Silent Crown

by Feng Yue

  “Look at him…”

  “Seems real?”

  “Yes, it’s him.”

  “If it’s me…”

  “He’s the concertmaster. Stop the delusions.”

  The voices caused Ye Qingxuan to furrow his brows. He opened his eyes to look over, but everyone avoided his gaze and pretended that nothing happened. The weird atmosphere persisted until the carriage stopped at the academy’s entrance. The students got off one by one, but Ye Qingxuan still did not know what had happened. He randomly grabbed a student. “What were you all saying?”

  “Uh, you still don’t know…” the student replied. But when he turned and saw the white hair, his eyes widened and his tongue tied as if he had seen a ghost. “N-nothing.” He shook his head forcefully. He was too scared to run but showed that, no matter what, he would not tell. Helpless, Ye Qingxuan let go and told him to scram.

  “Are they all crazy?”

  Enduring the strange glances his entire way back to the history department, he felt a giant burden lift after he closed the door. This was the best place. He could relax entirely after coming back.

  “Hey, Cousin, you finally decided to come back.” Bai Xi, who was sitting on the sofa looking at pictures, looked up. Her gaze had a strange distance and she complimented him, “Seems that you’re pretty fit. You can last two days.”

  “What are you talking about?” Ye Qingxuan felt that something was wrong again.

  “Oh, Yezi’s back?” Abraham walked out of the library. When he saw Ye Qingxuan, he thought of something and stopped talking, his expression turning awkward. “The age gap isn’t much and you’re at that age, but…” He paused and advised with concern, “Yezi, you’re a student, after all. You must control yourself.”

  “Huh?!” Ye Qingxuan was confused again. “Wait, Professor, what’s going on?”

  Abraham shook his head, smiling bitterly. “I won’t involve myself in young people’s matters.” With that, he patted Ye Qingxuan on the shoulder and left.

  Ye Qingxuan felt all his strength leave. “Who can tell me what happened?”

  “You still don’t know?” On the sofa, Bai Xi hooked her finger. “Come here and I’ll tell you secretly.”

  Seeing her mysteriousness, Ye Qingxuan hesitated. But he still placed his ear close to her. And then he felt Bai Xi open her mouth and…let out an evil burp!

  “Bai Xi!” Ye Qingxuan roared as he cracked his knuckles. “You feeling antsy? I’ll fix you up!”

  “Wait!” Bai Xi raised a hand and gazed at him suspiciously. “Cousin, did you really not hear? What you did has spread through the entire academy! Everyone knows the details except you?”

  “I wouldn’t be asking if I knew!”

  “Okay, then I’ll let you know your crime.” Bai Xi cackled and slammed down on the table, fury written in her expression. “Ye Qingxuan, stop pretending! Everyone knows about you and Professor Lola!”

  “…” Ye Qingxuan blanched. “What?!”

  “Are you still pretending?” Bai Xi scoffed. “The entire academy said that you sold yourself and became that woman’s pet! These past two days, you’ve been living the happy life of doing it three or four times per day! And you still say you don’t know?” Here, she shook her head and sighed in awe. “I can’t believe you’re so powerful. You’ve mesmerized Professor Lola in these short few days. I thought you were a righteous man, but I can’t believe you’re the reserve for the crane-control supervisor!”

  “I don’t know what ‘crane-control supervisor’ means, but I bet you’re insulting me, right?” Ye Qingxuan tried to explain, “You’ve all misunderstood. I’m such a clean person. How could I do that with a teacher? Those are all vicious rumors trying to hurt me! I just went to find Professor Lola about some questions.”

  “You still won’t confess?” Bai Xi sneered. “Charles, show the evidence.”

  Suddenly, there was a whoosh and a figure appeared out of nowhere behind Bai Xi’s voice. There was a giddy smile on his face as he offered a crystal prism. “Here is the evidence!”

  Ye Qingxuan eyed him. What the f*ck was this?

  Charles shrugged. His pitiful eyes seemed to say, “Junior, you really did it this time. I can’t save you either.”

  In Charles’s hand, the prism flashed and then projected an image. The image was blurry but one could make out that it was in the courtyard of an elegant and peaceful mansion. Ye Qingxuan was wearing a black housekeeper uniform and kneeling on one knee, his hands to his heart. His eyes gazed enthusiastically at the lovely woman before him. He recited a love poem with a sweetness that even traveling poets would blush at.

  “Ah, so many people love the joyful times of your youth. They love your beauty, which may be real or in pretense, but only one loves your pilgrim’s soul…”

  Ye Qingxuan felt his scalp go numb. “Where did you get this from?”

  “Junior, you started a trend! This thing is everywhere now. It’s fifty dollars for one but demand is higher than supply!” Charles said excitedly. “You don’t know how many girls had their hearts broken after seeing this! Some people bought it and changed the girl inside to themselves. They have to watch a few times every night, or else they can’t fall asleep.”

  “…Senior, how do you know so much?”

  “Because I’m the one who’s selling the most! I even have a Concertmaster Ye’s Confession platinum commemoration version. The price has doubled but people still want it!” Charles exclaimed spiritedly. “Junior, how could you not include me in this great money-making chance? If it wasn’t for my quick reaction speed, I would’ve lost this opportunity and missed out on all this money!”

  “Senior, you just want to kill me, right?” Ye Qingxuan thought. He felt he was going to break down. He wanted to spit out three liters of blood and yell “Lola ruined me!” and then fall down, face to the sky.

  He finally understood Lola’s strange smile after refusing to become Lola’s student. This was waiting for him here! But even if there was no other way, she did not have to explain their relationship like this, right? He wanted to cry but had no tears.

  “Let me explain. It’s not how it seems.”

  “I know, I know. It must be even more incredible and low, right?” Charles patted his shoulders and exclaimed, “Look at you. Your face is pale, steps are feeble, and the two dark eye bags…It’s obvious you had too much fun! I can’t believe Professor Lola is that powerful. Should I buy some medicine to nourish you?”

  This comment made Ye Qingxuan want to cry tears of blood. He finally understood the pain of not being able to explain himself. How did he suddenly have a relationship with that crazy Lola? But it really was him in the prism’s video. He could not explain at all. His reputation was ruined!

  “Hey, tell the truth. What did you do these past days with her?” Bai Xi slammed a fist onto the table. “How did she seduce you? When, where, how long, what position, report everything!”

  “Uh, don’t ask about the position.” Charles grabbed a pen and paper and said softly, “It’s more important to ask how they flirted. The elite girls love this stuff!”

  Just as Ye Qingxuan was about to die of embarrassment and find something to strangle himself with, the sound of a savior came from the sky outside.

  “Hello, testing…testing…”

  182 Doomsday

  “Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?” A thunderous noise came from the sky. It was so loud that the students’ ears rang and they were nearly forced to the ground. Even the lakes in the school rippled. Everyone was stunned and raised their heads in astonishment, looking into the sky.

  There was a voice in the sky. That familiar voice coughed and seemed to complain, “Does this work? You Modifications always make such unreliable things…”

  A more quiet voice said faintly, “Mr. Principal, your voice is too loud, try lowering your volume.”

  “Oh? Is that so? I see! I get it now. Move aside and let me play with it.”

  Rustles sounded in the s
ky. Finally, that voice quieted down. It was no longer thunderous, but still in everyone’s ears.

  “Long time no see, students! How are you all?” The voice was passionate and emotional. All students stared at each other. Comprehension and panic flickered past their eyes.

  Someone murmured, “No way.”

  “That’s right!” The voice sounded again with great passion. “Your principal, Maxwell, is back! I’ve been out for so long. Have you all been missing me?”

  “…” The students were all silent with no idea how to respond.

  “First of all, I would like to express my sincere greetings. I hope that everyone has had a happy and fulfilling life during this period of time. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot, benefited a lot and…that’s it.” The principal spoke in a verbose manner for a long while. Then he paused and grew serious. “Next, I have bad news to announce!”

  All of a sudden, the expressions of many upperclassmen changed as if they had seen a ghost, including Charles. They wailed “Wait!” and “Again?!”

  “—That’s right. The day after tomorrow is our school anniversary!” The principal yelled in excitement. “The anniversary day, the annual day of death! The day of trials! Students from first to sixth grade, are you prepared to fail your classes and be held back?

  “Recently, my investment agent from the Eastern Indian Company told me that the cigar factory I’ve been longing for has been officially bought. So in order for everyone to pay some more for exam make-up fees, I’ll make it more difficult this time. I hope you won’t be scared and treat it like normal. Well, that’s all!” He chuckled. “So, please enjoy the youth that everyone sings about! I will anticipate all of your struggles and performances.” The sound voice stopped abruptly. It was like an illusion, as if it had never existed.

  Before Ye Qingxuan could react, he heard commotions from around the school…

  “No, no!”

  “Are you kidding?”

  “Didn’t they say it’s canceled this year?!”

  It was as if the entire was thrown into a demon’s den. The air was filled with wails! The students cried and pounded on the ground as if the person closest to them died and they had lost all hope in life.

  “What’s wrong?”

  While Ye Qingxuan and Bai Xi looked at each other in confusion, Charles had already pulled a huge suitcase out of the basement a huge suitcase and was digging through everything!

  “What are you waiting for?” Charles glanced at them. “Hurry up and pack your things!” Instead of waiting for their reactions, he filled up the whole suitcase like a criminal on the run. He shouted toward the study room, “Professor, did you finish packing? Let’s go out to collect folk songs! How about Burgundy this time? I heard that there was enough rain last year so the red wine this year must be good and cheap!”

  Abraham sighed gloomily. “We can’t go out every time this year.”

  “Professor, I’ll die if I don’t go.” Charles panicked. “You have to consider it more thoroughly!”

  “Isn’t it just a school anniversary?” Ye Qingxuan was confused, “What’s so scary?”

  Charles looked back with a complicated expression. The left side of his face showed that it was a long story, while the right was full of despair.

  “Yezi…do you think anniversaries are like in stories where every class has to perform, play some music, open a café or haunted house and that’s it? The anniversary day is Doomsday!”

  “It’s not that scary, is it?” Ye asked.

  Charles turned back and looked at Abraham, who sighed and nodded, “Give Yezi a good explanation so he can prepare himself.”

  Charles shrugged helplessly, revealing a despair look. “At least half,” he said.

  “Eh?”

  “At least half,” Charles said, “During this anniversary, at least half of the students will fail, and half of the graduates are going to be held back from failing their graduation trials. Within the next week, the entire Royal Academy of Music will turn into hell—a den filled with tears and despair.”

  Ye Qingxuan was freaked out. “It’s not that bad, right?”

  “Listen up.” Charles said hoarsely, “What I want to talk next about is the eternal horror that lingers over the academy. It’s the history written by blood and tears of countless students.”

  Ye Qingxuan held his breath reflexively. It was as if a bloody storm was rushing toward him!

  -

  In the past, the anniversary of the Royal Academy of Music was the most celebratory time of the whole year. Countless departments decorated their buildings and grand banquets were held in the auditorium with unlimited champagne and beer. There were even bonfires at night and a show for countless girls to confess their crushes.

  All hotels in Avalon would be booked by the students that night. Two months later, it would be a period of high incidences of pregnancy before marriage…There were all kinds of shortcomings, but generally speaking, it was still a beautiful and sweet holiday that made one’s heart flutter.

  But all of this changed when Mr. Maxwell took office. The banquet was canceled, the show ended, and the bonfire only appeared in dreams. Most of Avalon’s hotels suffered losses as all the students stayed silent in the dark. This day had become a synonym for the trials of hell.

  From then on, ‘Anniversary Day’ became a terrible activity lasting a week. It was also a test for the graduating class. In short, it was a brutal competition. One would not die, but it might be better to die. And the worst thing was that all students must attend. It was mandatory!

  It was great if one could pass the activities of anniversary day. The unsuccessful ones would have points deducted by the executive office. The worse grade one had, the more points deducted.

  Being held back was not the worse; having one’s effort go to waste was not the worst either. The worst was that the Academy would divide the budget and resource allocations for the year according to the performance of the students.

  If the pass rate of a department was less than sixty percent, then the resources and budgets of the next quarter would be cut in half. The abilities of all professors would be doubted and their year-end bonuses would be reduced.

  Admittedly, the teachers did not care much about the small bonuses, but their dignity and pride were at stake! This meant that if a student tested badly, the whole department would try to destroy him!

  Even the school board had no right to speak up about the principal’s decisions. They had snatched control over final exams from the principal’s hand, but they did not expect that he, who could not intervene in the final exam, would go and turn the school’s anniversary day into a hell worse than the final exam. There was nothing the school board could do. It was clearly written in the principal’s responsibilities that he had the right to arrange all celebrations. Only the principal could stop this absurd celebration.

  “Ahaha, that doesn’t sound scary.” After hearing Charles’s explanation, Ye Qingxuan clapped his hands and laughed. “It’s just a test. I’m best at those!”

  “You can call it a ‘test’, but the principal’s so-called test isn’t just filling out a piece of paper, okay?” Charles side-eyed him. “One of the death trials at the anniversary of the year before last was the ‘death shotput.’ You had to control the aether and carve a cube of lead into a standard ball. No tools were allowed and no other equipment could be used. And one hour later, you had to control your work in a race.

  “The six-kilometer long track was full of traps. During the entire process, the musicians had to maintain long-distance perception and high-intensity marathon-like precision. The smallest distraction would lead you to a ditch. You’d failed if you broke the ball halfway, or it got off the track…

  “And in order to embody the spirit of competition, it did not prohibit interferences. In other words, you got bonus points if you forced others into traps. Can you imagine that? How many people’s friendships had broke during this race?”

  Ye Qingxu
an fell silent. Thinking of the difficulty and imagining the tragic scene in his mind made him get goosebumps. “How many people passed?”

  “Six.” Charles said coldly, “Of the thousands of students in the entire academy, only six people passed. Only one of them reached the end. The other five used the points they got from causing others to fail and passed the graduation exam.

  “The rest of the students all failed miserably. They created a new low. The next year, the entire school was broke enough to have to beg on the streets because of the budget cuts!” At this, Charles mimed getting slashed in the throat. “Now do you know what the anniversary day means to us?”

  “Uh…” Ye Qingxuan finally felt uneasy. “You’re saying that if we fail the test, there’s no way to get the next year’s budget?”

  “Yes.” Charles nodded, “I don’t know about the others but the school board definitely won’t let us go.”

  “Why don’t you tell me this before?” Ye Qingxuan almost jumped out of his chair in fear.

  “Who knew the crazy principal would suddenly come back?” Charles sighed. “Besides, what’s the point? Our entire department only has four and a half students! That half is Old Phil! We can’t even cheat off of each other!”

  “Then what should we do?” Ye Qingxuan scratched his head. “Run?”

  “It’s too late.” Charles pointed to the sky outside the window, “Didn’t you see that I stopped packing? The enchantment over the school has been activated. Now you can enter but can’t go out. Who dares to do so will be regarded as abandoning the test. Today’s the return day too, so just forget about it. If you came back, you won’t be able to leave anymore.”

  Ye Qingxuan pondered but could not figure out a good solution and sighed helplessly. “So you’re saying that all we can do is waiting for death?”

  “Don’t give up. It’s still necessary to struggle.” Charles showed a serious look. “What if we’re the underdogs?”

  Seeing Charles’s expression, Ye Qingxuan knew that this time, he was done for.

  183 Before the Trial 1