"From my perspective, it wasn't that difficult to figure out," Xingyu began. "According to Teacher Xialda's message, Teacher Yedi—who'd been missing for months—suddenly returned on the very day you were expected to arrive at the academy. And you? Rumored to be a swordmaster carrying a ring that alters appearances... even genders."

"Just that alone nearly confirmed it: the current 'Teacher Yedi' is you in disguise. Then the next day, I heard you lost the sword duel to Senior Qingruo. The real Teacher Yedi would never lose to her. That’s when I knew for certain."

"So I quietly tracked your movements as 'Teacher Yedi,' waiting for you to make a move. Last night, while hiding near the faculty apartments to observe you, I saw Senior Qingruo enter with an unusual expression. That raised my suspicions."

Xingyu turned lightly, hands clasped behind her back. Beyond the dense trees, the castle glowed faintly blue in the twilight. Her voice stretched like a sigh. "As expected, she’d discovered something. Even confronted you. So I... interfered with her actions to a certain degree."

"*You* were the one?" Tiyi suddenly recalled last night—Qingruo pinning her down, the humiliation and danger thick in the air—when voices of two teachers echoed from downstairs.

"Precisely. I used voice-mimicking magic to create those sounds," Xingyu turned, her eyes glinting like starlight beneath her blunt bangs. "I meant to scare her off. But Senior Qingruo’s resolve surprised me. She merely dragged you into the room. I realized even if I intervened then, I couldn’t overpower her—not with other teachers nearby. So I withdrew... for now."

*Scare her off? Thanks to you, I was forced to sign that slave contract!* Though temporarily void, Qingruo still held it. If Xingyu hadn’t made that noise, Qingruo would never have made her...

But who could have predicted *that*? Tiyi’s heart sank. *Did she hear that part too?* She tensed. "And after? What did you do? Were you outside the door?"

"I considered it—but too risky. I muttered to myself, then hid outside the building until Senior Qingruo finally emerged much later." Xingyu crossed her arms, though objectively speaking, her chest made it more of a gesture than an embrace.

Tiyi exhaled slightly. At least Qingruo forcing the contract remained secret.

"Things felt wrong today. I came to investigate the apartments again. Qingruo wasn’t there—but *you* were. In your true form, wearing the academy uniform, looking uneasy. So I followed you here... to the garden."

"Revealing myself was risky. But if I didn’t help verify certain things for you, Qingruo might investigate later. Luckily, you reacted faster than I expected." Xingyu gave a slight nod.

Tiyi wasn’t sure if that was praise. Her chest rose and fell weakly. "I see. Without your tireless observation these past days... some things today might have become impossible to explain later. Thank you, Miss Xingyu."

Xingyu waved dismissively, as if it meant nothing. After a pause, she flicked her long hair, studying Tiyi’s flushed cheeks. "How do you plan to thank me?"

Her slender body drifted closer. She took Tiyi’s hand again—but this time, her fingers traced meaningless patterns in Tiyi’s palm, tickling unbearably.

"D-don’t joke! Our situation is hardly optimistic..." Tiyi pulled her hand back with her free one. "Answer me—did you see *everything* in the garden today?"

"Did I see something... I shouldn’t have?" A faint blush spread across Xingyu’s face as she bit her knuckle.

"Eh? No, not that—"

"Wonder what she was interrogating you about when she suddenly hugged you?" Xingyu’s shyness vanished, replaced by mischievous glint.

"I truly don’t know! Ask Senior Qingruo! ...Though I *am* grateful you explained the uniform and confirmed Teacher Yedi’s identity." Tiyi felt flustered—being seen in Qingruo’s arms, even unwillingly, under that woman’s control.

*Please let her not have seen me tied to the pillar earlier... Maybe she was too far away then. I hope so...*

"I’m saying—you had an opening back then, didn’t you?" Xingyu’s gaze darkened abruptly as she lowered her head.

Tiyi stiffened. After a fleeting shock, her expression turned grim. "Do you truly believe that? Her Sacred Power is overwhelming. She restrained me effortlessly. And now she’s suspicious, on guard. There’s no chance."

"What if... you approached her as Teacher Yedi? The man she trusts most?" Xingyu glided behind the tree trunk, her arm brushing Tiyi’s as she leaned against the bark, voice dropping.

Tiyi shivered. This whimsical girl’s words now carried a soul-chilling edge.

"You said it yourself—*man*. As a Holy Temple Knight, Qingruo takes a vow of celibacy. She keeps natural distance from men. And Teacher Yedi isn’t one to casually approach women. Forcing closeness would seem unnatural... and fail." Tiyi shook her head. "Besides, when the ring transforms me into a man, my magic weakens drastically. Against ordinary foes? Fine. But against a master like Qingruo? No chance at all."

*No chance.* Tiyi hadn’t even considered it until Xingyu asked.

"Hmm... True." Xingyu’s voice turned eerily soft. "Qingruo Redvini—the Empire’s peerless new knight. The jewel of the formidable Redvini Family for generations. Without absolute certainty, we can’t act rashly. Your instincts are sharper here. I’ll support you unconditionally."

"...The time isn’t right yet." Tiyi’s gaze drifted away from Xingyu’s line of sight, hazy with unspoken thoughts.

"Or... are you *reluctant* to act?" Xingyu spun to face Tiyi again, pressing close, looking up with almost coercive intensity.

"Hah? W-what nonsense are you spouting?" Tiyi could mask her heart and gestures—but not the heat flooding her cheeks.

"I saw how you didn’t struggle much when she held you. Almost like... a flower yielding to spring breeze after being pollinated."

"W-what bizarre metaphor is *that*?!" Tiyi pushed Xingyu’s slender frame away, startled by how light she felt. *Only 6 or 7 centimeters shorter than me... but lacking certain... curves?*

"Listen." Xingyu’s eyes turned sultry, hinting at something strange. "Are you *really* planning something? What’s next? Need my help with... certain matters?"

"Of course! If you truly can—help me get student records and a recommendation letter!" Tiyi’s flushed face twisted in exasperation.

"Records and a letter?" Xingyu’s eyes lit with recollection. "I recall... an elderly Witch lives in Lomov Town at the mountain’s base. She crafts runes and magical scrolls expertly. This would be simple for her. Leave it to me."

"R-really? You can? Then... I’m counting on you." Transferring schools was vital. Without documents, approaching the dean as Yedi would raise suspicion.

"Give me the academy details and requirements later. I’ll record them and ask the old Witch for help. But her temper’s... peculiar. I’ll go alone."

"...Thank you, Miss Xingyu. Be careful." Though enigmatic, Xingyu was clever. Tiyi trusted her with this.

"Oh—didn’t we forget something?" Xingyu’s dark eyes sparkled.

"Hm? What?"

"Something between *us*." Her smile turned mysterious.

Tiyi frowned. "What exactly, Miss Xingyu?"

"Of course... the ritual of recognition. When Witches meet." Xingyu’s lips parted, glistening like dawnlight. Her slender fingers began slowly unbuttoning her uniform, one by one.

"Huh!?" Tiyi glanced around frantically before staring at Xingyu. "Miss Xingyu—what are you *doing*?!"