[Main Mission]
[Attend Morenti Magic Academy and have your first encounter with the heroine]
[Time until the welcome party: 02:04:23]
"Two hours?!" Xu Yuying exclaimed, snapping out of her daze.
She bolted upright and shot out of bed. Rushing to the wardrobe in the room—just like the game had shown—there it was: Lunaria Velhart's uniform, pristine and waiting for her.
Wasting no time, Xu Yuying got dressed at lightning speed. When she was done, she stood in front of the mirror... and what she saw left her utterly stunned.
A young woman of aristocratic bearing, icy beauty, and commanding aura stared back at her. The Morenti Magic Academy uniform fit her as though it had been tailored to her exact measurements: a fitted black jacket, finely lined with golden trim that framed the school's crest—embroidered in thread that shimmered faintly with dormant magic.
Beneath it, a high-collared white blouse hugged her figure with grace. Its fabric shimmered softly, responding to the latent energy within her. A pleated sapphire-blue skirt, perfectly pressed, fell just above the knees and swayed with a gentle rhythm, subtly revealing embroidered magical symbols in silver thread. Her long, slender legs were clad in black stockings adorned with faint sparkles that mimicked a starry sky. Low-heeled boots, simple yet elegant, gave her a distinguished air without compromising agility.
Pinned to her chest was a brooch with an amber gemstone that gleamed with an unsettling light—as if hiding a secret.
Xu Yuying sighed. Whether she liked it or not, she had to admit it: Lunaria Velhart was ridiculously beautiful.
She forced herself to focus and went over what she remembered from the game. Technically, the academy's welcome party wasn't a mandatory event. Most students skipped it, since all the essential information was usually sent directly to their phones. However… Lunaria didn't have a phone. Not yet.
"Not having one is a real pain..." she muttered in annoyance, lowering her head with a sigh, frustrated by the lack of anything to distract her.
Besides that, she still needed to pack. Fortunately, the academy provided individual dorms for all students, which was a relief considering Lunaria's current living situation was… less than ideal. But Xu Yuying had no intention of hauling around heavy luggage.
So she started rummaging through the wardrobe drawers. She was looking for something specific.
A spatial ring.
Although the Velhart family had fallen from grace and lost their wealth, that didn't mean all of Lunaria's possessions had vanished. Sure, most of them were gone… but some still remained.
Just like in the game, one of the drawers held a spatial ring. Xu Yuying allowed herself a small, internal smile when she found it. Her face, however, remained expressionless—always under the influence of Lunaria's new persona.
There wasn't much to pack. Lunaria didn't own much. A few personal belongings: photographs, an old MP3 player with worn-out earbuds, a magical sword passed down through the family… and the most unexpected thing of all.
A small cat-shaped plush toy.
Xu Yuying picked it up gently, staring at it in surprise. In her past life, she'd never been particularly fond of animals—but this time... she couldn't help but think the plushie was cute. Far too cute for someone like Lunaria.
Maybe their memories were starting to blend. Maybe Lunaria's soul wasn't as dormant as she'd thought.
She slipped the ring onto her finger, wondering whether she was doing it as Xu Yuying… or as Lunaria Velhart.
"How much time do I have left?" she asked aloud.
Instantly, a holographic screen appeared in front of her.
[Time remaining: 00:22:53]
"…That much already?" she muttered, sitting at the edge of the bed, stunned by how quickly time had flown.
The screen vibrated, as if mocking her.
"…What are you laughing at, you piece of malware?" Xu Yuying grumbled, scowling as she waved it away.
[Thank you! The system strives to be charming!]
"…You're welcome?" she mumbled, scratching her neck, still bewildered. Finally, she let out a sigh.
"How much longer do I have to wait? I'm getting bored..."
[Transport activated. Destination: Morenti Magic Academy]
[Brace yourself for impact, Xu Yuying. No… Lunaria Velhart.]
"…Impact? What impa—"
Too late.
A magic circle formed beneath her feet. She felt a violent tug, like her soul had been yanked from her body.
She screamed, startled by the force of the pull.
And then...
Silence.