Looking at Seo's proud little face, I couldn't help but smile weakly. He didn't look handsome,
not by any stretch of imagination—but there was something undeniably cute about him.
His round cheeks, his tiny nose, and his fur that puffed up like a freshly groomed pom-pom made him look absurdly adorable.
If Luna were in control of the body right now… I imagined her squealing and tackling him into a tight, suffocating hug,
Refusing to let go. She would've squeezed the life out of that squirrel without a second thought.
I sighed and whispered, my voice low and raspy from the lingering pain, "Seo… can you transform back into a squirrel?"
He nodded wordlessly, understanding my condition. Without hesitation, he raised his little paw and cast a gentle healing spell. A soft glow enveloped us,
and I felt my torn muscles knitting back together slowly, the pain dulling into an ache. Beside me, Moon—still wearing her perpetually blank expression—seemed to recover at a much faster rate.
Her mana surged back rapidly, as if a floodgate had been opened. In contrast, my own healing was steady but sluggish, just enough to let me stand without collapsing.
Seo then transformed back into his squirrel form, but this time he looked even fluffier—his fur glistened in the moonlight, and his body had grown larger.
So much so that he wouldn't even fit in my usual pocket anymore. He leapt onto my shoulder with practiced ease and curled into a small, smug loaf.
Moon, now fully recovered, stood up with the calm grace of someone who hadn't just been in a life-threatening situation. Her face was still blank, unfazed.
As for me, fatigue clung to my body like heavy chains. I yawned deeply, the night still lingering at the edges of the sky. I needed sleep, but unfortunately, there was no time for that luxury.
Without ceremony, I reached out and grabbed the back of Moon's clothes, lifting her effortlessly.
She didn't resist—her body hung loosely in my grasp, face as expressionless as ever. I yawned again, and despite the lingering soreness, took to the sky, flying slowly toward the mansion.
As we soared through the dusky air, the first hints of sunrise began to stain the horizon with amber and rose-gold. It was beautiful, but I was too tired to appreciate it.
Inside her mind, Moon stirred. She quietly spoke to Luna, her voice a whisper in the mental void.
"Luna, I think it's time to switch. I need rest."
Luna, still half-asleep in their shared soul-space, yawned softly and replied with a weary sigh, "Fine...." With that, the switch happened seamlessly.
The moment Luna regained control of her body, her eyes snapped wide open. She was flying. Not in a dream. Not as a soul. She was physically flying.
"W-Wahhh!" she squealed, arms flailing in panic. When she was just a Soul Following along, she never had to worry about falling While flying
But now? In her real body? High above the ground? She panicked, instinctively reaching for my shoulder to anchor herself.
Unfortunately, that was where Seo was perched.
With a loud, annoyed chitter, Seo slapped her hand away like an angry housecat. Luna, flustered beyond reason,
drew her hand back as if she'd touched a hot stove, her cheeks puffing up in embarrassment.
I glanced at her and shook my head. "Just endure it. We're almost at the mansion."
She nodded reluctantly and shut her eyes tight, doing her best not to hyperventilate. Time crawled by as the sun continued to rise, bathing the sky in full daylight.
Eventually, we descended, and I gently dropped her onto the ground. Luna exhaled in utter relief as her boots touched solid earth.
The mansion's door creaked open, and to our surprise, Silvia stepped out.
Her usually sharp eyes narrowed as they swept over our exhausted forms. "Eh?" I blinked. Luna looked equally confused by her presence.
Silvia, frowning slightly, let out a sigh. "I heard you were joining the Academy today. I came to give you a ride
." Then her eyes shifted toward Luna, her tone turning cold. "And I suppose that maid of yours is tagging along?"
Before Luna could respond, Silvia's attention was suddenly hijacked by Seo. Her eyes widened as they locked onto his fluffy tails and smug little expression.
"…Is that your familiar?" she asked, cheeks tinged with red. Her hand reached out involuntarily, captivated by the overwhelming cuteness.
Seo, still lounging smugly on my shoulder, looked like a pampered prince. He closed his eyes with a look of superiority, though it only added to his charm.
Silvia snapped out of it and gestured for us to follow. With a sigh, I nodded and walked beside her, Luna trailing behind.
"I'm surprised you're taking us this early," I mumbled. I thought I'd at least have time to sleep before heading in i thought..
When we reached her carriage, Silvia insisted the three of us sit together, despite the spacious interior.
I slumped into my seat. Luna sat opposite, stretching her arms with an exaggerated yawn, rubbing her emerald eyes.
She arched her back, her movements bordering on flirtatious—whether on purpose or not, I wasn't sure.
Silvia's eye twitched slightly at the sight but said nothing.
The carriage began to move.
Silvia, unable to resist any longer, reached out and scooped up Seo. He was about to growl, but I quickly spoke to him mentally. Just let her. Please. For peace.
He sighed in my mind, clearly annoyed, but allowed himself to be cradled as Silvia began rubbing his belly and stroking his cheeks.
Then Silvia turned her attention to me. "You look leaner than usual," she muttered, pinching my cheek gently. "Working out?"
I didn't have the energy to respond. I just let her poke and prod.
Luna watched from her seat, clearly tempted to reach out and squish my cheek too. She managed to restrain herself but looked internally conflicted.
Silvia chuckled. "Your familiar reminds me of you. Always so smug When your still a Pervert."
My eye Tweetched in annoyance "i will not take that as a compliment i guess"
Eventually, we arrived at the Academy. As we passed through the portal, I was hit with awe.
It was massive.
Nine towering buildings stretched across the landscape—some for student dormitories, others clearly for classrooms. Students were flooding in from every direction.
We stepped out together. Luna's eyes lit up like a child seeing a festival for the first time. She clung to my arm excitedly. "Come on! Look! There are so many people! Let's go!"
Before we could move, Silvia stopped us, raising a hand. "Wait. Before you rush off—there's an entrance exam."
"Exam?" I raised a brow.
She pointed toward a massive training ground nearby, where groups of students were already gathering. Some instructors stood at the edge, overseeing the proceedings.
"You'll have to face a senior second-year student," Silvia explained. "The professors will be watching to assess your talent and combat ability."
I nodded, understanding.
"There are four class placements—A, B, C, and D. Class A is for the elites and those with outstanding potential. Class D… well, that's mostly for commoners and those barely scraping by."
Luna stiffened. She was visibly anxious.
In her mind, she called out to Moon, her voice almost pleading. "Moon… can you secretly take over for me? Please? Just for this test? I'm not good at fighting…"
Moon Nodded..