A stretch of sea lay in the Far East.
A huge artificial island sat there. It was a vast, little-known academy, with European architecture as its dominant style.
From the rooftop of the teaching building, one could see the deep ocean and blue sky seeming to meet at the horizon. Sunlight traced golden outlines across the glittering waves, shifting with the surging seawater. It was a sight beyond compare.
A poem once expressed the idea that wherever there was a horizon, there must be a vast expanse. It had to be the end of heaven and earth—and the end of dreams.
Yet for St. Freya Academy, that idea carried a certain inexplicable meaning.
The starting point of the Valkyries, whose duty was to fight the Honkai and protect the world, was here.
Su Qing'an gazed at the distant ocean. His dark eyes stared into the endless distance, as if he had something on his mind—or perhaps was merely spacing out.
Opposite him sat a woman in her twenties. She wore a white coat, and her neat, ear-length hair gave her a refreshing appearance. A name-and-position badge was pinned to her chest.
Nishikujo Sara, School Doctor.
A Marlboro cigarette pack was tucked into the pocket behind her School Doctor badge. Half the pack showed, forming a strange combination with the badge and giving her an odd appearance.
On the table sat a half-finished cup of coffee that had long since gone cold.
A file folder and several bizarre dolls had been casually placed beside it. Faint cigarette ash and brown coffee stains marked the floor.
It was clear that the School Doctor of St. Freya Academy had habits and a way of doing things that were hardly worth encouraging others to imitate.
She flipped through the data and reports, her expression