The roadway led up a steep, curving hill, with clusters of residences and local shops in a variety of distinct designs and brilliant colors. Some were made with bricks, while others were built from Everwoodian oak and old dragon scales. Since the beginning of the Contemporary Age, each building has been imbued with manatite, creating built-in magical barriers for all residents in the event that a high-class threat emerges from one of The Yolk's twelve warp zones. 

Kei took in his surroundings. This environment was very different from what he had become accustomed to back home in Neema, so he would undoubtedly need some time to adjust. Finally atop the hill, Kei had reached Zanifar’s Den, the school town of Basilisk Academy. A red-bricked castle-like structure loomed in the distance, about a hundred feet above anything else. To prepare for the first day, there were a slew of red- and black-clad kids of various ethnicities and ages moving about, practicing their individual crafts, and forming lines around school shopping centers. Humans and demi-humans such as beastkin, dragonkin, orcs, and even one-eyed katsokaa people, all in one place.

Gods… The photos do not capture the beauty of this scene…

The half-elf was astounded by the stunning scene before him. He was aware of the academy's vastness due to the number of pupils enrolled each school year, but being there in person put everything into perspective. The world outside of Lai-Fatt was much larger. 

“Hm?”

Just then, the sound of rhythmic string plucking followed by serene female humming captured his attention. The more he listened, the more familiar it seemed. Seconds later, the performer had delivered a phrase that was unquestionably flawless Elven. Kei looked to his left and saw a swarm of pupils forming near squares of grass turf blocks. His natural hearing was acute, and that location was indeed the source.

I was the only desert elf to enroll this year… Could the songstress be kin-folk from Everwood?

He went over to the crowd and began to wade through it, delivering pardons and apologies to each student he passed, but they all appeared too preoccupied with the breathtaking music to notice him. 

When he got to the front of the crowd, he saw a human girl sitting on the backrest of a park bench, her mahogany-colored sitar with white trim in hand, swaying her head in time with her chord progression. Kei was beside himself. 

A human from the outerlands…? Playing S'hara of the Dunes?

Kei studied the girl's face as she continued to play. Olive complexion, long, curling dirty-blonde hair, and round, compassionate hazel eyes that appeared to be fixed on something in another plane of existence. She had freckles on her nose and cheeks, and her long, aforementioned hair was wrapped into a tight but bushy ponytail.

Like everyone else around them, she was wearing the Basilisk Academy ladies' uniform, consisting of a crimson blazer with black trim over a black collared shirt. A jet-black skirt with a single red stripe around the hem, black knee-high stockings, and matching black dress shoes rounded out the look.

Putting appearances aside, Kei was completely captivated by the unexpected sight. From the way she warbled each line in Elven to the calm, yet precise plucking of the sitar strings, he couldn't help but believe that this was the closest thing to an out-of-body experience he'd had since his rite of passage. 

Incredible. 

The music had reached its last verse, and everyone remained captivated in silence. The girl held the final note while giving the sitar two rapid and hard strums, then finished the tune with a few plucks that sounded like wind chimes. She then smiled to herself before looking up. 

“O-oh!!”

She gasped in astonishment when she saw the gathering in front of her, and when they erupted in yells and acclaim, her cheeks flushed bright crimson. It appeared that she had truly been in her own little universe while playing. This made Kei smile.

“U-Um…”

Even though she was taken aback, the girl stood up from the bench and gave a contrite bow. A natural response from a talented bard. 

"Thanks so much for listening!" She smiled as the crowd dispersed, nodding in acknowledgment before continuing to their main business. Kei remained where he was, and her gaze was drawn to him almost immediately.

“Oh! Um… H-Hi, there!”

Kei made a nod. “Hello.”

Her eyes instantly widened. “Wait. Golden eyes, tribal braids…” She gave an audible gasp. “You're a…a desert elf, aren't you?!”

“Well, I’m a half-elf, technically speaking, but yes. I hail from Neema.”

The girl's eyes brightened even more. “Ooooh, so you are from Lai-Fatt Desert! That is sooo incredibly cool! I’ve been a fanatic of desert culture my whole life. To think I’d meet an actual inhabitant here, of all places!” 

She gazed down at her sitar and inhaled sharply, as if preparing herself.

“S-so, um…what did you think?”

“Hm?”

“My rendition of S’hara of The Dunes. What did you think of it? Was my Elven pronunciation off anywhere? Were my finger positions too sloppy? Did I sound too…?”

“It was magnificent.”

“Huh? R-Really?”

“Indeed,” Kei assured with a smile. “Your Elven was so fluent, I initially thought you were a kinsman from The Great Forest.”

“What? Oh, stop it!” She looked away, blushing. “You’re just saying that! There’s no way I sounded that good! Come on, now!” 

“I speak the truth. You have real talent.”

She returned her attention to Kei and locked eyes with him for a few moments. Her expression was unreadable.

“......”

“......”

After a few moments of silent gazing, the girl smiled and rested her sitar on the bench. She then cleared her throat before reaching out her right hand to Kei, who looked at it warily. 

“Well, thanks! That really means a lot. I’m Felicity, by the way. Felicity Hartenstein.”

Oh! I see now!

Kei recalled reading about it. A handshake was a typical greeting in most outerland civilizations, and Everwoodian elves were no exception. He'd never shaken hands with anyone before, except his sister for practice. However, in front of a peer, he was unsure how to proceed. 

Remember Kei: always follow the wind; going against it is beyond foolish.

With that reminder, he swallowed and pushed forward, fending off any potential uneasiness. 

“You can call me Kei. Kei S’han of Neema. It is a pleasure to meet you, Felicity.”

He took her hand and gave it a firm shake. Meeting with Felicity face to face, he realized that she couldn't have been much shorter than him, probably even matching his older sister in height.

She grinned back at him. “The pleasure is all mine, Kei.”  

◆◇◆

“My, my. What a wonderful display. Don't you think so, Holland, dear?”

Several yards away, atop the roof of a small tea and confectionery shop, a finely dressed young woman sat at a table set for afternoon tea. A large, round parasol shielded her from the sun overhead, while a white cloth covered the ornate teapoy before her.

Several students dressed in Basilisk Academy uniforms stood guard around her. Closest to her was Holland Streisand, who solemnly lifted the brown teapot in his hand and poured another serving into her empty cup.

“Indeed it was, milady. She is quite the bard.”

“To possess such talent…at such a young age,” the young woman mused, reaching for her teacup, “is truly admirable.”

She lifted the cup to her lips, taking a small sip before her attention returned to the two students below.

“And the boy accompanying her…”

Her eyes narrowed with mild curiosity.

“Am I correct in assuming that he is an elf from Lai-Fatt Desert?”

“Correct.” Holland nodded. “His appearance, along with his apparent affinity toward S’hara of the Dunes, would indicate as such, milady.”

“Mm.”

She swirled the tea inside her cup.

“Interesting.”

For a few moments, she simply watched the two younger teens converse. A faint smile gradually formed across her lips.

“Things have been rather dull around here since Radical Red's expulsion.” She sighed dramatically, resting her cheek against one hand. “Perhaps these two can remedy that.”

Holland looked toward her.

“Milady?”

She lowered her hand and smiled.

“Bring them to me.”

A brief pause. Her tone was as casual as if she'd asked for another pastry.

“By force, if necessary.”

The students bowed in unison.

““““Yes, milady.””””

They scattered in rapid succession, disappearing down the streets below.

She remained at the table, watching them leave. Once she was alone, she reached for her teacup again, her pale fingers gently brushing against the scarlet pendant hanging around her neck.

Her smile faded into an expression of quiet amusement.

“I wonder…”

She glanced toward the Basilisk Academy grounds in the distance.

“What sort of mischief can we get ourselves into this time, Geno?”

She took another sip.

“Your move.” 

◆◇◆

“Ah, so your sister’s a graduate. That’s awesome! Did she ever compete in Academy Showdown?”

“Yes. She was in The Astral Labyrinth event during her freshman year,” Kei explained. “Her experience still comes up in daily conversation.”

Kei and Felicity conversed as they sauntered through the bustling crowd in Zanifar’s Den. According to a nearby turret clock, the first bell was set to toll in close to thirty minutes.  

“Well, who can blame her?” Felicity beamed. “Running around in a shifting dimensional maze with a small team and an even bigger opposition? It honestly sounds like a blast!”

Kei chuckled. “I admire your optimism.”

The two of them found themselves in the heart of the school's commercial district. Felicity wanted to get some fresh strings for her sitar before they headed to the main building. She then found a neighboring music shop and led him in. 

"Say, what do you aspire to do here, Kei?" Felicity inquired as she strolled over to the string instrument section. 

"Hmm…" He took some time to consider his response. While experiencing the world outside of the desert was always a goal of his, now that he'd accomplished it, he wasn't sure what to expect next. And perhaps that was where the enjoyment lay.

“‘Follow the wind wherever it may guide you, for going against it is beyond foolish.’”

Felicity perked up at the familiar quote. 

“Oh! I guess S’hara’s words are something you truly live by, huh?”

He gave a nod. “Yes.”

“That’s admirable.” She grinned back. “At a school like this, you're sure to find something that speaks to you. After spending so much time traveling with my parents, I believe I can relate on some level.”

“Your journey must’ve helped broaden your horizons as a child.”

“That it did! And after giving it a lot of thought, I decided that I'd love to perform at the Academy Showdown someday!” 

Kei’s eyes expanded. “Oh?”

Felicity reddened. “Y-Yeah. Don't get me wrong: competing may be a lot of fun, but performing would be even more exhilarating. Guess it’s in my nature as a bard!”

She gave a hearty laugh—one that was louder than she intended. Several student shoppers and workers turned to look, drawing even more attention to her. Her face flushed even brighter scarlet as she swiftly grabbed a set of sitar strings and awkwardly held them up to Kei. 

“I-I'm g-gonna pay f-f-for these!” Eyes were still on Felicity as she managed to communicate despite her fumbling words. “W-Wait for me by the door, yeah?”

Kei, unsure what to make of the scenario, simply shrugged and stepped over to the shop's entrance. He glanced out the window.

Something peculiar caught his eye.

A group of Basilisk students, some human and others beastkin, gathered outside the store. Their arms were folded behind their lower backs, and they stood tall, almost haughty in their posture. Every one of them stared at Kei with glowing red eyes.

What in Mother’s name is this?

Kei glanced around the store. Everyone else seemed none the wiser.

He found it incomprehensible. These were Basilisk students, weren’t they? Why were they positioned in such a hostile manner on Basilisk grounds?

Kei reached for the handle of his tribal club, secured in the side pocket of his bag.

As he started toward the entrance, he felt a hand settle on his shoulder. Expecting Felicity to be there, he turned around.

“Huh?”

Instead, one of the student shoppers—a young crystal demon—was grinning back at him.

The other students had gathered around them, all wearing the same chilling expression. Their eyes glowed the exact same shade of red as those of the students outside.

They've surrounded us.

Kei's gaze immediately shifted toward the checkout counter.

“Felici—”

Felicity stared back at him, chin raised as tears of terror welled in her eyes. Behind her, the female cashier stood with a blade pressed against her throat, her eyes glowing the same unnatural red.

“K-Kei…”

“Felicity! Unhand her at once!”

Kei let his mana flow through his veins. Static crackled from his steel club.

“Could Felicity Hartenstein and Kei S’han please step outside?”

A masculine voice came from just outside the store, seemingly amplified by magic.

Kei clenched his jaw. With Felicity in such danger, he couldn't afford to act hastily.

He exhaled sharply, released his grip on the club, and allowed the mana coursing through his body to dissipate.

“What the hell do you want?!”

“Ask no further questions, Kei S’han,” the voice replied. “Come quietly, and no one will be harmed.”