Someone Important

She took a campus express carriage and arrived at the library.

The Holy Academy had libraries distributed across its northern, southern, eastern, and western campuses.

The library in the western campus was the largest one in the Holy Academy.

The massive building resembled a glass obelisk. Countless outstanding students, Archmages from the Tower of Stars, and even world-renowned figures came here to study.

Passing through the crowded first floor, Tina turned down a corridor and took a mechanical lift, similar to an elevator, straight to the top floor.

The top floor was vastly different from the floors below.

A teal woolen carpet and countless magic books were neatly arranged before Tina. A hemispherical blue glass dome capped the top of the building, tracing out a second dazzling starry sky against purple and gold patterns.

But before she could find the Astral Sage, she was stopped by a paladin guarding the area.

He said righteously, “Miss Tina, you no longer have the right to enter the top floor, nor do you have the right to read the artifacts here. Please turn back.”

Tina looked up, unsure if she was looking into his eyes or merely staring at his clunky bucket helm.

“Since when am I no longer an apprentice Saintess? Why wasn't I told?”

“Lady Astral Sage has already decided to strip you of your status, effective this afternoon. Furthermore, Lady Astral Sage is not here right now. Please leave.”

“Then I'll have to hear that from Lady Astral Sage herself. Mr. Paladin, you say the Astral Sage isn't here? I'll just wait right here.”

As Tina spoke, she walked over to a bookshelf, pulled out a book, and began casually flipping through it with a calm smile on her face.

It was as if she was absolutely certain the Astral Sage would show up.

“Take your hands off that! That book is not something you are allowed to touch!”

“Oh?”

Suddenly, the paladin took a few timid steps back.

For some reason, he subconsciously felt that if he tried to stop this girl, he would be killed...

One had to understand that Tina was a highly watched apprentice Saintess who came from a small monastery. Everyone's impression of her was that she was gentle and weak. Although she had her own opinions, she would always take a step back during arguments to keep the peace, and she was always the first to apologize when disputes arose, never putting herself first.

Precisely because of her soft, sweet personality and adorable appearance, she had been pursued by several boys and girls alike. However, Tina had rejected them all.

Tina was a gentle girl.

Yet now, her eyes actually exuded a murderous intent so intense that it struck fear into his heart, even as a paladin!

“William, step down.”

A silvery, bell-like voice echoed from behind the paladin.

At some point, she had floated into the air. Crossing her slender legs, she looked down at Tina with a look of utter disdain.

Her dress, as light and airy as a jellyfish, looked as dreamy as a celestial fairy's. Her long, blue-green hair shimmered with an emerald-like luster, making her look like a work of art carved from crystal.

“Yes, Lady Astral Sage.” The paladin retreated decisively and left the scene.

Tina looked up and said without a shred of hesitation, “Lady Astral Sage, do you believe Sathya is not qualified? Why did you revoke the eligibility of our Leaflight society?”

“That Lavertis told you, didn't she?”

“This is part of the dogma agreed upon between you and the Pope, Lady Astral Sage. You do know that violating the rules like this is disrespectful to the Church, right?” Tina wore an innocent smile. To any outsider, this smile would seem incredibly cute and full of goodwill, but to the Astral Sage, it was an eyesore.

“The Pope urged me to speed up the Saintess Selection, so I simply cleared out the trash first. This is for the sake of all humanity, is it not?”

“Sathya ranked first in the entire academy in all three subjects of the entrance exam—academics, astrology, and magic. Her magic talent is also at the 'S+' level.”

The Astral Sage spoke casually, as if she weren't particularly interested in any of this, even letting out a yawn.

“You really can't keep Sathya's name out of your mouth, can you? She abandoned you long ago, don't you know that? And besides, even if you beg, I would only ever give the spot to Sathya alone~”

She had long heard that the genius girl Sathya had a little tagalong behind her, someone who would even say absurd things like “it's all my fault” for Sathya's sake.

Therefore, she despised both Sathya and Tina from the bottom of her heart.

“Sathya is someone very important to me. She has only made a couple of mistakes. Astral Sage, you've never had anyone important to you in your entire life, so of course you wouldn't understand.”

At these words, a look of displeasure crossed the Astral Sage's face.

“You are nothing but an apprentice Saintess, yet you dare speak to me in such a manner. Since you refuse to do this the easy way, get out of my sight this instant!”

From the very beginning, the Astral Sage had been exuding a heavy pressure. If it had been the paladin from earlier, he might have already been unable to stand and collapsed to the ground. A piece of trash like an apprentice Saintess should have been completely defenseless.

Yet Tina showed no fear whatsoever, even taking large strides toward her.

“Astral Sage, I challenge you. Since the Saintess needs to be an outstanding mage, if you lose to me, wouldn't that prove we are indeed qualified?”

Hearing this, the corners of the Astral Sage's mouth curled up slightly. She had long heard that there were some arrogant fools among the apprentice Saintesses. Since Tina wanted to challenge her, she might as well play along a little.

“Fine. You set the rules.”

“I will wager my life to fight you. As for you...”

Tina pointed at the brass pendant on the Astral Sage's chest.

“Wager the necklace around your neck~ I trust that you are a magnanimous person, Lady Astral Sage, and won't go back on your word.”

The Astral Sage didn't even want to look at her directly. She simply thought Tina must be insane to dare challenge her—an active instructor at the Holy Academy and one of the Chiefs of the Tower of Stars. Although she wasn't particularly skilled in combat, an adult who had never trained in martial arts still didn't need a weapon to deal with an infant.

“Then let us begin. I shall show you the true difference in our strength.”

With a casual wave of her hand, the Astral Sage drew several circles in the air. Complex and intricate magic circles formed instantly, and dozens, if not hundreds, of spells were successfully activated in just a few seconds. For an ordinary, third-rate mage, being able to precisely cast a single spell was already considered impressive.

But before the Astral Sage could even continue chanting, Tina launched herself from the ground like a missile. In an instant, she closed the distance and grabbed her by the throat.

“You...”

The defensive magic on the Astral Sage's body exploded violently, finally forcing Tina back.

By now, the Astral Sage realized something was wrong. How could an apprentice Saintess possess such terrifying speed?

Her spells were fully prepared now. Countless beams of light poured from the densely packed magic circles, converging in a fraction of a second into a magical projectile that flew toward Tina.

These projectiles were homing; ordinary warriors and paladins would be completely unable to resist them. Getting hit by just two of these magic shells would bring them down completely.

The Astral Sage was confident she could finish Tina off with this move alone. Tina might die from this, but that would simply be the price for wagering her life.

Yet Tina dodged all of the homing projectiles. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of the Astral Sage once again.

The Astral Sage tried to cast another spell, but it was too late. With a gentle push from Tina, she crashed heavily against the thick wall of the library.

“Ah...”

Tina's figure followed immediately after. She punched the wall behind the Astral Sage, blasting a hole straight through the sturdiest wall in the Holy Academy.

Sunlight poured through the breach, illuminating Tina's cold face. Only now did the Astral Sage finally realize she was no match for her.

Tina, the apprentice Saintess.

She was originally an orphan from an orphanage. Later, due to her affinity for light, she entered the monastery and became one of the candidates. After growing up, she entered the Holy Academy alongside Sathya just a few months ago.

Yet the Astral Sage felt as though she were fighting a battle-hardened powerhouse.

Magic simply couldn't keep up with Tina's speed!

Her flurry of attacks earlier hadn't even grazed Tina's skirt.

And if the punch Tina threw at the wall had landed on her neck instead, she would already be dead.

“Do you remember what we wagered?” Tina said with a cold, insincere smile. She had no interest in this fight to begin with; the current Astral Sage was simply too weak to her.

She had almost killed the Astral Sage.

“This is impossible...”

It took the Astral Sage a long moment to collect herself, but refusing to admit defeat, she could only stubbornly talk back. The aggressive aura she had earlier had completely vanished, replaced by sheer panic written all over her face.

“Don't even think about getting anything from me!”

“Is that so? Then die.”

With that, Tina raised her fist once more.

“Stop, stop! I understand!” The Astral Sage suddenly realized the gravity of the situation. This girl might actually do it! She was dead serious!

“I'll give the spot back to you, but not the necklace!”

“Oh? Why is that?” Tina said, “I insist on having that necklace. That was our agreement. I wagered my life, after all. If you had won, would I have been allowed to beg for mercy? You were trying to kill me just now.”

“I... I...”

The Astral Sage was left speechless. She knew that other than calling for help or begging for mercy, she had no other options left.

Yet the only person in the Holy Academy who could possibly help was that blockhead of a principal!

Anyone else wouldn't pose even the slightest threat to the girl before her.

“Please, I beg of you, spare me. I really cannot give it up.” Clenching the necklace tightly, the Astral Sage slowly sank to the floor. “This is the most important thing to me. I... I can't give it to you. I promise I will do anything else for you, anything at all, except for this necklace!”