After the war concluded here, the battlefield settled into an eerie calm. The lingering effects of the dragon’s aura had forced the girls to make emergency landings mid-air when their beloved dragons descended. Only their formidable strength spared them from injury, leaving them merely disheveled.

The scenes of Illusionary Feather’s arrival still replayed vividly in their minds.

As the airship touched down safely, Misha was the first to snap out of her daze moments after it fully stabilized. She rushed from the ship toward Illusionary Feather and Belka. The other girls followed suit, their dragons retreating into their Contract Seals.

Instinctively, they all ran toward Illusionary Feather and Belka. Only then did Illusionary Feather release Belka’s lips—a silvery thread still connecting them.

Silence blanketed the scene. Everyone stood frozen, encircling the pair.

Illusionary Feather alone remained clear-headed. His gaze softened as he looked at Belka in his arms. He lifted her bridal-style and finally spoke, "Why are you all crowding us? Get back to the ship. Shower, change clothes. We’ll talk later."

The girls remained stunned until Illusionary Feather stepped out of their circle, carrying Belka toward the airship.

A cold gust swept through. The girls simultaneously gasped, breaking the tension. The atmosphere finally buzzed with life again.

Illusionary Feather stepped onto the airship’s deck. Belka’s peaceful sleeping face lay exposed before him, her bright violet eyes now shimmering even more vividly. Though she occasionally slept in his room, he’d always been too busy preparing to flee to truly admire such beauty. Gazing at her now, a faint smile softened his usually stern features.

He carried her straight to her cabin. The corridors were empty—most girls were still outside, while Koya and Blazing Heart were occupied elsewhere.

Not long ago, Blazing Heart and her dark counterpart had merged within the dragon egg. When she reappeared before Illusionary Feather, an unexpected wave of dragon’s aura crashed down, flattening the already grounded dragons even further. Thankfully, no lives were lost.

But that aura had sparked a deep sense of crisis in Illusionary Feather—not for himself, but for someone precious. Recalling Belka’s earlier battle, he’d pinpointed the threat. He’d ordered Blazing Heart back to the ship alone, intending to handle it himself.

For the first time, Blazing Heart obeyed without hesitation before vanishing into the void.

The moment she disappeared, Illusionary Feather used Spatial Teleportation to reach Belka’s battlefield. His first sight: a weakened Belka, blood splattering behind her. As she collapsed softly into his arms, his mind went blank.

Acting on instinct, he pressed his lips to hers, channeling his potent magic and vitality to heal her wounds. His free hand seized the one who’d attacked her. Consumed by rage, he ended the assailant’s life without hesitation.

When he moved to eliminate the accomplices, others attempted to teleport them away. Illusionary Feather couldn’t allow such threats to escape. He struck down seven or eight of them. The few who survived? He’d deliberately spared them—corpses wouldn’t answer his questions.

Belka’s wounds had fully healed; her unconsciousness was mere exhaustion. Sleep would restore her. His fury had cooled, replaced by curiosity. Such insignificant pests could wait.

The girls had since returned to their cabins, chatting and washing away the grime of battle.

Illusionary Feather carried Belka to her room. Using magic, he bathed her, changed her into pajamas, and gently laid her on the bed. Only then did he leave for the ship’s kitchen.

Two little girls sat at the kitchen table, ignoring each other. Koya calmly turned the pages of a heavy, ancient tome. Blazing Heart stared, bored, at a twisting space before her. It began colorless, then a speck of black formed at its center. Cracks spiderwebbed outward, deepening in hue until a pitch-black sphere hovered before her, devouring everything nearby.

Yet Koya’s book remained utterly still as she slowly turned its pages.

Illusionary Feather arrived just as the black sphere dissolved back into transparency. Seeing him, Blazing Heart leapt from her chair and扑 into his arms.

He caught her, ruffling her hair. "Sit tight. Master’s cooking dinner. We’ll have much to discuss later."

Blazing Heart’s eyes crinkled with pleasure under his touch. She returned to her seat, no longer bored. Instead, she watched Illusionary Feather flit between the kitchen and doorway, her gaze tender.

By the time dinner was ready, the girls had gathered in the dining room—just a door away from the kitchen. Cleansed and refreshed, their exhaustion had lifted. Their chatter now centered on Illusionary Feather and Belka.

"Avira," someone asked, "do you think Belka and our junior have always loved each other? Just hiding it?"

"With Belka’s personality? Could she even pretend like that?"

"Haha, just teasing! But they *are* incredibly close. I’m almost jealous."

"How did Illusionary Feather pull that off? Is he one of those rare Spatial Mages among millions of Sorcerers?" Kerdelin wondered aloud.

"I think so," Sophia murmured. "He seems gentle normally, but when angered… it’s terrifying."

"Remember how my fireballs always left him battered? Yet he’d bounce back like nothing happened the next day. His vitality’s unreal."

"True," Misha added. "He annoys me, but there’s something… unfathomable about him."

Lily and Misha, sharing similar tempers and biases against Illusionary Feather, had quickly become friends after teaming up. Now, all conversation orbited him.

Illusionary Feather, apron-clad, shuttled dishes from kitchen to dining room. A feast soon covered the table. When he brought out the rice, the girls’ stomachs growled. Their chatter died as they stared, ravenous, at the food.

He served each girl a bowl. Starving after the battle, they abandoned all pretense of ladylike manners. With only each other—and Illusionary Feather, who barely counted—they devoured the meal like refugees sweeping through a banquet.

By the time every plate was scraped clean, Illusionary Feather had barely finished half his bowl.

He set his chopsticks down, surveying the wreckage. Without a word, he began clearing the table.

The girls suddenly snapped to attention. Several flushed with embarrassment—eating like that in front of a boy! Even Avira’s cheeks held a faint pink tinge.

To mask their shame, some helped tidy up.

Once done, they silently returned to their seats.

Now for the real talk.

"I know you’re all wondering," Illusionary Feather broke the quiet, "why I appeared suddenly, used Spatial Magic, and where I’d been." He paused. "Some of your doubts about me run deeper, don’t they?"

Murmurs rippled through the group. Some nodded.

But Illusionary Feather wasn’t foolish enough to reveal everything. Not out of distrust—just because truth could endanger them.

He spun a tale woven with nine parts lies, half a part truth, and half a part ambiguity. His grandfather—his master—had demanded humility. Drawing attention invited trouble. He’d come to the Academy merely to play, not chase glory. He asked them to forget what they’d seen.

They struggled to accept it. Lily pressed first: "Then where were you and Blazing Heart before the battle? Just… sightseeing?"

"Wandering around," he mumbled evasively.

Every girl except Koya and Blazing Heart seethed. They mentally pummeled him into a pulp before storming off to their rooms, their anger spent.

Illusionary Feather realized they wouldn’t pursue it further. He almost thanked Lily. After they left, he carried Blazing Heart to Belka’s room. Koya briefly returned to the cockpit to set the ship on its homeward course before joining them.

Blazing Heart sneaked under Belka’s covers. Koya settled on the other side. Illusionary Feather simply collapsed face-down on the bed and fell asleep.

Sunlight streamed into Belka’s room the next morning. She woke to arms wrapped around her. Blinking, she saw the two youngest team members: Illusionary Feather’s adorable little sister, Blazing Heart, and Branch 19’s Disciplinary Committee member, Koya. Though puzzled by their presence, she didn’t mind waking to such sweet sleeping faces.

She sat up slowly. Her gaze landed on a profile so striking, even a girl accustomed to handsome boys couldn’t look away. It was her dear junior, Illusionary Feather.

Touching her back, she found no scars. *Just a dream*, she thought, recalling the nightmare: battling enemies, a fatal mistake, two deep slashes across her back—then her precious Feather appearing, kissing her, filling her with safety before darkness took her.

Her face flushed crimson. How could she face him? Such a shameless dream for an older sister…

Just then, Illusionary Feather stirred. His long lashes fluttered before slowly opening. He pushed himself up, propping his chin on his hands. His eyes, still dazed, fixed on the seated Belka.

In that state, his charm was lethal. Any girl seeing him would want to scoop him up, ruffle his hair, and shower him with affection.

Belka was utterly disarmed. *How can a boy be this cute?* His gaze held the innocent wonder of a newborn creature seeing the world for the first time—everything fresh, everything fascinating.

Belka simply couldn’t stand Illusionary Feather’s gaze. She reached out instinctively to stroke his head—his sky-blue hair was incredibly soft, like a cat’s fur, and felt wonderfully comfortable to touch.

“Sister Belka?” Illusionary Feather sat up, pulling his head away from her hand. Belka felt an immediate pang of loss, like a little girl whose toy had been snatched away, growing slightly sulky.

But she quickly snapped out of it, eyeing Illusionary Feather with a teasing grin. “Why’s Little Feather in Sister’s room? Planning a midnight raid last night?”

“I’d never do a midnight raid,” Illusionary Feather denied outright, adding, “I’m just glad Sister’s okay.”

“What happened?” Belka clearly hadn’t grasped the truth yet.

Illusionary Feather recounted everything from yesterday.

Belka’s expression shifted repeatedly, finally flushing bright red. She shrank under the covers, leaving only her bright eyes visible—crimson pupils brimming with shyness.

So it wasn’t a dream. Little Feather had really stolen my first kiss.

That single thought consumed Belka as she stared fixedly at Illusionary Feather.

Stare~

Illusionary Feather had no choice but to excuse himself to cook breakfast.

Later, the girls visited Belka one by one. Blazing Heart and Koya, somehow already dressed, lay together on the deck gazing at the sky.

It was November now, the temperature dropping. Yet gazing at the azure sky and breathing the crisp air, their minds drifted with endless thoughts.

Illusionary Feather stood at a distance, not knowing what those two little girls pondered, simply watching quietly.

The spaceship flew back to school in just a day and a half—probably because all missiles were fired, lightening the ship.

Upon returning, Belka and the others first reported to the Academy Head’s office. Then, school life resumed.

As December neared, the chill deepened. Since coming back, Illusionary Feather mostly holed up in his dorm, only occasionally hanging out with Leilo and others. His days were blissfully idle.

But without him noticing, trouble began creeping closer.