. According to the records, it seems to follow the specifications of badges issued by the academy a very, very long time ago. I'm not entirely sure either. We should ask Instructor Gubo!"

"Father?"

The senior sister's eyes rolled. After looking at Reilo, she seemed to think of something amusing. Suddenly, she snatched the badge away and said with a smile, "Hehe, you're so busy here, Senior Brother. I'll handle it for you!"

Without giving him any choice, the senior sister said to Reilo, "Follow me."

"Junior Sister..."

The dark-skinned instructor clearly wanted to say something else, but seeing that his junior sister had already walked away with the badge, he ultimately just shook his head and said nothing.

Reilo followed behind the senior sister, feeling somewhat uneasy.

He did not know the exact origins of this Brocade Flower Badge. He had not expected so many complications, and he could not help glancing at Orn, who was waiting nearby.

Orn waved goodbye to Reilo.

"Then I'll go take the entrance assessment first! The academy should assign you an Enlightenment Instructor. See you later!"

Reilo hurriedly replied, "All right!"

Freshmen continued arriving to register one after another. Reilo followed the unfamiliar senior sister across the square until they reached the entrance of a six-story building made of gray stone.

"This is the Academic Affairs Office, where the academy instructors work."

There was a fountain before the building's entrance. At its center, a little boy held a vase from which clear water flowed. Below him, a huge frog opened its mouth to catch the water while red fish swam happily around it.

Reilo followed the senior sister through the doors.

Inside the corridor, the senior sister walked backward in front of Reilo with the black cat in her arms. Though she wore a black bachelor uniform, she lacked every bit of the rigor a scholar ought to possess.

"Hehe, my name is Bailing. What's yours? You look just as blockheaded as Second Senior Brother."

Reilo's cheeks reddened. He knew his inexperienced appearance had made this unfamiliar senior sister call him blockheaded.

"My name is Reilo."

Bailing giggled and was about to say something when a female instructor in black robes stopped ahead of them and looked at Bailing. "Watch where you're going, you little rascal. You're all grown up, so why are you still so unserious all day? No wonder your father has such headaches!"

"Aunt Kuliya!"

Bailing turned to the female instructor and complained, "Why are you just like my father? You always have to scold me the moment you see me."

Instructor Kuliya reached out with one finger and affectionately tapped Bailing on the forehead.

"Isn't it because you're always causing trouble around the academy? If you put your mind into studying, then with your intelligence, that old man of yours wouldn't spend every day going on about his eldest disciple!"

Then the female instructor muttered, "Hmph, he produced a prized disciple. That's enough for him to brag about for the rest of his life."

Reilo could almost see little stars of admiration in Senior Sister Bailing's eyes as she said proudly, "Senior Brother Wushuang is one of the most outstanding scholars since the academy was founded. With his talent, he'll definitely be able to join the Royal Academician Committee in the future!"

Reilo had gained a preliminary understanding of Senior Sister Bailing.

First, her father was likely a senior instructor at the academy with three disciples. His eldest disciple was exceptionally outstanding, his second disciple was the dark-skinned instructor at the freshman registration area, and his third disciple was Senior Sister Bailing herself—also his daughter.

No wonder she could live so carefree at the academy. To Senior Sister Bailing, the academy was her home.

"All right, everyone knows your eldest Senior Brother founded an A-rank mercenary group outside the academy. His future is limitless!"

Instructor Kuliya said, "The semester hasn't officially begun yet. Why did you come here? Don't tell me you've decided to work hard and came to get tutoring from that old man of yours!"

Sticking out her tongue mischievously, Bailing looked at Reilo and said, "Senior Brother Shatuo is outside receiving the freshmen. There's a slight problem with this freshman's contribution badge, so I brought him to ask Father about it."

"So it's an issue with the contribution badge. Then hurry along. Don't make a mistake—every contribution badge the academy takes back must undergo strict inspection!"

After giving them a reminder, Bailing bid farewell to the female instructor and led Reilo onward.

Classes had not officially begun, so the building was empty and deserted. Portraits hung along the corridors, labeled as academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences from various duchies throughout history. They were all elderly figures, and Reilo did not recognize a single one.

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