Chapter 173: Approaching the Campus

Today, Edwina was wearing an outfit that was indeed quite artistic.

If Vilyric wasn’t mistaken, this should be the custom uniform specially issued by the Holy Academy for female students.

As spring arrived, the overall temperature in the eastern capital region of the Holy Kingdom was quickly rising, and many physically strong warriors were already able to wear short sleeves outside.

So, Edwina wore a short-sleeved dress uniform clearly suited for the spring and summer, alternating between black and white.

The hem of her skirt was adorned with delicate lace patterns, typically hidden under armor, but on her well-developed figure, she had tied a black bowtie, and her crystalline golden hair flowed down gently, with the ends casually gathered by a white ribbon, adding a touch of elegance to the usually imposing Holy Knight.

Not only had she shed her armor, but naturally, she could not carry her ever-present holy sword and cross shield into the educational campus, if Vilyric guessed correctly, they were likely concealed under the six-winged holy emblem hidden in her chest.

This emblem, the standard for the highest-level believers of the Church of the Goddess, was itself a finely crafted magical item with a small storage space.

After teasing the Holy Knight for a bit, the three didn’t linger too long at the entrance, avoiding the curious glances from passersby, and turned around, led by Miss Edwina, who had rarely donned campus-style attire, and stepped into the gates of the Holy Academy.

The guards at the campus entrance had obviously received prior notification from above, knowing that guests would be arriving today. Although Miss White Fox and the little loli beside her weren’t in student or staff uniforms, especially with the former’s eye-catching shrine maiden outfit, after Edwina handed over what was likely some sort of passbook for verification, the three were quickly let through.

The Holy Academy is located in the western part of the inner city of the Holy City, one of the most extensive architectural complexes in the City of Angels. Although it doesn’t compare to the Holy Court, which encompasses nearly one-tenth of the entire core area and is truly vast, it is not a place that can be casually explored without losing sight of the end.

Passing through the heavily guarded main gate, the three walked along the path lined with neatly trimmed greenery and shady trees, with Miss White Fox holding the hand of the pink-haired loli, curiously looking around while occasionally glancing at the “Literature Department” girl beside them, who seemed to be thoroughly familiar with her surroundings and showed no hesitance or reluctance while moving forward.

This led to a somewhat concerned query.

“By the way, did Edwina go to school here before? Not only does she have this uniform, but the guards at the gate seem to recognize you; or is it that you, as the second young lady of the Cecelia Family, have gained enough fame recently that your prestige has reached this level?”

“Miss Xī, please spare me…”

The blonde girl forced a pained smile, shaking her head, then helplessly nodded.

“I did indeed study at the Holy Academy before; rather, according to the academy’s regulations, I am still a student here, having not graduated yet.”

Sensing that she might need to simplify her explanation for understanding, she went on.

“The Holy Academy caters to students from all races in the country, enrolling those from the age of six to… there is technically no upper limit. Generally, anyone of the appropriate age who still needs education and training can undergo the entrance assessment and join if they pass.”

“As a direct descendant of the Cecelia Family, I’ve been receiving training within the family while also studying at the Holy Academy. The range of grades at the academy is vast; for humans, it practically covers everything from childhood to adulthood, with the learning process sometimes extending over ten years.”

“I’ve been here for nearly ten years now; until I turned seventeen and broke through to the Unyielding Knight rank, gaining permission from my teacher for external training, I temporarily put my studies on hold to travel the world.”

She lifted her head, glanced at the towering and uniquely shaped educational buildings in the distance, a hint of nostalgia and sentiment passing through her eyes.

“Time flies; in the blink of an eye, my training is over, and everything around me has undergone earth-shattering changes, yet the scenery of this campus remains familiar.”

“If Miss Xī hadn’t mentioned wanting to visit the Holy Academy today, I probably wouldn’t have had a chance to return for a long time, heh…”

“I see ~”

Somewhat expected, really.

After all, as one of the essential breeding grounds for the upper echelons of the Holy Empire, the Holy Academy is the top institution in the Holy City, and Edwina, a young lady of divine lineage, certainly had every reason to study here.

“By the way, you’ve mentioned your teacher repeatedly; who exactly is this person?”

“Haha… actually, she’s an elder from our Cecelia Family. If we’re talking about generations, the teacher would probably be someone from four to five generations back; she’s over three hundred years old now. Miss Xī, would you like to meet her?”

“If given the chance, I wouldn’t mind…”

Casually chatting, the three girls strolled leisurely ahead.

As someone who had studied at the Holy Academy for at least over ten years, Edwina was familiar with everything here. With her guiding, there was no need to worry about getting lost in this maze-like complex or encountering anything hard to understand.

If there were any questions, she would instantly provide answers to either Miss White Fox or Eudora.

At this moment, it was morning, and it appeared that most students and staff were still busy with classes or research, as they hadn’t encountered many people along the way. Even when a few did appear, they primarily just glanced over before hurrying off with their books and materials, clearly in a rush.

Meanwhile, Edwina, the guiding lady, was diligently explaining everything.

“Because the academic term here lasts over ten years, the schedule for students at the Holy Academy isn’t too tight; classes are mainly held in the morning, while afternoons, evenings, and weekends can be freely allocated as leisure time.”

“For some, like I used to do, they would generally receive additional training within their family during this free time, and those from less affluent families might work part-time during their free hours to bear the rather high tuition fees, hence the term work-study students.”

At this point, the Holy Knight, while continuing to walk and talk, smiled slightly.

“Of course, mostly everyone is just pursuing their own paths, without any clear categories, so overall, the learning environment at the Holy Academy is quite relaxed. If someone genuinely cannot afford tuition, if they’re willing to join the church and excel academically, they can even apply for scholarships and the like.”

“Hmm…”

As she listened thoughtfully, Miss White Fox shot a glance at the pink-haired loli, who was holding onto her right hand and following closely, seemingly drawn in by the surrounding elegant environment, unable to help but look around in wonderment, prompting a question.

“So, Edwina, does the Holy Academy, or schools in general, provide accommodation? What are the conditions like?”

“Accommodation?”

The blonde girl turned back, somewhat surprised, and quickly nodded.

“Of course! Since it’s an educational institution, there will definitely be external students whose home is not local. In fact, according to surveys, at least half of the students at the Holy Academy live in dormitories.”

“For many, this academy they have lived in for over a decade, or even longer, is like a second home ~”

   

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