Kempfer Royal Academy had become synonymous with "chaos."

Ever since news spread that the ill-reputed Golden Sorceress and Black Reaper would perform at the school festival,

Kempfer had boiled over like a pot of fragrant stew, its excitement thick in the air.

The festival, Kempfer’s grand annual event, had already painted the campus in vibrant colors.

Senior students ran small stalls, selling all sorts of odd trinkets.

A stall owner called out to a passing guy.

"Hey! Don’t look away! Yeah, you—"

"Me?"

The guy turned, bewildered.

"Shh…"

The stall owner flashed a mysterious grin, waving him closer. Hesitantly, the guy leaned in.

"What?"

"Shh! Keep it down! Young man, your bones are so extraordinarily formed for your age! You’ll surely become Reno Continent’s next Battle God!"

"Modestly speaking…"

"Pity, such pity…"

"Pity what?"

"You lack a trace of spiritual energy. Without it, your cultivation will be trapped at Peak Dou King, unable to advance further."

The stall owner shook his head regretfully. The guy panicked—how could a future Battle God stall at Peak Dou King?!

"Brother, is there any miraculous solution?"

The stall owner’s eyes gleamed as he stared meaningfully at him.

"Only one way."

Hearing his cultivation could be saved, the guy gripped the stall owner’s hand fervently.

"What is it?! Tell me now! Money’s no issue—I’ll pay anything for that spiritual energy!"

"Ahem," the stall owner smoothly pulled his hand free, wiping it discreetly on his clothes.

"This solution? Swallow this peerless divine pill!"

He mysteriously pulled a greenish bun from his crumpled uniform.

"Bro, what’s this?"

The guy frowned in confusion.

"Hmph… You wouldn’t understand. This rare pill comes from the distant eastern continent. You’ve heard the legend of the Iceflower Evil God Dragon taking human form, right?"

"Yeah! Yeah! Could it be…"

"Exactly! The Iceflower Evil God Dragon gained demi-god strength by eating this bun, repelling the Demon Kind army."

"This… this powerful?! How much for it, bro?! I’ll take it!"

"Final price! Three thousand gold coins!"

"No problem! I’ll swipe my crystal card right now! Oh, bro!"

"What? This pill’s a once-in-a-lifetime treasure—I’ll sell it to someone else!"

"No, no! I just… what’s this divine pill called?"

The stall owner smiled enigmatically. The guy was utterly awestruck.

"Wasabi bun…"

"Thanks, bro! I’ll never forget that name!"

"Take care, little brother!"

"Goodbye, bro! I’ll remember your life-saving kindness forever!"

After the teary-eyed guy left, the stall owner chuckled, pulling another bun from behind him and tucking it into his uniform, waiting for his next mark.

He quickly spotted another guy.

"Hey! Little brother! Don’t look away! You! Come here—"

"Piss off! I’m busy—gotta catch the show!"

The stall owner’s face flushed crimson with humiliation. Snapping out of it, he realized the entire campus was streaming toward the lecture hall.

"Why’s everyone heading there? Wait… oh no!"

He smacked his forehead, hastily packing his stall while shouting,

"Hey, up front! Save me a spot! I’ll pay! Three hundred gold coins! No—three thousand!"

"…"

Kempfer Royal Academy had two major departments: Battle Qi and Magic.

Inside the Battle Qi lecture hall, thousands of seats were packed tight, aisles crammed with standing students.

Why? Was something huge happening?

If you wondered that, keep it locked inside.

Bottle it up till you burst—don’t say a word, or you’d face

—a death far worse than suffocation.

Thousands sat perfectly silent. Even those standing made no sound.

Not even the dean got this kind of respect.

Then, a front-row student sneezed accidentally.

Instantly, countless hands charged with Battle Qi hurled him out of the hall—he vanished like a shooting star.

A standing student calmly took the tragic guy’s seat. Others shuffled forward in orderly silence.

The hall fell solemn. Suddenly—

without warning—

all lights dimmed.

No one doubted that

—even a single hair

dropping to the floor—

would be crystal clear.

Two crystal spotlights hit the stage sides.

Left side: a graceful golden-haired loli stepped out slowly.

Her long golden hair, meticulously combed, flowed to her ankles. A red bow rested at its tip, as if ready to flutter away. Her porcelain doll face was flawless; sapphire eyes, half-hidden by long lashes, still shone with deep brilliance.

Right side: a呆萌 black-haired loli emerged simultaneously.

Her silky black hair fell neatly to her shoulders, bangs trimmed straight and slanted right. A blue bow playfully clung to her hair’s end, seeming about to dance. Her large black eyes glowed softly, lashes fluttering—enough to make anyone fall instantly… (Let me skip ten thousand words here!)

The audience erupted.

"Golden Sorceress! Golden Sorceress! I love you!"

"Black Reaper! Black Reaper! Please notice me!"

As the two girls reached center stage, the roaring crowd fell silent in perfect sync.

Thousands of eyes held nothing else.

Even a Battle God would have to step aside.

"Alpha, ready?"

The golden-haired loli gently reached out…

"After the performance… can I see Master?"

The black-haired loli hugged herself, teary-eyed.

"Yes! Absolutely! Trust me, Alpha! Because…" She withdrew her hand, mirroring the pose. "Our hearts beat the same!"

"Alice姐姐!"

For the first time in ages, Alpha smiled, taking Alice’s hand. Alice felt her eyes grow slightly moist.

After a pause, Alice beamed—a breathtaking smile.

"Then let’s begin, little sister Alpha…"

"Mm…" Alpha nodded obediently.

Facing the audience and the blue sky, the two lolis gripped crystal microphones under thousands of fiery gazes.

"Song title: [After School, You’re Not Here]. Dedicated to the one absent…"

Alice’s soft voice floated as elegant music began…

The two lolis locked eyes, opening their cherry lips. Heavenly voices echoed:

After school, I turn—your shadow’s gone.

Moonlight’s hazy glow feels drenched in rain.

Logic’s lost; is it love’s hormone?

Rain falls on noisy streets.

[This much is enough, right?]

My heart, your story.

Beyond the small window, clear skies remain.

Youth’s temperature gap—I want to fix it for you now.

Under the yellowed crystal lamp,

[Even a forced smile is okay.]

Your heart, I know.

Knowing your heart—maybe that’s my gift.

Because (because) I want to understand (you’re one of a kind).

If it’s a problem tomorrow can solve, why not now?

I want to unravel your mystery,

chase that enigmatic shadow (same as today).

You’re my fantasy, deeply addicting me.

Swollen curiosity—worthless, yet

bound by this reason alone.

My heart, my story.

[Do you know?]

School’s out, I turn—still, your shadow’s gone.

The music stopped. The audience remained lost in the heavenly melody.

Alice prepared to bow—but…

"Master! Where are you?!"

Alpha suddenly cried out, tears spilling uncontrollably.

Alone, she began singing again:

Bone-chilling cold—frozen stiff.

Relentless reality pours, no escape.

Beyond tears, can I see light?

Even if I can’t fly like a bird,

even if rainbows vanish from the sky,

I can feel it—I can believe:

Beyond tears, light shines.

"Master!!!"

…

In southern Reno Continent stood a beautiful city—

Sicily City.

Its fame came from endless seaside views.

Now, before Sicily City’s shore, elegant houses lined the coast.

Their prices were astronomical—even surpassing the Imperial Capital’s.

All belonged to the Campbell Family.

Inside one exquisite house lay a simple white bed.

A silver-haired youth slept peacefully.

The room was sparse—only essentials, no frills.

Closer inspection revealed emerald light flickering across his body, breathing-like.

Suddenly, the emerald glow flared, flooding the room in jade light.

Next second, it contracted sharply into his body.

The silver-haired youth’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He slowly opened his eyes…

A sliver of silver light, streaked with emerald green, shot from his pupils.

"Where… is this?"