Qiansitelin nodded and stepped forward first, extending her slender fingers.
Following Nisangdo’s instructions, she firmly grasped the lower stem of one of the peculiar flowers.
Then, a thread of pure energy slowly flowed from her fingertips into the flower stalk.
In an instant, the originally closed bud shuddered violently.
Five petals of different shapes, crystal clear and translucent, unfolded one after another, bursting into dazzling lights of distinct colors.
Among the five blooming petals, the blue one shone the brightest.
Ailiya, watching from the side, held her breath, covering her mouth tightly with her small hands to keep from gasping.
All five petals are lit… especially that brilliant blue light!
Muxuan, seeing this, understood in her heart and also stepped forward to grasp the stem of another flower.
She took a deep breath and similarly infused her own power into it.
The second flower also bloomed, again with five petals, again lighting up with five brilliant streams of light.
However, although it was overall brighter than Qiansitelin’s, each petal was far inferior to that blue one.
“Wow! Five types too! And they’re all so bright!”
Ailiya was completely stunned by the sight, exclaiming softly.
Having longed to enter Saint Delosia Academy, Ailiya couldn’t have avoided doing her research.
After all, at Saint Delosia Academy’s testing flowers, no matter the brightness, just having two petals light up was already considered excellent aptitude.
She had never even dared to imagine all five petals lighting up at once!
No wonder they were important figures from the Ariadolia Empire!
For a moment, her gaze toward Muxuan and Qiansitelin grew even more filled with envy and reverence.
Muxuan and Qiansitelin almost simultaneously let go of the flower stems.
The brilliance of the two peculiar flowers quickly dimmed, and the five-colored petals slowly closed.
The room once again sank into the dimness cast by the faintly glowing vines.
Muxuan slowly turned her head to look at Nisangdo, about to ask something, but was interrupted by him.
“No need to ask too much. I will contact someone inside Saint Delosia Academy. At that time, you only need to hand over this flower, and you can proceed with the onboarding smoothly.”
Then, he briefly explained the subsequent procedures to Qiansitelin and Muxuan.
As soon as he finished speaking, the two faintly glowing wooden tables in the center of the room quietly faded their fluorescence.
The two peculiar flowers on them also seemed to merge into the shadows of the vine-covered walls, disappearing.
But immediately, a gentle force swept through the room.
Muxuan and Qiansitelin almost simultaneously felt a slight weight in their palms.
Looking down, the two peculiar flowers they had each held and infused with power were now quietly lying in their hands.
The petals were closed, the light was contained, leaving only a warm touch and a lingering trace of residual energy.
“These are your credentials.”
After speaking, Nisangdo had no intention of continuing.
He simply turned around and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The dim room was once again bathed in the corridor’s light as he walked out first.
Muxuan and Qiansitelin exchanged a glance, their eyes still cautious, but they quickly followed.
Ailiya, immersed in immense joy and anticipation, hurriedly trotted after them, afraid of being left behind.
The group returned along the somewhat dim vine corridor, and soon they arrived back at the entrance hall of the wooden attic, which was styled after elven architecture.
The light here was slightly brighter than in the previous room, and the scent of grass and trees in the air was stronger.
They had just stood still when a series of footsteps approached from afar.
An elf soon appeared at the doorway, naturally walking to Nisangdo’s side.
He had smooth, waist-length green hair, wore a dark elf robe embroidered with the academy’s emblem, and kept his eyes closed, a gentle smile on his face.
Turning to Nisangdo, he wore an expression of accustomed calm.
“Professor Nisangdo, are these two honored guests from the Ariadolia Empire who need to handle the onboarding procedures?”
Professor!?
Muxuan and Qiansitelin were immediately startled.
They had only been in the Elven Forest for such a short time, and Nisangdo had already become a professor at Saint Delosia Academy?
Nisangdo did not pay attention to the change in Muxuan and Qiansitelin’s expressions.
He calmly nodded at Sike’erlin.
“Yes, Mentor Sike’erlin.”
Then, he stepped aside, motioning for Muxuan and Qiansitelin to come forward.
The green-haired elf named Sike’erlin “looked” in the direction of Muxuan and Qiansitelin.
Although his eyes were closed, both Muxuan and Qiansitelin clearly felt a gaze fall upon them.
After sizing up Muxuan and Qiansitelin, Sike’erlin did not ask any more questions.
He simply extended a long, fair hand, palm up.
Muxuan and Qiansitelin understood and gently placed the peculiar flowers representing their test results into his hand.
Sike’erlin’s fingers, extremely gently, brushed over the stems and closed buds of the two flowers, his movements smooth and elegant.
Watching from the side, Muxuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Well, I guess that’s elves for you.
Their every action and gesture is impeccably elegant.
Soon, during Sike’erlin’s gentle stroking of the flowers, a clear look of surprise suddenly appeared on his calm face.
His brows lifted slightly, and his lips moved soundlessly for a moment.
Even through closed eyelids, Muxuan and Qiansitelin could feel his “gaze” sweep quickly between them, especially lingering on Muxuan for a moment.
“Unbelievable…”
Sike’erlin murmured softly, his voice very low but enough for everyone present to hear.
He nodded slightly, quickly retracted the surprise on his face, and returned to calm.
“The qualifications are confirmed without error, very excellent. Welcome both mentors to Saint Delosia Academy.”
Then, from somewhere, he produced a rather ancient-looking hardcover book.
His fingers lightly brushed over the cover, and the book opened automatically.
A feather pen glowing faintly appeared in his hand out of thin air, and he began writing rapidly on the blank pages.
The pen scratched across the paper, producing a faint rustling sound, leaving behind a string of faintly glowing elven script—clearly the onboarding information for the two.
Nisangdo quietly waited for Sike’erlin to finish writing.
When Sike’erlin slightly raised his wrist, the light at the tip of the feather pen faded, and he closed the book, Nisangdo spoke again.
His gaze passed over Muxuan and Qiansitelin, turning to Ailiya, who was following closely behind them, trying to lower her presence but with eyes full of hope.
“Mentor Sike’erlin, there is one more matter.”
Nisangdo pointed at Ailiya.
“This elven girl also hopes to have the opportunity to study at Saint Delosia Academy. I wonder… if arrangements can be made as well?”
Hearing Nisangdo’s question, Ailiya’s heart instantly leaped into her throat.
She fiercely clutched her clothes, her clear, green eyes suddenly brightening, then fixedly stared at Mentor Sike’erlin, afraid to miss a single syllable.
Sike’erlin turned toward Ailiya’s direction.
Even with his closed eyes, he seemed to “see” the unreserved, burning hope on the girl’s face.
However, his calm face showed clear hesitation.
His brows furrowed slightly, and his lips tightened, as if weighing something.
“Does she have qualification proof?”
After a long hesitation, Sike’erlin turned back to Nisangdo and asked again.
Nisangdo had no way to handle this either, so he could only shake his head.
Seeing Nisangdo shake his head, Sike’erlin fell silent, and the atmosphere in the room momentarily stagnated.
The light in Ailiya’s eyes gradually dimmed due to Sike’erlin’s silence, replaced by an increasingly heavy disappointment.
“Mentor Sike’erlin.”
Catching the look Muxuan gave him, Nisangdo had no choice but to speak again, his voice carrying a hint of pressure.
“Although this elven girl’s qualifications may not meet the regular standards, she is also a companion I brought along.”
“Moreover, although the admission season just ended, Saint Delosia’s quotas are probably still insufficient, right? Especially in the current…”
He paused, not specifying what “current” referred to, but Sike’erlin’s body stiffened unavoidably.
Sike’erlin was silent for a moment, lightly tapping his fingers on the thick hardcover book.
On his calm face, his brows furrowed slightly and then relaxed, finally turning into a soft sigh.
He looked at Muxuan and Qiansitelin again, as if confirming something, his gaze especially lingering briefly on Muxuan’s silver hair.
“Very well.”
Sike’erlin finally spoke.
“Since Professor Nisangdo personally recommended her, and it happens to be… a special period. An exception can be made once.”
Upon hearing Sike’erlin’s words, Ailiya lifted her head sharply, her green eyes instantly lit up with unbelievable joy.
At that moment, Sike’erlin turned to her, his tone becoming serious.
“Ailiya, the regulations of Saint Delosia Academy cannot be lightly discarded.”
“Although you are allowed to enroll, you can only enter as a ‘probationary student,’ the lowest level of student status.”
“Three months later, there will be a midterm assessment. If your performance fails to reach the baseline, or if you commit any disciplinary violations within the academy, you will be immediately expelled. Do you understand?”
“I understand! I understand, Mentor Sike’erlin!”
Ailiya’s voice trembled with uncontrollable excitement.
“Thank you! Thank you, Professor Nisangdo! Thank you, both ladies!”
She hurriedly bowed, tears swirling in her eyes.
She had finally made it into Saint Delosia Academy!
Even if it was just as a probationary student, she was still a student of Saint Delosia Magic Academy!
That was a top-tier academy! A place that ordinary elves could almost never enter in a lifetime, no matter how hard they tried.
Sike’erlin nodded slightly and said no more.
He reopened the faintly glowing hardcover book, and the feather pen danced again, writing quickly—this time registering Ailiya’s information as a probationary student.
Nisangdo stood to the side, his expression still calm.
Seeing Muxuan looking at him, he nodded to Muxuan and Qiansitelin, then said:
“I’ll leave the rest to Mentor Sike’erlin. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”
After speaking, he turned slightly and disappeared into the depths of the shadows along the vine corridor.
Qiansitelin’s hand holding «Lyrasel» did not relax, while Muxuan watched Nisangdo’s departing direction thoughtfully, a hint of solemnity flickering in the depths of her golden eyes.
His help in getting them into the academy was definitely not out of goodwill, nor simply because he knew she was from the Church.