Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter : 124
Demetrius was very worried.
Originally, his dormitory had only him, but now he had a roommate.
This roommate was unlike others; he wasn't repelled by his gloomy demeanor, but instead seemed very interested in him.
Demetrius sighed faintly, contemplating how to divert his roommate's attention. What he was currently doing was not suitable to be known by a second person.
However, his roommate was like a puppy with inexhaustible energy every day, constantly coming up with new ways to cause a ruckus.
Yet, his enthusiasm lasted for only three minutes; there wasn't a single thing that could hold his roommate's attention for long.
Demetrius was very troubled.
***
Over the next few days, Yan Yunqing was busy looking for a fifth teammate while also chatting with [Tianchu Crow] about the upcoming outdoor training.
In the process, Yan Yunqing learned that [Tianchu Crow] was a female swordsman, and he even went to observe her training.
To be honest, the male-to-female ratio of swordsmen on the Ailman Continent was not that disparate, about 6:4.
There were also quite a few female swordsmen in Sigret Academy, but due to some physiological constraints, not many female swordsmen had strong explosive power.
Most of them used one-handed swords or followed the rogue path.
But this [Tianchu Crow] was different. She was one of the few female swordsmen who used a greatsword.
Her name was Rowena, with no surname. She was a swordsman from a commoner background.
Due to her outstanding talent and a fortunate encounter, she got the opportunity to study and entered a specialized swordsman school.
After graduation, she went to Sigret Academy for further studies.
There were many commoner students like her in the Swordsman Academy, and most of their experiences were similar to Rowena's. However, such cases were rare in the Magic Academy.
After all, learning magic was a very expensive affair. Few commoners could afford the money required to study magic, let alone reach a level sufficient to enter the most famous institution on the entire Ailman Continent.
The genius girl from Sunset Village, Kalenna, had exhausted the entire village's financial resources just to send her to the Magic Academy in the neighboring city.
Perhaps with a little more time, she too could have passed the entrance examination of Sigret Academy with her talent and hard work.
However, fate was unpredictable. Kalenna ultimately died on the land she deeply loved, dying to protect it.
His thoughts drifted for a moment before Yan Yunqing came back to his senses and continued to think about Rowena.
Rowena was a commoner student who used a greatsword; there was no problem with that. What Barnet referred to as 'special' was not these things, but—
Rowena was a disabled swordsman. She had lost the half of her left hand, her ring finger and little finger, in a battle with demonic beasts. Her left hand only had three fingers.
A greatsword was an extremely physically demanding weapon. Because the greatsword itself was heavy, its damage was basically enhanced by its own weight. Therefore, it had extremely high requirements for the grip strength of both hands and the strength of the arms.
Don't think that Rowena only lost two fingers, as if it were no big deal. But this meant that her left hand was innately lacking in a certain amount of grip strength. Otherwise, why would people have five fingers?
But even so, Rowena didn't want to give up using the greatsword. The reason she gave was: "A woman's physiological conditions already limit the improvement of explosive power. If I want to continue to become stronger, I can only rely on the power of the weapon itself."
This was the reason she chose the greatsword in the first place. The loss of her palm was a subsequent unfortunate event.
"No matter what, this matter cannot become a stone that hinders my progress." Rowena extended her left hand, showing no fear in displaying her slightly deformed left palm in front of Yan Yunqing.
The place where her fingers were severed had an irregularly healed appearance, looking quite eerie and terrifying. Coupled with the calluses on her fingertips from practicing the sword, it somewhat resembled an alien with only three fingers from a science fiction work.
"I understand."
Yan Yunqing nodded, also extending his own left hand and grasping Rowena's left hand, "Well then, teammate, I'll be in your care for the next month."
Rowena was stunned, "You... don't you mind?"
Yan Yunqing released her hand, "What's there to mind? Since Teacher Barnet recommended you to me, it means your strength has been recognized by him. Since your strength is sufficient, what does this little regret count for?"
He shrugged, "My goal is to get first place in the outdoor training group, not to compare whose hands look better. Besides, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. In a way, isn't this also your battle honor?"
"—To have successfully survived that battle with countless casualties and fought until the end, this is a glorious medal, isn't it?"
Rowena stared at Yan Yunqing for a moment, then slowly nodded: "You're right, this is my medal."
Sweat slid down from her temple and fell onto the floor of this training room, which had silently recorded every drop of her sweat and tears.
"Well then, please take care of me, Captain."
The third official member of the team was in place.
***
Yan Yunqing took the time to bring Demetrius and Rowena to find [Sun-Eating Raven]. After all, it was agreed that both sides would be given a chance to decide whether to become teammates.
Seeing the true face of the other crow in his Te-xin list, Yan Yunqing was stunned.
Light golden hair, a familiar, slightly immature face, and a somewhat short stature...
Isn't this William?!
Prince William Bartovita, the tenth prince of Bartovita, the half-brother who grew up with Alice.
If I remember correctly, William should only be 13 this year...?
No wonder he's so short.
Wait, William is a first-year student? If he remembered correctly, as William's sister, Alice had already become a second-year student in the Magic Academy, right?
Yan Yunqing subconsciously sized up William's small frame and suddenly understood.
William entered Sigret Academy as a swordsman, which was different from Alice's identity as a mage.
To advance to the second year in the Magic Academy, one had to complete all first-year courses, reach level 35 or above, and have a comprehensive grade of A to successfully advance.
As for the Swordsman Academy, the student's physical constitution was also one of the important assessment items.
After all, without a healthy and strong body, it would be difficult for a swordsman to walk this path for long.
William's small frame really didn't look like he could pass the academy's assessment.
While Yan Yunqing was sizing up William, William was also sizing up Yan Yunqing's group. First was the captain who had contacted him, 'Xavier'.
Hmm... he doesn't look much like a swordsman, a bit strange, but he has Teacher Barnet's approval, so his strength should be fine.
Next was 'Rowena'. William also had an impression of this female swordsman. After all, her insistence on using a greatsword instead of switching to a one-handed sword after losing half of her hand was once evaluated by William as: foolish persistence.
However, they had fought once in the grade competition later, and after that, William's impression of Rowena had slightly changed, but he still didn't approve of her insistence on using a greatsword.
But Rowena's strength was also beyond doubt.
The last one...
William's gaze fell on 'Demetrius', and he frowned hesitantly, searching his memory for the other's name: "You are... that first-year top student from the Magic Academy?"
Demetrius nodded silently, his gloomy aura constantly emanating, as if several dark clouds were hanging over his head, making him look particularly somber.
William frowned at the sight.
He subconsciously wanted to take a step back and distance himself from Demetrius.
This was not strange. Demetrius's temperament was too somber. Usually, those with such a temperament were either bad people or potential bad people.
It was really hard to see him as a good person. Otherwise, with Demetrius's status as the first-year top student, he would have had friends everywhere long ago, and the whole world would have been kissing up to him.
He wouldn't have had only Yan Yunqing kissing up to him... oh no, clinging to him, since the start of the school year.
Fortunately, William knew that taking a step back would be too impolite. William, who had undergone intensive royal etiquette training, resisted the urge.
"Hello." William forced himself to greet Demetrius, suppressing his physiological repulsion towards him, before looking around again and turning to Yan Yunqing.
"Are these all your teammates? Shouldn't there be another one?"
Yan Yunqing answered sincerely, "No, there are two more."
William: ?
Yan Yunqing pointed at him, "Haven't you also not agreed yet? My team currently has only three official members: me, Demetrius, and Rowena."
He held up three fingers and looked at William, "If you agree, then we will be four."
He slowly bent out a fourth finger.
William: "...Didn't I say? I need to see all the other members of your team before I consider whether to join your team."
Yan Yunqing spread his hands, "I can't help it. The fifth person is too hard to find. I've asked quite a few people these past few days. They either already have a team or are not very willing to join my team."
Nonsense, he was from the Magic Academy and couldn't openly declare his identity. When asked which class he was in and what his name was, he would just stammer and be unable to answer. Which swordsman who was naive to the point of being a fool would join his team?
Rowena had joined because of Teacher Barnet's endorsement, plus the words Yan Yunqing had said to her when they first met had touched her. That's why she joined this team without even knowing which class Yan Yunqing was a swordsman from.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you too. Do you know any powerful friends who don't have a team yet? I could try to pull them in."
William subconsciously followed Yan Yunqing's words and thought, "How could I possibly know many people from the Magic Academy... but Alice's side should... wait!"
"I haven't agreed to join your team yet!"
Yan Yunqing spread his hands, "Then you can make a decision now. The three members of the team are all here. If you agree to join and become the fourth person, then the choice of the fifth person can be left to you. As long as your choice is unanimously approved by the three of us, we can make a direct decision."
Yan Yunqing really didn't want to search for his ideal swordsman like looking for a needle in a haystack. He figured the current team's strength was already quite good. It wouldn't matter if the fifth person was a bit weaker. It would be nice to have them as a vase.
But with William's personality, a real vase probably wouldn't even pass his muster.
"Oh right, I forgot to mention, our fifth member has to be a swordsman, not a mage."