“If that’s the case, do I need to head out next?” My words dropped into the tea like a pebble breaking a still pond.

After talking with Flansheed, I’d sketched the Academy’s outline in my head, like a map inked at dusk. It sounded good. But the mission mattered more, like a north star pulling the needle.

“Yes, Divine Envoy,” Flansheed said, his smile warm as morning sun through gauze. “I hope you’ll learn more there and fulfill the deity’s request soon.”

“I’ve got one more question.” A prickle rose first, like heat behind paper walls. “You said it’s mostly royals, nobles, and prodigies. So why not send your own children? You said I could enter without an invitation.” The black tea tasted rich, like red leaves after rain… except—

The air grew scorching and awkward, like noon over dry stones.

Flansheed’s smile twitched, a mask cracking like frost. Then he sighed with a bitter curve. “Because of… myself. In the last hundred years, no children. A hundred years ago, I chased ideals and never married. Thinking back feels like autumn wind across stubble—regretful.”

Huh. The tea suddenly stank, like wilted petals in warm water. I coughed, then steadied my face like a fan hiding a blush. He did say he could’ve married before… so what exactly broke? Don’t laugh. If he gets mad and cuts me down, I’ll be chopped bamboo. He’s a king; I should give him face like shade under a great tree. And this is guesswork. If he really… then I’m even more dead.

“Anyway, that’s that.” His tone settled like dust. “Divine Envoy, you only need to arrive before Heavenly Melody Academy starts. You can head to Starfate City early and get used to the streets; the dorms open ahead of time.”

Comfort curls around this palace like a warm quilt. Eat without worry, dress without worry—who’d go suffer there? What a pain.

“Of course I’ll go!” I forced a bright laugh like bells in wind. “I want to finish the deity’s task soon. I still want to return to my old time, hahaha…”

[Good. I thought you’d forgotten, brat.] The voice scraped the air like a jade ring on glass.

As if I could forget. ‘We agreed, right? Once I finish the mission, if I find a girl I like, I get to bring her back to my world with me!’

[Mn-mn. (Perfunctory.)] The reply drifted like a lazy cloud.

“Ah, I’m kind of excited,” I murmured, heartbeat like a sparrow. “The future… Academy life.”

Truth is, Yanfengle is only fourteen, a blade just starting to glint, right in the sweet spot for chuunibyou.

…

Time sped like a river in thaw. The day for Heavenly Melody Academy’s admissions drew near, banners rippling like cranes in wind. Beyond the ten pre-accepted invitations, they’d recruit twenty more prodigies of any race.

Those with invitations and those aiming for the exam ran around like ants before rain. Even after you got in, the entrance exam mattered more, like the keel of the ship. With high scores, your first year would fly—clothes handed to you, rice steaming on the table, resources pouring in like spring water. With low scores, you might only get a three-day trial, a paper lantern in the rain. Those invited nobles wouldn’t swallow life as beggars; their pride is a blade in a velvet sheath.

However, Qingsheng Tangxue noticed none of it, like a cat napping through thunder. Aunt Yuqiu hadn’t told her at all. On the day before enrollment, poor Shengsheng was still working for the old aunt, apron fluttering like a small sail. Not until she clocked out that afternoon did Aunt Yuqiu finally spill it.

“Why are you telling me something this important now?!” My voice leapt like sparks.

“Because I didn’t think it was that important, ehehe~” Her grin tilted like a crescent moon.

“How is it not important? If I fail the entrance exam, going there is just suffering!” Frustration surged first, hot as steam under a lid.

“What, does little Xuexue think she can’t pass?” Aunt Yuqiu’s eyes twinkled like foxfire.

“I…” I could pass, sure as tide meets shore. But the whole thing felt annoying, like grit in a shoe.

“In that case, why not work a few more days at the shop?” Her voice turned honey-thick, like syrup in a warm jar. “One day’s wage here beats an average adventurer’s whole week. Right, Xuexue dear?”

Heh heh heh—her hidden glee hummed like a kettle. ‘You little brat, always snarking at me. If you fail the exam, you’ll crawl back here and be a maid for survival, won’t you? Hee-hee~’

“Makes sense…” My brain wobbled like jelly. She sounded so reasonable; even if I’d known earlier, what could I change anyway?

“See? How could I ever trick you, Xuexue dear?” Aunt Yuqiu glanced at the clock, eyes flicking like swallows. ‘Let her off an hour early. Not much loss. Better shoo her before she sniffs anything.’

And just like that, Shengsheng got coaxed out the door like a leaf on a breeze.

On the way home, unease pricked first, like a thorn under silk. “Something feels off… but where?” I pressed my temples like smoothing wrinkled paper. “Ugh, whatever. Prep for Heavenly Melody Academy tomorrow. I still have to face Xuewei.”

“Phew. Home at last.” The words fell like slippers to a mat. This place sits close to Jiumi and to the Heavenly Melody Academy Aunt Yuqiu mentioned, a prime apartment downtown like a jewel set in stone. Aunt Yuqiu just let me live here for free…

Warmth filled my chest like soup on a cold night. There are good people across the continent, like lanterns along a road.

Bath first. Who knows if the Academy will even let me soak like this later?

The flat only has a small bathroom with a tub, a little cove of steam and tile. It’s still cozy, like a nest of clouds. It’s no grand bathhouse; I can’t switch to mermaid form and swim, only lie back and blow bubbles… Thinking that makes me feel low-tier, like a fish in a bowl. Maybe the Academy has a big bath?

At the Academy, I probably can’t shift forms freely, like a bird keeping its wings folded. After settling things with Xuewei, I need to say goodbye to my old adventuring team. One’s up on some mountain, lost in mist. Two are over in the Elven Dominion, under green canopies. Another’s in the Beastkin nation, where drums beat like hearts. That’s a lot of stops. But it shouldn’t be too hard if I ask our old captain. Sister Yunxiao lives on Yunfeng Mountain, right? I’ll find a chance to visit, like bringing tea to an old friend.

“Ahh, water feels so good~” I slid in with a sigh like snow melting. “I’m… completely melted… mm~”

Glug, glug, glug. I sank into the tub, limbs loose as seaweed. My ice-blue hair fanned across the surface like frost on a lake, modesty veiled by the floating silk. My pale toes stirred the water, little fish flicks under light. In the lamplight, my soft thighs looked a touch plush, like fresh mochi. Right now, I was a moving watercolor, edges glowing.

A daily soak is necessary; without it, my skin and soul itch like sand under scales. But on the continent, better not use my mermaid form. If someone noticed, trouble would ripple out like rings in a pond.