Late into the night.
In a standard first-year student dorm room within the girls' dormitory area of Glory Cael Magic Academy, steam hadn't fully dissipated, and the air still carried the faint, unique scent of a young woman's room.
Soft magic wall lamps bathed the room in a warm yellow glow.
Silvia had just finished bathing.
She sat on the edge of her single bed by the window, clad only in a thin cotton nightgown.
The nightgown was simple: a round neck, short sleeves, reaching her knees. The soft fabric clung to her body, outlining the nascent curves of a young woman.
Bathed in hot water, her exposed skin—her slender neck, rounded shoulders, gracefully sculpted arms and calves—all glowed with a healthy, alluring pink, like ripe peaches ready to burst with juice at the slightest touch.
A few wet strands of pink hair clung to her smooth temples and cheeks, tiny water droplets still clinging to the ends, slowly trailing down.
Barefoot, her jade-like feet stepped onto the cool, clean wooden floor.
Her toes curled slightly from the floor's coolness; the skin on her instep was so fair it was almost translucent, revealing faint blue veins beneath. Her ankles were delicate, and her arch was gracefully curved.
Water droplets slid down her calves, past her exquisite ankles, finally gathering at her heels and dripping onto the floor, leaving a few dark, circular marks.
She turned slightly, one hand unconsciously twisting the hem of her nightgown, the other propped on the bed frame. Her gaze was unfocused as she stared ahead, the light from the wall lamp reflected in her pink eyes, yet they appeared somewhat hollow, having lost their usual purity and brightness.
On her beautiful face, still flushed from her bath, there was no expression of relaxation or contentment. Instead, it was veiled by a faint shadow of melancholy.
The reason was simple.
This afternoon, she had gone to the Academy Affiliated Hospital to visit her friend Victoria, who was still recuperating from her injuries.
During their casual chat, Victoria casually mentioned that Senior Greg had secretly visited her in the ward again the night before last to check on her recovery.
This casual mention, however, was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, stirring up circles of unceasable ripples in Silvia's heart.
Since returning from the dungeon together a few days ago and parting ways at the entrance, she hadn't seen Senior Greg again.
She had expected that after experiencing the dangers of the deep dungeon together, fighting side-by-side, and even, one might say, rescuing three Seniors, their relationship should be closer than that of ordinary Senior and Junior—at the very least, it shouldn't be so distant that they couldn't even meet.
Yet the reality was, Senior Greg hadn't proactively sought her out even once.
Instead, without her knowledge, he had again gone alone to visit Victoria.
This differential treatment was like a tiny thorn, silently piercing Silvia's heart.
It wasn't intense, but it persistently brought a subtle, sour pang, leaving her mood in a dejected and messy state since that afternoon.
Why... doesn't Senior Greg come to see me?
Does he think... we have nothing to talk about?
Or perhaps, in his eyes, I'm still just a Junior who needs looking after, while Victoria is a more important friend?
Of course, Silvia's rationality tried to make excuses for Greg.
She told herself that it was perhaps normal for Senior Greg not to seek her out.
They were merely ordinary Senior and Junior, and had not even known each other for long.
He had no obligation, nor any reason, to specifically care for her.
His visit to the injured Victoria was likely just out of guilt for his previous actions; it was perfectly reasonable.
“But...”
Another voice in her heart weakly countered.
But... I also want to talk to Senior Greg.
I want to know how he's been doing in the dungeon recently, if there's anything else I can help him with...
She had even mustered the courage several times, wondering whether she should actively go to the dungeon to coincidentally meet Senior Greg, or simply go in search of him.
But each time that thought arose, it was followed by immense hesitation and retreat.
What reason could I give to look for him?
To say I just want to chat?
That would sound too strange... Senior Greg would definitely find me annoying, wouldn't he?
Moreover, Senior Greg always seems busy, constantly striving to conquer the dungeon.
If I just show up, would I disturb him and hinder his important work?
All these worries intertwined, preventing her from ever taking that step.
She could only suppress this inexplicable longing and desire to draw closer deep within her heart, turning it into a barely audible sigh as she sat alone by the window, and the persistent look of worry and frustration etched on her brows.
“Why... do I keep thinking about Senior Greg recently, without even realizing it?”
Silvia murmured to herself, her voice filled with confusion and self-reflection.
She cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands in annoyance, then propped her elbows on the windowsill, resting her chin as her pink eyes stared blankly out the window.
In the night sky, a silver-disk moon hung high, casting its pure radiance and coating the outlines of the academy buildings with a cold, silver edge.
The moonlight was beautiful, clear and full, but reflected in Silvia's eyes, it only made her feel that its glow was somewhat cold, somewhat... lonely.
Just then—
“BOOM!!!”
A muffled yet incredibly penetrating explosion suddenly ripped through the night's tranquility without warning, erupting from somewhere not far from the girls' dormitory area!
The massive boom echoed through the silent campus, even causing the windows of Silvia's dorm building to vibrate and hum faintly.
“Agh!”
“What was that sound?!”
“What happened?!”
“An explosion?! Where did it explode?!”
The entire girls' dormitory building was instantly startled!
Lights flashed on in windows that had gradually darkened, their occupants either asleep or quiet.
Awakened, the girls scrambled to open their windows, poking their heads out, looking and discussing in a mixture of panic and curiosity towards the direction of the huge sound.
Above that direction, faint plumes of thick smoke could be seen rising, starkly conspicuous under the moonlight.
During student days, especially for young women at the peak of their curiosity, major events happening around them naturally sparked excitement.
Fear was quickly replaced by excitement and a desire for investigation; the dorm building was filled with chirping chatter and speculation, everyone discussing what had happened. Was it a laboratory accident?
Or had Demons invaded the academy?
Rate on N.U.
