Every apartment assigned by the Academy was filled with different kinds of activity. Some students were sleeping after the exhausting entrance ceremony, others were unpacking, studying, or simply talking with their Koutiul about whatever came to mind.
Although the sun had already risen, the Academy had deliberately left the first week free for every new student.
During this time they were allowed to do almost anything they wished—explore the campus, investigate its facilities, become familiar with their personal systems, make friends, or perhaps form future alliances.
Csendez, who had not slept at all after yesterday's events, had already made up her mind. She would meet Uituba, then return to her apartment and finally get some rest.
Even if sleep wasn't truly necessary...
She wanted another dream.
After unpacking the few belongings she had brought with her—a small collection of stones, several books, countless sheets covered with drawings, and a few sets of clothes—she looked around the apartment one last time.
The Academy had promised that students would never need to leave the planet to obtain daily necessities. Clothes, books, furniture, and countless other items could all be requested through the dormitory administration.
Each residence had its own administrator. The forest dormitory was managed by a Faun, while the beach residence belonged to a Dryad. Students only had to submit a request list, and the Academy would handle the rest.
Convenient.
Very convenient.
The phoenix girl cast one final glance toward the large window before leaving her apartment.
Her mind was still occupied by everything that had happened during the previous night.
Outwardly, however, nothing betrayed those thoughts.
Perhaps her eyes wandered a little more than usual, rarely focusing on the scenery around her...but almost nobody paid enough attention to notice.
The elf had greeted her enthusiastically the moment they met, yet after only a few sentences she quietly stopped talking. She seemed to understand that Csendez's thoughts were somewhere else, so she simply walked beside her in comfortable silence until they reached the dormitory cafeteria.
The ground floor of the residence was divided into two large sections by the central hallway leading toward the elevators.
To the right stretched the common area, a spacious room filled with comfortable sofas, low tables, bookshelves, and quiet corners where students could read, study, or simply spend time together.
The cafeteria occupied the opposite side.
Unlike the common room, its outer walls were made entirely of thick enchanted glass. From outside, the windows reflected the surrounding forest like polished mirrors, protecting the students' privacy. From inside, however, they offered a magnificent view of the trees gently swaying beneath the morning breeze.
Round tables were placed comfortably apart from one another, while wooden partitions created small private spaces for quieter conversations. The tables closest to the windows seated four people each, allowing students to enjoy both the scenery and the morning sunlight.
Ordering food was equally unusual.
Near the entrance stood a large black board surrounded by soft cushions scattered across the floor. Students simply wrote their table number and what they wished to eat. After some time, one of the Academy's servants would quietly deliver the order.
The two girls chose a table beside the window before writing down a simple breakfast.
Fruit salad. Water. Nothing more.
As they waited, a loud crash suddenly echoed through the cafeteria.
The sound finally pulled Csendez's mind back to the present. Her eyes instinctively turned toward Uituba first. The elf was already reading yet another book.
Somehow… That sight stirred a strange feeling inside Csendez. One she had never experienced before. After a brief pause, she turned toward the source of the noise.
Two students were arguing, their voices quickly escalating into a fight. She didn't recognize either of them. Losing interest almost immediately, she calmly looked away.
The disturbance lasted only a few moments before another student stepped between them and separated the two. Soon afterward, the cafeteria returned to its previous calm, as if nothing had happened.
I expected fights to be more common.
Apparently everyone is still cautious about this school. That won't last forever...
With that thought dismissed, her attention drifted back toward the table, where Uituba remained completely absorbed in her book, seemingly unaware that anything had happened at all.
Before sitting down, they had already placed their order, so there was nothing left to do except wait. Uituba immediately returned to her book.
Meanwhile, Csendez absentmindedly rubbed her thumb across the black ring resting on her left index finger.
None of my classmates are here...
And I haven't seen any of my relatives either...
No. I should stop thinking about them whenever I'm outside.
Observe first. Analyze later. Now... break the silence.
"I see you took my advice," Csendez said after a while. "I finished that book some time ago. It's a good choice after yesterday's discussion."
She hesitated for a brief moment. "...And sorry for being absent-minded this morning."
A short pause followed before she added, "Would you like to continue our conversation from last night?"
Uituba slowly lowered the book. She smiled. A genuine one. Even her emerald eyes seemed brighter than yesterday. Since her face had been hidden behind the book until now, Csendez hadn't noticed it before.
"Something good happened?" she asked. "Why are you so happy?"
Was that natural enough? Or should I have asked something else? Do I sound interested... or intrusive? Socializing is far more complicated than books describe.
Uituba didn't answer immediately. Instead, she suddenly leaned across the table until her face was only inches away from Csendez's. She lowered her voice to an excited whisper.
"I met my idol again last night!"
Csendez's body froze.
"You won't believe it!" Uituba continued. "His apartment is just a few doors away from mine! He wanted to introduce himself to his neighbors and..."
She barely managed to contain another squeal.
"...I'm his neighbor!"
The last sentence escaped much louder than she intended. Several nearby students turned toward them.
What they saw was simply an excited elf whispering to a black phoenix. After noticing the black feathers decorating Csendez's uniform, most of them quickly lost interest and returned to their own conversations.
Only then did Uituba realize how loudly she had spoken. Her face instantly turned red.
"Agh..."
She quickly retreated to her own chair and covered half her face with the open book.
"I did it again..."
She muttered something incomprehensible into the pages. Completely embarrassed. She never noticed that the phoenix sitting opposite her hadn't moved at all.
That was... far too close.
Calm down.
It was normal.
Friends stand close sometimes.
After silently repeating those words to herself, Csendez finally managed to relax enough to answer.
"I'm happy for you." A tiny pause. "Did you at least ask him for an autograph?"
Uituba's eyes widened.
"..."
"...I completely forgot."
She slowly lowered the book. "I forgot..." Another pause. "...How could I forget?"
She buried her face in both hands. "No..."
"I'll definitely ask next time!"
Her dramatic despair was so genuine that Csendez couldn't help studying her expression.
She isn't pretending.
She's genuinely like this...
The thought was oddly reassuring. Before either of them could continue, someone stopped beside their table. A goblin servant politely placed two bowls of fresh fruit salad and two bottles of water in front of them before silently leaving.
Csendez reached for her spoon. Just before she could take the first bite, Uituba stopped her with a small gesture. The elf placed one hand over her chest and the other against her forehead. Her lips moved silently. No sound escaped them.
Csendez quietly lowered her spoon again.
Right… Different races have different customs.
Is she praying? Giving thanks before eating?
I only skimmed that section in the cultural guide… I should study it properly later.
She simply waited.
Only after Uituba finished and lowered her hands did Csendez begin eating as well. She didn't notice the subtle change in the elf's expression.
For just a brief moment… Uituba smiled a little more warmly than before.
After a few quiet minutes, Uituba looked up from her breakfast.
"Csendez?"
"Hm?"
"Do you have a favorite player?"
She tilted her head.
"Or maybe you follow another sport? Ballrace, perhaps? Sorry... I just realized I never asked."
Csendez stopped with the spoon halfway to her mouth.
The answer appeared in her mind almost immediately.
A lie. A simple one. Easy to maintain.
… No.
If I want to build a relationship... I need to reveal at least a little truth.
Besides... I don't have time to study sports just to support another lie. Better to show her a small piece of my real self.
"I don't really have a favorite player," she admitted. "Actually... I've never watched a Ludus match."
Uituba blinked.
"I've only read about the rules." Csendez gave a faint, awkward smile. "Books usually don't spend much time describing the matches themselves."
The elf stared at her in surprise.
"Do you prefer another sport? I watched several." She straightened proudly. "So don't worry. We can still talk about something else."
Csendez slowly shook her head.
"No… I've never watched any sport. None. My knowledge comes entirely from books."
Her fingers tightened around the spoon almost unconsciously. She lowered her gaze toward the bowl. Her face remained calm.
Only for the briefest instant...a trace of shame mixed with frustration crossed her eyes. Uituba immediately noticed it.
"Oh...Oh no… I'm sorry."
She stood without thinking, carried her chair around the table, and sat beside Csendez instead. Before the phoenix girl could react, Uituba gently took her free hand between both of hers.
"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. I didn't mean to remind you of something unpleasant."
Csendez instinctively tried to pull her hand back.
Too close.
Stay calm.
Don't overreact.
She's only trying to apologize.
Fortunately… It wasn't her left hand.
Otherwise...
After taking a slow breath, Csendez finally spoke.
"I'm not upset."
Her voice remained surprisingly steady.
"But..."
She hesitated.
"Could you let go of my hand? I'm... not used to this much physical contact."
Uituba immediately released it.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I should have … I didn't even think about it!"
She leaned back a little, leaving enough space between them this time.
Instead of returning to her own chair, however, she remained seated beside Csendez. For several seconds she simply looked at her. Her cheerful expression became unexpectedly serious.
"Csendez."
The phoenix girl turned toward her.
What now?
She disliked surprises. And right now… She had absolutely no idea what Uituba was about to say.
"I don't know what happened before you came here." Uituba spoke quietly. "But… In this Academy… ...I don't want you to see you ashamed of who you are."
She smiled gently. "People who judge someone before knowing them are idiots. And those who believe every old legend without questioning it...They're even worse."
Without another word, she reached beneath the collar of her uniform and pulled out a small silver locket. She opened it carefully. Inside was a faded photograph.
A woman with long black hair and deep blue eyes stood surrounded by several children. She was unmistakably a Dark Elf. One little girl beside her looked almost identical to Uituba.
Csendez studied the picture quietly.
"This is..."
"My aunt." Uituba smiled. "But when I was little… I always wished she were my mother." Her eyes softened as she looked at the photograph. "She was the kindest person I've ever known."
A small pause.
"That's why I wanted to become your friend yesterday."
She closed the locket with a quiet click.
"You reminded me of her."
For the first time since entering the cafeteria… Csendez had absolutely no idea how to respond. She simply looked at Uituba in silence.
Uituba slipped the locket back beneath her uniform before smiling once more.
"So...We're friends now. We exchanged stones yesterday. That makes it official."
Her smile widened.
"So I don't want to see you looking ashamed in front of me ever again. Understood?"
The confidence in her voice was almost noble. There wasn't the slightest hint of hesitation. She truly believed every word she had just spoken.
Csendez remained silent. Beneath the table, however, her right hand slowly tightened into a fist.
Friends...
Such a simple word. Yet it felt strangely heavy. After a few seconds, she gave a single nod.
"...Understood."
Satisfied, Uituba finally returned to her own chair. The cheerful atmosphere immediately returned.
"As I was saying..."
She eagerly leaned over the table again—though this time she remembered to stop halfway.
"If you've never watched Ludus before, then you absolutely have to see the Tournament with me next month! It is simple, I have a crystal signal and we can watch it live."
Without waiting for an answer, she launched into an enthusiastic explanation.
She described legendary players whose names had become famous across the universe. Historic matches decided in the final seconds. Impossible comebacks. Rivalries that had lasted for centuries.
Even the scandals that fans still argued about. Her excitement never seemed to fade.
Csendez listened quietly while eating her breakfast.
She rarely interrupted. Whenever she did, it was only to ask short questions. Each question only encouraged Uituba further.
The elf answered everything with endless enthusiasm, sometimes acting out famous moments with exaggerated gestures that made a few nearby students laugh.
For the first time since arriving at the Academy… Csendez found herself listening to someone speak simply because she enjoyed hearing them.
She would probably never understand why someone could become so passionate about sports.
But watching Uituba talk about them...was unexpectedly entertaining.
The morning slowly passed beneath the warm sunlight shining through the enchanted glass walls.
Outside, students came and went between the dormitories and the Academy.
Inside the cafeteria, countless conversations blended into a quiet background murmur.