svetikya Page 137
Page 137
Claire then ignored him.
……
Back in his dorm, Dak calmed down completely.
He spent about three hours working on the problems left by the "fusion" process, after which he relaxed and started reading some leisurely books.
As the moon set and the willow branches drooped, Saint Marian welcomed the last night before the Christmas ball.
Some people are looking forward to it.
Some people have trouble sleeping.
Some people secretly made up their minds.
The bats that were active all over the castle seemed to have suddenly received some kind of call. One by one, they flew silently into the upper level of the castle and disappeared into the entrance of the secret passage.
Everything is fermenting.
……
Chapter 194 The Prince of Night and the Princess of Black and White (4k)
Sunday, May 12.
Sunday is the most special day of the week, as it is both the Sabbath and the day of worship.
Believers usually go to church for worship on this day.
In addition, tonight is Christmas Eve, so many families will go to church to pray for everyone's safety.
Although the Kingdom's Holy Church is actually a hawkish faction, this does not diminish the desire for peace among the lower-ranking believers.
Having endured the bloodshed of the Demon War, the peace we enjoy today is all the more precious.
People's wisdom grows rapidly during wartime, and they gain a relatively clearer understanding of so-called gods and beliefs, avoiding excessive blind faith.
The vast majority of believers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds go to church for peace of mind, not to truly believe in some god they have never seen.
After all, it wasn't a god who saved them from their dire straits when they were in danger.
Rather, it is those heroes who rushed to the front lines and sacrificed themselves without fear!
……
As the most famous hero production base, St. Marian Academy is actually more revered than the Holy Church.
However, St. Mary's College is not open to the public, nor does it have churches in various towns, so people have nowhere to worship.
没办法，这就是生活.
If you can't get the best one, then you can only use the second one as a small consolation.
The Holy Church has produced a few heroes, after all.
One of the more famous ones is the Battle Saintess who inherited the title of "Joan of Arc".
……
Amidst the soft, fragmented prayers, the kingdom welcomed a new day.
The same is true of Saint Marian.
After finishing her daily prayers, Sister Kallian casually picked up a coat and draped it over her shoulders.
The work that had been piling up for the past few days was finally completed yesterday.
Starting today, she will also have a vacation—if she's lucky enough!
Unfortunately, as is the case every year, a few things go wrong during Christmas.
As a result, she didn't dare to drink freely at the ball.
However, she came prepared for this year's Christmas ball, having specially prepared a hangover remedy!
One dose of hangover remedy is all it takes to instantly sober up, no matter how drunk you are.
Although the price was double the subsequent drunkenness...
"what--"
She yawned, planning to take advantage of her free time to stroll down the traveler's street and buy a few small gifts.
She usually hides in the infirmary and doesn't socialize much, but now she can't hide anymore.
Teachers often exchange gifts.
Especially the few professors who stayed at the academy.
That is, Professor Lily, Professor Cazell, and Professor Sylph.
Since we are all homeless, we need to stick together and keep warm, otherwise how will we get through the cold winter?
……
Speaking of those professors...
Lily got drunk again last night and is lying on the sofa like a dead pig. She probably won't be able to get up until the afternoon.
Professors Cazell and Sylph were extremely busy preparing for the Christmas ball.
Professor Sylph was in charge of the specific arrangements for the ball, while Professor Cazell was using the Holy Grail to create disposable wishing devices—Christmas stockings!
Thinking about it carefully, Professor Cazell is truly pitiful.
He made over 80% of the ghosts and monsters for Halloween.
He also made all one thousand stockings for Christmas...
But in St. Marian, he only received the salary of an ordinary professor.
awful!
……
Frost had already appeared on the buildings in the early morning, and a thin layer of ice had formed on the lake.
As the temperature of the sunlight gradually rose and the frost melted, St. Mary's College slowly regained its vitality.
The students began to emerge from the tower one after another.
All the previous efforts and preparations will be put to the test tonight!
In the dormitory of the nobles, Dak was still reading "Claire's Travelogue".
This book is surprisingly interesting.
Although Aunt Claire herself is like that, her writing style leans towards humor and lightness. She writes her stories vividly and even draws pictures of every scenic spot and wonder she visits, which shows how much effort she puts into it.
The process of reading it is like following in her footsteps, traversing thousands of mountains and rivers.
It's hard to imagine someone traveling such a long distance alone.
The lighthearted and humorous tone of the writing cannot mask the hardship of the long journey.
Not to mention the dangers of deep mountains and forests, and the ferocity of bandits and thieves.
Dak suddenly realized that he shouldn't have given her that bottle of wine called "Eight Desolations"; perhaps he should have bought her a whole set of cosmetics instead.
Of course, Claire herself would definitely prefer that bottle of wine.
Forty-eight hours passed in the blink of an eye, and it was still unknown whether Claire had arrived home.
Perhaps on Christmas Eve tonight, she will light a candle on the dining table and savor a bottle of fiery red wine with Arvit, a wine imbued with the intense scent of battle!
……
Another afternoon has passed.
Dak packed his bags, ready to go into battle.
He genuinely enjoyed the festive atmosphere brimming with youthful energy. However, getting too involved could sometimes lead to a lot of trouble in his interpersonal relationships.
The Christmas ball starts at 7 p.m. sharp.
The ball was held in the same hall where the Sorting Ceremony took place, which students sometimes referred to as the "Great Hall" or the "Banquet Hall."
Unlike Halloween, there were no costume parties or similar events, and most professors were no longer on campus. Therefore, the school did not strictly regulate the timing of the Christmas ball.
If you wish, you can even enter the auditorium at five or six o'clock.
There are no princesses as guests at tonight's ball, but it's said that a magic circus troupe that performed in Travellers' Street has been invited.
Although the junior mages can summon magical spirits themselves, the magic circus always manages to create a refreshing and unique experience when directing these magical spirits in their performances.
Around 6:30 in the evening, just as Dark had changed into his Night Prince outfit, he heard a knock on the door.
He pushed the now-useless black raven mask to the corner of the table, straightened his collar, and went to open the door.
“晚上好，女士们。”
The moment he opened the door, he gave a perfectly polite bow.
Diana, standing at the door, paused for a moment before happily extending her hand.
Good evening, Dark.
Dak took her hand and lightly tapped it in his black lace-gloved palm, making her giggle.
Rose immediately gave her a look of disappointment.
Dak then looked up and sized up the two elegantly dressed ladies.
As expected, Diana changed into the Night Princess outfit, a black velvet princess dress that matched Dark's attire perfectly, with a particularly voluminous skirt supported by a crinoline.
The extravagant embellishments and cute ruffles covering the skirt are definitely not something that everyone can pull off.
Diana's long silver hair was neatly combed, clearly the work of Rose.
The expensive hair ornaments pinned to the side of her head gave her a more aristocratic and dignified look, making her appear less childish.
The stiletto heels slightly compensated for his height, which was slightly lower than that of his peers.
Diana's usually striking personality often makes people overlook the fact that her maternal lineage is royal.
Despite being a distant relative of royalty, his smooth silver hair still exuded an untouchable nobility.
Twelve-year-old Diana, after dressing up carefully, actually had the air of a beauty.
……
Dark's gaze then turned to Rose.
Unlike her sergeant attire at the masquerade ball, Rose today also donned a dress that suited her personality.
She clearly preferred a clean and pure white tone. Her figure, which was slightly taller than Diana's, had some curves thanks to the corset, making her waist appear slender. The skirt, also supported by a crinoline, resembled a blooming flower, and the multi-layered design gave a strong visual impact.
Rose, who chose flat red ballet shoes, stood up to be about the same height as Diana, so there was no contrast between them.
It seems she has always been mindful of not overshadowing Diana's brilliance. But natural beauty cannot be concealed by such small details.
Her long, light blonde hair, inherited from her noble parents, made her look like a true princess.
Even with Anna and Angie here, they cannot completely steal her brilliance.
Unlike her initial timidity upon arriving in St. Marian, Rose was noticeably more outgoing, thanks both to Diana's influence and the presence of a boy who shone brightly in their small circle.
Although it may not sound like a good thing at first glance, that is indeed the case.
Regardless of location or social circle, one's psychology and external perception are greatly influenced.
The small circle formed by the three of them was undoubtedly among the top tier of first-year students in the academy.
The careless Diana didn't notice.
The observant Rose could always see a hint of envy in her classmates' eyes, which helped alleviate her deep-seated inferiority complex.
So she always felt that meeting Diana and Dark was the luckiest thing that ever happened to her.
Her smile became increasingly radiant.
……
Dark looked away, feeling slightly relieved.
Fortunately, he is no longer the same person he used to be.