Legend by the Lake

Era of Order, Year 1138.

Mo Lini sat on the sofa in the living room, playing chess with Luo Lun under Musen's guidance.

Luo Lun stared intently at the chessboard. Mo Lini was merely moving the pieces; his true opponent was the book spirit who had resided in the tome for thousands of years.

"Where's Liyana?" Xia Lun asked casually.

"Oh, she went out last night and hasn't come back yet," Mo Lini replied, looking up.

She placed the pieces wherever Musen told her to, and he even clearly explained the strategies to her... For the first time, Mo Lini felt that playing chess was actually quite simple.

Liyana went out last night?

Xia Lun immediately understood where she could have gone.

Xia Lun sighed helplessly, like a parent worrying about a troublesome child... That girl must have gone out to indulge herself again.

Aina's soft, boneless little hand slipped into Xia Lun's palm at some point, gently scratching it.

Xia Lun looked down, meeting Aina's blood-red eyes. The glimmer within them instantly reminded him of their lingering intimacy last night. Well, he really had no right to lecture Liyana.

The two of them walked out of the manor in tacit understanding, strolling along a path covered with fallen leaves, and finally stopped before a secluded, deserted lake.

The crystal-clear lake reflected the azure sky and the surrounding golden-red trees. A few early-fallen leaves swirled gently on the water's surface.

Xia Lun slowly closed his eyes, and his consciousness dove into the Spirit World.

Now, he could enter the Spirit World at will... and not just while in bed.

A moment later, Xia Lun returned to reality. He touched his cheek, feeling a trace of damp coolness there.

Aina stood to the side, looking as normal as ever.

Knowing the answer, Xia Lun asked anyway, "What did you just do?"

"Nothing," Aina said with an innocent face, though the smile hidden in her eyes clearly betrayed her.

"Then why is my cheek wet?"

"It just rained."

Xia Lun looked at the cloudless sky and the dry ground around them. "Why isn't anything else wet?"

"It only rained a single drop, and it happened to fall right on your face." Aina looked completely serious, acting as if it were the absolute truth.

"Alright." Xia Lun nodded, not pressing the matter further.

"You believe me?"

"Of course I believe you, because you told me." Xia Lun patted Aina's head. "I believe whatever you say."

"Are you trying to appear so accommodating to make me feel guilty, just so you can act more recklessly tonight?" Aina narrowed her eyes.

"I never said that." Xia Lun chuckled softly. How did everything he did end up being steered in that direction by Aina?

After a moment of silence, Xia Lun couldn't help but ask, "So, can I?"

Aina: Stare—

Xia Lun: "Just kidding."

Aina turned her gaze back to the lake in front of them.

The lake was very small; one could see the opposite shore at a glance, but calling it a pond didn't quite seem fitting either.

A gentle breeze brushed past, like an invisible giant hand stirring the water, bringing up layers of fine ripples across the lake's surface.

"Did you know, Xia Lun?"

"Know what?"

"The legend of this lake."

Xia Lun also looked at the lake, which seemed rather ordinary. "I haven't heard of it. What kind of legend does it have?"

"It is said that... a pitiful girl threw herself into this lake and committed suicide after the death of her lover. After she died, her soul transformed into the spirit of the lake, blessing all men and women who kiss by its shores so that they may eventually become a happy married couple."

"Is that so? Then this lake might be quite effective."

They were indeed a very happy couple.

Xia Lun put his arm around Aina's shoulders, then shook his head and sighed. "What a silly girl. No matter what, her lover wouldn't have wanted to see that outcome."

"Yes, she should have held onto the longing for her lover and tried her best to live on." Aina nodded.

"Exactly."

Aina continued, "And then strive to become stronger, strong enough to resurrect her lover..."

Xia Lun: ...

Seeing Xia Lun's somewhat speechless expression, Aina laughed so hard she trembled like a shaking branch.

"When did this lakeside legend start?" Xia Lun couldn't help but ask.

Aina stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Xia Lun's neck. "Starting right now."

"Aina... wait a minute! There are people... we'll be seen!" Xia Lun nervously grabbed Aina's shoulders.

"It doesn't matter, people won't care. There are plenty of little couples kissing by the roadside in the academy..."

...

Anana suddenly sat up in bed.

She had a very strange dream last night.

She dreamt that she was in a library and couldn't find her way out no matter what.

Then, in a moment of madness, she started pushing over the bookshelves. Rows of bookshelves collapsed like dominoes, successfully attracting the librarian over.

That librarian was incredibly handsome... and a bit familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

Immediately after, they encountered a monster. Just as the monster charged straight at them, Anana woke up in fright.

Anana yawned, scratched her somewhat messy hair, and without paying it much mind, began to wash up.

It was just a dream, after all; no matter what crazy situations occurred, it seemed perfectly normal.

Today was the weekend, and Anana planned to take a good stroll around the campus.

Olifendo was simply too big. Although it had been a while since she enrolled, there were still many places she hadn't visited.

The scenery here was also quite nice... Anana planned to make some bento boxes herself and then find a beautiful spot to enjoy a lovely picnic.

However, Mida had gone back, which was a bit of a pity, otherwise she could have hung out with her...

Wait, aside from Mida, did she really have no other friends here? Anana suddenly realized this fact.

Senior Mian counted as one... Senior Delyan should probably be considered a friend too...

As for everyone else, she really wasn't familiar with them.

After all, the fierce reputation of "Anana the Skinner" preceded her. Everyone subconsciously kept their distance and wouldn't take the initiative to talk to her...

Sigh... It was all because she went a bit overboard during the entrance exam...

Forget it, never mind. After a few days, she would make friends sooner or later.

Having finished her preparations, Anana carried her little basket and stepped out the door. The weather today was also exceptionally clear, a perfect day for an outing.

"Hmm hmm..." Anana couldn't help but hum a cheerful little tune.

Soon, Anana thought of a good place.

It was a small lake that Mida had taken her to when they skipped class before... The environment there was nice, and it didn't seem like there were many people around.

Anana quickly arrived at her destination.

However, Anana was a bit disappointed. Looking from afar, she could already see that there seemed to be people there—a young couple...

Wait, wait, wait, why were they kissing?

How shameless!

Anana's face instantly flushed bright red, and she hurriedly turned around and walked away quickly.