Ten days had passed since the God's Favored One test at Soren Academy.
During these ten days, the declining Fergus Family seemed to have regained its vitality.
Mrs. Fergus, once a peripheral figure at social gatherings, had become the center of attention. She rode in and out daily in her old carriage adorned with golden fleur-de-lis, now a guest of honor among the noblewomen.
However, on the day Beiliya was to report to the Academy of Light, Mrs. Fergus stayed home for once. Early in the morning, she fluttered her feather fan, her sharp voice and absolute authority causing chaos throughout the Fergus household.
"Maggie! Be careful! That's Beiliya’s favorite cup. If you break it, you can’t afford to replace it!"
"Is everything packed? I heard there’s a large lake at the academy, filled with water weeds. Make sure to bring the insect repellent…"
"Oh, and don’t forget the velvet pillow, the quilt, the scented lamp… Beiliya can’t stand using unfamiliar things…"
The servants were running around at her command.
By the time Beiliya’s three large wicker trunks were packed and loaded onto the carriage, it was nearly noon.
Only then did the haughty Miss Beiliya make her appearance. She descended the stairs carrying a birdcage, dressed in a strikingly vibrant red puffy dress, her skin as white as snow.
The servants stood respectfully to the side, aware that Miss Beiliya was no longer the same.
She was no longer a declining noblewoman but a high and mighty God's Favored One. She was about to enter the Academy of Light to study divine arts, and perhaps, in the near future, she would enter the temple and become a revered Light God's Envoy—
No, perhaps even more.
The servants still remembered the grandeur of Soren Academy ten days ago—
The name "Beiliya Fergus" had echoed throughout the city-state. They said she was a "Holy Spirit Body," born under the favor of the gods.
She was destined to become a Holy Messenger, to journey to the Light Holy Temple, the sacred land of the Light Believers, and serve as a Holy Messenger—a position even more revered than a Divine Messenger.
If fortune favored her, she might even become a Holy Maiden, summoned to the divine palace to serve by the gods’ side.
The servants no longer dared to gossip about her and Mrs. Fergus’s past hardships. They watched Miss Beiliya pass by with reverent eyes, bowing their heads meekly, convinced that she was born noble. Her golden hair and azure eyes were seen as signs of divine favor.
Mrs. Fergus wept as she saw Beiliya off at the door.
"My dear Beiliya, the thought of not seeing you for a month breaks my heart…"
The Academy of Light had strict rules regarding lodging and meals, forbidding visits and allowing only one family visit per month.
The academy’s founder believed that those who studied divine arts were servants of the gods and should not be overly burdened by worldly attachments.
Liu Yu withdrew her sleeve, dampened by tears:
"Mother, I must go now."
"Oh, Beiliya, my poor child…" Mrs. Fergus smoothed her disheveled golden hair, her eyes red as she gave her a tight hug. "I will always love you."
"Remember to write."
"Yes."
"If you run out of money, send word, and I’ll have Maggie bring you more…"
"Yes."
"Mother, I’m leaving."
Liu Yu cut off what could have been another round of tearful farewells, lifting her skirt to curtsy. The gesture was respectful yet distant, fitting for a proud and reserved noblewoman.
With that, she boarded the carriage with the help of a servant.
The red hem of her dress disappeared behind the carriage door, and Mrs. Fergus, clutching her black feather fan, walked back inside without even glancing at Natasi.
Natasi still bowed respectfully to her before climbing into the carriage with only a small cloth bag.
The carriage rumbled away, soon disappearing down the road.
Only then did the servants look away, all of them silently rejoicing for the Fergus Family.
Soren Academy had produced three God's Favored Ones this time, and two of them were from the Fergus Family.
One was the noble Miss Beiliya; the other was the gentle Miss Natasi.
Unfortunately, Beiliya’s brilliance was so dazzling that many unconsciously overlooked Natasi.
Now, the overlooked Natasi sat with her knees drawn up, leaning against the jolting carriage wall.
She looked at Beiliya in the center:
"I truly envy you, Sister Beiliya."
"Oh?"
"Everyone loves you. You were born noble, blessed with unparalleled beauty. They chase after your light, enchanted by your presence. You have the most love in this world. The servants love you, Mrs. Fergus loves you, and even…" She bit her lip. "The gods love you."
Liu Yu: "…Oh."
What could she say?
A blasphemer, desperately clinging to a white facade she had crafted—others could misunderstand, but she couldn’t deceive herself.
She was a fraud.
Now, her task was to turn this fraud into reality, to fuse the white facade with her flesh, to make them inseparable.
Natasi fell silent, staring out the window for a long while before speaking again:
"Earlier, I wished Mrs. Fergus would hug me too, tell me I’m also wonderful… In truth, when my father remarried Mrs. Fergus, I had hoped for it. I hoped for a gentle mother, a loving sister, a family that cared for one another…"
"Placing your dreams in others is foolish, Natasi."
"But not everyone is as cold as you, Sister. You love no one, not even Mrs. Fergus… She loves you so much, yet you treat her so coldly."
Natasi said softly.
Liu Yu poked the bird in the cage:
"Is that so?"
The bird squawked at her:
"Chirp! Chirp!"
"Natasi, look, this bird you saved has abandoned you so easily. Love? I don’t believe in it."
The damp spot on her sleeve felt heavy and sticky, yet she seemed unfazed, smiling brightly.
Natasi finally closed her mouth.
The carriage fell into silence, both of them gazing out the window. A flock of white doves flew past the dome, and the distant snow-capped mountains loomed faintly. They were still within the Solro City-State—
The Academy of Light was far outside the city, located in a quaint town at the foot of the mountains, facing the Light Holy Temple across the lake.
By the time the carriage reached its destination, it was nearly evening.
A blood-red sunset hung in the sky, and countless carriages from all over were parked outside the black lacquered gates engraved with the Star and Moon Scepter emblem.
The gates were shut.
The gatekeepers stood stiffly, dressed in luxurious silk shirts and pure white trousers, their loose pant legs tucked into black riding boots. Golden swords hung at their waists, and their hawk-like eyes scanned the area like lightning.
In the white square before the gates, a statue of the Light God holding the Star and Moon Scepter stood silently, watching over the visitors with divine benevolence.
The square was dotted with small groups of people.
They were young, some dressed in simple cotton and linen, others in lavish silk. Some had servants carrying their luggage, while others stood alone, dusty and travel-worn. The only thing they shared was the look of anticipation for the future on their faces.
"Miss Beiliya, Miss Natasi, we’ve arrived."
The coachman stopped the carriage and opened the door.
A chilly, damp breeze mixed with frosty air greeted them. Liu Yu was the first to step out of the carriage.
Natasi followed, clutching her small bag.
"Sister Beiliya, this place is nice."
She smiled. "It feels… free."
"Yes, free and equal."
A handsome young man in a khaki vest approached. He had short brown hair and amber eyes.
"We meet again, little angel."
Natasi gasped, covering her mouth:
"Carlo Prince…"
She had danced with him one night.
That night had been like a dream, where she felt like a true princess, cherished and adored, without Sister Beiliya or… the endless chores.
"So you’re also a God's Favored One," Carlo Prince said with a gentle smile. "We met once at Soren Academy, remember? You were bringing food to Miss Fergus."
"Yes, yes," Natasi nodded. "You remember me?"
Carlo Prince smiled.
He didn’t know why he had remembered this girl—perhaps it was because her story was so pitiful.
"And Miss Fergus? Where are your servants? And the rest of your luggage—"
“—No, no need,” Natasi interrupted her, “I don’t have many things. It’s more troublesome for you to help Beiliya sister…”
Her words trailed off mid-sentence:
“Actually, it seems like it’s not needed anymore.”
Carlo followed her gaze and saw several eager young men carrying large wicker baskets, following behind a girl in a red dress. Her red silk dress blazed like a flame, and her raised head and slender waist combined to form the familiar arrogance of nobility.
“Is that Miss Fergus?”
“Yes, isn’t she beautiful?” Natasi’s eyes widened, her shoulders drooping as if deflated. She kicked the grass, “They all like sister more.”
After saying this, she realized she had spoken rudely in front of Carlo Prince, and her face immediately turned red.
Carlo Prince ruffled her hair:
“A beautiful soul is more precious. You have a kind and noble heart, don’t be sad.”
Natasi looked up shyly:
“This is the first time someone has praised me like this.”
Carlo Prince took her small bag:
“It’s time to go report.”
The black lacquered gates swung open, and a new group of God's Favored Ones lined up neatly and walked in.
Liu Yu followed at the end of the line.
Before entering, she turned to look at Natasi and saw her chatting happily with a handsome young man—
From the cross sword at his waist and the gold-trimmed belt, she immediately deduced his identity:
The first heir to the throne of the Soren Kingdom, Carlo Prince.
Natasi’s second admirer.
Just like in the book’s plot, they hit it off as soon as they entered the school—as long as she didn’t compete with her for Gaia, Natasi could do whatever she wanted.
Liu Yu turned her head away indifferently.
The ones guiding this group of God's Favored Ones were the outstanding students from the previous year, but here, they weren’t called seniors or seniors, but uniformly referred to as “Directors.”
The freshmen chattered away, led by seven or eight Directors, who first took them on a tour around the Academy of Light.
Thus, Liu Yu learned some details that weren’t elaborated on in the book.
For example, the Academy of Light was divided into three tiers, with a maximum stay of three years in each tier. If one failed the assessment within three years, they would be automatically expelled.
The academy not only taught divine arts but also courses in horseback riding, fencing, herbalism, and etiquette, under the guise that “servants of God” should possess both noble cultivation and martial prowess, bravery, and loyalty.
The school rules, apart from prohibiting unauthorized outings, were surprisingly lax.
By the time Liu Yu reached the lake, she had already seen no fewer than ten couples.
With the snow-capped mountains in sight, the air was slightly humid, but the temperature wasn’t too low. The lakeside was lined with green willows, and one couple after another openly flirted and played around.
“…Dating? Of course, if you’re handsome enough, you can even date five or six beautiful girls at once, just like him.”
The male Director pointed across the lake, where under the setting sun and willow trees, a young man in a pure white high-collared shirt and silk pants was surrounded by several girls.
His loose pants were tucked into black boots, and a gold-trimmed belt cinched his narrow waist. From a distance, his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs were a sight to behold.
Liu Yu narrowed her eyes unhappily as she saw the silver hair and the pure white ribbon tied around his eyes:
She didn’t like her prey entering someone else’s hunting ground.
The freshmen noticed too.
“Director, who is that…”
“Oh, Gaia Leslie! He’s the bishop’s beloved disciple, and he’s won the hearts of all the girls as soon as he entered the academy. Do you want to get a closer look?”
“Yes!”
A flock of egrets flapped their wings and flew up from the lake.
The freshmen burst into laughter.
“Hi! Gaia Leslie!”
The Directors led the new God's Favored Ones over. The Elven Continent wasn’t just home to the Soren Kingdom but also over a dozen smaller affiliated states—amounting to about fifty or sixty people in total.
Such a large group walking over naturally drew attention.
“Are the ‘muddlers’ here again?!”
“Muddlers” was the affectionate term the Directors used for the freshmen, referring to those who were muddle-headed.
“Yes!”
Someone whistled at Liu Yu:
“Wow! Beiliya Fergus!”
Liu Yu ignored the gazes of others, her eyes fixed on the boy who looked up at the sound of “Beiliya Fergus”—
It had been over ten days since she last saw him, and the frail, almost ethereal aura he once had was gone. Instead, his increasingly radiant holy presence, wrapped in the remnants of the setting sun, the green willows, and the golden lake, struck her head-on.
In the animal kingdom, how does one claim territory?
By marking it.
And in school?
By creating a public narrative that pressures others, making those with unstable minds waver and develop a sense of illusory ambiguity—
Liu Yu admitted she was a hawkish follower.
“Gaia.”
Liu Yu suddenly smiled.
She handed the birdcage to Natasi, lifted her skirt, and ran out of the crowd. The wind billowed her red dress, making her look like a blazing, unrestrained flame—
She rushed straight to the beautiful boy and threw her arms around him.
“Be…Beiliya?”
Gaia was stunned.
“Gaia,” the girl’s voice came, tearful and resentful, “I thought I’d never see you again.”
Tears soaked the front of the boy’s shirt.
He stood stiffly, the sweet scent of roses wafting into his nose again.
“Gaia, who is this?”
A curious, jealous female voice chimed in.
At the same time, Liu Yu was firmly pushed away. She spoke before Gaia could:
“A friend, a good friend.”
But her expression and the emphasis in her tone seemed to tell everyone: It’s more than that.
Natasi unconsciously tightened her grip on the birdcage, her knuckles white and lips trembling, making her look unwell.
“Natasi?”
Carlo Prince looked at her with concern.
But the girl in the blue dress seemed to have lost her soul, her gaze fixed ahead.
He waved his hand in front of her face:
“Natasi?”
Natasi finally snapped out of it.
Once she did, she stuck out her tongue:
“Sorry, I don’t know what just happened…”
She held the birdcage to her chest, trying to block the sound of her pounding heart, which felt hot and scalding, as if someone had accidentally poured a bucket of boiling water over it.
She felt restless and utterly lost.
What’s wrong with me,
she asked herself.
“You…”
Carlo Prince scratched his head, “Do you want to go rest somewhere?”
“Ah, no, no need.”
Natasi waved her hand, but as she spoke, she couldn’t help but glance at Beiliya again.
She had never seen Beiliya sister look so sweet and charming before:
Most of the time, she was like a hard, unyielding stone that could hurt anyone who bumped into her.
Over there, Liu Yu was busy staking her claim among the “pack of wolves,” trying to stamp “Beiliya Fergus” on Gaia first.
“Beiliya Fergus,” the Director called to her, “go take the oath first.”
“Gaia Leslie, you too.”
Thus, in less than fifteen minutes, everyone was back in front of the statue of light in front of the teaching building, led by the Directors.
They clenched their fists, their eyes resolute.
“…May the holy light shine upon you.”
“…May the holy light shine upon you.”
“…I believe in the one true God, the Almighty Lord. He is the light of light, the god of gods… He gives hope to the earth, light to the heavens… All things are born through Him… He rules the sun and moon, sets the laws, and judges with mercy, faith, and justice…”
Liu Yu followed along:
“…I believe in the one true God, the Almighty Lord. He is the light of light, the god of gods… He gives hope to the earth, light to the heavens… All things are born through Him… He rules the sun and moon, sets the laws, and judges with mercy, faith, and justice…”
The Academy of Light’s entrance ceremony—
Swearing allegiance to the great God of Light, pledging eternal loyalty to Him.
“Now, go report to your respective dormitories. The floor numbers are posted on the bulletin board. Also, there’s one more thing to remind you. In ten days, there will be the first divine arts assessment. Good luck to you all.”
A divine arts assessment in ten days?
Is my secret going to be exposed?
Liu Yu was stunned and instinctively looked at Gaia. The boy once again accurately “caught” her gaze, tilting his head:
“Beiliya, is something wrong?”
Liu Yu: …
Sleep with you.
She smiled sweetly:
"I'm so happy to think that I'll be able to study with Gaia every day from now on."
Nickname:
