The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 42: A Girl's Wish

"Hedra has been lost in thought lately." Lovier looked at the black-haired girl sitting by the windowsill, lost in thought not far away, and whispered to Aurora.

"Yes, probably thinking about something very profound." Aurora held the Black Kite Puppet in her arms, grooming its hair and braiding it into a pretty plait.

"Can you understand, Aurora?" Lovier thought that among the three of them, only Aurora's level of intelligence could allow for deeper exchanges with Sylutia.

"I can understand some of it." Aurora nodded, but then shook her head.

"It's just that I rarely think about things so far in the future."

"Lovier, do you ever think about what you might face or how you'll live sixty years from now, when your hair is gray?"

"No, but when that time really comes, I think I'll still be able to face it happily." Lovier believed in herself.

"Is Hedra worried about getting old? I can understand that kind of feeling, after all, we're all so pretty and cute right now."

Aurora smiled and shook her head, then her expression turned slightly melancholy as she explained to Lovier.

"What Hedra is thinking about is broader and more far-reaching than you imagine. Sometimes you might even marvel and wonder why she possesses such profound compassion and sympathy, how she can perceive the hardships and pain in other people's lives just from simple interactions.""But she usually keeps these feelings and perceptions restrained, because too much emotional resonance can hurt both others and herself."

"Don't worry, she's a very smart person. She knows when to pull back and won't let her wandering thoughts disturb other people's lives. You just need to stay by her side." Aurora took Lovier's hand and walked toward the black-haired girl by the window.

"It's time for dinner, Hedra."

Hearing her call, Sylutia, who had been immersed in her thoughts, looked up, her expression quickly softening.

"Alright." She stood up and went out with the two of them.

In late April, the annual admissions announcements for the various colleges were released, and many students began paying attention and making preparations.

"Hedra, which college are you planning to apply to?" the instructor asked in the office.

"Tetis College."

"Tetis College is good, wait... you said Tetis College?" The instructor was surprised.

"Yes." The black-haired girl nodded again.

"Not Rorik College?" He was quite taken aback.

"I want to see what the top-ranked college is like." Sylutia's answer gave the instructor no reason to refuse.

Indeed, who wouldn't want to see the highest peak, the best college, the most powerful school of thought?

"I understand. However, Tetis College's assessment requirements are also the strictest. It requires you to possess extremely precise and accurate observational skills, as well as the ability to construct complex models."

"I understand." Seeing the girl's expression remain unchanged as she answered solemnly, the instructor knew she was already mentally prepared.

"In that case, work hard. If you encounter difficulties, you can discuss them with your instructor."

Afterwards, Sylutia left the office.

During this week, the classmates in the class also gradually determined their future goals and began adjusting what they studied, increasing practice, and preparing for the assessments.

"Carmilla, which college are you planning to apply to?" a girl in the classroom asked her deskmate.

"I plan to go to 'Gras College,' which is affiliated with the Origin Hourglass." Carmilla answered; this was something she had decided long ago.

"Wow, such a high target? Can you say why you want to go there?"

"Because they are strong. Secondly, I like many powerful ancient secret arts, and only there can satisfy me." During this period, Carmilla's complexion had become slightly rosier, no longer as pale as when she first arrived.

"Alright, then do your best." The girl was a bit disappointed because she knew her own abilities were absolutely insufficient to get into 'Gras College.'

On the weekend, after a busy week of studying, Sylutia, at the request of her two roommates, went out shopping with them.

"Let's go to the area around School No. 24. We haven't been there yet, and didn't Xinke invite you to go play there before?"

And so, the three of them set off together, arriving at the Water Lily District where School No. 24 was located about an hour later.

"So this is Water Lily Street. The architectural style feels quite different." Compared to Narcissus Street's more Gothic-style architecture, the buildings on 'Water Lily Street' had softer lines, with many wavy decorative structures.

"That's School No. 24 over there. Seems like there are quite a few people there today too." The three walked over.

Before they even got close to the school, they could hear music coming from inside. It seemed like hundreds of people were playing together, violins being drawn in unison, then rapidly turning with the melody, the music gradually becoming more passionate.

After listening and waiting outside for a while, the music inside stopped. Then the school gates opened, and many students carrying instruments walked out, chatting and laughing along the way.

"Xinke held another concert today. I heard it's to prepare for applying to Vichia College." Passersby discussed.

The three passed through the sparse crowd, entered the school, found a staff member to ask, then went to the music hall inside the school. In the corridor backstage, they saw that golden-haired girl.

"Xinke~ Someone's here to see you."

"Okay, I'm coming over."

A few minutes later, Xinke brought the three to a less crowded scenic balcony at the school.

"I didn't expect you to come today, Hedra." She expressed her happiness and welcome.

"That was me and my classmates rehearsing just now, trying out a new performance." A few beads of sweat still lingered on her forehead, indicating the process wasn't easy.

"Because I have to coordinate many people simultaneously and also utilize my own abilities as the core of the team, so I work up a bit of a sweat." She covered her mouth with a light laugh, then took the three on a tour of the school, telling them about it and introducing things.

As a school in the Asra District, the facilities here were largely similar to those at their own No. 89 School. It took about two hours to see everything. Afterwards, Xinke took the three to an ice cream shop near the school and treated them to expensive ice cream.

By now, the sweat on Xinke's body had dried, with only her hair retaining slight traces of curl. She chatted and laughed openly with the three, introducing her daily life.

"I really love music, especially large ensemble symphonies. They give a feeling of sacred grandeur. If I can personally complete such a magnificent performance, it's as if I've fulfilled some kind of mission, which brings me immense satisfaction." She spoke of her aspirations and wishes.

"What about you, Hedra? Is there anything you particularly want to accomplish?"

"Me?" Sylutia fell into brief contemplation.

Actually, there were many things she wanted to do. For example, recovering the complete memories of this life, solving the mystery of her origins—what exactly happened that caused her to end up on the Fourth Continent, helping the Hidden Grove Alliance resolve their survival crisis, and so on.

But if she had to say what she genuinely loved from the bottom of her heart, it would probably be to see all of this colorful and vibrant world, to satisfy that anticipation for the unknown and curiosity.

Only recently, she suddenly became aware of another impulse. To use a metaphor: when you see a very bright, beautiful, and awe-inspiring painting, do you ever think about picking up a brush and paint yourself, expressing the beauty in your own heart?

She had seen the modern society of her previous life after the Industrial Revolution and knew this world could be better. She also learned from the apostle named 'Luna' that there is an even vaster, boundless universe outside.

She would leave this world sooner or later, or rather, her life would also reach its end at some distant point in the future.

So, what would she be willing to leave for this world?

"What I want to do is probably to take the beauty I imagine in my heart and paint it into reality in the real world." A faint light swirled in Sylutia's eyes as she spoke of an extremely distant ideal.