When Illusionary Feather emerged from the Subterranean Lab, his once-pristine clothes were coated in dust. Fine grime streaked his fair, handsome face—he looked like a kitten who’d rolled on the ground and hadn’t yet groomed itself.
He’d lost track of time underground. Was it morning or evening? He only recalled it shouldn’t have been *too* long.
To avoid Blazing Heart noticing, he’d cleverly chosen the passage leading to the living room.
As he opened the door, his eyes—long adjusted to darkness—squinted slightly against the light. When he blinked them open, two girls sat nearby, seemingly mid-meal. Which meal, he couldn’t tell.
"Master~" Blazing Heart called out flatly, as usual.
Huanyu froze. If it were just her, a few sweet words would’ve smoothed things over. But beside her sat a more mature girl.
"Little Brother Yu," Belka greeted with a gentle smile, her voice warm and clear. "Where’ve you been playing these past two days?"
*—I’m doomed. Should I run first, or…?*
Before Huanyu could decide, Belka left her seat. A blur of afterimages streaked from her chair straight to him.
*—So fast.*
Next, an arm locked around his neck in a headlock. His left cheek pressed against something soft.
*—Bliss.*
Belka tightened her grip. *Crack—ah!*
She’d controlled her strength this time. Enough to punish, but not enough to break him after he stopped struggling. Had she misjudged, his head might’ve rolled on the floor.
Huanyu plummeted from heaven to hell. "Sis, please let go! I can’t breathe!" he wheezed.
"Then explain what you’ve been doing in the Subterranean Lab for two days," Belka demanded, not releasing him.
"If I hadn’t dropped by two days ago to scrounge food—and heard from a near-fainting Chi Xin that you’d gone down but never come up—I’d have dragged you out myself. She stopped me." Belka’s tone turned stern.
"*Two days?*" Huanyu could barely process it.
*—Two days… If Belka hadn’t come, would Chi Xin have starved?*
*—What a scumbag I am. Chasing fame while forgetting to cook for her.*
*—Never again. I’ll remember to feed her.*
"You think I’d lie? Today’s the Academy Festival kickoff ceremony." Belka’s words snapped him back.
"*Ah!* Go wash up and eat!" She released him abruptly. "*Ugh.* Almost forgot such an important day after mentioning the ceremony," she muttered under her breath.
"Since you got my clothes dirty while ‘disciplining’ me, Sis…" Huanyu grinned mischievously. "Why not shower together? Today’s special—we should both be spotless."
*—Now that I’m safe, I’ll act normal. No need to worry them.*
*Snap!* Belka’s fist smacked her palm. "Hmm, good idea—" Her voice trailed off. She snapped back to attention. "Did you just ask to shower *with me*?"
Huanyu was already gone.
Belka scanned the empty living room. *—Tricked again. How rare.*
Breakfast came first. She returned to her seat. Chi Xin hadn’t touched her food during their talk, her plate full, eyes distant.
Three minutes later, Huanyu reappeared—immaculate in Yayang Academy’s white-and-black uniform. His handsome face was a stark contrast to his earlier grime.
"Back so soon?" Belka teased.
"The ceremony starts in an hour. Can’t be late." While showering, he’d skimmed Leilo’s *Beginner’s Handbook*—a crash course on academy life.
"Plenty of time," Belka said confidently.
"I still need to feed Chi Xin. That’ll take a while." Chi Xin’s wide eyes beamed "*Master feeds me~ Master feeds me~*" at him. He sighed. "Alright."
One minute later:
"Chi Xin, open up. *Ah~*"
"*Ah~~*"
"You two, enough!" Belka cut in after a full minute of this. "I’ll feed her. You eat."
"Then feed *me*, Sis."
"...This..."
"Little Brother Yu, come here—"
Half an hour passed before breakfast ended.
Belka regretted it. *Three slices of bread, three eggs, three glasses of milk… and it took thirty minutes?*
She herded Huanyu and Chi Xin onto Swift’s back. Twenty minutes remained—plenty of time. At Swift’s speed, the Integrated Tower plaza was ten minutes away. Non-students and staff gathered there; other students watched via crystal-ball-projected 3D images on the school plaza.
Huanyu sat upright on Swift. Since Chi Xin arrived, he’d stopped lounging lazily or rolling like a rolling pin. Now, she sat beside him in a black dress, radiating quiet mystery.
They landed at the Integrated Tower plaza ten minutes later.
A sea of people filled the square. The Academy Festival was one of Dragon Tamer Academy’s grandest events, rivaled only by June’s Knight Festival.
In a quieter spot, Belka guided them to the StudentCouncil’s reserved area. The festival was entirely student-run; even the Academy Head treated it as a holiday.
Two familiar figures approached.
"Lily! Kerdling! You’re here already?" Belka greeted.
"Just arrived," Lily said. "But Kerdling’s been here ages."
"It’s my first time… I didn’t want to be late," Kerdling murmured, turning away shyly.
"President, who’s—?" Kerdling turned and spotted Huanyu behind Belka. She swiveled back. "Do you know him?"
"Don’t you recognize him?" Belka smirked.
Kerdling hesitated, glancing at Huanyu. He just smiled back.
*—Blue hair, violet eyes… Only one person fits that.*
*—But he doesn’t look like… Huanyu? Last time he was weird, but not this… handsome.*
"Yo, long time no see, Kerdling," Huanyu cut in.
"You know my name?" She blinked.
"I’m Huanyu." He revealed it himself.
"Save it for later—the kickoff’s starting," Lily interrupted.
"Tsk, tsk. Little Lily’s always so impatient. I wanted to see Kerdling’s face," Belka teased.
"Talk later," Huanyu told Kerdling.
"Okay."
The five moved to the StudentCouncil area. The ceremony began with dull speeches. Huanyu slipped away unnoticed, Chi Xin clinging to him.
They reached the Academy Head’s office unseen.
Maria Bella—younger-looking than her true age—glanced up. "The kickoff’s started. As a new StudentCouncil member, you’re due to speak soon."
"I finished the vehicle. And a small gadget. Reporting in." Huanyu beamed.
"Leave them here. New members are speaking now." She nodded toward the window.
"Right." Huanyu set down a vehicle and a small device with instructions, then fled with Chi Xin toward the plaza.
"Where’s Huanyu? He was just here!" Lily fretted as Kerdling’s speech ended.
"Worried about Little Brother Yu, Lily?" Belka grinned devilishly.
"I’m worried he’ll ruin the ceremony!" Lily shot back.
"I *hate* causing trouble." Huanyu materialized beside them.
"Where were you?"
"Are you worried about me?"
"*Hmph!* As if!"
"My speech is over. Thank you."
*Applause erupted.*
Kerdling returned, smiling at Huanyu. He tried handing Chi Xin to Belka, but she refused to let go. His turn to speak loomed.
"Be good, Chi Xin. I’ll be right back."
"... ..."
"Stay with Sis. Master will buy treats after."
"... ..."
"*Sigh.* Fine." Huanyu surrendered, dragging Chi Xin onstage.
The crowd fell silent. A striking boy stood beside a girl—not yet beautiful, but undeniably a future beauty.
"Wasn’t there only one new member?"
"Dunno…"
"Let’s watch."
Murmurs rippled through the plaza.
"*Ahem.*" Huanyu cleared his throat. Silence fell.
Meanwhile, at Yayang Academy, chaos erupted.
"Isn’t that Huanyu?!"
"It's Illusionary Feather."
"I never expected him to be the mysterious second new member."
"What's going on? I remember Illusionary Feather was ranked dead last in our school."
"How did he even become a StudentCouncil member?"
"Unbelievable."
"......"
"What a troublesome student. Good thing he's been skipping class lately." (- - Is this really something a teacher should say?)
In the square before the Integrated Tower,
"Perhaps you're all unfamiliar with me as the new StudentCouncil member," Illusionary Feather began.
"Kerdling was confirmed on the day of the StudentCouncil exam. But I appeared unexpectedly—you must wonder how."
"Let me explain: both the Academy Head and the StudentCouncil President recommended me separately, without consulting each other. The Academy Board then approved my appointment."
His words sparked memories. Everyone recalled that each year, the StudentCouncil selected two new members: one through exams, the other via separate nominations from the Academy Head and President, finalized by the Board.
Usually, disagreements left only one member chosen. This year was an exception.
A wave of realization washed over the crowd.
"That concludes my speech. Thank you." Illusionary Feather turned and walked away.
Belka stood up just then. As Illusionary Feather returned to his seat, she approached the magic microphone.
The moment the president stepped up, chatter about the mysterious newcomer ceased. All eyes fixed on her warm, comforting smile.
"Now, for the final step of the Academy Festival launch," she announced. The entire square held its breath.
"I declare: the 501st Academy Festival officially begins!"
"Roar~!" The whole Dragon Tamer Academy erupted in excitement.
Yet, in this joyful moment, unknown figures slipped silently into the campus.
