Chapter 148: The Seven Academies

The Mistland Academy was bustling with activity as apprentices and elders rushed to prepare themselves for the Seven Academies Competition that was to take place on their heart of realm dimension.

Every year, the location of the seven academy competitions is switched between the seven academies' hearts of the realm.

As the host for this year's competition, the Mistland Academy was boiling with excited apprentices that looked forward to showing off their might and anxious elders that looked forward to their academy's rise to fame in one shot.

After all, this year, they had the founder's descendant whose elemental talent couldn't be anything short of blue level.

The students were already gathered around the Battle Arenas in the center of the cascading white trees, flame moths and light flies hovering over their heads as they gathered in groups and animatedly discussed among themselves.

"Oh heavens! I can't believe the competition date is here already. Our Mistland Academy is sure to come out on top this year. With Brother Lail's presence, who dares to compete for first place with us?"

"Haha...Senior Sister, be ready to watch a good show. Brother Lail is ruthless and merciless on the battle stage. Those other academy students believe that they are coming to witness and take part in the Seven Academies Competition. What they don't know is the complete defeat waiting for them."

"Let's not talk about this. Brother Lail is a meticulous and indifferent person. Maybe, when he goes on stage, it will be more of a one-sided beating! But that doesn't matter. I heard Junior Brother Miun and Jurr discuss Brother Lail's wife. It seems she's part of another magical academy."

"What did you say? Brother Lail's wife is going to be present for the Seven Academies Competition?"

"This...is this true? Is Brother Lail's wife really going to be present for the competition?"

"Why would I lie to you? Look at Brother Lail carefully. Before today, have you ever seen him so...restless? He's obviously nervous because of the impending meeting with his estranged wife."

"I don't believe that. No matter how much Brother Lail likes that country girl, he won't lose his cool because of her. She's just a woman."

"Heh...is that so? Then look at Brother Lail."

The group of students all turned their heads towards the outstanding and peerless apprentice of their academy. They didn't believe their indifferent and cold Brother Lail would be easily ruffled by anyone, even if that person was his wife.

But the moment their sight fixed on him, their eyes went wide with shock and disbelief. 

"This...how can this be...?"

"Brother Lail...he's really nervous?"

"Oh heavens! Brother Lail is nervous to see his wife again. Does he really like her that much?"

"Heh...Murong Ling was truly barking at the wrong tree."

Because the pacing and impatient-looking Brother Lail before them was nothing like the iceberg they'd come to know. The apprentices shot secret glances in the silent Murong Ling's direction, their eyes gloating at her downfall.

She had lost to an unknown woman before she could even win Brother Lail's heart...

Crown Prince Lail felt his heart race faster than when he flew on his Myif or Black Serpent. He was so tight with nervous tension that sweat began to pour from his forehead.

Today was the day he would see his wife again, and this thought alone made the Crown Prince feel like he was dreaming. In fact, he found the situation surreal and confounding, the happiness and joy he expected, overshadowed by an ominous feeling that made him anxious and restless.

He wondered if she was alright and if anything bad had happened to her.

But after that day when they separated, he'd never met his wife again.

He had no idea what sort of ordeals she might have gone through. 

No idea if she still remembered and thought of him.

Placing a hand on his chest, Crown Prince Lail absentmindedly gazed into the distance.

Only after seeing her again would all his questions be answered. And only after seeing her would his heart gain peace.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

All of a sudden, a fierce gust of wind surged forth, raising gales of wind blades that forced the junior apprentices to step back. The formidable wind blades hadn't disappeared when the sky went aflame and a sea of scorching black tendrils swept out.

The rocks rumbled and the earth shook before a giant mountain dropped. Behind it was followed by a flash of bright light that shrouded the region in a radiant pure light. Before the light could spread, a dark mushroom cloud appeared beside it, restraining its radiant glory.

Then, from out of nowhere, a body of blue-grey water materialized before the Mistland Academy students.

Stunned speechless, the newer apprentices looked at the sudden phenomena with astonishment. 

"Ah, the other six academies are here."

The remark was like the crash of a stone in a calm lake, instantly shattering the tranquil atmosphere as the Mistland Academy students began whispering and chattering in excited tones.

"Oh heavens, it's the six academies? I didn't know they were going to make such a spectacular entrance."

"Just you? Even I wasn't expecting such an entrance. Will we see the headmasters of the other academies?"

"Who knows? But looking at the current situation, the headmasters are probably not on the same level as the elders."

"Otherwise? They are the headmasters for a reason. If they are on the same level as the elders, then why would they receive so much respect and importance from the elders?"

"Is...is brother Lail's wife among this group of academy students?"

At this, the apprentices' eyes glowed with a fierce light as they looked in Crown Prince Lail's direction and followed his gaze to the group of apprentices enveloped in a body of blue-grey water.

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"She's from the Sealand Academy?"

"Brother Lail's gaze is fixed on the students from the Sealand Academy. So she's likely from there."

"To attend the Seven Academies Competition, every apprentice has to be at or above level 2 elemental Drawing Stage. Brother Lail only entered the Mistland Academy last year. This means his wife also entered the Sealand Academy last year. For her to attend this competition..."

"It means she's at level 2 Elemental Drawing Stage...heavens! for her to reach level 2 in the span of one year, she's no ordinary magician either. At least, her talent level doesn't lose out to Murong Ling."

"That's true. If she's really among this group of people, then she's no less than Murong Ling in talent. I just want to know what sort of otherworldly beauty she is. Brother Lail's gaze isn't even moving from that group!"

"Heh...won't we know soon enough?"

Su Rui and Mina heard the excited chatter of students and unconsciously looked at Crown Prince Lail. Following his gaze, their sight landed on the group of students from the Sealand Academy as well.

"Brother Lail said he hadn't seen her face. But he's still so devoted to her. I really want to see what sort of woman managed to capture his heart."

"Brother Lail is so outstanding. Of course, the woman who can capture his heart will be just as outstanding."

The two best friends, still in the dark of the other's feelings for the Crown Prince, clenched their fists and nervously stared at the Sealand Academy students. They wanted to see what sort of a woman had managed to capture the heart of the indifferent and cold Brother Lail.

The gales, flames, light, rocks, dark, and water slowly dispersed and the apprentices of the other academies were exposed.

Under the fervent gaze of the Mistland Academy students, the Sealand Academy students came into view.

Led by Elder Wu, the group consisted of Teng Wang, Lu Yei, and other First and Second Division Students. Due to Rong Li's sudden accident, the morale of the group was low, the apprentices' heads bowed under the scrutiny of the other academies' students.

"See what you've done, Teng Wang? Because of you, the apprentices of our academy don't even have the courage to lift their heads." A second year with spiky hair hissed at Tang Wang with dark anger flaming in his eyes.

The apprentices of the Sealand Academy standing with bowed heads made him feel ashamed and embarrassed. He hadn't noticed how low their morale was when they'd left the academy. But now that they stood before the students of the other six academies, the contrast between them and the Sealand Academy made him want to dig a hole and hide forever. 

And all this was because of Teng Wang.

"Brother Ben, accidents happen on missions. This is a fact every magician knows. If Rong Li got injured while saving me, how is that any of my fault? I didn't ask him to risk his life to save mine. He chose to do so on his own. As for the academy morale...if their morale only raises due to the presence of others, this means they don't have any confidence in themselves and their abilities."

Glancing at the bowed heads of the embarrassed apprentices, Teng Wang sneered.

"They are already useless themselves and only look for an opportunity or chance to blame their lack of ability on others. So there's no need to dump everything on me, Brother Ben, because accidents happen, whether we want it or not. As for them, they're the only ones that can motivate or demotivate themselves." With a flap of his robes, he clasped his hands behind his back and ignored the enraged Brother Ben.

"Hmph! How disgusting. It's fine if you hurt someone, but you don't even have the principle to apologize properly." Brother Ben coldly snorted and turned away.

He felt sick of Teng Wang and his unrepentant behavior.

On the other side, Crown Prince Lail was anxiously searching for his wife's figure among the group of Sealand Academy apprentices. According to the Speaking Ink Tree, she was in the Southern Black Sea.

And in that region, only the Sealand Academy existed.

"Qamari, where are you?" Why can't I find you? Don't you miss me as well? Is that why you're not coming out to seek me?

The Crown Prince felt that since he was able to connect Laila and her together, his wife would certainly be able to connect him and Crown Prince Lail together. As such, the moment the apprentices of the seven academies gathered together, she should be searching for him just as desperately as he was searching for her.

But even after scanning the group of Sealand Academy students, he couldn't find a trace of his wife...

"This...what's going on? Is Qamari not part of this group of students?" If she wasn't, then the meeting he'd been looking forward to, the day he believed would be their reunion, was going to be nothing but a joke!

It would be nothing more than his wistfully thinking.

Maybe, Laila wasn't even his wife, Princess Qamari.

Maybe, Princess Qamari didn't even remember him anymore.

And maybe it was only him that was hanging onto an unwilling party.

A bitter smile appeared on the Crown Prince's lips and he raised a hand to hold his aching heart. All his patient waiting and anticipation were shattered and reduced to an aching heart.

Just when Crown Prince Lail was drowning in a sea of sorrow and pain, the faint sound of footsteps entered his ears and the region around him turned dead silent. A strange tension suffused the air, causing him to inadvertently lift his head.

The moment his dark gaze landed on the purple-red robe and the silver chains of dripping pearls, his heart thumped.

"Qamari..." Slowly raising his head up, his gaze fell on the purple-red veil of the woman. A nervous thrill coursed through his veins and Crown Prince Lail felt his breath hitch as his eyes stung.

The relief and joy surging in his heart took him by surprise. 

'I was probably anticipating her return more than I allowed myself to feel.'

At this moment, he realized how much his wife's sudden disappearance and long absence had affected him. Although he believed in her, there was probably a part of him that was suspicious and doubtful.

A part that was still bruised from the betrayal it had earlier received and was expecting another.

Only with her appearance with the Sealand Academy apprentices' vanquish that doubt.

Feeling grateful to the woman that had kept and secured his trust, Crown Prince Lail lifted the rest of his sight to catch her gaze.

The moment he did, a sense of loss filled him.

Because those eyes didn't arouse any of the feelings he had felt on their wedding day....

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