The morning light spilled gently through the paper-paneled doors, washing the room in a soft, golden haze. Dust motes danced in the stillness, swaying with the quiet rhythm of dawn.
Genie stirred from the warmth of the floor, slowly pushing herself upright. A sudden wave of dizziness swept over her.
"Ah…"
The world tilted slightly. She reached out instinctively, steadying herself against the wooden frame.
'Why do I suddenly feel so dizzy?' Her brows furrowed. 'No… it's probably nothing. Just a chill from the floor…'
Shaking off the lingering haze, she looked around. The room was quiet—emptied of its awkwardness, its warmth, and of Jade. Only his folded cloak and travel pouch remained neatly by the wall.
'He must have woken up early…'
Genie rose to her feet with a sigh and padded across the room, her bare feet brushing against the worn floorboards. Her hand touched the cold iron ring of the door. The moment she slid it open, the crisp scent of morning air greeted her—fresh with dew and the faint trace of firewood smoke.
Stepping out, her eyes found him immediately.
In the center of the courtyard, Jade stood with his back toward her, arms raised in a long stretch. The sleeves of his tunic fell slightly, revealing the lean lines of his forearms. As though sensing her gaze, he turned around.
"You're awake," he said with a calm smile.
The morning sun touched his features gently—his dark eyes calm and steady, the corners of his lips curled just slightly, and his sharply defined jaw catching the golden light like a sculpture carved by dawn itself.
Genie blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"When did you wake u—"
Her sentence broke off as she stepped down the stone steps. The dizziness returned with a vengeance. Her vision blurred, and before she could find her footing, her knees gave way.
"Genie!"
Jade moved instantly, his arms wrapping around her before she could fall. His grip was firm, grounding.
"Are you all right?" he asked urgently, searching her face.
"I-I'm fine…" she mumbled, trying to shake off the fog. "I must have just… stood up too fast."
Jade glanced around the quiet courtyard, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of movement—stable hands, passersby, a stray servant. But the morning was still, save for the faint rustle of wind through bare branches and the occasional creak of roof tiles warming under the sun. Satisfied they were alone, he leaned closer to Genie and spoke in a low, serious tone.
"Perhaps… we should end the covert trip today and return to the palace." His voice, though calm, carried the weight of reluctant concern.
Genie hesitated, then gave a slow nod.
'If I get worse here… I'll only become a burden to Jade.'
"Yes," she said softly. "That would be best."
Then, after a pause, her gaze lifted to his.
"Are you all right, Jade?"
His answer came without hesitation. "I'm fine."
The words were smooth, practiced—but they didn't quite meet his eyes. The truth was, he had awoken long before sunrise, his body wracked with dull aches and his head pounding as if struck by a smith's hammer. He had kept still in the dark, breathing through the pain and waiting for it to pass, unwilling to show weakness. Unwilling, above all, to cause her worry.
Genie studied his expression. Calm, as always. Collected. But she wasn't entirely convinced.
Still, before she could press further, Jade shifted the focus back to her.
"Are you really okay to visit the academy?" His tone softened, tinged with unease.
"Yes. I'll be fine."
Jade studied her for a long moment. He knew that smile. The one she always wore when she wanted to appear stronger than she felt. The one she had worn the day she received her coronation decree… the day she said goodbye to her freedom.
"If that's your wish," he said at last, "then understood. But—" He stepped closer, his voice low and firm. "If you feel even slightly worse, you must tell me. No pretending, no brushing it off."
There was a quiet edge to his words—not stern, but deeply protective.
Genie's eyes softened. She gave a small nod, more with her eyes than her head, as if to say, "I understand. Don't worry so much."
Knock, knock.
Genie rapped her knuckles against the tall, weathered front gate of the academy. The heavy wooden doors, framed by gray stone walls and tiled eaves, stood silent.
Nothing.
She knocked again, a little louder this time.
Knock, knock.
Still no answer. The wind rustled through the surrounding pines, and a crow let out a solitary caw in the distance. The quiet was unsettling.
Genie furrowed her brow and turned to Jade.
"How can such a large academy not have a single person passing by? Not even a gatekeeper?"
Jade remained quiet, but his gaze was sharp, sweeping over the compound walls as if trying to see beyond them. Something about the silence gnawed at him.
Just then, a faint creaking broke through the stillness.
The massive gate groaned as it slowly began to open, inch by inch, revealing a familiar face behind it. The crafts instructor they had met the day before appeared with a cheerful expression, his hands folded respectfully in front of him.
"Ah, welcome! Please, come in," he said brightly, stepping aside with an inviting gesture.
Despite the strange delay, Genie returned his smile and gave a polite bow. Jade followed suit, his eyes narrowing slightly—not in hostility, but in guarded observation.
The instructor turned and began walking ahead, leading them into the academy grounds. Genie and Jade followed him down a narrow stone path flanked by tall bamboo and manicured hedges, their footsteps muffled by the thin mist that still clung to the morning air.
"You must have been cold last night," the instructor said conversationally. "Did you sleep well at the inn?"
Genie nodded, maintaining a polite smile.
"Yes, thank you. We were comfortable."
She kept her tone even, concealing her unease. Something about the man's friendliness felt almost too rehearsed. Too smooth. But she said nothing and glanced at Jade, who was already scanning their surroundings with subtle precision.
At last, they reached a large building with a sweeping tiled roof and broad, latticed windows. It looked like it could have once been a lecture hall or central pavilion. The instructor stepped forward and pushed open the wide double doors with both hands.
"Please, come inside."
The crafts instructor's voice was warm, almost too warm.
'Finally…' Genie exhaled inwardly, exchanging a quick glance with Jade.
Still cautious, they stepped past the creaking wooden gate and into the academy's tiled-roof building.
A surprising sense of stillness greeted them.
Inside, the hallway stretched before them, framed neatly with polished brown wood that glowed faintly under the soft lantern light. On both sides, rooms opened up like quiet mouths, their doors half-ajar, revealing rows of small, low wooden desks—each one humble and unadorned.
Jade's eyes swept over the simple setup.
'It's more ordinary than I expected…'
Genie shared the same sentiment. After everything—the silence, the strange atmosphere in the village—she had braced herself for something darker, something hidden. But what met her eyes was just… normal. Perhaps too normal.
The instructor led the way with leisurely steps, gesturing amiably toward the rooms as they passed.
"As you can see, our coastal village's academy may appear grand from the outside," he said with a chuckle, "but inside, it's really quite ordinary."
His voice echoed faintly down the empty corridor.
He glanced over his shoulder with a pleasant smile.
"By the way, if you're wondering where all the students are—they've been on a field trip since yesterday."
They continued walking, the corridor curving slightly. Genie trailed a step behind, her eyes darting from room to room. She couldn't shake the feeling that everything was just a little too quiet. There were no signs of recent activity—no scattered books, no forgotten pencils, no noise. Not even a breeze rattled the windowpanes.
She frowned slightly.
"Where exactly are the students on their field trip?"
The instructor came to an abrupt stop.
Genie and Jade halted too, almost instinctively.
There was a pause. And then, slowly, the instructor turned around with a smile.
"They've gone to our port," the instructor said with a light tone. "Ship-related studies are essential in our village, after all."
'The port?' Genie's thoughts immediately stirred. 'But we passed by the port yesterday… and there wasn't a single student in sight.'
She glanced sideways at Jade, who looked equally unconvinced.
Jade spoke up, keeping his voice polite but firm. "We also passed the port yesterday, sir. I don't recall seeing any students there."
For a brief second—so fleeting it might have been imagined—the instructor's expression faltered. The smile tugged at his lips hesitated, his brows tightening by the smallest margin.
"They must have been inside the ships," he said quickly, recovering. "That's probably why you didn't see them."
But even as he answered, he was already stepping forward again, shifting the air with practiced ease.
"Now that you've seen enough of our humble academy," he continued, his tone growing brisker, "allow me to guide you to the reception room. There, I'll explain the procedures for enrolling as a student."
He gestured down the corridor toward a room at the far end. Unlike the others, which stood open or with sliding paper panels, this one had a solid wooden door, dark and closed.
Genie's gaze lingered on it. Something about it felt... out of place.