*Chapter 5: New Friends, Old Secrets*
The morning sun spilled gold over Jade Spirit Academy's sprawling courtyards as the group gathered for breakfast, their laughter bouncing off the stone walls. Jin Ming's loud protests about Bao Yu's sneaky seedling reaching for his dumplings echoed through the hall.
> "That little green menace almost stole my breakfast again!" Jin grumbled, swatting around Bao Yu's plant, which wiggled mischievously in response.
Bao Yu grinned sheepishly. "Hey, it's just helping with the flavor!"
After breakfast, their first enchanted classes began—alchemy where pots bubbled in strange colors, charms class with floating talismans, and history lectures that played out like living scrolls. They watched a shy girl with frost trailing her footsteps freeze a water drop in her palm, and a boy hover nervously above the floor, thrilled and terrified by his own magic.
During breaks, they explored twisting halls and peeked at other students—some with flickering shadows, others whose laughter rained sparks onto their tables. After lunch, the friends—feeling more like a team—found shade beneath a cherry blossom tree to share stories.
Chen Xiulan's eyes shone with pride as she spoke of her myth-hunting family. Mei Fen grinned, telling mischief-filled tales from the orphanage and confessing her long-held belief in dragons. Bao Yu made everyone laugh about a farm where radishes talked back, and Jin Ming bragged about "almost" burning down a dojo (multiple times). Even stoic Li Wei opened up, sharing the struggle of hearing too many voices and finally finding people he could trust.
Their laughter blended with the breeze, friendship glowing brighter than any spell. But as night fell, a whisper wound through the dorm walls.
"Did you hear that?" Chen Xiulan whispered.
"Probably just the wind," Jin Ming said, though his eyes were fixed on the darkness.
Mei Fen clutched her charm. "Or maybe something... waiting."
Bao Yu just smiled as his seedling nuzzled his cheek. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Outside, hidden eyes watched, waiting for the magic—and the fun—to begin again.