The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 5: Life After School Starts

After the three-day adaptation period, the three of them officially began their academic careers.

Considering that newcomers to an unfamiliar environment often don't know which direction to take in the future or how to adapt to the local surroundings, the school would teach public knowledge during the first month, which covered aspects related to daily life and studies.

"First is the place where each of you will live." In the classroom, a staff member introduced to the apprentices present how to find accommodation, the rental prices in various areas, and other expenses.

"Currently, you are all basically living in the officially arranged dormitories, which also do not require any payment, so don't worry."

"However, in 2-3 years, you will likely face the situation of finding your own housing, and that's where the knowledge learned today will come in handy."

"The cost of living in the Asra District is at a mid-range level among the various major academy districts. The rent for a standard single-person dwelling, meaning a residence with a bedroom and study, is roughly 2 gold coins per month. Of course, I'm talking about the standard price; the actual cost will fluctuate up or down depending on the location. For example, in bustling neighborhoods, it might be 4 gold coins per month, while in remote areas, you might be able to rent a decent place for perhaps 1 gold coin per month."

"With such rental prices, if you haven't become a Second Tier professional and rely solely on the earning capacity of a First Tier Transcendent, you won't be able to support it on your own. So, I hope all of you reach the Second Tier within three years as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for you to maintain your current decent standard of living."

"Of course, if after three years you haven't advanced to the Second Tier, it's not a dead end. There are even cheaper sleeping places, which are the collective inns set up in specific areas. They can provide you with a bed and a lockable box for just over 30 silver coins per month."

"Finally, there are even more affordable dwellings, but those are generally supplied to laborers, not students. I advise you not to try them. If you must satisfy your curiosity, I suggest you recall the horses in the countryside, and the very crowded kind at that."

"After settling accommodation, there's the daily food you need. Not far from your dormitories, there should be many bakeries. The bread sold there is uniformly priced by the Mage Alliance and won't be too expensive. Spending 20 silver coins a month can fill your stomach. If you want to eat better, you can go check out other restaurants yourself.""Additionally, clothing is also a very important aspect." He knocked on the blackboard.

"As newcomers, the school will later have three sets of everyday uniforms custom-made for you all. These are good-quality items made of cotton or wool. Ordering one set costs around 30 silver coins. If you buy them outside, you might need 50 silver coins to purchase one."

"Although the Asra District doesn't have mandatory requirements for clothing, you should at least ensure it is clean, tidy, and appropriate. Because there are many public facilities here, if you wear very dirty clothes with mud and bugs, don't blame certain places for not letting you in."

"Furthermore, as your senior and veteran, my advice to you is that the price and grade of the clothes you purchase yourself later should at minimum be kept above the level of the everyday uniforms the school has custom-made for you."

"You might say your family is poor and you don't want to waste money buying too nice clothes, but I must remind everyone: the little money saved by buying cheaper clothes is far from enough to offset the disadvantages brought by wearing inferior clothing."

"When you are among a crowd, cheap flax-type clothes will clearly distinguish you from your fellow students around you, essentially telling the people around you that you are weak, that you have a low opinion of yourself, that you are easy to bully. This not only easily invites malice and harassment from others but also makes it difficult for you to make friends."

"I certainly know a person's character is not determined by their clothes, but people really don't have much time to explore and observe your character, especially when facing many strangers in daily life. This is a fully competitive area. Every extra friend you have means an extra path for survival and a way to acquire knowledge. Don't let the impression you give others be too poor."

"After talking about clothing, accommodation, and food, finally let's talk about the modes of transportation here."

"The most common is of course walking. Currently, the dormitories you live in generally aren't too far from the school. If you want to go shopping during holidays, buy needed things, or go study at other schools, then you'll need to take a vehicle. Otherwise, most of the day will be consumed on the road, which isn't worth the loss."

"First are the public carriages. They are often pulled by 1-2 draft horses, can carry nearly 20 people, and the cost per kilometer is roughly 2 copper coins. The advantage is they are cheap and affordable. The disadvantage is they are slow, follow fixed routes, and the draft horses occasionally defecate. That smell drifts over from the front; you'd better bring a face covering to block it." As he spoke, he gestured and a teasing smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Next are the steam vehicles. They are considerably faster, and only they are allowed to travel on the central main roads, allowing quick arrival at destinations without getting stuck in traffic. The advantage is relatively fast speed. The disadvantage is higher cost, roughly 50 copper coins per kilometer."

"Finally are the aerial mounts. They are even faster and aren't hindered by routes, but the price is also the most expensive, and they cannot carry heavy cargo. The cost per kilometer is 2-5 silver coins."

"Alright, today's class ends here. Class dismissed."

The classroom immediately became lively, with many new students heatedly discussing what the staff member had just talked about.

"So expensive! Renting a place here costs 2 gold coins a month." Some students lamented.

"My father works for a year and doesn't even earn 1 gold coin."

"No, you should feel fortunate. Because setting such a high price indicates many apprentices in the future will be able to afford it." Someone encouraged their companion.

"Work hard. I don't want to return to my hometown and live a life where I can only eat potatoes."

"At least you still have potatoes to eat..." someone quietly added.

On the other side of the classroom, Sylutia and her two companions were also sitting in their seats chatting.

"2 gold coins to live for a month is that cheap?" The one saying this was naturally the young lady, Lovier.

"Compared to the outside world, it's already very expensive." Sylutia helplessly shook her head.

Aurora on the other side didn't say much. Only when the young girl asked her did she answer.

"Where my family is, it seems you also need about 50 silver coins a month to rent a decent house." Her home was in the Greater Airo District, which had famous theaters. Many actors and artists gathered there, making it a relatively prosperous area within the Mage Alliance.

"What about you, Hedra? How are prices over in Quebec?"

"Well... probably around 12 silver coins to rent a decent single room." Compared to Regas where the young girl had stayed before, it was naturally much more expensive. But placed within the Mage Alliance, it was indeed very low.

While the three were chatting, they unknowingly attracted the attention of other students in the class. This certainly wasn't because their topic was particularly fresh or special, but because the appearances of these three young girls were far too extraordinary, making it difficult to ignore them.

Especially Lovier. This young lady not only had brilliant, soft golden hair, but her eye-catching pink and white dress and the various rare and expensive accessories on it almost bluntly told everyone around her that her family background was absolutely extraordinary. That wasn't something ordinary people could fake.

"Shh, did you see that? That girl."

"Really beautiful. Probably a young lady from some major family."

"I estimate her outfit costs at least 100 gold coins."

"100 gold coins? You have no vision. I'd say 1,000 gold coins might not even be enough to buy it." The companion next to him shook his head.

"So envious. I wish I had a family background like that."

"Why don't you pursue her? If you marry her, you won't have to worry in the future."

"Haha, forget it. The gap is too big." This student looked at the exquisitely woven bracelet on Lovier's wrist and then shook his head.

"That bracelet is a 'Third Tier' creation. I might not be able to afford it in my entire lifetime."

"Better look at the other two. I feel that black-haired girl seems more approachable."

"What's her name?"

"Seems to be called Hedra Griffin."

"What about the other one?"

"That silver-gray haired girl holding a doll? She's called Aurora. But I don't recommend you go find her."

"Why?"

"Because I'm also a student from the Greater Airo District. I can roughly guess her family background. She should be the direct lineage bloodline of the famous 'Helt Family' from the 'Opera School'."

"Huh? How did you guess that?"

"Because that silver-gray hair and eyes are practically a trademark locally, too well-known. But as a member of the 'Helt' family, she should be able to directly enter the affiliated academy of the 'Opera School'. There's no need for her to come here."

"Perhaps she has different ideas. Just like you and me, didn't we also not follow our parents' expectations to become knights? Speaking of which, we both learned the Breathing Technique. With this foundation, just accumulating a few more years and with the help of our families, becoming a knight would be a matter of course."

"Ahaha, true."

After finishing the morning class, the students had their meal in the school cafeteria. This was also the first time many new students came to this place.

"Wow, such a big dining hall. But the decoration is really simple." After walking into the dining hall, Sylutia heard the students ahead exclaim.

She looked around. The walls here were built with red bricks, with roof beam frames embedded within. Sitting in the dining hall, you could directly see the crisscrossing beams at the top. However, the place was very wide. The distance from the roof to the ground was about four or five stories high. The spacious, empty environment in the middle allowed hot air to rise and dissipate, making the air in the dining area below refreshing, as if sitting inside that wide cathedral.

"Three lunches." Arriving at the window, Sylutia and her companions took trays and received steaming hot bread, vegetable soup, and two small slices of smoked meat.

After finding seats and sitting down, the three slowly began to eat.

Regarding such food, both Sylutia and Aurora were relatively accustomed to it. Lovier on the other side, however, was like an explorer on a treasure hunt, repeatedly examining the things on her plate and then taking small, tentative bites.

"The bread and vegetable soup are rather bland." She first evaluated the parts she thought were edible.

"As for the smoked meat..." She picked it up with a small fork, carefully sniffed it, and then blinked her eyes as she observed it.

"Not very fresh, and there's a smoky oil smell." She didn't even want to put it in her mouth.

"Of course there's smoky oil. Because it's smoked over firewood." Sylutia helplessly reminded her.

"But, Hedra, smoking like this is very unclean, right? Think about the black smoke sticking to it and then eating it into your stomach." She gestured with her fingers.

"Ahem, hearing you say that, what if I can't eat it in the future either?" Sylutia covered her mouth with a light laugh.

Speaking of which, the method of making smoked meat indeed isn't very clean, but most ordinary people overlook this point, just like the slight charring that appears when roasting sweet potatoes.

"Can I not eat it, Hedra~" Lovier looked at the smoked meat on her fork, her face showing difficulty, then acted coquettishly towards her companion beside her, hoping someone would agree to her being slightly willful.

"Alright, then don't eat it." Sylutia thought about it; it was just a small matter anyway.

"Okay~"

Hearing Sylutia's words, Lovier immediately put down the smoked meat slice in her hand. This action made Aurora beside her show an expression that really wanted to voice her criticism.

You just spoil her.

After finishing lunch, classes continued in the afternoon. The content taught during this period was listing the course catalog that new students must learn and master.

"You all need to master these things. If you haven't heard of or haven't learned these contents before coming here, please make them up within half a year. Otherwise, it will affect your subsequent course studies." The instructor knocked on the blackboard. The courses listed included mathematics, history, language, geography, basic hidden knowledge, Basic Runes, and so on.

These things should have been taught by primary schools in various places before coming to the academy district, but some new students hadn't learned them completely and needed to try their best to make up for them during this period.

After finishing the first day's classes, the three left the school together. Not long after walking out, a roaring steam vehicle stopped by the roadside, and then two young men dressed in splendid formal wear stepped down.

"Very pleased to meet you three young ladies. My name is Anderson."

"My name is Andre."

These two had their hair combed sleek and exquisite. When they took off their hats to bow, they revealed snow-white gloves, paired with the luxurious silver engraved vehicle behind them, causing many girls on the road to exclaim in admiration and adoration.

"The night view of Asra is exceptionally beautiful. Among it are the famous 'Golden String Hall', the pure white 'Winged High Tower', and the dazzling 'Glazed Flower Hall'. These are all unforgettable places."

"Please, young ladies, get in the vehicle and come with us to tour and experience them." They issued a sincere invitation. Such manners and actions again attracted a crowd of onlookers, with many students enviously looking at that luxurious silver vehicle.

While Sylutia was still thinking about how to politely decline the two, Lovier beside her had already taken her hand and stepped forward.

"Okay, how much will it cost to take us on a tour?" As she spoke, she twirled her fingers and, who knows from where, pulled out a glittering gold coin. What surprised Sylutia even more was that the floral pattern on that gold coin was completely identical to the gemstone on Lovier's chest.

"How much?" The two were a bit confused. Of course, they had invited the three to get closer and pursue them.

Seeing the two didn't answer, Lovier closed her fingers, lightly resting the back of her hand against her chin. "Is it not enough? My apologies."

She politely bowed slightly, then pulled out another sparkling gemstone. It should have been a 'Second Tier·Excellent' quality garnet.

"Is this okay? To take the three of us on a tour of the Asra District." Although this young lady was a bit airheaded, she certainly wasn't short on money.

For a good while after that, after the two explained for a bit and Sylutia whispered a reminder in Lovier's ear, she roughly understood their intentions.

"So you were planning to pursue me. That won't do, because I will only marry the one fate has chosen."

"But can you really not take the three of us shopping? I can pay remuneration; I won't let you suffer a loss." This young lady was still pleading with them. Those pure eyes radiated a pitiable expression that was hard to ignore and look away from.

Although their plan to pursue Lovier failed, the two young men ultimately couldn't withstand this young lady's persuasive onslaught and the luxurious remuneration she offered, agreeing to take the three on a tour of Asra's night view and prosperous areas.

After accepting Lovier's gemstone as payment, the two also shifted their mindset and began to give a detailed introduction of the roadside scenery and the most famous buildings here. In the subsequent conversation, Sylutia and the other two also roughly learned about their identities.

The two belonged to the 'Owen Family', one of the oldest families in the Asra District. To this day, they still owned considerable real estate in the Asra District. Many of the dormitories where new students lived and the schools they attended were their family's properties. The Mage Alliance paid their family a fee every year.

Although the Owen Family was very wealthy, allowing the two to purchase luxury vehicles in their youth, they were after all not the core heirs of the family. The wealth they could usually control was actually limited. So when Lovier took out the gemstone, the two couldn't help but be tempted.

After finishing the night's tour, the three were sent back to where they lived.

After that night, Lovier's great name quickly spread among the new students. Not only in their own school, but even new students in nearby other schools had heard of her great name.

"Did you know? Last night, that golden-haired, pink-dressed young lady directly used her wealth to crush the two young masters of the Owen Family and even had them act as coachmen for her."

"Wow, that impressive?"

"Now probably not many dare to pursue her. Among the new students, no one can afford to offend the young masters of the Owen Family."

After this experience, many students who had originally planned to pursue Lovier inevitably had second thoughts. The remaining few who hadn't given up also became more cautious, starting to consider how to improve their conditions to attract this young lady's attention.

And so, not long after the start of school, Sylutia and her two roommates lived a life that was both conspicuous and relatively peaceful.