The white envelope was delicate and smooth, and there seemed to be petals in the texture. It was completely different from the postal department's standard. It was more like a work of art, but Ali did not pay attention to these details. His eyes were completely fixed on the few lines of beautiful handwriting on the envelope. They were so familiar and so beautiful that Ali's heart was suddenly burning, and he could not feel the coldness of early spring.
Ali did not have time to open the envelope until he returned to the classroom. Walking in the cold wind, he took out a thick stack of letters and carefully unfolded them.
"… I was very worried when I didn't receive any reply from you for the past few months. I thought that something had happened to you, or that the words in the previous letters had hurt you, but I couldn't find a way to contact you. Fortunately, the truth was not what I imagined …"
"… Our school has two months of New Year's break. When I saw your letters, they had already accumulated several. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long … I'm very happy that you could come to Renstadt. Whether you succeed in the future or not, I believe that this will be the most precious treasure in your life. Just like the famous playwright Mr. Farham wrote in the Land of a Thousand Lakes: 'Failure is allowed when you are young, so you should take advantage of this golden age to read more books, experience more things, and see more of the beautiful and cruel world.'
"… In this era of rapid change, opportunities are everywhere. As long as you dare to think and do, you will always seize one. But if you are afraid of failure and are unwilling to bear and face anything, you can only let the opportunities slip by your hand one by one …
"… You should have lived in Renstadt for several months. Is there anything you are not used to? What are your impressions of the new things and changes I described in the letters? When I reread the letters I wrote, I always feel my face heat up because I was full of longing and passion at that time, and I could not help but use the most gorgeous and romantic strokes to describe them. Now that I can somewhat restrain this emotion, I realize that the embellishments are indeed too beautiful and exaggerated, and there is a big difference between the actual situation and the situation. Ali, what do you think? What do they look like in your heart?
"… I've always believed that the generic schools are not as good as Lanphlei School in terms of finding jobs in the alchemical workshops and the benefits in the first few years. However, if you want greater achievements and a better future, only the generic schools can provide the knowledge you need. Don't be hasty in the first three years. Everything you learn is to help you recognize yourself and figure out what you are good at and what you like. Only in such a way can you crazily absorb the necessary 'nutrients' in the next two years …
"… Don't forget to 'melt' into Renstadt when you're not studying. Only by melting into it can you really appreciate every soul-stirring detail of the changes in the era, which will give you opportunities. Therefore, I suggest that you go out often or find a part-time job during the weekends …
"… There's a teahouse on the Rose Avenue. The environment is comfortable, and the taste is pure. A small band has been replaced by a magic gramophone, and only two musicians are kept … The Clown Theater in the administrative district often has hilarious comedies … Although the Egret District is a slum, it is possible to meet experienced adventurers. Their words may be exaggerated, but what they have seen is very impressive … When night comes, in the administrative district, the district of nobles, and the Queen's Avenue, one can see the view of the starry sky on the ground …"
Jane introduced the Rentato in her mind in a simple way. She tried to avoid the luxurious places so that Ali would feel that the place was still vivid in his mind.
There was nothing romantic about the letter. It was just a casual conversation between friends. It was not polite, but every detail was paid attention to. It was warm and considerate, just like every letter in the past. Even so, Ali was still overjoyed. He read it multiple times and did not put the letter away until he was about to enter the classroom.
"… I ranked second in the 'Annual Examination' after the New Year holiday. I will be invited to visit the sorcerers in Allyn and the Atom Institution … I've been to Allyn before, but I was never allowed to visit the magic tower. This time, I finally have a chance. I hope that the Atom Institution is even more dreamy than I thought …"
Ali recalled the third last paragraph of Jane's letter. Although she tried to write it in a peaceful and unostentatious way, her heartfelt joy could be seen between the lines.
Thinking about that, Ali's heart was pounding. The results of the monthly examination were about to be announced. Was there any hope for him to go to Allyn?
Sitting on the chair uneasily, Ali could not calm down at all, until Mr. Brian, who taught 'Basic Arcana Theories', walked in.
"The ranking of the monthly examination is now announced. The top twenty are the lucky ones who will be invited to visit the City in the Sky," Brian said with a smile. The classroom was so quiet that it was frozen.
"Dwayne …" Brian began to announce the list. Every time he read a name, somebody would cheer uncontrollably.
The familiar names were read, and the joyful voices echoed. Ali was more and more nervous. Why was he not included? Was he really not in the top twenty?
"Ricardo." Brian read out the twentieth name.
There's no me. There's really no me. Ali was hit by a huge sense of loss. He truly tasted the bitterness of failure, a bitterness that he had never felt before. In the past, in the small town, although he had failed before, he had never held such great expectations as he did now.
It was not until the thirtieth place that Ali finally heard his name. The experience made him realize that his foundation was still too poor. There was a huge gap between him and his classmates who had been edified for a long time or taught by scholars and magic apprentices in Renstadt. Although he had worked hard, he had to maintain such an attitude for at least a year in order to catch up.
Under such circumstances, many people chose to abandon themselves, because how could they compete when they had different starting points? However, thinking of Jane's encouragement and his parents' expectations, Ali clenched his fists and swore that he would catch up slowly. If other people were working hard, he would work ten times harder!
At the end of March, Ali, who was devoted to his studies, went to the gate of the school every few days as usual. Finally, he received Jane's letter again.
"… Last time, you mentioned that you were very interested in alchemical items and that you were a fast learner. I think it's because we were all attracted by the simplified alchemical items such as magic radios, magic lamps, wire telephones, telegrams, and the content of 'Arcana Voice' that we entered the generic school. So, we can't be blinded …
"… If you are really interested, you can borrow books such as' Magic Structure ',' Alchemical Elements', '128 Common Sense to Simplify Magic Items', and 'History of Alchemical Items' in school or in Renstadt's municipal library. Among them, 'A Hundred Thousand Whys?', edited by Prince Evans, is a book entitled 'A Hundred Thousand Whys? Alchemy ', which is both informative and interesting …
"… In the middle of the month, we went to the City in the Sky. Although it might be irritating for you, I still want to share my experience with you, hoping that it can make you feel better …
"I've been to the City in the Sky many times, but every time when the railway left the ground and rose, I always felt a shiver from the bottom of my heart. It was both fear and excitement. I was scared of the ant-like things below and the decline in my imagination, and I was excited because I might never experience the feeling of running in midair without the magic steam train and the City in the Sky. After all, not everybody can become an official sorcerer. I've studied arcana and magic for years, but I'm still an apprentice …
"… When the long bus pulled us to the Allyn magic tower, something went wrong. At this time, an iron golem came out of the magic tower next to us. Its eyes were red, and it pushed the bus and the passengers all the way to the front of the Allyn magic tower. Sometimes, golems are not only used for killing and fighting …
"… The Allyn magic tower's architectural style is completely different from the high towers in Renstadt, but it is surprisingly compatible with alchemical cars, aircrafts, magic steam trains, explosive guns, magic air conditioners, and magic crystal lamps. Together, they seem to constitute a unique style of the times …
"… I didn't see Mr. Felipe in the Inheritance Lab. It's said that he went to the Dark Mountain Range to collect species. I'm not sorry, but I'm afraid that my good friend will be very sad, because she admires Mr. Felipe very much and is determined to become a 'doctor' who has mastered healing magic and dissection skills …
"… The Inheritance Lab is different from what I imagined. A lot of common plants are planted, and a lot of animals are raised. Well, the only thing that made me feel horrified and scared is that some of the mutated creatures should be. In a lab filled with solution, I saw bloody and horrible scenes. Some of the common animals mutated into hideous and disgusting monsters. Can you imagine a mouse covered in abscesses? Can you imagine a rabbit with two heads? Can you imagine a dog without fur?
"… Fortunately, most of the students were scared by such scenes. We went to the Atom Institution.
"Mr. Lazar and Ms. Heidi received us and showed us most of the places in the institution. As I imagined, there were all kinds of complicated and mysterious magic circles and alchemical platforms that were flashing in different colors …
"… When Ms. Heidi turned on the particle collider, the magic circles on the walls, the floor, and the ceiling of the whole tunnel glittered in silver at the same time. Then, part of them turned orange and transparent. Shocked by them, I felt that I was in a dream. The picture and the overall style of the Atom Institution made me feel 'future'. I don't know why I had such a feeling, but I did feel 'future'. Is this the 'future style'?
"… Ali, did you know? There are teleportation circles in the Atom Institution that lead to the universe and a cosmic observatory that can be placed in space! "
Jane rarely used exclamation marks, so Ali sensed that her heart was not calm. He was also very excited, as if the scenes in the Atom Institution were so vivid in his mind that he couldn't wait to be placed in it right now.
"A cosmic observatory? In space? "It was something that he couldn't imagine even in his dreams!
"… Ali, Ms. Heidi told me that 'Arcana Voice' would introduce more mysteries about the universe in the future. Also, if we can get the first place of our grade in the final exam in June, it will be possible for us to land in the cosmic observatory for real!"
"Let's work together, shall we?"
"Okay!" Ali clenched his fists, his heart pounding, as if he were already placed in the boundless space and felt the surging tide of the era.
… …
In Lance, the Holy City …
Benedict III looked out of the window and thought of a piece of intelligence that he received.
"Lucien? Evans has borrowed a lot of files about the depths of the Boundless Ocean recently. "
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