In the backyard of Scholar Hyde's residence.

On the green grass, everyone sat on chairs of various sizes, forming a semicircle around Scholar Hyde, listening to him impart knowledge.

"As everyone knows, the land we currently inhabit, that is, the continent, is located on the back of a giant serpent, rising and falling as it advances through the sea of clouds."

"There are seven such continents in total, arranged sporadically, each with vastly different circumstances."

"But does anyone know where this vast land beneath our feet actually comes from?" He stroked his broad white beard as he asked.

Regarding this question, most commoner students were curious and puzzled, while several noble students seemed somewhat bored, as they already knew the answer.

"Yero, you answer it." Hyde pointed the thin wooden stick in his hand toward the chubby boy in the front right.

"Me? Okay, teacher."

Yero stood up, faced everyone, organized his thoughts, and then spoke.

"In that era, the entire world resembled an undifferentiated ocean, within which numerous giant fish roamed. Some might have grown to tens of thousands of miles long, the largest known creatures in existence. These giant fish were also manifestations of the Aspect (True Fish)."

"This era lasted for an immeasurable span of time, until an alien star shattered the world's embryonic shell and descended upon the world."

"The terrifying wound torn open by the alien star made the world tremble, and countless flames bloomed from the dark celestial sea, giving birth to the first light, namely the 'Proud Sun' and the 'Phantasmal Moon'."

"The 'Proud Sun' boiled the celestial seas, countless living beings died in this process, and then their corpses scattered across the celestial seas, becoming the first soil and land. (True Fish) gradually transformed into the current 'Snail Fish' Aspect."

"Alright, that's enough for now." Scholar Hyde gestured for Yero to sit down.

"As for how these scattered soil lands became the current seven continents, it involves the tumultuous changes of several epochs, which you will gradually learn about in the future."

"Now let's continue discussing the vast and expansive world of the present."

"The giant serpent swims through the twilight sea of clouds, and the continent we inhabit consequently rises and falls. When it is above the clouds, the [Blazing Sun] is intense, which is commonly referred to as the 'Rising Wind Season'."

"When the giant serpent sinks, the continent also descends toward the sea of clouds. The rapidly flowing atmosphere scours it, bringing gales and heavy rain. During this period, the [Vaulted Sky] Aspect flows, known as the 'Gale Season'."

"And when the giant serpent sinks to the very bottom, and the entire continent falls within the sea of clouds, sunlight dims, all things fall silent, the world seems to sink into a dense fog, submerged and indistinct. During this period, the [Slumbering Winter] and [Mist Shadow] Aspects permeate, making it the most difficult to endure 'Sinking Mist Season'."

"After surviving the hardest part of the year, when the giant serpent climbs again, the continent bursts out of the sinking mist and reaches the heavens once more. During this period, the [Vaulted Sky] manifests again, also called the 'Trade Wind Season'."

Scholar Hyde's teaching was rich and interesting; even complex knowledge was explained in an easily understandable way. Soon, all the students present were immersed in it.

...

Afternoon

After lunch was the students' rest time. It was only then that the students truly began to interact with each other.

"Are you called Tia?" A girl with freckles on her face, wearing a gray linen dress, curiously greeted Sylutia.

"Yes." The young girl turned around to respond.

"Hello, I'm Komea." The other girl lightly pressed her hand to her chest as she introduced herself.

While the two were talking, another commoner girl came over. She was relatively tall, with many calluses on her palms, suggesting she had done much physical labor.

"Hello, I'm Karen." Karen had golden chestnut hair with slight curls at the ends.

The three commoner girls sat together chatting. On the other side, four commoner boys gathered together talking. In the distance, Yero sat alone in a corner reading and studying. In the round pavilion, several youths of noble birth surrounded Iona.

"Miss Iona, you are so beautiful~ I wish to become your most devoted admirer~" A noble youth wearing velvet clothes knelt on one knee, holding a red flower from who knows where, reciting passionately.

"Tch." Iona was very impatient with this and didn't spare him any face, directly turning her head away.

"Who is this guy?" she asked the others beside her.

"His name is Baren, son of Baron Quad." Someone answered in a gleeful tone.

"Don't know him."

Iona waved her hand and walked to the other side of the pavilion for some fresh air, while Valeny, daughter of Knight Levin, quickly followed.

"Miss Iona." She pitched her voice higher, wanting to build a good relationship with this young lady.

"Mmm, what's your name." Iona didn't even turn her head as she asked.

"My name is Valeny." The girl answered excitedly.

"Alright, sit here."

Iona's attitude was somewhat better now, or perhaps she simply wanted to find a follower.

"Tell me about the situation in Scorchstone City, like powerful figures and such."

"Powerful figures? I admire Lady Serl the most. She often holds salons, inviting Scorchstone City's elite, including powerful artists and painters who tell us about the most cutting-edge trends and fashions~" As she spoke, Valeny's expression became yearning and excited.

"Salons? And of that kind." Iona shook her head upon hearing this, feeling somewhat amused.

She had hosted countless salon gatherings in White Cliff City, and even some trends in Regas were started by her. How remarkable could a salon organized by some provincial noblewoman be?

"I meant powerful supernaturals, not people involved in art and fashion." She had to interrupt Valeny's introduction.

"Supernaturals, that..." Valeny suddenly got stuck.

"My father Levin is a very powerful knight." She suddenly thought of something and recommended her father to Iona.

"Knight Levin is the knight who swore allegiance to Lord Xuefeng, right?" Iona turned her head to ask.

"Yes, Miss Iona." Hearing this, Valeny answered proudly.

"Hah, then how could I poach from my own uncle." Iona only felt that this person before her was full of useless thoughts.

Moreover, judging by Valeny's appearance, her father must be quite old. Although he's a knight (third tier - Castle), his ceiling was probably fixed, with little room for improvement. In the past, her father had countless such people under his command.

Thinking of her father, Iona's expression darkened, and her mood soured again.

If her father had won the 'Windmill Battle', how could she have ended up in such a backwater place?

For a moment, the conversation in the round pavilion quieted down, becoming somewhat heavy.

...

"So Karen has even hunted before?" Komea covered her mouth with a light laugh, then asked curiously.

"Yes, my father is a hunter in the village. I've been familiar with these things since childhood, but drawing a bow can easily injure your hands. For the past two years, my father hasn't let me touch bows and arrows." Karen spread open her palms, showing many scars and calluses.

Among the three, Komea's parents were guild employees, while Karen was the child of a village hunter.

"So how did Karen come to Scorchstone City?" Sylutia felt somewhat curious.

"Because I learned the Breathing Technique before the new year. The elders in the village felt a child like me would be wasted staying there, so they pooled money to send me to Scorchstone City to make a living and learn some skills." Karen's strong-featured face showed a hint of nostalgia.

"The villagers are very kind." The young girl remarked with emotion.

"Yes, everyone is very good." Karen replied.

"How has Karen been getting by since coming to Scorchstone City?" Komea leaned in to ask at this point.

"How I've been getting by? At first, I didn't understand anything. It was an older brother from the same village who told me to find work."

"First, I helped at the market, which always needs hands. Then, because I'm familiar with bows and arrows, I went to work at an arrow-making workshop in the city. Although it's hard work, the treatment is decent, giving me about 4 silver coins per month." Speaking of this, Karen seemed particularly satisfied.

Arrows are consumables; making them yourself is particularly time-consuming, so many adventurers and wealthy people buy them directly.

"What about you, Tia? Have you been studying with Scholar Hyde all along?" The few of them had seen her for the first time today beside Scholar Hyde.

"Not exactly, but my previous teacher was a student of Scholar Hyde, so I'm somewhat familiar with him." The young girl answered this way.

"I see."

The three sat on wooden benches under a tree chatting, gradually becoming more familiar with each other. Komea was somewhat lively, Karen was simple and straightforward, while Sylutia currently gave them the impression of being very beautiful, somewhat delicate, and a girl who had little contact with the outside world.

Slowly, Sylutia and the other two became more familiar with each other.