The light and shadow that spilled into the auditorium created a dreamlike mist along with the steam from the food on the long table.
Chicken legs are piled on the plate like a mountain, colorful pastries are arranged neatly, exquisite blood wheat bread and pies are lined up, and delicious food is waiting to be enjoyed.
"I thought it was still daytime..."
"A lot of food..."
"How do you make all this sunshine?"
The sounds of small conversations gathered in the sky above the auditorium, forming a hissing sound like a burning fire.
Dogrou's eyes glowed with real light, and he followed the team into the auditorium like a zombie. Only the head that turned following the food showed that he was still thinking.
The students sat down, and Gourou struggled to maintain his sanity and not to stretch out his hand. The two weeks of etiquette instruction at Jushu Academy allowed him to overcome some of his instincts.
When all the students were seated, the professors stood up and prepared to announce that the New Year's dinner was about to begin.
The rapid and noisy bells suddenly rang through the auditorium without warning. In the confusion of the professors and students, chaotic footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the auditorium.
The cold and annoying gatekeepers appeared, shouting indifferently: "Silence appears, everyone keeps quiet!"
After the announcement, their figures disappeared outside the auditorium door and left as hurriedly as they had arrived.
"Prefects of each department, confirm that all students are here!" Professor Maiwen, the reckless man, shouted throughout the auditorium.
The prefects at the head of the long table hurriedly left their seats to count the students.
The noisy and bustling auditorium fell into complete silence.
The prefects walked through the auditorium with hurried footsteps. At the New Year's dinner, which was interrupted by moments of silence, everyone received the only good news: no students were left behind.
The old professor then raised his silverware and tapped the edge of it with his knife.
clang
Amidst the clear and sweet knocking sound like a bell, the old professor moved the utensils away, picked up the knife and fork and cut open the sauced steak on the dinner plate.
The professors started eating one after another, then the students.
Under the warm sunshine, the sound of clinking knives and forks and chewing restored the limited vitality of the banquet.
The New Year here is quiet.
Dogrou once again demonstrates his talent: eating quickly and quietly.
Fudot eats slowly and gracefully. A small piece of food she picks up will keep her chewing for a long time, and the chicken drumsticks that need to be reached out to grab are not in her diet.
The only sound of eating in the auditorium lasted for a while, and was disturbed by the sound of footsteps echoing from the long corridor.
The door was pushed open again. The gatekeeper stayed outside, and the elder entered the auditorium. The gatekeeper's cloak made him glide into the auditorium like a brown bat.
He raised the wine glass held in his skinny palm. As the wine swayed, the lazy voice of Vice Dean Chris sounded from the wine glass: "Professors, bring the children to the upper class."
The professors frowned, but the silence prevented them from saying no.
Now that Professor Chris has decided...
The old professor waved to the prefects to lead the group and left their seats to follow.
Professor Rubro walked past Professor Hagrid, who had not left his seat and looked gloomy, and patted his shoulder gently.
He could probably guess what Professor Hagrid was thinking...Hagrid didn't like Lu Li leaving the canopy and going to the dangerous trunk level. Professor Chris had already dissatisfied him by giving Lu Li a badge of free passage without authorization. This New Year's dinner even
All lower grade students are required to go to the trunk level
The gatekeeper who exudes a cold aura escorts the new students.
In the giant tree academy shrouded in silence, the students and the night watchers became the same: a common silence.
Go down the long spiral staircase in the mixed area, take the elevator, and enter the tree trunk level after a few minutes.
The pervasive darkness and foreboding affected the students who first entered the tree trunk layer. With curiosity and nervousness, they walked through the silent corridor and arrived at the arch leading to the surface.
Just before stepping out of the giant tree, Professor Hagrid stood in front of everyone and silently stared at the elders of the Night Watch.
"Hagrid, let the students in." Professor Chris's voice came from the rippling wine.
Professor Hagrid was unwilling to step away and allowed the students to follow the night watchman out of the giant tree.
"...Put away your breath, don't scare the little ones."
Listening to Professor Chris's voice, the students walked up to the gnarled roots of the giant tree. Invisible protection shrouded the broad platform beneath their feet, which was still dozens of meters away from the surface.
Eyeballs with wings floating in the air, their pupils emitting fluorescence slightly brighter than fluorite, wandering in groups, like the broken moon shrouded in broken clouds.
Is there no sunshine in the senior class? Why not use oil lamps for lighting?
This was what the freshmen thought. Soon, they became uneasy because of the silhouettes standing around the platform and the mixed and obscure aura they exuded.
The freshmen were like a group of weak children, huddled together like quails, avoiding any real observation of their eyes.
A lot of attention fell on Lu Li in particular.
The wine glass in the elder gatekeeper's hand sprouted four thin legs, jumped to the ground, crawled quickly, and jumped into the palm of Professor Chris.
The junior students saw the little giant-like vice-dean in front of the long table and the person next to her...
"Because Dean Asammons has not returned from an outing, I will host this year's dinner." Professor Chris, who was in charge, gestured to the silhouettes beside him: "Then, let me first introduce it to the cuties in the lower grades.
Own?"
"Senior Occult Professor, you can call me Helmud." The thin figure wearing the ancient and exquisite musketeer uniform took off his top hat.
"Professor of Divination, Immortal." The pale, decadent man with a sad temperament like a poet tore off Helmud's head, revealing the hideous wounds and sutures like centipedes.
"Rangshi, Lei, learn combat skills." On the edge of the seat, a man as strong as a lion with golden brown hair said in a low voice.
"Aren't you going to show off your magic?" Helmud chuckled.
"To junior students? I'm not a circus clown." Lei Leng hummed.
Lu Li saw that the reckless Professor Maiwen's expression became complicated when facing Thunder.
"...I...am...Meng...te...M...S..."
The students raised their heads and listened to the whispers falling in the darkness.
"This is our combat skills professor. He is the one who protects this place from the approaching darkness and prevents the disaster and the quiet time."
After the words fell, the fireflies dispersed, and the vacated area revealed that outside the true shelter, the solid darkness was crawling and crawling.
Buzz
The sound of fingernails sliding against the wine glass attracted the attention of all the students.
"Although many students who are currently on missions on the surface, fighting in the old sewers, testing in the restricted area, or who have passed away cannot hear the next words, I still want to say...have you seen the outside world? This is
A world that is real and no longer false. It is also a world we want to change. Remember the meaning of Giant Tree Academy, remember the meaning of your existence... don't go into that good night gently."
Professor Chris, who suddenly felt his interest was waning, stopped talking and raised his glass: "Now, the New Year's banquet officially begins. To our companions, to the gods, to Giant Tree Academy, to Dean Asammons..."
Her narrow and slightly curved pale golden eyes fell on Lu Li.