Chapter 291: Opera Invitation

"Xia De, just passing the exams isn't enough. I remember your practical credits are also insufficient."

Miss Louisa reminded him again. Thinking about it carefully, she actually thought it was very possible for Xia De to want to advance to the second year:

"If I remember correctly, the first year requires 40 practical credits. Your time travel gave you 10 points, and the Lake View Manor incident gave you 20 points, but you're still 10 points short."

"It's okay, it's okay."

Xia De wasn't worried about this at all. Although he couldn't tell the academy the truth about the death of the Silver-Eyed One and the Evil God incident, the 【God's Gift Box】 couldn't be handed over to the academy, the bounty for the 【Forged Philosopher's Stone】 was the doctor's credit, and the second time travel in the 3002nd year of the Fifth Era couldn't be easily revealed, the one thing he didn't lack was so-called accidental incidents.

He could completely go find Yi Lu Na after she returned from the Holy See, and spend two days with her; he would definitely encounter things worth writing reports about, and Yi Lu Na certainly wouldn't mind letting him have the credit. Even if this method didn't work, directly offering the 【Endless Mercury Bottle】 to the academy would also earn practical credits.

"As long as you've thought it through yourself."

Miss Louisa said softly, her eyes looking at Mia, who had put the 【Ring of Metamorphosis】 on its tail again:

"Hmm? Why does this ring look so familiar?"

The blonde Miss realized what she was seeing. She hadn't been surprised when she heard Xia De wanted to advance to the second year, but at this moment, she was shocked:

"【Ring of Metamorphosis】? Did you rob the church? No, that's not important. You want to become a woman? How can that be?"

She even stood up, staring at Xia De with wide eyes:

"What are you trying to do?"

"No, no, please relax. I don't want to become a woman at all. This ring is still related to Miss Galina."

Xia De mentioned that name again.

"Oh, that damn woman! How could she give this to you!"

This was the first time Miss Louisa had shown her unladylike side today. It seemed Xia De was right; she definitely had a conflict with Galina Cavendish.

They spent the whole afternoon studying in the living room, chatting about other things during their free time. As for today's lesson, since Xia De had already been promoted to the Second Ring, this meant his Second Ring Enlightenment Rune still had vacancies.

So far, 【The Crazy Light Chaser】 hadn't read out any effects, so Miss Louisa was very much looking forward to the fairy tale 【Tree Kiss】. Just like last week, under Miss Louisa's explanation, Xia De read through those ancient paper pages again. While Miss Louisa sat down to rest, Xia De was asked to copy the story once.

Gaining enlightenment from a story wasn't something that happened overnight; only by patiently experiencing and comprehending the story could one obtain that power of time, civilization, and the story itself.

"Different versions of a story can derive different powers, so different ways of interpretation can also obtain different Enlightenment Runes, spells, and arcane arts from the story."

Miss Louisa explained to Xia De very patiently and also took out other prepared versions of 【Tree Kiss】 for Xia De to read and analyze. By comparing different versions of the story, one could explore the predecessors' understanding of the story, which was very helpful for experiencing the wisdom of that enlightenment.

The different versions of 【Tree Kiss】 reminded Xia De that he had obtained quite a few good books from the ruins of the Old God Sect. Before closing the ruins, the sect had used special parchment and ink to transcribe everything of value, and Luweiya, Xia De, and Yi Lu Na had each taken some.

Xia De shared those books with Miss Louisa and then took out the 【Complete Collection of Ancient Delarion Fairy Tales】 he had bought at the charity auction from the study.

The blonde female writer was very surprised by these books. After obtaining Xia De's consent, she even picked a few to borrow, planning to take them home to read slowly. And that expensive 【Complete Collection of Ancient Delarion Fairy Tales】 happened to also contain the story of 【Tree Kiss】.

Only, unlike the original version provided by Miss Louisa, the ending of the story in this old book was not that Princess Tavier turned into a dried corpse and was sealed in the trunk of an ancient tree, but that she stepped through the door of the ancient tree, accepted the power of the ancient tree, became the guardian of that strange tree, and used that special power to punish her parents.

"This version of the story is very likely to have appeared in the Fifth Era. In that era, many stories would let female protagonists obtain power at the end of the story, rather than the princess just being an appendage of the prince like in earlier stories."

"This is of course because the witches of that time mastered power. This tells us that studying the differences between different versions and different stories can help us understand the civilizational characteristics of different eras, thereby better understanding the enlightenment elements regarded as the light of civilization."

Miss Louisa said, and Xia De nodded. His view was shallower:

"Actually, fairy tales with this kind of ending are more suitable for children... Oh, don't look at me with that look. I'm not saying the original ending is bad, just that it might leave children with... never mind, pretend I didn't say anything."

Under Miss Louisa's condemning gaze, he picked up Little Mia, who was taking a nap. The orange cat made a "woo-woo~" sound in its throat, representing dissatisfaction.

"Xia De, you almost lost the qualification to go see the opera with me next week."

The blonde Miss said with a smile.

"See the opera next week?"

Xia De was a bit hesitant. He saw this as some kind of invitation, but their relationship didn't seem to have reached that level yet.

"Yes, look, I've already gotten the tickets."

Miss Louisa rummaged through her handbag and found two tickets with steel stamps, placing them on the table:

"Next Saturday night, which is the first day after the curfew is lifted, it starts at 7:30 and ends at 9:30. That show happens to have a story related to 【Tree Kiss】, and I also have things to do at the Queen Maria Opera House."

As a high art, opera was an important part of the entertainment and leisure of the upper class in this era. Tobesk, known as the Pearl of the North, had many opera houses of various sizes, some of which were said to provide illegal performances.

The more famous opera houses were three: the Delarion King's Opera House, the Tobesk Grand Opera House, and the Queen Maria Opera House that Miss Louisa mentioned now.

"I have to attend exams next Saturday, so it's necessary to relax on the night after the exams, but our lessons shouldn't be delayed because of this. Why don't we go see this opera together? It can also be considered part of next week's study content... Xia De, are you unwilling to go?"

Miss Louisa waved the tickets and asked with slight hesitation. ===== CHAPTER 292 =====