Celestial Engraved Magic Academy's Annual School Festival

It began in this cool autumn, not long after the war ended.

The seven-day festival would feature fascinating foods and goods, plus apprentices from other academies visiting the campus. This was also the student council’s busiest time.

September 23rd, the festival’s first day.

Normally, apprentices would still be sluggishly waking up at this hour. But now, the academy teemed with crowds—apprentices from other schools, its own students, and celebrities from across the continent.

This grand event marked Celestial Engraved Magic Academy’s rare public opening.

"Yo! Hua Shan Temple Moon Day? Didn’t expect you here."

"I’m merely sightseeing with my apprentice."

Kami Miraishi still wore his white suit, a random mask dangling from his head, a skewer of grilled chicken wings in hand. While wandering, he bumped into Hua Shan Temple Moon Day and Xuanyuan Yinghan.

"Well, thanks for last time too."

"No need. I simply wished to witness the ancient church’s power."

Hua Shan Temple Moon Day’s hair was tied in a ponytail, her black-and-white kimono accentuating her petite, doll-like frame—the kind that made anyone want to protect her.

Beside her, Xuanyuan Yinghan wore his usual black robe, a long sword sheathed in black at his waist. They looked less like master and apprentice, more like a quiet older brother tending to his lively little sister.

Just then, Sharkai Manwei and Cecilia Vox approached, deep in discussion.

"Having fun, Grand Patriarch Kami?"

"Hua Shan Temple Moon Day and Young Master Xuanyuan too?"

"Well, it’s a rare festival."

"Ah, isn’t that Sharkai Bai?" Xuanyuan Yinghan spotted the white-haired youth ahead.

Among the apprentices, Sharkai Manwei saw his grandson Sharkai Bai looking utterly drained, flanked by a blonde girl and a white-haired girl. Too exhausted, he hadn’t noticed his grandfather’s group.

No wonder—he’d been kept awake all night before the festival by dorm-door interruptions asking, "How’s this one?"

Their chatter carried clearly to Sharkai Manwei’s party.

"Honestly, Daring-kun! How can you be so weak during such a grand event?"

"Perverted Bai-classmate clearly needs water to fight fatigue."

"Whoa! Put that bottle away! Daring-kun can’t drink from your used one!"

"...I just want to sleep."

"No way!"

"Not allowed."

Last year, Sharkai Bai had stayed home all seven festival days. Clearly, this year wouldn’t be so peaceful.

Watching them, Kami Miraishi tossed his skewer into a bin and chuckled. "My, my—Bai-classmate’s truly blessed with lovely company."

Sharkai Manwei frowned bitterly while Cecilia Vox smiled, patting his arm. "Sigh... a wedding won’t be simple to arrange."

"Don’t rush. We can’t force such things alone."

Thus began the School Festival of Celestial Engraved Magic Academy.