Volume 3: Artifacts Chapter 74: Emerald Magic Academy
When I got off the carriage, I could feel the towering majesty of the castle. The bricks were worn out by the years, the base of the wall was covered with white alkali, and some ferns with barbs were lying on the wall, with small yellow flowers blooming among the green leaves.
Outside the tightly closed castle gate stood a tall statue of a human with an eagle head, holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other, with its head lowered, staring at the carriage that stopped in front of it and the visitors getting off the carriage.
"Elves and humans, please state your intentions."
Qingkong performed a wizard's salute to the eagle-headed human statue: "We are from the Golden Shield Empire. This time we came to the Emerald Magic Academy to visit a good friend. Her name is Dale Molixiang, a human, an international student in the Department of Natural Sciences, and her tutor is Professor Makatina.
Please inform us.”
The eagle-headed human statue greeted Qingkong in return: "Molixiang... I remember her! A very popular human girl, she has a heart as clear and kind as crystal, and she is very smart, and is loved by Professor Makatina.
Please tell me your name and my messenger will inform Professor Makatina."
A goshawk lands on the shoulder of the eagle-headed human figure.
Qingkong said, "My name is Xingkong, a grassland elf from the western border of the Golden Shield Empire. These two are my maid and guard, named Jennifer and Shelley respectively."
The messenger eagle flew over the city wall with the message and entered the academy. The eagle-headed human statue observed the appearance of Qingkong: "Grassland elf? If you hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have realized that you were a grassland elf. I met grassland elves a long time ago, and the impression they gave me was... very bold, and you are like a knowledgeable forest elf.
Ah... I don't mean to belittle the grassland elves, please don't mind. "
Qingkong said, "It doesn't matter. The grassland environment has shaped the character of the grassland elves. Boldness is not a derogatory term. I have the opportunity to receive a good education because I live in the city. Now the empire is fully developing the Western Border Office, and more and more grassland elves will have the opportunity to receive education in the future.
Maybe soon we will also be able to build a college of higher learning.”
The eagle-headed human statue was as talkative as the forest elves, and was very curious about the grassland elves, so he started chatting with Qingkong.
Not long after, the messenger eagle flew out.
After receiving the reply, the eagle-headed statue pushed open the door of the Emerald Magic Academy and invited, "Miss Starry Sky, although it is a brief chat, I can feel that you are a knowledgeable scholar.
Welcome to the Emerald Magic Academy. Professor Makatina is waiting for you. You can see her by following my messenger eagle."
"Thank you. Talking with you has made me feel the long heritage of Emerald Magic Academy."
Qingkong asked Archer to stay outside, and she took Jennifer and Shelley into the Emerald Magic Academy. The messenger eagle flew in front to lead the way for them.
Cross the square and a cloister garden to enter the main building of the castle.
We walked along the spiral staircase, corridor and overpass to reach the side building belonging to the Department of Natural Sciences.
They met many elf students along the way, and they could easily tell that Qingkong was not a forest elf, but a grassland elf. However, due to their good upbringing, they did not gather around to watch, and they all politely gave way.
Qingkong also kept smiling, and whispered to Jennifer beside him: "The atmosphere inside the academy is much more relaxed than outside. It seems that the Emerald Magic Academy is still hiding the matter of the Headhunters."
Jennifer said: "I wonder if the Emerald Magic Academy has found a way to eliminate the headhunters. I like the atmosphere here and hope it will not be broken."
"Anything good is worth protecting, so here I am."
Follow the eagle to Professor Makatina's office.
This is a room full of plants, with vines climbing all over the windows, broad leaves hardened into tables, vines woven into chairs. Shrubs grow into bookshelves, each grid is filled with books, and leaves form different symbols to guide the classification of books.
Professor Makatina wears black-rimmed glasses, has a gentle temperament, and seems very approachable.
"Hello, you prairie elf from far away." Professor Makatina saluted to Qingkong and said kindly, "I have sent students to find Dale. She should be here soon. You can sit down and have a rest, and taste the nectar tea I just made."
Professor Makatina waved her hand, and the plants around her parted to make way for the coffee table by the window.
"Thank you, Professor Macartina! Dale praised your nectar tea many times in the letter she wrote to me."
Qingkong walked to the window and sat down. A vine wrapped around the teapot and poured a cup of hot water for her. A flower stretched over the teacup, and a few drops of nectar flowed into the water along the petals. The nectar was like amber, and after falling into the water, a small fountain was created. The spring water was golden and sweet. When the spring water fell, a halo rose from the mouth of the cup, and after it dispersed, it was even more fragrant.
Professor Makatina sat opposite Qingkong and asked, "Miss Xingkong came from the Emerald King's Court. She should have heard some news."
Qingkong picked up the teacup and took a sip, finding the taste very memorable.
"Yes. We arrived at the Emerald Court last night and saw a riot at the port. The Headhunters... a name that appeared briefly and was almost forgotten.
The Emerald Forest is in real trouble this time."
Qingkong sighed and continued drinking tea.
Professor Makatina has been observing the clear sky and said, "The headhunters are indeed a big trouble, but I believe the forest elves will find a way to eliminate them. You may not know that it was Dale who first discovered the appearance of the headhunters, and she bought us the most precious time.
Dale is the smartest human student I have ever taught. I will protect her and prevent her from any harm."
Qingkong could sense Professor Makatina's vigilance towards her. She put down her teacup and said, "Dale is indeed very smart and learns things very quickly. As her friend, I will protect her and prevent her from getting hurt. "
"But..." Professor Makatina looked at Jennifer and Shelley, then said to Qingkong, "You give me a very dangerous feeling, especially your guard. She should be some kind of extraordinary biological modified human."
Forest elves worship nature and oppose any form of body modification, and are particularly disgusted by inhumane modifications of supernatural creatures.
Professor Macartina believes that if the other party is really Dai'er's friend, Dai'er has made the wrong choice of friends, and as a mentor, she has the responsibility to prevent Dai'er from going astray.
If the other party pretends to be a friend and is actually harmful to Dale, as a mentor, she has an even greater responsibility to protect her students.
The surrounding plants slowly began to move.
Qingkong ignored the plants that showed signs of attacking, and said to Professor Makatina in a relaxed manner: "Each race has its own values, and only by respecting each other can we live in harmony. Dale is not a forest elf, she will graduate from the Emerald Magic Academy one day and return to her world.
And considering the troubles facing the Emerald Forest, I hope to be able to take Dale away this time."
Makatina was not sure if the other party was Dale's friend, so she could only remain vigilant. When Qingkong heard that she wanted to take Dale away, she replied: "Dale was the first person to discover the headhunters. We still need her help with many things, so she cannot leave the academy for the time being.
She's safe here!"
"Whether it is safe or not is not up to you to decide..."
At this time, Dai'er's surprised voice sounded outside the door: "Ms. Xingkong, is it really you? And Miss Jennifer! What a good day today is that you actually gave me such a big surprise!"
When Makatina heard Dale's voice, she immediately withdrew the attacking plants.
Dale ran over, stopped suddenly, and saluted Qingkong like she did at the Oulu College branch: "Good day, Miss Xingkong!"
Qingkong nodded and said, "Daier, I'm going to take you out of the Emerald Forest. You take Jennifer to pack the luggage that needs to be taken away."
Hearing that Qingkong was going to take her away, Dai'er was stunned: "Leave? No... I can't leave. I can't abandon my friends and mentors here, that's running away!"
Jennifer persuaded Dale, "Miss Dale...your sister is waiting for you at home."
"I won't leave!" Dai'er was very determined. She said to Qingkong, "I will do my best to help the forest elves eliminate the headhunters. I want to find the magic spring.
I…I can’t go back now.”
Qingkong said: "Your power here is not of much help in eliminating the headhunters. If you can convince your sister, it will definitely be of greater help to the Emerald Forest than your power alone."
Dale asked: "Will my sister help the Emerald Forest?"
Jennifer held Dale's hand and said, "Miss Star is here, your sister will definitely lend a hand. The most important thing now is to inform her of the disaster that is happening here, and the extent to which the eldest lady can help is entirely up to you."
After hearing what Jennifer said, Dale happily asked Qingkong, "Will you stay and help?"
Qingkong smiled and said, "Do you think I need to come just to take you away?"
"I'll go pack my luggage now!" Dale pulled Jennifer and ran out, not forgetting to shout to Professor Makatina: "Teacher, I want to go home. Please help me apply for leave. I will be back soon!"
Dai'er runs very fast.
When Qingkong looked at Professor Makatina again, the elf scholar had already stood up and performed the highest etiquette respectfully: "Your Majesty..."
Qingkong reached out to stop Professor Makatina from continuing, "I did not deliberately disguise myself when I came to the Emerald Forest this time. It is a kind of wisdom to be able to see my identity, and it is also a kind of wisdom to pretend not to know.
Sit down, there is only the starry sky."
"Yes, Your Majesty... Miss Starry Sky." Professor Makatina sat down nervously.
The conversation between Dale and the visitors just now made Professor Makatina realize that Dale's identity was not simple, and also made her begin to re-examine the visiting grassland elf.
Grassland elves...
Short green hair, green eyes.
Noble aura and powerful sense of oppression.
Although Professor Makatina didn't dare to believe that the other party was the Queen of Clear Sky, her increasingly strong intuition told her...
This person is the owner of the authority of the World Tree, the ruler of the Moonlight Court, the common leader of the grassland elves and the barbarians of the Western Territory - the Moonlight Queen.
Dale is actually the little princess of the Golden Shield Empire—Dale Augustine.
Her elder sister is naturally the eldest princess of the empire - Agatha Augustine.
Only with this kind of identity can one talk about supporting the Emerald Forest like having a chat.
The Golden Shield Empire is the most powerful country in the secular world, and the Queen of Clear Sky is among the top in ancient civilizations.
They are willing to support the Emerald Court, and perhaps they can really help the forest elves get rid of the headhunters.
Professor Makatina was a little excited. After she sat down, she clenched her hands several times to relieve her nervousness, and then asked Qingkong: "Ms. Xingkong, do you have any suggestions on how to eliminate the headhunters?"
Qingkong said, "During the ancient war, the time from the emergence of the headhunters to their extinction was too short, so there is not much information left. I don't know more than you do. I would like to hear your plan first. It has been a while since the headhunters were discovered, so you should have some understanding of them."
Makatina stood up and said, "Before I receive you, I am attending a seminar for the headhunters held by the academy. The Emerald Magic Academy will feel honored if you are willing to attend."
Qingkong stood up: "Then don't waste time, take me there!"
"plz follow me."
As Qingkong followed Makatina out of the office, he said to Shelley, "Wait here! When Dale is ready, let Jennifer take her away directly without any delay."
"Yes, Miss Starry Sky."
Qingkong followed Professor Makatina along the corridor to the main building. After passing through several teaching areas, they walked into a large tiered classroom together.
The classroom was filled with faculty members from various departments. All the elves looked at the podium attentively. Even when they noticed that Professor Makatina brought in a... prairie elf, they only looked at it curiously and immediately turned their attention back to the podium.
Professor Makatina took Qingkong to sit in a corner of the classroom and whispered to Qingkong about the person who was giving a lecture at the podium.
"That's Professor Dilai Sisminya from the Modern Medical Research Institute. He led an autopsy of a captured headhunter, and what he's explaining now is what he found during the autopsy. The brain structure of the headhunters is very low-level, and their intelligence is not high, but they have a unique way of communicating, which allows them to transmit a lot of information with short sounds.
This makes them very efficient at hunting in groups.
The corpse in the magic projection now is a high-level hunter, who can cast powerful magic to provide positive and negative magic states for the hunting team, and also masters some powerful attack magic.
It is difficult for us to imagine that an excellent magician can be bred directly in a short time. You know, even a very talented magic apprentice needs a long time of study and meditation to gradually master the use of magic.
The Headhunters completely subvert our understanding of magic.
..."
Qingkong listened to Professor Makatina's explanation and also watched Professor Dilai Sisminya's explanation of the anatomy in the magic projection on the podium.
All the elves in the classroom listened attentively, not missing any details.
The hope of saving the forest elves...all lies here!
