Though it might sound exaggerated, it was the truth—I was Lu’s caretaker, the one who’d spent the most time with her throughout her growth. My every word and action had shaped her in some way. So even if we could let our guard down here, I still had to keep myself in check.

Besides, before word got out that “Su Nan” had vanished, I needed to wrap up matters at school and with my foster parents.

Spells like hypnosis or charm came easily to me now, but they still drained mana. The more targets, the heavier the toll—and recovering that mana took time, time I couldn’t spare in our current situation.

I also couldn’t be sure if pursuers were still on our trail. If assassins came, even a drop of mana could mean life or death. Our enemies weren’t fools; they wouldn’t send weaklings one by one. They knew my strength. The moment we clashed, it’d likely be against someone my equal.

“Hmm… Lu won’t wake for hours. I can handle school first. As for Mom and Dad…” I sighed after washing the dishes. “I’ll find another chance.”

I’d settle my university affairs, then grab some treats for Lu on the way back. After scribbling a note and tucking it under a bowl on the table—to keep her from panicking if she woke alone—I threw on a jacket and slipped out.

“…Still, walking these streets feels so unnatural.”

Halfway to campus, I wiped cold sweat from my brow. Even in a loose jacket, Amelia’s flawless figure drew stares. Her beauty and innate nobility mesmerized ordinary people. Though I dressed like any casual girl now, every single passerby turned their heads. The attention weighed on me.

I was a shard of Amelia’s soul—technically *her* reborn. But I was also Su Nan. Eighteen years as a man had ingrained habits and perspectives I couldn’t shake. Even after my Awakening eased the awkwardness, that past life still left me slightly ashamed under all these eyes.

“Ugh… Fine. A little mana to dull my presence, then.” I sighed inwardly, glancing at the crowd still fixated on me.