As the forest grew quieter, the weight of their decisions settled over them, each step forward feeling heavier than the last.
The evening light painted the path with streaks of gold and amber as Yuxin trudged toward the academy. Her steps were heavy, and her shadows writhed faintly around her, reflecting her irritation.
"Stupid Blanche," she muttered under her breath, kicking a loose rock off the path. "Always thinking she knows best. Drag an elf into the academy? What's next, a dragon?"
Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn't notice the figure standing further ahead, leaning casually against a tree. The man wore a dark cloak, his sharp eyes glinting as he observed her approach.
"Lost, are we?" the man asked, his voice smooth but carrying a dangerous edge.
Yuxin stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "What's it to you?"
The man pushed off the tree, walking closer with measured steps. "You came from the direction of Myrdvawein. Tell me—have you seen an elf?"
Yuxin's pulse quickened, but she kept her expression neutral. "An elf? Haven't seen one. Why would I?"
The man's lips curved into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained cold. "A shame. I've been searching for one. A rare creature like that is worth more than you could imagine."
Yuxin's hands balled into fists at her sides. "Well, you're out of luck. Maybe try the next forest over."
The man tilted his head, as if studying her. "You're a terrible liar."
Before Yuxin could respond, he flicked his wrist, and a dagger flew through the air toward her.
Instinct took over. Yuxin's shadows surged, a dark tendril whipping up to deflect the blade midair. It clattered to the ground harmlessly, but her glare burned with fury.
"Big mistake," she hissed, her shadows spreading across the ground like rippling waves.
The man's smirk widened as he drew another blade from his belt. "Good reflexes. Let's see if you can keep up."
Without warning, he lunged, his movements quick and precise. Yuxin barely had time to dodge, her shadows coiling around her arms like protective armor. She countered with a sweeping strike, her shadow tendrils lashing out, but he danced out of reach with practiced ease.
"Not bad," he remarked, his tone almost mocking. "But not good enough."
Yuxin gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling as she pressed the attack. Her shadows lashed out like whips, aiming for his legs, his arms, his torso—anything to throw him off balance. But he was fast, sidestepping and parrying with an agility that infuriated her.
"What's your deal?" Yuxin snapped, her voice sharp. "You pick fights with every stranger you meet?"
The man chuckled darkly. "Only the ones hiding something."
Yuxin's eyes narrowed, her shadows surging with renewed intensity. "Fine. Let's see how much you can handle."
The battle raged on, the clash of Yuxin's shadowy tendrils against the man's precise, ruthless strikes filling the air. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath as the two combatants danced between light and dark, neither gaining a decisive advantage.
"Is this all you've got?" the man taunted, sidestepping another strike from Yuxin's shadows. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, as though he was toying with her.
Yuxin gritted her teeth, sweat trickling down her temple. "You talk too much."
She sent a wave of shadows surging toward him, twisting and curling like serpents ready to strike. But he was faster—his blade flashed, slicing through the dark tendrils as though they were nothing.
"You can't keep this up," he said, his voice calm but dangerous. "You're outmatched."
Yuxin backed off with a heavy breath, her stance faltering slightly. He wasn't wrong—her energy was draining fast, and his precision was relentless. She needed to find a way out.
The man lunged again, his blade a blur as it sliced through the air. Yuxin barely managed to dodge, stumbling back against a tree. Her shadows coiled protectively around her, but they were slower now, weaker.
"You've got nowhere to run," the man said, his smirk widening. "Give up."
Yuxin's mind raced. Her shadows flickered, forming a decoy—a perfect replica of her arm, extending from the real one.
The man didn't hesitate. With a swift strike, his blade cleaved through the decoy, dispersing it into a swirl of inky darkness.
For a brief moment, he paused, his eyes narrowing as he realized the trick. But it was enough.
Yuxin's real arm shot out, her shadows latching onto a nearby tree branch. With a surge of strength, she swung herself upward, disappearing into the canopy above.
The man cursed under his breath, scanning the trees. "Clever."
From her perch high above, Yuxin glanced down at him, her heart pounding. "Better luck next time," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Without waiting to see if he followed, she leaped from branch to branch, the dense foliage concealing her escape. The adrenaline coursing through her veins was the only thing keeping her moving as she fled toward the safety of the academy.
The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the curtains of the dorm room as Blanche quietly pushed the door open. The faint sound of Yuxin's steady breathing filled the room, her figure sprawled across the bed with her shadows faintly rippling at the edges of the mattress.
Blanche tiptoed inside, her footsteps light against the wooden floor. She glanced at Yuxin's sleeping face, her usual sharp features softened in slumber. A faint smile tugged at Blanche's lips as she thought, Even Yuxin has her moments of peace.
Careful not to make a sound, Blanche moved closer. Her curiosity got the better of her as she leaned down, studying her friend's expression.
"Hmm... Yuxin," Blanche whispered softly, almost amused.
Suddenly, Yuxin's eyes shot open. In one swift motion, she bolted upright—only to collide headfirst with Blanche.
CRACK!
"Agh!" Blanche yelped, stumbling back while clutching her forehead.
"Damn it!" Yuxin groaned, rubbing her head with a scowl. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Blanche winced, trying to regain her composure. "I... I didn't mean to wake you!"
Yuxin glared at her, her voice still rough from sleep. "What kind of lunatic leans that close to someone while they're sleeping?!"
Blanche straightened, her cheeks flushed. "I was just—checking if you were okay! You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you!"
"Well, the mission failed!" Yuxin snapped, still rubbing her forehead. "Ugh, what time is it anyway?"
Blanche glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's evening. I thought you'd want to wake up before dinner."
Yuxin sighed, flopping back onto her bed. "Next time, just shake me awake like a normal person."
Blanche couldn't help but laugh softly. "I'll keep that in mind. But maybe you shouldn't react like someone's attacking you in your sleep."
Yuxin shot her a pointed look. "Force of habit."
Blanche smiled, the awkward tension giving way to their usual dynamic. "Well, now that you're up, shall we head to the dining hall?"
Yuxin grumbled under her breath but swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Fine, but only because I'm starving. And you owe me for the headbutt."
"Fair enough," Blanche replied with a chuckle, already heading toward the door.
As the two left the dorm room, the lingering soreness in their foreheads seemed like a small price to pay for the moment of humor and camaraderie they'd shared. The warm light of the sun rising painted the academy grounds in hue of blues and oranges. Blanche and Yuxin walked side by side through the cobblestone paths, the soft rustling of the trees and distant chatter of students creating a tranquil atmosphere. Yuxin, with her hands tucked into her pockets, broke the silence.
"Blanche, I need to ask you something." Her voice was unusually subdued.
Blanche glanced at her companion with a calm expression. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
Yuxin's brow furrowed slightly. "When you left the forest, did you see anyone? A man, maybe? Someone... suspicious."
Blanche tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "No, I didn't. After you left, Ruka and I only stayed for a few more minutes to gather our belongings, and with a matter of fact…finishing our unfinished business.. Why do you ask?"
Yuxin's steps slowed. She cast her gaze downward, her jaw tightening as if weighing her words carefully. "I ran into someone on my way back to the academy. Let's just say... he wasn't exactly friendly."
Blanche's expression grew serious. "What happened? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Yuxin replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "He was looking for the elf—Vila. He didn't compromise his reason, but it wasn't hard to figure out he had bad intentions. We fought for a bit, but..." She trailed off, her frustration evident. "Let's just say it didn't end in my favor."
Blanche's gaze softened with concern. "Yuxin, that sounds serious. Did you tell anyone about this?"
"And say what? 'Oh, by the way, some random guy in the forest tried to kill me'? Yeah, that'll go over great." Yuxin scoffed, though her tone lacked its usual bite. "Besides, he's not the problem. What matters is that he was after Vila."
Blanche placed a gentle hand on Yuxin's shoulder, her voice steady. "If he's targeting Vila, we need to warn her. She has a right to know."
Yuxin's expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I know. But you saw how she is—stubborn, aloof. She probably already knows and doesn't care."
Blanche shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Vila might seem distant, but I don't think she's indifferent. She's just... cautious. We'll find a way to help her, whether she wants it or not."
Yuxin sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "You're really set on this, aren't you?"
"Of course," Blanche said simply. "She helped us when she didn't have to. It's only fair we do the same for her."
Yuxin chuckled dryly. "You're too good for your own sake."
"Perhaps," Blanche replied with a light laugh. "That is exactly why we make such a good team."
Yuxin rolled her eyes but didn't argue. As they continued their walk, the faint sound of bells chiming in the distance signaled the approach of afternoon. Though their conversation had ended, an unspoken understanding lingered between them. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.
"Speaking about that, I need to tell you something. Yesterday, when you stormed off so suddenly, I talked to Vila for a while.", Blanche muttered while the sound of their heels clacked against the stone floor.
Yuxin groaned in quiet, when she found how the topic shifted back to what's happening yesterday. "Guuurgh. So, how did it go?"
Blanche let out a small hint of a smile, her lips tucking with a positive light. She nods, "Vila agreed to cooperate, she'll be joining our academy. But it will take some time for her to pack her belongings and adjust her life over this kind of environment."
"Wait, really?! She's-", Yuxin's words immediately stopped, a hand tapped her shoulder as they spoke, and even Blanche couldn't notice the sudden approach that quick.
"Hello, it's not nice to talk behind people's backs. While the person you're talking about is right behind you", The blonde elf said with no expression at all, her words hanging in the air as silence enveloped them three.
Vila was still wearing her robe, trespassing into the school grounds and possibly using her magic to slip away between guards and other students that were still preparing for the academy's official start in three days.
It is three days before school officially opens.
"W-WHA, hey! Did you really have to pop like a ghost every time you try to talk to someone?!", Yuxin snorts with a shocked look, her chest heaving from a sudden jolt caused by the elf's abrupt presence.
"Sure.", Vila replied without any sense of remorse.
Yuxin retorted back, her face seemingly flustered. "That's not-"
"Enough, by any means, I had to register her into the school authorities to enroll her into the academy officially. Let's say, I will arrange this and that, considering Vila is a promising student.", Blanche said, breaking the fuss between Yuxin and the blonde elf's unique behavior.
"While that might be the case, my parents won't be satisfied if I cause a scheme before the academy starts. So that way, I need to make a proposal for both my parents and this academy.", Blanche added.
Her eyes shifted over Vila who was standing beside them cluelessly, looking right and left as some students passed them on the courtyard, whispering one and another due to the elf's presence. Not because she's temporarily letting herself be seen, but because Vila isn't wearing a proper academy attire.
"Mayhap, it should probably take around a day to get things done. While waiting, Vila could stay in our room. You got better ideas?", Blanche said while she stared at Vila, expecting the elf's answer.
"Your room, right. I thought I could stroll around the streets, sleeping on rooftops.", Vila replied with a neutral look, not a smile could be spotted on her flat face.
"Ha-ha. So funny, but whatever…I guess it will work if it's you who takes care of this complicated stuff.", Yuxin scratched ruffles of her hair, slowly understanding the depth of the situation they were in.
Yuxin stared at the elf with a dumbfounded look, her confusion visible. If Vila was less aloof than most people, others would've been thinking Vila was actually being serious on doing things.
"While waiting for Blanche to do her…things, you better refrain from causing a ruckus around the academy.", Yuxin explained as she expected for the elf to understand her intentions in a single go.
"Three days, Vila. Just three days, I want you to not become the main attraction and spread weird rumors on this and that.", Yuxin continues.
"Mhm, alright. Since you're the one asking.", Vila responded bluntly, her tone unchanged while some curiosity was lying underneath her words.