Sunlight filtered lazily through the arched windows, painting golden patterns on the wooden floor of my dorm room. For once, the world was quiet.
No countdowns blaring in my head.
No magical lectures.
No Damian setting something on fire.
Just peace. Warm sheets. A gentle breeze.
I cracked one eye open, stretching.
And then I realized—
I couldn't move.
Something heavy was pressing on my chest.
Soft. Warm. Breathing.
I blinked.
And came face-to-face with a girl.
Ash-grey hair spilled across my pillow like moonlight. Her skin was pale and smooth, almost translucent, like moonstone. Long lashes fluttered gently as she slept, her breath tickling my collarbone. She had sharp cheekbones, a small nose, and lips that were just slightly parted. Her body was—
"OH MY GOD—"
I flailed.
Arms, legs, blanket, dignity—everything went flying.
She groaned sleepily and tightened her grip, snuggling against me like I was a particularly comfortable body pillow.
"Nnngh… warm… don't move…"
I froze.
What. Is. Happening.
Had someone snuck in? Was this an assassination attempt? A prank? A hallucination?
Was I being haunted by a very cuddly ghost?
Then the door creaked open.
"Yo, Felix—"
Damian walked in.
Stopped.
Stared.
Smirked.
"Ohhhhhhhhhh."
I opened my mouth.
"Wait, this isn't—"
He put up a hand. "Say no more."
"Damian—"
"Say. No. More."
Then he gave me a double thumbs-up and slowly backed out of the room, grinning like a man who thought he'd just walked in on legendary material.
"I respect the hustle," he whispered as the door shut.
I died inside.
Repeatedly.
---
Eventually, the girl stirred.
She blinked open her crimson eyes, dazed and a little confused, before looking down at me.
"Oh," she said calmly. "You're awake."
I stared.
"You're on me."
"Yes," she nodded.
"…Why?"
A beat passed. She sat up on my stomach with an unnatural sort of grace, wearing a sleeveless black training robe. Her silver hair shimmered with residual mana.
Then she tilted her head.
"I was hungry."
I blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
She placed a hand on my chest—right over where the system sigil burned faintly beneath my skin.
"You poured too much mana into me last night," she said. "Without a proper vessel, that energy had nowhere to go. So I adapted."
"You what?"
She smiled. A little smug. A little proud.
"I manifested."
I stared. Then flailed. "You're my sword?!"
"Yes. Who else would I be?" She stretched her arms above her head like she'd just woken from a thousand-year nap. "Don't freak out. This is just… a better version of me."
A notification chimed.
[System Notice: Ego Weapon "??? – Unnamed" has reached Manifestation Threshold]
Bound Weapon now has Humanoid Form.
Warning: Form is sustained by Host's mana supply. Prolonged manifestation may cause mana depletion, headaches, dizziness, or inconvenient blood loss.
Current Mana Drain: Moderate (Stable)
I sat up with a groan. "I have so many questions."
"Then ask."
"What's your name?"
She blinked. "You haven't given me one."
"I can do that?"
"Obviously."
"Oh. Uh… I'll think about it."
"Don't take too long," she said, poking my cheek. "I refuse to be called Sword-chan or some tragic anime nonsense."
"I was going to say 'Crescent.'"
She paused.
Then smirked.
"…Acceptable."
---
I dragged myself to the kitchen a few minutes later, Crescent trailing behind me in a borrowed hoodie and leggings from the laundry basket.
"Is it weird I feel like I'm babysitting a moon spirit who also might murder me?"
She grinned. "Only if you say it out loud."
We were halfway through scrambled eggs when Damian kicked open the front door like a drama queen.
"I brought cinnamon rolls!" he declared.
Then he saw Crescent, sitting casually at the table, munching on a strawberry.
He froze.
"You—wait—she's—still here?"
I sighed. "Damian, it's not what you think."
His eyes widened. "So you're in a relationship?"
"No!"
Crescent smiled serenely and leaned her chin on her palm. "He's shy."
"I am not! Tell him!"
"Oh, I could," she said. "But watching you suffer is more fun."
I groaned.
Damian clutched his heart. "Felix… my boy… you're growing up so fast…"
"I'm going to the roof," I muttered. "To jump."
---
[System Notice: Ego Weapon "Crescent" now Bound to User – Full Affinity Unlocked]
Skills Unsealed:
– Moonveil Slash (WIL-Based Sword Wave)
– Gleaming Bind (Short-range paralysis bind)
– Crescent Whisper (Passive Awareness Boost)
Ego Affinity: High
She is very pleased.
---
And just like that… Operation: Don't Die had gained a partner.
A very smug, gorgeous, terrifying partner who may or may not steal my bed again.
I didn't know whether to be happy or terrified.
Maybe both.
Definitely both.
---
The door to the shared dorm creaked open for the third and hopefully final time that morning.
Alex stepped in, hair tousled from sleep, still dressed in a loose shirt and sweatpants. He blinked blearily at the scene like someone stepping into a dream they didn't remember falling asleep in.
"What… is all this noise about?"
He yawned.
Then he looked.
And froze.
His sleepy gaze landed on Crescent first—curled up casually on the kitchen stool, barefoot, silver hair trailing down her back, red eyes gleaming with lazy amusement as she plucked another strawberry from the bowl and popped it in her mouth.
Then his eyes tracked over to me—Felix—sitting beside her with yet another half-buttoned shirt (seriously, buttons were my greatest enemy), hair still messy, trying desperately to finish my toast without combusting from embarrassment.
Then Damian.
Sitting cross-legged on the counter, happily devouring scrambled eggs and strips of sizzling magic beast bacon like this was all perfectly normal.
Alex blinked again.
Slowly.
Mechanically.
"I…"
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"…You got a girlfriend?"
Crescent coughed on her strawberry.
Damian gave a mighty snort. "Told you he was a late bloomer!"
"I don't—she's not—this isn't—" I groaned and dropped my toast.
Crescent smiled sweetly, licking strawberry juice off her thumb. "Technically, I'm his sword."
Alex blinked again. "That… doesn't make it better."
"Thank you!" I said, pointing accusingly.
"You summoned her? In human form?"
"Unintentionally!"
"She was on top of him this morning," Damian added helpfully through a mouthful of bacon.
"WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS—"
Alex turned pink. Not red. Pink.
He looked down at his slippers. "I'm… going to brush my teeth."
Then turned.
And immediately walked into the doorframe.
"—Ow."
He retreated in silence.
---
Ten minutes later, all four of us were gathered around the breakfast table.
Well, three of us were eating. Crescent was feeding herself fruit with disturbing grace. Damian was stealing my bacon. Alex was sipping tea with both hands, avoiding eye contact.
I finished buttoning my shirt. Properly. Finally.
"So," Damian said, pointing his fork at Crescent. "Are you, like, gonna live here now?"
Crescent tilted her head. "That depends on your tolerance for high mana drain and sarcastic commentary."
"She means yes," I muttered.
Alex finally spoke, voice calm and polite. "Does she wear clothes when she sleeps?"
Crescent smirked. "Not always."
Alex's cup shattered in his hands.
"Okay!" I clapped once. "Topic change."
---
After breakfast, Alex cleaned up (silently), Crescent vanished back into sword form with a shimmer of silver light, and Damian declared he was going to "track down love at the potion district" before winking and disappearing out the door like an idiot.
I was left standing in the kitchen, sighing.
Just another normal morning in magical boarding school.
Except now my sword was a girl.
A beautiful, smug, mana-draining girl who liked strawberries and my bed.
And Alex was definitely acting weirder than usual.
I needed to train. Or sleep. Or maybe get hit by a wagon to reset the week.
---
[System Notice: Ego Manifestation Duration Limit – 6 Hours Per Day (Based on Current Mana Recovery)]
Tip: Increase WIL or Bond Affinity to extend form stability.
Crescent is humming. She likes strawberries.
---
As I retreated back into my room to plan my afternoon drills, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror.
Tired eyes. Flushed cheeks. A slanted smile.
Yeah.
I was doomed.