Show Them a Fierce One - chapter 15

On this Monday morning, Her Majesty Salamander did not use Magic Communication to interrogate her younger brother, because she knew it was the official opening day of Sky Fortress, and also the busiest day in Anuo’s otherwise leisurely student life.

For fifty years, the schedule had been tightly packed, year after year, always the same.

In the morning, the opening ceremony was presided over by Principal Tacitus, welcoming returning students, introducing new ones, announcing changes among the faculty, and featuring speeches by student representatives of different races.

In the afternoon, all new and returning students were required to go to the school chapel dedicated to the myriad gods for mass. The process was far more tedious than the morning’s ceremony, lasting much longer and running straight into the evening’s Holy Communion.

As the God’s Favored of the God of Light, Anuo had to participate throughout, even though the worship was for all gods. His unique status as the only God’s Favored on the Falres Continent was, in mainstream perception, higher than that of any clergy. Although Anuo didn’t have to preside over the rites himself, he certainly needed to be twice as alert and prepared.

Back during the summer break, the deacon assisting at the school chapel had already delivered this year’s ceremonial vestments to Anuo.

A long white robe, a small golden shoulder cape, and this year happened to be the once-every-twelve-years principal year of the God of Light, so the edges of the sleeves were specially embroidered with the Light Circuit, and the stoles draped over both shoulders were changed to gold. From the crown to the ring of authority, nothing was lacking, everything exquisitely crafted. It was said that fifteen experienced tailors spent months to finally complete such a magnificent set.

Actually, the style of the ceremonial robes was almost the same every year, only differing in whether there was a Light Circuit and the color of the stoles, to show respect for other principal-year deities. But the Church of Light insisted on giving Anuo new robes every year.

The matter was directly managed by the chief steward responsible for the Pope’s daily life. He had to personally oversee it, because the privilege of sewing ceremonial robes for the God’s Favored was so coveted that families who had made garments for Cardinals and even Popes for generations would compete fiercely for it.

Anuo had tried to refuse at first, but it was useless, so he simply stopped making things difficult for himself and accepted it.

And in Anuo’s magical wardrobe-which looked like an ordinary cabinet but opened up as if it hid a Narnia-another equally luxurious ceremonial outfit was now automatically pushed out and hung before the fitting mirror.

The Alchemy Magic Mirror was currently reciting Her Majesty Salamander’s message: “Come put on your opening ceremony attire!”

Sky Fortress had no rule requiring students to wear uniforms, not even on the first day for the opening ceremony. Except for new students, everyone could wear whatever formal attire they liked or that represented their race. Fifty years ago, even though Salamander had already ascended the throne, she was still somewhat childish; she couldn’t allow her younger brother to wear only Church of Light robes, but she couldn’t interfere with the ceremonial attire either, so she came up with the idea of inaugurating a new tradition for opening ceremony attire.

Thus, every year on this day, Anuo had to wear one set in the morning and another in the afternoon. He didn’t know about others, but for someone like him, a sedentary homebody lacking exercise, just putting on and taking off clothes was exhausting, and every year the pain doubled.

“This year we used sixteen flower sprite tailors,” the magic mirror continued in a flattering tone, conveying Her Majesty the Queen’s “golden words,” afraid it wouldn’t be clear enough-this year, we had one more tailor than the Church of Light! We win!

Anuo: Fifty years later, my sister is still a child at heart.

When Anuo appeared at Ludwig’s dormitory door in that lavish, elf-styled ceremonial attire, he inexplicably felt as if the entire corridor was illuminated by his presence.

Ludwig was still wearing the Sky Fortress uniform, as required for new students, only swapping the cufflinks for a pair of purple gemstones that perfectly matched his violet eyes, reminiscent of violets after the rain. As he fastened the gemstone buttons, he joked with Anuo, “Thank you for bringing me the light, oh great God’s Favored.”

Anuo didn’t mind; he liked this ornate, dazzling style and didn’t care what others thought. He even joked back, “Street-lights-charge-a-fee-too.”

“I can get an annual pass.” The black-haired Demon Race youth showed no hesitation in using the wealth of the House of Asmodeus.

The two chatted and laughed as they went downstairs, neither early nor late. Mrs. Hope, the Treant, was the first to be seated, happily greeting each student as she tidied her yarn balls.

“Good morning, Lud-sprout.”

“Did you sleep well last night, Anuo-sprout?”

“Come have a cup of hot marshmallow cocoa, it’s a bit chilly this morning.” As a Treant, Mrs. Hope couldn’t really feel changes in temperature, but she had specially bought an alchemical thermometer that automatically announced when to add or remove clothing, always keeping an eye on anything that might affect the students’ health.

Soon, within the designated breakfast time, almost everyone in the Dormitory was seated at the table.

Only one new student was late.

Every year, there always seemed to be one or two new students not quite used to communal living; the others in the Dormitory were used to it. When he rushed downstairs with his hair so messy it seemed to defy gravity, everyone smiled kindly-there was no need to be so anxious. The New Classmate’s Krabat scarf was crooked and askew on his uniform, clearly not yet familiar with it.
This was a New Classmate from a minority group who worshipped the God of Wind. Anuo hadn’t even figured out exactly which tribe he belonged to-he only remembered the other’s self-introduction as a descendant of the Wind Tribe. First, the New Classmate apologized repeatedly to Mrs. Hope, then awkwardly whispered to another freshman nearby, explaining that in their tribe, there was no custom of wearing formal attire, nor any tradition of building temples for the God of Wind. Their offerings to the deity were simply made in any valley, where the wind would carry everything away for them.

To be honest, Anuo rather liked this carefree and spontaneous way of worship.

Unfortunately, the Church of Light did not.

An Elven Senior Sister, who usually seemed to ignore everyone, tied a perfectly neat scarf for the new student.

The New Classmate sat there, stunned, not daring to move, his face flushed red as he finally whispered, “Thank you, thank you so much.”

A cup of silky, creamy hot cocoa warmed him through, completely dispelling the morning chill. The pleasant breakfast time was nearly over.

Mrs. Hope cheerfully sent off a room full of lively young seedlings, standing at the door to see them off, blessing each one with the Mother of Earth’s grace: “Get plenty of sunshine, drink the rain, and grow strong!”

On the way to the Academy Mountain Grand Hall with Ludwig, many students glanced at Anuo, some openly, some covertly.

The Light Elf was already striking enough on ordinary days, but today he was even more dazzling. The starlight patterns on the robe prepared for him by his sister Salamander shimmered and moved with his steps, flashing silver and green, turning the already beautiful Elf into a true focal point-sacred and untouchable.

Facing all those expectant smiles, Anuo could only respond as smoothly as possible to each one: “May-the-Light-endure-forever.” Bathed in gentle sunlight, the entire Elf seemed to be covered in a layer of holy radiance.

It happened only once a year, and every student blessed by the God’s Favored looked genuinely happy.

“I have to write to my mother right away-this year, I was blessed by His Excellency, the God’s Favored!”

“Oh my, how can he be so beautiful?”

“Who’s that Demon Race student walking beside His Highness Anuolaide? He usually prefers to be alone.”

Ludwig wasn’t surprised by Anuo’s popularity. After all, whether it was his looks, his background, or his title as the youngest God’s Favored on the continent, any one of these would be enough to draw such attention.

He was just astonished to find that Anuo himself seemed completely oblivious to it.

Because Anuo was secretly telling him, “Tomorrow-it-will-be-fine.” He genuinely believed that it was only on this day each year that everyone paid extra attention to him because of the afternoon church mass, and that things would return to normal afterward.

The Demon Race youth with violet eyes found this immensely amusing. He nearly laughed out loud, curious about how his Elf friend viewed himself on ordinary days.

Soon, Ludwig’s curiosity was satisfied.

After they entered the Academy Mountain Grand Hall, which had been expanded with a Spatial Spell, Ludwig, as a “freshman,” parted ways with the senior Anuo and joined the group reserved for new students.

The senior students were much more relaxed, sitting in groups of three or five with their friends. Only Anuo sat alone, his waterfall-like silver hair making him stand out in the crowd. Even more striking was the aura of aloofness he maintained, his green eyes and polite smile holding everyone at arm’s length.

To outsiders, he was the God’s Favored of the God of Light, the Elven Queen’s only brother-a moon in the sky, a pearl on a scepter, to be admired but never approached.

But to Anuo himself, he felt like a drop of water quickly merging into the sea, perfectly content with his “lack of attention.” He sat with the students serving as Guidance Seniors this year, many of whom were Elves from the Oak Tree Dormitory, so he didn’t have to worry about not knowing anyone.

In short, Anuo thought he had hidden himself quite well.

Yet Ludwig was inexplicably reminded of a fairy tale illustration he’d seen as a child-a little boy hiding behind a curtain, his feet sticking out, giggling because he thought no one could see him.

It was silly, but also strangely endearing.

This year’s opening ceremony was the same as ever, no different from any Anuo had attended before.

Except that Principal Tacitus, who insisted on flying to the podium with wind magic, specifically mentioned the Six Races Grand Competition held every six hundred years. He hoped that if any students or teachers from Sky Fortress participated, everyone would cheer for them. He also wished that those competing would show their best when facing students from other magic schools, and embody the Sky Fortress Spirit.

Anuo tilted his head in confusion and quietly asked a beautiful Elf girl beside him, “Sky-Fortress-Spirit?” He’d never heard of such a thing at their school before.

The Elven Senior Sister looked at Anuo in surprise, as if it was odd that he didn’t know: “Of course it means winning comes first, friendship second!”

Sky Fortress-never behind anyone!

Anuo: “…” Well, that’s very Sky Fortress. No wonder it’s the champion of the Central Domain, the top of the top. If this were a traditional Western fantasy novel, wouldn’t our school be the kind of destined-to-be-face-slapped villain academy?

Author’s Note:

Nonsense Mini Theater:

Principal Tacitus: Our Sky Fortress has never lost! Never!

Anuo: Not-my-problem.