Obelisk Blue dormitories, detached villa number seven in the west district.
The entire villa stood beside the water, with a broad, shimmering artificial inland lake behind it.
Deep into the quiet night, the entire campus had fallen asleep.
Through the gap in the half-open floor-to-ceiling window, a breeze carried the cool moisture rising from the lake and slipped soundlessly into the second-floor master bedroom.
Wrapped in a soft silk quilt, Yūki suddenly shivered as the chilly air slipped through his collar and seeped straight into his bones.
He groggily rubbed the corners of his eyes and opened them a sliver.
The lights were off. Only the bright moonlight outside spilled across the wooden floor, leaving a wash of cold silver.
Yūki was just about to pull up the quilt and return to dreamland when his gaze swept past the floor-to-ceiling window and abruptly froze.
At some point, a tall, graceful figure had settled quietly against the broad white marble windowsill.
A silver-white mage's robe, brighter than snow, draped down to the edge of the floor, while smooth silver hair flowed like a waterfall and stirred gently in the cool night breeze.
She had not turned around. Instead, she sat quietly with her arms loosely wrapped around her drawn-up knees, gazing at the deep, tranquil lake outside.
Moonlight outlined her cool, flawless profile. The slender staff engraved with mysterious ancient runes leaned at an angle beside her, its sapphire tip giving off a very faint glow.
Yūki froze for half a second.
Silent Magician?
Why was she out on the windowsill in the middle of the night, enjoying the breeze and the lake view?
Yūki lifted the quilt and quietly sat up, placing his bare feet on the thick carpet, intending to go over and see what was going on.
Yet