Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

Chapter 89: Chapter 49: The City Among the Mountains

The train roared across the grey-white Gobi, with a forceful wind under the blazing sun high above. The endless wilderness inspired a boundless heroic spirit, which beckoned one's heart to sing loudly out of the open window carriages, as white curtains danced and the whooshing sound of the wind slapped against one's chest.

This was the special train heading to the Northern First District; within the carriages sat graduating students who were about to take part in the assessments and re-examinations of the many prestigious schools there, decisions that would determine their futures in life.

Today, Hexia also sat among them, her hair lifted by the air currents, with sunlight streaming through it, fragmenting and shimmering like light glinting off water.

Her pale pink nails appeared semi-transparent in the sunlight as she slowly caressed the identity and qualification badge, her gaze drifting towards the distant expanse outside the window, contemplating this vast and desolate world.

There were quite a few Gobi deserts in the northern part of Jade Skirt, stretches of open land with only a few desert plants scattered within.

It was said that hundreds of years ago, this place had also been covered with grasslands and forests, but all the vegetation was destroyed by acid rain. Without vegetation to anchor it, the land turned to desert year by year, until it became the hot and empty wasteland it is now.

The train sped along, departing in the early morning and passing through the desert-like Northern Sixth District, then the rugged and mountainous Northern Fifth District, the flat Northern Fourth District with sparse vegetation, the half-land, half-lake Northern Third District, and the Northern Second District filled with abandoned factories and rust, finally arriving in the midst of a huge and imposing canyon—this was the Northern First District, where high mountains and canyons coexisted, a dense city conglomeration, the central hub of the northern population.

Mountains nearly a kilometer high stabbed into the sky; their grey-white surfaces were rugged with numerous ravines, typical glacial topography. Lower down the mountain sides, mid-slopes were covered with verdant coniferous forests, a mix of yellow and green hues. Looking further down, even greener and tender grasslands started to appear.

The colossal mountains surrounding the canyon protected it from the corrosive acid rain, preserving the world inside. Leaning against the grandeur of the mountain walls, cities sprawled among them, overlooking this magnificent world through the mist.

About one third of the entire Northern Hemisphere's population was concentrated in the Northern First District, one of the few regions with a pleasant climate in the hemisphere.

After stepping off the train, Hexia stood in the spacious square at the foot of the mountains and couldn't help but look up at the towering peaks before her. The tips were steep, giving the impression that they might collapse at any moment and inspire a sense of terror that made you want to flee from the shadows of the huge mountains.

Between the two giant mountains, sunlight poured through the gap, and hover cars flew between them, with rail tracks wrapping around the mid-slopes—numerous transport trains traveled the tracks, constant roaring and liveliness resounded.

In the sky, massive white airships ascended and descended from time to time, occasionally shading the entire swath of blue overhead. Some landed on the far side of a distant mountain, while others followed the open Gobi outside the canyon heading toward the setting sun, turning into tiny black dots.

Walking between these majestic mountains, one's mood seemed to expand, no longer desiring to return to the gloomy and stifling underground metropolis.

No wonder classmates all wanted to come to the Northern First District to study and live, the girl couldn't help but think the same.

And this was just the Northern First District. It was said that the Southern First District of the Southern Hemisphere was even more prosperous and beautiful, unimaginable to many.

Following the directions on her personal terminal, Hexia crossed the huge Cross Square, heading for the steps on one side. The steps were reminiscent of the entrance to an ancient amphitheater, about the hundreds of meters wide with dense lampposts along the way. Only after several turns uphill did she reach a large observation deck mid-slope.

Standing there, one could overlook the vast Cross Square below, where people appeared no larger than ants or sesame seeds. In the space between, sightseeing hover cars occasionally flew past.

[Continue straight in the direction of 2 o'clock for 620 meters, and you'll see the stop for Line 8192. Take that hover car for 49 stations and get off at Wolf Poison Peak Station...]

Following the instructions, Hexia ascended the steps and soon beheld the red station nestled amongst the mountain slopes, with its red glaze-like smooth exterior walls, dark golden translucent metal corridors and windows. Upon entering the station, you would simply step on the square floating floor panels and hold onto the handlebars to be taken to your desired destination.

Having reached the boarding point, the girl stepped off the square platform and joined the many people standing together in patient wait. There were also many students from out of town, who, to judge from their appearance, seemed to be here for the retest as well.

"I wonder if I can pass, I've been training hard for half a year for this," a short-haired boy said as he shadowboxed hesitantly, clad in a loose white martial arts uniform with bandages bound around his wrists, though they seemed more for show.

"The academy I'm aiming for is the only witchcraft academy within Jade Skirt. In the month of March, under the stars, Alanxiluka, Minetelan Hua, may the sages among the stars bear witness for me. I will embark on the path once trod by ancient witches and achieve a great destiny across the starry tracks," a girl with a black witch hat whispered as she prayed with closed eyes, her right hand clutching a mysterious golden pendant while her left hand waved gently in the air, pale blue trails emerging to form intricate badge symbols.

"You two, if we hadn't known each other since we were little, I really wouldn't want to be seen with you," the only 'normal' girl among the three retorted, pushing up her glasses on the bridge of her nose and stepping back to distance herself from the other two.

"Come on, Tao Hui, stop hiding. We made a pact when we were children to become legends together," the girl with the wizard hat said as she caught her companion's hand and looped it around her waist, then 'kidnapped' the long-braided girl to head towards the mountain train together.

"Let's go! Our goal this time is victory!"

"Whoa!"

What a beautiful and vibrant scene, the girl thought, stepping lightly onto the train.

Compared to these energetic students, she felt as if she were not of the same age, her mindset completely different. Perhaps it was the harsh living environment of Payin City that forced people to abandon many illusions and focus on competition and comparison instead.

In her junior high, classmates either worried about their future school and jobs or were obsessed with making money and scheming against each other, causing her to lose some of her own fantasies as well.

However, not everyone lived such a life. Like those three students just now, they were still chasing the romantic possibilities in life, sparking not resentment but a faint envy in others.

The train started moving, rushing along the side of the mountain, speeding up from slow to fast. On the other side of the window lay the abyss and tall mountains, sky and valley. The train's speed soon hit 500 KM per hour, twirling and undulating through the mountains like some ancient amusement ride known as a 'roller coaster.'

Half an hour later, Hexia, slightly dizzy, got off the train. She now stood on a high mountain plateau, as neatly cut in half as if a giant had sliced right through the mountain, spanning several hundred square kilometers and adorned with elegant white buildings interspersed with trees— a picture of elegance.

Is this Yuanting Academy?

She looked up at the grand white archway, its intricate and beautiful script flowing through it, with delicate blue crystal irises entwining around the columns. Students, clad in white uniforms with fine blue edging and sapphire bow ties at the collar, were coming and going, an enviable sight indeed.

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Pressing her hand to her chest to muster courage, Hexia entered the majestic school gate.

It's about to begin, Hexia.

Come on, you can't fall behind your sister.