By the time Setis emerged from the entrance, she had changed back into her academy uniform. Her combat robes had gathered quite a bit of dust during the match and weren't suitable for wearing out. Her long golden hair was once again tied in a high ponytail, swaying gently with every step.
Several people were standing in the corridor outside the exit. As expected, Mila and Thor had come to watch the match, along with two other classmates from the Second-Year Special Class. The group was surrounding Li Yuan, chattering away. Mila was particularly expressive, gesturing wildly as she mimicked the movements of Setis’s final Flame Star Fall while making "boom" sound effects. Thor stood beside her, occasionally interjecting to correct a detail about her description of the spellcasting.
Li Yuan maintained his usual gentle demeanor, tilting his head slightly to listen to them and nodding in agreement from time to time.
The sound of Setis’s approaching footsteps caused Mila to look back first.
“Ah, Setis!”
Mila’s eyes darted quickly between Setis and Li Yuan before an extremely forced "I just remembered I have things to do" expression appeared on her face. She grabbed Thor’s sleeve and gave the other two classmates a meaningful look.
“Um—we still have to go back and prepare things for tomorrow’s classroom, right Thor?”
Thor was yanked so hard he stumbled, his glasses nearly falling off. Before he could speak, Mila was already dragging him backward.
“Right, right, right. We still have tomorrow, and we need to restock the refreshment ingredients...”
The other two classmates weren't fools either and immediately chimed in. “Oh, right, right! We need to get back to the stall too.”
“Setis, you were amazing today!”
“Incredible! We’re heading out first—”
As if they had rehearsed it, the group vanished in an instant.
Setis stood there, watching their retreating backs. Her brow furrowed for a moment before relaxing, though she said nothing.
Li Yuan shook his head with a smile and stepped forward.
“Congratulations. It was a brilliant match.”
He spoke with a casual tone, as if commenting on the nice weather, but the smile on his face was exceptionally sincere.
The tension in Setis’s expression softened. She tilted her head, feigning indifference as she replied, “It was alright. Even though that guy had the title of a Rank 3, he was too slow. With such a long casting delay, only an idiot would get caught.”
“That fireball was very beautiful.”
“Flame Star Fall,” Setis corrected him, her tone carrying a hint of pride she couldn't quite hide. “I modified it myself. I removed the second-stage compression and went straight to a single-stage formation. It actually increased the power. My teacher said the logic behind it was quite good last time they saw it.”
“It is indeed quite good.”
Li Yuan’s expression was serious as he said those words, which caught Setis off guard for a moment. Her lips then curled upward uncontrollably.
A brief silence followed.
Setis stood still, her hand unconsciously brushing the base of her staff. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but the words were swallowed back and replaced with a technical analysis of the match.
“Actually, Gar’s defense wasn't bad. Even though my strike broke through his Earth Guardian, at least he wasn't seriously injured... anyone else might not have been able to stand back up.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“But his problem is that he relies too much on his shield. A warrior needs to do more than just block. Even I could—”
“Miss Setis.”
Li Yuan suddenly spoke.
Setis’s voice cut off abruptly as she looked up at him.
Li Yuan maintained that same gentle smile, speaking unhurriedly. “I’m still not very familiar with this academy. If you don't have any other plans, would you mind acting as my guide for a while?”
Setis blinked.
It took her two seconds to process what he had said. She immediately turned her face away, replying in an extremely forced, nonchalant tone, “Fine. I don't have anything else to do anyway.”
“Then I shall trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble.”
As she said those words, she was already stepping forward.
Li Yuan followed at her side, and the two walked out of the martial arts arena’s side corridor together.
The afternoon sun was no longer piercing, and the crowds in the academy were thinner than in the morning. Occasionally, passing students would recognize Setis and cast looks of awe and respect, but no one dared to approach. Setis led Li Yuan past the training grounds of the Martial Arts Division. There was a row of outdoor wooden stakes and several sandbags for melee practice. A few students in training gear were sparring. One was slammed to the ground with a dull thud, prompting a burst of jeering from his companions.
“That’s the daily training area for the warrior department,” Setis pointed out. “They usually have classes in the morning, so it’s empty in the afternoon. It’s open for public experience during the anniversary celebration. The one who just got thrown was probably a visitor.”
“That looks quite painful.”
“It’s only that much. People in the warrior department are thick-skinned; a few falls won't hurt them.”
Li Yuan looked at the sandbags, deep in thought. On the Kyushu Continent, disciples in the refinement stage had similar training methods, except they threw stones.
The two continued forward, passing an old building covered in ivy. Setis introduced it as the library, which had been there since the academy’s founding. The bookshelves inside were made of black oak, and the interior carried the scent of old books. Li Yuan stood at the entrance for a moment, peering through the half-open door, thinking he might like to sit inside if he had the chance in the future.
Beyond the library was a small lake. Several stalls were set up on the grass by the shore—some sold handmade magic items, others offered live mana tattoos, and there was a small stage where seven or eight paper cranes were being controlled by magic to fly through the air. The cranes reflected a faint silver light in the sun as several children chased them around.
Setis didn't say much, merely walking half a step ahead of Li Yuan, occasionally looking back to make sure he was still there. As they passed the stall selling magic items, she stopped to look at a hairclip—a small accessory said to create a faint starlight effect in the hair.
The stall owner was a third-year girl who froze upon seeing Setis before stuttering out a price.
However, Setis simply gave it a brief look before putting the hairclip back.
“You don't like it?” Li Yuan asked.
“Too flashy.”
She continued walking after saying that.
Li Yuan glanced at the hairclip, then at Setis’s meticulously tied ponytail, and smiled without saying a word.
The two made a loop along the lakeside path before circling back to the main road. The anniversary stalls were starting to pack up one by one. In the distance, cheers could still be heard from the martial arts arena, likely from the subsequent matches. The clouds on the horizon were dyed a pale orange by the setting sun, and the magic streetlamps in the academy lit up in sequence, their soft white glow especially gentle in the twilight.
Setis looked at the sky, her footsteps suddenly halting.
“What is it?”
“There’s a family dinner tonight.”
Her tone carried an almost undisguised reluctance.
“Father said the whole family must have a meal together during the anniversary celebration. My brother has probably already headed over.”
Li Yuan nodded, saying nothing more—family dinners were indeed important.
Setis turned to face him, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Then you—”
“I know the way back to the hotel,” Li Yuan said with a smile.
Setis opened her mouth, appearing somewhat dissatisfied with the answer, but she couldn't find a proper reason to argue. Finally, she just dropped a line: “There’s still half a day left for the refreshment booth tomorrow. You better show up.” Her tone sounded like a command, but her eyes were already drifting elsewhere.
“Very well, as you wish.”
Li Yuan agreed readily.
Only then did Setis nod in satisfaction, turning to walk quickly toward the academy gates. After a few steps, she looked back once, waved her hand toward him, and then quickened her pace.
Li Yuan watched the back with the golden ponytail gradually merge into the twilight. For no reason at all, he suddenly remembered a nominal disciple he had taken back on the Kyushu Continent. That child had been the same—saying nothing, yet always looking back whenever it was time to part.
Rate on N.U.
