Linda knew her seniority would eventually rise, and that one day she’d have to take on the role of senior.
But just like how every only child resented new siblings showing up to steal the spotlight and all the parental love, Linda, still scarred by the shadow of Marietta, absolutely hated the thought of suddenly gaining another junior. It filled her with outright disgust.
But now? It wasn’t a junior sister they were adding. It was a junior brother. Didn’t matter, though. Still an annoying nuisance.
Claudio stood beside a massive boulder nearby. When he heard Laurence’s voice, Claudio glanced their way.
His face was cold and arrogant, giving off a strong “keep your distance” vibe. But with Laurence and Byron watching, he still strolled over slowly, lifting his chin slightly toward Linda and the group before nodding
once.
That was his idea of a greeting.
Rafael and Craig were speechless, thinking, ‘What a haughty little junior.
Rafael disliked Claudio on sight, grumbling, “What’s with that attitude? No junior greets his seniors like this.”
Laura, meanwhile, couldn’t have cared less. She just kept quietly nibbling on her snow fruit. These had been grown by Linda in the Violet–Soul Atelier, and Linda had brought her two bags on the way down the mountain.
Sweet and refreshing, they were the perfect snack to satisfy a craving.
Laura treasured them, limiting herself to one every hour. When she spotted Claudio, her gaze flicked to the bag. She wondered, ‘Maybe… share one?‘
Craig asked hesitantly, “Laurence, is this… our junior?”
Laurence chuckled warmly. “He’s the new student Calvin has accepted.”
Craig’s eyes widened. “The fifth?”
Rafael and Linda instantly remembered. That reserved spot for the fifth student, the one who’d been chosen but hadn’t joined yet.
If he ends up as the fifth student… Linda pondered it. ‘Yeah, I can handle that.‘
Laurence stroked his beard with a kind smile. “That’s him. But he can’t be fifth. He entered after you all, so we’ll stick to your current order. He’ll be sixth. Claudio, these are your seniors. Get to know them.”
The faint smile Linda had begun to form faded away. She wondered, ‘Junior. Why not aim for senior instead?‘
Claudio frowned, looking a little annoyed, but after seeming to think it over, he still introduced himself. “Claudio.
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Craig fidgeted awkwardly. Realizing Claudio wasn’t going to say more, and seeing the unhappy looks on Rafael and Linda’s faces, he stepped in to ease the tension. “I’m Craig. This is Laura, Rafael; and well, Linda, our junior”
Claudio looked them over one by one, his eyes lingering on Linda. “Linda?”
Linda was speechless.
She saluted, her expression utterly serious. “Claudio, you were the student Calvin chose first. You entered a year ahead of me. Your seniority should obviously be higher.”
Claudio said flatly, “That old man told me I’m sixth.”
Linda said, “No, Claudio, you’re a true standout. You shouldn’t be the youngest.”
Linda thought, ‘Senior? Forget it. I am over that.’
Craig and Rafael glanced back and forth between them.
Laurence and Byron had already headed off to open the Veil with the Abyssal Coven elders, leaving the five of them alone to watch Linda and Claudio push the titles back and forth like a hot potato.
It was obvious to everyone: Linda had no interest in being the senior. She just wanted to remain the baby of the group. Claudio could tell, too.
Linda in front of him had been lagging behind the crowd the whole time, blending into the background like she wasn’t even there. Her bored expression remained unshakable, as if the mountain itself could collapse right in front of her and she wouldn’t bat an eye.
No matter what anyone said, she always had that “this has nothing to do with me” vibe.
It was the same way yesterday at the inn.
But whenever she heard the words “senior,” her face would crack for a split second, twisting in disgust, like she loathed the term, or it dredged up something repulsive from her past.
Even with the veil she wore today, he could spot it in her eyes: that clear aversion to being called “senior.”
Claudio thought, ‘She really hates it, doesn’t she?‘ That only made him want to use it more.
It was just a title, after all. Senior or junior, to Claudio, it was all the same, nothing more than a label. He’d only joined the First Unity Coven on a whim anyway.
But now, for some reason, he was oddly fixated on this one. “Linda, don’t you like me as your junior?”
Linda gritted her teeth and turned away, acting like she hadn’t heard. But Claudio leaned closer with a sly grin. “Linda, you seem pretty upset.”
“Laura…”
A snow–white fruit appeared from the side, extended toward him. Claudio froze for a moment, glancing up at
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the girl offering it. “Here, Claudio.
He stared at Laura for a long beat, not reaching for it. But she held her hand steady, not pulling back.
Craig jumped in. “You might as well take it, Claudio, Otherwise, Laura could keep it out there all day without flinching”
Claudio finally extended his hand and took it.
The fruit was small, pure white with subtle golden veins, and inside, the juice seemed to swirl around, as if one bite through the skin would send it spilling out.
A second–grade Mana Drupe, Claudio was caught off guard.
A lowly student from the First Unity Coven munching on a second–grade Mana Drupe as a snack? This thing could fully restore a Mana–Stoking Phase cultivator’s energy in an instant.
Even those at Foundation Phase or Gilded Phase could get something out of it.
The First Unity Coven was turning out to be more than he’d bargained for.
Once he accepted it, Laura’s eyes crinkled in a warm smile. She looped her arm through Linda’s. “Linda,” she said deliberately, drawing out each word, “you’re my junior.”
Linda’s features softened, and she gave a gentle nod.
No matter how many new students joined the First Unity Coven, Linda would always be Laura’s junior.
A light breeze picked up in the high altitude. A radiant glow slowly blossomed ahead of them.
The Veil’s entrance opened under the combined power of the Abyssal Coven elders.
A blue–robed elder projected his voice, drawing deeply from his body. “The Dream–Weaver Fens opens once every fifty years, lasting one month each time. During that month, you’re free to explore as you wish. But the Abyssal Coven must warn you: though it’s diminished to a third–level Veil, with feral beasts no higher than third tier, the perils in those dense woods are beyond counting. All who enter must sign a life–and–death
“Life and death rest with fate.”
A golden sheet materialized before each person.
Linda spotted it. The contract.
pact.
She extended her soul force, imprinting it with her unique aura. Once signed, the two hundred golden sheets flew back to the Abyssal Coven elders.
“The Abyssal Coven wishes you all a rewarding expedition.
“Now, entrance, open!”
At that command, people started soaring into the Veil one by one, vanishing from view.
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Linda’s group wasn’t among the first. Before they headed in, she passed a small brocade pouch to Rafael and each of the others.
Rafael asked. “What’s this?”
Linda said, “A Vellum of Safeguarding.”
They all knew about her habit of sketching Vellum, so they tucked them away without a second thought, not realizing these charms would one day pull them back from the brink.
“Let’s go.” Craig and Laura took the lead, and the group flew into the realm. Something nagged at Linda, and she glanced over her shoulder. Claudio trailed casually, keeping exactly five paces behind.
When their eyes met, he gave her a cryptic smile.
Linda’s fist clenched just a bit. She wondered, ‘This guy… does he have memories from a previous life?‘
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
