The night was peaceful—for most.

The air was cool but not uncomfortable, and the weather was clear. Faint sounds of the bustling city could be heard, and the golden glow of its lights in the darkness created a mesmerizing scene.

On the sixth floor of the boys’ dormitory, Zen was sound asleep on his bed, his body relaxed and his breathing steady.

But of course, his peace never lasted, even in sleep.

A sudden flicker, his breathing quickened, and his chest tightened. A blurry dream played behind his closed eyes.

He found himself plummeting from high above, his body and hands bloodied, feeling weightless and with zero hope of survival.

The fall kept going until an eerie noise screeched into his ears, suddenly stopping, and everything went dark.

Zen's eyes snapped open, his right hand clutching his abdomen. Though his face was expressionless as ever, horror was evident in his eyes.

He didn't gasp. He didn’t jerk upright. He just stayed still for a few more seconds, then tilted his head slightly up to look at the digital clock on the bedside table.

The clock read 00:01 A.M.

“Of course it is,” he muttered, letting out a long sigh.

The nightmare had been like an alarm clock itself. He had dreamt this exact scenario countless times. But it never failed to horrify him, even if for a few seconds.

He slowly got off the bed and made his way to the bathroom to freshen up.

After a few splashes on his face, he stared at himself in the mirror, the sound of running water being the only thing filling the quiet room.

He could still feel his heart pounding, completely out of sync with his mind.

He took deep breaths to calm it down, but the throbbing of his heart was intensifying by the second. Soon enough, his left arm followed up with a painful strain in his muscles.

He began coughing uncontrollably as pressure built up in his throat, until he puked a mouthful into the sink, thick blood splattering into the running water.

Not once, but twice.

He clutched his left hand, gritting his teeth, feeling an intense sting of pain. It lasted a few more seconds before finally dying down. With a shaky breath, Zen cleaned up the blood on his mouth and the sink.

This was his usual routine every night. Even in sleep, peace was not an option.

He took a quick shower and changed into a spare gear tracksuit. After locking the door to his dorm, he walked through the quiet, dark hallway towards the staircase.

But before he approached the stairs, he brought up his left hand, and a holographic HUD popped up. A few taps on his HUD and all the cameras monitoring the hallways froze for just long enough so he could make it up to the roof.

As soon as he stepped out of the gate to the rooftop, the cold air of the night hit him, bringing a rare sense of calm. He slowly inhaled, letting the air cool his lungs.

Suddenly, a ping from his gear comms broke the silence. He brought his left hand to his ear, and his earpiece formed. “Report.”

Aurora’s voice broke through the comms. “The criminal networks have gone dark. No signs of suspicious activities remain.”

Zen raised an eyebrow. “Small, scattered bandit groups coordinating? Not something you get to see every day.”

“Logged coordinates sent,” Aurora said. “Ansar is actively patrolling other cities for potential threats.”

“Good. I’ll scout the coords,” Zen replied.

“Copy,” Aurora acknowledged, and the call ended.

Zen clenched his left hand as he walked towards the edge of the roof, and A-02 formed around his body.

The hood of his tracksuit, combined with the black color palette of his gear, made it nearly impossible to recognize or trace him in the dark.

He climbed on the railing with one step and glanced down at the ground far below. The height was extreme, but he had been higher.

A gust of high-pressure wind formed around his feet as he took a deep breath. And then, he jumped, the wind boosting him forward with incredible speed.

Soaring through the cold air for a few seconds, he landed on the next roof with a slide, the metallic coating of his sneakers scraping against concrete. Not the smoothest landing, but it was controlled.

He continued from one roof to another until he vanished into the darkness of the night.

This was but one of many restless nights he had spent scouting, and tonight was no different.

The following morning was bright and beautiful.

The sky was clear, the breeze warm, and the city already alive with weekend energy. Shops had reopened with fresh stock, streets buzzed with chatter, and amusement parks hummed with families looking for a short escape from school and work.

At the East-Wing Warriors Academy gates, Cassie and Viara waited near the exit, chatting idly as students passed by.

“So, what are you planning to buy?” Cassie asked, stretching her arms.

“Nothing specific,” Viara replied, cheerful as always. “I just want to enjoy a peaceful day out. But… if I happen to find something cute for my collection—”

Cassie sighed. “You mean anything with a cat face on it? At this rate, your room’s going to collapse under the weight.”

“That’s not true!” Viara puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms. “I have taste. Selective taste!”

Footsteps approached.
Julianna appeared with her usual refined posture, smiling politely.

“Oh? I arrived ten minutes early,” she said. “Looks like you two still managed to beat me.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “About time.”

“Good morning, Miss President!” Viara greeted cheerfully. “We just got here, too.”

“Good morning,” Julianna replied. “I’m glad I didn’t keep you waiting. But—may I ask why you insisted on wearing our school uniforms today?”

Cassie answered before Viara could open her mouth.
“Because I don’t want to end up in tomorrow’s headlines for browsing healthcare products.”

Julianna raised a brow. “You’re afraid of cameras? You?”

Cassie crossed her arms. “I’m not afraid. I just want a normal day for once.”

“In fact,” she added, “we’re taking the subway instead of the usual private escort.”

Julianna paused, eyes narrowing with playful suspicion. “The subway? On a weekend? Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Cassie replied, feigning confidence. “Now, let’s go before every restaurant is packed for lunch.”

Viara bounced on her heels. “Alright! I’ll lead the way!”

After a short walk, the three girls reached the subway station. The platform was already very crowded.

The LED timetable display overhead had just updated as Julianna glanced at it.

She turned to Viara. “Seven minutes until the train arrives. We made it right on time.”

Viara nodded, scanning her surroundings. Her eyes landed on a vending machine with a minimal line.

“You guys want drinks? I’m paying,” she offered.

“I’ll have a Monster Ultra,” Cassie replied.

Julianna smiled. “I’m feeling a little thirsty, too. I’ll take the same. Thanks.”

“Three Monster Ultras it is! I’ll be right back.” Viara stepped forward as one last person finished their purchase.

She selected the drinks, pulled out her prepaid student card, and scanned it along the machine’s sensor. A soft click confirmed the payment, and three cans slid into the collection tray.

Viara grabbed the drinks and returned.

“I’m back,” she called, tossing a can to Cassie.

“Thanks,” Cassie said as she caught it.

The train arrived right on time.

The three girls quickly finished their drinks and tossed the cans into a nearby recycling bin. The incoming train slowed with a light screech against the rails, and its hydraulic doors slid open with a soft hiss.

As the trio joined the boarding line, the crowd behind them surged forward, practically pushing them into the coach. In a matter of seconds, the carriage was full. With no seats available, the three had no choice but to grip a handle and stand the entire way.

Halfway through the journey, the train jolted hard enough that the girl in front of Cassie crashed into her. A wave of bodies followed as the entire crowd shifted with the motion, squeezing them even tighter.

Julianna immediately provided support so Cassie didn’t lose her balance.

“It’s getting hard even to breathe in here,” Cassie murmured, steadying herself.

Julianna chuckled. “Weekend subways are always crowded. Precisely why I asked earlier if, you were sure.”

Cassie scoffed. “And you didn’t bother to warn us. Typical of you.”

“I wanted you to experience the ‘normal way’ of life,” Julianna replied with a teasing smirk.

Right beside Julianna, Viara silently stood, listening to the two. Suddenly, her eyes widened in realization, and then narrowed with discomfort.

The grip on her handle tightened, her face went dark, and her legs were slightly shaking.

“You okay, Vi?” Cassie asked, noticing her stiff posture.

“That drink… I need to go to the toilet,” Viara whispered, her voice tight.

Julianna and Cassie's eyes widened with alarm. “Heh?!?!”

“This is bad,” Viara murmured.

“Hang in there, Vi. Just a couple more minutes. We’re almost there,” Cassie whispered.

Julianna put her free hand on Viara’s shoulder and subtly used her elemental power, easing Viara’s discomfort just enough to survive the ride. Elemental powers sure had their mundane uses.

The train pulled out of the station, leaving the commercial district behind.

Cassie dropped onto a public bench beside Julianna, finally catching her breath.

Julianna smirked as she crossed her legs and propped her chin on one hand. “I feel sorry and amused at the same time.”

Cassie’s eyes narrowed, her tone flat, “I hate you.”

Julianna laughed in response. “I know. I’m used to it by now.”

Just then, Viara returned from the public restroom nearby, wiping her hands with a tissue.

“I’m never having any drinks before getting on a public transport ever again,” she said with a long sigh of relief.

Julianna got up from the bench. “I’ll call my butler to prepare a ride back home. Right now, we should get lunch.”

Cassie got back on her feet. “I’m starving as well. Let’s go.”

The trio wandered down the busy streets until they found a restaurant with a small crowd. The lighting was soft and warm, the interior was simple yet very neat, and the waiters were dressed professionally.

The moment they stepped in, the sound of chopping and sizzling filled the atmosphere, followed by the smell of herbs, spices, and all kinds of different cuisines being served at other tables.

A waiter led them to an open booth by the panoramic windows overlooking the street outside. Cassie and Viara slid into one side, and Julianna the opposite.

Everyone picked up their menus and started going through the list of cuisine served here as the waiter patiently waited for them to order—pun intended.

“So, what are you guys ordering?” Julianna asked.

“I don’t know, actually. There are a lot of good dishes to choose from,” Viara replied.

Cassie read the menu for another second and then put it down. “I’ll have the mutton stew and a salad.”

The waiter noted down the order and glanced at Viara and Julianna, who were still checking the menu.

Viara’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she smiled. “I’ll have the spicy chicken, also with a salad.”

“And I’ll have a grilled fish,” Julianna said as she put down her menu.

“Mutton stew, spicy chicken, two salads, and a grilled fish. I’ll be right back with your order,” the waiter said with a polite bow and left.

Cassie raised an eyebrow. “You’re only going to have grilled fish for lunch?”

“I like to keep it balanced,” Julianna replied, chin propped on one hand and smiling politely as ever. “My body refuses to function properly if it’s too full.”

About ten minutes later, the waiter arrived with all the orders. He set the dishes down one by one from the tray, then left with another polite bow.

Cassie glanced at Viara’s plate. “That reddish color looks scary. Are you sure about eating that?”

Viara brushed it off. “I’ll be fine. I like spicy food.”

She picked up her fork and took a bite, and the spice immediately kicked in, slowly turning her face red.

She smiled and chewed through it like everything was fine. “It’s… delicious.”

Julianna’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Oh, really? Then why does your face look like a fresh, ripe tomato?”

Viara’s eyes wandered to find an excuse. “I… haven’t had anything spicy in a while. That’s why.”

Cassie rolled her eyes in amusement, and the three of them started laughing.

As everyone ate, Cassie simply stirred her stew, suddenly lost in thought.

Julianna noticed her distraction mid-bite. "Are you okay? You haven’t had a single bite yet."

Cassie snapped back to reality. "Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. Just… feeling a little uneasy."

Viara placed a hand on Cassie’s shoulder. "Still thinking about Zen? Jeez, Cass, live a little!"

"I’m curious about him too," Julianna said with a reassuring smile, "but I’d also like to enjoy this outing."

Cassie nodded. "Right."

She finally tasted the mutton stew. "Delicious," she murmured.

And everyone returned to enjoying their meal in each other's company.

Once they’d finished lunch, the three couldn’t resist ordering a round of desserts.

Cassie ordered a fruit pastry, Viara ordered a caramel pudding, and Julianna went with a slice of cheesecake.

Cassie took a bite of her pastry. "The food here is amazing! I'm definitely coming back some other time," she said with a contented sigh.

Viara smiled. "Yeah, me too."

The waiter returned with the cheque and neatly set it down on the table.

Cassie was about to reach for her card, but Viara reacted lightning fast and lightly smacked Cassie's hand.

"No! I'm paying."

"Huh? But you paid for the drinks earlier," Cassie argued.

"Yes. But the shopping trip was my idea. So that makes you both guests," Viara replied.

Cassie looked like she was about to pull a counterargument, but she hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. You have a point."

Julianna chuckled at the exchange. "No objections."

Viara nodded. "Good."

She took the cheque to the counter and paid, humming softly to herself as the waiter processed the payment.

When she finally stepped out of the restaurant with Cassie and Julianna behind her, she stretched her arms toward the sky with a bright grin.

"Alright! Now for the real deal—shopping!"

Cassie and Julianna exchanged a pair of amused glances before trailing after the overly energetic Viara.