Loko shot Eve a puzzled glance before shifting her gaze back to the steaming drink and pastries before her.

“I wish I had the right to refuse too…”

She muttered, scooped a bite of cake with her spoon, and popped it into her mouth.

Only after finishing every crumb and draining her coffee did Loko stand up, satisfied.

This barely qualified as lunch. With extra training with Shilufei later, she’d need something more substantial.

Stepping out of the café, she sighed at the sight of classmates strolling the street in small groups.

Eve just now… was that advice? Or a warning?

Yesterday, Eve had clearly been displeased—but today, she apologized.

All in all… setting aside their positions, Eve was genuinely someone worth befriending.

Too bad their stances guaranteed conflict would always outweigh cooperation.

Just then, a bright, youthful voice chimed beside her.

“Hey, isn’t this Loko?”

Loko turned. All she saw was a cascade of red hair.

She lowered her eyes and found Flora standing right there, a hint of displeasure in her gaze.

“Seriously? You’ve already forgotten your teacher?”

“No, no!” Loko shook her head quickly.

She wouldn’t dare forget this memorable succubus teacher.

“Teacher Flora, what brings you here?”

Flora blinked at her, feigning offense.

“Why *can’t* I be here? Do you think I’m some weirdo holed up all day in a damp alchemy lab brewing strange potions? I eat and enjoy life too, you know.”

Honestly? Loko *had* pictured her exactly like that.

After all, Flora’s potions were far from ordinary.

Noticing Loko’s expression, Flora planted her hands on her hips.

“Hey! What impolite thoughts are you having?!”

Loko denied it instantly.

Flora let it drop.

“Fine, I won’t pry. Just don’t skip alchemy class tomorrow afternoon—I’m counting on you, student.”

With a cheerful wave, Flora skipped away.

Great. Now even tomorrow was booked.

But first—Shilufei was waiting. Loko grabbed a quick snack from a stall, ate it, and hurried back to the dorm.

Inside, Shilufei sat in the living room. The moment Loko entered, she looked up eagerly.

“So, Loko—free this afternoon?”

“Mm.” Loko nodded.

“I *knew* you’d say yes!” Shilufei’s face lit up, her expression turning girlishly delighted.

As an elite academy, Saint Stephen Academy had three full training buildings. Any open outdoor space also served as a practice ground.

Shilufei led Loko to a nearby vacant lot, picked up her wooden training sword, and bowed politely.

“Loko… during our last spar, your ability felt strange.”

She didn’t attack first—just talked.

“You close your eyes, yet seem to perceive my every move. Almost like magic.”

“I’ve heard noble bloodlines grant special powers. Is this yours?”

Loko shook her head.

“Not really.”

“Hm?”

“If anything, our bloodline ability is just… extreme sensitivity to temperature shifts.”

Right now, eyes closed, she could pinpoint Shilufei’s position from the subtle thermal contrast between her body and the air.

But that was only what her sister Vera could manage.

As the York Family’s most promising heir, Loko had refined this ability to a terrifying degree.

Where an average clan member might summon a wolf-level familiar, Teresa could conjure a massive golem, reshaping it at will.

Loko’s thermal sense was so precise she could mentally sculpt Shilufei’s exact silhouette.

Unless a weapon or foe perfectly matched ambient temperature, evasion was impossible.

Even a cold blade created a detectable shift the moment it cut the air—a change Loko never missed.

*That* was her true edge.

Though they’d sparred countless times—even across lifetimes—this was the first time Shilufei heard Loko name her ability.

“Sensitive to temperature, huh…”

Shilufei’s eyes gleamed. A counter-strategy clicked into place.

She crouched slightly, plunging her wooden sword into the dirt.

Loko watched, confused.

“I’m coming, Loko.”

Loko closed her eyes.

Shilufei dug in her heels and charged.

Every motion laid bare to Loko’s senses.

But… why drag the sword?

Just then—Shilufei halted. With a sharp swing, dust exploded toward Loko.

To Loko, it felt like a solid wall rushing at her.

She dodged instinctively.

A few grains still dusted her sleeve.

She blinked her eyes open—*just dust*. No need to dodge.

*Now!* Shilufei burst through the cloud, sword thrusting forward.

Loko barely twisted aside.

“Shilufei, that’s a little—”

Eyes shut again, she evaded strike after strike, voice tinged with protest.

Shilufei pressed on, kicking up dust with every feint.

For a moment, Loko was genuinely pressured.

One trick works? Keep using it. Shilufei repeated the move, forcing dodges, coating Loko in more dust.

Then—just as Shilufei pulled back to repeat her tactic—Loko opened her eyes.

The dust wasn’t solid. She saw Shilufei clearly behind it.

Loko charged.

Shilufei’s sword was still raised when Loko closed the distance in a flash.

The world spun.

Her body toppled backward.