Chapter 18: Witch Academy

The bells of the Witch Academy in Han Hai Cheng echoed melodiously.

As it was Sunday, the campus was exceptionally quiet.

Sunlight filtered through the cypress leaves, casting dappled shadows and bathing the scholarly floating island in a soft, golden light.

Sherry led Tunzuo along the academy’s broad stone-paved paths.

Her short white hair fluttered gently in the breeze, and the ear feathers atop her head twitched occasionally—a sign of the Snowy Owl Witch’s cheerful mood.

“Tunzuo, since today is Sunday and classes don’t officially start until Monday, I’ll take this chance to show you around the academy and explain the teaching system.”

Sherry’s voice was gentle and clear.

She raised a hand, pointing toward a domed building not far from them.

“That’s the Social Common Sense building. It mainly teaches the basic knowledge and rules of witch society, historical development, and various laws and regulations. After all, you are a Lost Witch, Tunzuo. There’s probably a lot you don’t know about witch society, so this course is very important for you.”

Tunzuo nodded blankly.

Although she instinctively resisted the idea of classes, she knew she was essentially “illiterate.”

Laying a solid foundation in general studies was necessary.

“And over there are the classrooms for Magic Theory and Public Practice.”

Sherry gestured toward a magnificent cluster of spired buildings next to the Social Common Sense building.

“Magic Theory teaches the basic spell techniques and magical principles for first to third-circle spells. First to third-circle spells are mostly life-related magic, closely tied to witches’ daily lives. Public Practice involves applying what you’ve learned in simulated wilderness environments and against simulated enemies. After all, knowledge from books alone is shallow.”

Tunzuo looked in the direction Sherry pointed.

She saw bursts of colorful magical light erupting around the buildings from time to time, occasionally accompanied by muffled explosions, which made her eyebrow twitch.

“As for Riding classes, those are conducted in the aerial arena over there.”

Sherry then waved her hand toward a massive, floating circular track in the distance.

“There are special areas for practicing broom flight techniques and various obstacle courses. The students here love to go there after class to play around on their brooms.”

After introducing the first four courses, Sherry stopped, turned around, and looked at Tunzuo seriously.

She began explaining the final course, the most important one in the Witch Academy’s teaching system.

“Tunzuo, besides the four general courses I just mentioned, the one you’ll need to devote the most effort to in your future studies is the Specialized School Theory course. Our witch power system is vast and complex. To allow every witch to play to her strengths, the Witch Council divides magic into nine major schools: Elemental, Alchemy, Necromancy, Illusion, Spacetime, Summoning, Transformation, Divination, and Battle Magic. You must choose one school that interests you the most or best matches your magical affinity for advanced study. The academy will assign you a specialized mentor based on your chosen school.”

Sherry’s words made Tunzuo tilt her head in thought. Her magical attribute was Shadow, which barely fell under the Elemental school.

But her ghostly nature seemed somewhat related to Necromancy?

After a brief mental storm, Tunzuo decisively gave up thinking.

She decided to wait until she had a deeper understanding of the nine schools before making a decision.

“Those are all the courses taught at the Witch Academy. Next is about the conditions for a young witch to graduate…”

Sherry adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, her tone becoming serious, taking on the air of a strict teacher.

“This is also something you need to pay close attention to, Tunzuo. The Witch Academy doesn’t have fixed semester limits; it implements a flexible academic system. You can apply for graduation and obtain the Adulthood Crest, officially becoming an adult witch capable of independent living, once you meet the following four conditions.”

Tunzuo immediately perked up her ears, listening intently, afraid to miss a single word from Sherry.

“First, you must earn credits for all five courses—Social Common Sense, Magic Theory, Public Practice, Riding, and School Theory—without any gaps. In other words, no skipping classes.”

“Second, you must be able to skillfully control and cast first to third-circle spells. This is the most basic threshold for an adult witch to survive in witch society.”

“Third, pass the academy’s Flying Broom Riding assessment and obtain a Broom Riding License. Without this license, you are not qualified to ride a broom within the world of Dunayala. If you’re caught riding a broom without a license, the Council will impose a hefty fine.”

“Fourth, pass the primary assessment for your chosen school, proving you have attained a certain level of professional competence in that field.”

Listening to Sherry’s list of rules and requirements, Tunzuo felt her head instantly grow bigger, as if she were back in the suffocating exam-oriented education environment from her school days on Blue Star.

“Ugh… so many requirements… so many tests…”

Tunzuo’s little face fell miserably. But for some reason, Antuxi’s teasing smile and her nearly devilish ‘physical correction’ teaching methods suddenly flashed in Tunzuo’s mind.

‘Hmm, compared to these… that bad mommy Antuxi’s training back then was ten thousand times more insane…’

Tunzuo silently complained in her heart.

Compared to the five years of being tormented in various ways by Antuxi in the ruins of the Granitnuo Forest, the academy’s assessments didn’t seem so terrifying.

After all, she had survived Antuxi’s “physical correction” method.

These academy courses should be child’s play for her, right?

Probably…

Thinking this, Tunzuo’s mood, which had been weighed down by academic pressure, lightened a bit.

At least she wouldn’t have to memorize formulas while getting beaten up.

“Don’t worry, Tunzuo. The academy’s assessments aren’t as difficult as you imagine.”

Sherry, with her years of teaching experience, immediately recognized Tunzuo’s anxiety and offered gentle reassurance.

“The academy’s teaching plans are tailored to each student’s situation. Mentors also conduct periodic assessments to help you identify problems in your studies. It won’t put too much pressure on you. Believe in yourself. With effort, you’ll be fine.”

After a few simple words of comfort, Sherry continued leading Tunzuo on the tour.

They walked past spacious, bright classrooms, passed by the vast open-air sports field, and finally arrived at the building at the academy’s center, from which a tempting aroma wafted.

“This is the Witch Academy cafeteria, also a favorite spot for many students.”

Sherry smiled and pushed open the cafeteria door for Tunzuo.

A rich wave of food fragrance washed over them.

“The cafeteria is free for all enrolled mentors and students. You can eat to your heart’s content. The academy will never shortchange any young witch’s stomach.”

“Free? As much as I want?”

Tunzuo’s eyes lit up.

As a young witch who had just escaped the shadow of hunger and was in her growth phase with a huge appetite, she had a natural sensitivity to the phrases “free food” and “all-you-can-eat.”

“That’s right, eat as much as you like.”

Sherry couldn’t help but chuckle at Tunzuo’s drooling, greedy-cat expression.

“The Witch Academy hopes every young witch eats as much as possible. For young witches, appetite often represents the upper limit of magical reserves and magical conversion efficiency. The more you eat, the more talented you are. A big appetite is a sign of a young witch’s exceptional talent~”

“Then… I won’t be polite!”

Tunzuo wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and clenched her small fists, as if already seeing countless delicacies waving at her.

“Additionally,”

Sherry paused, her tone becoming somewhat meaningful.

“The Witch Academy is very tolerant toward young witches. As long as there are no issues of principle like bullying fellow witches or oppressing the weak, the academy generally doesn’t impose severe punishments on students. After all, our witch nature is one of intense curiosity, mischief, and playfulness.”

“Mischief and playfulness?”

Images of the unreliable An Lin and various witch black histories she’d browsed on the Magic Net flashed in Tunzuo’s mind.

“Yes.”

Sherry smiled with a hint of helplessness.

“For example, situations like classrooms being blown up due to mischievous students casting spells recklessly or making mistakes while mixing potions actually happen quite often. But these are easy to fix—a Restoration Charm can handle it. It just costs a bit more magical power.”

Sherry’s explanation made Tunzuo’s mouth twitch.

‘This isn’t tolerance; it’s outright indulgence! I guess it’s just typical of witches, growing up in such a wild environment from childhood.’

After touring a large part of the academy, Sherry led Tunzuo toward a standalone small building at the academy’s edge—Tunzuo’s future dormitory.

On the way, Sherry said to Tunzuo,

“Besides you, Tunzuo, I’m also mentoring two other students. However, they are both young witches native to the world of Dunayala. They’re only twelve this year and have quite lively personalities. Tunzuo, since you are a Lost Witch, you’re probably older than them. I hope you, as the older sister, can look after them a bit.”

“Don’t worry, Mentor Sherry.”

Tunzuo puffed out her chest reliably.

Although she herself was only in her twenties and had no experience taking care of children, looking after two little sisters should be fine, right?

As long as they weren’t as perverse as Antuxi.

“That’s good. I hope you can get along well with them.”

Sherry nodded with a smile and continued leading Tunzuo toward the dormitory.

Meanwhile, deep in the cosmos, in a void region unrecorded on any star chart.

There was no light from stars, only endless darkness and cold.

Yet, amidst this deathly silence, floated a chessboard of unimaginable size.

The grid lines were formed from twisted spacetime fissures, and the pieces were miniature galaxies flickering with faint light.

Antuoxi Otilis, the supreme being standing at the pinnacle of all witches, lounged lazily on a recliner woven from brilliant nebulae.

She picked up a black hole piece representing the red side and moved it forward one square on the board with boredom.

“Checkmate.”

Antuoxi said softly, her voice transmitted through the vacuum via magical vibration.

Opposite her, shadows stirred, and the black pieces moved automatically—an opponent materialized from the other half of Antuoxi’s own magical power.

“Oh dear, lost again.”

Antuoxi let out a shallow yawn and casually tossed the black hole piece into a spatial rift beside the chessboard.

This game of playing against herself had been going on for several days.

Although she could simulate the rise and fall of countless civilizations and the course of wars, a one-person game was ultimately too lonely.

“So bored…”

Antuoxi stretched, her silver-white hair dancing wildly with the cosmic turbulence.

Feeling immensely bored, she suddenly had a whim.

She took out her Grimoire, its cover emitting a faint golden light, intending to pick a lucky witch from the vast Magic Net to reply to a message, thereby passing the time and incidentally demonstrating the grace of the Supreme Witch.

Antuoxi’s jade-white finger swiped casually across the screen.

Countless private message requests flashed by like a school of fish crossing a river.

[Lady Antuoxi, please look at me!]

[Goddess! I want to be your dog!]

[Please guide me! Sponsor me!]

Antuoxi frowned in distaste.

Not a single message had any substance.

Even a stupid question about a spell would have been better.

Disappointed, she was about to close the Grimoire interface when suddenly, a message from the very bottom of the list caught her attention.

The account’s avatar was a cute, chibi-style ghost.

Its social level showed as “1,” looking as pure as a blank sheet of paper.

[Mommy, I’ve arrived safely in the world of Dunayala.]

Just that one short line made Antuoxi’s eyes, which had seen through all things in the world, narrow slightly.

Antuoxi’s finger tapped lightly.

An invisible thread of fate extended along the Magic Net, instantly traversing countless light-years to precisely lock onto the soul fluctuation behind that Magic Net account.

Confirmed.

The account owner was indeed her clumsy, good-for-nothing daughter who showed no interest in anything except sleeping and eating—Tunzuo Otilis.

“Finally home, my silly daughter.”

A doting, teasing smile curled at the corner of Antuoxi’s lips.

She could almost see through the screen Tunzuo’s cautious yet expectant expression while typing.

“I wonder which unlucky witch ended up as her guardian… I hope that little one’s wallet can handle it, hehe.”

Thinking this, Antuoxi’s mood improved greatly.

Her slender fingers danced lightly on the Grimoire a few times, setting Tunzuo’s account as a special contact.

-After doing this, Antuoxi put away the Grimoire, lay back on the nebula recliner, and shifted her gaze back to the massive galactic chessboard.

“Good. Since my silly daughter is already settled in Dunayala, let’s continue with this boring game.”

Antuoxi hummed an unknown tune softly, her fingertips once again plucking the threads of fate, her mood unprecedentedly pleasant.