The path to the girls' dormitory was tricky—winding, complex, and remote.

They walked in silence. After that slap, an unspoken understanding stopped their pointless bickering.

Finally, Angela led Lenna to an old ivy-covered apartment building. A huge, oddly-shaped iron gate blocked their way.

“Here?” Lenna propped her chin, eyeing the gate. “Your place?”

“Dorm apartment.” Angela huffed, pulling out a diamond-shaped memory crystal. She slotted it into the central lock and twisted. The gate creaked open. “Come in. Nothing fancy to offer—just cheap stuff. Sit awhile, then head back.”

“......”

Lenna ignored the rudeness. She was fascinated by the memory crystal instead.

“I haven’t seen this design in ages… ten years? Maybe more…”

The memory crystal was a groundbreaking invention. It stored identities, information, professions—all crystal-recorded. Easy to show others anytime.

Like a unique ID card. It left no secrets hidden.

At first, memory crystals were wildly popular. Even the Imperial Court pushed them hard. The inventor made a fortune and earned a title.

But later, their dangers and flaws surfaced.

Since everyone carried crystals, “crystal hunters” emerged. They stole and looted them.

They sold crystals on the black market. Like a butcher’s stall with prices marked, valuable ones were picked and sold. Worthless ones were destroyed or tossed.

An era of mass information leaks began.

Later, the Empire stepped in. They recalled crystals, added new laws. The developer was caught, sent to the guillotine. The turmoil settled…

Lenna remembered using one herself. But after becoming a Grey Robe, she stopped. She’d heard this story while hiding from Imperial pursuers. A Tidefolk sea beast told her—a giant mantis shrimp covered in gross barnacles. It spoke human words and nearly scared her to death.

Looking back, it was quite an amusing experience.

“Only bran cakes and black tea, okay?”

Angela claimed she wouldn’t entertain, but still brought tea and snacks. They sat on the floor, squeezed into a tiny space under thirty square meters.

Lenna sipped her tea, walking around the room. “A very refined room. Very ladylike.”

“Just say it’s small. No beating around the bush.” Angela bluntly called out the flattery, indifferent. “My family’s decline isn’t new. But my father stubbornly clings to noble pride. He struts through high society with wine. Outsiders think the Cavendish Family is still powerful. Truth is, we can’t afford basic mana costs. I cover the gaps with my savings—robbing Peter to pay Paul…”

“So that’s why you won’t go back?” Lenna sat down again, tracing the cup rim with her finger.

“Pretty much.” Angela crunched on a bran cake. “I squeeze a bit from my living expenses each month to send home. Then my father won’t bother me at the academy. Even if he opposes my career, he must use the gold I earn from idol activities. That old-fashioned fossil—spending my money is the best guilt trip for his conscience!”

Angela slammed her teacup down with a bang.

Pale yellow, cheap tea splashed out, landing on Lenna’s pristine hand.

Lenna seemed oblivious, continuing, “Don’t you hate him? He spends without restraint. You work hard to earn money. Even praying late at night, running for Holy Maiden…”

So young, bearing burdens her peers couldn’t handle. Lenna felt a pang of sympathy for Angela’s tragic fate.

“Hating him won’t help. He’s my father. I fear his authority. He fears I’ll stop supporting him.”

Angela smiled frankly, lifting her cup again. She took a small sip, leaving a faint pink lip print on the rim.

“I achieved all his past demands. I became his obedient child. But now, he relies on me and my sister. Every time he asks for money, he acts all high and mighty. He makes excuses, insisting others think he’s doing well. Little do they know how much it hurts his pride. And he shamelessly spends our hard-saved money…”

That expression stung Lenna’s eyes.

Lenna suddenly thought of herself. Back then, she at least had food, drink, and fun. Only after her family’s downfall did she start a decade of fleeing.

At least before that, she lived much better than Angela.

Angela, born under her father’s rigid expectations, lived under constant pressure. Yet her personality wasn’t twisted. It showed how strong Angela’s resilience really was…

“My dream is to stand on a huge stage. Watching fans cheer wildly for me below, singing my original songs.” Angela suddenly stood up, her mood soaring. “I have recording stones from my concerts. Want to see?”

Lenna raised an eyebrow, in a good mood. “Might as well take a look.”

“Okay, wait here.”

Angela skipped out lightly. Soon, she returned dragging a full burlap sack of recording stones. “I stored them with the dorm auntie. But I had too many, so she packed them all and threw them in the attic. Took a bit of time.”

As she spoke, Angela struggled to move the sack. Beads of sweat glistened on her smooth forehead.

“Heave!”

“Let me.”

Lenna grabbed the sack from Angela, pulling both her and the bag inside.

“Which one first… Color Summon debut? Or the Dome Concert under the Blue Sky… Ah, too many, hard to choose.”

Angela picked through them, dazzled. Recording stones kept falling out.

Lenna noticed a plain black recording stone rolling to her feet. She picked it up. It looked like the others, just dusty. It seemed long buried in the bag.

“How about this one?” Lenna said casually.

After watching this, she could head back. The Fox Maiden at home was probably asleep…

“Ah, no! This one absolutely not!”

Angela quickly covered the black stone, her face flushed. “This one’s not suitable. Let’s switch. How about my latest performance?”

“Why?” Lenna asked, puzzled. All the stones looked identical, only color different. Why such a reaction…

Could it be!

Oh ho~ Lenna’s flat lips curved upward.

“This one it is. I want to see if the legendary ‘Indigo’ lives up to the hype…”

Indigo, indigo—it probably referred to Angela’s hair color. Used as her important debut name. It must have special meaning.

“Don’t say it…”

Angela’s face was already beet red, like a boiled shrimp.

“If you must watch it, I’ll step out for some air.”

“Not together?” Lenna fiddled with the stone, inviting her to critique the content.

“No… no thanks,” Angela avoided eye contact. “Who wants to watch their own performance? So embarrassing…”

You weren’t saying that earlier.

Before Lenna could speak, Angela dashed out the door. Her speed was astonishing.

Only Lenna remained alone in the room. The pleasant scent of Karaman grass perfume lingered, as if proving the other’s presence.