The next morning.
Right on schedule at six o’clock, Ouyang Shi woke up. After tidying herself, she left her room. As always, she prepared breakfast for her younger brother—but this time, she didn’t wake Ouyang Ge. Instead, she packed the food neatly in a container and placed it on his desk.
"Xiao Ge," she whispered, "I’m leaving. Take good care of yourself…"
She smoothed back his messy bangs, pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, then slipped away.
Behind her, Ouyang Ge opened his eyes the moment she turned. He watched silently until she vanished.
........
.....
..
After handling various matters, Ouyang Shi arrived cold-faced at the base of the Ouyang Clan’s residence building. A luxurious van awaited there. Ouyang Long, Ouyang Lijia, and Ouyang Feng emerged simultaneously, each dragging a suitcase—more like tourists than officials on duty.
Ouyang Shi carried little: just two sets of spare clothes and essentials stuffed into a youthful backpack.
"Still so early. Said your goodbyes already?"
Ouyang Long wasn’t surprised to see his daughter waiting first. He knew exactly where she’d been, but it didn’t matter. Only the key player’s presence counted.
"........."
Ouyang Shi merely glanced at the trio, gave a curt nod to Ouyang Long, and slid into the van’s corner.
"Master, we should go. Can’t be late."
"True. We’re not powerful enough to override air traffic control yet."
"Daddy~~ hurry up! I’m so sleepy…"
Ouyang Feng tugged her father toward the van, pouting. Ouyang Lijia watched them with a warm, motherly smile.
Once luggage and passengers were loaded, the driver sped the van out of the Ouyang estate toward the airport.
It was Monday. Rush hour at eight o’clock. Yet the Ouyang Clan had arranged everything in advance. Traffic police had cleared a dedicated lane on the highway to the airport—a privilege only the Ouyang Clan could command. Their authority bought such *conveniences*.
"........"
Ouyang Shi rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the traffic jam outside. Her mind wasn’t on the scenery. She was worrying over silly things: *Did Ge eat breakfast on time? Is he okay?* No matter how icy she seemed, anything about Ouyang Ge turned her into a fool.
Behind her, Ouyang Feng watched her sister’s distant expression and smirked faintly.
Northward they sped. The van, emblazoned with the Ouyang crest, reached the airport swiftly. With the driver’s help, luggage was unloaded. The four Ouyangs entered a special VIP passage.
[Passengers for Aeroship AM-888, boarding now. Departure sequence begins in thirty minutes!]
The pleasant announcement echoed—exactly their flight. Thanks to prior reservations, they breezed through check-in via the VIP channel.
They settled into the luxury cabin on the Aeroship’s top deck. The Klar Particle engines hummed to life. The modern aeroship—four times larger than old airplanes—levitated smoothly, then accelerated eastward.
.....
...
The Unified Monarchy Kingdom spanned what was once Asia, Africa, and parts of Russia. Democracy had fallen; feudal monarchy now ruled. Yet the monarch’s power wasn’t absolute like the ancient *Heavenly Ruler*. Instead, they sat atop a parliamentary system, wielding only a special veto.
Earth’s geography had shattered after the meteor strikes. Melting polar ice drowned low-lying nations. Continents and archipelagos vanished.
Mountains flashed below. By the window, Ouyang Shi watched miniature cities, primeval forests, and lakes blur past. The Aeroship’s speed dwarfed old airplanes—covering a thousand kilometers in mere minutes before slowing.
Their destination: Radiance, the colossal capital city at the heart of the Unified Monarchy Kingdom.
Stepping out of the airport, a wave of vibrant energy hit them—unlike their quiet hometown. A massive commercial street sprawled right outside the terminal. Normally forbidden near airports, such zones were now permitted thanks to Klar Particle engines enabling vertical takeoffs and landings, shrinking airport footprints.
"Woah! So many shops!"
Ouyang Feng squealed like any teenage girl, clutching her delicate purse as she dashed into the crowd.
"Tsk tsk, Lijia, don’t lose her. We can’t control everything here like at home."
"Of course, Master."
Ouyang Lijia released the luggage handles and followed her daughter with graceful steps.
"Then we’ll head to our reserved hotel."
"........"
Ouyang Shi’s face remained impassive as she glanced at Ouyang Long.
Her coldness didn’t offend him. There was no familial warmth between them—only a transaction.
A waiting car pulled up. Once luggage was loaded, Ouyang Long and Ouyang Shi departed first.
......
..
Ignoring the others, Ouyang Shi snatched her room key and left Ouyang Long’s side the moment she received it.
*Thump!*
She collapsed onto the soft bed, finally alone.
"*Ge........*"
Her gaze drifted to the blue crystal bracelet always on her right wrist. Worry for Ouyang Ge flooded back.
*Mmmph...*
She buried her face in the pillow, frustration thick in her throat.
She’d braced herself, yet the moment the Aeroship took off, she’d crumbled. Thinking like a foolish, overprotective sister.
"Worrying won’t change anything now."
She sat up, smoothing her messy ice-blue strands.
Like most former Asians, the Ouyang Clan had black hair and dark eyes—but Ouyang Shi was different. Her baby hair had been blue; her pupils, unnaturally golden. Though never called a heretic, the loneliness had been crushing—until Ouyang Ge was born.
She picked up a pamphlet on the nightstand. Its cover blared: **MAGIC EXCHANGE CONFERENCE**.
"How rare," she murmured. In this era of hyper-advanced tech, everything lived on personal terminals. Cash had vanished; digital currency ruled. Physical booklets were relics.
She flipped it open. A welcome message greeted her, followed by a month-long itinerary.
"What a waste of time....."
Her scalp prickled at the densely packed schedule. Evening galas *every* night. The conference wasn’t just meetings—it was a grand expo where Sorcerers displayed and sold magical research. Royalty would attend certain sessions. For ordinary Sorcerers, royal favor meant glory and advancement. Hence the annual frenzy.
Ouyang Shi felt nothing. Her Magic was unstable, uncontrollable. She had no desire to compete. Only if she ever mastered it might she consider *playing along*.
Her blue bracelet suppressed the torrent of Imagination Particles surging within her. What little Magic she showed was less than ten percent of her true power.
Ouyang Long knew this. Yet he’d forced her to come to Radiance—that was what she hated most.
"Today’s the opening. The gala’s tonight..."
It was only nine a.m. Six hours until the ceremony. Sleeping the day away felt wasteful. She’d wander the city alone—and buy Ge a gift.
Imagining his face when he opened it, warmth eased her frustration.
With lighter steps, the girl with ice-blue hair left the luxury hotel behind.
