Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

June 12th arrived, a day off for Hestia with no work obligations.

In the morning, she prepared herself at home before heading out—not to the Wind Dew Restaurant but to Crystal Dream. The class reunion was scheduled for the afternoon.

Standing in the elevator of Apex Tower, slowly ascending, Hestia felt a twinge of unusual emotion. Today, she wasn’t coming to Crystal Dream as an employee but as an invited guest.

“Hestia, I’ve discussed your admission with the representatives of Swallow Garden Academy. I’d like to invite you to sit down and talk in Crystal Dream at Apex Tower to go over the details,” Fernandi messaged her the previous day.

Though surprised Fernandi chose Crystal Dream for the meeting, it was fortunate she had the day off. Meeting her teacher while working might have been awkward.

Hopefully, everyone will keep things professional today, Hestia thought to herself.

Today’s outfit was strikingly different from her usual dark and cool-toned attire. She wore a summer dress in a mix of bright red and soft pink, her long hair tied back neatly with a silk ribbon that swayed gently with her movements.

Her open-toe, strappy sandals showcased her delicate, well-shaped feet, complete with pastel pink-painted nails that added a touch of cuteness.

Entering the familiar establishment, she noticed the usual bustling staff. The pristine floor reflected the blue sky above, creating an atmosphere of openness and cleanliness.

Using her personal terminal to locate the meeting spot, Hestia headed in that direction. Along the way, some maids gave her surprised looks, but they were quickly pulled away by their companions. Hestia was relieved no one announced the arrival of Dantalion.

Finally, she reached the round table by the window and found three people waiting for her.

One was the familiar, imposing Fernandi, another was a scholarly man wearing glasses, and the last was a noblewoman Hestia occasionally encountered at the restaurant.

“Lady Isabelle…” Hestia softly uttered the name she had recently learned from Belphegor.

“You’re here, Hestia. Please, sit next to me,” Isabelle said, gesturing for her to sit by her side, while the two academy representatives sat across from them.

“Hello, Hestia Thilan. I’m Schniel, a teacher from Swallow Garden Academy,” said the man with glasses warmly, adjusting his frames.

“Fernandi contacted us recently, which came as a surprise. After all, Hestia achieved the highest score in our academy’s second-round admissions test,” he began, subtly criticizing Fernandi for attempting to poach a student.

“But Hestia originally applied to our school. The only reason for the delay was our rigorous review process,” Fernandi retorted without backing down.

“Edess Academy, one of the top four in the region, stooping to recruit from Swallow Garden? Unexpected and confusing. Is your pool of suitable students in the vast Four-Leaf Crystal System so limited? Or are you simply too proud and picky?” Schneil’s seemingly gentle demeanor masked a firm, unyielding stance.

“Schneil, don’t use such words to provoke me,” Fernandi replied evenly, resting his hands on his knees, unfazed by the jab.

As the two representatives continued their verbal sparring, Isabelle clapped her hands lightly to draw their attention.

“Perhaps we should ask Hestia for her opinion. Which academy does she prefer?”

“Uh, me?” Hestia hesitated. She wasn’t well-versed in either academy, relying only on official materials and public reviews.

Swallow Garden Academy was once a top-ten school in the Four Leaf Crystal region over 400 years ago. However, as the northern hemisphere declined due to toxic rain, its influence waned, dropping to 17th place.

Edess Academy, a rising star established just over a century ago, was reportedly an offshoot of Saint Ingo Academy and had since become a rival. Backed by substantial resources, its facilities, equipment, and faculty were all top-notch. Currently ranked fourth in the region, it was known for its wealth and elite student body, including many heirs of major corporations.

Edess was renowned for its rigorous, rule-oriented elite education, while Swallow Garden promoted a more relaxed, egalitarian environment, encouraging students to pursue personal interests.

As Hestia shared her thoughts, the two teachers provided affirmations and additional insights, helping her better understand the differences between the schools.

Edess excelled in environment and resources, but Swallow Garden’s relaxed, egalitarian culture appealed to Hestia as well.

Noticing her indecision, both sides upped the stakes, offering increasingly generous terms: waiving tuition, providing stipends, arranging on-campus housing, and even offering additional resources.

“If Hestia joins our academy, we’ll reward her annually with a Radiant Gold-grade elixir,” Schneil proposed. Such elixirs were valued at no less than 500,000 Federation credits.

“We’ll provide three of those each year,” Fernandi countered nonchalantly. Edess Academy had no shortage of funds, often underspending its annual budget.

As the debate seemed to reach an impasse, Isabelle unexpectedly spoke up.

“Perhaps we can consider a compromise.”

“Compromise?” Both men paused in surprise. Was that even possible in this situation?

“With modern technology, enabling a student to attend classes remotely isn’t difficult. Would you both agree?”

“Well… it’s not difficult,” Schneil admitted. “But being on campus isn’t just about attending classes. There are many extracurricular activities and areas of study where students need teachers’ guidance and immediate feedback.”

“In that case, perhaps we could alternate monthly,” Isabelle suggested, her thoughts seemingly taking shape.

“For instance, one month at Edess Academy, the next at Swallow Garden Academy. With high-speed air travel, moving between the north and south takes just over four hours, so it wouldn’t be too time-consuming.”

“Hm…” Schneil seemed to consider the idea.

“That might not work,” Fernandi interjected, shaking his head.

“Even if we address travel, housing, and enrollment issues, the curriculums at the two academies are undoubtedly different. Studying at both would mean Hestia must handle twice the coursework as other students.”

Sometimes, learning too much at once isn’t ideal. Depth in one field often surpasses breadth across many.

“I understand it’s not perfect,” Isabelle conceded, “but I truly believe Hestia has the potential to manage it. If either of you has concerns, I can act as her guarantor. Let her try this dual-enrollment model during her first year. If it doesn’t work, she can decide between the two academies by her second year. As for any additional costs incurred, I will cover them.”

“This wasn’t something I anticipated,” Fernandi admitted, “but if Lady Isabelle insists…”

Though Edess Academy was powerful, Isabelle was a veteran figure in the Federation Education Circle, influencing numerous universities. Fernandi had no desire to damage relations with her.

Schneil also seemed taken aback by the suggestion, but upon reflection, he found it acceptable. A prolonged rivalry with Edess Academy could escalate into pressure on Swallow Garden Academy from the Northern Districts, potentially leaving them with nothing in the end.

Is this how a compromise is reached? Hestia wondered in amazement, growing increasingly curious about Isabelle’s true identity. To make two prestigious academies relent for her—it was extraordinary.

Now I owe her even more, Hestia thought, sighing inwardly.

As the tension eased between the two academies, Isabelle smiled.

“Here’s the deal, Fernandi: I’ll give you a piece of extra information to report back on, but in exchange, Edess Academy must adjust its curriculum to accommodate Hestia and not be overly demanding.”

“Oh? And what information would that be?” Fernandi asked, not agreeing immediately.

“Hestia has the potential to be a Songstress—and not a low-grade one.”

The revelation caused Fernandi’s pupils to contract as he looked at Hestia with newfound intensity.

In the Federation, those with the gift of soul synchronization often became leaders and icons. Edess Academy, committed to elite education, highly valued such talents. However, none of the Four-Leaf Crystal Region’s Songstresses had ever joined Edess Academy.

Most went to the top-ranked Saint Ingo Academy or the second-ranked Peaks Academy, such as the rising star Songstress “Fiery Sugar” Princoco.

“Edess Academy doesn’t have Songstress-specific mentors, and its rigorous environment isn’t ideal for fostering such talents,” Isabelle continued. “However, in terms of transcendent sequence training and business education, I trust your academy is exceptional.”

Schneil, on the other hand, was deeply surprised. While he knew Hestia was gifted, he hadn’t realized how extraordinary she was until now. The knowledge that Edess Academy was pursuing her was already a clue, but this revelation was astonishing.

If Hestia’s potential as a Songstress were nurtured to even the Full Moon Grade, she could become a renowned star in the Federation. Leveraging her influence could benefit Swallow Garden Academy for decades, attracting sponsorships, partnerships, and more outstanding students.

“Well, I did have a personal reason for keeping this information to myself,” Isabelle admitted with a slight smile. “Once you both know, the upper echelons of the Four-Leaf Crystal Region will hear about it soon enough.”

“Rest assured, Lady Isabelle, Edess Academy will strictly keep this confidential, with only a select few aware of it,” Fernandi promised, thumping his chest.

“Swallow Garden Academy will do the same,” Schneil assured her.

“I hope you both understand the importance of discretion. Early exposure wouldn’t be good for her development,” Lady Isabelle said, gently brushing Hestia’s long hair. The gesture made Hestia lower her head in shy gratitude.

This woman has done so much for me today.

“Now that everything is settled, work out the details together, particularly regarding how the courses can complement each other without overlap or waste.”

“Our dear Hestia, whom we hold in high regard, is only 16 years old. This is one of her few vacations, so let her go and enjoy her day.”

Isabelle turned to Hestia with a playful wink, noticing her unease.

After all, the clock had quietly passed noon—it was already time for her afternoon gathering.