The greenhouse was nothing like the rest of Echelon Academy.

The moment Finch led her through the glass entrance, Yesu stopped walking.

Ponds covered in water lilies reflected sunlight from the transparent ceiling above. Flower beds stretched between winding stone paths.

Trees rose high enough to form patches of shade. Shrubs, vines and rare plants filled every available space.

A small waterfall flowed quietly between a cluster of trees. Students moved about carrying tools, watering plants and pulling weeds. The entire place felt alive.

Yesu stared in wonder. Similar scenes flashed before her eyes. Green fields.

A clear blue sky.

Tall trees swaying gently in the wind.

The sound of running footsteps.

Laughter.

Gone.

Yesu blinked. Another flash.

Leaves rustling overhead.

Warm sunlight.

Then nothing.

The strange feeling faded as quickly as it had appeared.

"Wow."

Finch grinned. "Right?"

Yesu slowly turned in place. "This place is amazing."

"It is."

She glanced at him. "I didn’t take you for a nature person."

Finch laughed loudly. "There’s a lot you don’t know about me." He pointed at himself proudly. "Which is exactly why we should stick together." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Before Yesu could respond, Finch suddenly waved.

"Seth!"

A nerdy-looking boy carrying a half-filled bucket stopped walking. He wore simple work clothes and gloves stained with soil. Finch immediately grabbed Yesu’s sleeve and dragged her over.

"Seth, my favorite hardworking citizen."

Seth looked unimpressed. "You’ve been absent."

Finch sighed. "Hello to you too."

"Skipping greenhouse sessions won’t help your grades."

Yesu immediately looked at Finch.

"So that’s why you’re here."

Finch looked offended. "I am deeply connected to nature."

"You came for grades."

"Those two things can coexist."

Seth ignored them both.

"Are you aware of the Air User summons?"

Finch was a bit surprised.

"No."

"It’s because of the library attack."

Finch’s brows rose.

"They believe the attacker was an Air User." Seth lowered his voice slightly. "I heard it was an Apex."

Finch stared for a second. Then laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"Good thing I’m only an Adept. What use would I be?"

Yesu frowned.

"Someone said the highest ranked Air User in the academy is a Specialist at most. Why the summons then?"

"They want to investigate everyone."

Seth shifted the bucket to his other hand, then addressed Finch.

"Also, the greenhouse manager wants to see you."

Finch immediately clicked his tongue. "Ah."

"Says it’s important."

Finch sighed dramatically. "Someone’s always trying to ruin my day." Then he turned to Yesu. "Looks like this is where we part ways."

He gently pushed her toward Seth.

"I leave you in capable hands."

"That’s concerning."

"It should be."

Then Finch disappeared deeper into the vegetation.

Silence settled between them.

After a moment, Seth spoke. "So you’re Kaelitha."

Yesu shrugged. "That’s what people keep calling me." Then she looked around. "Is there anything I can help out with?"

Seth handed her the bucket. "Carry this."

The two of them began to walk.

After a while Seth glanced sideways.

"Why haven’t you attended Journalism Club?"

Yesu frowned.

"Journalism Club?"

"As Head of Journalism, I received notice of your registration. And your attendance has never been registered."

A pause.

"...Oh."

Realization hit immediately.

The club.

She had completely forgotten.

Between classes, training, strange abilities, and continuously running to catch up with her chaotic schedule—

The club had vanished from her mind.

"Sorry. I forgot."

Seth sighed. "Apologize to your grades instead."

"That’s harsh."

They continued walking.

"When’s the next meeting?" Yesu asked.

Seth looked at her. Then sighed again, tiredly.

"Trials begin next week."

Yesu’s brows furrowed.

"You had no idea, did you?"

"No."

"I’m beginning to understand your grades."

They rounded a bend. The greenhouse became quieter. More secluded.

Ahead of them, several newly dug holes stretched across a patch of dark soil.

Young plants waited beside them.

Seth took the bucket back. "You can start helping here."

Only a handful of students occupied the secluded section of the greenhouse.

Most were kneeling beside freshly dug holes, carefully placing young plants into the soil before covering their roots. The plants were all identical.

Dark blue leaves. Thin silver stems. Almost glowing beneath the sunlight filtering through the glass ceiling.

Yesu watched eagerly.

"What are these?"

"Morning Dew Flowers," Seth replied. "They are a rare specie. Nearly extinct. Originally from the East."

Yesu blinked. "The East?"

Seth nodded.

"I thought the East formed alliances with the North. How did their rare flowers get here then?"

For some reason, Seth became noticeably more serious.

"Don’t believe everything you hear."

His eyes lingered on her behind his glasses.

For a moment Yesu felt something strange.

A faint sensation.

Like a gentle thread brushing through her thoughts.

And then it was gone almost immediately.

Seth frowned.

"You seem... at home here."

Yesu shrugged. "Someone once told me I seem comfortable everywhere."

Seth stared for a second longer, then walked toward a nearby bench.

He returned carrying a large brown jumpsuit and gloves.

"Here."

Yesu looked down at them. The sight stirred something unpleasant. Foundation camp.

She frowned.

"Change into it," Seth said like he hadn’t noticed, gesturing toward a secluded corner hidden behind shrubs. "You can use that area."

Then he dropped the bucket and walked off to join the others.

A few minutes later, Yesu emerged wearing the jumpsuit over her uniform.

She grabbed a tray of Morning Dew seedlings and headed toward an empty row.

Someone groaned beside her.

"Oh. It’s you again."

Yesu turned.

Quinn.

Like everyone else she was in casual clothes and gardening gloves.

She still had on her thoroughly unimpressed expression. Yesu smiled.

"Hello."

Quinn snorted. "What are you doing here?"

Yesu’s reply was quick. "Worshipping nature."

Quinn said nothing else and focused on her work.

While she was planting, Yesu’s gaze wandered across the greenhouse.

And stopped.

A girl planted alone near the far edge of the field, dressed entirely in black. Black clothes. Black gloves. Long black hair.

Even her expression seemed darker. Not at all suited to a cheerful environment.

Yet nobody paid her any attention.

Students walked past her normally. As if she belonged there. As if she had always been there.

The girl suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met.

Yesu froze.

Something stirred in her mind. Not a memory, not exactly.

But familiarity. It only took a second.

The girl looked away first.

Then Yesu blinked. And the girl was gone.

No footsteps. No movement.

Just... Gone.

For the first time since entering the greenhouse, Yesu felt a chill run down her spine.