Chapter 31: Komiya’s Invitation
The assessment ended.
In the duel competition, first place scored 120 points, second place 100 points, third place 90 points, fourth and fifth both 85 points, and the rest of the students scored between 70 and 30 points based on their duel performance.
“Komiya’s duel score is 65.” Yeluo read out the score, and many students on site were surprised, but soon figured it out.
Indeed, Komiya had defeated Suolin, and although that ability could only be used 1-2 times a day, it still showed she wasn’t lacking in combat power.
“Xilutiya’s duel score is 60.” Yeluo read out another maiden’s score again, which left many students astonished and uncomprehending.
“What qualifies for this? Tiya didn’t even participate, so how did she get points?” someone objected.
“Tiya already had very high scores in Secret History Class, and if you add the duel score…” Someone felt their ranking had been stolen.
“Miss Tiya spent extra energy and time learning gardening-related skills and formally mastered the Dew Prayer Method, so the teacher converted that into her duel score.” Yeluo answered and explained.
“Dew Prayer Method, what is that?” Someone didn’t understand.
“That seems to be a skill that professional gardeners must know; it can accelerate plant growth or ripen flowers and grass and such.”
“It doesn’t seem very useful, but it still adds 60 points? I think 30 points would be more appropriate.” Someone said jealously in a low voice.
“Quiet.” Yeluo, as Scholar Heide’s student and the current teaching assistant, explained again.
“Miss Xilutiya went from learning about the ‘Dew Prayer Method’ to mastering it in less than ten days. The teacher considered this a very good achievement, so he gave her a 60-point conversion.”
“Additionally, Mike got an extra 10-point bonus for breaking through to the second stage of the Breathing Technique, and Suolin for learning ‘Power Burst’.”
“If any of you make breakthroughs in ability training during future studies, the teacher will similarly give score bonuses.” With his explanation, the students finally accepted it.
“In that case, doesn’t Suolin’s 90 points tie with second place?”
“I wonder who will get second and third in this assessment.” Everyone on site discussed animatedly.
In the afternoon, Teacher Heide supervised everyone’s Secret History Class exam, then graded the papers on site.
“Full score is 100 points. Iona scored 98, Tiya 100—not much difference. Next is Baron with 91, Komiya 87, Suolin 85…”
“Finally, Lei scored 43, Mike 36.” The two of them were like miserable comrades in Secret History Class scores, ranking at the bottom.
“Total scores: first place Iona 218 points, second Suolin 185, third Baron 176, fourth Tiya 160, fifth Toss 157, sixth Komiya 152…”
After the rankings came out, the students gathered there to look, discussing animatedly.
“Iona indeed got first; that cape was probably pre-arranged by the viscount lord to give to her.”
“After all, she’s his own niece, and Viscount Karen’s daughter.”
“I didn’t expect Suolin’s score to surpass Baron’s; that extra 10 points was crucial, otherwise Baron would have been second.”
Naturally, Baron was furious about the result, but unfortunately he needed to recover from his injuries and wouldn’t be able to attend classes for a while.
“Tiya, you were so close to the top three!” Komiya pounced on the maiden and was held and set down by Xilutiya.
“It was a big gap, 17 points.” She didn’t care about the ranking.
“Let’s celebrate tonight. Oh, come to my house—my mother said she’d prepare a big dinner for us. She watched the match at noon and told me.”
So Komiya’s parents had come at noon? Xilutiya thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
On the other side, sitting in a separate lounge, Iona also heard Valenie report this exam’s results.
Getting first place herself was no surprise, but she was shocked that someone got a perfect score in Secret History Class, higher than her own.
“Tiya? That girl who wears glasses every day and hugs her textbook?” Iona turned around.
“Yes, Lady Iona, that commoner girl who usually doesn’t talk much.” Valenie spoke with some jealousy.
“That girl just memorized everything by rote and took advantage of you not paying attention to get a high score.”
“Just rote memorization?” Iona was somewhat skeptical. Considering Scholar Heide hadn’t been teaching long, the current questions weren’t too hard; not getting first was surprising but acceptable.
“It won’t be possible to get high scores just by rote memorization later.” Iona had previously studied at the Royal Academy in White Cliff City and knew the advanced content to come.
In any case, the name of this girl Tiya appeared in Iona’s memory for the first time, and she grew curious about that usually low-key, unassuming figure.
……
At night, Xilutiya and Karen arrived at Komiya’s home.
This was also in the East City District, but in a better location. The entire house was built with stone bricks, coated with white lime, topped with orange-red clay tiles, and the side walls had climbing wisteria, making it especially beautiful.
“Welcome~ Tiya, and Karen.” Komiya’s mother looked kind and virtuous; she wore an apron and had a dust-covering cloth on her head.
After leading the two classmates into the house, Komiya happily ran back and forth inside, bringing the two refreshing honey water, showing off flower baskets she made not long ago, childhood toys, newly bought stuffed dolls, and such.
The three chatted in Komiya’s bedroom until dusk fell, when Komiya’s father finally got off work from the Merchant Guild.
“You must be Tiya and Karen. I’ve been hearing Komiya mention you lately, haha.” Komiya’s father had a little paunch; he seemed to be a small supervisor in the Merchant Guild and was usually quite busy.
With guests and family all gathered, everyone sat at the long dining table chatting idly, while Komiya’s mother brought out the prepared dinner one dish at a time.
The main dish was butter-seared steak specially prepared by Komiya’s mother, sprinkled with expensive spices, served with pale red transparent gooseberries and a small amount of roasted celery.
Such a main dish, if at an outside dining room, might cost 1 silver coin per serving; even just buying the ingredients would take 30 copper coins per serving. Five portions plus other side dishes would total about 2 silver coins to prepare tonight’s food—an not insignificant expense even for a well-off family like Komiya’s.
At the dining table, Komiya’s father occasionally chatted about Tiya and Karen’s family backgrounds, but he didn’t inquire too much; he seemed more concerned about Komiya’s recent studies under Scholar Heide.
Komiya’s mother spoke less. According to Komiya, her mother had grown up in comfortable circumstances, studied and worked in Gully City, and only later returned to her old home to marry her father. Her father had previously been a young man from the countryside who came to Jiaoshi City, gradually made his way, and was finally recognized by the Merchant Guild boss to work inside.
“They both love me a lot, but I feel like they get along very plainly with each other, not very romantic.” On the way sending Xilutiya and Karen out, Komiya shared her feelings.
“Tiya, do you think they only got together because of me?”
“I don’t know.” The maiden shook her head slightly.
“But even if that’s the case, you don’t need to feel sad or guilty about it, because it’s their mutual choice.”
“What Komiya needs to do is grow up healthy and happy. When you have the ability, then help them solve some problems.”
“I see…” Komiya looked at the night sky above.
“Tiya just makes people feel so reliable. You might not be great at fighting, but being with you is very relaxing; I can’t help sharing some little worries from my heart.”
She took a few steps forward, then turned around.
“Thanks for comforting me, Tiya. Actually, I’m pretty strong; I just overthink things sometimes.”
“I’m so happy that Tiya and Karen came to my house today. My mom is always worried I’ll be too wild at Scholar Heide’s and offend classmates. I’m actually very smart, but adults…” She shook her head slightly.
“Anyway, today was so much fun—not just showing off in front of the teacher and classmates, but also having you with me.”
“See you tomorrow, Karen, and Tiya~” With that, she waved goodbye to the two at the intersection and ran toward that house still with the door open, lights shining out.
How nice, Xilutiya whispered in her heart.
The past life is irretrievable; if she has family in the present world, where are they?
The road is long, seeking up and down; the future is truly something to look forward to.
