[Vol. 7] Chapter 150: The Fantasy Sky Courtyard
“Yeah… that’s what she said at the time, so I brought you all here. Anyway, don’t stress too much. Just treat it like a regular banquet. Eat, drink, and relax~”
Outside the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard], a hotel in the First District of Sainz Academy City, Violet, who had actually swapped her usual white robe for an elegant formal dress, casually shrugged as she spoke to the girls behind her.
To ease her own burden (and to give the little ones a chance to experience something new), she had dragged along the whole crew, Xiao Guang, Lenka, and even her two personal maids, Mia and Selna.
With kids around, she could easily brush off annoying conversations or unwanted attention. The two professional maids would also help filter out strange people, handling things as needed. After all, rejecting someone was a form of social interaction too. And with her status as an honorary professor, it was inevitable that people would try to strike up a conversation with her.
As maids, Mia and Selna wore their usual elegant black-and-white uniforms, classic, sophisticated, and subtly alluring. As professional maids, this was their formal attire, a clear symbol of their status, and they wouldn’t take it off even at high-class events.
The two little girls following Violet had also dressed up for the occasion, wearing luxurious dresses tailored to their petite sizes, both had personally picked out their favorites.
Lenka, despite looking so young, turned out to be surprisingly bold. She had chosen a revealing, eye-catching off-shoulder cheongsam-style dress.
Her delicate arms and smooth shoulders were fully exposed, and thanks to her good appetite lately, her petite frame had grown a little chubbier, making her white legs look even softer beneath the deep blue fabric. Strangely enough, it gave off an unexpected allure that was hard to describe.
As for Xiao Guang, she had gone for a more reserved choice, a simple dark Lolita-style dress. It was actually something Violet had prepared for her back at [Eastern Sea Pearl], and she had loved it ever since.
Since the skirt was short and easy to move in, she could run around freely. Her golden flame-like hair had been neatly tied into a short tail at the back by the maids, and as she skipped along, the little ponytail bounced with her movements, making for an adorably lively sight.
Perhaps it was her dragon instincts, but even in this younger form, Xiao Guang still absolutely refused to wear shoes, just like her original self.
Even though she was dressed in a luxurious, elegant short dress, with her long, well-groomed golden hair and a noble, dignified aura, making her look like an aristocratic young lady, the image was completely contradicted by the bare, delicate white legs beneath her skirt.
Her exposed, delicate feet, adorned only with a pair of ankle bells that jingled softly, gave off a wild, untamed charm, a stark contrast to her otherwise refined appearance. It was an indescribable balance of elegance and free-spirited energy that was hard to put into words.
Noticing the black-haired girl’s approving gaze as she sized her up, the little dragon girl awkwardly turned her head away, clearly feeling a little self-conscious. In an attempt to cover up her embarrassment, she quickly changed the topic.
“I heard that some of my master friends are coming to this event, is that true?”
Violet, easily seeing through her thoughts, couldn’t help but smile even more, but instead of teasing her, she simply nodded in confirmation.
“Yulia mentioned it. I’ve traveled to a lot of places before, so I’ve made many friends along the way. What’s wrong? You don’t know how to interact with them?”
“No… I’m just… a little curious. About you… and about her past… A lot of these people were probably her friends too, but I…”
Before she could finish, the black-haired girl gently shook her head, interrupting the little dragon girl’s hesitation. Just like always, she reached out and patted her head, speaking in a soft, reassuring voice.
“Don’t overthink it. Forget the past and try meeting them with a fresh perspective. No matter what happens, I’ll always be right by your side.”
“...Mm.”
Although Lenka, who was completely clueless about what these two were hinting at, had no idea what they were talking about, her usual straightforward personality kicked in. She puffed out her chest, loudly chiming in with the limited wisdom she could offer.
“Yeah, exactly! No need to be scared, Sister Light! Even if they don’t want to be your friends, you still have me! And everyone in class! We’ll never abandon you!”
“Great. Next time we have practical training, no matter how much you beg, I won’t team up with you.”
“Eh…?”
Speechless, Lenka froze on the spot, completely failing to read the mood. Meanwhile, the little dragon girl coldly declared her verdict, grabbed her master’s hand, and walked straight into the hotel, leaving Lenka standing in the wind, utterly confused.
"Uh... Miss Lenka, you really need to work on your communication skills... I mean, let's start with the basics, like knowing when to stay silent and when it's the right time to speak?"
"Eh? W-What?!"
……………………………………
[Fantasy Sky Courtyard], the top-tier hotel in Sainz, renowned for its unmatched prestige not just in the Austre Empire but across the entire world.
The First District of Academy City Sainz is the oldest and most historic part of the city, containing two towers. One of them, known as the "Primordial Tower," stands alongside the other six magical towers as a guardian structure. The other, a "smaller tower," is none other than the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard] Hotel.
Though it's called the "smaller tower," the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard] Tower still soars over 300 meters high. Apart from the seven guardian magic towers, almost no other buildings in Sainz come close to matching its scale, making it one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
The moment Violet stepped through the grand entrance, the scene before her instantly changed.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of blooming lotuses, sunlight danced on the surface of a mirror-like lake, and a graceful stone bridge arched elegantly across the water, leading into the distance. White and pink lotus flowers bloomed in full splendor, while some kind of fish gilded above, their melodic calls adding to the serene and breathtakingly surreal beauty of the scene.
A fantasy that shouldn’t exist in reality.
"Welcome to [Fantasy Sky Courtyard], esteemed guests. Please present your identification or invitation."
Standing at the entrance of the stone bridge, two elegant figures in welcoming attire greeted them with polished smiles. Despite their youthful beauty, the two women bore shimmering scales unique to aquatic sirens, blending seamlessly into the dreamlike surroundings, as if they truly belonged in this peaceful lotus pond.
But…
Glancing over her shoulder, Violet caught sight of the entrance they had just passed through. Although it now appeared like an illusory floating gateway, it clearly still existed. Just hidden by a clever optical illusion.
The entire space was built upon such deceptions.
"So this is what [Fantasy Sky Courtyard] really means..."
As Lenka and the others, their faces filled with curiosity, followed her through the entrance, the black-haired girl approached the two young women who appeared to be mermaids and presented her Marina Flower badge, the symbol of her status as an Honorary Professor.
"I’m Violet. These are my maids and the children under my care. Yulia mentioned that she had already arranged everything in advance."