"Everything granted by fate comes with a price tag; a girl who indulges in luxury yet has no family background will eventually fall."
Even in the Interstellar Era, society still reveres the strong. Valke, also of humble origin and with no background, has, through his formidable personal strength, earned considerable attention and respect at the academy. Even some young nobles and ladies support him discreetly, as an early investment.
Now in the first year at Edith Academy, apart from the most flamboyant Kinsenke, it is Valke who has the greatest reputation, followed by Efnie, the 'Flame's Goldfish Princess,' a genius neither in family heritage nor talent.
Listening to Annelli describe her image among everyone, Tilan wanted to laugh, yet couldn't.
"Though being mocked as a vase, such a disguise seems not too bad, certainly better than becoming the center of attention after revealing my true strength," she thought.
"It's indeed nice to have a reputation, but actually, I'm quite afraid of trouble," the black-haired girl mused, propping up her elbow with her hand.
"I might as well just go along with what everyone thinks and let them believe I'm just a vase." The thought brought a certain joy of mischief to Tilan who had always been a good child. This novelty held its own appeal.
"If there's a need for combat, I'll let Ran Bei'er handle it. Speaking of which, has Ran Bei'er returned?" Some time ago, after winning Ran Bei'er over, she said she needed to handle some family matters and took a leave of absence.
"Ran Bei'er said she needs another week before she can come back," Annelli shook her head. The last time the elite forces raided Ran Bei'er's family castle, much was destroyed, and she needed to go back to deal with it, as well as to make arrangements for some of her kind.
"Then let's start forming a club. I need to think of a good name."
"First, there's the club's purpose and main activities, then recruitment," Annelli explained the academy's clubs to the girl.
"Based on the club's purpose and activities, we can apply for activity funds from Edith Academy. Given its wealth, that would be a considerable sum of money."
"I see..." the girl pondered, resting her head on her wrists and burying her face in the desk deep in thought.
Unconsciously, her mind drifted back to the night a few days ago, to the scene she dreamt while sinking in the water.
Her talent and crystals were related to time; she could always see the remnants of past eras, witnessing scenes forgotten by others.
Nostalgia, awe, sorrow, feeling insignificant in the face of history and greatness... she savored the emotions and feelings that rose within her.
It's just like twilight... The girl suddenly remembered that distant epoch in history.
Dark storm clouds shrouded the sky, ruins and mutated creatures littered the land, and humanity woke from its slumber, pressing onward toward the skies behind the clouds.
Escaping from the dusty, radioactive, and toxic environment of the ground, they built cities and a world atop floating clouds under the clear blue sky.
Relying on academics and shared ideals, people of like minds slowly formed different factions, each representing human hopes and aspirations for the future.
This was the Twilight Era—submerged in dust, filled with romance and beautiful ideals.
"The club's name will be 'Twilight Orchestra'."
In a world where no seven-colored flowers bloom and the land of Fairies is no more, all that was beautiful has been tarnished in the Fifth Epoch. The ideal realm far from the mundane no longer exists. Only beneath the dark clouds of twilight can one sing alone, break free from dire environments, and forge a future under a new sky.