Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 241: Stele

In the evening, Charlotte, who had finished the enrollment ceremony, invited Astrid and her group to dinner outside the courtyard.

After hearing the countess’s praise for her and Lyra’s excellent results, Astrid asked a question that had been lingering in her heart.

"Lady Charlotte, are the test papers this time newly issued by the professors of the academy?"

In the original novel, the description of Lyra’s exam was omitted, or more specifically, the author used words, but Lyra couldn’t answer any of the questions, resulting in the test paper shown to the readers being vague and without accurate content.

Therefore, Astrid only saw the full picture after officially obtaining the test paper.

"Yes, the entrance exam questions of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic are basically not repeated. The simple knowledge fill-in-the-blank questions change every year. The subsequent related questions are roughly the same, but there are slight changes," Charlotte swayed the red wine glass, and her charming face was reflected on the transparent glass.

"I also saw the test papers this time, they are all new questions, except for the last additional part that surprised me, the others were normal."

"Little Astr, do you think it’s difficult?"

Hearing this, Astrid wiped her hands with a wet towel, shook her head, and said.

"It’s not difficult, but there is something I’m more concerned about."

"The last question on the paper, judging the type of magic based on the Elders Speech, is there really an answer?"

If it’s really a magic spell, what effect would it have?

Hearing this, Charlotte was silent for a few seconds, and answered softly.

"There is no answer."

"I saw the question in the afternoon, and immediately went to ask the question group. This question, no matter how you answer it, you won’t get points."

Hearing Charlotte’s words, Astrid blinked her eyelashes a few times, and slightly opened her cherry lips.

"Then why is it on the test paper?"

A question without an answer, destined to not get points, what’s the point of its existence?

"I also have the same question, so I went to consult the professor of linguistics who wrote this question, Mrs. Evelyn."

"What did Professor Evelyn say?" Astrid took a sip of juice, and leaned back in the seat.

"She said that the main purpose of this question is to gather opinions and open up thoughts."

Charlotte’s voice was gentle, her slender legs wrapped in transparent stockings slightly swaying.

"Evelyn hopes to get some thoughts from the new generation of mages to help her understand the Elders Speech."

"The question group actually passed her idea, letting a question without an answer enter the test paper as an additional part, this is really unexpected."

In previous years, although the additional questions were difficult, there was at least a standard answer. Over the years, there were three or four people who could answer correctly, but this time’s question was the first time.

Hearing this, Astrid’s eyes showed a bit of thought, and her bright red pupils became deeper than usual.

"Then Lady Charlotte, do you know where this elders speech comes from..."

As soon as the words fell, there was a clear sound of high heels in the air, Charlotte changed her legs, her wet lips opened and closed.

"Little Astr is particularly interested in the elders speech?"

Astrid slightly nodded.

"Yes, I’m very curious."

Curious about how this out-of-place language was integrated into the novel’s world, and what connections it has with the magic used by humans today.

Seeing Astrid’s curiosity was so strong, Charlotte also started to get serious, and said solemnly.

"This elders speech comes from a stele ten thousand years ago."

"A stele?"

"Yes, the stele is just a substitute name, because the material of the stele looks similar to marble, but it is actually completely different. Its origin is unknown, its composition is unknown, and when it was discovered, there was only a piece of it as thick as an arm."

"Is it a broken piece?"

"Yes, the broken surface is clearly visible, even after such a long time of weathering, it still remains intact."

The users of the elders speech date back to the ancient humans ten thousand years ago, so the history of the stele must be more than ten thousand years.

Hearing this, Astrid slightly frowned, and then listened to Charlotte’s explanation.

The stele in Charlotte’s mouth could not only not be destroyed by external forces, but even time and space could not directly act on it.

"Someone once tried to use the storage characteristics of the space ring to separate a small piece of the stele, but found that even the space crack could not destroy the stele in the slightest."

The power of space is related to the Spellcreator, and in this era where even Arcanist level mages are rare, the Spellcreator has long been a legend that cannot be proved to truly exist by clear evidence.

"I didn’t expect Evelyn to be secretly studying the elders speech, it’s almost ten years."

Charlotte drank the last bit of red wine, her fair skin slightly red.

"In a way, I admire her."

Unlike Evelyn, Charlotte, although her thirst for knowledge is strong, she pays more attention to the application of magic in human activities.

Compared to studying the almost impossible to decipher words, she prefers to study the magic energy machinery, seeking tangible changes for contemporary society.

"Is the stele still in the academy?" Astrid asked.

Hearing this, Charlotte nodded.

"Yes, it’s placed on the top floor of the library. Its indestructible property actually saves the academy a lot of maintenance costs."

"If Little Astr really wants to see it, you can sign up for the elders speech class after the class assignment, there is a practical class to visit the remains of ancient humans, and then you can observe the stele and many other artifacts with ancient magic words up close."

There’s more than one?

Astrid’s mind slightly moved, and her fingers lightly touched her lips.

It seems she needs to consult Professor Evelyn in depth.

After chatting with Charlotte for a while, the other party has a discussion meeting about the class assignment tomorrow, so Astrid didn’t stay long, and went back to the dormitory building of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic after dinner, ready to rest.

Taking the nightgroom from the maid, Astrid saw Lyra who had just taken out her clothes from the closet, and whispered.

"Lyra, do you go first?"

The bathroom is so small, it’s impossible for two people to take a bath together.

Hearing this, Lyra was stunned for a few seconds, then answered.

"You go first."

-------

Considering the possibility of masters and servants living together, the dormitory bathrooms at Elizabeth Academy of Magic were not equipped with private bathtubs, but rather simpler showers.

Astrid walked into the bathroom, removed her clothes, and turned on the showerhead.

Feeling the warm liquid slide over her skin, the woman closed her eyes, gently rubbing her palms together, listening to the sound of water droplets falling to the ground.

Outside the bathroom, Lyra placed the prepared change of clothes on the desk, turned on the corner lamp, took out a notebook and pen, and began writing diligently based on the questions she remembered.

Meanwhile, Amalia, who had just been intimate with her sister, sat in Astrid’s spot, holding a cat in her arms, feeding it dried fruit, herlegs swaying slightly.

Amalia had not gone with them for the afternoon sparring session. Astrid had asked her to stay with Elise and see if there was anything needed in the dormitory.

In fact, half of the dormitory’s current arrangement was guided by Amalia.

Listening to the soft rustling of the pen on paper and the faint sound of water, Amalia petted the cat for a while, then softly called out to Lyra.

"Lyra..."

"...Yes, what is it?"

Hearing Amalia call her, Lyra turned her head, her delicate feet in white lace socks resting on slippers, the slender quill still in her hand.

"Wasn’t today the exam? What are you writing, Lyra?" Amalia asked gently, her cool red eyes quietly staring at her.

Looking at the little girl’s eyes, so similar to Astrid’s, Lyra rubbed the pen a few times and softly replied,

"It’s the magic theory part of the exam. I want to organize it and go through it again with the textbook."

If talent isn’t enough, hard work must make up for it. Those who aren’t as smart must work harder than others to have even a slight chance of standing on the same starting line.

Lyra didn’t know if her efforts would pay off, but at least they gave her peace of mind, allowing her to convince herself that she had taken a small step closer to Princess Astrid.

Amalia nodded thoughtfully, then spoke after a moment,

"Can I take a look?"

"Of course."

With that, Lyra handed the notebook to Amalia, keeping the reference book for herself, and began reviewing the bookmarked sections.

"I’ve only written the questions, not the answers. You can take the notebook and pen and try doing it yourself."

Part of the reason Astrid had enrolled Amalia was for her personal protection, and partly to teach the future possible emperor of the Valeria Empire some self-defense skills to handle unknown risks and crises.

As Princess Astrid’s friend, Lyra felt it was her duty to take extra care of her sister.

"Thank you," Amalia said politely.

Lyra smiled in response, "You’re welcome."