Gao led Lingqi to the mess hall, a place that echoed with the life of the academy. It was an intimately grand space, centered between the male and female dormitories, with six long, lacquered tables perfectly aligned along the length of the room. Finely crafted wooden benches accompanied these tables, their polished surfaces gleaming in the ambient light. The air was thick with the aroma of spices and simmering broth, a comforting scent that promised warmth and sustenance.

“Lingqi! Gao!” Yuyan's voice cut through the din, her arm waving them over. “What took you so long? I was starting to worry.”

“Sorry, Yuyan,” Gao replied, a touch of sheepishness in his voice. “We got caught up talking to the headmaster.”

“What about?”

“Just some stuff,” Gao dismissed, a casual shrug. “But from now on, Lingqi will be under my care.”

“You? Really?” Surprise laced Yuyan's words.

“Is that a problem?” Gao's eyebrow arched.

“No, it's just...well, you're not exactly the friendliest person,” Yuyan chuckled nervously. “And I think Lingqi would much rather prefer me over you. Isn't that right?”

Lingqi's eyes darted between them, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. He wished desperately for the ground to swallow him whole.

“Very funny,” Gao said, rolling his eyes. “I can look after him just fine. Now, can we get some food or what?”

Yuyan sighed, shaking her head. “Fine, fine. Go ahead and take a seat, I'll get you two your food.”

They settled at one of the empty tables, and soon Yuyan returned with their meals. Lingqi noticed the slight smile on her face as she handed him his bowl.

“Here you go, Lingqi. I made sure to save the best part for you,” she said with a wink.

Lingqi peered into the bowl and saw a generous slab of boar meat atop his rice. He looked up, his grin wide.

“Thank you, Yuyan!”

“Hey, what about me?” Gao interjected.

“Oh, right,” Yuyan rolled her eyes. “I saved the scraps for you, Gao.”

“Very funny,” Gao scoffed, though there was a warmth in his tone that belied his words.

Yuyan smiled and left them to their meal. Lingqi, ravenous, dug in immediately. The food was simple yet filling, the meat cooked to perfection—neither too soft nor too tough, but perfectly juicy and flavorful.

“Hey, Lingqi. I know it's none of my business, but what did Master Zhang say to you?” Gao asked between bites.

“Nothing, really. Just that I need to work on controlling my Prana,” Lingqi shrugged.

“Ah, yeah. You really did scare the crap out of everyone,” Gao commented, his tone light.

“I don't know,” Lingqi hesitated. “I didn't mean to scare anyone. I just...lost control.”

“Hey, don't beat yourself up. We've all lost control once or twice,” Gao reassured him.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Hell, I'm probably the biggest jerk around, and I've lost control more times than I can count,” Gao chuckled, and Lingqi found himself smiling despite his worries. “But the key is to learn from those experiences and use them to grow. So, chin up, kid. We'll get you sorted out in no time.”

“Thank you,” Lingqi nodded, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.

“Don't mention it,” Gao said, his voice gentle but firm.

They finished their meals in companionable silence, the only sounds the rhythmic scraping of chopsticks against bowls. When they were done, they returned the dishes to Yuyan, who thanked them with a soft smile. As Lingqi walked away, Yuyan pulled him aside and whispered, “Let's talk later, okay? Meet me in the library after dark.”

“What are you saying to him?” Gao asked, crossing his arms.

“Nothing,” Yuyan winked at Lingqi. “See you later, Lingqi.”

“Bye, Yuyan,” Lingqi waved, walking away with Gao.

The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow across the academy grounds. Lingqi stopped to admire the sight, the sky ablaze with hues of orange and pink, the colors blending together like a masterful painting.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Come on, kid. Let's get you settled in,” Gao nudged him, bringing him back to reality.

“Right, sorry,” Lingqi followed his senior down a long hallway lined with an assortment of rooms.

“These are the male dorms. You're lucky; you get your own room. When I first got here, I had to share with another student. Here, follow me,” Gao said, leading him down the hallway.

“This will be your room. My room is right next door, so if you need anything, let me know,” Gao told him.

“Thanks,” Lingqi nodded, stepping inside.

“Get some rest, kid. Tomorrow will be your first day of training,” Gao reminded him, closing the door behind him.

Lingqi surveyed his humble dorm. Modest in size, it felt surprisingly spacious. A sturdy oak cot, polished smooth by years of use, stood against the wall, dressed in soft, creamy linens. Beside it, a low table held a fire lamp, its flame casting a warm, flickering glow that filled the room with a cozy ambiance.

He lay down, his thoughts restless. Why had Yuyan asked him to meet her after dark? The question gnawed at him, keeping sleep at bay.

As the night deepened, Lingqi sneaked out of his room, heading towards the library. The academy was silent, save for the gentle chirping of insects. Lingqi crept through the hallways, careful not to wake anyone.

In the library, Yuyan waited, sitting on one of the desks with her legs crossed. The only light came from a single fire lamp, its flame casting shadows that danced around the room. Her hair was tied into a lazy bun, and she wore a modest brown robe, yet she radiated a serene beauty.

“Lingqi,” Yuyan whispered, waving him over. “Over here.”

Lingqi approached, his footsteps light.

“Hey, Yuyan,” he replied, sitting next to her.

“I'm glad you came,” she said, her voice barely audible. “I was afraid you wouldn't show up.”

“What did you want to talk about?” Lingqi asked, keeping his voice low.

“I wanted to make sure you're okay,” she responded, her eyes filled with concern. “That incident today, it scared me. You really had everyone worried.”

“I'm sorry,” Lingqi looked down. “I didn't mean to cause any trouble.”

“It's not your fault, Lingqi. It's just, well, your power. It's scary. No one has seen anything like it before,” Yuyan admitted.

Lingqi twiddled his thumbs, unsure of what to say.

“I was thinking, maybe I could help you. After all, I'm a senior student too,” she suggested.

“Really? You'd do that?” Lingqi looked up at her with wide eyes.

“Of course,” she nodded. “If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

Lingqi smiled, and she returned the gesture, the fire lamp's light illuminating her skin, accentuating her hazel eyes.

“Thanks, Yuyan. I really appreciate it.”

“I'll always be here for you, Lingqi. No matter what,” Yuyan smiled, patting his head.

Lingqi leaned into her touch, feeling his stresses melt away.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Yuyan asked.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Why did you come here? To the academy, I mean.”

Lingqi tensed, his gaze dropping to the floor. He fought the urge to lie, to hide the painful truth, but he couldn't. Not to her.

“My parents,” he finally said.

“What happened?”

“They were killed by the Khalkans during an attack on my village. My mother hid me in the cellar, and then they...” His voice trailed off, and tears welled in his eyes.

“Oh, Lingqi,” Yuyan whispered, pulling him into a comforting embrace. “I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how horrible that must have been.”

“I may not have gone through what you have, Lingqi,” she continued, her voice low and soothing. “But I'll do everything I can to help you. I promise.”

Lingqi wiped his eyes, nodding at her words.

“Thanks, Yuyan. That means a lot to me.”

They sat in silence for a while, the only sound the crackling of the fire lamp.

“Come on, let's go outside,” Yuyan suggested, standing and holding out her hand.

“Huh? Now?”

“Yeah, come on,” she urged, taking his hand.

Lingqi stood, allowing her to lead him outside. The night air was cool and refreshing, the sky a tapestry of stars.

“Where are we going?” Lingqi asked.

“Just trust me,” she smiled, pulling him along.

They reached the courtyard, and Yuyan looked up at the sky. Lingqi followed suit, marveling at the vast array of stars.

“Wow,” Lingqi whispered, his awe palpable.

“I used to do this all the time with my brother,” Yuyan shared, a nostalgic smile on her face.

“Your brother?”

“Yeah. He was a couple of years younger than me. We loved to stargaze together,” Yuyan recalled.

“What was his name?”

“Lunxi. He was a great little brother.”

“What happened to him?”

Yuyan's expression darkened. “He died from an illness. It happened a few years ago, but it still hurts.”

“I'm sorry,” Lingqi said softly.

“No, it's fine,” she reassured him. “It's just been a while since I've talked about him. He was always so full of life. And now, he's gone. It was all so sudden.”

Lingqi didn't know what to say, so he took her hand in his. She smiled down at him, squeezing his hand gently.

“Master Zhang taught me that our loved ones become stars when they pass. I like to think he's up there, watching over me,” Yuyan said, pointing at the sky.

Lingqi followed her gaze, his eyes darting around the stars.

“What about that one?” he asked, pointing to a bright cluster.

“Maybe. Or that one,” she pointed to another group.

“Wait, I think it's that one,” Lingqi suggested, pointing to a larger, brighter cluster.

“You're right!” Yuyan gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. “That's him! He's right there!”

They laughed, the weight of their burdens momentarily lifting.

“What about your parents? Which ones do you think they are?” she asked.

Lingqi looked up at the sky, then pointed to a pair of stars close together.

“Maybe those two,” he said.

“I can see it,” she nodded.

Lingqi wasn't sure if they were really his parents, but it was comforting to imagine them watching over him.

“Thank you for this, Yuyan,” Lingqi said, his smile as bright as the stars.

“Don't mention it,” she replied, squeezing his hand. “You're stuck with me now.”

They laughed, and Lingqi felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. He was grateful to have her as a friend.

“We should probably get some sleep,” Yuyan said, stifling a yawn.

“Yeah, you're right,” Lingqi agreed.

“Will you be alright?”

“I think so,” he said.

“Well, if you need anything, you know where I am. Don't be afraid to wake me up, okay?”

“I won't,” he nodded.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Good,” she smiled. “Let's get you back to your room.”

They crept back through the academy, exchanging soft giggles. Once they reached his room, Lingqi thanked Yuyan again for her kindness.

“Anytime,” she said, tucking him in.

Lingqi smiled as he nestled under the covers, drifting off to sleep with dreams filled with stars and the smiling faces of his parents.