After the lunch break...
All the students of the first standard were now sitting in the assembly hall. Joshua and Elen came to the hall first and occupied the two seats at the front so that they could hear everything clearly.
Miss Jia looked at the overly excited Elen in amazement. After all, if it was some boring lecture about what some magic beasts eat or where they sleep, Elen would have already chosen a pretty good spot at the back so that he could sleep comfortably.
Even for her as a class teacher, it was a mystery how Elen always scored full marks in each and every exam despite being lazy and inattentive in class.
Just then, the door to the assembly hall opened, and Edward, along with a casually dressed middle-aged man, entered the hall. All the students went quiet upon seeing the two figures who had just entered.
The middle-aged man who followed Edward smiled at the students who were curiously looking at him.
Joshua leaned towards Elen and whispered in a low voice, "Do you think he will demonstrate some magic for us? I have never seen a magician use a spell before."
Elen smirked upon hearing this. "I have seen it plenty of times. Grandma shows me some tricks when I pester her. If you want to see divine spells, come to my home this Sunday. I will ask Grandma to show you what a magic spell really is."
Joshua's eyes lit up. "You really are my best friend, Draven. Don't worry, I will treat you to a plate of meat fried rice with first-rank beast meat at the cafeteria."
Elen waved his hands like a little adult. "Never mind, we are friends after all."
Joshua also nodded. After all, a plate of fried rice with first-grade magic beast meat would cost ten times the original price. "Yes... yes... we shouldn't be talking about thanking each other as friends..."
But before he could be happy for some more time, Elen held his hands and said seriously, "Now don't be sad over such a small matter... fine, I will accept your special fried rice. After all, as your best friend, how can I possibly say no to you?"
Joshua's mouth twitched upon hearing this. 'From which angle do I seem sad to you? You just want to leech a meal off me,' he thought inwardly.
"Now, listen here, my dear students," Edward stood at the podium at the front and addressed the whole class gently. "You guys will be taking a big step towards the next level in your life in a month's time. It has been a tradition at the White Dragon Academy since its founding that a class about divine essence and magic is held before every awakening ceremony for the students who are going through awakening."
"This year, the one addressing you is a divine essence cultivator who is well-known all over the continent of Dragon World for his exceptional lightning, earth, and wind magic."
"His name is Alex Watson, and like you all, he was also once a little brat who studied at our academy when he was young."
The middle-aged man, Alex, who had a dignified yet casual look on his face, blushed upon being called a little brat by Edward. He awkwardly smiled at the children who were looking at him strangely.
Edward paid no mind to the awkward Alex and continued, "So don't be afraid to ask questions to him. After all, you are his juniors, and it's his duty as a senior to guide you on your journey forward."
"Principal, you have already wasted a lot of our time. Please let Senior speak. We only have time until 4:00 p.m. After that, even if we have questions, we have to go home," Elen called out to the old man who was going to continue his passionate speech.
Everyone, including Alex, Edward, Miss Jia, and the students, froze upon hearing Elen's voice.
Edward looked at the innocently grinning Elen in the first row of the auditorium and gritted his teeth in anger. 'If you weren't exceptionally good at studying and if you weren't that madwoman's grandson, I would have beaten your butt until you couldn't sit for days,' he cursed in his mind.
Alex also frowned at Elen's rude behavior. He walked up to the podium and looked at Elen. "This student, you should learn to respect your elders first in your life."
Edward looked at Alex, who was about to lecture Elen and said calmly, "His grandmother's name is Gracy Wilson and that old woman dots on him very much."
Alex, who was about to give Elen some life advice, paused upon hearing Gracy's name. He slowly turned to Edward and asked softly, "The Zephyr Empress?"
Edward nodded without a change in his expression.
Alex stiffly turned toward Elen and instantly changed his tone. "This little friend is absolutely correct. This old man is taking up a lot of our valuable time talking nonsense. By the way, little friend, what is your name?"
"Elen Draven," Elen replied happily.
Edward's mouth twitched upon being called an old man by Alex. He secretly noted in his mind to teach this idiot a lesson after the class was over.
Alex ignored the resentful Edward and started speaking. "My name is Alex Watson. Like the principal mentioned, I also completed my schooling at White Dragon Academy."
With a nostalgic look on his face, Alex continued, "When I was your age, we were also given a class on magic by a cultivator at that time. Back then, there were many considerations and worries in my mind too."
"The senior who gave us the class at that time only talked about the basics of cultivation and all, but he never addressed all the other questions that were on our minds. So, when I am standing in front of you all today, I won't make the same mistake."
"Let's start our class with a simple question: What is divine essence cultivation?"