Chapter 129 : A Similar Flower

In that instant, the figure of the girl in the center of the square seemed to overlap with the figure etched in Lu Mo’s memories.

So similar.

It really was… too similar.

Lu Mo felt as if she were hallucinating.

She was back three hundred years ago.

Before her stood Elia, who had fully awakened the Frostspeak Bloodline and walked out of that dark past.

Elia was smiling at her across the distant years.

If she had survived the Shadow Moon Hall Master’s attack back then and stayed with Elia a little longer…

Maybe she would have seen a smile like this too?

But…

There was no if.

Everything in the Simulated Reincarnation was destined to be illusory.

When the first Simulated Reincarnation ended, it all vanished like smoke.

The girl before her, though named Elia and bearing a striking resemblance to her memories, was ultimately not her Elia.

Lu Mo let out a quiet sigh.

She snapped out of her daze and looked again at the girl smiling at her. A surge of indescribable sadness welled up in her heart.

The same name.

The same figure.

The same innate talent.

But what did that prove?

The name Elia was as common in this world as wildflowers by the roadside. Similar figures and talents proved nothing.

In the end, she was just another similar flower blooming by the river of time.

In the center of the square, Elia seemed to be saying something else.

But Lu Mo could no longer focus on the academy leadership’s speech. Her thoughts were completely immersed in memories.

She also didn’t notice that Elia’s gaze kept drifting toward her, never leaving.

“Hm?”

Koman noticed this detail.

In the front row of seats.

“Alright, thank you for the brilliant speech from our freshman representative. Please return to your seats. Next, we will proceed to the second segment…”

The academy official presiding over the ceremony continued.

One by one, the freshmen headed to their designated seats.

“Miss Elia, nice to meet you, I—huh?”

A young man among the front rows tried to strike up a conversation with Elia, but she ignored him completely.

And the direction she was walking was not toward the front row seat marked with her name.

She was actually walking toward the last row.

Toward… Lu Mo’s direction!

“What is Miss Elia doing?”

“The last row? Aren’t those the seats reserved for people who got in through the back door?”

“Hm?”

Hearing the murmurs around her, Lu Mo looked up with a puzzled expression.

And the next moment, she saw Elia walking toward her.

Completely ignoring the gazes around her, she stopped right in front of Lu Mo.

“So, do you know my name now, Miss Lu Mo?”

She smiled, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons, her tone carrying a hint of slyness and a little pride.

“Elia.” Lu Mo said.

“Mm-hmm!” Elia nodded vigorously.

Hearing that familiar voice call her name, she felt as if her heart had been gently touched, sending a tingling sensation.

Yes!

Just like that!

Call me a few more times, Sister Lu Mo!

Unfortunately, Lu Mo only called her once and then fell silent.

This made Elia feel a little disappointed.

“So, Sister Lu Mo… what do you think of that name?”

“As common as wild—”

Lu Mo bit her tongue abruptly.

Close call, she almost blurted out her inner thoughts!

“Hm?” Elia tilted her head, her hair swaying gently, showing a confused expression.

“…It’s a very nice name. It suits you well.” Lu Mo quickly recovered. “Did you remember something?”

“Did I?”

Elia covered her mouth and laughed softly.

What she was thinking was: as common as wildflowers by the roadside.

But saying that out loud wouldn’t be good.

The two of them were on completely different wavelengths.

Elia was eager to know if Lu Mo had recalled fragments of the past.

And Lu Mo just wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible.

“A little bit.”

“What kind of memories?”

“A bit messy. I’ll tell you when I have the chance.”

“Okay.”

A bit messy?

Could it be that Sister Lu Mo really remembered something?

Elia’s heart surged with excitement.

“What are they talking about?”

“Why is Miss Elia chatting so happily with someone who has no talent?”

Watching this scene, everyone found it hard to believe.

And then, something even more shocking happened.

Elia didn’t return to the front row. Instead, she sat down right next to Lu Mo!

The entire venue erupted in commotion.

Koman’s eyes widened, his mind full of question marks.

Did that make sense?

Seeing this, Lu Mo couldn’t help but remind her, “By the way, Miss Elia, shouldn’t you be sitting in the front row?”

“No.” Elia replied calmly. “I invited Miss Lu Mo here, so of course I’ll sit with her.”

That reason… seemed plausible enough.

Lu Mo nodded and didn’t ask further.

But having the top freshman sitting next to her would inevitably attract gossip, wouldn’t it?

Would this affect Elia’s development?

Just as she was thinking about it, Lu Mo suddenly felt her hand being gently held.

She turned her head to see that Elia had taken her arm.

“Um…”

“Don’t be afraid, Miss Lu Mo.” Elia said, her tone tinged with seriousness and a hint of gentle possessiveness. “As long as I’m here, no one will dare to do anything to you.”

Lu Mo was momentarily speechless. She could only nod. “…Thank you, Miss Elia.”

“You’re welcome.”

Elia blinked, then said with some anticipation, “Um… Miss Lu Mo, could you say my name one more time?”

“El… Miss Elia?”

“Just call me by my name.”

“Elia?”

“Mm-hmm!”

Hearing Lu Mo call her name again, Elia felt a wave of satisfaction.

The surrounding students were all shocked.

This was the first time they had seen something like this.

The academy officials exchanged glances.

“This is a bit out of line.” A stern old man frowned.

“Forget it. Young people need a bit of personality. That’s not a bad thing.” Another laughed, unbothered.

“Let her be. Geniuses deserve some privileges.”

Elia’s displayed talent and ability were arguably the strongest in the academy’s history.

She was naturally treated as a treasure.

Even if she demanded to be in the same class and the same dormitory as Lu Mo, the academy would agree.

“…”

Koman looked at the two figures, cold sweat running down his forehead.

He didn’t believe that the proud and powerful Elia would be so close to Lu Mo for no reason.

Under normal circumstances, this was impossible.

So… Lu Mo must have done something.

“That woman endured so much in the family…” Koman muttered to himself. “As soon as she arrives at the academy, she starts showing her fangs?”

“In just this short time, she’s already hooked Elia…”

“Alright, everyone, quiet down.”

An academy official spoke up, silencing the students’ whispers.

The ceremony continued.

“Next, let us welcome His Eminence the Crimson Bishop to the stage to deliver a speech for this enrollment ceremony—”

As the host’s voice fell, a figure slowly walked out.

The entire venue erupted into commotion.

A Crimson Bishop!

This was a powerhouse of the Holy Sanctuary standing at the pinnacle of this region.

No one could understand how Cangyu Academy had managed to invite such a presence.

Even the Dean himself probably couldn’t explain it.

As the Crimson Bishop arrived at the center of the square, several young men and women followed behind him.

They exuded a faint sacred aura and an otherworldly temperament, immediately drawing countless gazes.

Lu Mo’s eyes landed on one of them—Ceciliaia.

Ceciliaia also noticed Lu Mo sitting in the last row.

She smiled slightly and greeted her with a glance.

But when her gaze fell on Elia—

Her expression immediately soured.

Why was there another annoying person by Miss Lu Mo’s side?

Seeing her reaction, Elia lifted her chin even more proudly and tightened her grip on Lu Mo’s arm.

See that, Saintess?

I’m holding hands.

Can you do that?

In Elia’s eyes, Ceciliaia would soon leave with the Crimson Bishop.

The one who would truly accompany Lu Mo through the long years was her.

As for the Saintess?

Who was that? Not familiar.

The Crimson Bishop’s speech was short and powerful.

He praised Cangyu Academy generously, to the point where even the Dean felt embarrassed.

Then, he mentioned the annual tradition.

“The Holy Sanctuary has always had a close relationship with Cangyu Academy. Every year, we send some young members to study at the academy.”

“This year is no exception.”

Elia squinted slightly.

She keenly sensed a hint of… danger.

“This year, the Holy Sanctuary will also send a batch of young people to study at Cangyu Academy. Please take good care of them.”

The Crimson Bishop stepped aside, allowing the young men and women behind him to step forward.

Among them, naturally, was Ceciliaia.

When she stepped forward with a feigned shyness, the Crimson Bishop’s heart trembled inwardly.

Was this really the one closest to the divine, the true power behind the Holy Sanctuary, Lady Ceciliaia?

Why had she suddenly come to Cangyu Academy?

And… for what?