I pushed open the wooden door to my dorm room. Sunlight streamed across the carpeted floor, clean and bright. Directly ahead stood a dressing table—its full-length mirror flanked by a drawer unit doubling as a desk, completely bare. To its left sat a neatly made double bed draped with gauzy curtains and a single plush pillow. On the right, a leather sofa-and-armchair set occupied the space beneath a hanging lamp. That was all.
I sank onto the sofa, sweeping my long hair behind my shoulders before lying down. Gently, I wrapped my wings around myself. Ever since discovering this trick for sleep, I’d grown fond of it—the soft, feathery embrace calmed my mind, letting me reflect on the day’s events.
Liyue hadn’t uncovered my true identity. As long as I stayed careful, I’d be fine. Course registration meant another trip to the Magic Department later. And I still needed to befriend promising students—Church orders hadn’t slipped my mind. First, though, I’d explore the academy. My stomach growled. Time for the cafeteria.
After a short rest, I changed into the newly issued uniform. The mirror reflected a simple design: white short sleeves, a black knit vest, and a plain black skirt. Only the shield-shaped crest broke the minimalism—a dove clutching a spear against a sunlit backdrop. The sun honored our ties to the Breath of the Sun Church; the spear-bearing dove symbolized wielding power with peace. Legend said the spear’s design came from the academy founder’s weapon—a peerless Divine Artifact.
This was my first time wearing black since reincarnation. Paired with my white wings, the stark contrast looked striking. My Type II uniform featured a back opening—accommodating students with wings, horns, or crystalline growths. The short sleeves and skirt similarly aided races with unusual limbs or tails.
I knocked on Mistflower’s door after resting, but she’d retired early. Alone, I followed the map toward the cafeteria.
The dining hall spanned three spacious floors, filled with four-seat tables draped in white cloths. Candlesticks and vases adorned each surface. As students finished meals and stood to leave, the decorations levitated smoothly. Tablecloths whisked away dirty cutlery and plates in an instant, replaced by fresh linens. Candlesticks and vases settled back into place, ready for the next guest.
Clever. But flavor mattered most—magic tricks couldn’t fill stomachs. Bad food would send me straight to off-campus eateries.
Yet confidence grew as students passed with laden trays. Each dish looked chef-crafted, and their fragrant aromas made my mouth water. Just as my appetite peaked, an unwelcome voice shattered the mood.
“Hey, isn’t that underclassman Lefur? Here for dinner too?” I turned. At a nearby table sat two figures—one was Imet, the brown-haired boy I’d hoped to avoid. His companion wore the same uniform: long black hair, porcelain skin, and opaque black stockings from neck to ankle. Leather gloves covered her arms, and a one-handed sword hung at her waist. A pure-blooded Swordsman, I guessed.
“Fancy meeting again so soon! Join us?” His grin hovered between cheeky and cheerful.
I almost refused outright. Day one at Imperial Kingdom Academy, and I knew barely two people. Alienating him now might jeopardize my mission. Unpleasant as he was, Liyue wasn’t with him. Tolerating him was networking.
“I’ll trouble you… senior.”
I hurried to the self-service counter, grabbing random dishes with tongs and a mug of dark beer before returning.
Imet was chattering excitedly to his companion, oblivious to my arrival. She nodded mechanically, murmuring “Wow… impressive…” while her expression screamed boredom.
When I sat down, he kept talking, waving an item at her. She replied, “Amazing,” but her eyes lingered on his face, cheeks faintly flushed.
*Blind to your own heart, clear to outsiders.* She clearly liked Imet—he saw her only as a friend. They lingered over mismatched conversations, trapped by unspoken feelings.
*Both fools.* How could she ignore his passions? And he—so dense he missed her obvious signals. Doomed to loneliness.
“Ah, Lefur! What’s your favorite food?” He finally noticed me.
“I eat anything.” A lie—I was picky—but I needed to steer the topic. I turned to the girl. “And you are…?”
“My closest friend, Haimona. We’re in the same adventuring party. A reliable Swordsman who’s always got my back.” Just as I’d thought: a pure combat class. But when he said “closest friend,” Haimona flinched almost imperceptibly.
“Senior Haimona, I’m Lefur.”
“Nice to meet you. No need for ‘senior.’” Her reply was distant. “I’m full. Enjoy your meal.” She left. Her cutlery vanished mid-air.
“Huh. She’s been off today. I’ll check on her tomorrow.” He turned back to me. “So, what *do* you like to eat?”
*Sigh.* I’d hoped to talk with her. Now stuck with this oblivious boy.
“Wait—you drink?” His gaze darted to my mug, then he sniffed. “Teutonmich Black Lager? Bold choice.”
I stiffened. Back in my past life, I’d loved bars and buddies—and dark beer. Its rich bitterness wasn’t typical “girl drink” material. Most guys only touched it during group sessions. A lone girl sipping it at dinner? Strange.
Distracted earlier, I’d grabbed the first beer I saw from the cafeteria’s kegs. I couldn’t identify brews by scent—but one gulp confirmed it: Teutonmich, the market’s most popular dark lager. This kid had a sharp nose.
“Just a hobby. But you recognizing it by smell… a fellow enthusiast?” I smiled.
“I enjoy tasting, not drinking. My tolerance’s low.” He raised his own glass—pale golden lager over ice.
“Light beer? Weakling.” I chuckled, clinking mugs. He grimaced. “Had to keep it mild while dining with a lady.”
“Understood. Next time, let’s hit a bar together?” I hadn’t drunk freely since cutting ties with old friends. Home meant restraint; Saches never joined me. Day one, and I’d found a drinking buddy. Imet suddenly seemed… tolerable.
“Uh… just us two? I could invite trusted classmates instead.”
“Invite whoever.” *Right—I’d nearly forgotten how odd a solo girl-boy bar trip looked.* I switched topics. “What had you so excited with Senior Haimona earlier?”
His eyes lit up. He pulled a card from his pocket.
Exquisitely illustrated, its golden border pulsed with faintly glowing runes—a clear sign of enchantment. It depicted a beautiful woman with a serpentine lower body, adorned only in seashells. She held a conch in one hand, a trident in the other. Below the art, gilded text read: *Siren Sea Witch.*
