When I shouldered the door open, the dorm room smelled like rosemary chicken and defiance. Iaskin sat on the edge of my bed, tearing into a drumstick with the desperation of a man who’d just survived a public execution. Riasmin sat behind him, fingers carding through his sweat-damp hair with odd gentleness—like a lioness grooming a cub she’d half-considered eating an hour ago.

  I raised an eyebrow at the sight and closed the door behind me. Lilian’s tail thumped against the floorboards from her perch on the windowsill as she turned to me. “Took you long enough, young master. We were betting you’d come back with bite marks.”

  “That dragon doesn’t bite,” I said.

  Nebu didn’t look up from the blood-crimson mana circle she was sketching in her notebook, probably something her mother was teaching her. “She did send you home with sweets once. It’s a valid concern. How did the talk go?”

  “The talk went fine,” I said, kicking the door shut. “She’ll handle the cult. We’re clear.”

  Riasmin’s nails dug into Iaskin’s scalp just hard enough to make him freeze mid-bite. “And how exactly did you convince her, baby brother? I am just curious. She often visited your bedside when you were id up after the Winter Festival.” Her smile sharpened. “What’s your secret? Bckmail? Seduction? She’s too soft on you.”

  I snatched a bread roll from Iaskin’s pte. “We’re pen pals.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “She likes my glittering personality.”

  Sora snorted, wings rustling as she leaned against the wall. “I think she likes that you’re the only student here who makes her feel young…” she muttered, and a few eyes turned toward her. “What?” she shrugged.

  I gulped down the piece of bread as I observed her. Before I could choke out a rebuttal, Iaskin swallowed his chicken like it was his st meal and croaked, “What about me? Did you tell her...?”

  Silence pooled like spilled ink. Nebu’s quill stopped scratching.

  “Had to, in the end.” I dropped onto the bed beside him, the mattress creaking under our combined weight. “I didn’t name you initially, but she’s very helpful. She’s a very close ally of mine, and before leaving, I mentioned you on my own. She’s orchestrating the cult cleanup, so she needs to know which names to... reroute.”

  “And she just agreed?” Riasmin asked.

  “She’s not the Church. As long as you’re close to her, she won’t care about colteral—only results.” I met his flickering gaze. “You’re safe. For now.”

  Lilian’s ears twitched. “What about that girl? Avenora or whatever.”

  “Under surveilnce. Confront her now, and she’ll bite her own tongue off before spilling cult secrets.” I shrugged. “Better to watch. Wait for a mistake. Cult people are weird; suicide has been a track record for cults across history.”

  As I mentioned that particur trait connected to the word ‘cult,’ three pairs of eyes pinned me—Nebu, Sora, and Lilian, all giving me a bnk look.

  Riasmin released Iaskin, and though it was gentle, Iaskin nearly toppled into the chicken bones in panic. “Enough. We’re done here.” She snatched her coat from the bedpost, the embroidered uniform hissing like a desert wind. “Iskandaar, we’re all following your pn on this, but if this blows back on him, I’m feeding your liver to a sandwyrm. And Iaskin, move.”

  He scrambled upright, grease still smeared across his chin. For a heartbeat, he looked like that one time when he was 10 years old, smuggling firelizards into Father’s study—all trembling bravado.

  Then he straightened his colr, looked at me, and muttered, “Thanks. For the rescue and… everything else. I know it’s natural for family to look out for each other, but I swear, I’ll return the favor, Iskandaar. Maybe I won’t steal your dance next time.”

  I chuckled and flicked a breadcrumb at him. “Just stop joining murder cults.”

  “Yes, listen to our baby brother,” Riasmin hooked an arm around his neck, dragging him toward the door in a chokehold that might’ve been affectionate. “One more cult, and I’m donating your organs to those necromancy students. Understood?”

  “Yes, yes, let go—”

  The door smmed behind them.

  That left the four of us in the room, lit by orbs of light and the moonlight spilling through the rge windows. The wolf stared at me with curious eyes. “Your sister is scary,” Lilian said. I wonder what she’ll do to you once she finds out about your cult. Worse, you’re not a mere member of it but rather the leader.”

  I fell into the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I need a drink.”

  Sora’s ughter followed, sharp and bright as a phoenix’s cry. “Oh, come on. We’re not making flesh slimes out of humans for EXP Farming. I think she’ll understand.”

  “Hopefully,” I closed my eyes, enjoying the sound of Nebu scribbling on the paper once again. “Otherwise, grandfather will kill us all, even if Riasmin can't.”

  That made the girls flinch as the night deepened.

  ****

  The dorm room air clung thick with the scent of rosemary chicken and rexation. I let my eyes drift shut for just a heartbeat, exhaustion gnawing at my bones like a starved mutt. But the creak of the door hinge snapped them open again.

  Sora’s crimson wings brushed the doorframe as she stepped into the hall, Nebu close behind. "Wait."

  Both women froze mid-step. Sora’s feathers twitched like kindling catching fme.

  "Forgot to mention,” I yawned. “We’re leaving for the Shan Gui Highnds at dawn," I said, propping myself up on weak elbows. Those honeycakes were something else. "Amelia approved the permits. Be ready by dawn, and pack light."

  I didn’t add that after two hours of arguing, Amelia gave me permission to bring these two. The mental image of Amelia’s fingers, all cwed up to scare me, drumming her desk as I bargained for two extra slots still made my temples pulse.

  Nebu’s ice-blue eyes narrowed. "Where is it? Never heard of it before."

  "Uhh… It’s nearby. I’ll tell you about it in the morning. It’ll benefit us all, trust me."

  Sora shrugged, fmes dancing along her fingertips. "Sure. Beats listening to Professor Valmyre drone about ethics in elemental warfare."

  "Hold on—" Lilian’s growl cut through the room before Nebu could finish. She stood rigid by the windowsill, silver fur bristling along her forearms. "What about me?!"

  I blinked. "You’re my maid. You’re coming. Do I have to mention that?"

  "Like hell I’m letting you three prance off to some death mountain without— oh. Ohh!" She grinned, about to ugh. But then, a shadow darted through the moonlit window.

  I jerked back as leathery wings grazed my ear. A bat sat on my shoulder, reeking of grave soil and bergamot, its needle-like cws pricking through my shirt.

  "She can’t go," it said in Munera’s voice, letting out a bored yawn.

  Lilian’s snarl shook the air as she looked at the bat for a second, confusion turning into rage. She recognized the vampire. Ruby eyes bzed as she lunged forward, cws unsheathed—

  I caught her wrist mid-swipe. "Stand down."

  The bat chuckled, a dry rasp that set my teeth on edge. "Aww, puppy’s protective. Cute."

  Nebu stiffened, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. "Mother..."

  "My daughter stays," Munera crooned, tail flicking against my colrbone, as she threw her nose into the air. "Obsidian training requires focus. Focus! No distractions. You can go kill monsters ter in another continent with your fiance; there would be lots of time for that."

  “Another continent? No, wait, Nebu, that’s your mother?” Sora’s fmes flickered on her fingers as she pointed it toward the bat like a revolver. "Damn, I feel left out…”

  I studied Nebu—she looked no longer fearful, just dryly annoyed. She looked at me, and I looked at her mother. “Can’t it be postponed?”

  The bat raised her arms comically, shaking her head. “Look, boy, this is more beneficial to her than whatever you can give to her. I’m teaching her how to master her skills and abilities and teaching her new ones. Ah, and she’s also leveling up.”

  "...Fine." Nebu sighed and turned sharply toward the door, silver hair swishing like a dismissal banner. "I’ll stay, mother."

  Munera smiled and then flew out of the door with her.

  "Wait, you dirty bat! You—" Lilian started, but the bat just flew faster into the hallways with a screech. Nebu vanished down the hall, footsteps echoing too quickly.

  I released Lilian and colpsed back onto the mattress, the ceiling spinning zily above me. "Questions tomorrow."

  "Now," Lilian demanded.

  Sora caught her shoulder. "Let it go. He’s practically comatose. What did he eat?" Their voices became wavy as I yawned, and darkness swallowed me gently.

  ****

  The academy looked different at dawn.

  Empty corridors echoed with every step we took, where normally there’d be crowds of students. Morning fog clung to the windows like ghostly fingers, and the usual hum of ughter and lessons was repced by this almost sacred quiet.

  I’d packed light, just as Amelia suggested. She’d been there before, so she'd given me some tips.

  Our goodbyes a moment ter was brief; no need for lengthy tears when we’d be back before the summer tournament. Still, Riasmin’s firm hug and Nebu's hesitant wave lingered in my mind as we slipped through the gates.

  Waybound City was only just waking up. The cobbled roads sparkled with dew, and shopkeepers were rattling their shutters open while the smell of fresh bread drifted out from nearby bakeries.

  Winter was ending, and it felt like a brand-new day in every sense.

  Lilian and Sora walked beside me as we made our way to another part of the city. A young flower-seller caught my eye—a boy who couldn't be more than eight, with dark circles under his eyes like he'd started this routine way too early. One of his legs were hurt, and he was limping.

  “Flowers, sir?” he ran up to us when he saw us, his voice cracking.

  I stopped, almost causing Lilian to bump into me. The basket she held was full of simple purple and white blooms, probably picked on the outskirts.

  “How much?”

  “Two copper for each bundle, sir.”

  I handed him a few gold coins instead and took all the flowers. The little guy's eyes got huge.

  “But sir, that’s too much—”

  "Keep it. And hide it on your way home," I said, ruffling his hair, already activating my Soul Storage to deposit the flowers. They'd stay fresh there until I needed them.

  Before the boy could insist otherwise, I excused myself. We walked away, and Sora nudged my ribs with her wing.

  "Why don't you give those to Lilian? She's right here, you know,” Sora suggested.

  "He shouldn't have taken the flowers at all," Lilian's tail swished in annoyance. "Just giving the gold coins was enough. The kid could have sold the rest."

  I shrugged, watching the morning sun paint the city walls golden. "If I hadn't taken them, he'd feel obligated to keep trying to sell them. This way, he can go home and rest. Or do whatever he needs to address fast with that money.”

  “You're such a softie," Sora teased.

  “His hurt leg just reminded me of some bad times…” I said, as we slowed down. Up ahead, the airship docks rose like giant metal ribs against the sky. Workers hurried around, loading cargo and preparing for takeoff.

  Oddly enough, it felt like a fresh start. Leaving the Outer God Cult’s mess to Amelia and the powerhouses of this city, while we focused on our own mission.

  The tang of engine oil and morning frost filled my lungs as we approached the gate. What a strange world, I noted. How was it that this pce had flying ships, doing the work of airpnes, but cked so many other modern stuff?,

  Well, it made sense if I thought about it. Technology advanced because of its needs, and in a world where magic existed, much of it wasn't needed. Some harder things developed while easier ones didn't.

  Above us, an airship floated like a castle in the sky, prompting Lilian to whistle. “Whoa, look at that…”

  Its hull was a fusion of enchanted wood and mana-infused metals, catching the light in a dazzling dispy. Runes glowed in shifting patterns along its surface, part of the complex array that kept this behemoth hovering over our heads.

  I paused at the bottom of the ramp, taking it all in. This wasn’t some cargo ship—the Eastern Wind was one of the empire’s top vessels, allowing travel from one continent to another. The kind that ferried nobles, diplomats, and apparently overambitious academy students.

  “Looks awesome,” Sora whispered, her wings fluttering like she could barely keep still. “I wanna race it,” she said. Above, translucent mana sails shimmered in the breeze, storing energy.

  Lilian took in the uniformed guards at the top of the ramp, her nose twitching. “Lot of security,” she muttered. “I count a dozen strong [Mages] and more [Knights] just in pin sight.”

  She wasn’t kidding. The dock was crawling with guards, their badges gleaming as they patrolled stacks of cargo and small clusters of wealthy travelers. One of them was scanning travel docs with some arcane seal.

  “Papers,” a stern-faced woman said when we reached the top. Her uniform sported the silver wings of the Imperial Sky Fleet, and her gaze screamed that she’d tossed more than one troublemaker off these ramps before.

  I handed her our permits and watched as she tapped an enchanted crystal over each one. They flickered with light before she handed them back with a curt nod.

  “Cabin assignments,” she said, giving us three small keys. “Upper deck, west wing. Don’t start trouble, dear students.”

  Some eyes lingered on Lilian’s swaying tail, but I ignored them. We boarded, and the scale of the ship really hit me. The main deck stretched out longer than my cssroom, yered decks towering above like a mansion afloat in the sky. Wooden rails polished to a shine, brass fixtures catching the sunlight...

  Through an open doorway, I caught a glimpse of a huge dining hall with crystal chandeliers, tables set with real fancy dishes. Another area seemed built for combat practice—reinforced walls, wards, the works. A spiral staircase curved up toward an observation deck at the ship’s bow.

  “Young master,” Lilian said, tugging on my sleeve. “Ain’t that the princess you fought?”

  Sora reminded her to keep her words more polished while I turned to the direction she pointed.

  As she'd said, I found Jin Ha-Yun over by the port railing, her distinctive uniform making her stand out in the crowd.

  She didn't spot me, busy chatting with the staff. Good to see at least one familiar face here. Was she returning home or what?

  “You two find our cabins,” I said, heading for the western staircase. “We’re in for a long three weeks. I'll be right back.”

  Lilian gave me a look but said nothing, just nodding in the end. Sora waved.

  I made my way to the main lounge toward the First Princess of Goryeo.

  Right by the big panoramic windows, she was sipping tea while staring at the clouds. The sunlight caught the jade pins in her hair, making them glow like tiny stars.

  She spotted me when I approached close, eyes sharp as ever as they glinted. A small, familiar smile graced her face.

  “Ah, what a surprise,” she said. “I didn't expect to see you here, Junior Romani.”

  Her voice still had that cool regal confidence from our duel, but now I picked up a subtle note of warmth… maybe curiosity.

  “Likewise, Princess,” I said, gesturing to the seat across from her. She nodded, and I slid into the seat. “I can only assume Lady Rosy Death is returning home? Sick of humiliating noble heirs?”

  She scoffed, setting down her teacup with careful grace. “Oh, drop that title, it makes me want to hide my face.”

  “Truly? It suits you,” I said.

  She ughed, “Doesn't mean it's not very embarrassing.”

  I humored her ugh and repeated, “But does that mean you're really returning home?”

  “It’s a short vacation. I had some days saved since I didn't return during st summer's vacation. I, uh… well, it's thanks to you,” she smiled at me.

  “I don't understand.”

  “Watching your Plum Blossom technique reminded me of something I’d forgotten. You helped me remember something important,” she said. “So I booked a ticket.”

  She was smiling, but her eyes shone with the same determination I remembered from our duel, that fierce glint that had made her such a formidable opponent.

  The memory of our csh was still fresh. Her precise movements, and the way she'd anticipated my techniques were great. This trip was getting more interesting by the second—and it was only the first day.

  I gave her an amicable grin, leaning back in my chair and studying her carefully composed expression. "Well, here's hoping we both find whatever it is we're chasing."

  “Sure thing,” she then cpped her hands as a servant slid beside her. “Pour three more cups for our guests here.”

  “I apologize for their behavior,” I sighed, my Demonic Sphere already telling me why she said ‘guests.’

  “It’s fine, really. Call your friends over. I always love to share my fine tea with my western friends,” she said, and I smiled. I turned to find Lilian and Sora staring at us while pretending like they were not. I waved at them, calling them here.

  Outside the window, the skies glowed with early sunlight as the engines hummed, ready for liftoff.

  Something about this moment felt like a calm before the storm as the four of us sat across the table and enjoyed Eastern tea. It felt like a chance to breathe before we faced whatever y beyond the horizon.

  Three weeks in the air with a rival, new adventures, and more than a few surprises lurking in the clouds. If this was the way east, then I was all in.

  Despite the peacefulness of the sky, as the ship took off, my mind moved to the topic of Shan Gui Highnds.

  I wondered if all would go according to pn, given the presence of Mountain Gods there…

  TheVeiledMan