The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 20: The Silver Bell Festival Invitation Letter

In early January, the school's final exams ended, and the holiday arrived.

After packing up her things, Sylutia walked with her two roommates, chatting about what happened at school today.

"I didn't expect Rorik College to send Hedra an invitation letter." Aurora looked at the special silver-printed paper in Sylutia's hand, saying with a hint of surprise.

"Rorik College" is the affiliated higher education institute of the "Puppetry School". This school excels in various puppet and marionette making, and utilizes various puppets for assistance in combat. Its strength ranks seventh within the Mage Alliance, making it a fairly prominent school.

Those who receive an invitation letter can participate in that college's "Silver Bell Festival". This is the only way for non-students of the school to attend the festival.

"Is there any benefit to going to participate in Rorik College's Silver Bell Festival?" Lovier asked curiously.

"Of course there are benefits." Aurora quickly replied.

"First, having the experience of participating in that college's Silver Bell Festival allows you to choose one item from the entrance exam when applying to that college later and pass it directly. This greatly reduces the difficulty of admission."

"Secondly, participating in that college's Silver Bell Festival allows you to receive the college's exclusive commemorative gift. This gift is at least of the Third Tier or above, which is extremely useful for apprentices who are still at the Second Tier."

"Also, when participating in that college's festival, you can also freely choose a secret art to learn on the spot. Although the time is very short and whether you can master it completely depends on the individual, this is still a rare way to obtain an exclusive secret art across different colleges.""Finally, if you catch the eye of a certain mentor from the college during the festival, it's equivalent to gaining a powerful backer in advance. Those mentors are at least of the Fifth Tier. Any help from them, however small, can change the fate of a Second Tier student."

"That sounds like a huge win." Lovier only now realized the preciousness of the invitation letter.

"Yes." Aurora continued to add.

"The Silver Bell Festival is the most important holiday in the Mage Alliance, and also a time when various schools compete and showcase themselves. Every college will prepare for it with all their might."

Lovier suddenly thought of something. "Aurora, your family is a famous household of the 'Opera School', right? Did they send you an invitation letter?"

"They did, but I don't really want to go." Aurora thought for a moment, took out her notebook from her schoolbag, and then pulled out an invitation letter with a red background and golden patterns from within.

"This is the invitation letter from Vichia College. If you want to go, Lovier, I'll just give it to you." After saying this, she directly placed the red-and-gold invitation letter into Lovier's hand.

After receiving the invitation letter, Lovier excitedly held it up, looking at it repeatedly, carefully feeling it, distinguishing the delicate and beautiful golden thread patterns on it.

"Basically all my relatives graduated from Vichia College. Going there holds no sense of novelty for me at all." Aurora shook her head.

Sylutia remembered that at the start of the school term, Aurora said she wanted to go to Rorik College. She didn't expect that she herself would get the invitation letter first.

.......

The second day after the holiday started, Sylutia came to the 'Black Lily' clothing store on Beetle Street.

"Oh, it's rare for Hedra to come by today." Madame Grace was currently instructing a shop assistant on some matters.

"Have a seat, I'll be over in a moment."

A few minutes later, Madame Grace walked over gracefully. She wore a snow leopard fur shawl, held a folding fan in her hand, and had two blooming black lilies pinned in her hair, which coordinated exceptionally well with her delicate, deep gray hair color.

"Come with me to the back room for a drink." She led Sylutia to the lounge at the back.

The winter sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a grayish light outside. The flames burned in the fireplace in the room, occasionally emitting soft sounds, warming the interior.

A candlestick was placed on the small round table to add brightness. Madame Grace invited Hedra to sit down, then brought over a silver teapot and poured warm black tea onto the table.

"What brings you here to visit me today?" Madame Grace leaned back on the sofa, leisurely sipping her tea, casually asking.

"Because the holiday started." The young girl held her teacup, her gaze somewhat curious as she looked around this not-very-large lounge.

"Holidays are good. Back in my day, before the holidays even arrived, I would go traveling with friends..." Madame Grace's gaze drifted slightly towards the fireplace flames opposite.

"Is Hedra not planning to go out?"

"Not really this year." Sylutia had a more homebody personality. Generally, she lacked the motivation to go out.

"Such a lovely child staying at home all day is a bit of a pity, you know." Madame Grace said teasingly.

"At your age, you should style your hair beautifully, put on a little makeup, wear a nice new dress you bought, then meet various young and interesting members of the opposite sex, confidently display your own beauty, and experience the unique freedom and joy of youth."

"But, staying at home is very happy too." Sylutia expressed her own feelings.

"Changing into comfortable pajamas, lying on a fluffy blanket, reading a bit of the leisurely books you like, making some good food, writing in your diary, occasionally chatting with friends."

"You..." Madame Grace said, then laughed, no longer trying to persuade her.

"The Silver Bell Festival is coming. Has any interesting member of the opposite sex invited you to a party?"

"I received invitations at school, but I politely declined them." The young girl shook her cute head.

"I don't really want to date yet."

Speaking of this, Sylutia remembered the matter of the invitation letter.

"Do you know about Rorik College, or rather, the 'Puppetry School' situation?"

"Asking about this, are you thinking of applying? Let me think." Madame Grace put down her teacup to recall.

"The area where Rorik College is located isn't too far from the Asra District, only about 200 kilometers. I sometimes receive orders from over there too, making clothes for some performance puppets."

"If the 'Opera School' is the gorgeous young lady of the Mage Alliance, then the 'Puppetry School' is the artisan behind the stage curtain. Those exquisitely crafted and agile puppets are all forged from the heart's blood of their creators. They are more like 'craftsmen' rather than 'scholars' who research theory."

"Rorik College has hundreds of puppet workshops under it. The mechanical puppets they create serve many occasions. Although expensive, quite a few people still place orders."

"Compared to people, mechanical puppets are much more rigid. However, the advantage is that they don't need to eat or drink and are very stable. Many important figures prefer quiet, undisturbed environments, so they use puppets instead of servants. Additionally, they can also be used in certain dangerous situations."

"For example, high-tier laboratories and cultivation chambers emit Aspect power that can erode ordinary people's bodies. As inanimate objects, puppets have much better resistance, and they are also simpler to repair."

"Do you like puppets? If you do, going there would be a very good choice."

"Puppets..." Sylutia recalled her previous life and this life. Although she had held dolls as a child, she didn't have that kind of fervent passion.

"Rorik College sent me an invitation letter. I want to go take a look."

"So that's how it is, then go ahead." Madame Grace thought for a moment, then raised a finger.

"If you go to Rorik College for the Silver Bell Festival, I suggest choosing the 'Suspended String Marionette' secret art to learn. It's an advanced application of the 'Sobis Magic Thread Manipulation' you learned before."

"Learning this, you'll be able to perform puppet plays by yourself in the future, and also command simple puppets to do various things. It's very helpful for daily life."

"Alright, I've noted it down."

After that, the two chatted idly for a while more. When Sylutia stood up to prepare to say goodbye, Madame Grace called out to her.

"When you go to participate in the Silver Bell Festival, come by my place. I'll prepare suitable clothes for you."

More help with advertising? Sylutia nodded, agreeing.

Walking out of the 'Black Lily' shop, thick snow was now falling on the street. Goose-feather-sized snowflakes drifted down slowly, covering the view. In this snow-white world, everything became quiet.

Sylutia bid farewell to Madame Grace and walked alone on the soft snow. She tucked her freezing cold fingers into her sleeves, occasionally looking up to gaze at the sky full of falling snow, shaking the snowflakes from her hair.

From somewhere in the distance, obscured by the flower-like snow, came the faint, melodious sound of bells.

Unconsciously, another year had passed.