Spring. The season when sunlight gently caresses the earth and rain-kissed sprouts peek out from the soil.
It was a ti of fresh starts, and for Stella Academy, it marked the beginning of another academic year brimming with possibility.
Around this ti, most freshn arrived with starry-eyed dreams of campus life.
Visions of cherry blossoms painting the grounds in shades of pink, carefree afternoons spent reading on sunlit hills, stolen glances with a crush during lectures, and dazzling fireworks illuminating the floating city of Arcanium at night danced in their minds.
... Only to wake up from this dream within three weeks of the sester.
Whether they cared to know or not, the freshn quickly learned why Stella Academy was hailed as the most prestigious institution of magic.
While other schools might start the sester with orientations or ice-breaking sessions, Stella had no such nonsense.
Instead, students were thrown into the Stella Do for intensive combat training right away.
Bodies ached, breaths grew ragged, and just when the exhausted students thought they'd earned so reprieve, they were buried under mountains of howork no sane person could possibly complete.
Desperate cries of "Do they think I only have their class?!" echoed through the dormitories.
The professors, however, remained unfazed. Instead, they laughed and declared, "Cursing won't help without spells! Starting today, we'll master practical curse magic—and you can expect twice the assignnts!"
It was, quite literally, hell on earth.
Probably 99% of the freshn thought Stella Academy was hell and struggled under its crushing demands.
But then there was the other 1%. The rare few who had already crawled out of real hell and could finally see the light.
For soone like Anella, for example, Stella Academy was heaven.
To her, a place where she could spend all day studying and accumulating knowledge was nothing short of paradise.
Nearly a month had passed since the sester began, but Anella still didn't have any friends.
Most students had already ford groups and socialized freely, but Anella struggled due to her reserved personality.
More than anything, she often felt an overwhelming generation gap.
Her true age? Forty.
No wonder the teenage students' jokes and gossip felt like whispers from another world.
While several factors contributed to her isolation, the biggest reason was still the betrayal by soone she once considered a close friend... Young Lady Mirinae.
She thought they were close friends, but it turned out the feeling wasn't mutual.
She had only approached her to gain sothing.
For soone like Anella, born penniless and unfamiliar with wealth or status, such deceit had been a bitter lesson.
She had read about nobles lanting friendships tainted by greed, but only now did she grasp even a fraction of their pain.
In a way, though, she found so comfort in this realization.
It reminded her that Jeliel and Baek Yu-Seol, who had extended their hands before she had anything to offer, weren't motivated by personal gain.
And yet, no matter how hard she tried, the unease still lingered, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.
Baek Yu-Seol must expect sothing from her. Otherwise, why would he go so far as to provide her with these extraordinary opportunities?
After all, no Dark Mage could simply turn human, study in the best environnt, and enroll at Stella Academy just because they wanted to.
'If I want to be useful to Baek Yu-Seol, I don't have ti to waste making friends.'
To Anella, solitude wasn't a curse. It was a blessing that allowed her to focus entirely on her studies, free from distractions and shallow connections.
"Um...
"Huh?"
"We're planning a study group after class. Would you like to join us?"
Anella blinked, pulled from her thoughts by the voice of a girl who had approached her.
To anyone else, it might have seed like a friendly gesture. But to Anella, this scene had played out more than a dozen tis already, and she was growing tired of it.
At this point, Anella could easily tell their true intentions just by looking into their eyes.
During the entrance exams, Anella had caused a massive stir, being hailed as 'the genius girl destined to succeed Ma Yu-Seong!'
Because of that, countless mages from the Magic Towers and students had started approaching her.
So parents had even instructed their children to maintain good relations with Anella, highlighting just how noteworthy her presence had beco.
Accepting such invitations might have helped her build connections with other students, but...
She no longer desired shallow relationships that could crumble at the slightest crack.
"Sorry. I'm busy."
"Oh... I see. That's too bad."
After the girl walked away, Anella let out a deep sigh and opened her magic book.
To already feel exhausted by social interactions—perhaps she wasn't even worthy of being human.
Her thoughts drifted aimlessly as she stared at the pages before her, but the sudden commotion nearby pulled her from her trance.
When she turned her head, her eyes fell upon a girl with long, silvery-white hair cascading like moonlight to her waist. She stood at the center of a lively crowd, her beauty doll-like and almost otherworldly.
Surrounded by ten students of varying backgrounds, the girl radiated an effortless charm that transcended the divisions of noble houses, magical factions, and nations. It was an unusual sight.
Her na was Scarlet.
Her family na as a noble was unknown, and her magical affiliation was a mystery.
But none of that mattered.
Scarlet had shone just as brightly as Anella during the entrance exams, captivating the academy with her brilliance.
Unlike Anella, who had repelled the wave of people flocking to her, Scarlet welcod anyone who approached without hesitation.
And Anella couldn't understand why.
Scarlet is the Witch Queen.
Even without Baek Yu-Seol telling her the truth, Anella already knew.
The mories of suffering at Scarlet's hands in a past life were etched into her soul.
Scarlet was a walking catastrophe, soone who could destroy Stella Academy in its entirety if she so desired.
Anella couldn't comprehend why such a being was now pretending to be a student.
"Oh my?"
Flinch!
Anella accidentally locked eyes with Scarlet and quickly turned her gaze back to her magic book, but it was already too late.
Scarlet had excused herself from her group of friends and was now walking toward her.
"Anella?"
"... Yes?"
Her voice trembled as she clutched her magic book tightly, fingers trembling. Fear flickered across her face.
Scarlet regarded her in silence, her expression unreadable.
"Are you scared?"
"N-no..."
"Hmm. Well, I don't care whether you're scared or not. But... As long as you have that boy's special attention, I'll never harm you."
"Ah..."
"So stop worrying about and just live your school life however you want. It's obvious you're avoiding people and keeping to yourself, but honestly? That just makes things awkward for . Baek Yu-Seol keeps nagging about it."
"I-Is that so?"
"I an, I don't actually mind the nagging since it gives an excuse to spend more ti with him. But anyway, just take care of yourself and stop acting like so scared little rabbit."
Smack!
"Ack!"
Scarlet's hand ca down hard on Anella's back before she spun around and sauntered back to her seat, her silver hair swaying behind her like silk.
Anella sat there dazed, watching Scarlet leave, and couldn't help but once again reflect on Baek Yu-Seol's influence.
'He even managed to bring the Witch Queen into this school...'
How in the world had he convinced that terrifying Witch Queen to enroll at the academy?
And then—
"Hey, hey! You know Senior Baek Yu-Seol, right?"
"Of course! I was planning to join the dical Departnt, but I switched to the Magic Warrior Departnt just to see him!"
"But... Have you ever actually seen him in class?"
"Once. Just once. After that, it's like he barely shows up."
"I asked one of the second-year seniors about it. Apparently, he's been like this since his first year. He treats the academy like it's just a place to visit whenever he feels like it."
"But Stella Academy has a strict attendance policy, right? Even royals can't skip too many classes without facing expulsion. How does he get away with it?"
"Exactly."
"What's even weirder is that his grades are surprisingly average."
"Oh, I heard about that too. His theory scores are so high that even the professors could learn from him, but he doesn't take any practical exams at all."
Rumors about Baek Yu-Seol constantly circulated among the first-year students.
After all, he wasn't just famous within Stella Academy. He was a world-renowned figure.
There was even a published novel based on the true story of a girl who spent an entire year studying just to pass the entrance exam and enroll at Stella Academy for the sole purpose of eting him.
Yet, ironically, Baek Yu-Seol rarely showed up to class.
"I heard that the Elven King personally visited the principal recently. Do you think it's related to Baek Yu-Seol?"
"Really? I never heard about that."
"Apparently, it was a secret visit. Hardly anyone saw her, so it's not confird."
"Every ti sothing big happens, there's always a rumor about so famous figure coming here to ask Baek Yu-Seol for help."
"Yeah, and there's a rumor that he solves every problem that cos his way."
"Co on, really? The Magic Tower and other agencies already have plenty of problem-solvers."
"Exactly. That's why it's just a rumor."
Listening to the conversation, Anella also fell into deep thought.
A student who rarely set foot in class, yet wielded an influence that seed to stretch far beyond the walls of Stella Academy.
'Does he even plan to show up anymore...?'
***
anwhile, aboard the Northern Express Train.
Despite the arrival of warm spring weather, Baek Yu-Seol was heading toward the frigid northern regions, feeling a lingering sense of unease.
Just when Baek Yu-Seol thought he could finally enjoy a peaceful spring campus life, he found himself being summoned sowhere yet again.
"I know you're busy... I'm really sorry for asking you to co."
But as Florin, who sat across from him, nervously apologized, all his annoyance vanished in an instant.
"No. It's sothing I need to do anyway."
A face that could bring kingdoms to their knees... Baek Yu-Seol thought the phrase must have been coined for monts like this.
With Florin asking for his help, even traveling to the frozen wastelands didn't seem so bad.
"So, we're searching for soone who's been brainwashed by Pale Yellow Autumn Moon? And the pri suspect is Grand Duke Selphram in the north?"
"I'm not completely certain. But I think it's worth checking in person to be sure."
Even Baek Yu-Seol wasn't too familiar with this part of the story.
He barely rembered any details about NPCs brainwashed by Pale Yellow Autumn Moon.
It seed this aspect of the narrative had remained unresolved in the ga's ending.
Given how mysterious Pale Yellow Autumn Moon was, even players had failed to uncover the full truth about her.
Baek Yu-Seol turned his gaze out the window.
Although the view of the snow-covered landscape was far from what one might expect during a romantic trip with one of the world's most beautiful won, it wasn't too bad to look at.
Especially since Florin seed to enjoy the snowy scenery.
'I don't recall Selphram being the type to fall under brainwashing...'
Grand Duke Selphram was supposed to be one of the key male leads that Fla t after graduating from Stella Academy. He was much like lian, another important character in the story.
Could such a significant character really have been brainwashed by the Twelve Divine Moons?
'Tsk... I can't make sense of it.'
Even if he t Selphram in person, it wouldn't be easy to tell right away.
After all, he hadn't sensed Pale Yellow Autumn Moon's aura when she had brainwashed Young Lady Mirinae either.
However, Baek Yu-Seol's Sentient Spec, which served as a data-recording device, had stored information related to this situation in its database.
Combined with the instincts he'd honed through experience, there was at least a chance he'd recognize the signs if faced with a similar situation.
"Oh, and... I wanted to give you a gift. I've received so much help from you, but I haven't been able to return the favor."
"A gift?"
"Yes. I think you'll be quite surprised."
"Oh, co on. You didn't have to. Though I'll gladly accept it, of course."
Watching Baek Yu-Seol readily accept, Florin smiled softly and held out her hand.
"For just a mont... May I hold your hand?"
"Of course."
Without even hesitating for a second, Baek Yu-Seol reached out his hand.
Florin grasped it gently and closed her eyes.
'A gift... Huh? Wh—?!'
Suddenly, Baek Yu-Seol felt a chilling sensation, as though sothing foreign was being implanted directly into his mind.
He reflexively tilted his head back.
Inside his chest, sothing golden and solid seed to stir—
Golden Solstice Moon.
It was unmistakable the aura of one of the Twelve Divine Moons.
'How... How does she have this?!'
Completely stunned, Baek Yu-Seol stared at Florin, who t his gaze with a bright and confident smile.
"Didn't I tell you? It's a very special gift."
Clearly thrilled by her ability to give such a gift, Florin bead with a rare, radiant smile.
[You have received the Blessing of Golden Solstice Moon...]
There was no doubt that this was an incredible gift. Sothing anyone would consider priceless.
Yet at that mont, to Baek Yu-Seol, the greatest gift wasn't the blessing itself—
It was her smile.
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