Chapter 39 Ancient Elf Language: Thirty Unique Praises for Me...

Along with the main contingent from Gracia Academy, came the secret commendation from the Holy See of Light.

Ancia succinctly translated the formal letter of thanks into a single sentence: Thank you for resolving the cost of the arcane art. From this day forward, you will be a close friend of the Holy See. A gift is enclosed.

"Where's the thank-you gift?" Ancia shook the empty envelope.

“It’s here with me.” Heligalo took out the Holy Relic of the Church of Light, the Wedge of Radiance, from his spatial necklace.

As soon as Ancia received it, she felt a strong light energy. It was a precious magical item, with liquid light flames circulating inside and gilded feather patterns adorning the outside.

[Item Description: The Wedge of Radiance, a wedge forged from Adamantian silver, with a six-pointed star cross-section, symbolizing the six virtues of light: justice, sacrifice, piety, perseverance, kindness, and hope. Only those who are recognized can possess it.]

Attributes: None

Without any attribute bonuses, it seems to have no effect on Ancia, but the item's gold border is shining brightly, which has already aroused players' desire to collect it.

Important mission item, take it.

"Then I won't be polite." Ancia put it directly into her system inventory.

[Congratulations to the player for completing the side quest [The Mystery of the Arcane].]

The player receives 50,000 gold coins, 70,000 experience points, and reaches level 30.

The glowing "Two-Star Priest" title on the attribute panel changed directly, and the gray, flowing "Three-Star Priest" text prompted Ancia that she could now take the Three-Star Priest assessment.

"Double happiness!" Ancia was in high spirits and immediately summoned her staff, the third magic crystal on it already lit up.

"What a coincidence, I've also reached three stars. Shall we go to Red Maple City for the assessment together?" Heligalo asked.

Ancia naturally wouldn't refuse.

When Erlan finally found his two friends, he was met with two newly minted three-star mages.

"So fast?" Ellan first confirmed that Heligalo was alright before raising an eyebrow at the smug Ancia.

"Genius speed." Ancia put her hands on her hips. "I'm about to catch up with you."

"Heh, I just didn't go to the assessment." Aerlan couldn't stand it, so he went straight to the Mage Association and came back to show Anciya his five-star mage certificate.

Heligalo watched them bickering with a smile, without getting involved.

Even though they didn't exchange a single word, Erlan sensed something unusual between them.

It had only been a few days since he last saw her, but the atmosphere between his only two friends seemed to have changed, yet Ancia's attitude remained the same, as if it were just his imagination.

Arlan looked at Heligaluo again, his gaze shifting from concern to inquiry, finally catching a glimpse of the truth in Heligaluo's calm gaze.

It's not an illusion.

Heligalo had never been so obvious.

Perhaps he himself didn't realize that his gaze was always following Ancia, his smile was genuine, and his eyes were indulgent.

While Ancia went to see her mentor, Ellan couldn't help but ask, "You and Ancia...?"

Heligalo's smile even had a hint of happiness about it. "Yes, I like her."

Aerlan's breath hitched, and he managed a weak smile. "Oh, I see."

His best friend had dedicated himself to the Church of Light, and now that he had found someone he loved, he should offer his blessings, especially since Ancia was also his friend. Yet, he still couldn't bring himself to say it. Ellan's lips moved a few times before he stiffly changed the subject, "How are the side effects of the secret technique now?"

“Ancia took care of me. I thought that repaying the Holy See’s kindness in raising me with my life would be my end. I never thought that a miracle would happen to me, but my predetermined fate was still changed by her.” Heligaluo’s eyes softened, and he became gentle when he mentioned Ancia. “Ellan, perhaps your fate will be different.”

“Is that so?” Airan lowered his eyes. Miracles might favor a saint like Heligaluo, but they would never favor someone like him who had been exiled.

Not long after, Ancia returned dejectedly, her lips drooping, and she seemed utterly downcast.

"What's wrong?" Heligalo asked with concern.

"Sigh... My mentor gave me a lot of learning materials on wood-type magic arrays, but I can't understand them." Anxi scratched her hair, her face scrunched up.

"If you don't understand, read more. When have you ever given up on what you're doing?" Airland tapped Ancia's forehead with a finger, smoothing out her furrowed brows.

“It’s not that I can’t understand that, it’s this I can’t understand!” Anciya pulled out a notebook with a frayed cover and worn-out, rounded, and greenish brass corner protectors.

Ancia carefully unfolded the paper. The yellowed pages were written in ancient and elegant characters, flowing and light, completely different from the common language. "Apart from the array diagram next to it, I can't understand what it says at all."

Ellan was taken aback. "This is ancient Elvish."

“Ancient Elvish? This must be the notes of Beatrice, the most famous wood-type array scholar. She was an elf from thousands of years ago.” Heligaluo gestured for Ancia to look at the elven emblem in the corner of the page.

"Aierlan..." Ancia turned her head and called out Aierlan's name, her voice rising at the end, "Aierlan~ please help me~"

"Let's talk this out, don't call me that." Airan felt a jolt, his sensitive ears tingling. "Do you want me to translate for you?"

“Not entirely. Besides the notes, my mentor also gave me several memory pearls, which allow me to attend Beatrice’s lectures in person.” Ancia’s eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together. “This notebook can only be unlocked by etching the previous magic circle, and the memory pearls are also becoming increasingly rare. Why don’t you teach me Ancient Elvish?”

By immersing one's mental energy into the memory pearl, one can recall the images and sounds recorded within it. Many precious documents have been passed down through the memory pearl.

"Teach you Ancient Elvish?" Ellan asked with a half-smile. "What's in it for me?"

"We're friends, and you still want something in return?" Ancia asked incredulously. "Then I'll go find another elf to teach!"

"Do you think just any elf you pick out will know Ancient Elvish?" Ellan sneered, his emerald eyes narrowing. "How about a bet? If you can find a second elf in the Augustinian Empire who knows Ancient Elvish, name your price."

Want to gamble?

If she could set any conditions, she would use them to make the usually arrogant Erlan a male servant; that would be quite interesting.

Just as Ancia was about to agree, she saw Heligalo gently shaking his head behind her.

"I won't gamble! Gambling is forbidden in Gracia!" Ancia, having received the hint, refused righteously.

Her attitude changed so quickly that Airland looked back suspiciously, only to see Heligaluo standing there calmly, seemingly uninterested in their conversation.

"What do you want in return for teaching me Ancient Elven language?" Ancia asked through gritted teeth.

Airland lowered his head, leaned close to Ancia's ear, and said in the softest voice, "Think of thirty unique compliments to praise me, record them in the Memory Pearl, and give them to me before the end of this school year."

A gentle breeze blew into her ear canal, and Ancia shrank back. "You..."

Airland took a step back, the tips of his ears turning a faint pink. "What?"

"You're so narcissistic." Ancia smirked. "Deal."

After Erlan was called away by Teacher Yesika, Ancia finally had a chance to ask Heligaluo, "Why did you stop me from making a bet with him just now?"

“Gracia’s school rules stipulate that gambling is prohibited on campus.” Heligalo’s expression was somewhat strange. “This rule was created because of Ellan.”

"Because of him?" Ancia's voice rose involuntarily, then she lowered her voice and asked again, "Isn't he an elf? In my impression, elves like poetry and dance, and their hobbies are more artistic."

"That's indeed how it's recorded about the elves, though perhaps Erlan is a special case. Betting was allowed during the freshman competition, but Erlan's presence that year bankrupted the bookmakers." Heligaluo couldn't help but laugh, recalling the information he'd seen before.

"What did he do to lose to the bookmaker? Aren't the odds supposed to be set before betting to guarantee a win?" Ancia became increasingly curious.

"He wasn't betting on winning or losing, he was betting on the exact minutes and seconds the game would end. He won thirteen games in a row before the dean stopped him," Heligalo said.

Ancia stared in shock, her mouth agape. It took her a long time to recover. "How did he know the end time of the competition in advance? He's never studied astrology!"

“The roulette wheel is divided into ten-minute intervals, which are controlled by the dealer. Airlan stands fifty meters away and shoots an arrow. The time it hits the target is the time he bets.” Heligalo said thoughtfully, “I haven’t discovered any sure-win techniques for him either.”

“No, there’s no trick to it, he just wins every time he gambles.” Ancia breathed a sigh of relief. “Luckily I didn’t gamble with him just now. Thank you for reminding me, Heli.”

The game's storyline she knew didn't include the fact that Erlan was a gambler, but the Erlan here not only gambled, but had exceptional luck at it.

“Anyone who witnessed that contest will never gamble against Ellan again. I think if you had known that, you would have considered it more carefully just now.” Heligaluo raised his hand and straightened Ancia’s disheveled hair. “Now it seems that my advice was correct.”

“Of course! Heli knows me very well.” Ancia nodded.

When Erlan returned, he saw the two of them standing very close, almost touching. He crossed his arms and said unhappily, "You two weren't secretly talking bad about me while I was away, were you?"

“We’re not that naive.” Ancia walked over and saw a register in Ellan’s hand. “What’s this? Can I look at it?”

"Teacher Yesika asked me to inform the group assignments of the list of Gracia who came to Red Maple City for training this time." Ellan sighed, "Just bear with it a little longer, and I won't have to be an assistant after this school year is over."

Ancia took the list. There were three accompanying teachers: Cheryl, Yesika, and Merrith. However, there were not many students who volunteered, especially the noble students.

“Skark is here too…” She looked down the list and found a name she never expected to see. “Princess Eve? None of the noble students are participating. She signed up as a princess? Let me check again… Verion didn’t sign up.”

“Nobles, mindful of their status, will send their retainers if the empire issues a summons; they themselves will not exert themselves for the monster tide,” Heligalo said calmly. “Velion is the crown prince, and he is even less likely to appear here. As for Eve, I have no idea why she signed up.”

“The trainees are divided into groups of five, and the three of us were assigned to one group. The remaining two are…” Ancia raised an eyebrow slightly, “Skark and Eve?”

This is going to be interesting.