Most people lack a big-picture perspective, obsessing over trivial matters right in front of them.

Luo Yu crouched in a grassy patch on campus, watering wild plants that flourished under her care. The sight sparked a quiet thought in the girl.

After finishing in the restroom, Luo Yu finally stood up.

A breeze lifted her skirt, sending a light, free sensation through her.

"Truly free," she murmured.

Scratching her head casually, she shoved her hands into her pockets and strolled toward the dormitory with an easy gait.

She climbed the stairs directly and pushed open the familiar bedroom door.

Inside, Qiu Xiaoshuang sat cross-legged on the sofa in meditation. Luo Yu gently tapped the doorframe.

Qiu Xiaoshuang opened her eyes at the sound. Seeing Luo Yu, she froze mid-motion as she tried to stand.

"L-Luo Yu? You’re back?"

"Came to say goodbye, Xiaoshuang. I’m heading home."

"Goodbye? Home?" Qiu Xiaoshuang snapped her head up, then quickly looked down, avoiding Luo Yu’s gaze. "Luo Yu… are you really leaving the academy? Really going to do… *that* with that Mei Zi?"

"Huh?" Luo Yu frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I’m sorry. I overstepped." Qiu Xiaoshuang rushed to her feet, stumbling toward Luo Yu—only to trip and drop to her knees before her.

Luo Yu: "…No need for such formalities."

"Uh… is your injury healed?" Qiu Xiaoshuang brushed dust off her pants, noticing Luo Yu’s thick face mask. "Can I see?"

"Sure." Luo Yu pulled off the mask, revealing her delicate face.

Four distinct scars marred her smooth skin.

"Oh. Stay still."

Qiu Xiaoshuang’s hands trembled as she chanted a healing spell. Tiny green orbs gathered in the air, drifting toward Luo Yu’s face to mend the wounds.

But as the scars began to seal, wisps of elemental energy flared from Luo Yu’s body, repelling the healing magic.

"Damn it!" Qiu Xiaoshuang slammed a fist against her thigh. "What *is* this Fairy Kind constitution…?"

"Guess you’re not strong enough yet, Xiaoshuang." Luo Yu grinned. "As my future Empress Consort, you’ll need to work harder."

"Luo Yu." Qiu Xiaoshuang halted the spell, staring at the scars. "What’s your plan this year? Tell me."

"After showing off back home, I’ll return for the Champion’s wedding. I’ll recruit allies in secret to disrupt the ceremony, rescue the girls captured as slaves for humans… then kill the Champion. Build my legacy. Reach the peak of life."

"That’s pure delusion…"

"Everyone needs to prove themselves." Luo Yu stretched her arms behind her head. "I won’t be back at the academy for a while. But Xiaoshuang—if we meet again in a few years? I’ll show you something huge. Something earth-shattering."

"…"

"Bye then."

As Luo Yu turned to leave, Qiu Xiaoshuang’s body went limp. *Just sleep it off today*, she thought. *I’m done caring about her. I’m a noble Witch—I don’t waste time on nobodies…*

She muttered this, then slapped her own cheeks twice.

Suddenly, Luo Yu reappeared.

Her wrist was caught mid-air by Luo Yu’s firm grip.

"Why blame yourself?" Luo Yu tilted her head, puzzled.

It was unnerving.

"Luo Yu? You came back…"

"You’ve been hung up on hurting me." Luo Yu noticed her averted gaze, stroked her chin, and understood. "I don’t get why it matters."

"…"

"*Sigh*." Luo Yu spread her hands helplessly. "You don’t know me at all."

Qiu Xiaoshuang stayed silent. Luo Yu plowed on, teeth gritted: "Those scars? Nothing. My looks mean nothing to me. My current struggles? I don’t care. I want something far greater. So this? It’s irrelevant. Stop worrying."

"I…" Qiu Xiaoshuang nodded slowly. "Understood."

"Then… truly goodbye this time."

Luo Yu turned away, closing the dorm door softly behind her. She took one last look at the building, then stretched luxuriously.

Training Dummy and the Headmistress had waited downstairs. Seeing Luo Yu hop out, they darted forward, blocking her path.

"Old man," Luo Yu scowled at the wrinkled face. "What’s with the grin?"

"Did you settle things with Qiu Xiaoshuang?" The Headmistress grimaced. "If she voided the contract, at least make her repay me!"

"Pfft. She’ll pay you back—I guarantee it." Luo Yu thumped her chest. "You can trust the Emperor’s word!"

"*That’s* why I don’t trust you." The Headmistress sighed. "You’re a girl’s worst nightmare. Every girl you meet ends up hating you."

Luo Yu: "…"

"Don’t doubt me." The Headmistress fumbled under her robes. "I have data! Over a hundred girls petitioned to expel you this half-year—"

"Emperor."

Training Dummy cut in, pulling bandages and tight-fitting clothes from his hollow torso. "Your travel supplies. Ready."

"Thanks." Luo Yu stuffed them into her backpack, then looked up. "Robot, won’t you come home with me? See the world?"

Training Dummy shook his head. "My power comes from the Demonic God buried at the academy’s heart. Without its blessing, I’m just rotten wood."

"Fine." Luo Yu yawned, scratching a tooth. "Guess you’ll miss watching the Emperor show off in style."

She hoisted her backpack straps. "Off I go."

"Wait!" The Headmistress wheeled forward at lightning speed, cutting Luo Yu off.

"Old man, what now?"

"Take me with you." The Headmistress’s eyes welled up instantly. "I thought I didn’t care… but after you vanished for those ten days? I couldn’t eat. Couldn’t sleep. Without your pretty face to look at, I’ll die! Waaah…"

Luo Yu: "…"

"No useless old men tagging along." Luo Yu turned away. "You’re practically dust already. Don’t push it."

"*Dust*?!" The Headmistress sprang from her wheelchair, hoisted it onto her shoulders, and stomped violently in place.

*Screech. Scrape.* A devilish shuffle.

She shot Luo Yu a smug look. "See? I’m spry! I can run anywhere! Take me—"

Her foot caught on a missing cobblestone. She crashed face-first.

Luo Yu: "…"

Training Dummy: "…"

Headmistress: "Slip-up."

Training Dummy checked her leg, then turned to Luo Yu. "Her ankle’s sprained."

"*What*?!" The Headmistress paled. "No!"

"Stay and heal, old man. Bye!" Luo Yu sprinted off without looking back.

Under the setting sun, the girl’s figure shrank until it vanished.

The Headmistress wailed: "My life’s cursed! Decades in the Demon King’s Army—no wife, no family! Now my adopted daughter abandons me too! I just wanted company… Dying alone is terrifying! Waaah…"

"Let it go." Training Dummy patted her back. "The Emperor only shows others optimism. She fears her carefree jokes—even dancing on your grave—might hurt you."

"I wouldn’t be hurt!" The Headmistress snapped. "No one understands Luo Yu better than me!"

"Shut up, old man. We’ll just rot here in the academy."

Training Dummy retracted his limbs, curling into a wooden sphere. Powering down.

The Headmistress stared at Luo Yu’s vanished silhouette, scowling. She elbowed the inert dummy beside her, then muttered under her breath:

"Annoying."

She released her grip—letting go of the forbidden arts that eroded her soul and cursed her own life to prolong it.

Her breathing slowed.

Grew fainter.

Fainter still.