In the early morning of Edmund School of Magic, the sun shines into the dormitory through the stained glass windows, reflecting colorful spots of light.
"Oh my god, I'm going to be late again!" Lina Morningstar was busy packing her textbooks, her long golden hair looked a little messy because of her haste.
She hurriedly put on the dark blue school uniform - the symbol of the soul manipulator apprentice. Before the buttons were fully buttoned, she rushed out of the dormitory door.
"Hey! Wait for me!" A familiar shout came from behind.
Lina shouted without looking back: "Hurry up, Aiden! Don't be late for today's 'Soul Resonance' class. Professor Drake is notoriously strict!"
Aiden Fire Feather, a young man with fiery red hair, adjusted his always loose bow tie while running: "I know, I know, Miss 'Perfect Student'! Can't you sleep in occasionally?"
The two ran in the corridor, attracting the friendly laughter and sidelong glances of other students.
"Morning, Lina! Morning, Aiden!" A girl with a brown ponytail joined them from the side corridor.
"Good morning, Sarah!" Lina responded, "You look in good spirits."
"That's because I successfully summoned my first elemental soul last night!" Sarah said excitedly, "A little fire spirit! Although it burned a small hole in my bed sheet..."
Aiden couldn't help laughing: "I knew it would be a fire element, Sarah. Your temper is a perfect match for fire elements!"
"Shut up!" Sarah pretended to be angry and pushed Aiden.
The three of them walked through the central courtyard of the academy, where there was a huge fountain with a statue in the center of the fountain - it was said to be the founder of the academy, a legendary soul manipulator.
"Speaking of souls," Lina said as she ran, "Have you heard? This year's 'Soul Master Cup' is about to start again."
Aiden sighed exaggeratedly: "Here it comes again! That competition that drives all the students crazy? To be honest, I would rather face a group of angry soul beasts than participate in that thing."
"Why?" Sarah asked curiously.
"Because," Aiden made a face, "that means I have to deal with those noble children! They look at us common students as if we were stones on the roadside!"
Lina couldn't help laughing: "That's why you need to participate, to show them that common students can be excellent!"
"It's easy to say," Aiden rolled his eyes, "You are a 'genius girl', everyone loves you. Unlike me, even the simplest soul resonance..."
His words were interrupted by Lina's sudden stop.
"What's wrong?" Aiden and Sarah looked at her in confusion.
Lina didn't answer, her eyes were attracted by the crowd in front of the college bulletin board. There were students everywhere, and everyone was talking.
"What happened?" Sarah tiptoed curiously.
"I don't know, let's go and see." Lina took the lead and walked over.
In front of the bulletin board, a boy in a gorgeous uniform was reading aloud the content above:
"...Therefore, the college council unanimously decided that a special student will join our college. He will directly enter the advanced class and be allowed to use the 'Starlight Tower' as a personal laboratory."
"Special student?" Aiden squeezed to the front, "Who is so famous?"
"I heard that he is a genius from the game 'Soul Realm Online'," a girl with glasses whispered, "It is said that he has reached the highest level in the game, and his understanding of soul magic is unmatched."
"Tsk, game player?" The boy who read the announcement just now sneered, "It's just an achievement in the virtual world, it may not work in reality."
"You can't say that," another student retorted, "I heard that he has mastered many lost soul manipulation techniques, even some professors are ashamed of themselves."
Lina, Aiden and Sarah looked at each other.
"Sounds interesting," Lina said with a smile, "I wonder what kind of person it will be."
"Who cares?" Aiden shrugged, "Anyway, ordinary students like us can't get in touch with that kind of 'special person'."
Just as they were about to leave, the small door next to the bulletin board suddenly opened, and a tall and thin figure in a black cloak walked out.
The scene instantly became quiet.
The man looked only sixteen or seventeen years old, with messy black hair and deep eyes with a hint of fatigue. After he stood still, he looked around at the students around him, and then frowned slightly.
"Is this Edmund College?" He whispered to himself, just loud enough for people around him to hear, "It's quite different from the game."
He raised his head and his eyes happened to meet Lina's.
For some reason, Lina felt her heartbeat speed up. Those eyes... seemed to contain endless wisdom and stories.
The black-clothed boy nodded slightly at her, then turned and left.
"Wait!" Lina called him for some reason.
The boy stopped and turned around.
"Are you...are you the special student?" Lina asked, realizing that her directness was a bit abrupt.
The boy looked at her for a while, then smiled faintly: "I think so."
"I'm Lina Morningstar," she introduced herself for some reason, "a student in the advanced class."
"Ryan Star," the boy answered briefly, "a new transfer."
Aiden whispered to Sarah in the back: "Wow, our 'perfect student' took the initiative to chat up! Did the sun rise from the west?"
Sarah couldn't help laughing.
Ryan seemed to hear it, his mouth corners slightly raised, and then turned around and continued to leave.
"Hey, wait!" Lina called him again, "You just came to the college, do you need someone to take you to familiarize yourself with the environment?"
Ryan stopped again, turned his head, and was slightly surprised: "Would you be willing?"
"Of course," Lina smiled brightly, "As classmates, we should help each other."
Aiden and Sarah looked at each other in surprise.
"I have known Lina for five years," Aiden whispered, "She has never been so proactive to anyone."
Sarah nodded thoughtfully: "It's really strange... But the new guy is really handsome."
Aiden made an exaggerated vomiting expression.
Ryan hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Then... Thank you."
"Great!" Lina walked to him happily, "First, I will take you to see the college restaurant, then the library, and then..."
Watching Lina and Ryan walk away, Aiden and Sarah looked at each other.
"I bet," Aiden said, stroking his chin, "this will be an interesting semester."
Sarah smiled and nodded: "Absolutely. I have a feeling that our lives are going to be extraordinary."
Aiden stretched: "Let's go, we can't escape the late class. But at least we have new gossip topics!"
The two hurried to catch up with Lina and Ryan, but kept a certain distance to give them space.
"Why did you choose to call me?" Ryan suddenly asked on the way.
Lina blushed slightly: "I... I don't know. Maybe it's because of your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"Well," Lina nodded, "You look like someone who has experienced a lot of stories. I... I am interested in those stories."
Ryan was silent for a while, then whispered: "Maybe one day, I will tell you some stories. But not today."
Lina smiled slightly: "I look forward to that day."
The two continued to move forward, the morning light sprinkled on them, and their shadows stretched long behind them.
In the distance, Aiden and Sarah were secretly following, whispering to each other from time to time, with gossipy smiles on their faces.
The new semester of the college officially began on this seemingly ordinary but extraordinary day.