I really didn’t want to give Liyue my dorm number or comms disc—it’d bring endless trouble. But she quickly brushed off the classmates clinging to her and turned to pester me instead.
"Lerfu, just tell me where you live," Liyue pressed. "I need to discuss something important with you." Who asks so bluntly for an address from someone barely acquainted? Yet her earnest expression hinted at real urgency.
As a student, I couldn’t refuse without reason. Pushing back further might raise her suspicions. Reluctantly, I shared my dorm details. When she excitedly pulled out her comms disc, I had no choice but to exchange contacts too.
I’d dug a pit and jumped right in. Sure enough, she showed up that very night.
During evening downtime, I’d invited Mistflower to my room. With nothing better to do, she happily joined me for chess. She’d never played before but was eager to learn. I might always lose to my sister Weihui—she was just too strong—but against other nobles, my win rate hovered around fifty percent. Teaching a beginner was no problem.
Mistflower was already a Ten Winged Angel. Barring accidents, she’d rise high in the Divine Church. Clumsy as she seemed, I knew her true potential from training her personally. She lagged behind me only because I’d learned things earlier. Surpassing me was inevitable.
Since enrollment, I’d deliberately closed the gap with her. Unfamiliar with this world, she relied on me for everything—daily life, studies, finances. Now inseparable, she saw me as her closest confidante. Soon, she’d be my solid ally within the Church.
To climb the Church ranks—or even ascend to the Divine Realm—I’d face countless obstacles. Beyond external merits, internal rivals would swarm. I needed no fair-weather allies like Saches, whose rigid principles made him unreliable. Mistflower was perfect: no strong opinions, no fixed worldview, and her vendetta against her parents’ killers was easily exploited. I’d mold her into a sharp blade, placing her upfront to draw others’ attention.
First, I had to transform this country bumpkin—well, Cinderella—into someone fitting high society. Beyond etiquette, she needed noble hobbies: hymn singing, calligraphy, ballroom dances, horseback riding, hunting. Chess was step one.
Just as my plan seemed flawless, a knock echoed. Outside came the voice I dreaded most.
"Lerfu-sama, are you in? I’ve come to see you." Liyue’s bell-like tone.
Why rush over the same night I’d given her my dorm number? I opened the door.
"Apologies for disturbing you so late, Lerfu-sama," Liyue bowed deeply upon entering. "And you must be... Mistflower-sama? My deepest regrets for not properly greeting you last time." Her respect for Mistflower’s Ten Wings edged into awe.
"No need, I’m just—" Mistflower started, but I cut her off. She’d spill everything, relevant or not. I needed Liyue’s respect intact to keep her from overthinking.
"Head back for now. She came specifically for me." Mistflower left without question—after all, Liyue had asked for me by name.
"Might I ask," Liyue ventured once alone, "is Mistflower-sama your superior? Ten Winged Angels are always high-ranking in the Church." Few grasped the hierarchy, and no one expected a rebirth straight to Ten Wings.
"Call us partners," I hedged vaguely. "You mentioned urgent business. Does it involve her?"
"Well, her help would be ideal, but I can’t demand it. I need your guidance on Church rules, Lerfu-sama."
"Rules? Ask away. I’ll answer what I know." Her request puzzled me.
"Thank you so much!" Liyue offered a small box before even asking. "A little pastry—quite tasty, if you don’t mind." She’d prepared gifts in advance?
"Specifically," she continued, "how does one truly join the Church? Not just baptism—I mean becoming a Holy Cleric."
Ah. Holy Clerics enjoyed prestige, resources, and faster power growth under the gods. Entry wasn’t easy. Even I only became an official member after rebirthing as an Angel.
"Strength or faith in Lord Deseri matters most," I explained. "With power and devotion, you’re in. Aren’t you interning with the Sun Knight Order anyway?" Barring disasters, she’d join. Was she doubting herself?
"My path isn’t typical," Liyue admitted worriedly. "I didn’t believe in Lord Deseri before. I still lack a holy-class profession. My teacher saw potential and got me into the Order. I converted during baptism—Lord Deseri blessed me with divine grace." Her eyes bore the godmark, proof of direct favor. Such gifts bypassed faith or class requirements.
"But I’m still unqualified. Only as a Holy Knight can I fully join the Order. I want someone else to enter the Breath of the Sun Church too—someone like my past self: no holy class, no faith." Her goal finally surfaced. I guessed who.
"You mean Imet? I’ve spoken with him since."
"Oh, I’ve troubled you again. What do you think of him?" Liyue fidgeted anxiously.
"He’s... interesting. Quite likable." Her face brightened at this. "But without faith, joining’s nearly impossible. Divine grace like yours is rare. Unless someone recommends him—your teacher, or the Knight Captain?"
"Impossible. My teacher’s quota’s full. And Imet? He has no knight-class profession. His personality’s nothing like a knight’s. I wondered if other Church departments might take him." She frowned. "Seniors in the Order told me to ask the Angels at the academy. That’s why I came."
Ah. Our duty was scouting promising students. So I held recommendation rights too...
"But why push for him to join?" I asked suddenly.
Liyue’s cheeks flushed crimson. After a pause, she whispered:
"Once I become a Sun Knight, I’ll be stationed in the Imperial Capital. But he’ll wander everywhere. I want to keep him close."
