Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

Because of the talent you've shown, your father decided to nurture you from a young age, hoping you will grow up to be a great musician and fulfill his unfinished dream.

[You're four years old, not old enough to go to school yet, but after your father finishes his daily lessons, he'll spend time teaching you some basic music theory.]

Your learning progress is very fast, far exceeding your father's expectations.

At the age of six, you completed all the music theory courses required for elementary school, much to your father's amazement.

At the age of 7, you lived up to your father's expectations, successfully passed the entrance exam, and entered the most prestigious private elementary school in the area.

In Letania, Originium Arts are linked to music theory; the higher one's musical talent, the stronger their future power will be.

[Thanks to the entry for "Master of the Arts," you are very talented in the field of music.]

[If all goes well, you will become a great singer or composer in the future.]

But now you have some doubts. If you grow up step by step according to this process, it seems that the golden talent will be useless. Could it be used for conducting in the future?

However, you don't seem to mind. Influenced by your father during your childhood, you've developed a love for music, and you think that things are fine this way.

Time flies, and you've turned 18, graduating from high school with excellent grades.

At this point, although you are still a recent graduate, you are already a musician of some renown in the small town.

Back home, your parents threw you a grand welcome ceremony to celebrate your graduation. You then mentioned something—you planned to go to Trilintelme, the capital of Letania, to study at Letania's best music academy, the Trilintelme Academy of Fine Arts.

The mother was somewhat reluctant, but she didn't object. The father readily agreed, knowing that this small town couldn't provide the stage you wanted.

A month later, you packed your bags and carried your parents' hopes, boarding the land vehicle bound for Trilintelmere.

……

As the land vehicle passed through the last mountain pass, the entire city unfolded like a gilded scroll in the morning mist—Baroque domes were bathed in the glow of dawn, and golden musical notes driven by Originium Arts swirled among the staggered towers, swimming like living things, personifying the musical notes and melodies as a flowing river of light.

Triinttelme, as the capital of Letania and the center of music and art in the region, perfectly matched Letania's expectations.

After returning the land vehicle to the rental company, Lacey dragged her suitcase along the cobblestone streets of the old town.

He saw a street performer on the roadside wielding a violin with a bow inlaid with Originium, the sound waves carrying pale golden ripples spreading out, and the drooping roses in the roadside flowerbeds instantly standing upright and blooming.

He saw that the fountain in the central square would change shape according to the tunes hummed by passersby.

"Trintelme is truly worthy of the name," Lacey couldn't help but exclaim.

Compared to the real-life Kazdel, which is in dire need of reconstruction, this place undoubtedly has the grandeur of a capital city.

Every brick and tile in this city reveals the influence of art.

Lacey, carrying her luggage, found a cheap hotel to rest and recharge for tomorrow's entrance exam.

You are well-prepared for the upcoming entrance exam and are confident that you will pass.

[That's exactly right; you successfully passed the entrance exam for the art school and didn't fail.]

[You're clearly a perfect mustache model, yet you didn't fail your art school entrance exam? You're a little surprised, but not too bothered by it.]

However, while you are viewing the results, a college administrator approaches you, accompanied by a well-dressed young man.

The administrator told you that the college's examiners thought there was a problem with your grades, so they reviewed them again, and the final result was that you failed.

Upon hearing this news, you felt as if struck by lightning, and your first instinct was to question the outcome.

[But the administrative staff's tone left no room for argument, and the richly dressed young man even sneered at you, "You stinking outsider, come all this way to beg for food in Trinity."]

You were furious, and even considered taking action regardless of the situation.

[Special event triggered!]

[Option A: So what if they're nobles? Do nobles think they can steal my place in school? "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?!"—Just charge in and beat the enemy to a pulp.]

Option B: A moment of patience brings calm, a step back opens up a vast expanse. A true hero is one who can endure what ordinary people cannot—remaining silent and slinking away in disgrace. A gentleman's revenge is never too late.

Lacey immediately retorted: I am a demon! How could I tolerate you?

Let alone in a simulation, even in real life, if he encountered something like this, he would just rush up and throw two punches.

Choose A!

Upon hearing the other person's mockery, you rushed forward without hesitation and began punching and kicking the richly dressed young man.

The administrator promptly called security, who escorted you out. Before leaving, they told you you were in big trouble; the young man with you was the son of an earl.

You finally understand: your talent and your hard work are worthless in the face of the powerful and wealthy.

A young man with musical dreams ended up as a homeless failure.

Lacey: "..."

Question: I wanted to get into the best art school in the world, but for some reason I failed the entrance exam. What should I do next?

Waiting online, very anxious.

You failed to gain admission to the academy, and you were too ashamed to go home, so you were forced to wander the streets of Triinttelme.

You resent the injustice in society, but you are powerless to change it.

What gives you some peace of mind is that the count's son's revenge has not yet come.

At this moment, an unexpected event occurred.

In August 1029, after Gaul had repeatedly expressed diplomatic demands to Letania, hoping to bring Letania into its sphere of influence, but these were rejected by the Witch King, Gaul, having completed its military preparations, formally launched a war against Letania.

In the early stages of the war, the western defenses of the Letanian high-tower nobles were quickly breached, allowing the Gallic winged cavalry to penetrate deep into Letania.

In December 1029, within just four months, the Tower Nobles suffered a series of defeats. Letania lost several important mobile cities and four Electoral Districts, and even had several of its finest magical towers completely captured by Gaul.

However, at this moment, an unexpected event occurred.

[The Witch King, who had been missing for four months, finally reappeared. He used the resonance of the tower to unleash Originium Arts of unparalleled power, tearing apart the vanguard of the Gallic army. Furthermore, led by Grand Duke Leopold, the Electors who remained loyal to Letania launched a counterattack, forcing the unstoppable Gallic army to a halt.]

The war reached a stalemate. At this point, the Gallic Empire's adversaries finally ended their observation and joined the war. King Victoria and Emperor Ursus simultaneously mobilized their armies and personally led their troops into battle, launching a siege of key border towns of Gaul.

The Four Emperors' Battle has officially begun!

Although the Gallo-Baltic Empire was powerful, it could not simultaneously contend with three formidable adversaries and quickly fell into decline.

Meanwhile, a new round of conscription began in Letania.

You happen to be within the eligible age range and have been drafted into the army; of course, you have no intention of refusing.

You're thinking, since I have nowhere else to go, why don't I join the army?

Moreover, your father is a staunch supporter of the Witch King, and you believe he would be happy for you to join the army.

[You followed the main force to the battlefield, where you met a group of new recruits like yourself. You got along very well, and you both had optimistic views on the war, believing that Letania would surely win.]

However, Gaul is Gaul after all. As the most powerful nation in the land at present, its military strength should not be underestimated.

On your first day on the battlefield, your legion was met with a fierce attack from the Gallic army, and less than 20% of the soldiers survived.

After this battle, your bravery caught the eye of your superior and you were promoted to assault soldier.

[The assault troops, also known as the suicide squad or vanguard, are a unit with an extremely high mortality rate, but you were fearless and resolutely agreed to serve as an assault troop.]

In the battles that followed, you were always at the forefront the moment the bugle sounded.

Perhaps it's because of your courageous and fearless charging spirit, or perhaps it's because of that golden talent "United We Stand," but the soldiers in your battle group seem to be infected by your spirit, fearless of death, and always launching fearless charges alongside you.

Soon, your performance earned the appreciation of your superiors.

[After the final battle, you received a War Medal—the highest honor a Leitanian soldier can achieve.]

Ultimately, this war, which lasted nearly two years, ended with the complete defeat of the Gallo-Baltic Empire.

You can finally return to your hometown as a war hero and see your parents.

……

……

Holy Lytanian Empire: Chapter Three: The September Uprising, the Fall of the Witch King

The war was over. You took off your uniform, carrying a heavy medal of honor, and began your journey home.

You return to your hometown after many years. Nothing seems to have changed; the streets are still the same, the hands of the old clock tower still tick slowly, as if the smoke of war had never touched this peaceful land.

You push open the door to your home. Your mother is busy in the kitchen, while your father sits in a rocking chair in the living room, wearing glasses, carefully wiping his beloved violin.

They turned around simultaneously upon hearing the door open.

The next second, the soup spoon in the mother's hand clattered to the ground. She covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

The father abruptly stood up from the rocking chair, his glasses slipping down to the tip of his nose. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

You smiled, placed your suitcase by the door, and opened your arms.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

……

The dinner table was lavish, like a holiday feast.

Lacey recounted her experiences of failing the college entrance exam and participating in the war, omitting the ordeal she suffered at the hands of the noble children, only saying that she hadn't performed well.

The mother kept piling food into Laixi's bowl, as if trying to make up for all the maternal love she had missed over the past few years.

She kept muttering to herself, sometimes saying that Lacey had lost weight, sometimes saying that he had gotten darker, her eyes filled with unconcealed heartache and lingering fear.

“War...war is so dangerous,” the mother wiped her eyes. “You child, why didn’t you send a message home? Your father and I are worried sick every day, afraid... afraid…”

"Alright, alright, the child is back safe and sound, isn't he?" The father interrupted his wife, picking up his wine glass, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

“My son is a hero! A hero who fought for Letania, for His Majesty the Witch King! Come, son, have a drink with your father!”

Lacey smiled, raised her glass, and clinked it against her father's.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the conversation inevitably turned to the college.

The mother brought it up cautiously, afraid of touching on her son's painful memories.

"Well... about the academy, it's okay if you didn't get in. The music academy in our town is pretty good, and your father can give you some guidance."

Lacey thought about it and decided to stop hiding it.

He put down his chopsticks and recounted exactly what had happened at the college gate.

After hearing this, the father slammed his fist on the table and cursed, "You sons of bitches! Just because you have a few stinking coins, you dare to bully us commoners! My son has such a great talent, are they blind?!"

Lacey felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this.

He never expected his usually gentle and refined father to get so angry over this.

His mother held his hand and gently comforted him, "It's alright, it's all over now."

"So what if he can't get into that academy? My son is a war hero now, a million times better than those rich kids hiding in the city! Mom is so proud of you!"

Lacey smiled and nodded in agreement.

In the days that followed, you took off your blood-stained military uniform and put on comfortable civilian clothes.

Your father hung that war medal in the most prominent place in the living room, wiping it several times a day. Whenever neighbors or relatives visited, your father would straighten his back, point to the medal, and passionately recount how his son had bravely fought the enemy on the battlefield.

Your fame spread throughout the neighborhood. When you walk down the street, people point and whisper about you, casting admiring glances. Young women, in particular, blush and secretly observe you.

At your father's suggestion, you picked up music again, and he gave you the best violin in the house.

But, perhaps due to the influence of war, the tunes you played were no longer the spirited melodies of your youth, but rather filled with desolation and sorrow.

The father sighed, "My son, the war changed you."

The peaceful days didn't last long. After a while, the gossip on the streets increased. People no longer just talked about daily necessities and neighborhood gossip, but began to whisper about politics.

In September of that year, a sudden and unexpected event occurred.

Dissatisfied with the Witch King's tyranny, and with the support of the Electors, the Aries Liselotte Ivignad and the Black Sheep Helemat Hildergard led a combined force from several regions to suddenly appear near the capital, Trilintelmere, engaging in fierce battle with the surrounding armies and the Witch King's followers.

[The "September Uprising" broke out!]

The rebels initially advanced rapidly, but the glow of Originium Arts once again shone from the tower of Triinttelme, inflicting heavy losses on them.

Just as the uprising was pushed to the brink of collapse, the Black and White Twins decided to take a desperate gamble.

They led an elite force infiltrated the capital and headed straight for the Witch King's tower.

After breaking through the twenty-two magical defenses set up by the Witch King, the twins ascended the Witch King's tower to confront him directly.

The duel within the tower went largely unseen, but the final outcome is known to all—at the break of dawn, the Originium Arts radiance atop the tower finally faded, and the Lich King of Letania perished.

After defeating the Witch King, the Twins were unanimously elected by the Electors to become the Twin Queens.