At the Academy side, after a night full of information, Csendez woke up and immediately took a piece of paper.
Her gloves and ring were resting inside a special box not far from her bed. She placed the paper in front of her and picked up a pencil.
I always use drawing as a way to relax.
The first lines appeared slowly.
After this night, I want to immediately find information about gods and their history, but that would be too obvious.
She added another line, then erased part of it.
And I have a feeling that the library won't have anything like that. After all, this is a school under the Alocanai Council.
Her hand continued moving across the paper.
I also want to research information about souls. Anything would be useful, but… that would be a dangerous move as well.
She paused for a moment, staring at the unfinished drawing.
It isn't common to read about these subjects, and that could attract unnecessary attention. Attention I don't have the luxury of having.
She continued drawing.
The simple shape slowly became something more complicated, though she wasn't really paying attention to what she was creating.
That nightmare was unusual. My latest dreams have also become much more vivid and much longer, and my connection with Anka is becoming longer and longer…
Another line. Then another.
Something changed after I came here.
She stopped for a second. And now, after a week, I can tell that for sure. The pencil touched the paper again.
But is this a good change?
Her hand moved almost automatically.
Why do I feel overwhelmed by this?
She drew a few more lines before returning to the question that had been bothering her the most.
My connection with Anka is even more confusing now. After I realized that I have a problem with my soul, I guessed there was a high chance that a part of my soul was inside her body. That would explain why she looks like me.
Csendez slowly shaded part of the drawing.
But that theory crumbled in front of my eyes. She said something about "entering a book"... and her white hair can only mean she doesn't have dark energy. If she were a part of my soul, she should also have black hair.
She frowned slightly.
I need to see her eyes. But I've already given up on that theory.
The pencil stopped.
Csendez stared at the drawing for several seconds before continuing. Even if she is a fragment, our personalities are too different. And how can a fragmented soul be so alive?
She leaned back slightly.
I'm a phoenix, and my soul isn't a fragment. That's why I'm still functioning, but even my body is in terrible condition.
Her eyes briefly moved toward the box containing her gloves and ring.
As a human, how could she survive if she were a fragment? Do humans have some kind of special power related to souls? From what I've seen, they don't.
She lowered her gaze again.
So the only result is that Anka isn't my fragmented soul.
The pencil moved faster for a few moments.
That raises the question again. Why am I connected to Anka in the first place? It can't simply be because we have the same appearance.
She stopped. The room remained quiet.
For a while, the only sound was the soft movement of the pencil against the paper.
…
Eventually, another thought returned.
And about today's information… a Silver Legend.
Her expression softened slightly.
That system called Zero is a very good teacher. I hope Anka can manage him in the future and keep him as an ally.
A small smile appeared on her face.
I kind of like him.
She continued drawing, giving herself something to do while her thoughts moved elsewhere.
Anyway, the fact that information regarding the gods cannot be falsified is extremely important. But… also dangerous in many ways.
I know that something being true doesn't automatically make it complete or trustworthy.
I can tell a superficial story about an event, leave out many important details, and it would still be true. But that doesn't make it reliable information to use.
Her pencil stopped again.
The legends are probably the same. The way Mane was told was so superficial that it almost didn't tell us anything about what actually happened. It mostly told us the results.
She added another small detail to the drawing.
And that's dangerous. The details are important. And many people forget that.
She looked down at the paper.
I wish I knew the end of the legend. But that will probably take some time.
She sighed quietly and continued drawing.
There was still one thing she needed to organize in her mind.
…
My uncle's reaction.
Her eyebrows narrowed.
He was so bad at hiding his reaction that my classmates probably noticed something. He knew that this Academy isn't about power when it comes to the rankings. He knew that I'm strong enough to be first in terms of power.
So his shock tells me a lot.
The pencil pressed harder against the paper.
But why was he happy? I can't figure that out yet.
The only thing that would make him happy is something that benefits the family.
She stared at the unfinished drawing.
So… my position in the Academy will benefit the phoenixes?
Her expression became colder.
I hate that. I'd rather run away than help them.
She hesitated.
But then why was he worried too? So my position could benefit them… but also make them afraid of me?
Why?
She finally put the pencil down.
I'll keep that in mind for now.
The drawing was almost finished.
Only then did Csendez realize that she had been working on it for quite some time.
She looked at the paper.
The result was supposed to be a picture of the cursed ship, reconstructed from memory.
It didn't look like one. Not even close.
Csendez stared at it for a few seconds before quietly accepting the failure.
Good enough.
She stood up, took the drawing, and hung it on the wall in the living room. Then she returned to her bedroom, opened the special box and took out her gloves and ring. Once she had put them on, she left the apartment.
Today was the last day of the week, and she wanted to explore the island one more time. Uituba had already written to her that morning, announcing that she wouldn't be able to meet her because of another appointment.
That wasn't a problem.
Csendez actually enjoyed spending time alone. Walking. Reading. Observing.
She had become used to students looking at her whenever she passed.
She refused every request for friendship and didn't particularly care about the people who had been placed around her to spy on her.
After the incident in the library, both she and Uituba had become more careful about where they spoke and what plans they made.
Csendez's powers could hide her abilities, but exaggerating too much would eventually create problems.
So, for the first time in her life, she tried to act like a normal girl at a school. Which, fortunately, was not entirely an act. She had never actually been to a school before leaving her family.
By the time it was almost afternoon, her ring made a sound.
[Csendez, Uituba is asking if you could go somewhere. She needs your help.]
Csendez stopped walking.
"Wasn't she the one who told me she wouldn't contact me today? Did she say why she needs my help?"
The system remained quiet for a moment before answering.
[She didn't say anything else, but she ended her last message with, "Big sis, help me!" I think that means she is desperate.]
Csendez raised an eyebrow.
Big sis? You think?
"Why do you think that?"
The system proudly continued.
[Because she seems very sensitive whenever you talk about being the oldest sister of the generation. Remember? She asked your age, and when she realized she was younger than you, she changed the subject. For her, the role of a big sister seems to be important.]
"Awesome, Chirip. Your understanding of feelings and context is getting better. That book helped you a lot."
[Of course! I will study harder. I can't let myself down when my host works so hard!]
Csendez smiled.
This system is like a white page with only a few habits, and now he copies his host like a cub copies its mother.
She asked for the meeting place.
She wasn't too busy right now, and she was curious about Uituba's situation. Whatever it was, the elf clearly wanted her help.
Uituba wanted to meet in one of the parks.
The Academy had three different park regions. One of them was specially designed with tables and covered areas to protect students from the sun or rain.
Since it was the last day before the official beginning of the Academy, most students were either in their apartments or in the library, preparing for the next day.
The road to the park was unusually quiet.
Csendez walked alone, occasionally looking around at the unfamiliar parts of the island.
After some time, she heard someone calling her. She turned her head. The elf girl was running toward her. Uituba quickly caught up, breathing heavily.
"Why did you choose a meeting point so far away?"
Csendez asked the question casually and continued walking.
Uituba quickly composed herself and followed.
"Because it's more discreet this way. I need your help, so later, please play along with me…"
She started speaking in her normal voice.
But after the first sentence, Uituba seemed to realize that she needed to make her request sound more desperate.
Her voice became sweeter. Almost too sweet. Csendez nearly laughed.
Seeing someone who was usually so composed and capable of mastering every situation suddenly behaving like this was surprisingly entertaining.
"Please, big sis…"
Csendez covered the corner of her mouth with her hand.
She's really trying.
"Fine. I'll play along."
Uituba's expression immediately relaxed.
"Thank you!"
They continued walking.
But when they finally reached the place, Csendez could no longer laugh.
In the middle of the park, at an ordinary table surrounded by trees and greenery, sat two people.
The dragon and the elf. Tenin and Fahim.
They were drinking tea and talking casually, as if meeting them there was the most normal thing in the world.
Csendez stopped. Her eyes moved from Tenin to Fahim. Then back to Uituba.
…What exactly did I just agree to?