The Celestial Land

Chapter 6: Road of a Mage

Elleste hadn't completely accepted her life in this world, yet she had no choice. Thruthfully, she also didn't have too many attachment in her previous life either. There would be some moments with old friends that she would never forget. Now, that she was really away, she sometimes also missed them greatly.

It was not like she had a choice either. She was sent here, and she wouldn't know the way to come back. Even after she goes back, what would she do then?

Those memories of her friends were precious, but they also already had their own lives. Out of the four children of the same age from the orphanage back then, the only one who didn't make it to middle school was only her. Other kids had gotten some family that adopt them, yet those families never took a glance at her.

Sometimes, Elleste could only resent her life, yet no matter what, because of that, she began to develop a stong urge of survival within her. Some people in her previous life wasn't willing to hire someone underage, so she tried another means to get some food. It was after the orphanage was destroyed at that time.

Reminiscing about the past life couldn't help but made Elleste sigh softly. The same urge of survival still exist within her. Now, she should strive to be stronger, only then, she could c***k the secrets of this world of existence.

From the noon until afternoon, Elleste immersed herself in reading the facts about races from the books that was placed inside the rings. She had tried to use some spells written on the mage book, but had failed.

Afterward, she found out that she should refine the nature energy first, only then she could use those spells. She had tried to do that according to the method written, but she was still without avail.

"It's quite hard." Elleste muttered.

She attempted to absorb those nature energy, closing her eyes and concentrated, yet she couldn't really made herself focus. She didn't get the comfortable and refreshing feeling as described. In the end, Elleste just gave up for a while and decided to ask someone later.

"Is your dizziness has gotten better yet, Elleste?" Arlina suddenly appeared inside the cabin, startling Elleste.

Arlina curiosly peeked through Elleste's shoulder to watch what she was doing. After a moment, her face showed a hint of surprise. "Where do you get this spell books?"

Elleste blinked. She finally explained everything that had happened after Arline went off to the training ground, excluding the incident with the man named Elsaid.

"Oh, you've finally got tested and have the talent for being a mage?" Arlina seemed happy for the news. "Then, you just take your time to rest. Tomorrow is the day for your first training, so, you should prepare yourself in best condition."

Elleste nodded at Arlina words, she ate the food that Arlina brought. Afterward, she continued to read the books to get better understanding of this world. When the night was neither too early nor too late, she finally decided to sleep.

She knew that Arlina would still be awake at this moment, as she would refine the night energy to advance to the next stage. Arlina was at rank 1 middle undead, meaning she was at fourth stage. Advancing was extemely hard if one didn't have enough talent or lucky encounter.

Early morning, Elleste had woken up. Arlina was still sitting quietly in a meditative state. She didn't want to disturb her, so she went to the river nearby to wash her face and took a bath at one of the bathrooms. Those bathroom were also made from wood. She had seen them when the swordsman Markus brought her along.

"I have brought the breakfast for you." Arlina said, smiling kindly as saw Elleste entered the cabin. Then, she raised her eyebrow. "You already have a bath? I'll also go to clean myself then."

Elleste gave her a look full of gratitude. "Thank you."

Arlina nodded. "You just stay here and wait for me. We'll go to the training ground together. I know the Green Wood Palace."

After saying that, Arlina had already disappeared even before Elleste could reply to her. Elleste only shook her head. Those undead who had reached the high level were sure very fast.

Elleste also slightly envy those powerful people. They didn't need to eat and even felt no hunger. Though they can also eat, it would bring no apparent effect unless it's those medicinal food made of rare medicinal herbs.

"I'll definitely reach the first stage soon." Elleste muttered at herself in determination.

She quickly finished all her food, and at the same time, Arlina also came back. Elleste looked up. She changed her clothes into a black robe and tied her black hair in simple manner.

"Let's go." Arlina exited the door, followed by Elleste.

Along the way, Elleste noticed that the place seemed more crowded at times like thise. There were a lot of people of various professions, or even races going around. They clearly prepared herself to train today.

"Hmm, Green Wood Palace. I just noticed that this was the group with mage potential that came around a few years ago. It's quite weird that they placed a newcomer in the old group like this." Arlina finally stated her curiosity. She had been feeling that something was weird at the mention of Green Wood Palace and she finally remembered it just now.

Elleste was slightly surprised. "Then, at what level those batches now?"

Arlina blinked and ponder for a moment before answering. "They should be around the first stage, if not then they are close to it. I don't really pay close attention to human mages though."

Elleste sighed after she heard that. She had just excited after having a talent of becoming a mage, yet those people unexpectedly put her in a group that already reached such stage. It was really like a cold water being poured at her head.

Now, she that she remembered one incident after another, started from right after she was reincarnated into this world until now, she had been bullied by the natives here. No matter at what form they were.

"Don't worry. That a powerful mage personally appear, they must've a reason for this." Arlina assured her.

After walking for a few minutes through the forest-like place with dwellings of various races everywhere, they finally reached the area of training ground. It was the area for mage.

Green Wood Palace was made entirely of wood, yet it still gave the sense of majesty if one looked at it. The buliding was quite tall, like a castle. What made Elleste felt mesmerized was the fact that the palace seemed to be built from some big trees arranged together. Elleste could see just how big those trees were.

"Alright. This is your training ground of Green Wood Palace for mage. I'll go to training ground for undead then." Arlina said to Elleste.

Elleste nodded. She was quite lucky to have Arlina as her guide. After Arlija was gone, Elleste began to look around. She already put the green jade painted with two leaves as her identity.

She looked around awakwardly. She didn't know anyone here as she had just made too little friends. However, she could already see that those people would glance at her briefly. Some had the look of curiosity, others was the competitive stare that made her feeling rather uneasy, as she was still a complete rookie here.

What made her slightly surprised that there were some stares of hostility and open contempt as well. Well, she was pretty consious that she had no power right, so Elleste decided that she should be lying low for a while; if that even possible though.

Elleste chose to sit on a bench nearby, ignoring those stares. After some time, the bell finally rang. Elleste was startled for a moment, this somehow felt like the school system she had seen on the modern world.

She quickly joined with the other mages to enter the room. Each room had number and she glanced briefly at the them before entering the second batch. As entered, Elleste's pupil couldn't help but shrank slightly. There were around forty seats, and she hurriedly took one.

A moment later, the room was filled with the mages that no seat was even unoccupied. Elleste looked around. Those gazes was still on her, though she had learned not to pay it too much attention.

She chose to take out some books from her ring and began to read it. A moment later, she was greatly startled by someone slamming at her table. Elleste looked up, there was a frown on her forehead.

Elleste still looked like a child compared to those mages and she knew that fact clearly. Now, that she looked easy to bully, did someone come to make trouble for her? She groaned inwardly.

"Why are you in my seat?" A rather annoyed voice rang into her ears, and her sight finally landed at the girl with slightly golden hair in front of her.

She was tall and quite beautiful. A mole on the corner of her lips added to her charm. An slightly angry look was plastered on her face along with a frown on her forehead.

Elleste was speechless for a moment. So, what was this? They put her into this batch and didn't even prepare an additional seat for her? Looking at the girl in front of her, she really didn't know what to say.

"Tch, you are bullying others. That's not nice, Gracia." A voice suddenly interrupted their conversation. It was another mage. A lean male with blonde hair that looked like he was around twenty.

"Is there a permanent seat for everyone here?" Elleste suddenly asked, venturing herself. She just glanced briefly at the male and then engraved his face into her memory to be remembered.

Gracia's frown deepened at that, she glared at Elleste sharply. Elleste flinched inwardly at that glare, yet outside she had rather a calm look at her face.

"Who are you? I have never seen you before. So, obviously, you are an intruder here." Gracia insisted.

The others just looked at this scene calmly and some even had the look of enjoying the show on their face. They clearly lack of entertainment.

The blonde haired male had a mocking expression on his face as he looked at Gracia. "Of course there are no permanent seat. Those who come early can pick their own seat as they wish."

Glacia's face reddened. It was unknown whether it was due to embarassment or anger. "Leon, don't intervene on this. You are always opposing everything I do!"

Elleste had a pondering look on hee face. She finally understood that these two seemed to be in bad terms, probably they were engaged in some sort of competition of who was better. Elleste was rather having a headache right now.

"Get out of here." Glacia turned again at Elleste and yelled angrily. She was sure an unreasonable person, Elleste grumbled inwardly.

She was about to get up --not because she was afraid, but she didn't want additional trouble and attract too much attention-- when suddenly a figure in grey robes appeared inside the classroom. He had a powerful aura, and was frowning at the moment.

"What happen?" He asked, his sharp gaze landed on Elleste and Glacia who was at the very back of the class. Glacia's figure unnoticeably flinched slightly, and seemed to be anxious instead at the moment. She didn't speak and only lowered her gaze.

The grey robed figure stared calmly at the ruckus in front of him, he stared at Elleste for a moment before pointing at her. "You, come here."

Elleste was rather dumbfounded at the moment, yet also slightly angry. Did those people really played with her? If they did, they were really inhumane!

Elleste got up from the seat under the gazes of everyone, including Gracia's who was filled with ecstasy and the golden haired male who had lazy look on his face. When she finally arrived in front of him, she still maintained her calm look.

The man raised his eyebrow slightly and began to return his attention back to the mages in front of him. "Everyone, this is Elleste Lunaria. She will be joining all of you, the second batch of Green Wood Palace from now on."

Then, he continued. "The batches from Green Wood Palace and the other Palace are treated differently because they have the most potential to be the mage, the purple talent. I hope that the attitude of all of you should be in line of your status and never look down on your own peers. Competition is permitted, but you also get along with this batch as all of you will always be in the same group."

Glacia had a displeased look on her face, though she didn't show it too clearly. She just narrowed her eyes at Elleste, who ignored her. Glacia had taken Elleste's seat as soon as she got up from there.

"Because you are the special case here, I had arranged a mage at fourth stage to guide you privately until you can catch up with the other mages in this class." He said to Elleste. "Go to the room number twenty three. You should meet Mage Serena there."

Elleste sighed inwardly, nonetheless, she obeyed the order. She quickly gather her things, and under the unpleasant glare of Glacia and other people's gaze, she bowed at the figure in grey robe before exiting the room.

Outside the room, Elleste just sighed. She was slightly tired. Those people sure really loved to mess with her, weren't they?