The First Day of Lessons

At Sylutia's home. This quiet, reserved girl was sitting in front of the mirror, combing her long hair. Unlike usual, though, there was a small bowl of fine black powder beside her. She dipped a damp cotton cloth in water, picked up some of the fine black powder, then rubbed it into her long hair and combed it through evenly. Her snowy silver hair gradually turned black. "Does Tia really have to dye her hair black?" Talia stood beside her, helping spread out the girl's long hair and comb it. "Yes. Then, if I use makeup techniques to shape my eyebrows, I can change my appearance and temperament." Sylutia spoke as she demonstrated a technique she had learned from the bandit's diary. "Ah, is this to hide your appearance?" Talia guessed. "Yes." The girl smoothed the fine black powder through her hair with a comb, then used the damp cotton cloth to dye the remaining snowy silver strands black. "But why?" Talia didn't understand. Wasn't being beautiful something to be proud of, something others envied? "Because it'll save me a lot of trouble," the girl replied softly. Every so often, she turned to check the side of her hair in the mirror. "My identity in the past might have been extraordinary, but right now, I don't have the strength to protect myself. It's always better to keep a low profile." Sylutia had recently learned about the situation in Scorched Stone City. There were at least three knights with a "Third Tier—Castle" Fate Card here. They completely overpowered ordinary people, and they belonged to the nobility. If some influential figure took a liking to her, the girl honestly had no idea how she'd escape or turn him down. Sometimes she thought her appearance and figure were far too unfair, but she couldn't say that to Talia. It would sound as if she were bragging. In the mirror, the pitifully lovely girl had only to turn her eyes slightly to possess a charm that made it hard to look away. Sylutia didn't know how she had managed to live in the past. Perhaps she'd been very well protected. An hour later, with Talia's help, she had finally dyed all her hair black. She checked her status again.

Name: Sylutia · ※※※※

Race: Human (※※※)

Condition: Healthy (disguise—low presence)

Talent: Stars [Unknown Rank], Cornflower's Affection [Rare Rank, Upgradeable]

Fate Card: [Sleeping Maiden] (Tier: None)

- Effect: [Identification Pupil Lv. 2]

Ability Cards: [Breathing Technique Lv. 2][Dew Prayer Technique Lv. 1][Empty Slot]

Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 4][Basic Spearmanship Lv. 4][Gardening Skills Lv. 1]

After tidying herself up, the girl changed into a plain robe, which made her look considerably more ordinary. But there were her eyes. The girl studied the sky-blue eyes in the mirror and decided they needed hiding, too. She rummaged around until she found the flat-lensed glasses she had bought and put them on. At last, they concealed her lively eyes. Now she looked like an ordinary girl with a scholarly air. "Now no one could recognize you." Talia circled the girl several times, amazed by how much her appearance had changed. "I should be able to enjoy a peaceful stretch of time while studying with Scholar Heide." The girl glanced at herself in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, then stood up. ... Early the next morning, a dozen or so young people had gathered at Scholar Heide's residence. They were tall and short, male and female, and around fourteen to eighteen years old. A few were clearly not commoners, judging by their bright, colorful clothes. Another figure came through the gate. He wore a light brown robe, and his short, plump frame made him look a little comical as he walked. "How did Yero end up here, too?" Someone there recognized the little fatty. "I heard he couldn't make it in Valley City, so he had no choice but to come back," one noble youth remarked contemptuously. "If Scholar Heide hadn't taken him in, he probably wouldn't have anywhere to study." "He's useless anyway." "My dad said before that we could try recruiting him and getting along with him, but I don't think he has much potential." "Every year, countless young people come here to study, but very few of them actually become scholars." They discussed the little fatty until he walked past, then lowered their voices. It wasn't that they were afraid of offending Yero; he was an officially recognized student of Scholar Heide's, and they didn't want to slight the scholar. ... Time passed again. The sun climbed higher and the weather grew warmer. A conspicuous-looking youth entered the residence's front courtyard, accompanied by his companions. He looked younger than sixteen, with messy hair, narrow eyes, and a fierce air. A sword in a scabbard was strapped to his back, and he wore a coarse hemp shirt. His exposed wrists bore plenty of old scars, clearly left by battles. "We'll see you off here, Mick." "Do your best—not, I mean, study hard! Haha." Several adventurer companions waved. "I know, you lot." He tugged at the collar of the shirt, which he wasn't used to wearing, then entered the courtyard with a wary look. Though he was a commoner, he seemed out of place among everyone there. Like a beast that had just come down from the mountains, several people thought. After entering the courtyard, the new student named Mick found a place to stand. The others gradually shifted their conversation away from him. Time slipped by. The sun climbed higher and higher, and some people began to grow impatient. "Most everyone's here by now, right? If he's much later, I don't think Scholar Heide should take him," someone complained, glancing at the sun. Just as many of them were growing impatient, the sound of hooves came from outside the residence. A fine carriage made of walnut, its edges adorned with gilt copper trim, stopped at the front gate. The door opened, and a delicate little leather shoe stepped down first, followed by black stockings, a red short skirt, a fitted, elaborately layered jacket, snow-white cuffs, and a girl with golden hair and scarlet eyes. "So this is Scholar Heide's home?" There was a hint of arrogance in her voice as she looked around with a critical eye. "Well, for a backwater place, it'll do." After speaking, she had her attendants unload her luggage and carry it behind her. As soon as the girl entered, she drew every student's attention. Whether noble or commoner, they all looked her way. Some were envious, some respectful, some greedy, others disdainful, and so on. There was no denying the golden-haired girl was exceptionally beautiful. In her lavish dress, she resembled a golden peacock blooming beneath the sun. Just a few simple movements were enough to set the hearts of many young men aflame. "Who is she?" "She's probably a distant relative of Viscount Xuefeng," someone guessed. "I've never heard of her before." A girl with chestnut-red hair came over, gazing enviously at the golden-haired girl as she passed. "She came from White Cliff City," a noble student who knew the inside story finally revealed. "Oh, White Cliff City." Those who heard couldn't help but exclaim softly. White Cliff City was the royal capital of the Regas Kingdom, a place countless people dreamed of visiting. Anyone who came from there was naturally an object of envy. Ignoring everyone around her, the dazzling golden-haired girl walked straight into the residence's hall and asked a servant. "Excuse me, is Scholar Heide home?" She made an effort to rein in her arrogance as she asked. "Please wait a moment." The servants were nervous about receiving such an important guest. He asked the girl to wait, then hurried to the back courtyard to inquire. Before long, footsteps sounded in the corridor. Then Scholar Heide appeared before everyone, his broad gray scholar's robe and white beard coming into view. "Sorry for the wait, miss. You must be Iona, right?" His voice was kind and relaxed. "Hello, I'm Iona, Scholar Heide." The golden-haired girl lifted her skirt slightly in greeting, then looked at Scholar Heide again with her scarlet eyes. She noticed a girl about as tall as herself standing beside him. She had long black hair, wore a plain robe and glasses, and held a very thick book in both hands. She looked utterly unremarkable. She was probably one of Scholar Heide's students. The golden-haired girl paid her little mind. "Since everyone's here, have them gather in the front hall," Heide told the servant beside him, asking him to notify the students in the courtyard. The students filed inside. Before long, everyone had gathered in the front hall, listening to the old man's words and instruction. And so, the first day of lessons began.