Arcane Guardians: Season 1

Chapter 6: Something's Fishy

The next morning at school, Xu Youshu sat in the library, surrounded by towering shelves of books. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the quiet space. As he diligently worked on some class activities, a voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Good morning!" A cheerful voice chimed, startling him. He looked up to see a girl with bright eyes and a friendly smile. "My name is Xi Ting. Nice to meet you."

"Good morning," Youshu replied, offering a polite smile. "You're new here, right?"

"Yes, I just transferred last week," Ting said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I've heard many great things about Xiangli, so I had to give it a try."

"This is a great school indeed," Youshu agreed. "But I'm curious, why did you approach me? Do you need something?"

Ting hesitated, a hint of nervousness in her eyes. "Oh, I just wanted to introduce myself and make some friends. It's always a bit daunting being the new student."

Youshu studied her for a moment, sensing a genuine warmth in her demeanor. "Making friends is always a good idea. It's nice to meet someone new."

As they continued talking, the library's tranquil atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Siyue, who entered with her usual energy.

"Youshu!" she exclaimed, quickly lowering her voice to a whisper as she remembered they were in a library. "I've been looking for you."

"Looks like your friend is here," Ting said with a slight smile. "I'll see you around, Youshu." She gave a little wave and left, weaving through the shelves.

"Isn't that the new student?" Siyue asked, watching Ting walk away. "What were you two talking about?"

"She just wanted to introduce herself and make friends," Youshu replied, a bit puzzled by Siyue's intensity.

"Well, anyway, Yiren called us to the cafeteria. She says she wants to tell us something," Siyue said, her voice filled with urgency.

"About what?" Youshu asked, a note of concern creeping into his voice.

"About the girl you were just talking to," Siyue leaned in and whispered. "There might be something we need to be careful about."

Unbeknownst to them, Ting was listening from behind a nearby bookshelf. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion as she tried to act nonchalantly, hiding her interest in their conversation.

The four gathered in the cafeteria, the air thick with anticipation.

"I don't know, there's just something off about her. While we were in class, she kept looking at me," Yiren said, her voice tinged with unease.

"There are only two possibilities," Siyue suggested playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "Either she envies your beauty, or she has a crush on you."

"What?" Yiren exclaimed, her cheeks reddening slightly.

"We can't just feel suspicious about someone because they stare at us," Xiangzhi said, trying to be the voice of reason.

"I don't know," Yiren admitted, her voice growing serious. "Ever since I got the crystal, my senses have been really strong."

"It's because the crystal can sense danger. The realm guardian told us, remember?" Youshu added.

"He's right, but even if you're right, Yiren, we have to be prepared," Xiangzhi said, his voice firm.

After class, Youshu returned to the library to finish his work. The quiet space was nearly empty, perfect for concentrating. But as he settled in, a chill ran down his spine. The hairs on his neck stood up as if someone was watching him.