Star Stream Academy

As with most cities in the Alterna Kingdom, Windwave City also had a couple cultivation forces within its borders. None of the forces were in Area A, but four minor-level forces were in Area C and two average-level forces were in Area B. The name of the two average-level forces were Star Stream Academy and Vast Valley Pavilion. Due to tensions related to their founders and mottos, the two forces were constantly in opposition, with their rivalry even influencing the directors of the city. Both forces were well-respected institutions for training educated cultivators from as early as age ten, so potential candidates for positions of director, city lord and other major roles tended to be enrolled in one of the two forces.

However, to ensure fairness, the background of students in Star Stream Academy was not to be referred to. Those from Vast Valley Pavilion mocked this stance because it was a public secret who each of the students was connected to, but this policy had been central to Star Stream Academy maintaining its status. Even so, that didn't mean prestige could be completely ignored by the students.

During lunch, the students of Star Stream Academy split up based on their year and class. The cafeteria had five floors, one for each year group of students, featuring four classes labelled A-D, based on the talent and ability of the students. Variety of meals increased with the height of the floor, but quality jumped for A classes and students from A classes were allowed to have lunch in a private room on the same floor as the rest of their year. These rooms were praised by all students, and yet there was one A class student eating among the rest of her year.

She was a third year who was thirteen years old, with a gold badge indicating her A class status along with a luxurious tray of food, but she received more pity than envy. Her hazel brown hair was short and curly, and she lacked the clear pale appearance that was popular. However, though she seemed to be a bundle of nerves, their stares didn't bother her very much. She ate with a slow but steady pace as she watched the entrance,, but by the time lunch was over, the one she was waiting on never came. She released an audible sigh before getting ready for her next class.

As soon as she walked into the wide classroom with desk and chairs facing a blackboard, the girl found her gaze drawn to the seat in the third row by the window. While seats weren't assigned here, there was always only one person who could take that specific one, and she was present. Unlike the girl who only looked a little above-average, this young lady exuded a cold elegance that could captivate woman and intimidate men, and in this all-girls school that meant she had a lot of fans.

Liella was her name. She possessed violet hair that flowed to her upper back and smooth cheeks that made one want to poke them with a bright smile, but she never allowed anyone to get that close. Everyone admired her from afar, so it was natural that they would hate and curse the one who had the privilege of sitting next to her. As the girl took her seat, she felt a spike in the intensity of the gazes targeting her, but she mustered the courage and turned to Liella.

"Uh, I didn't see you during lunch. I wanted to eat with you."

"I was busy."

"Okay..."

An attempt was made, but it didn't lead to success. The girls in the background snickered at her failure, but she wasn't bothered by them; she only thought about how to get closer to the one next to her.

The first class after lunch was history, which wasn't regarded very highly so though the elites of A class would still ensure that they understood the content, there was a lax atmosphere. The girl wanted to take this chance to get closer to Liella, but her eyes were stuck on the blackboard. The girl wondered if she would get a response if she tried talking to her, but she hesitated when she looked at those brilliant eyes.

Though she glanced at Liella many times, history class ended before they exchanged a word. The next class was alchemy so they would need to move to the alchemy lab, giving the girl another chance to make a move. The alchemy lab itself wasn't special, but every student produced a cauldron that was of excellent quality. This was the girl's first day, so she didn't have all of her school materials, with her cauldron being one of the missing items. She brought this up to the professor, but before she could steer the conversation to getting help from Liella, a different student offered a spare cauldron. It would be one thing if this was done out of kindness, but in A class such a thing was impossible.

When the girl went back to her seat and inspected the cauldron, she found it to be very old and worn, but still just above the condition to be usable. She wanted to use her own cauldron, but felt it was better to stick to her made-up story. Today they would be learning how to refine a new type of pill, so most of the class assumed she would fail since it would be an unfamiliar process with inferior equipment, but she proved that her position in A class wasn't undeserved by finishing fifth with the same quality pills as Liella. However, she wore a frown because this result didn't cause Liella to even look at her.

There was one more class, but there was no change to the status quo by the end of school.

"Even so, I can't give up."

Burning with the passion of friendship, the girl used her last plan for the day. Besides the four buildings for classes, Star Stream Academy also had two buildings for a variety of general clubs. In addition to keeping up with their studies and cultivation, A class students were expected to be involved in at least one club, and the girl chose the same one that Liella was a core member of.

When the girl stood in front of the door to the club, she took several deep breaths but still couldn't get her hand to turn the knob. Her determination to get closer to Liella still burnt strongly, but if she chose to enter the club then she couldn't slack off. She would have to completely devote herself to the role, and that scared her.

"Excuse me."

"!"

For the first time in a long while, the girl had someone approach her without being aware of them. She flinched and then immediately turned to look at who it was. She found a tall young lady with long chocolate brown hair and a slender figure. She seemed to be a little older, and with that age came the reliable aura of a senior.

"Do you want to try joining?"

It wasn't hard for the lady to figure out the girl's situation, and her voice provided just enough encouragement for the girl to nod her head.