How adorable, Lilith…
The thought drifted through Wang Yue’s mind as her fingers moved from the girl’s slender ankle to her instep, cupping half of her small, soft foot as if providing a warm slipper for the delicate limb.
Feeling the strange sensation, Lilith’s face flushed a deep crimson. Her toes curled involuntarily, and her instep tensed. She had never been caressed like this before. Her young mind was a whirlwind of confusion and bashfulness; her first instinct was to pull away.
Usually, Lilith was the one pouncing on Wang Yue, biting and nuzzling her like she was a large plush toy. Because of that, her subconscious had always viewed the young black-haired girl as a stationary object—something to be toyed with at her leisure. She never expected that being the recipient of such active affection would leave her so utterly at a loss.
“Wang Yue…” she called out, her voice trembling. Her chest felt heavy, as if under a great weight, making it hard to breathe.
Only now did she realize that practice was worlds apart from the manga she read. The latter was a detached observation from a god-like perspective, while the former was an immersive experience, a drowning sensation in a sea of affection.
Wang Yue let go, allowing Lilith to retract her foot. The girl shifted into a side-sitting position, tucking her feet away as if to hide them from further touch.
Hmph, what a naughty child. You’re supposed to share the good things in life!
Wang Yue sat up and moved closer to her side. Lilith pressed her hands against the edge of the bed, her eyelashes casting shadows as she looked down. Her initial panic was quickly replaced by a surge of shy indignation. She ground her little teeth, feeling disappointed in herself.
Why did she feel so helpless now that she finally held the power of Dominance?
On second thought, this wasn’t true Dominance. This was merely the power of ‘punishment’ bestowed upon her by Granahl.
I need to be fiercer!
Lilith twisted her body, shoving Wang Yue’s shoulders to pin her down with a show of false bravado. She let out a fierce little growl, though her shimmering eyes betrayed a hint of hesitation.
None of this escaped Wang Yue’s notice. She looked up at Lilith with a serious expression, her fingers twining through the golden strands of hair that had fallen onto her shoulders and cheeks.
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be in a terrible spot,” Wang Yue whispered. “Any other witch would have tortured me cruelly. I’m glad it’s you.”
“Hmph, so you really can’t live without me, can you?” Lilith feigned disdain, but her heart was flooded with sweetness. It felt as though she had just taken a large gulp of hot milk tea; a warmth spread through her chest, and she let out a satisfied, misty breath from her parted lips.
“So, if you truly want it… I am willing to please you.”
Wang Yue sighed softly, pinching Lilith’s tender lips before sliding her hand across her cheek to the back of her neck. She could feel the distinct tension in the girl’s cervical spine. Lilith let out a muffled whimper through her clenched teeth, her face turning so red it looked ready to drip blood.
That’s it?
Wang Yue marveled inwardly. Lilith was the perfect example of someone who talked a big game but folded under pressure. She talked about “doing” everything, yet when the moment arrived, she was so stiff with nerves it seemed like she might faint.
Then again, Wang Yue was equally inexperienced. It was fine for two “noobs” to peck at each other like this, but if they ever encountered a mature woman, they would likely have no defense at all.
Lilith’s mind was a chaotic blur. She let out short, sharp gasps of breath, trapped between wanting to move forward or retreat. Suddenly, she realized this wasn’t what she wanted. This “service” born out of gratitude wouldn’t truly satisfy her.
“I don’t want your gratitude. I want you to do it because you… like me…” Lilith’s expression fell, her disappointment impossible to hide.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Lilith,” Wang Yue said, shaking her head.
At those words, Lilith’s spirit deflated instantly. She rolled off the bed, but her momentum was too great, and she landed hard on her bottom.
The black-haired girl sprawled out on the bed, staring at the ceiling. After a moment, the sound of soft sobbing reached her ears. She remained still, listening intently. When the crying began to subside, she murmured:
“I’m sorry… Lilith… but… there is a very important mission that only you can complete…”
Lilith bounced up from the floor like a clockwork frog, pouncing back onto the black-haired girl. “You’re a bastard! Stinky Wang Yue! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” she cried out through her tears.
Her fists rained down, but they were soft and lacked any real strength. Crystal teardots caught the light as they fell, dampening Wang Yue’s small face.
Wang Yue sighed heavily. She wrapped one arm around Lilith’s waist and used the other to cradle her neck. She pressed a “key” into the girl’s vertebrae and leaned in, whispering into her ear.
“To prevent a disconnection of faith, I won’t tell you the specifics of the mission yet. When the time comes, just follow the prompts it gives you.”
Lilith trembled, but her emotions had already been vented through her tears. She wanted to lash out, but she no longer had the energy.
“Please, Lilith. I can only rely on you. You are my trump card.”
Wang Yue kissed her. Her lips were cold, like a snowflake landing on a cheek.
The Academy Festival was approaching.
The “Academy Festival” was a long-standing tradition, dating back to the school’s founding. It had never been canceled in all its history. Usually, preparations began a month in advance. The “Big Three” projects were always a stage play, a haunted house, and a food street. Additionally, there were specimen exhibitions, float parades, and more.
However, this year was different. Under the rule of the Restorationists, no one knew if the Academy Festival would even happen.
As the date drew near, news finally broke. Granahl announced that the Academy Festival would proceed as planned, hoping to use the occasion to salvage some of her reputation.
Lilith’s Drama Club began recruiting again. The Eclipse Night Witch was back in production.
However, due to Lilith’s notorious reputation, no one was willing to join. In the end, Prima dragged her sister along to make up the numbers, and with three other witches, they had a total of six.
“Hmph, who asked you to come?” Lilith said, shooting a disdainful look at Prima.
“Didn’t you promise I could play the broccoli?” Prima replied with a smile.
“And the tomato,” Lilith added, unable to suppress a giggle.
“The room across from us is preparing too. I saw them making props,” Mapeel noted.
“I’ll go scout them out!” Prima chirped and ran out.
A short while later, she returned, her mouth agape in shock. “Wang Yue came up with an incredible script! It’s called Macbeth. The lines are so complex they made my head spin…”
“Is that stinky Wang Yue trying to compete with me again?” Lilith fumed, clenching her fists. “My script is the best! I’m going to humiliate her at the festival! Everyone, look sharp!”
Prima said nothing, thinking to herself that it might be a losing battle.
In Room 203, Lulu’anna sat before a complete set of drawing tools, ranging from colored pencils to various brushes. She was in charge of designing the festival’s haunted house. Several assistants were busy around her, helping with the finishing touches and coloring.
In Room 201, Medeili pulled several jars of salted fish from her suitcase. She opened one, picked out a single sardine, and dropped it into a cup of water. The stiff, dried fish absorbed the water and expanded. With a flick of its tail, it began to swim gracefully, its scales shimmering with light.
“It’s alive!” her roommates marveled in unison.
“Let’s turn our room into an aquarium!” Medeili suggested.
The roommates enthusiastically agreed, and the room was soon filled with their overlapping chatter.
“We can make a panoramic tunnel like an underwater world!”
“Let’s add some maze elements too!”
“Imagine turning a corner and seeing a giant shark!”
“That’s terrifying!”
“The other students are going to be blown away!”
As the atmosphere of the festival grew thicker, the cells of the Disciplinary Committee remained cold and quiet. Wang Yue lay on her back, hands pillowed behind her head. Moonlight filtered through the window, falling over her thin, slight frame.
Richel stood outside the bars. This moment mirrored a time before, yet everything was different. Her face twisted slightly as she ground out the words:
“You’ve betrayed us once again!”
