In the southern continent, Thornokk, far away from the kingdom of Therionis,
Morning mist drifted through the vast forest, weaving between the emerald slopes of towering mountains.
The mountain peaks touched the high sky.
A residence stood gracefully atop one of the mountains, a secluded haven built in the classical Chinese courtyard style.
Its dark tiled roofs curved elegantly, each ridge flowing like a wave frozen in time.
Wooden beams, painted in deep crimson and framed with black lacquer, formed the sturdy structure of the compound.
The house was not a single building but a series of halls and wings arranged around an open central courtyard, enclosed by walls yet open to the sky.
Inside the courtyard, a grand old tree grew at its heart, its broad canopy casting soft shadows across the stone pavement.
The branches reached out like a guardian’s arms, their leaves whispering gently in the mountain breeze.
Around it, smaller plants and patches of moss flourished, softening the edges of the stone pathways that connected the inner rooms.
Each hall had its own charm.
Wooden doors with ornate latticework, paper windows glowing softly when sunlight passed through, and narrow corridors linking one chamber to another in quiet harmony of balance and order.
The faint fragrance of pine and tea leaves lingered in the air, blending with the distant songs of mountain birds.
The courtyard felt timeless, a place where nature and architecture existed in perfect accord.
The presence of the tree at its center gave the whole residence a sense of life, as though the house itself breathed with the rhythm of the mountains surrounding it.
Beneath it sat a man on a simple wooden chair. His black hair, long and straight, fell freely over his shoulders, catching the gentle breeze.
A loose robe of pale fabric draped around him, soft folds shifting with each movement.
He lifted a porcelain cup to his lips and took a slow sip, the faint aroma of tea mingling with the scent of dew-soaked leaves.
His gaze wandered toward the distant horizon calm, deep, unreadable.
His eyes dark. For a long moment, his expression remained still, carved in serenity.
Then, a small curve touched the corner of his mouth. He smiled.
"Something unexpected happened... Something that shouldn’t exist has come... interesting," he murmured, his voice quiet as the wind rustled through the trees.
Without another word, he took another sip, letting the warmth of the tea and the peace of the morning envelop him once more.
---
It was already evening.
The car was running, humming with the engine’s soft purr through Elarith City.
Amon and Selena had reached Elarith City, where Arcadia Academy stood.
"We’re getting close to the Academy~" Amon said. There was a smile on his face.
Just beside him sat Selena, looking out of the window.
Her eyes observed the scenery outside. It was the same city they had left a few days ago.
Yet, to her, it felt like she had come back after a long journey.
The Academy came into her view. It was perched on an emerald-green hill at the edge of the city.
The car moved toward it, getting closer and closer.
Beep! Beep!
The car came to a stop. Amon and Selena got out.
Amon expressed his gratitude to the driver, making Selena look at him with an amused expression.
Now,
They both stood in front of the Academy gate.
The Academy was, as always, grand.
Soaring towers of white marble and enchanted obsidian reached toward the sky, their smooth surfaces glowing faintly with magical sigils that shimmered in the dusk light.
Between them, arched skybridges made of translucent mana-glass connected the towers, glowing like moonlight as students strolled across them.
The guards at the gate recognized the princess, also the student council president.
They gave a polite bow to her and, without saying anything, opened the gates.
Selena walked with her head held high. There was pride on her face along with her usual cold expression.
’Look at her acting like a haughty cold princess,’ Amon thought while following behind her. At that moment, he looked like her follower.
The guards had the same thought.
As they walked through the campus area, Amon opened his mouth to talk.
"Now I need to go back to my dormitory room... Hah! I’ll miss your company, Senior."
He put both his hands in his pockets as he walked leisurely beside her.
Hearing what Amon said, Selena looked at him. Her cold red eyes continued to stare at him silently.
Her silent stare actually made Amon uncomfortable.
He rubbed the back of his head, trying to act normal — showing her he wasn’t bothered by her gaze.
"It’s already dinner time... Why don’t we go to the cafeteria and eat something nice? I bet you also want something tasty after that mess," she said calmly, then turned her face forward.
Of course, Amon couldn’t deny it. He wanted to eat something delicious now.
"Let’s go, Senior!" Amon turned his direction from the dormitory building to the cafeteria.
He walked faster now, eager to eat something delicious.
’Umm, my mouth is already watering!’ his thoughts weren’t much different.
Selena watched Amon walking hurriedly. Her lips curved a little as she followed him.
Her silver ponytail bounced with each step. She moved with grace, attracting attention from other students around — but that didn’t matter to her.
The truth was, she was even more eager to eat cafeteria food than Amon.
After all, those herbal dishes provided by the temple actually tasted like shit.
"Sigh... now that was an amazing dinner." Amon lay comfortably on his bed, caressing his stomach gently with satisfaction.
He had really eaten too much.
"Still, Senior Selena ate more than me... hehehe." He laughed, remembering how Selena had eaten more than him.
And she hadn’t left a single bite.
Then his laughter faded as he lay motionless on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a calm gaze.
But suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Wait! I forgot to check my stats!" he remembered the most exciting thing to do.
To see his progress,
"Status Window," he muttered without wasting a second.
And his eyes widened the moment he saw his status.