Miss Witch Doesn't Want to Become a Songstress-Chapter 263

After the press conference ended, Edess Academy assigned a dedicated instructor to tutor Thilan. The content of the lessons was naturally what she urgently needed—how to handle interviews and questions from the media, as well as how to respond to various unexpected situations.

“Questions about your daily life are generally considered mild. What’s more troublesome are inquiries about political affairs or conflicts between specific groups. Reporters will pose these questions indirectly to get your opinion. But once you answer, you’re essentially taking a side—such unintentional positioning is highly risky and dangerous.”

“I understand.”

Thilan nodded. She knew how powerful public opinion could be nowadays—once a rumor spread, refuting it became incredibly difficult.

“That’s why, Thilan, it’s best not to accept any interviews from reporters unless it’s during a press conference you personally initiate. Only in such scenarios, where you hold the initiative and have a contingency plan, can you better handle all sorts of situations.”

“Political leanings are a very serious matter—far more important than any gossip or personal affairs.”

The teacher emphasized again. She didn’t want the academy’s most promising Songstress to be so easily ruined or framed.

“Thank you for the warning, teacher.”

The girl responded sincerely.

Seeing her earnest expression, the teacher let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed the message had gotten through.

“Alright, that concludes today’s lesson. Tomorrow’s a day off—you should take the time to rest well, Thilan.”

“Goodbye, teacher.”

After saying farewell, Thilan stepped out of the small classroom. It was nearly noon.

Remembering the lunch appointment she had made, she checked her personal terminal and walked toward the familiar high-tower restaurant.

When she arrived at the restaurant atop the tower and exited the elevator, she was immediately met with laughter and excited chatter.

“I told you—Saint Ingo must be furious. The comment section is all mockery and ridicule.”

“Even Hive Dominion Academy praised Thilan, saying she’s as outstanding as Prin, which is a huge deal. They’ve never been this gracious before.”

In people’s past impressions, Hive Dominion Academy—famous for gathering noble ladies—was always aloof, rarely giving praise or weighing in on trending matters.

“Oh! A reporter interviewed Princoco yesterday—so Prin already knew Thilan?”

As Thilan walked over and saw everyone gathered around a projection screen, she asked curiously.

“What are you all talking about?”

“Thilan’s here!”

“Finally! We’ve got so many questions for you~”

“President Thilan has arrived! Can we start lunch now? I’m starving.”

“All you think about is eating. At least ask if Thilan wants to add anything to the menu—after all, we ordered ahead of time.” freēwēbnovel.com

“I’m not picky. This is fine.”

Thilan wasn’t particular about food. She made her way to the seat saved for her, gathered her skirt, and sat down.

Today, Thilan was wearing the academy uniform—a black base with white trim. Her legs were wrapped in thick black cotton stockings, since it was currently winter in the Southern Hemisphere and the weather was cold.

As various delicious dishes were served, the group began to ask the questions they were eager about earlier.

“Thilan, is your sister Themisia?”

“Yes.”

She had already confirmed this during the press conference and saw no reason to hide it further.

“Some people compared old photos of Themisia and Thilan. They look almost identical—but the difference in temperament is striking. If you weren’t paying attention, you’d never link them.”

“My sister’s personality is very different from mine.”

The girl now spoke calmly and openly about her past with Themisia.

“She seems more confident and outgoing, perhaps?”

“By the way, did you know Princoco from a long time ago? In the interview, she said this wasn’t your first meeting.”

“Well, yes, sort of. But it was just a brief encounter about a year ago. We didn’t talk much—just knew of each other’s existence. So it would’ve felt strange to say we were close friends.”

“Wow, really? Do Songstresses attract each other or something? I think Prin had just debuted back then.”

“It was thanks to a certain senior. But she now prefers a peaceful and leisurely life, so I won’t mention her name.”

Although Thilan didn’t say the name, everyone quickly guessed it was the retired “Emerald Serpent” Yolanda.

“Thilan feels like one of those rare, extraordinary people. Her life has had so many twists and turns—it’s incredibly dramatic.”

“She is special, but experiencing all those ups and downs personally might not be so happy.”

The girl shook her head slightly.

“Ah, sorry, I misspoke.”

“It’s fine. I can look back calmly now.”

She shook her head again.

Soon, once all the dishes and desserts were on the table, everyone began to dig in, and the conversation gradually shifted to other topics.

Time flew by, and on July 2nd, shortly after the end of June, a special fleet from the Federal Central Parliament arrived.

A total of five Lightwing-class starships reached the outer orbital port of Verdant Veil. After a brief meeting with the governor of the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region, three shuttles entered the atmosphere and landed in the Southern 1st District.

“So this is the Verdant Veil? Doesn’t look nearly as bad as the rumors said.”

Stepping off the shuttle, an elf clad in white ceremonial robes removed his hood, gazing out at the blue sky and earth beyond.

“Your Excellency, this is the capital of the Verdant Veil. The natural environment here is decent, but it’s a different story if you head north,” explained one of the accompanying officials.

“That’s truly unfortunate.”

After that, the envoy no longer paid attention to the scenery. He and his retinue of white-robed figures boarded a waiting hover car, and the convoy headed to its designated destination.

...

Edess Academy, Central Tower.

“Thilan, come. Let’s help you get ready.”

A few teachers and staff from the academy escorted today’s star to the makeup artist. They redid her hair, selected appropriate but modest accessories, and applied a light makeup look.

When everything was done, Thilan looked at the mirror—at the girl dressed in lavish clothing, a pearl veil over her head, a blue teardrop pendant on her brow, and a snow-white gown embroidered with golden floral threads—and barely recognized herself.

“Isn’t this a little too extravagant?”

She lifted her sleeve. The sapphire-blue gown was made from incredibly expensive materials, and even the stitching was done with special golden elven silk, which shimmered faintly with golden sparkles.

“Not at all. That Central Parliament crowd loves this style,” one of the older teachers replied.

“I went there when I was younger—had the honor of visiting the Great Golden Flame Cathedral. The priests there all favored this look. Because of Her Highness Isanisha, they consider gold a symbol of nobility. They especially adore golden leaves, golden flowers, and golden silk thread. That’s why Songstresses’ formal gowns often include these elements.”

“If your outfit is too plain, they actually won’t like it. They’ll see it as petty or lacking grace. In their eyes, a Songstress should be dignified, elegant, and present herself as noble.”

“...Alright then.”

Unfamiliar with all this, Thilan could only nod.

Not long after, the building was placed under lockdown, and everything quieted down. Thilan, dressed in a long ceremonial gown, waited in her room until someone came to fetch her.

“Lady Thilan, please come with us.”

Entering the room were two of Edess Academy’s maids along with two young priestesses dressed in fitted robes. They wore snow-white dresses, with golden vine patterns on the wide waistbands. Their cuffs were marked with emblems of twin golden leaf rings, and gold leaf patterns adorned their collars as well.

The maids helped lift the hem of Thilan’s gown, while the two priestesses led the way. Passing through corridors guarded by fully armed personnel, the group arrived at the central hall. The seats and usual furnishings had already been removed, and the space had been completely transformed.

A magnificent golden tree bloomed on the main wall of the hall—a vivid projection that shimmered with golden light. Every leaf on the tree was rendered with lifelike clarity. On either side of the tree stood about forty priests, all robed in white and gold-embroidered vestments.

A tall figure stood beneath the tree, back facing the hall. As Thilan approached step by step, guided by the priestesses, he slowly turned around.

He was an exceptionally handsome elven priest. A soft golden glow shimmered at the center of his brow, forming a distinct sigil. His platinum hair hinted that his real age was likely far greater than his youthful appearance suggested.

The priest watched Thilan approach, his gaze unwavering. Only when she was five meters away did he lower his eyelids.

“Welcome, new Songstress—Hestia Thilan.”

Then all the priests in the hall sang in unison.

“Sacred Listening, Sacred Voice, Sacred Purity—

The everlasting flower blooms, the evergreen leaves flourish.

O maiden who prays beneath the World Tree,

Your beauty and brilliance shall forever guide all life beneath its boughs.

Isanisha—”

“Isanisha—”

“Isanisha—”

The sacred hymn echoed like a chorus throughout the hall, solemn and reverent.

Faced with such a scene, the girl didn’t quite know how to respond. No one had warned her about this part, so she stood quietly in place.

Finally, when the chanting subsided, the elven High Priest raised his hand to signal silence.

“Hestia Thilan, you have received the acknowledgment of Her Highness Isanisha and are a bearer of a special gift. Now, do you swear to wield the power of the Songstress to uphold the unity of the Federation and guide the people toward a future of harmony and light?”

“I do.”

The girl lowered her head and answered. Though simple, her voice echoed across the hall, resonating from the depths of her heart. Every priest present could feel its sincerity.

“You are fortunate, and you are blessed. We are willing to offer you our blessings and walk beside you.”

“Raise your head, child born beneath the World Tree—

Heir to the Golden Rose’s protection,

Newborn Songstress—

You are now worthy to lift your gaze and meet ours.”

Hearing this, the girl lifted her head.

“We shall protect you, escort you to the land of inheritance,

Where you will hear the voices left behind by Songstresss of generations past,

And witness the prayers of countless living beings.”

“This will be your mission—and your beauty.

But first, you must be granted the sacred flower crown,

That you may remain untainted by corruption.”

As he finished speaking, he spread his arms once more. The golden tree behind him slowly faded, and the hall gradually returned to its original style and atmosphere.

Once the short but solemn ceremony concluded, the High Priest gestured for Thilan to remain while he waved for the rest to depart.

Soon, the vast hall was left with only two people.

“Since this isn’t a formal meeting, there’s no need for formality between us,” he said, motioning for Thilan to sit while he remained on the dais.

“It surprises me... This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of the Four-Lead Crystal Star Region.”

He turned to look at the star map projected on the main wall.

“Thirty-five years ago, it was Yolanda. Two years ago, Princoco. And now, you. This land seems especially rich in emotion, giving rise to those who bear great missions.”

“While this is a blessing, I have also heard the cries from this land—urgent and sorrowful. And you, too, carry its resonance.”

“The cries, you say?” the girl asked, confused and curious.

“They are the collective emotional emanations of the people—subconscious and formless. But you’ve studied this, haven’t you? You know how Aijeka particles enable magical phenomena?”

“You mean: spiritual interference with reality?”

“Exactly. Aijeka particles are such a wondrous medium. They allow weak, otherwise powerless mental activities to affect the physical world. This is the root of all transcendent abilities. In a sense, all lifeforms in the galaxy are beneficiaries of this magnificent gift.”

“If the mind can interfere with reality, then so too can emotion influence the world. That is the ‘voice’ I speak of—the emotions released unconsciously by people.”

“You are a Songstress chosen by fate. You must have sensed this: when your song resonates emotionally with your audience, it becomes far more moving and impactful.”

“Indeed, that is the essence of a Songstress’s talent—to harmonize with the soul and unify these chaotic ‘voices’ into resonance that far exceeds your own natural power.”

“Its core principle is surprisingly similar to the ancient divine crowns, though it follows an entirely different path.”

“Yet compared to the mythic Four Primordials, we descendants can hardly reach such heights. Only Color-Grade Songstresses can barely glimpse the shadows of those ancient ones.”

“How can one’s song carry greater influence? How does a Songstress’s gift evolve? It is by continuously responding to those subconscious voices in every performance. If you invoke resonance, fulfill those unspoken wishes again and again, they will follow you more and more.”

“These responses, this trust, are like echoes—layer upon layer of echoes. One day, your voice will pierce through barriers and resound across the galaxy. This is the greatness of a Songstress.”

“It all sounds quite simple, doesn’t it?”

The High Priest chuckled, though there was a trace of weariness and sorrow in his smile.

“But the wishes and cries of the people are ever-changing and complex. How much of it is kind and good? Not all. Rage and impulse are just as common. Even Songstresses may be polluted—by sorrow, by corruption, by unrest.”

“When you strike water, your hands get wet. And when you attempt to reach into the depths of the soul, you will be stained by emotion. We are not the pure, unblemished Primordial Souls—we cannot promise to remain untainted.”

“How you transmute these emotions, how you endure the voyage and still stay true—this tests your will and wisdom as a Songstress.”

“And I say wisdom, because even if your answer is perfect, if people find it too abstract or distant, they won’t resonate with it or be moved.”

“That cacophony of emotion is like a crying infant—it feels pain, but knows not its source nor its cure. All it can do is pass judgment on your response. If you earn its true trust, it will become part of your voice, become your strength.”

“Every Songstress walks her own chosen path. Though some call Lady Amularine’s methods cold, her actions clearly responded to the heart of the people in her time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have commanded such great influence.”

“The birth of a Color-Grade Songstress inevitably reflects the will of countless lives. That is my belief.”

“Although you have only just begun your path as a Songstress, it has been a long time since I’ve seen such hope in someone. Perhaps it is merely my illusion. But I still hope you will remember what I’ve said. These are insights we inheritors of Isanisha’s legacy have studied for generations, and we share them only with Songstresses truly worthy of hope.”

“Do you remember the ancient title once bestowed upon the Elven Queens—‘the Flower-Crowned Maidens who pray to the World Tree on behalf of the elves’? You gifted children are that legacy’s modern incarnation.”

“Fairies were created as ‘Winged Ones,’ elves as ‘Songstresses’—the grace of the ‘Divine Sun of Wings’ still shapes the world today. And yes, they have found successors to the Four Primordials. That successor is you—the children born blessed.”

“It is time to journey to the Central Star Region. There, you will come to understand the past... and the history and mission that modern civilization now bears.”