Chapter 255 – End of the Second Academic Year

Chapter 255 – End of the Second Academic Year

The more Mo Lan thought about it, the more justified she felt. She took out a sheet of golden bird stationery and began writing a reply to her mother.

Shana had been staying near the Witch Council lately. Every day, she converted half of her magical power into Gem Coins, spending them on card draws or buying cards.

She received Mo Lan’s reply that very same day.

“Mama, please be cautious with card draws. All card sales are final — no returns or exchanges! Not even for you, Mama!”

After reading the first paragraph, Shana let out a soft hmph.

Was she that kind of person?

She continued reading.

“Also, here’s a report on my recent studies…”

Shana’s eyes gradually filled with astonishment as she read through the lengthy descriptions of study achievements.

“Of the ten major branches of Elemental Magic, I only have Dark-element magic left to finish reading. I’ve learned all nine other major branches of Elemental Magic, and I’ve practiced the five elemental systems — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth — to the Beginner level.”

“Learned all of Spatial Magic.”

“Finished reading all books on Alchemy. Currently capable of crafting sixty-eight types of low-level magical items.”

“Beginner level in potion-brewing magic. Can brew all Apprentice-grade potions and some Beginner-grade potions.”

…

After finishing the letter, Shana had only one thought: “Is this humanly possible? Isn’t this a bit too absurd?”

She felt a dreamlike sense of unreality.

When she had left Moon Harbor, her only worry was that her daughter might one day catch up to her.

She never expected that after spending just a few days at the Witch Council, that worry would already become reality.

Her daughter was already stronger than her.

Even among Sorceresses, Shana felt that no Sorceress could have accomplished what little Moira had.

Stung by this letter, Shana — who had been obsessed with the card-drawing game lately — suddenly remembered that the reason she had returned to the Witch Council was to properly study magic and improve herself.

It was just that a few days ago, the moment she had arrived at the Witch Council Library, the Card Magic promotional flyer had caught her attention. She had transcribed only that one book before hurrying out to study it.

Remembering her original purpose, she made another trip to the library.

This time she discovered that the library didn’t just have 《Card Magic》 as a new Sorceress Magic book — there were three others as well, all shelved around the same time, all written by underage young Sorceresses.

“No wonder Moira is working so hard! This generation of young witches is truly brimming with talent! Four Sorceresses have appeared in this generation alone!”

After sighing with emotion, Shana transcribed these Sorceress Magic books as well, and while she was at it, copied down several Elemental Magic books too, intending to improve her own Elemental Magic abilities.

She didn’t need to become exceptionally powerful — she just needed to live up to her own magical talent.

*

Back at the Witch Academy, Mo Lan was reading a Dark-element magic book when she heard the Academy bell chime the hour, and felt a wave of relief wash over her.

The Academy’s mail channel had closed. Even if Mama Shana wanted to write back and scold her, the letter wouldn’t reach her for another two weeks.

She was completely unaware that her mother had pitched a small tent near the Witch Council and begun the most diligent period of magical training since her graduation.

Days immersed in study passed remarkably quickly. It wasn’t until Headmistress No. 69 reminded her to attend the enrollment ceremony at eight o’clock in the evening three days from now that she realized the break was almost over.

She picked up the study goals she had set for herself at the beginning of this academic year. Looking at the completion marks next to each one, Mo Lan smiled with satisfaction.

The ink on the page varied in age, but every stroke represented a milestone of progress.

Beyond the originally planned ten major branches of Elemental Magic, Spatial Magic, and Alchemy Magic studies, she had also finished reading all the books on Healing Magic in the Second-Year Reading Room and had made preliminary attempts at casting them — all successful.

However, due to the unique nature of this school of magic, Mo Lan hadn’t practiced it extensively. She had only tried it a few times when she first learned it — enough to barely cast the spells successfully, though the effects were mediocre at best.

Fortunately, after the enrollment ceremony she would become a third-year student, and the Academy’s Inner Region would be opened to them. She would have the chance to go to the Inner Region and find opportunities to practice Healing Magic.

Thinking of this, Mo Lan felt a surge of anticipation.

“Oh right — when we advance to third year, Lilith will be moving up to fourth year. Fourth-years have to move out of the Dormitory. Has she found a place to live in the outer area yet?”

Knock knock!

“Moira!”

“Are you in your room?”

“I’m here!”

Hearing Vasida and Sylph’s voices, Mo Lan hurried to open the door.

“Moira, you got the notice about the enrollment ceremony time too, right? Are you doing promotions again at this year’s ceremony?” Vasida asked anxiously the moment she saw her.

“Of course. Same as last year — we’ll set up a tasting booth and hand out flyers.”

Although Mo Lan’s Card Magic was currently selling quite well at the Witch Council, and the new student market wasn’t something she urgently needed —

Every little bit counted! Besides, it wouldn’t take much effort. She could simply reuse last year’s playbook.

“But this time I won’t need to find someone to demonstrate card usage. I can just handle it myself with Culinary Magic. And I can use Levitation Spell for distributing flyers too!”

Mo Lan’s Culinary Magic and Levitation Spell had reached a level where she could handle the whole thing on her own.

“Great! We’ll do it together then,” Vasida said. “I’m planning to follow Lilith’s example from back then — personally step up and demonstrate my physical strength to the new students, promoting my Sorceress Magic and related cards.”

“I’ve also applied to the Headmistress for a long table. I’m planning to display some mutant fruits and use the opportunity to promote my mutant fruit planting magic,” Sylph said.

The two of them had thoroughly studied Mo Lan’s 《Guide on Earth Business Strategies》 and now had much deeper insights into how to market their own magic.

Mo Lan felt genuinely gratified by this. “Looks like at this year’s enrollment ceremony, the new girls will get to experience the taste of ‘poverty’ too.”

This was something their junior Bertha had told them.

At last year’s enrollment ceremony, their promotions had been very successful.

They had sparked the first-year girls’ curiosity and interest in Sorceress Magic. The only problem was that the girls were still young, lacking in magical power, and Lady Amisha had strictly forbidden them from spending too much of their permanent magical power on purchasing Sorceress Magic.

So despite not having a single coin to their name and nowhere to spend money, they had gotten an early taste of “poverty.”

It wasn’t poverty of money, but poverty of insufficient magical power — temporarily unable to afford all the Sorceress Magic that interested them, forced to make painful choices about what to prioritize.

“Haha! If you’ve never been poor, how would you be motivated to get rich?” Vasida laughed. “I heard from Lady Amisha that while the first-years aren’t quite as hardworking as we were, they’re still stronger than previous cohorts. It’s all because of the ‘poverty’ — after all, the more you practice magic, the faster your magical power grows!”

Amid the three girls’ laughter and chatter, Mo Lan thought of Lilith, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, and asked about her senior’s recent situation: “Have you two seen Lilith lately? Has she finished building her home? Is she participating in the promotions this year?”