It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

The cells in her body were clamoring, and rivers of itching and pain were running wildly in Bai Lin's body. Soon, she wanted to scream, but Ajun had already prepared the corresponding measures. She did not hear herself screaming, and only Ajun's voice remained in her ears.

"Because you already have a dependent, even though Cress didn't mean to do that, it will cause some changes to your body. She didn't explain this to you clearly. Although it may seem fine on the surface, it actually has a significant impact."

"Right now, my power is reshaping your body, and also slightly altering your so-called Mi Yan. Although you still won't be able to cast spells, it will still be beneficial."

"The reason I didn't tell you it would be painful is because to achieve godhood one must endure some suffering. Telling you in advance wouldn't have the best effect. Just bear with it for a while. This little pain won't be a big deal to you."

"Finally, you must think and study diligently. Simply relying on your original knowledge is not enough in this other world. Come on, those favored by the gods, don't make me wait too long."

As soon as the words fell, Bai Lin felt the light gradually fade, and her body slowly returned to its original state. After the pain, Bai Lin felt her energy was full. When she opened her eyes, she found herself back in the church, and even -

The pages in her hand were still burning, and so was Katie beside her. They both woke up and looked at each other in shock, and then the other reminded Bai Lin that if she didn't throw the pages away, her hands would be burned. Only then did she hurriedly throw the pages into the fire.

Chapter 168 The next destination

"How is it? How do you feel?" Katie asked first when she saw Bai Lin's strange dull gaze on her. It seemed that she didn't have as much trouble as Bai Lin did.

Bai Lin quickly regained his normal expression and shook his head, "Nothing special, but... quite... comfortable."

If Bai Lin had to use a single, standard word to describe her inner feelings, it would be "refreshing." After all, she'd gotten to see her girlfriend, and she'd received the good news that a day in reality was worth a whole year. This would leave Bai Lin with plenty of free time.

But there was also some bad news. Since Ah Jun had said that Bai Lin was already dead, wouldn't that mean she would be forever bereft of her second child? Furthermore, the final divine empowerment was a bit painful. Although she thought she had explained Katie's feelings clearly, it seemed her girlfriend was still a little confused.

This still needs to be done slowly. Bai Lin decided to prove her will with actions.

Katie nodded without any special thoughts, but seeing Bai Lin's thoughtful expression, she quietly asked, "Bai Lin will always be with me, right?"

"Ah?" Bai Lin was a little confused by the sudden question, but when a small hand reached out in front of her, she quickly reacted and held it with both hands. It is said that this posture can give people a sense of security.

"Of course. This is not only a vow between you and me, but also my vow to your sister."

Katie naturally wouldn't ask such a meaningless question for no reason; she wasn't the typical young girl. So, no matter how she looked at it, it was just her girlfriend who was being a bit too talkative. She deliberately brought up Klein to soften the somewhat soft and ambiguous question. It had to be said that Bai Lin had a firm grasp of the romantic field.

However, her gesture of holding Katie's hands made her words seem less awkward. Katie looked at Bai Lin with a look as if she were looking at an idiot, yet her lovely black pupils held an infinite warmth of love. She didn't reply, merely smiled, and suddenly Bai Lin seemed to glimpse the image of his first love, yet it wasn't quite the same.

Perhaps, she just saw "love" itself.

Under the statue, in front of the candlestick, the two people held hands and made an appointment. Everything was so harmonious. In the silent church, there seemed to be angels whispering blessings. The young blonde nun said softly,

"If you want to hold a wedding, our church also provides services."

Bai Lin suddenly realized how misleading her and Katie's behavior was. It should have been a brilliant move, but it backfired because of a lack of decisiveness. This time, Bai Lin blushed. She quickly let go of her hand and said quickly,

"If there's nothing else, let's go first. It's time to go to the next place." With that, she quickly walked out of the church as if escaping. However, Katie's smile did not diminish much, because the result was obvious.

Seeing this, Andel leaned over to Katie and asked quietly, "Is this person always so neurotic in his daily life?"

Katie shook her head. "She knows how to face a strong enemy and how to fight her way out of a siege. But just like a landlubber can't swim, she's now caught in a river of emotions."

“She thought she had crossed the river, but in fact, before the water drifted over the falling flowers, the most beautiful scenery should be the face reflected in the water.”

Katie then pulled Andel, who seemed to understand, out of the church. Katie's pace wasn't very fast, and it looked like she couldn't keep up with Bai Lin, but she would eventually catch up. After all, Bai Lin was already waiting ahead, so catching up to someone who couldn't move wasn't a difficult task.

Somewhere, Ah Jun was laughing secretly. The object of her laughter was naturally Bai Lin. And after so many years, she was still the same as always.

Not frank.

-

Under the pretext of "being the host", Andel took the two of them to a nearby restaurant and treated them to a fairly sumptuous lunch. During the meal, Bai Lin also said this:

"Thank you so much for leading us and caring about us."

For Bai Lin and the others, their acquaintance with Andel had been only a couple of days. The three of them didn't have much in common, but their friendship was so direct that it felt a bit strange. Given Andel's intelligence, Bai Lin's question was a bit of a test, "Why are you so nice to them?" Perhaps that was what he was trying to ask.

If she wanted to ask for help from the two of them, then that was understandable, but if she was more confused, it would depend on the situation. What if she wanted to pursue Katie, then Bai Lin would have to check it out. What if she wanted to pursue... Bai Lin didn't believe in that "what if" scenario.

Andel snorted and said, "If you hadn't saved my life, I wouldn't bother to be so nice to you." It was probably something like that, so Bai Lin also came to his senses after this reply.

Is she a tsundere or a bit dull-witted?

Although I'd sensed a hint of tsundereness in her previous conversations, alongside her aggressiveness, the circumstances at the time were rather unique. Now it seemed Bai Lin's suspicions had indeed been confirmed. Bai Lin, naturally, smiled happily at this response. Lunch passed in a flurry of casual conversation and small talk.

After a full meal and a good drink, according to Andel, the location of the academy was not far away. So it wasn't long before they arrived at their final destination for the day. That was the school Katie would attend in the future.

"Mogstur Luna Camitlan Grand School of Magic. The entire school is built at the junction of the upper and lower city districts, with 70% of the school located in the lower city and 30% in the upper city. This structure implies that no matter what the policies are, magic is the last remaining foundation of humanity, and students will always be welcome."

Andel introduced them in this way, her tone professional and steady, quite like a tour guide's charm. Bai Lin nodded and asked, "Why do you, an assassin, know so much?"

Aundair rolled her eyes. "You know, if you were to enroll, you'd be a low-ranking noble. So, there's no parent who wouldn't want their child to attend this school. Almost every person in Camillan can relate to this, and more."

After Andel's explanation, Bai Lin finally realized that, indeed, the Knights' receptionist had said that magic could strengthen oneself. Naturally, then, only those who knew magic could be the top fighters among humans, and in this worldview, they would definitely be extremely important.

Chapter 169 Mogstur Luna Camitlan Grand Magic Academy

This large magical academy with a particularly long name must have some connection to the story of its founder. Bai Lin wasn't curious about this, and Andel didn't explain it specifically, so she and Katie didn't ask any further.

At first glance, apart from the main wall outside the academy, there was only a transparent fence gate, the outline of which could only be seen, separating the three of them from the academy. The scenery inside was directly visible. The design style was simple and down-to-earth, with a large amount of stone and wood. When the simple and unadorned simplicity accumulated in large quantities, it gave people a breathtaking sense of splendor.

Opposite the main entrance was a building that resembled a guest hall. Its first-floor interior stretched endlessly, and the roof, facing it, was only about two stories high. Growing on the roof were some unidentified, soothing plants, probably the same climbing plants as in this world. High on the wall hung an ancient clock. After all, the timekeeping methods in this world weren't much different from Bai Lin's original world, so it looked quite familiar.

There were many higher floors inside, the contents of which Bai Lin had no idea. But judging by this, this academy was indeed unusual. After all, it was the production base of humanity's future high-end combat power, so it was understandable that it had some deep pockets.

Andel glanced at the main gate and said to the two, "The door here is also connected by a magic mechanism. It's a bit troublesome to explain in detail. Anyway, let's go and talk to the guard first and then we can go in." As she said that, she took the two to the side of the guard booth, which was built on the inside of the school but had a small window connecting to the outside world.

The room was so private that it was almost impossible to tell what was inside from the outside. It was completely dark, and its purpose was unknown. Katie went over and knocked on the window, then asked, "Is anyone there?"

The small window, barely big enough for a human head, opened, and a white-gloved hand reached out from inside. It knocked on the wooden table, indicating its presence, but said nothing, looking quite mysterious. Although the other party did not respond, Katie did not pay much attention to it and continued to speak politely.

"I'm here on recommendation. Please take a look."

Katie pulled out the scroll she had prepared and handed it to the hand. With a whoosh, the white glove, carrying the parchment scroll, was withdrawn. Then, with a buzzing sound, the door vanished. The hand quickly extended the parchment scroll, carrying a formed ball of magic.

White Glove pointed to the top of the security booth. It read, "There's a map on the right hand side of the campus. Throw a magic cube into it to find the location you want to go."

Katie accepted the parchment and magic ball, smiled, and thanked them, but all she got in response was the indifferent slam of the window. Then, the three of them walked into the campus together. Bai Lin couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Even a security guard can be so arrogant. This school is truly impressive."

Following the doorman's instructions, Katie found the location and led them to the impressive-looking guest hall. There was also some greenery beneath the hall, softening the aesthetic fatigue of the wood, stone, and lacquer.

Entering the steps leading to the guest hall, rows of display cases lined both sides. Lights flickered inside, and hanging inside were titles of honor Bai Lin couldn't quite comprehend. Only the large red characters floating in the air a little further ahead left a lasting impression.

"Study hard for the glory of mankind, and strive for your own future!" It's probably something like that, no different from some of the school mottos and slogans I saw when I was in school, except that the first half of the sentence is a bit childish.

"It's so great to be able to study here," Bai Lin couldn't help but sigh. The campus looked quite impressive just from the outside, and generally speaking, wealthy schools couldn't have bad teaching. One of her biggest regrets in her past life was not attending college. Clearly, Katie was about to experience such a youthful and beautiful milestone in her life, and Bai Lin was genuinely envious.

Hearing Bai Lin's words, Andel also said, "That's definitely good. After all, people who can use magic are basically scarce talents. As an assassin like me who can only perform various small tricks, they can accomplish things that I have to prepare for half a day with just a spell. I am really envious."

"Well, if possible, I also want Bai Lin to enroll." Katie didn't know if she was at a loss for words or for some other reason, but she didn't reply to Andel. Instead, she only spoke to Bai Lin. This statement was quite true; Katie couldn't wait to spend every minute with Bai Lin.

Bai Lin didn't know what to say, so he could only point at the red characters that were growing fainter as they approached and said, "I'm fine, but you must study hard. You're so talented, maybe the future of humanity lies in your hands."

Katie smiled modestly, "That depends on you, Holy Son."

Hearing these two words, Bai Lin felt like she was electrocuted. After all, she had taken Katie's identity, but she didn't know how to bring herself to talk about these things. She could only deal with it with a "Let's work hard together" and muddle through. Perhaps because Bai Lin's expression didn't change much, Katie didn't notice anything wrong.

After passing the guest hall, the college is an irregularly designed structure. The front and right sides lead to more and larger buildings on campus. In the center of the right side is a large square with a platform resembling a rostrum. Looking toward this platform, the campus is truly unusually large.

There are still many buildings in the depths of the campus, and on the left is a long corridor. Although it is blocked by a building, it looks like the left side is also a large area.

Looking through the window, Bai Lin didn't see anyone. It was probably not the start of the school term, so the campus was deserted. Katie led Bai Lin to a building opposite.

This building has a very regular square design, with neat rectangles stacked upwards. After walking up to about the fourth floor, Katie knocked lightly on what looked like an office and asked,

"Is anyone here?"

As soon as the words came out, the words "Come in" came from inside. Katie naturally opened the door and walked in, followed by the other two. When they walked inside, a middle-aged man with green hair and some wrinkles on his face was sitting behind a desk. His eyes were not big, but his gaze was staring at the three people who came in. He looked them up and down and asked,

"Are you here to register as a new student?"

Chapter 170 Admission

"Yeah, but I'm the only one," Katie answered truthfully.

The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes and asked, "What about the remaining two?"

"I'm...her guardian." Bai Lin thought for a moment and said so. Katie didn't say much, and the man nodded in agreement. "What about the other one?"

To be honest, Andel was also struggling with what to say, but she didn't have much time to think. "I... I'm her friend."

The word "friend" is still fair. Although the relationship between the three of them is not necessarily that close, it is reasonable enough. However, even if they muster up the courage to cross the gap of friendship, the middle-aged man sitting opposite still said with a look of denial,

"Friends, please step aside for now."

"what?"

The unexpected development left Andel somewhat bewildered. It wasn't until the middle-aged man frowned again and solemnly said, "Please leave," that she responded. Under the equally bewildered and strange gazes of Bai Lin and Katie, she slowly walked out the door.

When the door closed, the green-haired man turned his gaze back from the door. He raised his hands and said slowly,

"You came on this day, so you must be a recommended student."

"Yeah." Despite being caught off guard by the other person's guess, Katie didn't panic at all. After all, the school was deserted, clearly not yet in session. New student registration usually involves a large group of people, so it seemed perfectly reasonable to assume that someone like Katie, who arrived at such a peculiar time, would be admitted through a special method.

"Tell me your age and name," the man said simply in a formal business tone.

"My name is Katie Pelo Noliel, and I'm 18 years old." Katie replied simply.

Watching the conversation between the two, Bai Lin had no idea what the purpose of staying here was. It was all simple questions and answers. Although the normal admissions process wouldn't involve a teacher specifically interviewing you, it still seemed like a routine procedure. However, Katie's answer caught Bai Lin's attention, and the point was simple: her last name.

"Noliel" was the first time she had heard this last name. Although she wasn't sure what it meant, Bai Lin had heard the last name from Klein was "Esh Leviathan." Logically, the sisters' last names should be the same, but there were slight differences. This was a mystery.

However, the middle-aged man sitting opposite didn't seem to have as many emotional ups and downs as Bai Lin. He just said, "I'm Professor Moriah Fairjacks. You can also call me Teacher Moriah. Theoretically, this group of freshmen can take my class, but based on your age, you now have two choices:"

"First," Moriah raised a finger, "because our school has a five-year curriculum and generally begins teaching new students at the age of 16, so you can choose to start from the first grade."

Moriah raised another finger and shook it. "Second, take our entrance exam. If you pass, you can start directly from the third grade. So, which one do you choose?"

Katie didn't think for too long. After a moment's hesitation, she replied, "I choose to start from the beginning."

Katie, having initially gained some confidence in her magic after entering Camillan, suffered another setback. First, she was cornered by Xifa, who then killed her instantly with a single punch. Then, the receptionist explained that it was common sense that magic in this world could enhance one's own abilities. Concerned about this, Katie even consulted the gods in the church, but the results were less than ideal.

So, naturally, she decided to start over, gradually, without arrogance or impatience, to build up her strength. However, her choice surprised Bai Lin a bit. After all, according to Chris, Katie's magic level might already be beyond the reach of normal humans. But it was Katie's choice, and Bai Lin didn't intend to comment.

Moriah remained calm at this answer. He took the letter of recommendation from Katie, reviewed it, and nodded. Then, leaning back in his chair, he rubbed the area between his nose and his eyes with two fingers, presumably to relieve his eye strain.

Judging from the piles of documents on both sides of his desk, the wrinkles on his face and his behavior, he is probably a dedicated office worker, so it is reasonable for him to behave like this. He said while rubbing his desk.

"You are a recommended student, and you are eligible for unconditional admission. Even if your grades are too poor, you will not be easily expelled after admission. At most, you will have difficulty graduating. The school has accepted many aristocratic students. Although their grades are generally good, but..."

Teacher Moriah let go of the hand that had been rubbing her eyes, shook her head gently, and then looked at Katie and said, "There are some people who have objections to your black eyes. Especially those from rural areas. The academy can't do much to control students with such a unique sense of discrimination. Although there are some teachers with an overwhelming sense of justice, whether it's their own talent or their parents' support for the school, the school can't easily blame everyone for just one student."

"I'm not saying this because I dislike this behavior, but because, as a teacher, I believe you have the right to know the details of the matter. Especially with your guardian present, I will never lie about the true situation at school."

Although Bai Lin knew there would be discrimination against Katie, she knew that modern schools still deliberately targeted the poor, eccentric, and lonely, so she was not surprised that this happened in the Middle Ages. However, when such a magnificent academy actually let her hear these things, Bai Lin still clenched her fist in anger and banged it on the table. Because she accidentally didn't control the force, it even caused a small crack on the table. She asked,

"Aren't we supposed to be working for humanity and the future? If they're still as unruly as they were on campus, what serious consequences would that cause? Schools should prioritize this aspect of education!"

Moriah met Bai Lin's slightly angry gaze expressionlessly. He asked word by word, "What about you? How much do you know about the battlefield? People like them, even if they are just destroying the battlefield alone, can have a significant impact. Normal human soldiers are no match for those monsters. Do you understand?"

"Perhaps our indulgence is wrong. But for humanity, this is most likely the best option."

Chapter 171 Academic Test

"That's not true..." Bai Lin wanted to argue with Moria, but Katie behind her patted her. She turned around, and Katie shook her head. Bai Lin retreated as if she had lost her temper.

Perhaps Bai Lin had long known that she couldn't change the racial discrimination. But was the refreshing feeling she'd felt upon leaving the village just a fleeting illusion? She couldn't accept that a girl her age would be treated this way, so Bai Lin acted unreasonably because she was anxious.

"I understand. I agree to enroll." Katie's words were as firm as her eyes. Moriah nodded calmly. "Before completing the admissions procedures, there's a relatively simple test. No need to force yourself, just do your best. It covers various aspects of magic and combat, as well as theoretical tests. If you'd like, you can prepare a day later. What do you choose?"

"Theory"... Katie had little recollection of this. Whether it was the construction of magic circles, the use of spells, the rhythm, expansion, and overload of natural elements, the proper use of uncontrolled magic power, or any other miscellaneous magical knowledge, she had learned all of it through practice. Although she could write, there were always slight differences when she explained it to others.

"Anyway, let's take the test first." She couldn't prepare for this kind of thing, so Katie accepted it directly. After receiving a positive response, Moriah stood up. His slightly hunched figure still looked quite tall. He led the two of them out the door.

"Hey, is it over?" Aundel asked when she saw the three people coming out. Moria glanced at her and said, "Not yet." After thinking for a while, he added,

"You will also need to step aside from the upcoming test. I'm telling you this in advance."

"Ah." Andel felt something stuck in her throat, an indescribable feeling, and the look in Bai Lin's eyes when he looked at her eventually turned into a kind of ridiculous compassion.

-

The Magic Academy's training grounds were only slightly smaller than the Knights Templar. It was an oval building, adorned with the school logo and other items, and had changing rooms on either side. But Moriah said uniforms would be distributed after the start of the semester, so there was no need to change for this exam. So the three of them went straight in, leaving Andel alone waiting at the door once again.

The interior decoration did not have the crossed torches of the Knights, but was mainly illuminated by ceiling lights, which looked completely different. Moria waved his hand, and a wall of earth rose from the ground. Then he withdrew his hand and added to Katie's explanation.

"Let's do a simpler test. You cast the most destructive spell possible, and I'll evaluate it. The goal is to destroy the wall. It doesn't matter if you can't, just give it your best shot."

At first, Katie thought Moria was joking, but as she stared into his eyes, she realized he didn't mean it. So, Katie understood the situation. It seemed like she still had a chance to shine.

Katie wasn't the type to be so arrogant as to remind the teacher to prepare for defense in advance. She only used her actions to bring surprise and applause. After nodding, she closed her eyes and began a lengthy chant.

As always, a faint golden light emanated from various locations, seeping out like water, surrounding Katie and forming a myriad of golden threads, which vanished in a flash as they spun. Bai Lin even saw, during the casting of this spell, some shadows of the place where Jun and she had spoken. It seemed Katie's magical skills had improved again, and she was getting closer and closer to divine perfection.

For a moment, the warm and peaceful atmosphere didn't surprise Moriah. Despite the intense light overhead, they all felt that Katie was the more radiant and radiant being. She was like the sun in this small space, a figure who made them want to bow down in worship.

Soon, white magic circles formed at her feet, on her left hand, and behind her back. Each one was engraved with distinct patterns and runes. It looked like Katie's three old ones, but Bai Lin, familiar with her, sensed a slight difference. A sacred aura slowly sank into the magic circle, like a sudden drop in temperature. Moria shuddered, then realized something was amiss. His nerves tensed, ready for any eventuality.