A new year at Nine Petal Academy means a new crop of students, including a boy who can't control his magic, a thief, an angel, and even a suit of armor? Adela, Lei, and their friends are tasked with welcoming the new class of first years and helping...
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"We're here!" Jianguo said as he passed through a golden gate.
I glanced up at the house beyond the gate. It wasn't exactly a mansion, but it nearly was one.
"What is this place?" I asked, entering. My eyes shifted to the crimson flowers. The guy sure loved the color red as much as Isabel did.
"This our western Tozan Hoshi HQ," Mrs. Huo said.
Wait, there are more places like this one? How big is their organization? Better yet, who is their financer?
Jianguo smiled as he opened the door of the house. "Though, we treat it as our main HQ, being closest to home."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You mean Miha?"
He chuckled and went inside. "Indeed."
Hadn't expected them to have a place in Kyuu Seishin of all places, though. At least it was relatively secluded.
I blinked as Jianguo took off his shoes and walked through the dimly lit narrow hallway. The style was a mix of what one saw in Miha, Xian, and my native Mina, with some Kyuu Seishin elements thrown in for good measure.
"We prepared some for you," Mrs. Huo said, pointing at a pair of yellow slippers.
I removed my shoes and put them on. They looked and felt unused, so they must've been new. Good thing too as wearing shoes worn by other people disgusted me. It, towels, and underwear were the only things that I couldn't stand sharing.
I followed the couple and their exhausted children until we reached a set of ornamented rice paper shoji.
The phoenixes reminded me of Adela...
"Mister okay?" Jianguo's oldest daughter asked.
I nodded. "I'm fine."
Jianguo snickered. "If you're tired, you may rest here." He slid open the doors, revealing a room with a big screen television, sofas, refrigerator, and ping-pong table.
"Oh, Sir, Madam, you've returned," said a cyan-haired boy as he looked up from what looked to be a book of crossword puzzles. His dark blue eyes glanced up at me. "Is this Iah?"
I furrowed my brow. The guy, he looked a lot like one of the kids I'd met in the cavern. Was he from Sera? Why would a Seranese be working with one of the higher-ups of H.E.H.?
"Yes. Please show him around. I'll be in my room if you need me."
His wife sighed and followed him. "Same."
I narrowed my eyes at them. Could I kill them as they were right now? No, their exhaustion could be a ruse to test my loyalty.
"Do not worry, Dylan knows his way around the place," Jianguo said, looking back at me. He gave me a toothy smile before he continued on his way.
