"Xia De, merely passing the exam isn't enough. I remember your practical credits are also insufficient."
Miss Louisa reminded him, and upon careful thought, she actually believed that Xia De wanting to advance to the second year was indeed very likely:
"If I remember correctly, the first year requires 40 practical credits. Your time travel gave you 10 points, and the Lakeview Manor incident gave you 20 points, but you're still short 10 points."
"No problem, no problem."
Xia De wasn't bothered by this at all. Although he couldn't tell the academy the truth about the Silver-Eyed One's death and the evil god incident, nor could he hand over the god's gift box to the academy, nor was the reward for the forged philosopher's stone his credit (it was the doctor's), and he couldn't easily reveal the second time travel in the common era of the fifth epoch in 3002, what he had no shortage of were so-called accidents.
He could perfectly well go find Iluna after she returned from the Holy See. Spending a couple of days with Iluna would surely lead to something worth writing a report about, and Iluna certainly wouldn't mind giving him the credit. Even if that didn't work, directly offering the Endless Mercury Bottle to the academy would also earn practical credits.
"As long as you've thought it through, that's fine."
Miss Louisa said softly, her eyes on Mia, who had put the metamorphosis ring on her tail again:
"Hmm? Why does this ring look so familiar?"
Only then did the Golden-haired girl realize what she was seeing. She wasn't surprised when she heard Xia De wanted to advance to the second year, but now she was shocked:
"The Ring of Metamorphosis? Did you rob the Church? No, that's not important. Do you want to turn into a woman? How can that be!"
She even stood up abruptly, staring at Xia De with wide eyes:
"What are you going to do?"
"No, no, please relax. I don't want to turn into a woman at all. This ring is still related to Miss Jialinna."
Xia De mentioned that name again.
"Oh, that cursed woman! How could she give you this!"
This was the first time Miss Louisa showed her unladylike side today. It seemed Xia De was right; she definitely had a conflict with Galina Cavendish.
They spent the entire afternoon studying in the living room, chatting about other things during their breaks. As for today's lesson, since Xia De had already advanced to the second ring, it meant there were still empty slots for his second-ring Enlightenment Ling Rune.
So far, "crazy light chaser" hadn't shown any effect, so Miss Louisa was very much looking forward to the fairy tale "Kiss of the Tree." Just like last week, under Miss Louisa's explanation, Xia De once again read through those ancient pages. While Miss Louisa sat down to rest, Xia De was asked to copy the story once.
Gaining inspiration from a story is not an overnight task. Only by patiently experiencing and comprehending the story can one obtain the power within the years, civilization, and the story itself.
"Different versions of a story can derive different powers, thus different interpretations can also yield different Ling Runes, spells, and Miracles from the story."
Miss Louisa patiently explained to Xia De, even taking out other prepared versions of "Kiss of the Tree" for Xia De to read and analyze. By comparing different story versions, one could explore the predecessors' understanding of the story, which was very helpful for experiencing that wisdom of inspiration.
The different versions of "Kiss of the Tree" reminded Xia De that he had obtained quite a few excellent books from the ruins of the Old Day Cult. Before sealing the ruins, the cult had transcribed valuable items onto special parchment scrolls with ink, and Luvia, Xia De, and Iluna each took some.
Xia De also shared those books with Miss Louisa, and then retrieved "Delarion Ancient Fairy Tales Collection," which he had bought from a charity auction, from the study.
The Golden-haired Writer was very surprised by these books. After getting Xia De's permission, she even picked out a few to borrow, intending to take them home and read them slowly. And on that valuable "Delarion Ancient Fairy Tales Collection," there happened to be the story of "Kiss of the Tree."
However, unlike the initial version provided by Miss Louisa, the ending of the story in this old book was not Princess Tavel becoming a mummified corpse sealed within the ancient tree's trunk. Instead, she stepped through the ancient tree's door, accepted its power, became The Watcher of that peculiar tree, and used that special power to punish her parents.
"This version of the story is highly likely to have appeared in the fifth epoch. In that era, many stories would have female protagonists gain power at the end of the story, rather than princesses merely being appendages to princes, as in earlier stories.
This is, of course, because the Witches at that time mastered power. This tells us that studying the differences between different versions and different stories can help us understand the characteristics of civilizations in different eras, thereby better understanding the Enlightenment Element, which is regarded as the light of civilization."
Miss Louisa said, and Xia De nodded. His view was a bit more superficial:
"Actually, fairy tales with this kind of ending are more suitable for children, oh, don't look at me like that, I'm not saying the original ending is bad, it's just that it might leave children with nothing, pretend I didn't say anything."
Under Miss Louisa's condemning gaze, he picked up Mia, who was napping. The orange cat's throat emitted a dissatisfied "meow~" sound.
"Xia De, you almost lost the qualification to go to the Opera House with me next week."
The Golden-haired girl said with a smile.
"Opera next week?"
Xia De hesitated a bit. He saw this as some kind of invitation, but their relationship didn't seem to have reached that level yet.
"Yes, look, I've already got the tickets."
Miss Louisa rummaged through her handbag and placed two stamped tickets on the table:
"Next Saturday evening, which is the first day after the curfew ends, from 7:30 to 9:30. That performance happens to have a story related to 'Kiss of the Tree,' and I also have something to do at the Queen Maria Opera House."
Opera, as a high art form, was an important part of the upper-class society's entertainment and leisure in this era. Tobesk, known as the Northern Pearl, had many Opera Houses of various sizes, some of the irregular ones reportedly even offering illegal performances.
There were three relatively famous Opera Houses: the Delarion Royal Opera House, the Tobesk Grand Opera House, and the Queen Maria Opera House, which Miss Louisa just mentioned.
"Next Saturday we have an exam, so it's necessary to relax on the night after the exam, but our lessons cannot be delayed because of it. How about we go to this opera together? It can also be considered next week's study content. Xia De, don't you want to go?"
Miss Louisa waved the tickets, asking with a slight hesitation.