Hearing her question, Shion's fingers froze mid-note. The melody cut off abruptly as he slowly lowered the flute, his gaze shifting to Astra with an expression that clearly said Did you really just ask that?
Astra immediately looked down, biting her lower lip, avoiding his reaction.
"Ryoma?"
Shion finally spoke, his tone unreadable.
She nodded.
Still unconvinced, he repeated, "Ryoma?" as if the name itself needed confirmation.
Astra let out a small sigh and hummed in response, then added, "Is he so busy practicing that he forgets he has people to take care of?"
Her voice carried frustration, irritation, and something else something unspoken.
Shion let out a quiet breath, then, without a word, tucked his flute into the sash at his waist and crossed his arms.
"He left a message," he finally said. "He'll try to be here by tomorrow."
Astra's eyes narrowed.
"And… that's it?"
"Yes. That's it."
"Ah."
Astra exhaled sharply, leaning back , arms crossed.
His 'tomorrow' never comes."
Her eyes flickered with frustration before she muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper words meant only for herself.
"I should think of another plan to escape the upcoming trouble from that old sprout tomorrow."
The morning breeze slipped through the curtains, making them flutter as streaks of light pierced into the room. The warmth of the sun landed directly on the sleeping figure, disturbing her rest.
Astra groaned, shifting under the covers. Her hand lazily reached up, rubbing her eyes furiously as if the light itself itched.With a reluctant sigh, she sat up, her hair a tangled mess. Half-awake, she attempted to gather it into a high bun failing multiple times as her fingers fumbled blindly.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to secure the bun, jabbing a hairpin through it in triumph. Letting out a deep breath, she blinked the sleep from her eyes.
And then—
Her body froze.
A white-robed figure stood outside her window.
Still. Silent. Staring.
Their piercing gaze locked directly onto her, as if looking straight into her soul.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh! White-robed spirit!"
Astra's scream tore through the morning air, loud enough to wake the dead or at least half the inn.Without thinking twice, she scrambled backward, nearly toppling off the bed. Her heart pounded as she grabbed the nearest pillow, ready to use it as a weapon against the morning ghost.
But then, her sleep-fogged brain finally registered the figure's face.
"…Arisu?"
She blinked. Once. Twice.
A beat of silence.
Then, under her breath, she muttered a curse.
"Damn it, Arisu! What are you doing outside my window like a white robbed ghost?"
She yelled, still catching her breath, but her friend remained unfazed. Arisu's expression didn't change. She just stood there, silent, blank-eyed, unmoving.
Astra's brow furrowed. The usual mischievous sparkle in Arisu's eyes was gone.
A sudden unease crept up Astra's spine.
Slowly, she crawled toward the window, hesitating before pushing it open wider. Without a word, Arisu stepped inside and walked to the bed, sitting down like a lifeless doll.
Still silent. Still staring.
Astra kneeled down in front of her, her concern deepening.
"Arisu?" She reached out, placing a hand on her friend's knee. "What's the matter?"
Arisu finally moved.
Slowly, deliberately, she pulled something from her sleeve ….a small whistle. Without explanation, she lifted it to her lips and blew. A soft, high-pitched note filled the room.
And then
A sparrow flew in from outside, landing gracefully on Arisu's outstretched palm. It tilted its tiny head, its feathers ruffling slightly. And then, it chirped.
Chip. Chip.
Chip. Chip. Chip.
Chip. Chip.
Astra's eyes lit up as she reached out, trying to pet the little sparrow. But the moment her fingers inched closer, the tiny bird flapped its wings and darted away, landing right on Arisu's head.
"Chip! Chip! Master! Chip! Master!"
The sparrow puffed up proudly, as if announcing something grand.
Astra froze. Then, realization hit her like a boulder.
She snorted.
Then giggled.
Then—
"Pfft—HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
She collapsed onto the floor, clutching her stomach, howling with laughter. Meanwhile, Arisu sat there, her soul visibly leaving her body. Blank. Emotionless. Shattered.
"M-Master?! HAHHAHA!! Your Kwami is a sparrow?!"
Astra barely got the words out between gasps of laughter.
Arisu didn't move. Didn't blink. Didn't breathe. Her entire existence crumbled in real time.
Kwami (In this Spirit Animal) – A lifelong companion bound by blood and spirit, reflecting its master's true nature. Each Kwami grants unique abilities, with dragons being the strongest and the phoenix being extremely rare and the spirit varry from fierce tigers to cunning foxes or even an unexpected sparrow.
A Kwami form is no coincidence it reveals the truth about its master, whether they accept it or not.
Arisu sat there, her soul visibly leaving her body. Her tiny sparrow, flapping its wings in distress, chirped, "Chip! Hey! Why are you chip! laughing?! Don't mock my chip! Master Kaneko!"
Astra, still wheezing from laughter, finally managed to ask,
"Okay….., but seriously… what kind of life-threatening danger unlocked your Kwami?"
Arisu took a deep breath, her voice flat. "I was cutting apples."
Astra blinked. "…Apples?"
Arisu sighed. "With my father's 300-year-old ancestral knife. But, the knife got offended don't ask me how and it slipped from my grip. Before I knew it, it attacked me. While I was bleeding, my hands dripping red. In that moment, feeling like I was about to die… my Kwami appeared."
Astra squinted at the tiny bird. "…And this little guy saved you?"
"No."
"…No?"
Arisu covered her face. "The moment it appeared… it took one look at the situation and hid behind me."
Astra stared at her, stunned, before bursting into laughter again.
The sparrow chirped defensively. "Chip! I protected master Kaneko!"
Astra wiped away a tear. "Yeah! Chip!"
"If my grandfather hadn't walked in, I'd be dead."
Astra sat beside her, resting her chin on her palm with a smirk formed."Who would've guessed your spirit of nature was a sparrow. I can't wait to see how others react when they find out that the youngest daughter of the Minister of Defense has… well, this chip chip."
Arisu let out a long sigh, extending her hand. The tiny bird immediately fluttered onto her wrist, tilting its head chip chipping,
She stared at it for a moment before muttering, "I was expecting something strong and powerful … like a tiger. Or at least a snake. But a sparrow?"
Thud! Thud!
A sudden knock interrupted their conversation.
"Are you up?what was that scream for?"
They both exchanged quick glances, Recognizing the voice, Astra quickly replied, "Yes! I'm up! I'll be out in a moment. There was a lizard spirit on the wall noting big."
No response came from the other side, only the sound of fading footsteps.
She exhaled in relief before turning to Arisu, gripping her shoulders. "Listen, I need your help dealing with the old sprout today."
Arisu raised a brow. "My help? Didn't Master specifically tell you to—"
"Ha! I know. And I have a legendary way to get around it. I don't have choice If anyone finds out, they won't let me go do what u want."
Arisu nodded hesitantly but quickly paled when she heard her plan.
"You have to shapeshift."
Hearing that, Arisu shot up, waving her hands in protest.
"You want me to shapeshift? Astra, are you out of your mind? We're not allowed to use it! If Master catches us, forget punishment there will be wildfire! And do you know how much manas it takes? I can't just—"
Astra crossed her arms, unfazed. "Come on, it's not like you haven't done this before. You've helped me sneak out plenty of times." Arisu rubbing her temples. "That was different! Back then, I was only sneaking you out, not impersonating you in front of Master!"
Another loud thud echoed through the room, followed by an impatient voice.
"Are you still sleeping? What's taking so long?"
Astra's eyes widened. She quickly signaled Arisu to leave through the window. Just as Arisu was about to slip out onto the roof, Astra grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"I'm counting on you."
Arisu rolling her eyes. "If we get caught, I'm counting on you to dig my grave."
After sprinting all the way, Astra finally came to a halt in front of the massive open gates. She took a deep breath, straightened her posture, dusted off her dress, and quickly fixed her hair before stepping forward.
Before her stood three grand buildings. The tallest one in the center was the Great Martial Hall, a place she knew all too well. The other two, though smaller in size, were just as imposing. Without hesitation, she turned toward the building on the right, her steps steady and purposeful.
The corridors were eerily quiet, each step echoing against the polished floors. As she walked, her gaze wandered toward the rooms lining the hall. Inside one, she saw towering shelves packed with scrolls the Sacred Archives. The room was vast, its space consumed by mountains of scrolls, some unfurled across long tables, stretching meters in length. Scholars sat hunched over them, their faces intense, as if the very secrets of the world lay hidden within the those scrolls.
She continued walking, circling around the hallways until her steps halted before a wooden door. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she reached out and pushed it open.The heavy door creaked as it moved, its sound echoing in the quiet room.
As soon as she stepped inside, her eyes landed on the same old man, clad in his usual white robes that matched his long silver hair. He stood a few meters away, his wooden staff in hand and a massive book tucked under his arm. But her gaze quickly shifted to the tall figure standing beside him.
The figure stood tall beside the old master, clad in deep blue and black robes that draped over his form like the night itself. His presence was cold, unreadable an expressionless face.
Yet, the air around him carried a suffocating weight, an aura so dark and chilling.
The Silver chains coiled around his waist and wrists, catching the faintest light as they shimmered ominously. His long, slender fingers rested over the capped hilt of his sword, tucked securely in his waistband. His bangs fell over the side of his face, partially concealing his profile.
The man turned at the faint creak of the door, his deep blue eyes locking onto hers. His gaze was piercing, unreadable, sending a strange chill down her spine. Astra stood frozen, unable to utter a word. The weight of his presence alone was enough to press down on her,
Then it hit her! She screamed internally,
Arisu, you are my savior!
Astra stepped forward, her strides long and steady, until she stood before the old master, right beside the cold, imposing figure.The old master let out a deep sigh before gesturing toward her with his wooden stick.
"Here she is," he began, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. "It has only been months since she joined, yet her name spreads through the halls not for talent, but for mischief!"
He didn't stop there.
"I am tired of her troublesome nature. She is spoiled beyond reason. Sleeps through lectures, sneaks out in the middle of class, nearly burned down the hall shall I continue?"
And he did.
For two straight hours, the old master went on, his complaints filling the heavy silence of the room. The air around them grew thick, tense. Astra stood still, her expression neutral, while the man beside her remained silent, his cold presence unwavering.
The old master let out a final huff before pointing his wooden stick at the figure beside Astra.
"You'd better teach her some discipline! I know your time here is short, but I won't have her setting a bad example. If she causes any more trouble, I will take necessary action no exceptions." With that, he finally stopped his rant.
The man beside her bowed slightly, his voice calm and steady. "I appreciate your patience. I assure you, there won't be any more trouble from her, the old master gave one last nod before turning on his heel and leaving the hall.
As soon as he was gone, Astra exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders. "Ah… that old sprout. My legs are killing me from standing for hours." Then, as if remembering something, she turned to the figure beside her, excitement lighting up her face.
"I really thought you wouldn't help me this time!" She grinned, flashing her teeth. But just as she was about to pat her "savior" on the shoulder, her gaze dropped to the sword at his waist. Without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed it. Her fingers traced the hilt, her brows furrowing. "Wait a second… You even managed to fake this sword?"
"You're more talented than I thought!"