Chi and Yu slowly walked over toward Lina's table, hearts pounding harder with every step.
"Hey! Come sit!" Lina said, waving them over with a grin.
There were four other students already seated — each one with a distinct energy about them.
The girl sitting beside Lina had a calm smile and an easygoing presence. "So you two are the geniuses from Class 11-C, right? Yu and Chi?"
"Geniuses might be stretching it," Yu said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Chi nodded in agreement. "We just… study a lot."
The girl chuckled. "I'm Mei. Don't listen to Lina if she starts teasing, she does that to everyone."
"I do not," Lina said instantly.
"Uh-huh," Mei replied dryly.
Across the table, a tall boy leaned back in his chair. "I'm Rian," he said casually. "Heard about you two — you made it through Loch's special test, right?"
"Barely," Yu said. "We survived thanks to sweat and panic."
That earned a laugh from the table.
Next to Rian sat a boy with neatly combed hair and sharp glasses. He gave a polite nod. "Ken," he introduced himself simply. "I handle most of our group's formations. Don't let these three distract you — they never stop talking."
"Hey!" Lina protested. "I'm productive when I talk."
Rian grinned. "Sure. You talk while we work."
Lina threw a piece of bread at him without hesitation.
Chi and Yu exchanged a glance — this group was chaotic, but in a strangely comfortable way.
"So," Mei said, turning back to them. "How's Class 11-C? I heard Loch's been piling you two with extra lessons."
Yu sighed dramatically. "Lessons, trials, near-death experiences — all part of the package."
Chi nodded seriously. "I think our cauldron still has PTSD."
The group burst out laughing again.
And just like that, the awkwardness and the fear faded. The conversation flowed easily, from school gossip to cultivation mishaps. For the first time in a long while, Chi and Yu didn't feel like outsiders — they were just part of something normal.
From that moment on, school felt like it passed in a heartbeat — the ice between them had finally melted.
School ended with cheerful goodbyes from their new friends, laughter echoing through the halls.
The walk home was filled with chatter about their group and how newly strange it still felt to have that.
As they reached home, little Lian's tiny footsteps echoed softly across the floor.
Lain was already waiting by the door while liora and buddy couldn't leave her even for a second, the moment they stepped in, she darted forward, her laughter bright and ringing. She wrapped her small arms around Chi's leg, then Yu's, as if she couldn't decide who to hug first.
Their hearts fluttered — no matter how exhausting the day had been, this always melted it all away.
Lianhua was waiting too, though her expression carried a hint of curiosity. She'd been eager to hear how their alchemy test had gone.
"So?" she asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. "How was it? Did you pass? I hope loch wasn't too harsh"
Yu grinned and scratched the back of his head. "Well… let's just say the cauldron didn't explode this time."
Chi laughed. "Barely."
Lianhua sighed in relief, then smiled — a proud, gentle smile that made both of them feel like kids again.
The house filled with soft chatter and warmth, the kind that made even the smallest victories feel special.
Night fell, and it was time to sleep — yet neither of them could. Their hearts pounded restlessly beneath the silence, a strange mix of nerves and excitement twisting in their chests.
"Hey, Chi… tomorrow's going to be big, right?" Yu muttered, staring up at the ceiling.
"Yeah," Chi replied after a moment. "How many people do you think will be watching us? Actually, I know the answer — the whole school."
Yu groaned, turning over. "Stop saying that. You think they'll go easy on us? Why is combat so popular anyway?"
Chi smirked faintly. "Well… it's the same for us, isn't it? We like a challenge too."
The room fell quiet again. The moonlight slipped through the window, painting their faces silver. Both boys knew sleep wouldn't come easily that night — not when tomorrow could change their views of them.
In the blink of an eye, morning arrived.
The sun poured through the window, painting the room in warm light — and for once, both Chi and Yu were sleeping peacefully. That peace, however, lasted exactly five seconds.
BANG!
The door burst open, and Yuanhai's voice thundered through the room.
"You two! Get up right now — you're going to be late!"
Chi shot up like a startled cat, hair a complete mess.
"Wha—what time is it?!"
"Time to move your lazy bones!" Yuanhai barked, tossing their uniforms onto the bed.
Yu groaned, dragging himself out of bed.
"Right… today's the duel. Hurry up, Chi! Wake up!"
Chi was still half-buried under his blanket. "Five more minutes won't make us lose—"
"FIVE MORE MINUTES AND YOU'LL LOSE YOUR HEADS!" Yuanhai's voice roared again from outside the room.
Both of them jumped up like they'd been hit with lightning.
"Why is he scarier than the actual duel!?" Yu shouted, struggling to put his robe on—backwards.
"Because he is scarier than the duel!" Chi snapped, trying to find his belt, which somehow ended up around his neck.
Lianhua peeked into the room, giggling. "You two look like Spirit Realm chickens."
"Not helping!" Yu yelled, running in circles trying to find his boots.
By the time they finally burst out of the house, Yuanhai stood there with his arms crossed, sighing deeply.
"You two are hopeless… and your collars are still wrong."
They both froze.
"…We'll fix it on the way!" Chi said quickly, grabbing Yu by the wrist as they sprinted down the street.
People turned to watch as the two supposed "geniuses" dashed toward the academy, half-dressed, half-awake, and completely panicked.
While Liora and Buddy were tucked snugly inside their little bags — their tiny heads poking out — they enjoyed the rush of wind brushing against their fur and hair as Chi and Yu sprinted through the streets.
Liora's eyes sparkled, her tiny hands gripping the edge of the bag as if cheering them on. Buddy let out a soft "chirp!" that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
"Even they're having fun…" Yu puffed, glancing down at his bouncing bag.
"Yeah, meanwhile we're dying," Chi replied between breaths.
Liora squealed with delight as they turned a sharp corner, the morning sun spilling golden light across the path ahead.
By the time they reached the gates, Yu was wheezing.
"Remind me… to make a teleportation array… for mornings."
Chi just nodded, bending over and gasping for air. "Why isn't there one already?"
It was time for both of them to duel — for the first time, not just with their strength, but with the bond they'd built together.
The thought sent a thrill through their hearts.
For Liora and Buddy, it was also their second time stepping into the school — though this time, instead of watching from a distance, they were part of it.
Liora peeked out of Chi's bag, her eyes sparkling with curiosity at the grand arena ahead.
Buddy, resting on Yu's shoulder, puffed up his feathers proudly, as if ready to fight alongside them.