Day One of preparations began at dawn. Illusionary Feather set out early with Blazing Heart. Their destination: the Integrated Tower. Yesterday’s discussion had covered transportation—ultimately settled on a starship. With the mission lasting weeks, supplies stored in their Contract Seals wouldn’t suffice. Why hadn’t StudentCouncil President Belka or Disciplinary Committee Chair Avira handled this request? Simple: Team Captain Belka had declared, "Such a grueling task falls to you." Deputy Captain Avira added bluntly, "Troublesome errands are best left to subordinates." Under the girls’ inscrutable stares, Illusionary Feather swallowed his pride and accepted the first assignment.
The Magic Vehicle ride took over an hour. Staring up at the Integrated Tower’s hundred-meter facade, Illusionary Feather sighed. He adjusted his clothes and stepped inside. The first-floor service hall was nearly empty at this hour. The receptionist, boredly scanning the room, brightened at their entrance—her gaze locked onto them. Blazing Heart shrank back, pressing against Illusionary Feather’s right arm.
Under the receptionist’s blatant stare, they boarded a magitech elevator straight to Floor 52.
Once the unsettling eyes vanished, Blazing Heart shifted from leaning on his arm to clutching it tightly. They soon reached the Academy Head’s office. Illusionary Feather knocked politely, entered upon reply.
"You’re here early. Results already?" Maria Bella looked up from her book.
"The team election concluded. Today, I seek supplies. We depart in days." Illusionary Feather remained unfazed by her imposing aura.
"State your needs. If not excessively rare." Maria Bella offered no resistance.
"A small starship." He stated it casually. Starships were precious—even Dragon Tamer Academy owned merely two hundred. Most nations possessed fewer, many repurposed for civilian cargo. Yet they were poor combat vessels: slow, clumsy, fragile. Useful only for transport.
"You know their value," Maria Bella countered. "Flawed as they are, nothing replaces them. Costly. Irreplaceable."
"I expected that, *old lady*," Illusionary Feather retorted. "Just give me the tiniest model—fifteen rooms max. Seventy percent intact. I’ll handle the rest." He’d anticipated this hassle. Had Belka or Avira come themselves, they’d have received the Academy’s finest ship. Compared to Dragon Rearing Mountain’s stakes, a starship’s price was trivial. But they’d sent *him*.
*Had he known, he might have blown Floor 52 to dust.*
After securing the starship requisition card, Illusionary Feather led Blazing Heart to the rear hangar. The attendant showed them the vessel. Contrary to expectations, it was compact yet pristine—a well-maintained small craft. Keys exchanged, the attendant departed after brief instructions.
Illusionary Feather’s next task: inspect the ship’s layout, then reinforce its speed and defenses.
As he boarded, his comm device buzzed.
"...?"
He checked the ID. "Koya?"
"Mm. Yes." A soft voice answered.
"Watching the ship already?"
"Huh? How’d you know *exactly* when I’d call?" Illusionary Feather frowned. "Do you have spy eyes?"
"I wanted to see it too. May I come?" Koya Linxina ignored his question.
"Fine. How will you get here?"
"I’m outside the hangar. Come fetch me."
He cut the call. When Koya and Blazing Heart locked eyes, Illusionary Feather swore he saw sparks crackle between them.
The trio toured the ship, stripping useless components and reinforcing critical systems. They shared lunch mid-renovation. By dusk, the modifications were complete. They returned to campus dorms together.
Day One ended in exhaustion.
---
Day Two. Illusionary Feather had just finished breakfast when an uninvited guest knocked. Still wearing his apron, he opened the door.
A silver-haired, silver-eyed girl stood there—Marca Academy uniform sharp against her icy aura. Arms crossed, face unreadable.
"Chair Avira," Illusionary Feather drawled. "To what do I owe this *honor* so early?"
"You promised to craft my hidden weapons!" Her voice cut like steel.
"Eh—?" He blinked, startled.
Mistaking his pause for forgetfulness, Avira’s pressure intensified. "*Did you forget?!*"
Seeing her flare of anger, he backpedaled: "N-no! How dare I? I planned to visit today. Had to secure transport yesterday."
"Oh?" Her aura receded. "Smooth sailing?"
"Passable. I’m starving. Have you eaten? Join me?" He’d stood too long already.
Avira gave no reply—just strode inside.
After breakfast, the trio headed to Avira’s Marca dorm. En route, she replayed the meal in her mind. *A boy’s cooking… this good?* She’d eaten seconds without realizing.
They arrived at Marca’s girls’ dormitory during class change. Students gaped as the Silver Queen—Avira, one of Marca’s Three Queens—led a blue-haired boy and a dark-eyed girl to her room. Whispers ignited instantly. Women, after all, were born rumor-weavers.
Within hours, Marca buzzed: *"The Silver Queen bore a black-haired daughter with that violet-eyed beauty!"*
(That was later. Now, Illusionary Feather studied Avira’s door.)
Unlike others, it was sheathed in iron plating. Odd details caught his eye: circular holes around the handle, a slit down the center, tiny vents in shadowed corners. *Not for airflow…* A chill ran down his spine. *Needle-launcher ports?*
Avira opened the door without explanation. Beyond lay a bright foyer leading to a corridor.
*Looks cheerful. Feels like hell’s entrance.* Avira stepped inside first.
Illusionary Feather and Blazing Heart followed. His foot met hollow-sounding flooring. *Dragon Engineer territory…* His neck prickled. *Traps everywhere.*
As he bent to remove his shoes, Avira stopped him: "Straight to the Subterranean Lab. No need."
She led them through the living room. In the short path to the lab door, Illusionary Feather spotted over thirty hidden weapons. Triggered simultaneously, even Belka would struggle.
*The lab’s worse. Foyers need guests. Labs? Only trusted allies enter. This is her sanctuary.*
*Do we count as allies?*
*Hardly. We’re practically enemies.*
*Will I even make it back out?*
Damp air hit him the moment they entered the lab. Tiny magitech cannons swiveled toward him. The stairs descended like a throat—slick, reeking of mildew. *Bones down there?* His imagination conjured Lilith, hell’s mistress. *Stop it.*
Each step brought fresh dread: magitech cannons humming, spike traps underfoot, silver threads waiting to ensnare. One misstep meant death.
At the final level, his foot landed with grim finality. *Reporting for hell duty.*
"Since you’re here," Avira said abruptly, "get to work." Illusionary Feather flinched. "What exactly…?"
Before answering, Avira turned to Blazing Heart with rare warmth: "Little one, wait over there." She pointed to a dry corner with a cot. Blazing Heart glanced at Illusionary Feather, then obeyed.
"Now," Avira continued, "forge iron needles and iron pellets. Specifications are on the right. I’ll craft the base components." She moved left. Illusionary Feather faced a mountain of materials—each pile numbered over ten thousand. *She’s burying me alive.*
*But I’m under her roof. Her traps line these walls. One wrong move…* He sighed inwardly. *Better live another day.*
He worked steadily. Only a shared meal interrupted the grind. Blazing Heart napped between bites. Avira never paused.
That night, Avira escorted them to their dorm.
As Illusionary Feather turned to leave with Blazing Heart, he felt resistance. Koya hadn’t moved. He turned back. Avira held her small wrist.
"Don’t take Blazing Heart yet," Avira said politely. "Her work here isn’t finished."
"That's my problem if it's not done. What does it have to do with Blazing Heart? Besides, I finished everything you assigned," Illusionary Feather said with a hint of displeasure on his face.
"We leave the day after tomorrow. I have an idea for a hidden weapon. I need you, as an Inventor, to help me," Avira said, staring at Illusionary Feather.
"We're not close. What if you accuse me of stealing your invention?" Illusionary Feather replied, his expression calming.
"No issue. Only you can help. We'll treat it as a joint project," Avira said generously.
"But you don't have to blackmail me with my Blazing Heart," Illusionary Feather said with a wry smile.
"I feared refusal. Blazing Heart stays here tonight. Redeem her tomorrow," Avira commanded imperiously.
"Why not finish discussing today and leave?!" Illusionary Feather said, half-laughing, half-crying.
"I'm tired. I want to sleep." Her reply left him utterly deflated. Even this queen had naive moments.
"Fine. I'll stay too."
"I don't allow men in my dorm."
"Then what do you want?!"
"Blazing Heart absolutely must stay tonight."
"Why insist on her staying?"
"No reason!"
"Alright. Ask her opinion."
Surprisingly, Blazing Heart chose to stay—likely seeing her master's troubled look.
Illusionary Feather then returned alone.
This incident sparked a rumor: "The silver-haired queen and her husband argued over their daughter's stay. The daughter chose to live with the queen."
Dragging his weary body to his dorm, Illusionary Feather couldn't sleep without Blazing Heart. He headed to the large warehouse behind the Integrated Tower, readjusting the spaceship.
Soon after he left, Avira took Blazing Heart to the bathroom. Both stripped naked, soaking together in the tub.
Gazing at Blazing Heart's perfect face and smooth skin, Avira felt jealous. A grown man clinging to a little girl must harbor evil thoughts.
Just then, Blazing Heart rarely spoke up: "My master has no such thoughts."
"Can you read my mind?" Avira asked, puzzled.
"Your expression told me," Blazing Heart replied.
Avira fell silent, bathing with her. Later, she had Blazing Heart try on many outfits. The outwardly cold queen hid a girl's heart—never shown to men.
That night, sleeping while holding Blazing Heart felt deeply comforting.
Morning sunlight warmed their faces when a knock sounded at the door.
Avira and Blazing Heart dressed quickly. Opening it revealed Illusionary Feather's weary face.
Spotting Blazing Heart, he pulled her straight into his arms. Last night taught him his growing dependence; without her, he couldn't muster energy.
Avira startled but said nothing. She let him in, and they went to the Subterranean Lab to discuss her idea.
By afternoon, they built it: an ambush hidden weapon. A metal box packed with needles, hung mid-air. When triggered, needles shot全方位—making dodging near impossible. They named it "Iron Porcupine."
Preparations ended. On the third night, others gathered at the Integrated Tower for final talks. Tomorrow's departure had everyone eager.
