With each term lasting only two months, Stanford’s quarter system was something Bella found very challenging to adapt to. Many subjects she had just started getting a grasp on when suddenly it was time for finals! The tight schedule and heavy workload were a lot to handle, but her high charisma helped her gradually make headway in several clubs.
Fencing, for instance, was a sport that most students typically didn’t have access to. They might play baseball or football in their free time, but who practiced fencing? For example, Bella’s roommate, Heather, who had once come to watch her compete, could handle a chainsaw like a pro, but fencing? She had never even heard of it. According to Heather, such a thin metal stick was far less practical than a chainsaw, had limited killing power, and had too many rules—completely impractical.
Bella couldn’t quite understand how the swordsmanship she inherited from pirates had now been transformed into a symbol of elegance. However, she could grasp the parallel to ancient sayings: the stronger someone was in combat, the more they were seen as “virtuous and noble.”
Fencing was like equestrianism. Calling it a noble sport might be an exaggeration, but many people still tried to associate it with elegance. Many wealthy Stanford graduates sponsored the fencing club just to add a cultured label to their image.
They had money! The fencing club was well-funded!
After the competition, the organizers loudly announced a party.
Not attending parties here would be too unconventional. Even Barbara Morse, who had been defeated and was quite frustrated, couldn’t refuse the invitation to the party.
The organizers rented a villa for the evening party.
December in San Francisco was already quite chilly, but the party atmosphere was very lively. No one would come to the party wrapped in a winter coat. Bella changed out of her fencing gear and wore a white knit sweater and a floral skirt with flip-flops.
Casually playing a game of snooker, she then sat at the bar watching people fool around. Occasionally, someone would come over to chat with her.
Bella was selective, engaging in conversation with those she found interesting and ignoring the rest.
She felt she was gradually becoming more like Victoria Hand, entirely pragmatic in her social interactions. But she had no choice—befriending the right people could save her a lot of time. She didn’t want to waste too much energy on socializing, nor did she want to get into politics. She just wanted to mingle in a relatively high-class circle and be done with it.
“Your swordsmanship is excellent. Have you been practicing since you were a child?” Barbara Morse, wearing a tank top and long pants, asked curiously, sitting next to her.
Should she say it was inherited from her ancestors through spiritual transmission? No one would believe that. Bella nodded.
“Yes, I’ve been practicing since I was a child, for many years.”
They chatted over drinks. The 21-year-old drinking age restriction was practically a joke. In the US, people who strictly adhered to that law were as rare as pandas. As long as you weren’t caught, it didn’t matter.
“Your parents are both police officers? That’s really cool. My parents are both military. Our family has been in the military for four generations, but I’m the only woman,” Barbara said, venting her frustration.
Her family background was similar to Bella’s. Charlie and Samantha had also served in the military before becoming police officers.
Barbara’s family had been in the military for four generations, giving them some common ground. In a way, they were like ‘military households.’
However, in societal terms, this class wasn’t highly valued in the US.
Sociological studies often claimed that 80% of people were middle class, but in Silicon Valley, they had their own definition. They believed only IT elites, professors, and doctors were truly middle class and the pillars of society. Police officers and soldiers didn’t measure up.
They didn’t say it outright, but both understood the implication: discrimination! Discrimination was everywhere in this country!
Because discrimination was so rampant, it was often on people’s lips.
Barbara kept talking to Bella, blocking those who wanted to hit on her. Bella had a similar idea, and they chatted intermittently.
Stanford parties were relatively orderly. By 10 PM, Bella stood up to leave.
Back at the dorm, she changed into casual clothes and rinsed her mouth repeatedly to ensure there was no smell of alcohol. She then grabbed her bag and headed to the library.
Showing the librarian a borrowing slip signed by a professor, she watched as they confirmed it and called two strong men to fetch a large, thick old book from the library’s vault.
The book was so large that it resembled the pirate code from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” It was almost as big as a door. Two people needed to carry it and transport it on a cart.
One of Stanford Library’s treasured ancient books is the Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible.
Printed in 1454 by Johannes Gutenberg using movable type, this Latin Bible had 1282 pages. Due to the parchment technology at the time, the entire book was extraordinarily thick—heavy enough to kill someone if dropped.
Only 180 copies were printed, and fewer than 50 survive today. Such a valuable ancient book couldn’t be borrowed even with a professor’s signature; it had to stay in the library. Bella could only read it there.
Though it was 10 PM, the library was still brightly lit, with many students studying inside.
The book Bella was reading was large and ancient, and combined with her striking appearance, she caught the eye of passing students. But no one thought it odd. Freedom thrived here—study whatever you want.
Bella planned to use the holiday to study the knowledge in this book, solidify her foundation, and develop new psychic abilities.
Her Latin was still at a beginner’s level, making reading the Gutenberg Bible challenging, and requiring much more time and effort.
When she encountered difficulties, she would email the Winchester brothers for help. While the church was the best source for biblical knowledge, she, being a heretic, didn’t fit in there. The next best option was seeking advice from demon hunters.
Demon hunters often knew ‘how’ but not ‘why’ regarding exorcism, relying on crude methods like drawing pentagrams, salting, and then charging in. While rough, some of their techniques were worth learning.
Without worrying about social issues or GPA, Bella immersed herself in various studies, even declining Natasha’s invitations to go shopping. She planned to stay in the library until Christmas!
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