As she walked out of the First Division Palace, Princess Qamari carried her white pouch of Magical Stones with curiosity.
The elder at the counter was stunned for only a brief moment, before he went rummaging into his pouches of stones to provide her with a higher amount than the other students.
The surrounding students eyes were close to turning green with envy as she received the heavier pouch.
As the only light magic wielder in the entire academy, she had no one to compete with resources, allowing her to get more of the White Magical Stones.
Now, she could rapidly increase her elemental concentration without having to worry about running short.
Her eyes scanned the light bag clattering with the small stones half the size of her palm. Slightly opening the pouch, she drew one stone out and closely scrutinized it.
Instantly, a warm current flew from the center of her palm, traveled down her veins, entering the meridians leading to her navel, the center of her core.
Her soul trembled and the pure energy entered an empty void, dispersing without a trace.
"Snow, what happened? The energy disappeared?"
"I believe it entered your Realm Heart, the place where elemental energy is stored inside your body. It is from there that the energy will be dispersed into your blood. Legend has it that the Realm Heart of a magician is like that of the Heart of a Realm. It is the source of magic inside an individual."
"Is the Realm Heart of a magician different from that of a spiritual beast?"
Princess Qamari found it strange that Snow cited the Realm Heart as a legend rather than experience. For her not to have any experience with Realm Heart could only mean she didn't take the same path of elemental training.
"Yes, they are drastically different. Spiritual beasts can directly absorb the elemental magic in the air into their system because, they do not possess a specified Realm Heart. In other words, their whole body is a realm that is a source of magic." Snow's soft voice drifted into her ear, providing her with information only a spirit beast could possess.
Only, Snow was an immortal spiritual beast from thousands of years ago.
Her knowledge was more archaic, helpful at times, and full of holes at others.
"Princess, are you going to your dorm now?" The shy voice belonged to the blonde, called Stali.
Princess Qamari had a nice impression of the girl, but as someone who grew up with only the company of servants and an immature cousin, she had no experience interacting with strangers.
Because at times, she was able to defend herself better against schemes if she had no one to hold her back.
"Since the seniors already showed us our course rooms, I want to take this time to rest early for the lesson tomorrow."
Having shown the girls their course rooms, the seniors immediately returned, as they too, had to catch up with their elemental training.
"Haha...very funny, princess. From the way you say it, others might think you are a magic wielder. Unfortunately, you are only a cripple that needs an outside assistance to even summon your ability." The mean sneer belonged to no one but Marui Osklain, who seemed to never tire of picking a fight with her.
Princess Qamari ignored the girl and nodded towards the frowning Stali, before walking off.
The other apprentices also received their Magical Stones and were anxious to find out its affect.
As such, the moment Marui Osklain snide remark rang out, they rushed off. They had no desire to witness her one man show. They wanted to practice their magic and test the stones as soon as possible.
"Hey, are you ignoring me? Stop right there! I am sicken tired of your high and mighty attitude. Hey, I said stop!" Marui Osklain chased after the retreating back of the princess, her face red with anger and hate.
Stali pulled her friend Rin, and walked past the raging female.
She too, was not interested in sticking around to hear the senseless girl's ravings.
"What is her problem? Why is she always looking for trouble with Princess Qamari?" She could not help but ask in passing as her gaze swept over the yellow robed girl.
"Who knows. Maybe, she just doesn't like the princess. After all, she is prettier and more liked by all the elders and senior brothers. It's just too bad that the princess's personality is too cold and distant. Otherwise, even the apprentices might have been attracted to her." Rin wistfully looked in the direction the princess disappeared in.
She would never admit it, but inside, she wanted to be like Princess Qamari.
Calm and collected, not afraid to say her mind.
Even before the senior brothers, she did not hold back.
"Even then, the princess is still better than her, though. Well, forget it. Let's not bother ourselves with Marui Osklain or Aarya Quime. I don't like the aura of the two."
Whispering, the two's figure soon disappeared into the distance.
At this moment, a shadow appeared and stood next to the bent Marui Osklain, looking at the girl in disdain.
However, the moment the girl straightened, the disdainful expression slipped away from the figure's features.
"Marui Osklain, you said earlier that you wanted to work together to take that princess down. Does your offer still stand?" The tone was calm, without a trace of fluctuation.
Turning, Marui Osklain's eyes widened for a brief moment, before resuming an unconcerned expression.
"Why? You want to work together now? Aarya Quime, seeing as you didn't reply to my offer, I thought you weren't interested."
This figure was Aarya Quime, the other individual with hidden resentment towards Princess Qamari.
"I didn't reply. That doesn't mean I am not interested. However, we will do things my way. You will follow my plan."
"Why do I have to follow you?"
"Because, I do not want to shame myself in front of everyone, like you have been doing so far. So, deal or no deal. If you don't accept, I will leave."
Aarya Quime didn't want to waste time with Marui Osklain either.
She still wanted to become a Great Magician and form strong connections with the elders and seniors of the academy. That way, her path forward would be nice and smooth.
But for that to happen, she needed to first show outstanding results in her magic training. This was only possible if she trained rigorously and improved in leaps and bounds.
"What do you mean by shame myself. It is obviously the heavens that are never on my side. Otherwise, how could such good chances to ridicule that princess turn into smoke. Haash! I don't even know why I hate her so much! I just do! Fine, I accept. You can do the planning. Just make sure to thoroughly humiliate that princess."
Gritting her teeth hatefully, Marui Osklain shook hands with Aarya Quime.
The next morning, Princess Qamari entered her magic training course room looking fresh and ethereal in her purple-red robe.
As the Great Magician's apprentice, she had the option to wear first years uniform or select her own dress code.
She felt more comfortable in her wedding dress.
Thanks to Snow and Skyler, she was able to master quick washing and drying spells to keep the cloth in clean and neat condition.
As the Great Magician wouldn't be teaching them before they mastered the basic spells and skills, the course room would be their training field until then.
Crossing the room, she sat by the window, across from the instructors worktable.
The moment she sat, curious stares and jealous glares were aimed her way. Whispers and raised murmurs filled the hall, the speakers not truly intending on keeping their volume down.
"Look, she is one of the new apprentices that were selected yesterday."
"I heard her name was Princess Qamari, right? She is one of the Great Magician's personal disciple."
"So what if she is a personal disciple? I heard from someone that she is a trash magician that cannot use her ability without an outside aid."
"Seriously? You are kidding, right? How could such a person be the Great Magician's personal disciple? How did she even make it through the dark forest?"
"There's also an inside story for that. I heard that she used some sort of a cheating tool to make it through the whole trial without sustaining the slightest injury."
"She dares? How could such a shameless individual be the Great Magician's apprentice?"
"I know, right? I can be a better magician than her. Because she is the Great Magician's apprentice, she also has the chance to become a Marikeen prospective."
"No way! How can such a thing be allowed? Such a shameless individual will become a Marikeen?"
As the apprentices conversed more and more, their volume raised higher and higher, until they were no longer even trying to falsely keep their volume down.
They discussed the topic of conversation with the main party sitting right before their eyes.
Princess Qamari, hearing everything the apprentices were saying, remained indifferent.
She only entered the academy yesterday, and today, everyone was talking about her. It didn't take a genius to know someone was pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
And she didn't need to do any digging to find out the one behind the act.
"We made it! Because we went to bed late last night, I thought we would definitely be late for our first lesson this morning. Thankfully, we made it just in time."
Right at this moment, the two figures of Marui Osklain and Rima Yulan entered the course room.