But I Refuse

"Is that so?" Bai Cai said noncommittally, hugging Ralts close. "Would you be willing to hear a story?"

"Go ahead." Lin Yun dispelled Martial Soul Possession and sat cross-legged. His silvery-white fur, chilling claws, and wolf's tail like a steel whip vanished without a trace.

"A boy awakened Twin Martial Souls. A hammer in his left hand and grass in his right. His father told him to use the hammer in his left hand to protect the grass in his right, and the boy agreed."

"The boy met a girl, and they fell in love."

"Later, the girl died, sacrificing herself to protect the boy..."

"For the people who love me, and the people I love. Although the future you've painted sounds wonderful."

Bai Cai slowly smoothed Ralts's blue bangs. "But I refuse."

The weather was clear, and sunlight shimmered across Sea God Lake.

After leaving the Assessment Area, Bai Cai followed a path along the lakeshore and entered a broad, rectangular plaza. On the plaza's southern side, the white-painted freshman teaching building reflected the blazing sunlight.

The entrance to the freshman teaching building was especially lively. Freshmen who had passed the assessment were lining up to register.

Bai Cai presented the age and Soul Power certification issued by the Assessment Area, paid ten Gold Soul Coins, and successfully received handsome uniforms for spring and autumn, a white metal freshman Badge, and a dormitory key with a number tag.

"Yuhao, the dormitory's behind the teaching building, in the biggest building on campus. The new school year officially starts in three days. You can look around and get familiar with the place until then."

"We've already paid your tuition. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. The academy organizes all kinds of competitions, and the prize money's pretty good."

"Lastly, a Soul Master registered at Shrek Academy can collect a monthly stipend from the three great empires. Spend it carefully, and it should be enough for meals."

The ordinary-looking boy, around eleven or twelve, with a well-proportioned build, thanked them earnestly. Tang Ya and Bei Bei waved off his gratitude.

"Hey, Bai!" Tang Ya spotted Bai Cai about to leave the freshman teaching building out of the corner of her eye and called out in surprise. "Over here, over here, Bai!"

"Bai, let me introduce you. This is Huo Yuhao, the boy Bei Bei and I met in the Star Dou Great Forest." Tang Ya acted as if she'd grabbed a lifeline, repeatedly shooting Bei Bei meaningful looks.

Bei Bei smoothly picked up the conversation. "Yuhao, this is the boy we met afterward. Come to think of it, if Xiao Ya hadn't been so perceptive, I never would've found Bai's hiding place."

"That's true. Bai's very experienced at surviving in the wild. I don't even know how he managed to design and build that shelter in the Star Dou Great Forest, where Soul Beasts roam."

"Bai... is a freshman at Shrek Academy too?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"The uniform, Badge, and key. Of course Bai's a new student at Shrek." Tang Ya looked Bai Cai over, brimming with smug satisfaction. "I knew Bai would join Shrek."

Bei Bei was feeling a little bored when he happened to notice a notice posted on the bulletin board nearby. He frowned slightly. "Xiao Ya, the head teacher for Freshman Class One is Zhou Yi..."

"Zhou Yi..." Tang Ya exclaimed under her breath.

Only then did Bai Cai realize. He took out his freshman Badge. The white metal Badge had the words "Freshman Class One" engraved in its lower-right corner.

After making a few perfunctory remarks, Bai Cai used an excuse to leave.

If he hadn't been in the same Freshman Class One as Huo Yuhao, where they'd see each other every day, Bai Cai couldn't even have bothered to humor Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

Bai Cai had never met Bei Bei or Tang Ya before. What's more, they had barged into his shelter without permission, and his goodwill toward them had dropped to almost zero.

Freshman cafeteria.

There was a row of sinks and a row of serving windows. There were no tables or chairs, no drink shop, and the cafeteria was spacious and nearly empty.

Bai Cai felt his money pouch. After paying ten Gold Soul Coins in tuition, he had less than half his money left.

Everything cost money, from food to clothes and daily necessities. His special-admission allowance wouldn't be handed over until the school year officially began.

He poured out the remaining Gold Soul Coins and Silver Soul Coins from his pouch. There weren't any Copper Soul Coins. Copper Soul Coins were low in value and heavy, making them inconvenient to carry on a long journey.

"Three Gold Soul Coins and forty-one Silver Soul Coins."

Bai Cai walked to the middle serving window and bought a meal. There were eight serving windows in the freshman cafeteria, arranged from left to right. The window on the left was the most expensive, and the one on the right was the cheapest.

The meal at the middle window cost eighteen Silver Soul Coins. The portion was generous, and it smelled and tasted delicious. The cafeteria didn't allow students to take food away, so Bai Cai quickly finished eating and headed for the dormitory.

Shrek Academy's dormitory building stood behind the teaching building. There was only one, but it covered a wide area and had six floors. Its colors matched those of the teaching buildings: white, yellow, purple, and black, corresponding to the four teaching buildings and the residential areas for students in different year groups.

At the entrance to the white freshman dormitory, Bai Cai looked up. A few students had already hung clothes outside their rooms. According to Shrek Academy's class assignments, the students who had registered so far belonged to Class One.

A gray-clad old man with white hair and beard rested against a reclining chair at the dormitory entrance. His weather-beaten face was deeply lined, and his eyes were cloudy. He seemed to be in poor spirits.

"Are you the dorm supervisor?" Bai Cai asked.

"A freshman?" The gray-clad old man extended a trembling right hand. "Let me see your Badge and key."

Bai Cai handed over the white metal Badge and the key with its number tag. The old man raised them before his eyes, gave them a brief look, then returned them to Bai Cai.

"Dormitory number one hundred and six. First room on the left on the first floor. Also, the fourth floor and above are girls' dormitories. Boys aren't allowed in. The academy's rules are pretty strict. If you're caught, you'll be expelled on the spot."

"Thank you." Bai Cai took back his Badge and key, then turned and entered the dormitory building.

Following the old man's directions, Bai Cai quickly found his dormitory. The student dormitories were laid out like a long apartment block, with a long corridor lined with doors, each bearing a number.

The dormitory's outer walls were mottled, and the facilities inside were already rather worn, as if they'd been in use for many years. At either end of the corridor was a shared bathhouse and a shared toilet.

He unlocked the door, and a wave of stale, stifling air hit him in the face. Caught off guard, Bai Cai nearly stopped breathing.

"Ralts." Bai Cai covered his nose and mouth and summoned Ralts.

The little fellow with blue hair sat on Bai Cai's shoulder. Confusion surged out, sweeping through the entire dormitory.

"His spiritual power has taken physical form." The drowsy gray-clad old man suddenly opened his eyes and lifted his head slightly.

"A little monster." The old man looked away, his face showing quiet satisfaction.

Two beds, spaced apart. Two sturdy metal lockers. A rectangular table. One lamp.

"Ten Gold Soul Coins, and this is all I get?" Bai Cai hugged Ralts, his face expressionless.

The founding dean's penny-pinching spirit had been carried on in full force by Shrek Academy. Flender had been stingy because he really had no money. But Shrek Academy now...