Crisp birdsong woke the early morning at Carillian Academy. The sky was only just beginning to brighten—dawn light barely brushed the treetops, then filtered through leaves and window gauze and fell onto the thick, cozy wooden floorboards.

Like always, Vinny was roused by Shicodale.

Like always, he ate the breakfast Shicodale made.

Like always, the two of them chatted in that half-sentence, half-sentence way.

“Dale, your sweet corn soup has risen an entire realm again.” Vinny praised him while sipping.

“Huh? Really?”

“Of course it’s real. You’ve been cooking for ages now, training for ages. I’ve watched you grow bit by bit—from the start all the way to now. I know exactly how much you’ve improved. Are my words not authoritative enough?”

“Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Vinny.” Shicodale couldn’t hide how happy he was. “Then... when I first started learning to cook, did it not taste very good?”

“You want the truth?” Vinny glanced at him.

“Mhm!”

“If you want the truth, then yeah. You were a beginner—how good could it possibly taste? When anyone’s a beginner at cooking, it’s bound to be less than ideal. That’s normal. What great chef didn’t get good through repetition and practice?”

Of course, Aesphyra was an inhuman exception. She learned anything at a terrifying speed—so fast it was like she couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

“But you improved fast.” Vinny went on. “After all, you’ve been cooking for me every day. Your growth’s been steady the whole time. I feel like you can even start summarizing your own tips and experience now.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

“Especially recently—no, to be precise, today. Your cooking made a huge leap.” Vinny finished his sweet corn soup. “Maybe it’s because I won’t be eating it for a while, so it tastes extra good.”

“I see...”

[Virtue +50]

[Current Virtue: 5419]

After breakfast, Vinny helped Shicodale clean up the bowls and utensils. Maybe both of them hoped time could slow down a little.

Someone you saw every day, someone who lived under the same roof—now they were about to separate for a while. They didn’t even know exactly when they’d see each other again. It felt... unfamiliar.

While Shicodale was tidying up, he kept sneaking glances at Vinny beside him.

They were about to part ways. Even if it was “just” a practical assessment, even if it was only temporary, it was still a separation—and it made Shicodale understand, again, the weight Vinny held in his heart.

[Virtue +100]

[Current Virtue: 5519]

...Huh??

Vinny couldn’t help feeling strange when he saw the Virtue change.

That Virtue could only be coming from Shicodale—but Vinny hadn’t done anything at all.

Did Shicodale learn Mirexia’s passive or something...?

After they finished cleaning up, got everything in the house in order, and latched the windows, they packed their respective luggage, stepped out the door, and locked the front gate.

They would be gone for a while. These were all things that needed to be handled properly, and Shicodale did it meticulously. He had probably already started treating this place as a little nest for him and Vinny—he was attached to it.

Carrying their bags, the two of them gradually left the dorm area, walking shoulder to shoulder through the streets. They passed through the commercial street and the connecting bridge and arrived outside the campus gates, where many unicorn carriages were parked.

Now they had to split up. Their destinations weren’t the same—one was within the empire, while the other was out on an unmanaged border line.

Relatively speaking, Shicodale’s route was safer and more secure. He had other classmates as teammates, and he was traveling within the Tyrel Empire, where public order was excellent. Basic safety was essentially guaranteed.

Vinny’s destination was different.

That was the border—basically a brutal stage for hard jobs, the kind of place where if there was trouble, it would find you.

“Dale, be careful on the road.” Vinny turned his head and said it.

“Mhm.” Shicodale nodded, then smiled at Vinny with gentle warmth. “And you too. Without my cooking, don’t let yourself go hungry.”

“Of course I won’t. Don’t worry.” Vinny grinned. “Heaven and earth can be huge, but eating is always the biggest thing. Your Young Master isn’t going to forget that.”

As he spoke, Vinny waved at Aesphyra and walked toward his own carriage.

“Mhm! Vinny, see you!”

“See you.”

When Vinny stepped up into the unicorn carriage, he looked back again—and only saw Shicodale’s back, slowly getting farther away.

Even if Shicodale’s task should, in theory, be easier than his—after all, Shicodale had teammates—there was no way Vinny could say he wasn’t worried at all.

That kind of mindset was like an overanxious old father—no matter what his daughter did, it never felt quite right.

But it couldn’t be helped. Vinny knew this was something that would help Shicodale grow. One day, Shicodale would have to face everything on his own—just like Vinny did now.

“Student, are you boarding this carriage?” A mentor who looked like a kind of attendant on the carriage saw Vinny standing at the door for a long time and asked in confusion. “Are you sure?”

“Oh—sorry. Yeah.” Vinny hurriedly climbed aboard.

Once he was on, this carriage was about to depart. He and Shicodale had arrived right on the dot. If they missed this run, they’d have to wait for the next unicorn carriage.

“Student,” the teacher asked again after Vinny got on, “did you just part from a friend?”

“Uh... yeah.” Vinny didn’t deny it.

“Then do your best on this assessment.” The teacher didn’t say anything else, only gave Vinny an encouraging look. “If you need help with anything, come to me.”

“Okay. Thank you, sir.” Vinny nodded and went into the corridor. Very soon, the carriage started moving.

Vinny looked around the corridor, trying to find an empty cabin to settle into. He made one full pass.

He’d boarded at the last moment—at this time, there probably weren’t many unoccupied cabins. So he picked one at random, a cabin near the far end of the corridor, and pushed the door open.

“Sorry to bother you.”

As he spoke, Vinny stepped inside, set down his luggage, and was about to sit—when he saw the person sitting across from him and froze for a beat.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this handsome young man with an extraordinary aura looked... familiar.

“It’s fine. Not a bother.” The handsome young man smiled, holding a cup of hot tea. His tone was like a spring breeze—comfortable, soothing.

Vinny knew he was Carillian Academy’s number-one school heartthrob, but even he had to admit it—the guy across from him could split the difference with him. The man was, in fact, handsome.

But... he looked really familiar.

“Your luggage can go under the table,” the young man said, gesturing to his own luggage placed there. “That’s what I did.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Vinny did as told, slid his luggage under the table, then sat across from him, studying his face.

“Vinny,” the young man said suddenly, “long time no see.”

“Huh? Uh...” Vinny looked embarrassed. “Sorry, my memory’s not great. Do we... know each other?”

“Haha. We do—though it’s probably one-sided.” The young man smiled faintly. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. I’m Eric Zarniman, the eldest son of the Zarniman Family of the Camella Kingdom.”

“Oh.” Vinny’s eyes brightened as he finally remembered. “Right—it’s you.”

He remembered who the man was, and where he’d seen him.

It was probably before enrollment—at that carriage banquet on the way to Carillian Academy, when Vinny had seen him once. Back then, Vinny had felt like they weren’t from the same world, and that the other party wouldn’t even pay attention to him, so there’d been no exchange at all.

And besides, the Zarniman Family was one of the most famous families in the Camella Kingdom—an inherited marquis house. Of course Vinny had heard of them.

As the Zarniman Family’s eldest son, Eric had lived up to the name. In the enrollment tournament, he’d placed fourth, making him one of the top five first-years.

Vinny remembered that very clearly. That was also the strongest impression he had of this man.

“So it’s Eric.” Vinny asked curiously, not sure what to say. They’d never spoken in the academy, but it also felt awkward to sit together and say nothing. “You’re taking this carriage too?”

“Yes.” Eric nodded. “It seems our practical-assessment destinations are quite close.”

“I’ve long heard of Young Master Vinny’s great name.” Eric spoke half like a joke. “Today, perhaps it’s the goddess’s will—giving the two of us a space and time where we can talk alone.”

“Uh—” Vinny instantly felt a little awkward. “You flatter me. What name do I even have?”

Vinny could tell there wasn’t the slightest contempt in Eric’s words—only sincerity and praise—and that made him even more uncomfortable.

He’d always been that kind of person: if you treated him badly, he’d return it tooth for tooth, even worse. But when he met someone who was friendly toward him, he would respond with friendliness and sincerity too.

He cherished people who were kind to him.

“Perhaps Vinny has been studying too diligently,” Eric said with a refined smile, “and hasn’t paid attention to how famous he is on campus.”

“Ah... is that so?” Honestly, this guy was a little too good at talking.

“Of course.” Eric’s tone was matter-of-fact. “You’re one of only three first-years to break into the Magus realm. Who in the academy doesn’t know?”

“Uh... it was just luck,” Vinny couldn’t help saying modestly.

“They say ‘luck’ is the humble phrasing of the strong.” Eric smiled. “Seeing you today, I find it quite fitting.”

“To be honest, my Soulcasting potential is only one star,” Vinny explained. “For me to reach this realm as a first-year—there really was a lot of luck involved.”

“And yet you reached the Magus realm as a first-year with only one-star Soulcasting potential.” Eric lifted his brows slightly. “Isn’t that even more impressive?”

“Haha... no, no. I actually care a lot about how low my Soulcasting potential rank is.”

“But you’ve proven yourself again and again with your real strength, haven’t you?” Eric continued smoothly. “The facts show that your Magus realm has no water in it at all. From how you’ve defeated challenger after challenger, winning in crushing fashion—anyone can see it.”

“Haha. I didn’t expect Young Master Eric to be paying that much attention to my business?” Vinny teased.

“Because Young Master Vinny’s deeds are simply too well-known.” Eric smiled calmly. “I’ve heard a bit, even if only in passing.”

“Tea?” Eric asked. “Is black tea alright?”

“Thanks. That’s fine. I actually like black tea.” Vinny accepted the black tea Eric offered.

“Actually, Vinny,” Eric said, “I’ve had a question I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time. But I rarely get to see you, and we aren’t in the same dorm area, so I never had the chance. I wonder if you’d be willing to answer it for me?”

“What question? Ask. If it’s something I know, I’ll answer.” Vinny nodded.

“If I remember correctly,” Eric said, “there are only three Magus first-years right now: Aesphyra, who ranks first; Isatia, who ranks second; and you, Vinny.”

“Aesphyra and Isatia are first and second, so as the first-year leaders, it’s normal for them to reach the Magus realm.” Eric paused. “But you—the third Magus—are ranked twenty-third in the year.”

“Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t mean anything else by it.” Eric added at once. “If I recall correctly, the golden-elf classmate who ranks third still hasn’t reached the Magus realm.”

“From what I’ve observed of you,” Eric said, “as long as you wanted to, you could absolutely be in the top three. Even if you prefer stability and don’t want to gamble, you could still take my fourth place—or challenge higher.”

“But you haven’t done anything at all.” Eric looked truly puzzled. “All this time, it’s always classmates ranked below you who challenge you and lose. You’ve never competed upward. Why?”

“Those positions are within easy reach for you.”

“...That.” Vinny fell silent for a moment, thinking.

Why, indeed?

Because he was lazy? Because he hadn’t even thought about it?

Maybe both.

But those weren’t the biggest reason.

The biggest reason...

Was probably that Vinny was worried that a certain little idiot would lose his anchor if Vinny left his side.

Even though Shicodale was the one taking care of his life, Vinny could see it—the little idiot who’d only just managed to crawl out of drowning waters... if he left that comfortable zone, that inner demon problem would probably flare back up.

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