Repelling the Five Dragon Kings had happened two days ago.
—Beneath the twilight’s fading glow, inside the Celestial Engraved Magic Academy, a white-haired apprentice in a Grade-D magic uniform strolled lazily down the shaded campus path, hands tucked in his pockets.
Tomorrow was the weekend, yet Sharkai Bai felt no joy. He was in grave danger. After failing all his magic and spellcasting courses, Dishi had warned him: without urgent action, his abysmal credits would get him expelled.
For Sharkai Bai, studying magic was pure torture.
*(Brat, I refuse to hear that a Sharksea Clan heir got expelled from Holy Carthus! If that happens, DON’T BOTHER COMING BACK!!)*
*(Ahaha~~ Sharkai, you did help repel the Five Dragon Kings, but these rules were set by the academy’s founder. Even I can’t protect you now.)*
Those were words from two Grand Magi—one threatening, the other apologetic.
“Ugh… so annoying…”
Sharkai Bai tilted his head up, squinting at sunlight filtering through the branches. He tugged irritably at his collar. Just imagining his grandfather’s grim face upon hearing about his expulsion sent chills down his spine.
*(Whatever… I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.)*
Even if he wanted to study now, it was probably too late.
Lost in these troublesome thoughts, Sharkai Bai reached the soda vending machine outside his dorm. As he pulled out a bill—
A slender arm shot past him, snatching the bill and inserting it first.
“Hey! Even for soda, there’s such a thing as ‘first come, first served’!”
Sharkai Bai snapped around, scowling at the queue-jumping apprentice.
Before him stood a black-haired girl in an A-grade uniform. Her delicate, unadorned face was flawless from every angle.
“Listen, even pretty girls can’t cut in line! Hand over your soda pick right now!!”
At his age, Sharkai Bai should’ve felt his heart race. But expulsion worries killed any spark. He couldn’t care less about this stranger.
“So you’re Sharkai Bai—the one who defeated two of the Five Dragon Kings? Doesn’t look special at all.”
Ignoring his impatient threat, the girl pressed the orange juice button. A can clattered down.
“Whoa, whoa—I didn’t beat them! If you’re curious, the Student Council President’s way stronger!”
After the girl bent to grab her juice and settled on a nearby bench, Sharkai Bai inserted his bill again, pressing buttons for coffee and black tea.
*(Hmph. Just another bored fool drawn to gossip. No energy for small talk. Big mistake letting her distract me… Ugh! Hah—!)*
He snatched his drinks and turned toward the stairs.
*(Time for a nap.)*
Dragged out of bed at dawn by his fiancée Cecilia Xuelian for class, Sharkai Bai yawned wearily.
“Hey! Sharkai, that attitude’s terrible~!”
The short-haired girl downed her juice in one gulp and hurled the empty can at his back. It bounced off his head.
“I said… are you done messing around?!”
A vein throbbed on Sharkai Bai’s forehead. He whirled around, furious.
“I’m Xia Feina. Rank #2 in the academy.”
“Oh wow. Impressive. Can I get your autograph?”
“Right back at you, Sharkai!”
Xia Feina actually blushed, ducking her head shyly at his words.
“…”
His sarcasm mistaken for praise, the air turned awkward. Sharkai Bai had no idea what to say.
*What a total airhead.*
Amused by her dopey expression, Sharkai Bai leaned against the stair railing. He popped open his coffee can, took a sip, and asked:
“What do you want?”
“I just wanted to see who helped that old man Dishi!”
Xia Feina turned to face him.
“You’ve seen me. Bye.”
Sharkai Bai waved dismissively and climbed the stairs.
As the white-haired boy disappeared upstairs, a disheveled middle-aged man with messy hair stepped out from behind the dorm. He pushed up his round glasses and asked Xia Feina:
“Well?”
“He seems utterly ordinary. Not a trace of magic aura.”
“Then keep observing. We must accelerate the research!”
“Yes… Father.”
---
Night had fallen. Sharkai Bai, the dorm’s rightful owner, now played servant to his fiancée Cecilia Xuelian. Her orders forced him downstairs to buy black tea.
The sweltering heat and cicadas’ unceasing drone frayed his nerves.
*(This is wrong!! I own this dorm!!! Fiancée or not, this is outrageous!!)*
Grabbing an icy can of black tea, Sharkai Bai suddenly felt a surge of injustice. He slammed his fist against the wall.
“Yo~! Kicked out again, Sharkai?”
A familiar voice sounded behind him.
“…Ugh. Trouble follows me.”
He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Seriously, do you have *nothing* better to do 24/7?”
Sharkai Bai grabbed another coffee can from the vending machine and slumped onto the bench beside Xia Feina.
“Well, you’re my fan~”
Xia Feina grinned at him.
“Cough! Wha—? Since when am I your fan?!”
He nearly spat out his coffee.
“So you really like coffee?”
Xia Feina watched students pass by. Both times they’d met—day or night—he’d held coffee.
“Isn’t coffee just for staying awake? Won’t it keep you up at night?”
“I drink it to look cool. Lures curious girls, you know.”
“I see. Sharkai Bai, you *are* interesting. But honestly—who’d fall for that?”
“Tch. Aren’t you one of my catches?”
Sharkai Bai draped an arm over the bench behind her, smirking.
“Miscalculated, huh? Your flirting skills are Max-level, Sharkai.”
Xia Feina crossed her arms, looking away but eyeing him sideways.
“Says the pot to the kettle.”
To passersby, they looked like a couple flirting under the night sky. As they chatted, Sharkai Bai learned something pitiful about this girl—the academy’s #2-ranked powerhouse had zero friends.
“Dude, your EQ is *that* low?”
“And you’re qualified to talk?!”
“Well… honestly? You’re kinda pathetic.”
He wasn’t joking. He actually felt sorry for this clumsy girl.
Silence fell. Neither spoke.
*(Should I comfort her?)*
Just as Sharkai Bai opened his mouth, Xia Feina smiled softly. Night wind brushed her black hair as she whispered:
“You’re gentle, Sharkai.”
“Am… I?”
*(First time anyone’s called me that…)*
The unfamiliar praise left him bewildered.
“Well then. Goodbye, Sharkai.”
“Leaving already? Fine. Bye.”
Watching her walk away, Sharkai Bai lay back on the bench, spacing out. Only then did he notice the damp can in his hand—and remember something critical.
“No… no way… I’M DEAD MEAT…!!!”
He’d forgotten Cecilia Xuelian’s black tea.
Sharkai Bai bolted upright, sprinting upstairs. He stared at the coffee can in his hand, swallowing hard.
---
Inside a filthy, cluttered lab, machines whirred and beeped. Cockroaches and rats scuttled across the floor. Tables overflowed with unidentifiable junk and crookedly stacked equipment.
Amidst the squalor, a middle-aged man in a stained white lab coat stood at a grimy table, eyes blazing with unrestrained excitement.
“I’m back.”
Xia Feina entered, her face blank.
The man glanced back coldly.
“Good. My plan reaches its final stage… How’s Sharkai Bai?”
“Confirmed again… No magical fluctuations near him whatsoever.”
“Perfect. Proceed as planned. Remember our agreement, my dear daughter~”
“I… understand.”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Xia Feina’s eyes, but she nodded.
*Must I really do this? Why do I feel this way?*
Behind the man, five massive test tubes lined the wall. Inside them, five humanoid figures slowly opened their eyes.
“I shall lead the Shi-Zhi… and annihilate—Holy Carthus!”
Maniacal laughter echoed from the filthy lab into the night.
