…That’s the end of my talk; the curtain drops for ten minutes. After that, Paluna Kalentia will grace us with a song.
About half an hour later, Melusha’s long speech finally ebbed like a tired river, and half the students were nodding off with eyelids like heavy shutters.
But the moment they heard the name “Paluna Kalentia,” they snapped awake like sparks on dry leaves, all excitement and expectation blooming like dawn.
“It’s bliss! First day of term and we get Paluna’s voice, like spring rain on new grass!”
“Exactly—this semester’s going to feel like sunshine after snow!”
“Totally—can’t wait, like standing at the shore before a rising tide!”
The quiet hall suddenly sprouted whispers like grass pushing through stone.
“Aixue, didn’t you say there’d be club performances after the speech? Why is there nothing now?” My confusion rose like mist; holding Hill, I turned to Eastern Moon Aixue.
“There were supposed to be, but once Paluna takes the stage, they’re off the program,” she said, smiling like warm tea. “Everyone’s waiting for her voice, not club routines.”
“Oh? Is this Paluna really that strong?” Hill perked up on my lap, eyes glittering like stars.
“She’s very strong,” Faya said, her tone carrying respect like a bowed branch. “Paluna’s the idol of Egisia Academy, and her skill’s among the top peaks.”
“Paluna’s a songstress, so her magic attribute should be ‘Sound,’ right?” Perhaps out of boredom, Xinuo slipped into the stream of talk like a swan onto a lake.
“Miss Xinuo, you’re right.” Eastern Moon Aixue nodded, then continued, “Paluna’s attribute is Sound, and it’s quite formidable, like wind you can’t catch.”
“Sound is indeed rare,” Xinuo replied calmly, her voice smooth as moonlight on water.
“Xinuo, what’s this ‘Sound’ attribute?” Curiosity tugged at me like a fishline; I looked at her.
“It’s one of the many magic attributes.” She reached out a pale, lovely hand and pinched my cheek, playful as a cat with a ribbon.
“In common elements, Sound, Mind, and Soul are the trickiest—yet Sound differs from Mind and Soul,” she said, voice steady like a stone path. “Sound attacks slip through every gap like wind through reeds; at the same tier, they’re nearly unbeatable. With good control, you can even beat stronger foes; but if both are Sacred Realm mages, that’s another mountain.”
“Uh… I don’t really get it.” My thoughts felt like fog inside a jar.
“Sigh, I figured.” Xinuo looked at me, her breath a soft leaf-fall. “Put it this way: Mind and Soul magic may hit harder than Sound, but if the opponent’s spirit or soul is stronger, they shrug it off like rain on old pines. Sound is different.”
She glanced around like a hawk checking the wind. “Servant, you can hear the voices in this hall, right?”
“Mm, I hear them,” I said, the chorus rising like distant surf.
“If those voices carried attack, what would happen?” Her words dropped like stones into a still pond.
I was speechless; understanding broke like dawn. Even without magic, I could see it.
In short, sound is what we touch the most, like air and water; if it turned violent, trouble would roll in like a storm.
“So, don’t offend a Sound mage,” Xinuo said, drawing her hand back like a petal on the breeze. “Unless you’re far stronger—then do as you wish.”
“Whoa, that’s really something!” My surprise burst like firecrackers.
“Right?” she answered, a small smile like a crescent moon.
The ten-minute break slipped by like sand through a glass.
At the exact moment it ended, the hall fell perfectly still, silence clear enough to hear breathing, like snow muffling the world.
Every gaze turned to the stage, breath held, faces bright with expectation like lanterns before a festival.
Tap, tap, tap… Light, crisp footsteps rang out, and with the first tap the hall quieted further, like a lake at dusk.
“What’s happening?” My attention sharpened like a drawn blade; I fixed my eyes on the stage.
“So pretty…” A girl in an Egisia Academy uniform walked slowly to center stage, her presence like a lily opening.
I couldn’t help a murmur of praise; beauty rose off her like perfume from night flowers.
Her long hair, black as midnight, lay neatly over back and shoulders, swaying with each step like slow waves.
Her violet eyes gleamed like amethyst, carrying a confidence that pressed like a steady tide on the shore.
Her delicate face wore no paint, a natural grace like clear spring water—nothing like beauties propped up by powders.
Her pure white uniform suited her like fresh snow, though her skirt was short, stopping at the thigh like a clean cut; long white boots hugged her legs with craftsmanship like lacework ice.
Most of all, her noble air flowed like incense smoke—no less than Eastern Moon Aixue’s elegant poise.
On the Eastern Moon Continent, she was the prettiest girl I’d met after Eastern Moon Aixue, a blossom among blossoms.
She still fell far short of Xinuo, in looks and aura alike, like starlight beside the full moon.
So, after a few glances, I drew back my gaze like a tide slipping off rocks.
“She’s Paluna? She’s not as pretty as Master!” Hill blurted, thoughts flying like sparrows.
Her voice dropped into the quiet like a stone into a still lake, ripples spreading in our section.
Girls nearby turned our way—curious, displeased, angry—eyes like different blades shining.
They looked ready to speak, but the moment they saw Xinuo, their lips twitched and no sound came out, like candles under rain.
“Uh, she says whatever comes to mind—please don’t mind it,” Eastern Moon Aixue stood quickly, smoothing the air like a fan. “Paluna’s about to start; let’s ignore small ripples.”
“…”
“…”
With Eastern Moon Aixue speaking, they pulled their gazes back like kites reeling in string, faces intent, clearly ready for Paluna’s performance.
“Whew—Hill, Egisia Academy has many of Paluna’s fans,” Eastern Moon Aixue said, settling down with a sigh like a warm breeze. “Talk like that will offend people.”
“But she really isn’t as pretty as Master,” Hill replied, lips tilted like a stubborn petal.
“Well, true,” Eastern Moon Aixue laughed, a light chime like silver bells. “Miss Xinuo is the most beautiful person I’ve seen. Let’s shelve that and listen well to Paluna.”
“Okay,” Hill said, her agreement soft as a feather.
“Good morning, everyone. I’m Paluna Kalentia, the songstress of Egisia Academy.” Paluna reached center stage and offered a simple introduction, her voice clear as a mountain spring.
