Helrom's winter morning was bitterly cold. The sky was still dim, and faint morning light gradually dyed the eastern horizon bright.
At a quiet street corner in the dormitory district of Protos Royal Magic Academy, the front courtyard of a beige-brick residence was covered in a thin layer of frost and snow.
It seemed to have snowed lightly last night.
The residence's windows looked somewhat hazy, as the indoor heating and the cold outside had formed a layer of condensation. Through the mist, one could vaguely see the sparse greenery decorating the outdoor windowsills. Frost crystals had formed on the exposed branches in the courtyard, and every leaf looked as though it had been frozen in time, waiting for spring to arrive. In the bleak morning, everything appeared so tranquil.
Today was still a workday—a Thursday.
The weekend was almost here.
Zestira had risen early in the bedroom and finished getting herself ready.
Then she crossed the living room, opened the residence's door, and walked out expressionlessly.
Standing beside the door with one hand resting lightly on the doorframe, she could see from a distance that the courtyard had nearly become an animal garden.
As usual, Lanchi was sitting on the swing beneath the great tree, feeding the small animals gathered there. The pitch-black Great Fox lay elegantly on the ground, soft and smooth like a sofa.
While gently scattering millet across the grass, he chatted with his new animal companion, the fox, as little birds chirped and hopped around in search of food.
Even from far away, one could hear the teacher and the Great Fox's casual conversation drifting over with the cold air.
"Woof."
"You're asking whether I know any other members of the Great Demon Race?"
"Woof."
"What do you mean, 'other members of the Great Demon